Ambassadors

We His People - We Beseech

We His People - We Beseech

Dave Riddle - 9/24/2023

Key Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:20

Beseech: implore, beg, ask urgently and fervently. To request earnestly or anxiously.

We plead (beseech) on God’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

- 2 Corinthians 5:20

- The spotlight is on God, not us.

- …for Christ …God is …On God’s behalf… to God

- The gospel should be the only obstacle to receiving Jesus, not us.

- God could have revealed himself to the world in an infinite number of ways… he chose us as his ambassadors.

- We each have a role and a part to play.

- Ambassadors = presbeuo: to be a senior, act as a representative, to be an ambassador.

- You represent Jesus to everyone you meet.

Boldness and Urgency

- Ephesians 6:19-20

- pray that I might be bold…

- Do we have a sense of urgency in sharing the gospel?

- parakaleo: to call near. Invite, invoke, implore. To beg or beseech.

Be Reconciled to God

- Settle your debts and differences

- “Let God change you from enemies to friends” (GNT)

- Our message: live at peace with God. Come back to God.

- 2 Corinthians 5:17 - …God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

Sent in His Name

Sent in His Name

Dave Riddle - 11/10/19

Key Passage: John 3:14-17

God is both Sent and Sender

  • John 17:18 - “As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world”

Jesus Followers are “Sent Ones”

  • Matthew 4:19 - follow me and I will make you fish for people.

    • Not, “I will make you perfect people”

  • Mark 3:13-14 - apostles (sent ones)

    • They were with him

    • They were sent out

Salt & Light

  • Matthew 5:13-16

    • Useful

    • Representatives of Christ

  • Philippians 2:15

Ambassadors

  • 2 Corinthians 5:20

  • Representing Jesus in everything we do.

  • He is making his appeal through us

Witnesses 

  • Acts 1:8

    • As witnesses, the only thing we’re called to be is truth tellers.

    • Not the judge, jury, prosecution, or defense.

    • We are witnesses that Jesus is alive and that he has changed our lives.

Disciple-Makers

  • Matthew 28:19 - therefore go and make disciples of all nations...

Content and Conduct

  • We have something to tell

    • euaggelizō (Greek: εὐαγγελίζω) - to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel.

  • The way we live should show evidence of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

    • The life of a Jesus follower should be aligned with the truth of God’s word.

Redeem and Restore

  • Has the Kingdom been fully realized? No. But we’re called, as members of the Kingdom, to play a role in that restoration.

    • Revelation 21:5 - “Look, I am making everything new”

What does it look like to live life as a Sent One?

  • That’s going to look different in each of our lives. One thing is certain though, for followers of Jesus, it isn’t optional.