Made For This Pt. 5
MADE FOR MISSION
2 Corinthians 5:20 – Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
Every believer in Jesus Christ is a missionary for Jesus Christ.
Some of us are sent across the oceans, some of us are sent across the country, and some of us are sent across the street. All of us are sent!
In the Scripture this morning, the apostle Paul is reminding us of what God has done for us in Christ and the calling upon our lives to share that Good News with others.
2 Corinthians 5:18 – Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:19 – God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
Reconcile – to restore a relationship, make things right, restoring a relationship that has been broken
The relationship between God and humanity was broken through sin
God the Father sent His Son to bear our sin upon the cross, so we could be forgiven, the relationship restored.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
For those who have experienced that restored relationship with the Father, we have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:19(NLT) – And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:20 – Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ.
Fire Bible – An ambassador is an officially authorized representative of one country to another.
Ambassador – A messenger or envoy officially representing a higher authority.
We are ambassadors for Christ. We are His official representatives on the earth.
How do we live out this calling as an ambassador for Christ?
KNOW THE KING
If we are to represent Him well, we need to know Him well.
Mission and Ministry for the King flows out of intimacy with the King
Proverbs 22:11 – He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend.
We can be friends with the King. We can hear His voice. We can live in His Presence.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
SHARE THE MESSAGE OF THE KING
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
In the time of the N.T. ambassadors would be sent from one country to another with messages from the monarch of his country.
We have been entrusted with the message of the Monarch of Heaven!
2 Corinthians 5:20(NLT) – So we are Christ’s ambassadors: God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
FULFILL THE MISSION OF THE KING IN THE POWER OF THE KING
The mission of the King is to so love people with the love of the King that their hearts are open to receive the message of the King.
2 Corinthians 5:14 – For the love of Christ compels us.
We need the King’s power in order to fulfill the King’s mission.
Luke 4:18 – The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
We need the anointing power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the mission entrusted to us.
Rodman Williams – “The Holy Spirit is a “Missionary Spirit.” Wherever He comes upon people, they are charged with power to move beyond themselves and become a witness for Christ.”
LORD SEND THE FIRE!
2 Corinthians 5:20(NLT) - We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
Questions for Discussion
Do you see yourself as a missionary for Jesus Christ? Why or Why not?
Have you experienced reconciliation between friends or family members?
What did God the Father do that made a way for us to be reconciled to Him?
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?
Who are you seeking to influence for Jesus Christ at this time in your life?
Memory Verse
2 Corinthians 5:20 – Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.