Ambassadors for Christ
Ambassador Tessa
Ambassador Kirsten
Cheyanne, making sure each bag has a gospel tract
Tonight we discussed how heaven is wherever God's throne is and wherever He has absolute authority and rule, and that includes right here on earth! Paul tells us that we ARE citizens of heaven, not that we WILL BE someday.
So what makes us citizens of heaven?
- Our names are written in the register of the country where we live. Remember the census we recently had to fill out here in America? That was a way we registered ourselves and our families as citizens of this country. But remember, our names are written in another register that's far more important.
Luke 10:20 - 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Revelation 21:27 - 27Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
- We're also already citizens of heaven already if we are believers in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:6 - 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Hebrews 12:22-24 - 22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
- We're citizens of heaven because our bank account is in heaven.
Matthew 6:19-21 - 19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
We talked about what some of the treasures are that we can store up for ourselves here on earth...money, reputation, "stuff", friends, etc... Then we talked about the treasures we can store up for ourselves in heaven...blessings from God!
- Lastly, we are citizens of heaven because heaven's King is our King. As believers, God rules in us.
We talked about what other country we're citizens of...America...and whether or not we are citizens of America first and foremost, or heaven. Agreeing that we're citizens of heaven first, we talked about how that makes us ambassadors here on earth, in America or wherever we may live. Ambassadors are authorized messengers or representatives. God has authorized us to spread His gospel message, His Word. We represent God while we're here on this earth and that's a huge responsibility. Because we represent God, we need to be careful how we live, think, act, talk, respond in difficult situations, etc... People are watching us to learn more about God's character because we represent Him.
2 Corinthians 5:20 - 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Ephesians 6:20 - 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
While we discussed our lesson tonight, we worked as ambassadors to the homeless community by assembling 100 more brown bags for the congregation to take and distribute to those in need. As ambassadors for Christ, we prayed over our assembled bags, knowing that, with each one put in the hands of someone who may not know Christ as their Savior, we were representing Him and spreading His message.
