Grace Fellowship Church Pastor / Teacher James H. Rickard Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Memory Verse 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Upper Room Discourse John 13-16; John 13:16, Ambassadorship

Jesus Christ is the One sent and God the Father is the Sender; both demonstrating servant-hood. John 5:23-37; 6:44, 57; 8:16-18, 42; 12:49; 17:21-25

Jesus served by obeying the Father's will and plan and the Father serves by exercising His authority to send us help. John 12:49

Just as the Father sent His Son to deliver the Gospel in person, we too are sent by our Lord to deliver the gospel in person.

John 20:21, “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””

To perform this great commission, the Father has exercised His authority to send us the Holy Spirit to empower us for success.

Gal 4:6, “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”

With the rights and powers of an heir we are to deliver the saving message of Christ Crucified and the message of hope, Christ Resurrected.

1 John 4:14, “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”

Ambassadorship Principles:

An ambassador is a high- ranking minister of state or of royalty, sent to another state to represent his sovereign or country.

At salvation, every believer enters the Royal Family of God and becomes a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth.

There are two commissions given to the believer at salvation: Royal Priesthood, 1 Peter 2:5-9, and Royal Ambassadorship.

We represent ourselves before God and we represent God before man.

We represent ourselves before God and we represent God before man. Every believer is in fulltime Christian service.

At the first stage of spiritual adulthood, Spiritual Self Esteem, you are fully expressing your Ambassadorship.

An ambassador does not appoint himself. God appoints us at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ. God also gives us the power and ability to handle the job.

An ambassador does not represent himself. We represent the Lord Jesus Christ. Bible Doctrine and the Spirit give us the capacity to represent Christ.

John 20:21, “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””

The ambassador's instructions are always in written form, so he has no doubt as to what he should do. John 12:49

The ambassador does not belong to the country to which he is sent. Our citizenship and home is in heaven. Eph 2:19; Phil 3:20,

Phil 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The ambassador does not live in the foreign country for his own personal interest. 1 Cor 2:12; 1 John 2:16-17

The ambassador does not support himself. He rests in the logistical grace blessings from His sovereign. 2 Cor 9:8

Grace Fellowship Church Tuesday, May 27, 2008 Tape # Ambassadorship Principles Upper Room Discourse, Pt 180 John 13:16; 12:49; 20:21; Gal 4:6; 1 Tim 3:16 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2008