Servants, Soldiers, and Ambassadors
Romans 8:28 ASV “And we know that to them that love God, all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to His Purpose.”
For all the called according to His purpose….the born again ones….in these days in which we live…
…if they are HIs servants, they must assuredly become soldiers.
And if they become good soldiers of Jesus Christ….they will very shortly become Ambassadors of King Jesus…
…having experienced the life of the Kingdom of God….they will be able to pass it on in authority and power in Jesus Name.
For all power (grace) is given unto us…who will:
Matthew 28:19-20 ASV “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
All authority is given unto us….who will obey our Master’s command.
We are not all called to preach, or teach, or win souls….but we are all called as witnesses of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Witnesses of God’s grace in our lives. [Grace is the unmerited favor of power]
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
First, we are witnesses more by what we are and do, then by what we say….but the saying also must be if we are to complete the Lord’s command.
The Lord Jesus Christ has a purpose for every soul He apprehends: apprehends means “to take eagerly”.
( When Jesus Christ saves a person….He claims that person. “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine.” Song of Solomon 6:3
Paul said, “…I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Phil.3:12
Christ Jesus has eagerly taken us into Himself….His Kingdom, and His Family. Therefore, as Paul, we need to eagerly take all that the Lord has provided in His purpose for us….and work out what the Lord has worked within us.)
John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.”
The Lord chose us….we did not choose Him. And every servant of the Lord Jesus Christ must become a soldier, if we are to have these blessings. (Ephesians 1:3 “…Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”)
For we will never attain to what He has for us….without a battle
As a servant-soldier, our first battle is in the kingdom of mansoul.
Our old-nature must be subdued…
…..to subdue something is to bring it under the influence or authority of something else. Our old natures must be subdued to Christ Jesus. They must be “brought under” His authority and His Kingship.
Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
And simply said, this is real living…to live to God!
Every fruit of the Spirit we yield to….every experience we have in being led of the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)….every victory we have over our old selves….are these blessings in Christ, given to you…to me….to us.
The more victory in these battles….the more power (grace) and authority we have in speaking and doing for Christ Jesus with others.
We find ourselves “standing” in the battles of life:
Ephesians 6:10-11, 13 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
This standing really means…to hold the ground you have. All that God has given us,….in Christ Jesus. What we possess right now….and what He has laid aside for us.
We do not fight to have these….but to keep them!
The devil can not take away these blessings from you….but he can spoil your enjoyment and use of them,….by his wiles.
The devil can convince us that they are of little value….or that God would not really ever do that for us….or they will delay so long that it will be too late for what we want.
(the devil convinced Adam and Eve that the one fruit that God told them not to eat, in all the garden of fruits…..was the choicest fruit….and that God was “mean” for not giving them it!
….and he can convince us, if we listen, of many things as well.)
The devil does withstand us….and will withstand us, in every way. Our chief warfare is in dealing with his wiles.
The devil has great power….but we are not warned of his power….but of his wiles, his tricks, his lies.
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
The ASV says: “For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness, but of power and love and discipline.”
The Holy Spirit, within our spirit is a force for strength, peace, love and discipline….or the courage to hang on to His Word…and do His Will.
Paul calls it “a sound mind”….a mind set fully to know and do God’s Will..(for that is the safest place to be.)
James 1:5-6a “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering….”
This is the experience of every Christian: servant, soldier, ambassador.
The only way we will ever stand and hold the things that are ours in Christ is to become:
A servant obedient to the Light we have.
And to do that we will have to become a soldier because it will be a real battle.
And in our standing, we will become ambassadors of our King, Christ Jesus….
…for we will have experienced that authority of Christ, ourselves…..and will be able to pass it on to others.
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
And we do….if there is anything between you and the Lord Jesus Christ…take it to Him and be reconciled….joined together with Him again.
(If you are lost….be reconciled to God through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His Own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
With Christ you can have salvation….eternal life, now and for ever with Him. Will you receive Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior…and begin your walk with Him?)
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 