Be Ambassadors for Christ: Live Like Jesus

In the past 3 week we have been discussing what it means to be the church. We have talked about the fact that we are the body and how we work together and that every part of the body is important. We have talked about being a family and we are here to support each other and we have talked about being the Army and how we fight for each other and we fight with each other. I don’t mean it like that. We fight alongside each other. This morning. We are the church! We are ambassadors.

The first question we need to answer is, “what is an ambassador?” From the website Cambridge Dictionary.com it says, “a person who represents, speaks for, or advertises a particular organization, group of people, activity, or brand”

If we are Christians, we are Christ’s ambassadors. We are supposed to represent and speak as a representative of Jesus Christ. We are in a foreign land (the world) and we have been set to send the message of our home. (Heaven).

What does it look like to be an ambassador? What are we supposed to do? How are we supposed to act?

It is 4 months and 15 days until Christmas. One hundred and thirty-seven days. How many of you have beaten the rush and have all of your Christmas shopping done? As we get closer to Christmas and when we just get less than a month away, we are going to see posts on Facebook or Instagram, and we will hear people say, “Keep Christ in Christmas.” How about we keep Christ in Christian?

So many people claim to be Christian, but act nothing like Jesus. Let me turn this around just a little, if you were to be put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you. If I were to go to your house and ask family members if when you are at home do act like Jesus. If I could go to your work, meet some of your co-workers and talk to them and tell them that you have given your life to Jesus. Would they believe it or would they be surprised? If I could go to your school and ask some of your classmates, would they say that there is something different about you or that you act just like them? Would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Let’s talk about what it looks like to be an ambassador for Jesus this morning. John 20:21

1. We are to live with His character.

Colossians 3:17, II Corinthians 8:21

What does it mean to live with His character? When people view the way you treat other people or do business, do they see Jesus in you? When you make promises to people, do you keep them? Are you a person with Jesus’s character.

Being a Christian means that we don’t just talk the talk, but rather we walk the walk.

In 2005, Andy Roddick, a tennis superstar of his time was playing Fernando Verdasco. Roddick was the number one seed of the tournament and was expected to win, not only this match but the whole tournament.

Roddick was dominating the match and had triple match point. Fernando’s first serve was bad and his second serve was called out by the linesman. Fernando went to the net to congratulate Roddick. Roddick knew that the ball was in and he went to the umpire to tell him. Even though, honor calls are not expected to be made in tennis, Roddick did it. He went to the line in the clay and showed the umpire where the ball had it.

The call was over turned. Verdasco went on to win the game, the set and the match. This cost Roddick a lot of money. Tens of thousands for this match and maybe 100’s of thousands in the tournament, but integrity was more important to Andy than winning or money.

People are judging God by the way we live. When people see you interact with other people, people at the store, people at school, people at your job, what Characteristic of God do they see? You may be the only Jesus that people see. Paul says that not only does he want to be honorable in the sight of God, but he also wants to be honorable in the sight of people.

Do we display the honesty, integrity, and humility of Jesus?

2. We are to reflect His nature.

What was Jesus’s nature? Everywhere Jesus went he drew a crowd of people because they wanted to be around Him. The house was so full that they had to lower the paralyzed man down on a mat through the roof. The crowd of 5000. The crowd of 4000. Crowds. People wanted to be around Jesus.

There was something about the way He interacted with people. There was something about the way He treated people that people just wanted to be around Him. Do people want to be around you?

There was a couple driving on one of the interstates in Florida a few years ago. They called 911 because there was some road rage going on. Put that picture up. This man was driving his red corvette on the interstate. Evidently felt like the vehicle behind him was driving too close and so he did a brake check. Then he started to swerve and when the couple tried to pass, he sped up and staying beside them. Yelling at them. Then he reached under the seat and pulled out a pistol and pointed at them.

That is when they called the police. They immediately sent the police to the location. The police found the Corvette and pulled it over. When asked about the incident he denied having any idea of what the police were talking about. They asked him if he had a pistol in the car and the man said yes, it is under the passenger seat and it is unloaded. “How would the other driver know that you had a pistol if you didn’t get it out?”

Put that next picture up on the screen. William is a priest in the Episcopal church in North Carolina

I see that many of you wore your church shirts, like I had asked. I love you church. But let me tell you something if you don’t represent Jesus, when you are wearing the shirt. I would you rather wear a Chief’s shirt, or your favorite team’s shirt. No one will think bad about the chiefs if you act the fool wearing it. But if you act the fool and are wearing a church shirt, they won’t just think you have a problem it will have an affect on what they think of God.

Let’s look at what Paul says in Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:1-2, Galatians 5:22-23

We must reflect His nature! Which leads to the next thing.

3. We are to fulfill His mission.

Why did Jesus come? Why did Jesus leave heaven and come to earth? What was His mission? Let’s look at Luke 19:10.

Luke 19:10

Why are we here? The church is here, mainly for those who are not yet a part of it. Now we are here for each other and we are here to be the body. We are here to be a family. We are here to do our part to carry on what Jesus started. We are here to seek and save the lost.

Church is a place to learn. Church is a place to grow. Church is a place to worship and the best way we can worship God is tell everyone about Him.

Matthew 28:19

Go! Go! Go and make disciples. Being the church means that we have signed on to go and make disciples. Being the church means that we are going to continue His mission. I love how our church gets out in the community with different things, like EN United and our School Supply Sunday. We get into the community as the church. Are you getting into the community as an imitator of Jesus?

Let me give you one more.

4. We are to carry on His ministry.

Mark 6:56

When Jesus went out people were healed. Now I believe that God can physically heal people through us. 1st we must really be in tune with God so we know what God is doing and what His plan is, because God’s plan is not for everyone on earth to be healed physically, Jesus did not heal everyone. 2nd we must have faith.

You do not have to be a detective to see that people in our community, our co-workers, our classmates are hurting, they’re overwhelmed, they’re lost, they’re confused. How do they experience the loving healing touch of God?

Through you. You may be the only Jesus people ever see. You may be the only Jesus people ever experience.

We are supposed to represent Jesus in everything we do. In every part of our life we should reflect His nature, we should exhibit His Character, we should be continuing His mission and we should carry on His ministry. How are you doing as an ambassador?

We are Ambassadors!