RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-04-21	Ambassador of Christ is Public
		Ambassadorship of Christ is Public Eph 6:20  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Paul was as much an ambassador in prison as when he was a traveling evangelist. 2Co 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. God is making His appeal through us. That is a heavy responsibility. We are to reflect the “official position” (reconciliation of men) of heaven. We have been “approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel” (1Th.2:4). A Biblical Ambassador is a representative of Jesus Christ and His kingdom, to a foreign kingdom, the kingdoms of men (the world). We are to reflect the official position of the One Who sent us, namely God Himself. Two commissions are given to every believer at salvation: (1) Believer Priesthood and (2) Believer Ambassadorship. Every believer enters into the royal family the moment they believe on Christ. We always represent Christ. Some are better representatives than others, but none the less, we believers are all to represent Christ to a dying world. The only prerequisite is that a person must be saved. Salvation appoints the individual to the status of royal ambassador. As Ambassadors of Christ we communicate spiritual truth via teaching, actions, and attitudes. Being filled with the Holy Spirit (grace means of soul control) is necessary in the function of the ambassador (Ep.5:18). Eph 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit Any Christian service or works apart from the filling of the Holy Spirit is merely human good. Everything the believer does in life becomes a part of his modus operandi as a royal ambassador. Your ambassadorship is basically made up of two factors: [1] how you live, and [2] what you say as a result of what you think. Because every believer is a full time ambassador, your circumstances, or sphere of influence is where you function. In private, you function under your priesthood; in public, you function under your ambassadorship. We will discuss more about our priesthood as believers later. Characteristics of Christ's Ambassadors 1. Ambassadors do not appoint themselves. They are appointed by God Himself at the moment they believe on Jesus Christ for salvation. 2. Ambassadors do not support themselves. They are provided divine grace. 3. Ambassadors do not belong to the country-nation to which he is sent. Our citizenship is in heaven (Ph.3:20). Php 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ 4. Ambassador's instructions are always in written form. Our instructions come solely from the Word of God. 5. Ambassadors do not treat any insult to himself as personal. Our impersonal love for all mankind enables us to tolerate others. 6. Angels are watching us as ambassadors (1Co.4:9; Ep.3:10; 1Tm.5:21; 1Pe.1:12). 7. Ambassadors are to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Mt.10:16). So what does all this mean? Christ saved us from our sin. The Holy Spirit baptized us into Christ's body. We as the body of Christ are to represent our Savior. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must take the message of our King to the “ends of the earth” (Ac.1:8), imploring men and women everywhere to be reconciled to God. Are we good representatives of Christ? If you are not sure, pray asking God if there is anything in your life that may hinder your ability to be good ambassadors of Christ. Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Mat 10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

23304 E Wellesley Ave. Otis Orchards, WA 99027 Church Office: 509.926.9552 Church Cell: 509.342.9145 Pastor Cell: 509.828.8843 tomelseroad@gmail.com