We need to make our choice.
Ambassadors of the heavenly Kingdom.Objectives:
A. Make a choice: whose Kingdom do you really want to belong to?B. Do you wish to be a true follower of Christ in the Kingdom of God?
C. Am I willing to be an Ambassador of the Kingdom of God?
I doubt that anyone, at that time when they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, realizes what the future with Christ will bring them. In reality we enter into a new spiritual kingdom. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ trains His subjects under the laws of His Kingdom, by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
First of all: From the moment we are born again we have an identity registered in the kingdom of Heaven; and the Bible tells us that our names are recorded in the Book of Life and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 says as follows: “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
From thereon we are subjects of the Celestial Kingdom, and ambassadors here on earth of this same kingdom. Now the question might rise: Is an ambassador a leader? Certainly. He leads the representation of the nation which he represents. Having understood this, we will see in the dictionary that leadership and discipleship have the same description; and we will talk about it later in another lesson.
If we are an ambassador, than where we live is an embassy of the Celestial Kingdom. So, if a person (that is still in the worldly lifestyle and does not know about Jesus); comes in your home… can the person recognize into whose embassy they have entered?
We have three important passages of Scripture that talk about the Lord Jesus how He laid down His life for us. He obeyed His Fathers command.
Isaiah 51:1 “Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.”
John 10:18 “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
Galatians 1:4 “Who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”
Should people who live with us see God within our lives? He has declared us to be righteous according to 2 Corinthians 5:21- “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
As born again believers we do follow after righteousness. We seek the Lord, the rock from whom we were hewn. We need to learn to look at the hole of the pit from which we were dug… Interesting isn’t it? Why would the prophet teach it if God had not directed him to do so? In the way we express ourselves in every manner, is it directed to the obedience of God, or is it to our own understanding? As Jesus chose to obey, you and I need to make the same choice. It is either His way or my way. As children of God we all need to learn His commandments. We would like to encourage you to study the course Faith Foundation, if you have not yet done so; before moving on in this course.
We need to know the ‘Foundation Of The True Salvation’, in order to live according to it. It is of vital importance to know the Word of God and His commandments before we move on in studying how to become a true disciple. A disciple must learn to practice what he has learned so far. I would like to encourage you to read the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Luke during this time that we study this whole course.
Jesus called the people to follow Him, He taught them about His Father’s command and; Jesus practiced it in front of them everything He wanted them to learn. God has given us everything we need in His Word to learn how to become a true follower and a true disciple.
Journal nº 2: How do you see yourself according to what we have studied so far about what the Word of God says about discipleship?
Secondly: An ambassador can be: active or inactive, faithful or unfaithful, trustworthy or unworthy. God gives us a choice to accept HIM, accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life; and God gives us free will to choose whether we want to faithfully represent his kingdom as ambassadors here or not.
If we would describe an ambassador based on how the dictionary describes these words: active/inactive, faithful/unfaithful, and trustworthy/untrustworthy; it points out some truth that we see around us. Many people out there in the world do it exactly as they think it is right; but are not faithful, nor trustworthy, nor active as they should be. Let us check out the words and see how the people convey themselves that say they are ambassadors of the heavenly Kingdom.
ACTIVE IS USED TO EMPHASIZE THAT SOMEONE IS TAKING ACTION IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING, RATHER THAN JUST HOPING FOR IT OR ACHIEVING IT IN AN INDIRECT WAY.
IF SOMEONE IS ACTIVE IN AN ORGANIZATION, CAUSE, OR CAMPAIGN, THEY DO THINGS FOR IT RATHER THAN JUST GIVING IT THEIR SUPPORT.
SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT IS INACTIVE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING OR IS NOT WORKING.
Task nº1: _____________ is taking action in the Kingdom of God as His ambassador, in order to achieve the work God has intrusted her/him. (Place your name in the blank). (Or would you say you are not taking action? => Inactive.
IF A PERSON OR THING IS WORTHY OF SOMETHING, THEY DESERVE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE QUALITIES OR ABILITIES REQUIRED. A WORTHY PERSON OR THING IS APPROVED OF BY MOST PEOPLE IN SOCIETY AND CONSIDERED TO BE MORALLY RESPECTABLE OR CORRECT. (FORMAL)
IF YOU SAY THAT AN ACTION IS UNWORTHY OF SOMEONE, YOU MEAN THAT IT IS NOT A NICE THING TO DO AND SOMEONE WITH THEIR REPUTATION OR POSITION SHOULD NOT DO IT. (LITERARY)
Proverbs 20:6 – “Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy (faithful) man?”
Next question: How many of us can proclaim our loyalty, which would be confirmed by our God that he found in us a trustworthy person?
SOMEONE WHO IS FAITHFUL TO A PERSON, ORGANIZATION, IDEA, OR ACTIVITY REMAINS FIRM IN THEIR BELIEF IN THEM OR SUPPORT FOR THEM. THE FAITHFUL ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. A FAITHFUL ACCOUNT, TRANSLATION, OR COPY OF SOMETHING REPRESENTS OR REPRODUCES THE ORIGINAL ACCURATELY.
IF SOMEONE IS UNFAITHFUL TO A PERSON, ORGANIZATION, IDEA, OR ACTIVITY THE PERSON DOES NOT REMAIN FIRM IN THEIR BELIEF IN THEM OR SUPPORT FOR THEM. THEREFORE THEY DESCRIBE THE MESSAGE AS IT PLEASES THEM OR AS IT MAKES SENSE IN THEIR THOUGHTS; THEY GO ABOUT IT IN THE WAY WHICH DOES NOT MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE.
Verses about faithful:
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
1 Samuel 26:23 – “May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.”
2 Chronicles 16:9 – “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
Proverbs 28:20 – “A faithful man will abound with blessings.”
Matthew 25:21 – “His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
Question nº3: Does God assess each child/student in his Kingdom? Yes, based on what Scriptures state. If God would evaluate us in this moment, what would God’s description about you and me sound like?
The Bible tells us that God looks at us and evaluates our conduct. David was a shepherd, a young man who was at home taking care of his father's animals in the field. He played his harp, took care of the sheep; but he behaved in a way that was observed by the Most High. God watches every human being, nothing escapes the sight of our God.
Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
What does God see when He watches you and me? What report would He write in His Holy Word about us? Would we be described as David was?
Let’s check the passage: Acts 13:22 “After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will’ in its entirety.”
Discussion nº1: Discuss the verse above with each other. How would God describe you and me? Would God describe us as He described David?
How many examples of servants do we have in the Bible that did never make any mistakes? Romans 3:23-24 (NKJV) “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Based on what we have studied so far makes it clear why the Lord Jesus told his disciples they were supposed to wait until they would be clothed with power from on high. “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49.
You and I need to also seek the Lord Jesus to receive the clothing with power from on high. I can do all things through Christ Jesus, this is what the apostle Paul said. We can do God’s work if we do it as He has commanded it.
Homework = Scripture memory:
Be sure to commit this passage to memory before moving on to the next lesson. , Then, practice reciting it repeatedly throughout this course. Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Personal goal: Make a commitment with the Lord. My suggestion is to ask Him to make of you a Disciple according to His own heart.
Till the next lesson, until then may the Lord bless you beyond comprehension.
A. PENNER PUBLISHING.
Discipleship according the heart of God
ISBN NUMBER: 978-0-9881063-2-1
Mrs. Antonina Penner.
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