WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.439 This weekend, I want us to look at the word ambassador. 2 00:00:04.040 --> 00:00:07.759 The Bible says in Second Corinthians five point twenty, we 3 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:12.279 are Christ's ambassadors. If you're taking note, circle that word. 4 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:18.280 We are Christ's ambassadors. Now, what is an ambassador. Well, 5 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:24.559 an ambassador is a representative send out on a mission 6 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:29.359 to build relationships. That's usually what an ambassador is, a 7 00:00:29.480 --> 00:00:35.799 representative sent out on a mission in order to build relationships. Now, 8 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:41.359 there are political ambassadors, there are economic and business and ambassadors. 9 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:45.520 There are cultural ambassadors, there are goodwill ambassadors. And the 10 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:51.920 Bible says there are spiritual ambassadors. And we are Christ ambassadors. 11 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:55.000 If you are a follower of Christ, the Bible says 12 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:58.600 you are an ambassador for Him in the world. So 13 00:00:58.679 --> 00:01:00.520 what I want us to do this week three things. 14 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:03.520 I want us to look at the role of an ambassador. 15 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:07.359 I want us to look at the responsibilities of an ambassador. 16 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:10.560 And I want us to look at the rewards for 17 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:13.319 being an ambassador of Jesus Christ. Let's get right into 18 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:16.319 it first. What is my role as an ambassador? Well, 19 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:18.439 what it means. Number one, it means that if I'm 20 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:24.159 an ambassador, I am a representative of Jesus. I am 21 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:28.439 a representative of Jesus. I represent Jesus in the world. Now, 22 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:31.680 to understand this, you need to understand the difference between 23 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:36.560 your career and your calling. You need to know the 24 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:41.159 difference between your job and your vocation. Now, the word 25 00:01:41.239 --> 00:01:45.120 vocation comes from the Latin word vosay, which is the 26 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:47.640 word for voice. We get the word vocal from it, 27 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:52.359 like a vocalist or a vocation. It means you're calling. 28 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:56.640 It has to do with your voice. Now. I was 29 00:01:56.680 --> 00:01:58.519 talking to somebody a while back and I said, what 30 00:01:58.560 --> 00:01:59.959 do you do? It's a person I just met us, 31 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:02.439 and what do you do? And they said, well, I'm 32 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:08.319 actually an ambassador for Jesus disguised as a businessman. I 33 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:10.319 talked to a woman one time. She said, I'm an 34 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:15.879 ambassador for Jesus disguised as a professional basketball coach. So 35 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:19.879 what's your disguise. You are an ambassador for Jesus. If 36 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:23.199 you're a follower of Christ, that's your primary calling. You're 37 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:27.000 an ambassador for Jesus. But you may be disguised as 38 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:30.560 a mom, as a nurse, as a truck driver, as 39 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:34.280 a mechanic, as a realtor, as a salesman or whatever. 40 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:39.120 That's your job, that's your career, but that's not your calling, 41 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:44.000 it's not your vocation. The Bible says this on the 42 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:48.319 screen tewod Timothy Chapter one. God saved us and called 43 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:53.240 us to be his own people, not because of what 44 00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:58.159 we have done, but because of his own grace and purpose. 45 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:01.479 And I notice it says he is called. He has 46 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:04.400 called us. What's your calling? This week? I looked up 47 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:08.199 the phrase calling and what we're called to do in 48 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:11.039 the Bible, and the Bible says this in Romans one seven, 49 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:14.319 and we're called to be his people. John fifteen, we're 50 00:03:14.360 --> 00:03:16.960 called to be God's friend. First Corinthians one, we're called 51 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:20.520 to be holy, and we're called into fellowship. The Bible 52 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.560 says in Second Corinthians five, we're called to speak for Christ. 53 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:27.879 Galatians five were called to serve each other, and Colossians 54 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:32.599 three were called to live in peace. Romans eighth, chapter eight, 55 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:35.560 verse twenty eight says we're called in verse twenty nine, 56 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:40.319 called to become like Jesus for God's purpose. Verse Peter two, 57 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:42.879 we're called to suffer for him. In First Peter three, 58 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:46.919 we're called to bless those who curse us Firs. Timothy 59 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:50.280 one says we're called to eternal life, and second Thessalonians 60 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:54.520 two says we're called to share His glory. That's your calling. 61 00:03:55.080 --> 00:03:58.439 It's not your career, but it's your calling. If you 62 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:01.879 are a follower of Jesus Christrist, you are a representative 63 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:06.400 of Jesus Christ. You are an ambassador. You have an assignment, 64 00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:11.719 and your assignment is to build relationships. Now, if you're 65 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:15.800 going to follow Jesus as an ambassador, it's going to 66 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:18.360 have to affect the way you live. It's going to 67 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:21.199 radically change the way you live. In fact, the Bible 68 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:24.639 says this Philippians one twenty seven, be sure that you 69 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:30.439 live in a way that brings honor to the good 70 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:33.399 News of Christ. Says, if you're going to be ambassador, 71 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:36.759 you're going to be a representative of Jesus. You got 72 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:38.720 to live like it. You can't just name the name 73 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:41.519 without playing the game. You've got to back it up 74 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:46.199 with your life. We need to remember that we represent Jesus. 75 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:49.000 Many years ago, when I was a high school student, 76 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:52.839 I was selected as one of eight students in this 77 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:58.160 state in California to be ambassadors to the International Congress 78 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:02.959 on Science and the Environment. And they said it's going 79 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:05.560 to be eight high school students and you're going for 80 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:09.639 a week, all expenses paid. We're giving an unlimited credit 81 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:16.519 line and no chaperones. What a life. And so I'm 82 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:19.240 one of the eight ambassadors from the state of California 83 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:21.959 as a high school student to go to this Congress. 84 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:25.839 As I'm walking out the door, my dad says to me, son, 85 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:33.399 remember who you represent. Remember who you represent. I didn't 86 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:38.839 just represent California. I represented the Warren name. And I 87 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:42.720 didn't just represent the Warren name. I represented Jesus Christ. 88 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:46.279 I think it's a good phrase we need to ask 89 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:51.199 ourselves quite frequently as we get up in the morning, 90 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:57.480 when you're going out for the day's remember who you represent? Now, 91 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:00.720 the Bible says the Ephesians, Chapter four, this live a 92 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:05.600 life worthy of the calling you have received. And I 93 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:09.240 have been called to represent Jesus in the world, and 94 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:11.959 so have you. This is not just for pastors, it's 95 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:15.720 for every believer. Now, Number two, an ambassador not only 96 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:20.519 represents someone. Number two. I've been given a mission. That's 97 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:23.800 the second thing an ambassador does. You're given a mission. 98 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:29.680 Ambassadors are sent on diplomatic missions. In fact, the embassies 99 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:35.600 where ambassadors work are called permanent missions. I've been in 100 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:38.720 many of them around the world, in many capitals of 101 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:42.360 different countries. I've been to the American embassy. And usually 102 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:45.399 when we go into a major city, a major like 103 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:48.800 a capital, we'll get invited to the embassy just to 104 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:53.319 meet with everybody. And they're called the permanent mission, the 105 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:57.079 permanent mission to China, the permanent mission to Australia, the 106 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:02.560 permanent mission to Israel, mission whatever. Because the word mission 107 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:07.120 is what an ambassador does. Now, Jesus said this in 108 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:10.079 John seventeen. He said, in the same way that you 109 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:12.959 Father gave me a mission in the world, I give 110 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:15.480 them a mission in the world. Did you know that 111 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:18.439 you have a mission that the moment you step across 112 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:21.000 the line spiritually and you become a follower of Jesus, 113 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:24.040 God has a mission for your life, and that is 114 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:28.040 to be his ambassador. Now, when you're on a mission, friends, 115 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:32.000 that's all it matters. You're not there to see the scenery, 116 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:34.480 you're not there to take pictures, you're not there to 117 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:37.720 try the local cuisine. As an ambassador, you're there on 118 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:41.199 a mission. Now of all of the missions in the world, 119 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:45.920 the most important mission of all is helping people get 120 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:49.959 to know God and settle their eternal destiny, because they're 121 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:52.240 only going to be on earth for sixty eighty years, 122 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:54.800 but they're going to be an eternity for trillions of years. 123 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:58.920 And so our mission, the mission of ambassadors of Christ, 124 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:02.360 is more important than any other mission, than a mission 125 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:05.839 to the moon or a mission to some other country. 126 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:10.439 The Bible says this. Paul says, I don't care about 127 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:14.319 my own life. The most important thing is that I 128 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:19.279 complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave 129 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:24.639 me to tell other people the good news about God's grace. 130 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:28.240 He says, my job is to complete my mission. At 131 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:31.519 the end of his life, Paul said, I finished the race. 132 00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:35.159 He completed his mission. He said, I did what God 133 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:37.159 told me to do. Are you going to be able 134 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:39.600 to do that? One day, when you stand before God, 135 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:42.200 He's going to say, did you complete the mission I 136 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:45.039 gave you? Oh? Oh, I didn't even know I had one? Well, yeah, 137 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:47.679 you did you think I put you on earth just 138 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:50.000 to live for yourself? No, I put you on earth 139 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:53.480 for a mission. Now, the Bible says, not only am 140 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:58.639 I given the responsibility of representing Jesus. And not only 141 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:01.320 do I have a mission number three, this is really important. 142 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:06.120 I have been given authority to speak. I've been given 143 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:10.039 authority to speak. Now. Sometimes, you know, we don't feel 144 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:13.360 very confident in talking about God to other people, and 145 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:16.639 maybe we feel a little insecure or a little unsure, 146 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:19.519 a little timid, little hesitant. We go, who am I 147 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:22.639 to talk to anybody about Jesus? You know, I don't 148 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:24.240 know what to say. I don't know how to say it. 149 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:29.759 I'm not a professional witnesser or whatever. I don't know 150 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:33.080 what to do. But God says, nope, you're authorized. And 151 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:35.440 he says, whenever I ask you to do something and 152 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:37.200 I ask you to represent me, and I ask you 153 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:38.960 to have a mission, and I ask you to speak 154 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.559 for me, he said, I'm going to empower you to 155 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:44.879 do it. And in Matthew twenty eight, Jesus said this, 156 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:51.399 I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 157 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:54.840 Circle the phrase all authority. I've been given all authority 158 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:57.559 in heaven. Obviously, God has all the authority in the universe, 159 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:00.480 and he says He's given it to his son Jesus Christ. 160 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:03.639 And he says Therefore, because I've been given all authority, 161 00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:07.200 he says, I'm going to authorize you. Therefore, go to 162 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:12.440 all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them 163 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:14.440 in the name of the Father and the Son and 164 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:18.240 the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I've 165 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:20.279 commanded you. And he goes, you can count on this. 166 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:25.679 I will be with you always. Now that verse is 167 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:29.799 called the Great Commission. It is our commission. It is 168 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:33.159 our mission in life. And the Great Commission was not 169 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:37.799 given to pastors, it was not given to missionaries. It 170 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:42.679 was not given to priests or elders or professional evangelists. 171 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:47.559 The Great commission Jesus gave to every one of his followers. 172 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:50.480 It's your commission. And one day God's going to say, 173 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:53.799 did you do the commission I gave you? Did you 174 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:58.000 do the mission? Somebody gave you the good news because 175 00:10:58.039 --> 00:11:01.240 they represented me to you. Did you pass it on? 176 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:03.799 Did you share it with anybody else? And he said, 177 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:06.600 I have all the authority, and I'm authorizing you to speak. 178 00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:16.240 One of the things that God wants us to do, 179 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:19.200 and he says that over and over scripture is to 180 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:23.000 practice gratitude. I don't know if you've ever noticed that 181 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:25.919 the more grateful a person is, the happier they are. 182 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:31.399 That's the power of gratitude. Now I've put together a 183 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:36.159 brand new Bible study called the Power of Gratitude, and 184 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:39.879 in it you'll find scriptures and teaching and exercises that 185 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:44.440 will help you develop the habit of gratitude. You'll discover 186 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:48.360 how to state in God's will, how to defeat discouragement, 187 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:53.240 how to conquer complaining, how to reduce stress, and how 188 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:58.240 to experience God's blessing through gratitude. So, today, when you 189 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:02.440 partner with me by giving a gift, a financial gift 190 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:06.200 to Daily Hope to help us take the certain hope 191 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:08.759 of Jesus to people all around the world, I'm going 192 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:12.120 to have my team send you the Power of Gratitude 193 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:15.039 Bible Study. I just want to say thanks to you. 194 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:17.799 I'm going to be grateful for you. You know your support 195 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:21.200 is essential for us taking the Daily Hope message of 196 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:28.519 Jesus all around the world. There's a term that's often 197 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:33.320 used in foreign affairs called plenty potentiary. It's a Latin 198 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:38.559 phrase that literally means full power. And what a plenty 199 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:44.080 potentiary is is it's somebody who is authorized to represent 200 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:48.519 a government with offers without having to check back with 201 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:56.399 anybody else. A plenty potentiary is someone who can negotiate 202 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:59.559 on the behalf of a country without having to say 203 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:05.279 I'll get back to you. During the Revolutionary War, John 204 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:13.879 Adams and Benjamin Franklin were both plenty potentiaries to both 205 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:18.440 France and to England, which means they were authorized by 206 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:22.200 our young government to sign treaties well that haven't even 207 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:26.080 to be approved by Congress. That's how much power they 208 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:29.480 were given. And they were saying, we give you the 209 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:34.120 authorization to make the offer in our behalf without having 210 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:38.200 to check back with us. Now, historically, the people who 211 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:42.559 have this ability, there's a word for them. They're called ministers. 212 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:47.120 Now when we think of minister today here in America, 213 00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:50.600 we think of pastors and we think of people in churches. 214 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:56.639 But around the world minister is often a potentiary. For instance, 215 00:13:56.639 --> 00:14:00.000 we talk about a minister of State or a minute 216 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.039 mister of commerce, or a minister of foreign affairs or 217 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:07.279 a prime minister. We don't use these terms in America. 218 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:10.960 We use the term president. We use a secretary of State, 219 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:14.840 secretary of commerce, secretary of foreign affairs things like that, 220 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:19.039 But most of the world uses the word minister, and 221 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:22.600 a minister is somebody who has been authorized to act 222 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:27.159 on behalf of somebody else. Well, that's really a cool thing, 223 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:33.600 because the Bible says that you you are authorized as 224 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:38.919 a minister of Jesus Christ. Every Christian is an authorized 225 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:41.919 minister of Jesus Christ. You're not a pastor, you're not 226 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:46.120 a priest, you're not a full time Christian worker, but 227 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:49.960 every believer is a minister. The Bible teaches us over 228 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:53.720 and over and he says, you are authorized to speak 229 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:56.480 on my behalf. You don't have to go check with 230 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:59.879 anybody else. You can talk in the name of Christ 231 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:05.360 to other people. And he says, you represent me. I've 232 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:08.799 given you a mission, and I'm giving you the authority 233 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.840 to speak. Now, there's one other thing you need to 234 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:13.799 remember as an ambassador number four, and it's this, I 235 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:19.240 serve in a foreign culture. You've probably never thought about this, 236 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:24.000 but if you are a believer, a follower of Jesus Christ, 237 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:28.440 your home is not on earth. Your home is in heaven. 238 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:33.759 Your homeland is in heaven, and your identity is in eternity. 239 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:38.399 So he's saying this isn't my home. And as an ambassador, 240 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:42.480 I'm simply on a short term assignment. Now, where does 241 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:46.039 an ambassador live in their home country or in a 242 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:50.080 foreign country? They live in a foreign country. So for instance, 243 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:56.240 America's ambassador to China lives in China, and America's ambassador 244 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:59.279 to Japan lives in Japan. They don't get to live 245 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:02.840 in their home country. Ambassadors don't live in their home country. 246 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:05.279 They live in somebody else's country. In fact, they often 247 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:10.080 live in enemy territory. During the Cold War, American ambassadors 248 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:13.440 lived in all the communist nations even though they were enemies. 249 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:17.200 And we're actually trying to bring us down. And so 250 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:20.399 an ambassador will often live not just in a foreign 251 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:25.120 country or culture, but in an alien or enemy culture. 252 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:28.919 And he says, that's what you are as an ambassador 253 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:32.320 of Jesus Christ. This world is not your home. You're 254 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:36.679 just passing through. He said, you were made for eternity, 255 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:40.039 you were made for heaven. If you want to go 256 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:42.039 out and read on this. In the first seven chapters 257 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:44.720 of Purpose Jove in Life, I talk about this in detail, 258 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:48.240 and the Bible says this in one Peter chapter one. 259 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:52.159 Here on the screen if you call God your father, 260 00:16:53.919 --> 00:17:00.519 he says, live your time as temporary residents on earthbassador. 261 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:03.600 And I've met a lot of ambassadors around the world. 262 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:07.039 They don't buy a permanent home, whether they live in 263 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:11.160 Paris or in uh you know, Rio de Janeiro or 264 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:14.839 anywhere else. They rent. Why because they know I'm just 265 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:19.000 an ambassador. And when the next administration comes in, they're 266 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:21.960 going to appoint a new ambassador, So they say, we're 267 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.960 not going to stay here for the rest of our lives. 268 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:26.480 Nobody moves to a country and then lives there their 269 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:29.359 entire lives. If they're an ambassador, you're there on short 270 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:33.400 term assignment, and you're in a foreign culture, and you're 271 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:37.680 not really in your home homeland. What Jesus is saying 272 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:42.119 here is, don't get too comfortable living in this world. 273 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:46.960 You're just an ambassador. You're just an ambassador. Don't get 274 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:49.720 too comfortable. Don't think that this life is all there 275 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:52.400 is here on Earth. Don't get sucked into the myth 276 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:55.519 that you know all there is is the hearing now, 277 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:59.839 And don't forget your role. Your role is not to 278 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.680 create a little cushy pad and make your life as 279 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:07.599 comfortable as possible. That's not your role. Your role is 280 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:11.200 an ambassador. Your role is to represent me, to fulfill 281 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:16.279 your mission, and to speak in My name with authority, 282 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:20.960 and you're doing it in foreign territory. The Bible says 283 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:25.119 this in Philippians chapter three. Here on the screen, comparing 284 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:27.839 believers and unbelievers, he says, all the other people think 285 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:32.200 about is life on earth. They're not thinking about eternity. 286 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:35.240 They're not thinking about what's after this. They're just thinking 287 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:37.799 about here and now. Get all you can, can all 288 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.960 you get, sit on the can and spoil the rest. 289 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:44.039 You know, the one with the most toys wins. Now 290 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:47.799 the one with the most toys still dies. And your 291 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:51.319 valuable and your value is not have nothing to do, 292 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:53.599 and your self worth and your net worth have nothing 293 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:56.559 in common. Life is not about the acquisition of things. 294 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:58.839 So he says, don't get caught up in the thing 295 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:01.160 that you think that life is all about things. The 296 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:04.559 greatest things in life aren't things, he says. Other people, 297 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:06.759 they're always thinking about what life is like here on earth. 298 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:10.599 He said, you are citizens in heaven. We are citizens 299 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:14.839 of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And this 300 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:17.680 really isn't our ultimate home. We really, our ultimate home 301 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.640 is in heaven. You're only going to be here for 302 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:25.680 eighty years. You're on temporary assignment. Now, what am I 303 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:29.000 supposed to do while I'm here? Have you ever thought 304 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:33.720 about this? After you become a believer, after you accept 305 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:37.200 God's salvation, once your sins are forgiven, and you know 306 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:39.839 you're going to heaven, why didn't God just take you 307 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:43.240 on right then? Have you ever thought about that? I mean, 308 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:46.559 once you're saved, why didn't God just kill you? Yeah? 309 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:49.400 I mean because ultimately you're going to heaven anyway, why 310 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:51.839 should he leave you here for another twenty thirty, forty 311 00:19:51.880 --> 00:20:00.119 or however many years? It is with all its sins, suffering, sorrow, sadness, depression, despair, discouragement, problem, 312 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:06.880 pressures and difficulties and trials and tribulations and tears. And 313 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:10.400 if you're gonna go to a perfect place anyway, why 314 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:13.559 doesn't He just take you there the moment he knows 315 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:19.599 for sure you've accepted the invitation. Once you're in, why 316 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:24.519 does he leave you here on earth? To be an ambassador? 317 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:29.200 That's why, to be an ambassador. You see, there's only 318 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:33.640 two things you can't do in heaven you can have 319 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:38.640 fun in heaven. You can sleep in heaven, you can 320 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:42.039 rest in heaven. You can fellowship with other people in heaven. 321 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:44.720 You can pray, you can worship, you can be creative 322 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:49.839 in heaven. You can eat in heaven, and no calories. 323 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:56.039 All right, there are only two things you cannot do 324 00:20:56.400 --> 00:21:00.759 in heaven. One of them is sin, because it's a 325 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:07.319 perfect place, and the other is be an ambassador to unbelievers, 326 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:10.319 tell people who don't know the good news the good news. 327 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:13.720 So there's two things you can't do in heaven, sin 328 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:18.480 and share your faith. Which of those two do you 329 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:23.519 think God leaves you here to do? Hmm, let's just 330 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:27.160 think about that one for a minute. Why does he 331 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:29.559 leave you here on earth? He leaves you here to 332 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:32.359 tell somebody else you're going to go to heaven because 333 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:38.440 somebody told you. Have you been an ambassador to anybody else? Now, 334 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:43.119 that's the role of an ambassador. I'm a representative, and 335 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:47.960 I am you know, I'm authorized to speak, and I've 336 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:50.039 been given a mission to tell the good news to 337 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:52.440 other people. And I got to remember that it's just 338 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:55.039 a temporary assignment and this really isn't ultimately my home. 339 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:59.440 So what am I supposed to do well. The Bible 340 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:02.000 says three things. So let's look at it. As an ambassador. 341 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:05.720 You have three responsibilities here on earth, and these are 342 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:08.559 the things that God wants you to do as an ambassador. 343 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:14.359 Number one, I must be an example. I must set 344 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:18.319 an example for other people. The first thing God wants 345 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:21.519 you to do is help other people know what God 346 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:32.279 is like by being example of his character qualities love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, kindness, meekness, 347 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:35.799 self control. Now, the Bible says this in First Peter, 348 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:44.240 Chapter two. People who do not believe are living all 349 00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:47.759 around you. That's kind of obvious. People who do not 350 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:52.160 believe are living all around you, and they might say 351 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:58.440 you're doing wrong. So live such good lives that they'll 352 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:01.519 see the good things you do, and we'll give glory 353 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:05.160 to God. What's he saying there? The first job of 354 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:08.200 an ambassador, whether it's of a country or of Jesus, 355 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:11.880 is you set a good example. He set a good example. Now, 356 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:15.079 I took a team to Latin America, and we went 357 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:19.279 to Columbia and to Brazil, into Uruguay and a bunch 358 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:21.480 of different places. One of the places we went to 359 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:25.759 was Argentina. And while we were in Argentina, we were 360 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:30.799 in Buenos Aires and the US embassy heard that the 361 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:33.480 team from Saddleback was in town and they asked us 362 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:36.400 to come over and meet the ambassador who wanted to 363 00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:40.079 meet our team. So we went over to the embassy 364 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:43.960 in Buenos Aires, and the guy was quite a nice guy. 365 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:47.000 He had been an ambassador to several different countries in 366 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:50.920 his lifetime, stationed at different missions, and so I was 367 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:53.079 asking about what it was like to be an ambassador, 368 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:56.359 and I said, what is the most difficult part of 369 00:23:56.359 --> 00:24:01.799 being an ambassador? He said, the fact is you're never 370 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:08.920 off duty. You're always being watched. He said, no matter 371 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:13.680 what I do, I represent Jesus Christ. My job is 372 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:15.920 not an eight hour not a Jesus Christ. I represent 373 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:19.359 the United States of America. He was a Christian, but 374 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:22.640 that wasn't what he was saying. He was saying, everywhere 375 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:25.359 I go, people look at me, and for many people, 376 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:29.440 I'm the only American they know, so they look at me. 377 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:31.759 And he said, if I had an eight hour job, 378 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:33.559 I can go home at night and that. But he said, 379 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:37.240 if after work I go out to a restaurant, people 380 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:39.640 are watching isn't that the ambassador of the United States, 381 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:43.599 And they see if I'm cranky to the waitress, if 382 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:46.680 I'm an ugly American and I'm demanding and I'm grouchy, 383 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:49.920 or if I'm egotistical or act like a prima donna. 384 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:55.039 He said, We're always on, We're always being watched, We're 385 00:24:55.079 --> 00:25:01.000 always representing our country. What if you lived your life 386 00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:05.000 like that, that you realize that you're always on as 387 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:09.000 an ambassador of Jesus Christ, then no matter where you go, 388 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:13.039 you are the only Christians some people will ever know. 389 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:25.279 One of the things that God wants us to do, 390 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:28.240 and he says that over and over scripture, is to 391 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:32.000 practice gratitude. I don't know if you've ever noticed that 392 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:34.920 the more grateful a person is, the happier they are. 393 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:40.440 That's the power of gratitude. Now I've put together a 394 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:45.119 brand new Bible study called the Power of Gratitude, and 395 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:48.839 in it you'll find scriptures and teaching and exercises that 396 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:53.480 will help you develop the habit of gratitude. You'll discover 397 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:57.359 how to state in God's will, how to defeat discouragement, 398 00:25:57.960 --> 00:26:02.240 how to conquer complaining, how to reduce stress, and how 399 00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:07.240 to experience God's blessing through gratitude. So today when you 400 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:11.440 partner with me by giving a gift, a financial gift 401 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:15.200