WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST

“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” (2Cor 5:20). “(Pray) for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Eph 6:19, 20).

An ambassador is King’s (President’s) highest-ranking representative to another nation. An ambassador is a strong leader, not easily discouraged, a good manager and communicator, a successful negotiator, and a respected representative of his country. His duty is to influence the country where he is posted with the good will of his King. He studies the people in the country where he is posted. He helps the citizens of his own country who live in the diaspora. He is totally committed to his king. When speaking in public, he never gives his personal opinion in any matter. He only voices the opinion of his king.

An ambassador never becomes a citizen of the country where he works. That means betrayal. He is totally protected by his King. He is well paid. His King pays for all his expenses while he is on duty. He is not voted for by people. He is appointed by his King. None can arrest him. Based on international law, ambassadors have diplomatic immunity. They have the right to resist their random arrest while on official duty. If he is suspected of a crime, the host country will not arrest him, but it can expel him. His King is the only one who can call him back from duty. The ground of the embassy belongs to his country. (For example, when a Nigerian living in France enters the Nigerian embassy in Paris, he is on Nigerian soil. Nigeria has 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates globally).

Ambassadors must navigate complex political and cultural landscapes while representing their country’s interests. This requires a high level of emotional intelligence and the ability to handle difficult conversations and negotiations with wisdom and skill. Ambassadors are special people. They have leadership qualities. They tend to be artistic, intuitive, discreet, sensitive, articulate, original, and expressive. They are enterprising, adventurous, ambitious, extroverted, energetic, confident, and optimistic.

God has always used men to represent Him, to speak in His name. For example, at the burning bush, God called Moses to be His servant, prophet, and His ambassador to Egypt. Moses was well educated in the best universities of Egypt. But now, as an old man of 80, living as a shepherd in the desert for 40 years, Moses has lost his confidence that he could represent Jehovah. He argues with God saying that he is not qualified for such a high position. God encourages him saying that He will be with Moses in and out of Egypt. “Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” (Exo 4:10-12). God tells Moses that because Pharoah will reject him, Egypt will be punished and let go of all the Jews living there. Soon, about 2 million Jews who were slaves, left Egypt as free people.  Who is like unto Thee, Oh, Lord! Lesson: God does not call the qualified. God qualifies the called! Selah!

The Greatest Ambassador of God is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God the Father sent God the Son to earth, to become a Man, to teach men His will, and to die for them. He came as the King of God’s Kingdom. He came as the Ambassador of heaven, speaking on behalf of God the Father. Thru the Holy Spirit, Jesus had access to all the resources of heaven. He said that He does not speak His words and He does not do His will. Jesus, the perfect Ambassador of heaven, only speaks His Father’s Word and does His Father’s will. “Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (Jn 8:28, 29). “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jn 14:10-12). Jesus is our Example, Mentor, and King!

In Greek, the word ‘ambassador’ means an elderly person, a senior citizen, the King’s representative. As Christians, we are servants and ambassadors of Christ to all the nations. It is the highest privilege. We preach the Gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected. We manifest agape love to all. This work is a mystery. God uses us to advance His Kingdom to the ends of the world. We are totally protected by Christ. He provides us with all that we need. As ambassadors, we do not advertise ourselves. We lift the name of King Jesus, speaking only God’s Word! “We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2Cor 4:5). King Jesus prepared us as His ambassadors saying: “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Lk 12:11,12). He gave us full authority in His name, to bind and to loosen. Jesus said: “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:21-22). As ambassadors of the Prince of Peace, we need to be filled with His Spirit, expanding God’s Kingdom. Rejecting us means rejecting our King! To represent King Jesus is the highest privilege given to man! May we always please our King in the work He gave us to do! Amen!

Questions: When people look at you, what impression do you give? By your words and deeds, how do you represent God’s Kingdom to others? Look at yourself, examine yourself. Do you give the impression that all you are interested in are the things of this world? Are you so experienced in cooking, or in the latest fashion style, in the latest news in politics, or the gist of Nollywood? Or do you have the revelation of eternal life, standing as a signpost, faithfully pointing people to the Lord! May we be found faithful! Worship the Lord!

WEALTH IN THE KINGDOM

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matt 6:19-25)

Jesus spoke about wealth more than about any other social issue, including marriage, work, sex, politics or power. This is a difficult subject to preach and hard to listen to. But we must give our attention to it, examine ourselves and repent if necessary. Jesus exposes the sin of loving and trusting money. This attitude has no place in God’s Kingdom. All unbelievers are greedy, and selfish. They hoard money and possessions. This is natural for them because they do not believe in a God who cares for men. Christians should be different in attitude and behavior. But even the Christians fall into the sin of greed. These days, wealth is displayed and advertised openly. For example, to sell an expensive car, the advert says: ‘Imagine yourself at the wheel’. Trying to imagine that you may fall into the sin of covetousness. Someone asked a question: ‘What are you willing to do for one million dollars?’ Half of the people said that they are ready to spend time in jail, divorce, or never see their best friend again. May God open our spiritual eyes to see the truth that sets free! Amen!

King Jesus commands us, the believers, the citizens of His Kingdom how to make and handle wealth. First, we are told not to lay (or store) our treasures on earth. The reason is that they will surely be lost, either gradually in this life (thru rust, moth or by thieves) or at death. “As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand” (Ecc 5:15). This is a fact: storing treasures on earth is never safe. To save is wise. King Jesus redirects our desire to save. He said that we should ‘lay up for ourselves’ treasures in heaven, where none has access to destroy or steal. This is a fact: storing our treasures in heaven is safe forever. Jesus does not forbid us to work hard, save money or plan regarding money or property to be used in the future. The Bible commands us to work hard and save. “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children… ” (PV 13:22). We are told to study the ant because she works hard, to store food for the winter (PV 6:6-8). We are commanded to work hard, to take care of our responsibilities, to save money and to be generous. “A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion… He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor” (Ps 112:5, 9). “There is one who scatters yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself” (PV 11:24, 25). “He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor” (PV 22:9). “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad; He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever” (2Cor 9:6-9). God provides wealth and the wisdom to manage it, for our good and for His glory! Selah!

God commands blessings on those who are generous and invest in God’s work on earth. When we give money to God’s work and to God’s people, we show thru our actions that our King is good. Generosity is a proof that we are saved, and we are citizens of God’s Kingdom, where there is no lack. Greed is a sign of unbelief or backsliding. By giving to others, we worship God; we remove the hindrance that stops the river of grace coming from heaven to earth, being a channel of blessings to others. God in return promised to bless us the more.

Jesus said that where we deposit our treasures, there our hearts will go to. If you store your treasures on earth, your heart will be earth bound, and you will be filled with doubts and anxiety. If you lay your treasures in heaven, your heart will be set on heaven. You will be filled with hope, faith, peace and joy, having the assurance of your salvation. You will not fear the devil or hell anymore. How do we store our treasures in heaven? By studying the Bible, prayer, by loving God and our neighbors, by paying tithes and offerings for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom on earth, by helping the poor, the sick, the weak, the elderly and the prisoners. This is a fact: the only safe place to keep our treasures, is heaven, for God’s protects them. This is God’s Word: “Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]” (Col 3:2; AMP). Examine your spiritual focus!

It is true that people love money. But it is also true that wealth alone does not satisfy. “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity (emptiness)” (Ecc 5:10; AMP). Why then men think that money can be a god to compete with Jesus in their hearts? What is the powerful attraction of Mammon? The word ‘Mammon’ means money, or riches, especially when you love, admire, and lust for them. Mamon is a god that demands people to trust in wealth, social status, and fame. Mammon is not like our God. He is like a god among other gods. He is not jealous! He does not mind part-time worship, combined with adultery, selfish ambition, and love for power. Even as a secondary god, Mammon has the power to corrupt the heart and the mind. The point of entrance for Mammon is the eyes. The lodging place is the soul (the mind and the heart). Jesus says that the eyes of the believer must be good. In Greek, the word ‘good’ also means pure, generous, whole or healthy. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be filled with light, truth, and divine health. If your eyes are bad, there is spiritual darkness in your mind. The word ‘bad’ also means evil, wicked, or jealous. What you see affects the health of your body and your mind. For example, Jesus said that adultery starts with the lust of the eyes. Its ‘virus’ enters the mind and makes it restless. The body becomes weak and sick. In the same way, through the eyes, Mammon can negatively affect the soul and the body. If you gaze long at your neighbor’s expensive car, or house, your eyes become evil or jealous. This jealousy leads you to dream of sinful ways to make more money. This is a warning to protect your eyes. Be careful and wise! Do not look too long at seducing adverts for material things that do not belong to you. You can appreciate a nice car but be careful not to covet it. There is a thin line. Learn to keep your eyes on Jesus! Learn to discipline your eyes! Be careful with the videos or pictures on the internet. Pornography has the power to pollute your heart. In the same way, expensive, luxurious things the rich people boast of can temp you. This is a simple sign that you may be under the influence of Mammon: If your little son asks for a bicycle, then you answer: ‘we cannot afford it now…’. The answer is a sign that Mammon influences your mind. Money is your master telling you what you can afford and what not you cannot. The better answer may be: ‘this is not the time to buy a bicycle’. To be protected and free, the power of the Cross must work in you! “So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God]” (Col 3:5; AMP).

As you cannot be greedy and generous at the same time, so you cannot serve Mammon and God together. A slave belongs to only one master. Many people look at Jesus as their boss in the office. They think that they can have three jobs, and three bosses at the same time. But King Jesus is not your boss. He is the King of His domain and demands total allegiance. He provides all that you need according to His riches in glory. A righteous man never needs to beg for food. King Jesus searches your eyes and your heart. The cure for evil eyes and stingy hearts is Loving God and loving your neighbor. Jesus said: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mk 12:30, 31). To love God with all your heart, be sure that your heart is in love with Jesus. To love God with all your mind it means to meditate on God’s Word. To love God with all your strength, it means to use your natural and spiritual power to invest in eternal things, in obeying God’s Word to deposit your treasures in heaven. This is the only way you can live a good, clean, peaceful, joyful life in this difficult world. This is the price to pay for the ideal testimony to have favor with God and man. In the absence of this wisdom, you will surely become anxious and troubled, no matter how much money you have stored in the bank.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear now!