Our theme for 2011 was ‘It’s all about Jesus’. It was a theme we all embraced and at the end of the year as we take stock of how we lived in the past year, I am proud to say that with the help of God, our fellowship has made our lives all about Jesus.
We were not focused on personal gain or fame. We bonded as one single unit, the body of Christ with one purpose to do His will and to please Him. I believe God was pleased with what He saw and it pleased Him to work through us. He has helped us grow closer to Him and with each other.
For 2012, God wanted to give us an identity, a mission, a title. The apostle Paul writes that we are "Christ’s ambassadors" (2 Cor. 5:20)
What is an ambassador? An ambassador is one who:
- Represents his/her own government
- Makes his temporary residence in a country other than his own
- Speaks only what the authorities of his country tells him to speak
We need to understand the power and prestige behind our identity as Christians, and we are called to exercise that authority in humility. I believe the purpose we are called for is to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ; to bring endless living hope to those who are dying a hopeless end. First the ambassadors must understand his/her role.
Here are some identity markers of an ambassador for Christ as per Peter:
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. - 1 Peter 2: 9 - 10
We are a chosen race
Here, Peter focuses on the fact that what defines our identity is not our ethnic race, but our redemption race. When He saved us, He adopted us into His family, but went further. He gave us His DNA when He gave us the Holy Spirit. We do not have to be driven by what we are on the outside.
Ultimately the race that will survive are those who are covered by the blood of Christ and once we come to Christ, we must be ambassadors bringing all human races to the chosen race in Christ. I pray as ambassadors we let people see us as a church united in love for Jesus Christ. Let them all see we are covered in the blood of Christ. We are a chosen race. Let’s build on that.
Royal Priesthood
As ambassador we serve our King by worshipping Him, praying to Him for others and offering spiritual sacrifices. There may be many things I need to do in a day or nothing in a day, but I have been reminding myself, first and foremost I am called to be a priest. As a priest, I bring people to God, so I want to make sure I am serving my family and praying for people through intercession.
We are the only hope of the nations, our friends and relatives who would go to eternal hell if we do not stand in the gap between them and God.
Holy Nation
An Ambassador’s job is not to blend in, but to represent his king and his nation. He is different and is set apart. He is to be distinguished by holiness. Let your talk and your walk set you apart from others around you. A holy person is like a boat on the water, the boat's purpose is fulfilled when it is in the water, but its function and usefulness deteriorates when water gets in the boat. Similarly for believers when much of the world gets into them our purpose deteriorates. We must keep our "vessels" in the water of this world, but not let the water of the world get into our "vessel"!
We are a chosen race of royal priests, distinguished by holiness.
His Own Possession
God chose you and He wanted you. A lot of us feel wanted, but think about God of the Universe wanting you. The world says I will have you if you are pretty enough, or if you have the right job or if your personality is charming and so on, but God says, “I want you, holes, flaws, wrinkles and all. In fact, I will pay all I have for you.”
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. - Deuteronomy 7:6
We are a chosen race of royal priests, distinguished by holiness, coveted and pitied by God. Why did He give us this new identity? Is it so we can sit behind an ambassador’s desk and look nice and important? Jot this last thing down:
The purpose of the ambassador’s identity is to make the identity of God known. In the last part of 1 Pet. 2:9, Peter discloses the purpose of our identity. It is to “to proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”. Our identity is not an end in itself. God has given us an identity so that His identity might be proclaimed through us.
An ambassador’s identity is to advertise the identity of Jesus Christ, their King. What did this King do? He saw them in their sin, trapped by Satan. He pitied them and called them out and illuminated their minds.
So God not only gave you a new identity which is wrapped up in Him, He also illuminates your mind to live out that identity to make His identity known when He saved you. Are you making His identity known?
Conclusion
God is getting ready to move among us. He is preparing us as His ambassadors. But before He sends us out, He wants us to look in the mirror and come to the cross. Let go of all self doubt. You are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37).
We have seen the hand of God in our Christmas outreach – Our dinner arrangements were made for an estimated 360 people. We ended up with 420 people. Not only was the food sufficient for all but there were multiple tray loads left over. Remind you of something in the bible?
Let go of the shakes that are holding you back. Let God have full reign in your life. Unwrap your full potential in Christ. Go forth as His ambassadors and represent Him in all you do.