untitled
Armor for Ambassadors
for “God’s Kingdom”
In the words of wise Solomon we find said. “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death” (Prov 14:12).
If a man's beliefs do not conform with the truth as given to us in the scriptures, he is on exceedingly
dangerous ground. It is only when our beliefs conform with God’s truth that we may go forward with confidence.
We are to build “Armor for Ambassadors”from the foundation found in apostle Paul's writings.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new” (2 Cor 5:17-20). When reading that verse, some are apt to think that when a man or woman is
called and baptized old habits, evil thoughts, lustful looks and all the fruits of the flesh are forever done away
and every thing becomes automatically new in a persons life. No more worldly challenges! We know that is
simply not true! Verse 18 tells us, “All things are of god, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and
has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” Reconciliation Strong’s # 2644 means: 1. to change throughly
from one position to another; 2 restoration to divine favor; 3 bring back into harmony God’s truth. Verse 19, “To
wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has
commented unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be you reconciled to God.”
To be an ambassador for Christ and to be reconciled to God the Father in this flesh we have to engage
in the fruits of His Holy Spirit, and recognize His mercy of grace, and His operation of government.
In Paul's epistle to Titus, he stressed the necessity to embrace “Sound doctrine” those just mentioned.
Then he proved Titus and us with an example of his meaning. “For the grace of God [that is the unmerited
pardon] that brings salvation has 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, [special people] zealous of good works. These
things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you” (Titus 2:11). God used Paul
as one of His earthly ambassadors as He did with many others that we read of in His word.
A careful evaluation of Paul's exhortation to Titus, yields a deeply rewarding understanding of what the
Apostle Paul sought to convey. The Jerusalem Bible translates the opening phrase of verse 11, “You see, God's
grace has been revealed and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race.”
Paul again, refers to himself as a prisoner of the Lord in the book of Ephesians and expresses the proper
function of grace. Notice Eph 4: 7- 8. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift
of Christ.” Grace, unmerited pardon is a spiritual gift. Every one of us has been called to serve God according
to the measure of the gift of Christ. Vs.8, “Wherefore He says, when He ascended up on high, He led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men.” We find these gifts given to men written out by ambassador Paul. He prefaces
these gifts by saying, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” He then said
in verse 4, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations,
but the same Lord, and there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Cor 12:1). That leads the next few verses
quite naturally to a list of gifts of the Spirit, starting with the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, the gift of
faith, gift of healing, working of miracles, gift of prophecy, a discerning of spirits and the gift of languages.
God has combined all the differing members of the church body into an organic structure. So the church
is considered to be representing the body of Christ, and individual members are seen as parts of the body. For
any church to function properly, every member must do his or her part in a harmonious spirit of cooperation with
the other called members. Had the church at Corinth learned this lesson, many of their problems would have been
solved.
The third thing I mentioned, to be an ambassador is to recognize God's order of government that is
theocratically run. The Apostle Paul brings this out in Eph 4: 11-14, Paul writes: “And He gave some, apostles;
and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for
the work of the ministry, For the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”
Two results occur when God's called reach spiritual maturity. One, they will no longer think immaturely
or be easily deceived by every wind of false doctrine. And two, they will fully grow up in all aspects of Christ
like living, in doctrine, righteous conduct, serve others, and speaking God's truth in respect and love.
Christ like maturity is attained in part by having things be done decently and in order. Notice what Paul
reminded the church at Philippi, as well as the churches of God today! “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have
always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things
without murmurings and disputings: that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world; Holding
forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain”
(Phil 2:12-16). With those thoughts, an ambassadors responsibility is nothing to take lightly.
We have heard or read in the scriptures that some felt Paul was a man hard to understand. Paul was not
hard to understand, they just did not like his bold stand against the fruit of the flesh. Paul humbly sought God's
will to be done and the people did not like to hear their sins revealed, and be told to follow him as he follows
God.
“Now we [Paul, Salvanus and Timothy] command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he
received of us. For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among
you” (2 Thess 3: 6 - 9). The us is speaking of constructive order, like we read in 1Cor 12.
We, as Paul, after putting on God's armor and wearing His sword, find ourselves separated from this
world, and its sinful ways, the fruits of the flesh.
You and I are finding it’s not easy to stand alone as Paul did, girted about with God's truth.
We have found God's truth separates us from all this world, its government and religions. Look at couple
meaningful verses found in the Lord’s real prayer. Verses read at Passover, “Now they [the disciples] have
known that all things whatsoever you have given Me are of You. For I have given unto them the words which
you gave Me; And they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from You, and they have
believed that You did send me” (John 17:7-8).
As believing disciples, Christ goes on to pray for us in verse 9, “I pray for them I pray not for the world.”
He is praying for us, His disciples whom the Father had given Him out of the world.
Can a man whose affections and attention that are upon this world benefit from this prayer? NO! Vs 9,
“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which You have given Me; for they are Yours.” Every
one who would have the benefit of that prayer must be separated from the world, from the things of this world,
and from the affairs of this world.
A persons affections, “period,” must not be set upon this world. Verse 16: and 17, Christ goes on to say,
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Your truth: Thy word is truth.”
The sooner we find that our only refuge, our only confidence, is in God and our only allegiances is to His
Kingdom and the principles which He gave us, the better off we will be. In a sense we each stand alone, as an
ambassador for God's soon coming kingdom [His government].
When keeping up with the world news, we know the danger of living in a foreign country and serving
as an ambassador from the U.S.A.
The role of an ambassador is that of being a representative of a government and its nation in the presence
of those to whom he is sent. An ambassador is to faithfully discharge the duties concerning his countries policies
and purposes. He is the official messenger upon whom his government constantly depends.
For us, in God's church it would be a correct statement to say: those who identify themselves with the
good news of God's government, are ambassadors of Christ, and for God the Father. Ambassadors for God are
commissioned to proclaim fundamental truths. Such as, teaching God's laws, God's statutes, God's ordinances
and judgements.
GOD IS
AN
ACTIVE
PARTNER
IN ALL
THAT WE
DO!!
Ambassadors for God declare Christ' return, to restore domestic tranquility bring about international
peace, and establish a rule of righteousness throughout all the world.
Being an ambassador for the King of kings and Lord of lords must not exceed the task of witnessing what
he has been commissioned to bare and that is the testimony to God's faithfulness and
declare His purposes, as they are revealed to him in the scripture. When Christ sent His
disciples out into the world He said in Matthew 10:7, “As you go, preach, saying, the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The government of God is at hand. In verses 14 - 15 He
said, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out
of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, it shall be more
tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that
(house or) city.” A person, a house, or even a city that refused to listen to God's
messenger was condemned. It is a serious matter to reject God's ambassadors, those who
represents God's government that is to come!
We do not want to forget what Paul told us earlier. “Now then we are
ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's
stead, be you reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). Paul goes on in chapter 6 of 2 Cor. to mention his personal
conduct and life of labor and suffering for Christ, as an ambassador for God's kingdom. “We then, as workers
together with Him,” that is Christ! That statement puts responsibility on us as ambassadors, it tells us, God is an
active partner in all that we do.
Titus the principle of co-operation and team work, is vital to personal accomplishment, if we are to have
success as ambassadors. Man's capacity for good is completely dependent upon the measure of his co-operation
and team work with God the Father and Jesus Christ's inspired ways. Remember Paul told the church at Philippi,
as well as the Churches of God today, “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it
is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and
disputing: that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked
and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may
rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain” (Phil 2: 12-16).
We find these same word “in vain” used in 2 Corinthians chapter 6, in connection with the word of
“grace.” “We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that you receive not the grace of God in
vain” (2 Cor 6:1).
Grace as we know means-unmerited pardon and the words “in vain” means: without it having served any
useful purpose. Paul continues, “For He said, I have heard you in a time accepted, and in the Day of salvation
have I secured you: [that is helped you] Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of Salvation.
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed” (2 Cor. 6:2-3). Paul here speaks of his own
service as an ambassador for Christ, knowing there would always be those who would take offense to what is
preached or personally done. He knew God's word is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12).
To some, truth and holiness gives offense . We find evidence of that in John 6, when Christ explained
to those that were following Him, that He was the bread of life, then they became offended. “Many therefore of
His disciples, when they had heard this said, this is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in Himself
that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, doth this offend you? From that time many of His disciples
went back, and walked no more with Him” (John 6:60-61, 66). It seems, any warning against sin, error or
differences of opinion gives offense.
Both Jesus and Paul stirred up opposition wherever they went. We are told by Christ, “Think not that I
am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34). Christ is speaking of His
two edged sword, His word against human nature.
In Luke 12: verse 51, Christ said personally to His servants, that families would be divided over spiritual
matters. “Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, nay; but rather division. Christ went
on to warn in verse 36 0f Matthew 10, “And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.” “Foe has a
unkind meaning,” hostile = antagonistic= enemy = adversary. Simply put, just don’t want to get along.
No Christian has ever encountered more opposition than Christ! Look at Acts 17, where we read of
Christ's disciples, that were charged with having “turned the world upside down.” “But the Jews which believed
not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set
all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and when they found them not, they drew Jason and
certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, these that have turned the world upside down are come
hither also; whom Jason had received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is
another king, one Jesus” (Acts 17:5-7).
In every age God's servants have found conflict. Why is that? It’s because God's standard of
righteousness often stands in the way of mans selfish ways. No minister or ambassador can hope to speak the
truth faithfully without at times offending some men or women whose lives are there by shown to be wrong!
Paul, Christ' faithful ambassadors wrote Timothy, “I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant
in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts [desires] shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears; [hear only soft things] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, [God’s Word] and
shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:1-4). Myths and false facts!
Paul is telling Timothy: they will willfully turn away from those who teach the truth of God's two edged
sword and search for a group of teachers who will follow them in what they, not God’s word says to practices.
Remember what Paul told Titus when looking for a qualified deacons or elders to ordain. He said make
sure he's “Not giving heed to Jewish fables (false facts), and commandments of men [tradition of men], that turn
from the Truth” (Titus 1:14).
Satan can always do more damage to the advancement of truth by working within God's church, than by
attacking it from without. It is Satan we have to be on guard against. Read some sound advice from God's word
in Rom 13. “Let every soul [person] be subject unto the higher powers [authority]. For there is no power
[authority] but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. This verse introduces us to the reason for
verse 4, For he is the minister of God [a servant of God] to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be
afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him
that does evil” (Rom 13: 1, 4). God's word is the ministers two edged sword, that he uses to protect the flock,
God’s church from intruders.
Notice 2 Corinthians 6, where Paul in verses 8-10, sets forth a series of opposing members in the service
for God. “By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true” (2 Cor. 6:8). A
true disciple or ambassador will experience highs and lows! Paul is saying, as well as all the territory that lies
between! It is a life of victory and seeming defeats, of compliments and criticism.
A true ambassador and servant of God is the object of evil reports and good reports. Some will speak well
of their zeal and courage, while others will only have condemnation, for God's called ambassadors. Vs 9, “As
unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed.” In one sense, Paul
like us, was unknown, unappreciated and mis-understood. Yet as an ambassador, well known to God and His
true believers. Vs 10, “As sorrowful, yet all-ways rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing,
and yet possessing all things.”
An ambassador will at times suffer sorrow, having their own trials, experiencing their
own shortcomings and their personal hurt, in finding many rejecting God's truth.
Let me recommend you read the ambassador chapter found in Romans 12:1- 21, that will
give you a better insight to what being an ambassador for God’s kingdom pictures! ☜
James Russell