An Ambassador for Jesus

By Jeff Kissell

Jesus said that we are not of this world. We belong to another kingdom. As citizens of this other kingdom, we are aliens in a foreign land. We are called to represent our homeland to those we come in contact with. Since Jesus's kingdom may seem strange to many people, we are to be ambassadors for this kingdom. An Ambassador for Jesus is a study guide that takes the words of our King, Jesus, and applies them to our lives today. By using verses from the Old and New Testaments, we can demonstrate what the kingdom of heaven is to be like. Will you be an ambassador for Jesus today?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098024741

Book preview

Introduction

Being an Ambassador

What does it mean to be an ambassador? Why should we want to be an ambassador? What sort of training is required to be an ambassador? What is my job if I am an ambassador? These questions will all be answered in this study.

First of all, what is an ambassador? An ambassador is a person. This person is the representative of a nation or the head of state of a nation. The ambassador represents the interests of the country that he is from in the foreign (host) nation. This would entail policy, trade, culture, giving of aid, and giving of approval and disapproval of policies in the host country. The ambassador speaks on behalf of the president/monarch of the nation that is being represented. In short, this person is the nation that he is representing, at least as it pertains to the host country.

What would qualify a person to be an ambassador? First of all, that person must be a citizen of the nation that is being represented. Secondly, the person must have only the interests of the represented nation in mind. They must put their own ideas, safety, desires, and wants aside and think only of what or whom they are representing. They must be completely loyal and have a deep love toward their own nation. An ambassador must be chosen and given the position of being an ambassador by one having authority. Most of all, they must be trusted. Trusted to speak and act on behalf of the nation or leader they are representing.

What training would be required of an ambassador? An ambassador would need to know who or what he is representing. Often the ambassador would be a close friend or even a family member of the ruler of the nation that they are representing. It is also good to know the history of the country that you are representing. One should know why they are being there in the first place. Are they to be observers, watching what is happening in the host nation? Or are they there to facilitate trade and offer help? If there are a large number of citizens from the represented nation in the host nation, either as visitors or residents, would they need to have aid or possibly somewhere safe where they can turn to in times of trouble? An ambassador should know about the host nation. They must have a desire to influence/show them how the represented nation is different and how that influence could make a difference to the host nation.

Why should one want to be an ambassador? Because you love the nation that you are representing. Because of the love you have for the leader of that nation and belief in that person. Out of duty to the one you serve. It is a job. These may all be reasons, and most are good reasons, but the main reason to be an ambassador is we are asked to be one. One of the highest honors is to be asked to represent your nation as an ambassador. This shows the trust and respect that is being given to you.

This is all nice and in the world of politics that may be fine, but what does this have to do with me as a Christian? This is where it gets exciting. This is where the trust and love that Jesus has for us becomes a reality. This is where the Great Commission comes into play.

In this study, we will be looking at the commands that our King, Jesus, has given for us to follow. Jesus received these words from his Father. After each section, there are verses from other parts of the Bible that say the same concept. Jesus did not come teaching some new religion or doctrine. Rather he took what God had already given to Israel, and he fine-tuned it to make it more personal. That is what God wants, a personal relationship with us. We also must remember that the kingdom of God is different from the kingdom of Satan. It is an upside-down kingdom. Jesus is showing how God intends for his kingdom to operate not only in heaven but also here on earth.

This is a workbook. As you read the verses at the end of each section, take notes or write the verses out. Let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart. Above all, enjoy being in the word of God!

Sermon on the Mount

We Are to Be Ambassadors for Jesus Christ!

Jesus gave us the instructions on how to be an ambassador in the Sermon on the Mount. This is Matthew 5–7. The first section of this sermon is called the Beatitudes. I like to call them the Beautiful Attitudes because if we are ambassadors for Jesus, this is what our attitude should be. We are to see things as Jesus sees them, not as the world sees things, and this includes our attitudes to one another. Remember that ours is an upside-down kingdom.

Being an ambassador means showing to the host nation how things are done in our own nation. So let us check out these Beautiful Attitudes and see what we can come up with.

The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3 says, Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. First, we must come up with a definition for the word blessed. Many people today seem to think that it means happy. I think it goes far beyond just being happy. To be blessed is something that comes only from God. We are blessed when we come to know Jesus as our Savior. We have become new creatures and now have new characteristics which are different from our old way of being. We are truly blessed, and this only comes from God through Jesus Christ.

Our spirits have been renewed because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. He has made us alive where before we were dead. Romans 8:4–8 states, That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

The poor in spirit are those who have been humbled in their spirit and have accepted God’s love into their hearts. They are no longer proud and feel that they can do it on their own but are now totally dependent on Jesus Christ for everything. They are now servants of Jesus Christ and are poor by the standards of the world. Yet in God’s kingdom, everything of the world is as rubbish or as Philippians 3:7–9 says, But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Therefore, we seem to be poor to this world, yet we are so very rich in Jesus Christ. We need to be careful that we do not spiritualize everything. Is it wrong to have abundance? No. Is it wrong to have wealth? No. Is it wrong to have talent? No.

We as believers in Jesus must make sure that we use the blessings of God for helping others. There is a song that says, "Jesus and others and you, what a wonderful way to spell joy. J is for Jesus, for he has first place. O is for others you meet face-to-face. Y is for you and whatever you do, put yourself last, and spell joy. To the world, this is backward. The world says you must look out for yourself. We are bombarded with messages that we are the only one who matters. It is a me first and only selfishness that the world considers and even rewards. This is not how God judges us but rather on whether we see and reach out to the poor—not only the poor physically but also those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. We must consider the attitude and the motive behind how and why we are reaching out to the poor of this world to make them rich in the kingdom of God."

Psalm 10:12–18

Romans 8:14–17

John 10:10

Psalm 41:1

Matthew 5:4 says, Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. If one is mourning, then it must be over something that had died or that has been taken away. Remember that our (Jesus) kingdom is upside-down. What are we to be mourning over? We are to have the same mind-set as Jesus did, and what did he mourn over? He wept over the city of Jerusalem because they would not receive him as their Lord. He wept because Lazarus died. He has the same feelings as we do. Yet Jesus did something about the situation. Regarding Lazarus, Jesus raised him from the dead. Regarding Jerusalem, Jesus died on the cross to bring salvation. We should be mourning over the lost, those who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. How are we to bring comfort to the lost?

We can bring comfort through the Word of God. Psalm 23:1–6 states,

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

There is comfort in the rod and staff of the Shepherd. We also have the Holy Spirit, who Jesus calls the Comforter (John 14:16–18). The ultimate comfort that we can bring to anyone is Jesus. He will never leave us or forsake us. He will be closer than a brother. Others will fail us. Things can be lost or stolen. Loved ones will die or stop loving us. Jesus will never fail. As the old song says, Jesus is the answer for the world today. He is the only answer because as Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

Isaiah 61:1–3

Revelation 21:4

Matthew 5:5 says, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. What does it mean to be meek? Often we see or think of meekness as a negative trait, one to be avoided—too submissive; easily imposed on; spineless; spiritless. However, that is only one definition. There are two other definitions. One of these is patient and mild, not inclined to anger or resentment. This would be something that a citizen of heaven should definitely strive for. We must have patience and not be inclined to be angry with those who do not know any different. It would also be of great benefit to be able to let go of resentment. I think this would be even harder than patience.

The third definition is gentle or kind. This also is what we as ambassadors of heaven should try to be. It says of Jesus in Isaiah 42:1–4, Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Jesus is often spoken of as being meek and mild. Many do not like this picture of him. We would much rather see a man with fire in his eyes tearing apart the moneychangers, and I have often heard that he yelled or shouted from the cross. That does not fit with the idea of being meek.

Another person that is considered to be meek is Moses. Numbers 12:3 says, Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. That is quite a testimony to have. Moses was willing to put aside his own wants and desires and to put others ahead of himself. I have heard it said that meekness could be defined as strength under control, like a horse with a bit and bridle. The strength of the horse is subdued and brought under subjection because of the bit. Often when the harness is removed, the animal will run and frolic because it now is free. We must put others ahead of ourselves. We must bring our desires into line with those of our King, Jesus.

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 9:27, says, But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Something that all of us must work on is the denying of our own desires and bringing them unto Jesus Christ. Are we willing to take this freedom we have in Jesus and put it aside so that we become humble and meek, or do we demand our rights? The example we have is of Jesus. He gave up everything for us. He humbled himself and became submissive to even his enemy Death and died on the cross. Philippians 2:8 says, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

This does not sound like something that we would desire. Yet look at the benefit. They shall inherit the earth. This does not mean this earth as it is now. Rather it is the earth that is to come, as well as the kingdom of God. Let’s see a few other verses that also speak of this. We must humble ourselves and leave the rest up to our Lord and King.

Psalm 37:11

Psalm 22:23–27

Psalm 25 (entire chapter, verse 9)

Psalm 149:4

Matthew 5:6 says, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. When we are hungry, we have a need. That need in the physical is for food. When we are thirsty, we also have a need. That need is for water. If these needs are not satisfied, then our bodies begin to do strange things. God has made our bodies to be in balance. If they are lacking in some minerals, then our bodies begin to crave what it needs. We are the same way in our spiritual being. We must hunger and thirst after the righteous things of Christ. Just as we can satisfy our hunger with unhealthy foods, so we can also satisfy our spiritual with unspiritual or unrighteous foods. That space that is for Jesus we will often fill with our own fleshly desires.

What we feed becomes stronger. We must feed the spiritual with spiritual food. There is the story of the Indian brave who said that it is like there are two wolves in him. They are always fighting for control. Someone asked him which wolf was winning, and the brave responded that it is the one that he feeds the most. That is how we do. We must feed the spiritual and not the carnal or fleshly side of our spirits.

How do we choose the good and not the bad? We as ambassadors of Christ must remember who we are in him. Second Corinthians 5:17–21 states,

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given unto us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Galatians 6:14–16 says,

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

What rule is he talking about? It is that we are new creatures in Christ. John 3:3 tells us what we must be: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

As we are now