Victory Life KY

Ambassadors IV

Episode Summary

According to Galatians, we are heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ. Philippians reminds us that we are currently citizens of Heaven. And Corinthians instructs us that we are ambassadors for Christ.

Episode Notes

• According to Galatians, we are heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ. Philippians reminds us that we are currently citizens of Heaven. And Corinthians instructs us that we are ambassadors for Christ.

• And because we are still in this world but no longer of it, it’s up to each of us heirs, citizens, ambassadors, to make room in our thinking for the realities of our new world.

• This is why Jesus told us to put the things of the Kingdom first. Being a disciple doesn’t automatically happen because we accept Jesus into our lives.

• It requires training, discipline, commitment, it requires reverence.

• AMBASSADOR = DISCIPLE 

• We cannot be one without the other. And neither will happen on accident. Something has to be first. And according to Jesus, there is no grey area here.

• He knows that whatever we prioritize, what we put first is what will shape how we live.

• Acts 1, Jesus appeared to them over forty days withmany infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations, talking to them about the kingdom of God.

• Something every disciple has to come to terms with concerning the realities of the Kingdom of God is that we can only function to the level of our current revelation.

• Not only of who Jesus is, but who we are in Him.

• But because of free will, the desires of this world, not to mention the deception of our enemy, kingdom realities being a priority can certainly be a challenge.

• Like we said last week, it's our priorities that define us.

• Let me say this, discipleship will require sacrifice. But at the end of the day, it only comes through transformation. So never give place to the condemnation of the enemy or the people he’ll try using.

• Something we’ve got to stay aware of is the fact that these instructions, revelations, are designed for the born-again. Corinthians makes it clear that the message of the cross is foolish to those perishing.

• But when the born-again neglect to put the things of the Kingdom first; Ephesians shows us that we remain children tossed in different directions.
• Confined to and governed solely by human nature.

• This is why the enemy works relentlessly from within the church, many times under the deception of religion, keeping us divided.

• I believe God's raising up disciple that will dare to believe that all things are possible.

• That will make the choice to seek first the Kingdom of God.

• As His ambassadors, He will position us for influence. This is why He told us, if you seek Me you will find Me.

• And it's not like He's hiding. He’s simply in a different dimension. A  different Kingdom, a different world, what most believers call the spirit.

• SPIRIT, SOUL, HUMANITY

• And I absolutely understand, there will always be Christians that just want to live a good life and go to Heaven.

• And because of God's amazing grace, you can. 

• But, what if our King is actually counting on us becoming a disciple, an ambassadors for Him while we're here?     Moody was right.

• Colossians 3:17,MSG-  Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

• And God's plan from the beginning is for His government to be established in the earth through His body, the church.

• Luke 17:20-21,NKJV- Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, See here! or see there! For indeed, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU

• At some point, we have to accept the reality that God's plan from the beginning is for His government, the Kingdom to be established in the earth through His body, the church.

• Is it possible that God created a life for us where everything we need in this earth is independent of the current world we live in?

• John 14:12,MSG- Believe me: The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. 

• What if Jesus is right?

• What if we actually started putting the things of the Kingdom of God first?

• Christians need to realize Jesus isn't telling us we have to live a certain way out of some religious, legalistic obligation; 

• He's trying to get us to understand, kind of like a fish out of water, we can't live in two worlds.

• As He said, even though we're still in this one, we are no longer of it.

• What if this is the place God is talking about where all things are possible?

• Remember, as new creations, citizens of His world, ambassadors called by Him, we’re built to live a different way.

• But until we practice practice putting our new world first, it will constantly be a challenge, not only experiencing the Kingdom of Heaven, but even more difficult expressing it to others.

• This is why Paul repeatedly tells us through his letters that we are to put on our new nature.

• Ephesians 4:21-24,NLT- Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 
• throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 
• Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 
• Put on your new nature, CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD, truly righteous and holy.

• And I realize this may be a stretch for us, but every time we allow what He says to shape out thinking it establishes boundaries that shape our living. 

• And as we embrace our born-again nature, we begin embracing our new life that has the ability to take us beyond these natural boundaries.

• And while we're part of this world, God is expecting us to learn how to live out of our new world.

• This is why a relationship with your bible is vital, it's where revelation from our Father comes from.

• At the end of the day, it's only revelation from Him that can take a human beyond our own intellect.

• This is why we're instructed not to be double-minded, as long as we are, not only as a Christian, but as a church, the world can't help but look at us like any other religion.

• But, the more single-minded we become, the clearer our role here as an ambassador to the Kingdom of Heaven gets.

• As we said earlier, it’s absolutely vital we understand this truth. Before  Jesus our King asks any of us to become ambassadors, He asks us to become heirs of the Kingdom.

• Just this revelation alone provides the confidence and authority we will need to be an authentic expression of Him. 

• Matthew 28:18-20,MSG- God authorized and commanded Me to commission you: 
• Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
• Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.

• Possibly one of our most valuable lessons we have to acknowledge is that before Jesus gave out any assignments, He wants the issue of who He is to be settled.

• Next, He wants the issue of who we are in Him settled. We are heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ, anointed and appointed for this time.
• Sent on behalf of our King and Kingdom, exercising our God given authority.