BISHOP CALVIN RICE, PASTOR BRANDED · 2020-05-21 · is our sufficiency, and we go in His Name. Ephesians 3:20 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work

BRANDEDAN AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST

BISHOP CALVIN RICE, PASTOR

2 CORINTHIANS 5:14 – 6:2

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live

should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.

Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the

new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the

righteousness of God.

2 CORINTHIANS 6As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive

God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I

helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of

reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s

sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore

Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s

behalf: Be reconciled to God.

In this 2nd letter to the Corinthians, Paul identifies his task as that of an ambassador. The Greek word he

uses is Presbeutes. When the Roman senate decided that a country should become a province, they sent

ten presbeutai… as envoys to the province to arrange the terms of peace…. determining the boundaries of the new province and developing a constitution for

its administration. When the Presbeutai return, they would submit the terms to the Senate for ratification.

These ambassadors were responsible for bringing others into the

family of the Roman Empire. Paul sees himself as the man

who brings others to the terms of God, whereby they can become citizens of

His empire and members of His family.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NLT)21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Paul mentions two gifts God gives when we become believers:(1) A Seal of Ownership to show who our Master is;

(2) The Holy Spirit, who guarantees that we belong to Him and will receive all His benefits.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (NLT)13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own[a] by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

In this letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul references the ministry of

reconciliation, and he uses the term “ambassadors” for Christ: “18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through

Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling

the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has

committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on

Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Paul compares his calling to that of an ambassador, and he urges

all Christians to consider themselves ambassadors for

Christ. The gospel of reconciliation was at the heart of Paul’s preaching: “For Christ did not send me to baptize but

to preach the gospel”(1 Corinthians 1:17).

Brand Ambassadoris a person who is hired by an organization or company to

represent a brand in a positive light and by doing so help to

increase brand awareness and sales. The brand ambassador is meant to embody the corporate

identity in appearance, demeanor, values and ethics.

Christians are God’s ambassadors in that they have been “approved by God to be

entrusted with the gospel”(1 Thessalonians 2:4) NLT

4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people.

He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

As we go through this world, we represent another Kingdom

(John 18:36) NLT36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed

over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

and it is our responsibility to reflect the “official position” of heaven.

(John 17:16). 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Paul was no longer a citizen of the world and no longer saw

things as a citizen of the world. He saw things through the

perspective of a citizen of the kingdom of God —

a new creation(2 Corinthians 5:17).

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Paul is an ambassador of the kingdom of God. Unlike

modern political ambassadors, Paul did not originate from the

"nation" he represented. He had to be adopted in, through Christ's sacrifice, and then he had to undergo a change of

perspective.

AmbassadorIs a REPRESENTATIVE

a respected official sent to a foreign land. Their role is to reflect the official

position of the sovereign body that gave him

authority.

RepresentativeAn ambassador is appointed by the leadership of those he represents and is given authority

to speak on their behalf.

Paul's work as ambassador was to spread Christ’s message to his host nation. That

message was reconciliation. God wanted to be personally reconciled to the people.

Paul was asking the Corinthians to commit treason against the kingdom of the world

and pledge citizenship to the kingdom of God.

RepresentativeWe too are to become an ambassador

for Christ. It begins with a change in citizenship. If we are to represent Jesus

to the world, we must belong to the kingdom of God. We must live by the

standards of God. We must accept that this earth is not our home,

our home awaits us, 2 Corinthians 5:1 NLT

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will

have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

RepresentativeColossians 3:17 (NIV)And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Whatever we do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, bringing

honor to Christ in every aspect and activity of daily living. Christians represent Christ

at all times—wherever we go and whatever we do. What impression do

people have of Christ when they see or talk with you?

AmbassadorEstablishes

RELATIONSHIPS –creating a link

between the host

country and the

country he

represents.

RelationshipsAmbassadors work to create and build

relations on behalf of the kingdom they are sent to represent.

Romans 12:10 (NIV)10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above

yourselves.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your

mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit

those who listen.

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has

a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

AmbassadorHas a position of great RESPONSIBILITY - they have an assigned duty,

and an obligation to fulfill… understanding there is expectation of

accountability.

ResponsibilityAn ambassador lives in one country, but they are ultimately answerable to their home country. They must represent the message of the leader who sent them;

They must embody the character of their home country, following laws and customs

that are not necessarily known or even welcome in the host nation; all while

respecting the laws and customs of the host country.

ResponsibilityJohn 15:19 (NLT)19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT)20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

ResponsibilityTo be an Ambassador for Christ means to

give up the kingdom of self and the kingdom of the world, and pledge

allegiance to the kingdom of God. Heaven is our home, not earth. Our responsibility

is to share the Good News; and inform that a relationship with God is

available to everyone.

36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have

spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:36-37

Ambassador

is provided with the RESOURCES – the

means, support, and the authority– to accomplish

the desired outcome.

ResourcesNone of us can represent the Lord in our own strength. When He sends us out, we go with all the RESOURCES of heaven. He is our sufficiency, and we go in His Name.

Ephesians 3:2020 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish

infinitely more than we might ask or think.

2 Corinthians 3:55 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim

anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

God’s ambassadors are given a strategyMatthew 10:16 NLT

16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must take the message everywhere”

Acts 1:8 NLT, 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon

you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to

the ends of the earth.”

With instruction and AssuranceMatthew 28:18-20 NLT

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make

disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with

you always, to the very end of the age.”