WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.280 --> 00:00:04.080 If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are 2 00:00:04.120 --> 00:00:08.599 a representative of Jesus Christ. You are an ambassador. You 3 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:14.560 have an assignment, and your assignment is to build relationships. Now, 4 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:18.760 if you're going to follow Jesus as an ambassador, it's 5 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.280 going to have to affect the way you live. It's 6 00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:23.960 going to radically change the way you live. In fact, 7 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:27.480 the Bible says this Philippians one twenty seven. Be sure 8 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:33.079 that you live in a way that brings honor to 9 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:36.079 the good News of Christ. Says if you're going to 10 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:39.560 be ambassador, you're going to be a representative of Jesus. 11 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:41.560 You got to live like it. You can't just name 12 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:44.359 the name without playing the game. You've got to back 13 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:48.039 it up with your life. I think it's a good 14 00:00:48.039 --> 00:00:53.320 phrase we need to ask ourselves quite frequently as we 15 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:55.640 get up in the morning, when you're getting going out 16 00:00:55.640 --> 00:00:59.960 for the days, Remember who you represent when you're out 17 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:03.880 playing a pickup game of ball. Remember who you represent. 18 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:06.760 When you go into a grocery store or a theater, 19 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:12.719 or you're in line with traffic. Remember who you represent 20 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:16.599 when you're frustrated with a clerk and you want to 21 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:21.799 chew them out. Remember who you represent. If you name 22 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:24.040 the name of Christ, the Bible says, you are an 23 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:28.799 ambassador of Jesus. Now, the Bible says in Ephesians, chapter 24 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:29.280 four of this. 25 00:01:29.799 --> 00:01:31.239 Live a life. 26 00:01:32.599 --> 00:01:37.560 Worthy of the calling you have received as an ambassador. 27 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:41.280 You have three responsibilities here on earth, and these are 28 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:44.120 the things that God wants you to do as an ambassador. 29 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:49.920 Number one, I must be an example. I must set 30 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:53.840 an example for other people. The first thing God wants 31 00:01:53.879 --> 00:01:57.079 you to do is help other people know what God 32 00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:07.840 is like by being example of his character qualities love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, kindness, meekness, 33 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:11.360 self control. Now, the Bible says this in One Peter 34 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:19.800 chapter two. People who do not believe are living all 35 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:23.319 around you. That's kind of obvious. People who do not 36 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:27.680 believe are living all around you, and they might say 37 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:33.960 you're doing wrong. So live such good lives that they'll 38 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.080 see the good things you do and will give glory 39 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:40.719 to God. What's he saying there? The first job of 40 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:43.719 an ambassador, whether it's of a country or of Jesus, 41 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:47.039 is you set a good example. What if you lived 42 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:50.599 your life like that that you realize that you're always 43 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:54.759 on as an ambassador of Jesus Christ, then no matter 44 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:59.000 where you go, you are the only Christians some people 45 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:03.120 will ever know that the people around you, you're the 46 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:07.680 only Bible that they will ever read. You are a 47 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:12.439 living Bible. And as a representative of Jesus Christ, as 48 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:15.400 an ambassador of Jesus, you're either a Bible or you're 49 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:19.599 a libel. You either make God look good or you 50 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:22.400 make God look bad. And there's plenty of Christians who 51 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:25.360 make God look bad. Would you agree with that? And 52 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:28.360 they say stupid things, and they're dogmatic, and they're mean 53 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:31.120 and they're cranky, and that's not a good day. 54 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:31.960 See, there are two. 55 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:34.319 Reasons why people don't know the Lord. One of them 56 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:38.240 is they've never met a Christian and the other is 57 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:43.759 they have. And they say, if that's what a follower 58 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:48.360 of Jesus is, no thanks God. And so you need 59 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:51.199 to realize that your life is to be an example 60 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:54.039 in everything you do. When my kids were growing up, 61 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:57.360 particularly in the teenage years, it used to bug them 62 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:01.960 that I greeted everybody no matter wherever we went, you know, 63 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:05.159 they said, Dad, do you always have to smile at everybody? 64 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:07.400 I mean, you're in the grocery store and you're talking 65 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:10.120 to people, and you're greeting people. And doesn't matter if 66 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:12.800 we're at the theater or we're at a baseball game, 67 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:16.399 or you know, we're driving down the street, or you 68 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:18.199 smile at everybody. 69 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:24.040 You have to always smile. I said, I'm an ambassador. 70 00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:26.160 That's true. 71 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:29.480 I'm an ambassador not because I'm a pastor, but because 72 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:32.560 I'm a follower of Jesus Christ. And there are people 73 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:34.639 out there in the community go, I know who that 74 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:37.600 guy is. That's Rick, and they want to know he 75 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:43.879 does his walk matches talk. Is he two different ways? 76 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:46.399 One way at church and another way in the community. 77 00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:52.160 Is he genuinely kind to everybody? Is he friendly? Is 78 00:04:52.199 --> 00:04:57.959 he compassionate? Is he merciful? Is he polite? Does he 79 00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:02.959 take it into consideration other peopleeople's feelings. I am an 80 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:07.800 ambassador of Jesus Christ, and so are you. And people 81 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:10.720 are watching you all the time. So you must set 82 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:13.560 an example. So my question is how well does your 83 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:19.279 daily life represent Jesus? Can anybody tell from your example 84 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:22.680 what God is like? I mean, if they look at 85 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:25.240 you where they say, you know what, Jesus must be 86 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:29.759 very kind because that guy's kind or she's kind. Jesus 87 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:32.639 must be very patient because Jesus is in his life 88 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:37.680 and he's patient. Jesus must be very forgiving because that 89 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:41.800 guy doesn't hold it against you. He's forgiving. He returns 90 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:46.240 good for evil. What does your life say about God 91 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:49.600 to the people around you? You may not like it, 92 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:51.839 but if you claim to be a follower of Christ, 93 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:55.000 you are an ambassador. You may be a lousy one 94 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:56.759 or you may be a good one, but you are 95 00:05:56.759 --> 00:06:02.519 an ambassador. You represent Jesus in everything you do, whether 96 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:05.120 you like it or not. So the first thing is 97 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:12.319 I must set an example. Second responsibility of an ambassador, 98 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:17.160 I must share the message. I have a message that 99 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:19.759 God has given me, and he wants me to share 100 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:25.399 it with other people. That's interesting that in politics or 101 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:31.839 in diplomacy, ambassadors are often used in history to end wars. 102 00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:38.079 Ambassadors are sent to negotiate the peace. Ambassadors are sent 103 00:06:38.360 --> 00:06:42.160 to sign the treaties. Ambassadors are sent to bring a 104 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:49.120 reconciliation between warring entities and conflicting groups. And it's not 105 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:52.279 an accident that God shows that term to refer to you. 106 00:06:53.639 --> 00:06:55.759 Where to help people make peace with God? 107 00:06:56.199 --> 00:06:59.920 Where to help people reconcile their relationship to God to 108 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:01.199 help people. 109 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:04.120 Make their peace with Him. 110 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:07.199 Now, God is very clear about the message he expects 111 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:11.240 you to share, so let's read it. Tewo Corinthians, chapter five, 112 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:17.639 verses seventeen and nineteen says this, anybody, anyone who is 113 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:24.560 joined to Christ becomes a new person. The old is gone, 114 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:27.439 he says. You know, all your past is wiped out, forgiven, forgotten. 115 00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:30.160 You get a clear conscience. He says, you get a 116 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:31.639 chance to start over. And most of the world is 117 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:33.560 hungry for that. They want to know, how do I 118 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:35.480 get rid of guilt? How do I get rid of shame? 119 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:38.079 How do I get rid of regrets? He says, anybody 120 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:40.000 who's joined to Christ becomes a new person. You get 121 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:42.839 a fresh start in life. It's like being born a 122 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:45.439 second time. In fact, the Bible calls it being born again. 123 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.720 It's like getting a fresh start. All this is done 124 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:52.360 by God in the words you don't do it, who 125 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:58.480 through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and 126 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:03.079 gave us the task of making others his friends. Also, 127 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:06.600 that's our task as ambassadors, to make others the friends 128 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:10.199 of God. Our message, here's the message is that God 129 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:12.959 was making all human beings as friends through Christ. 130 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:14.160 That's why I sent Jesus. 131 00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:18.199 God did not keep an account of their sins. He 132 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:21.319 forgave it all, and He's given us the message which 133 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:26.959 tells how he makes them his friends. This passage is 134 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:28.720 filled with spiritual truth. So let me point out a 135 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:32.799 couple of things. Number one, the first part of our 136 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:37.440 message is this, Jesus offers everybody a new life, so 137 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:39.519 that anybody whos joined to Christ becomes a new person. 138 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:43.600 This is the message of regeneration, the message of a 139 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:46.200 new birth, or message of you get a brand new life. 140 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:48.799 Would you like a chance to start over? Ever been 141 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:50.879 halfway through painting a room? He said, wish I could 142 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:53.440 start over, halfway climbing up a mountain, Wish I could 143 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:56.440 start over? Halfway through life? Go wish I could start over? 144 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:59.919 God says, you can. I'll give you a brand new life. 145 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:03.039 Jesus offers everybody in new life. Second part of our 146 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:06.679 message is Jesus ends our war with God. Did you 147 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.399 know that you're at war with God until you. 148 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:09.600 Make peace with him? 149 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:12.960 Where's the war? The war is the conflict in your 150 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:16.080 soul on who's going to be God? You are God? 151 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:19.159 And the Bible says every human being and all of 152 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:22.559 humanity is in rebellion against God because I want to 153 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:25.039 be God. I don't want God run in my life. 154 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:27.000 I want to run my life. I want to make 155 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:29.240 my decisions. I don't want God telling me what to do. 156 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:31.000 I want to do what I want to do. That 157 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:33.440 is the attitude that got Satan kicked out of heaven. 158 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:36.399 It's pride. The middle letter of pride is I, and 159 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:40.480 the middle letter of sin is I. And he's saying, 160 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:45.399 it is I that causes my problems, and that rebellion 161 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:47.720 against God puts me at war with God. You may 162 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:50.120 not realize it, but you're at war with God until 163 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:52.240 you accept what Christ has done for you. And that 164 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:55.399 conflict causes all of the problems in your life. This 165 00:09:55.600 --> 00:10:01.000 unknown stress, the subconscious pressure, the guilt, the the anxiety, 166 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:03.799 all those different things come from being out of whack 167 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:04.639 with your creator. 168 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:17.360 You know this. Christmas, you can enjoy the beauty of 169 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:20.360 God's word with a brand new set of fifty two 170 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:24.399 stunning scripture cards, each featuring verses about the birth of 171 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:29.039 Christ and adorned with elegant Christmas artwork. These are perfect 172 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:33.399 for memorizing scripture, tucking into gifts or placing on your 173 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:36.919 holiday table. These cards are a simple way to bring 174 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:40.200 meaning to the season and share God's love with those 175 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:44.080 around you. So whether you're starting a new tradition or 176 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:46.919 looking for a unique way to share the Gospel with 177 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:51.639 friends and family, well, these cards are a perfect fit today. 178 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:54.120 When you give a gift to help Daily Hope take 179 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:58.080 the certain Hope of Jesus to people worldwide, be sure 180 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:02.799 to request this very special collection of Christmas scripture cards. 181 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:06.440 It's our way of saying thanks for supporting Daily Hope. 182 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:12.200 And so he says, we're at war with God. But 183 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:14.519 God says God wants us, says its friends. That's the 184 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:18.960 message of reconciliation. And then he says the third thing here, 185 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:21.639 all of our war crimes have been forgiven. God just 186 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:25.159 wipes him out. That's salvation. How does God do this? 187 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:28.320 He does it through Jesus, and he does it out 188 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:31.159 of love. Look of the next couple verses. God was 189 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:36.720 in Christ making peace between the world and himself. That's 190 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:41.440 what Jesus died for. In Christ. God did not hold 191 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:45.440 the world guilty of its sin. That's good news. And 192 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:49.080 he gave us this message of peace. God has said, 193 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:52.120 we have a message of reconciliation. We have a message 194 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:55.000 of peace. We have a message that says the warring 195 00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:59.120 parties are being brought together. God did not hold the 196 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:00.919 world guilty of its sin, and he gave us the 197 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:05.080 message of peace. So we have been sent to speak 198 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:09.600 for Christ. It is as if God is calling to 199 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:16.320 you through us. We speak for Christ talking about every 200 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:19.279 believer when we beg you to be at peace of God. 201 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:24.200 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin 202 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:27.600 so that in Christ we could become right with God. 203 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:30.600 In other words, God took all of our badness. God 204 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:32.679 took it out of us and poured it on Christ. 205 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:35.440 And he took of all of good Christ's goodness and 206 00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:39.480 poured it into us. And he said that made the peace. 207 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:43.879 And we are workers together with God. And once you 208 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:46.919 circle the phrase we've been sent to speak for Christ. 209 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:49.919 That's the second thing we do as ambassadors. We share 210 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:53.919 the message. Anybody bought a car in the last two 211 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:58.320 or three years to see your hands, Okay, everybody's bought 212 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:01.399 a car probably at some point. Do you know this 213 00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:05.039 game that they play where you go to like a 214 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:09.679 car dealership and you find the car you want, and 215 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:13.639 the young you know, salesman is there, and then they 216 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:16.480 take you inside and you sit down in the showroom 217 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:18.799 and you start the deal and how much you're going 218 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:20.960 to give me for my car, and how much you're 219 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:23.039 gonna cut off the price of that car, and you 220 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:24.799 think you got a deal, and all of a sudden, 221 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:27.200 the salesman goes, excuse me, I have to go check 222 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:30.120 with the manager, you know I'm talking about, And they 223 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:33.039 play this game and it's a good cop bad cop. 224 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.480 I really want to give it to you like this, 225 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:36.440 but I got to go check with the manager. So 226 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:40.519 they go back into the inner sanctum where you can't go, 227 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:43.279 and they're there for a little bit, and they wait 228 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:46.200 along for a while, you know, And then they come 229 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:48.000 back out and say, well, you know, I'm sorry, but 230 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.480 my manager won't let me give this. 231 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:50.080 We're all good. 232 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:52.679 Well, then I'm going to go and win it. You're 233 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:55.480 not authorized to close the deal. Then I don't want 234 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:58.240 to talk to you. I want to talk to the 235 00:13:58.279 --> 00:14:01.360 manager because I don't want to play this game of 236 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:04.120 good cop bad cop. Of I'd really like to help you, 237 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:07.639 but the bad guy won't let me. So let me 238 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:13.039 just talk to the manager. And this little game of 239 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:16.639 give and take there means that I say, if you're 240 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:19.240 not authorized to close the deal, why am I talking 241 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:22.720 to you? Let me talk to the guys is authorized 242 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:27.279 to close the deal. Here's the amazing thing. When it 243 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:29.600 comes to offering the deal of salvation. 244 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:38.960 You you, you are authorized to close the deal. You don't 245 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.759 have to go to the manager in the back office. 246 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:45.919 You can say to anybody, I'm an ambassador of Jesus 247 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:53.799 Christ and i am a plury potent potentiary, which means 248 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:58.240 I'm authorized to make the offer in Jesus's name, and 249 00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:00.120 I don't have to go check with anybody else. And 250 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:03.440 here's the offer. All your sins from your past can 251 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:07.559 be forgiven. You get a purpose for living, You get 252 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:10.440 a home in heaven, and God promises to take care 253 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.639 of your life here on earth until he takes you 254 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:15.120 home to heaven. If you put your trust in faith 255 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:19.279 in Jesus Christ, that's the deal, and you don't have 256 00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:23.360 to go check with anybody else. You are the ambassador. 257 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:28.080 God has authorized every one of his children to speak 258 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:30.840 on his behalf and to make that offer and to 259 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:32.519 not have to go say, well, let me go get 260 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:36.600 my priest's opinion, or let me go get my pastor's opinion, 261 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:39.159 or let me go get somebody else's authority. No, no, 262 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:41.919 you have been given the authority to close the deal, 263 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:46.600 to make the offer of the message of peace to 264 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:48.879 anybody out there. Would you like to have your sins forgiven? 265 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:53.559 I can offer that to you to Jesus Christ. Would 266 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:55.240 you like to have a home in heaven. I can 267 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:57.840 offer that to you in Jesus Christ. And I don't 268 00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:02.000 have to check with anybody else, because you are an ambassador. 269 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:08.159 Number three, the third responsibility of an ambassador. Number one, 270 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:12.120 I must set the example. I must share the message. 271 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:19.120 I must show love. I must show love to everybody. 272 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.960 Because if you're an ambassador, you've got to have a 273 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:26.440 big heart and you got to show love. Why must 274 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:30.159 an ambassador of Jesus Christ show love to everybody? Because 275 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:35.519 God is love and if you show anything but love 276 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:43.639 to other people, you're not representing Jesus. God is love. Now, 277 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:46.279 how do I show love to the people in my life? 278 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:50.200 The people I work with, my neighbors, my family, my coworkers, 279 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:52.440 my enemies, my boss. 280 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:55.600 How do I do it? Three ways? It's the next 281 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.360 three verses. 282 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:59.759 The first way I show love is by using my 283 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:05.759 life life to meet others' needs. When you use your 284 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:08.519 life to meet the needs of other people in a 285 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:11.200 practical way, whether it's taking them a meal, or helping 286 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:14.680 them with a project, or offering them a ride, or 287 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:18.480 praying for them, or you know, picking up something at 288 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:21.319 the grocery thing, or helping them with a plan or 289 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:25.839 a deal. Every time you do practical help to somebody else, 290 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:30.079 you serve others, you're ministering to them. You're showing love 291 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:33.519 to meet their needs. Now, this is what an ambassador does. 292 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:40.240 The Bible says this. In First Essalonians two. Paul says, 293 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:42.519 we loved you so much. He's talking about the people 294 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:45.440 in this town in Greece called Thessalonika. He said, we 295 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:50.720 loved you so much that we gave you not only 296 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:55.079 God's good news that's number two, but number three our 297 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:59.319 own lives as well. Now, if you're going to be 298 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:02.920 an ambassador, some of the time you got to get 299 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:06.599 out of the embassy. 300 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.880 Does that make sense? 301 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:11.920 If you spend all your whole Christian life is spent 302 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:14.279 inside the four walls of the church, you're not much 303 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:17.599 of an ambassador. You've got to get out where people 304 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:21.920 are hurting, where they're needed, where they're love, need love, 305 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:25.160 and now they need help and concern. So you've got 306 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:29.839 to get out out of the embassy and into the interior, 307 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:33.400 using my life to meet others need. Second way, you 308 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:39.359 show love by giving respect to everyone. By giving respect 309 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:45.640 to everyone, as an ambassador of Jesus Christ, you are 310 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:50.640 not allowed to be disrespectful to anyone. Why because God 311 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:54.359 values every person. Doesn't matter who they are, what they've done, 312 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.279 who they've done it with, or how long they've done it. 313 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:59.200 They have the dignity of being created in the image 314 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:03.200 of God, and the Bible says this on the screen 315 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.559 one Peter two seventeen. 316 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:10.359 Treat everyone you like with dignity or doesn't say that? 317 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:16.640 Does it treat everyone you agree with politically with dignity? No, 318 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:21.039 it says treat everyone you meet with dignity. That means 319 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:24.480 even the people who voted differently than you, you may 320 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:29.519 not put them down. You may not use sarcasm and 321 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:32.960 slice and dice and use the same kind of words 322 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:36.400 that the world does for people you disagree with. Treat 323 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:41.440 everyone you meet with dignity, Love your spiritual family, revere God, 324 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:45.799 and respect the government. That doesn't say respect the government. 325 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:49.160 If you voted for him, you didn't. Maybe you didn't 326 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:51.400 vote for the city council, you still need to respect them. 327 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:53.079 Maybe you didn't vote for the governor, you still don't 328 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:57.079 respect them. Senator President whoever, it doesn't matter me. The 329 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:02.640 Bible says respect the government. Why because as representatives of Jesus, 330 00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:09.079 we show dignity to everybody. Everyone, We show love and kindness. 331 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:16.279 Let me ask you, this is an ambassador dogmatic or diplomatic, 332 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:21.079 diplomatic They don't stay as ambassadors very long if they're 333 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:26.039 not diplomatic. When you find a dogmatic Christian, they are 334 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:28.680 not an ambassador of Jesus. 335 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:31.160 They may be on the radio. 336 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:33.519 They may be on television, they may write books or 337 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:36.519 blogs or whatever. If they're dogmatic, they may be right, 338 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:41.920 but they're wrong because they're not being diplomatic. The Bible 339 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:45.359 says we're to do everything in love. We're to respect everyone, 340 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:48.240 doesn't matter who they are, what they are, what they've done. 341 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:52.440 I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but 342 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:54.720 most of the time when I'm not at saddleback, I'm 343 00:20:54.799 --> 00:21:00.759 speaking to people who totally disagree with me. Almost all 344 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:03.240 the time, I'm speaking to groups, and that gets me 345 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:07.400 in a lot of trouble. Okay, I speak to other religions, 346 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:15.440 to atheists, to Muslims, to Jewish, to Buddhist, to secularists, 347 00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:20.119 to gay groups to I speak most of the time 348 00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:22.640 when I'm not saddled back to groups who totally disagree 349 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:28.039 with me. Why Because I am an ambassador. That's my job. 350 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:43.359 And you are an ambassador too. You know, no matter 351 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:47.839 how bad things seem, you can always trust that God 352 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:52.079 is active in your life, working things out for the good. 353 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:56.759 While you are waiting. God is working. God always has 354 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:00.319 your best interest at heart. He's a good God. Today, 355 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:02.039 I want to give you the example from a note 356 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:04.880 that I got from a young man named Tyler, who 357 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:08.880 has seen how God is always there even when circumstances 358 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:11.759 seemed to be their worst. Tyler wrote me, said, you know, Rick, 359 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:15.759 I haven't had a close relationship with Christ. But then 360 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:18.599 several events occurred in my life all at once. First, 361 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:21.039 my girlfriend broke up with me and that was the 362 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:23.720 biggest heartache that I could imagine for both of us. 363 00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:29.079 Then my friends left for college the same week, and third, 364 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:32.079 my dad left for California to start a new job, 365 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:36.599 leaving me in Ohio. All of this hit me at once, 366 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:40.920 and I was a complete mess. But with guidance from 367 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:46.680 others and realizing this was a scheduled appointment from God himself, 368 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:50.720 I found Christ through your Daily Hope podcast and through 369 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:54.079 prayer and in going to church, I finally found the 370 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:57.160 joy in my life again. And I'm a changed person. 371 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:59.880 Every day now. I listened to you, Rick, and I 372 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:03.279 read my daily devotional, and I look at life with 373 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:08.559 a whole new perspective. You know, before I was living 374 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:12.319 for me, I wasn't living for God. But this journey 375 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:14.640 has been so amazing. God is so good and the 376 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:16.599 best part is that I can wake up every day 377 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:19.480 knowing that He loves me and will listen to me, 378 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:22.279 and that Jesus Christ will take my worries from me. 379 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:26.480 I'm so thankful Rick, that God woke me up and 380 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:29.160 changed me into a better and healthier person that I 381 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:32.319 am today. And I'm thankful for my savior, Jesus Christ. 382 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:38.680 So God bless you well. Thanks Tyler, Thanks for writing 383 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:42.720 that encouraging letter. You have experienced firsthand how much God 384 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:46.680 cares for you, even in the smallest details of your life, 385 00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:49.720 and through this what was a very difficult season. He 386 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:52.799 led you to Jesus, the greatest gift you could ever receive. 387 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:55.960 So did you know that the Bible says in Luke fifteen, 388 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:59.480 right now, all of Heaven is rejoicing because you're a 389 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:01.880 part of God family. The Bible says they have a 390 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:05.079 party in heaven every time one person steps across the line. 391 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:05.839 And what that. 392 00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:10.000 Means that you and I are now brothers. Did you 393 00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:12.960 know that we're brothers in Christ? And your church family 394 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:18.440 are your brothers and sisters here to walk alongside you. So, Tyler, 395 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:21.240 welcome to the Family of God. And as you grow 396 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:25.319 in your faith, staying connected with a strong church community 397 00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:29.119 is so so important. I want you to surround yourself 398 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:31.880 with people who will encourage you in the Lord, who 399 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:34.119 will pray for you, who will help you stay strong 400 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:38.319 in your journey with Jesus, and just watch and see 401 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:42.200