Category: Christian ambassadorship

We Are Ambassadors for Christ

Sunday, July 31, 2011

“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” (2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV).

In the context of today’s Scripture (verses 14-21), the Apostle Paul describes our “Great Commission.” Why has God (temporarily) left us saints here?

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14,15). Saints, we are alive physically. But Christ died to give us His life, so we are also spiritually alive.

We died on Calvary’s cross with Christ (Romans 6:6). We live not for our glory, but unto the glory of Christ whose life is now in us. God left us, the Body of Christ, on earth so we could be “ambassadors,” His servants in this foreign land where we do not belong (Ephesians 2:19-22; Philippians 3:20).

God is doing something amazing today in this the Dispensation of Grace. As His children in Christ Jesus we should participate in what He is doing by placing our faith in His Word to us (Paul’s epistles). It is our “reasonable service” to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1).

As we tarry in this world, waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to snatch us away, He has entrusted us with the message of His grace. God wants to utilize us to demonstrate His grace, His glory, and His life to the world. As God’s children, it is our responsibility to tell the lost world that God has reconciled them unto Himself by Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork.

We have “the ministry of reconciliation,” the Christian ambassadorship, to share the “word of reconciliation,” the gospel of grace (2 Corinthians 5:18,19): that Christ died for their sins, was buried, and raised again for their justification (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

In Paul’s epistles we learn the true meaning of “ambassadors for [the risen] Christ.”

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*As “ambassadors for the risen Christ Ministries” (arC Ministries) celebrates its fourth anniversary today, we want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have labored with us in the gospel. It has been a privilege, and we look forward to serving you for another year (Lord willing). Thank you for your continued prayer. –Shawn Brasseaux

Ye Must Be Followers of Paul

Friday, July 29, 2011

“Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me” (1 Corinthians 4:16 KJV).

Paul is the only Bible author that declares, “Follow me.” Why? Paul writes in Ephesians 3:2,3a: “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he [Jesus Christ] made known unto me the mystery;”

Today, we live in the Dispensation of Grace, a time period separate from Israel’s prophetic program. In 1 Timothy 1:15,16 we read that God made Paul “a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him [Jesus Christ] to life everlasting.” In order to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in this the Dispensation of Grace, we must follow Him according to the doctrine He committed unto the Apostle Paul’s trust.

We do not follow Christ after His earthly ministry because that was God’s message to Israel (Matthew 15:24; John 4:22; Romans 15:8; 2 Corinthians 5:16). Even the Apostle Peter admitted that the details of the Dispensation of Grace are only found in Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon (2 Peter 3:15,16).

Lest someone accuse us of exalting Paul above Jesus Christ, consider what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:1: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” The Holy Spirit instructs us to follow Paul in Philippians 3:17 and 1 Thessalonians 1:6. We follow Paul as he follows Christ.

God sent Paul to us. Paul is “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13; Romans 15:16; 2 Timothy 1:11). Just as Israel followed Moses, we follow Paul. To follow Paul today is to follow Christ; conversely, to reject Paul is to reject Christ (John 13:20). Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:37: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

Does your pastor follow Jesus according to His earthly ministry? If so, flee from that assembly, friend. That is not what God is doing today. The Bible says that God made Paul our pattern. If ye are to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, ye must be followers of Paul!

Christ Which Strengtheneth Me

Monday, July 25, 2011

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is often misconstrued. People take this verse out of its context and misunderstand it. Does this verse mean that God will empower us to do anything and everything (heal the sick, raise the dead, and so on)? This verse has a context, and it is not miracles.

Remember that the Apostle Paul was imprisoned when he wrote to Philippi (1:12-16). Paul was experiencing some rather difficult circumstances, yet notice what he wrote in Philippians 4:11-12, the context of today’s Scripture: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

God never promised us Christians carefree living. Sometimes, we may experience financial burdens while other times we may have material riches. Whether shackled in a Roman prison, or free to do the work of the ministry abroad, Paul could be content. Regardless of our circumstances, God’s Word says that we can endure them in Christ.

Colossians 1:11 says we are “strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” The Lord told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Where will God strengthen us? God will strengthen us “with might by his Spirit in the inner man,” in our soul (Ephesians 3:16).

We can benefit from trying circumstances, beloved! “We glory [rejoice!] in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3-5).

In moments of heartache or happiness, of poverty or abundance, of sickness or wellness, “we can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us!”

A Scrawny Man Serving a BIG God

Friday, July 15, 2011

“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee;” (1 Samuel 17:45,46 KJV).

Imagine seeing Goliath, whose height was “six cubits and span” (verse 4)—roughly 10 feet (3 meters)! Verse 7 says his spear’s head alone weighed about 15 pounds (7 kilograms) and verse 5 says his armor coat weighed 165 pounds (75 kilograms)!

Goliath, ready for battle, grips his gigantic weapons. Suddenly, a puny Jewish boy appears before him with only a sling and a bag of five stones. How ridiculous, right? How can little boy David overcome Goliath, the Philistines’ champion? Someone BIG is behind little David.

“…Not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are:” (1 Corinthians 1:26-28).

Saints, in today’s Scripture, we see God’s wisdom demonstrated. Watch little boy David sling his small stone. Gigantic Goliath chuckles, until God sinks the rock deep into his forehead, killing him (1 Samuel 17:49,50). Goliath was a BIG man who served a PUNY god. David was a SCRAWNY man who served a BIG God. David won only because God won.

Our work for the Lord is difficult. Like David, we are so weak in our own strength. Satan’s world system is so strong, like Goliath. We, as young David, boldly say, “We will not be intimidated. The power of God Almighty is behind us. We are on God’s side, so in the end, we [scrawny people] win!”

Lest They Also Come Into This Place of Torment

Monday, July 11, 2011

“Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:27,28 KJV).

While fools often quip they anticipate their partying with friends in hell, the rich man of today’s Scripture was certainly not partying. By the way, this is NOT a parable.

The Bible says the rich man’s soul was in torments, greatly tortured by hell’s flames (verses 23-25). His mind was overwhelmed with regretful memories. He remembered he still had five lost brethren alive on earth, so he asked Abraham to send Lazarus to go witness to them and warn them of hell’s torments.

Notice Abraham’s response: “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (verse 29). If someone wants to avoid everlasting hellfire, he or she needs to study God’s Word and learn how to escape God’s righteous judgment against our sins.

Christian ambassadors, we have been entrusted with “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Our ministry is to tell the entire world they can have an opportunity to avoid hell because Jesus Christ suffered for them and as them on Calvary’s cross!

“[Christ] tasted death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9). Christ was “made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). The Bible says that Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

It has been said that the spirit of evangelism is stronger in hell than it is in the Christian heart. We all have family and friends headed to hell, yet we lapse into attitudes of unconcern, hoping that someone else will witness to them. Be bold in Christ. Tell them of Calvary’s cross. Pray for their salvation, too.

Whenever you fall into a state of complacency (unconcerned) in sharing the salvation found only in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be motivated to speak up when you remember the rich man’s haunting words: “Lest they also come into this place of torment!”

Aquila and Priscilla

Sunday, July 10, 2011

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” (Romans 16:3,4 KJV).

In Acts 18:1-3, during his second apostolic journey, the Apostle Paul came to Corinth for the first time. It was here that he met Aquila and Priscilla, a Jewish husband and his Jewess wife who recently emigrated from Rome. Like Paul, they were tentmakers by craft, so the Apostle lodged with them. During that time spent with Paul, Aquila and Priscilla came to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

From subsequent verses, we learn that Aquila and Priscilla became a husband-wife ministry team, laboring alongside Paul in the Gospel (Acts 18:18). Finally, Paul left them at Ephesus. There in Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla met Apollos, a Jew who was not using the Bible correctly. The Bible says they explained God’s way “more perfectly” to Apollos (Acts 18:24-26).

When writing to the Corinthians, in the A.D. mid-50s, Paul penned, “Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house” (1 Corinthians 16:19). Aquila and Priscilla’s house served as the meeting place for a local Christian assembly! Suddenly, the Bible is silent about them for many years.

By the time Paul writes his final epistle, 2 Timothy, circa A.D. 66-68, Aquila and Priscilla have been saved for approximately ten years. Thankfully, they are some of the few Christians who have not abandoned Paul. Just before dying, Paul writes, “Salute Prisca and Aquila…” (2 Timothy 4:19).

In today’s Scripture, Aquila and Priscilla are noted for risking their lives for the Apostle Paul. Precisely what they did is unknown, but let us always be willing to risk our lives in order to preserve the lives of our Christian brethren. After all, if Christ laid down His life for us, surely we can lay down our lives for others, especially for those in Christ.

Aquila and Priscilla, two saints of mighty deeds!

Our Liberty Which We Have in Christ Jesus

Monday, July 4, 2011

“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:” (Galatians 2:4 KJV).

Today, 235 years ago, on July 4, 1776, the United States’ Founding Fathers declared independence from Great Britain by adopting the Declaration of Independence. We in the United States are grateful for our liberties, but there is greater news in Christ. See our freedom in Christ:

  1. We are free from Satan’s control! Man fell into sin and Satan’s policy of evil in Genesis 3. But, the Bible says God “hath delivered us [Christians] from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).
  2. We are free from sin’s dominion. We do not have to serve sin. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Romans 6:6-7).
  3. We are free from the condemnation of the Law. Romans 8:1 explains: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
  4. We are free from the bondage of works-religion! Galatians 5:1 says: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” The Galatian believers were deceived by a false gospel, believing they had to work for their salvation. Hence, they were in bondage to the Mosaic Law (see today’s Scripture).
  5. We are free from self-righteousness. Ephesians 2:8,9 say: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” We are saved by Christ’s righteousness, not ours (Romans 3:21; 2 Corinthians 5:21)!

We are free in Christ! Never let someone rob you of that freedom by forcing you under Israel’s performance-based acceptance system.

The Saviour Who Suffered Surely Succours the Suffering Saints

Monday, June 27, 2011

“And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; and saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch” (Mark 14:33,34 KJV).

We have all experienced great emotional strain. In today’s Scripture, just hours before His arrest, the Lord Jesus’ soul is troubled, greatly tormented. He foresees His suffering and ultimate crucifixion. This foreknowledge is coupled with satanic oppression. It is as if Christ is being squeezed inside. He is “very heavy.” His soul is “exceeding sorrowful unto death.” Jesus Christ is vexed, troubled to the point of depression. This is probably one of the lowest points in our Lord’s earthly life.

Luke’s account records Christ as being so weak (His humanity evidenced) that an angel from heaven appeared to Him in order to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43). Verse 44 says, “Being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” He was praying very intensely.

Christ suffered for our sins, far more than we could ever suffer. Sin causes us pain, just as it did Jesus Christ. We all live in this sin-cursed world. However, no matter what temptation we suffer, Someone else suffered worse distress. If our Lord Jesus Christ could endure such extreme depression, surely we can endure much less trying times in Him. Even in the cases of severe suffering (to the point of desiring death), Jesus Christ empathizes with us.

Those of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ can draw on His strength in difficult times. Our Saviour can comfort us and give our hearts and minds peace. Regardless of our circumstances, God’s grace is sufficient for us, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9,10).

In times of depression and heartache, we need to look to Jesus Christ: “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour [help, relieve] them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

Sunday, June 25, 2011

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV).

In today’s Scripture, the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith.” We, as members of the Church the Body of Christ, are soldiers. In Philippians 2:25, Paul calls Epaphroditus his “fellowsoldier.” Paul also mentions Archippus, he and Timothy’s “fellow-soldier” (Philemon 1:2). The Apostle encouraged Timothy, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3,4).

Ephesians 6:10-18 describes the battle between God’s purpose and program and Satan’s purpose and program. The Bible says we must put on “the whole armour of God” if we are to endure that spiritual war. Verse 12 reads, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

How does Satan triumph over the Christian? It starts within the mind! We read in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

We must renew our minds by studying the King James Bible “rightly divided” on a daily basis (Romans 12:1,2; Ephesians 4:22-24; Ephesians 5:26). The Word of God is “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). Let God’s Word that you have believed defend you as Satan attacks your mind.

Some of the Apostle Paul’s final words read (2 Timothy 4:6,7): “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

Let us too keep the faith! Let us too fight the good fight of faith!

Forgiven and Ordained to Grace Livin’

Monday, June 20, 2011

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14 KJV).

Is Paul’s Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) a license to sin? No. According to today’s Scripture, grace teaches us NOT to sin. If we have trusted exclusively in the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, we are “new creatures in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are no longer in Adam; we are saints in Christ. So, grace demands that our daily living reflect our new identity:

  • live “soberly” — let your mind be transformed by the sound doctrine found in God’s Word rightly divided (Romans 12:1,2; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 4:23; Colossians 3:10).
  • live “righteously” — allow the indwelling Holy Spirit fulfill the law in you (Romans 7:5,6; Romans 8:4; Ephesians 5:9).
  • live “godly” — permit God/Christ live His life in and through you (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21; Colossians 3:2).

Christ has “redeemed us” (bought us back) from our identity in Adam and the sins of the flesh (today’s Scripture) because He died for our sins, and was raised again for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 4:25).

In Christ, we are ordained (appointed) to good works: “For we are his [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Grace living is not you living the Christian life, but you letting Christ live His life in you!

According to today’s Scripture, while allowing grace to teach us how to live in this present world, we should also be looking for our catching away (rapture) to meet the Lord in the air. What a glorious day that will be!

Saints, rejoice. You have been forgiven and ordained to grace livin’!

[Dedicated to C.N.]