Ambassador
for Christ
Introduction
In order to do this work well we need to define the word
‘ambassador’ .
Who
is an ambassador?
The Nelson’s illustrated Bible Dictionary defines an
ambassador as “an official representative of Kings and rulers”. The Oxford Advanced Dictionary defines it as
an “official who lives in a foreign country as the senior representative there
of his country. Thesaurus.com defines an ambassador: as “noun …
1.
a diplomatic official of the highest
rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative
(ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary)
2.
a diplomatic official of the highest
rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for
negotiating a treaty.
3.
a diplomatic official serving as
permanent head of a country's mission to the United Nations or some other
international organization.
4.
an authorized messenger or
representative.
Abbreviation: Amb., amb.
In
ancient times kingdoms, republics, states, and dominions spoke to others through their ambassadors
(Kings 5:1) and they sought favours from the localities where they are resident
(Numbers 20:14); they made treaties (Joshua 9:4 -6); and they register protests
(Judges 11:12).
The treatment
meted on the ambassador of that country in the country they are resident, to
all intent and purpose, is the treatment meted on the country from where he or
she was sent. If an ambassador is not well treated it will lead to war (2
Sam10:4-6).
Ambassadors
of the old order
An ambassador is an elder chosen from the rank of the
mature, experienced men and women. They are chosen by their pedigree and
character, not by being rich and having excessive wealth. These qualities –
righteousness, integrity, holiness and purity – characterised ambassadors. In
fact the ambassador must be an image of God on earth (Gen1:26). They are free
from elements of corruption so as not to bring shame on the church (temple) and
their respective families.
Paul
called himself an ambassador (Eph6:20), an idea that referred to all Christian ministers
(2Cor. 5:20). The following were good
ambassadors of the Old and New Testaments: Enoch, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Peter,
James, John, Paul, and Jesus Christ as the everlasting ambassador with an everlasting
message and covenant.
The men
listed above were sent by God to represent him at various times, until Christ
came as the everlasting ambassador. Christ is the final and everlasting
ambassador, whose reign will never finish! He is the perfect image of the father
(Romans 10:19). It is Christ that has the power to make anyone ambassadors of God
or sons of God (John1:2).
An
ambassador for Christ
An ambassador of Christ is any human who makes himself
available to be used to plead to the world and make them repent from their sins,
through grace, for Christ has given all things to us by grace and not strength,
so that no man will boast (2 Corinthians 12). Such a one is given the power to teach and preach the word of God. So
a person takes all his time to emulate Christ wherever they are. These are the
essential attributes and calling of Christians wherever they are. An ambassador
of Christ goes about preaching and teaching, just as Jesus did. This was a
prerequisite of this ambassadorship.
Being strong in the Lord is a necessity to be an
ambassador of Christ. One must put on the amour of the Lord – faith, trust;
humility etc; with this, one can withstand the wicked antics of the devil. The persons
come to the realization that the battle is not of flesh or blood, but of the
spirit; and of spiritual powers in high places and about the powers of
wickedness in heavenly places.
An ambassador for Christ is strengthened by the Holy
Spirit to withstand the work of the Adversary – the Devil – with his human
agents. The person is ready to stand with the whole amour of faith against the
work of the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-13).The ambassador can stand against all
principalities, and the grim hand of Hell and Satan.
The ambassador can feel and even ‘see’ the clearly
defined authority both in the visible and invisible realms. He is ever vigilant
and has the power of the whole amour of faith to defend him against Satan, the
devil, and all his cohorts.
Prayer and the word of God – the scriptures – are
necessary for this battle. The Holy Spirit strengthens our spirits through
prayer and studying the scriptures. The mind becomes pure and perfect by the renewal of the spirit through
the word of God (Romans 12:2.) prayer is necessary for the battle, the word of God is
significant. When Jesus was tempted by the Devil – Jesus always replies – “It
is written” – and he quotes a portion of the Bible or Scriptures to ward of the
wiles of Satan. We must do the same now through the word; and repeat it to the
Devil on the day of temptation. Only in this way can we become good ambassadors
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
An
ambassador is a prayer warrior, he asks without fear, he prays according to the
word and whatever he asks for he gets, because he prays according to the stipulated
words and scriptures(James5:6) an
ambassador is a man of impeccable character – gentle, slow to anger, honest and
does the right thing at the right time. He is generous, considers the poor and
needy and at times he places their problems over and above his own. He is kind,
temperate and considerate. He is filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit - love,
joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness(Galatians 5:22). The ambassador of Christ submits to God in
his mind, body and spirit. He is an
image of Jesus and when married, his wife reflects him and thereby, reflects Jesus
Christ.
Satan’s
ambassador
Satan is the complete adversary of God. He moves at large
destroying, or trying to destroy the works of God. He was first an angel of light,
the Son of the Moring; the Lucifer – light bearer. After losing his position in
Heaven, he decided to deal blows on the image of God – human beings. An ambassador of Satan represents him in his evil
works. The ambassadors of the devil carry out works of evil - the works of Cain,
the works of the generation of Noah, the antics of Judas Iscariot, the
happenings in Sodom and Gomorrah etc. They are agents of the spiritual and
temporal works carried out by Satan.
The
ambassadors of Satan are worldly minded – deceivers, cheaters, gamblers, liars,
back biters, going into drugs, etc. Satan’s ambassadors are everywhere: at
home, in brothels, in the market, in the commuter buses, even, in the Church. As
Jesus said, by their fruits you shall know them.
Whose
ambassador are you?
Are your works those of Jesus or of Satan? Who do you
represent? Are you working for the things of God or of the devil? As for me, my
family and my church we will do the works of God. I was an ambassador for
Christ even before I was born (Romans 8:28-30). Christ’s ambassadors manifest
the following – Holy living, tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness,
longsuffering, love, peace, gentility etc. . . .
Conclusion
My brothers and sisters try and amend your ways and
become ambassadors for Jesus rather than those of Satan. What will
it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffer the loss of his own
soul. The die is cast. If you really want to be an ambassador of Christ say the
following with me …
Prayer
for redemption
“Heavenly father, I thank you for your love for me; and
for the gift of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. You sent your Son to die as atonement
for our sins. Because of this provision, I turn to you so that you will wash me
from my sins and make me pure in Jesus name. Amen. I ask you to please forgive my sins and
write my name in the book of eternal life. Amen.
By
Rev Dr Clement E Etchie
The
Fountain of Zion Church
08063000613.
Editor
Oritseweyinmi
Oghanrandukun Olomu (St.Ifa)
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