Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Ambassador of Reconciliation

 Ephesians 6:15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.



*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2091
Preparation: prompt willingness, cheerful readiness; firm footing, foundation
*No. 4243
Ambassador: means to act as an established statesman (diplomat) – a trusted, respected ambassador who is authorized to speak as God's emissary (represent His kingdom)
 
Ambassadors For God
Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”
1 Samuel 3:10
Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Ambassadors For Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

An ambassadorship is not granted to just anyone. It is impossible to testify of God's amazing grace unless it is first applied to our own iniquities. We must first recognize that in the holy presence of God we are an unclean, unholy, people. Isaiah met God and knew immediately that he himself was not worthy to be in God's presence, for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a holy God and His very presence, His name, demands a holy people. 
Isaiah needed to be prepared to preach the Word which God would give him; fire from God's heavenly altar touched Isaiah's mouth, making it possible for him to speak God's Word. 
We, the Spiritual Warriors, are today's Ambassadors of Reconciliation, just as the first century Christians were, just as every generation of righteous believers have been since that time. We are called to follow Christ every step of the way, even to death, if such a calling is on our lives. 

Ambassadors Are Prepared To Testify & To Suffer
Preparation
Isaiah 6:5-7
Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
And with it he touched my mouth and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.”
Suffering
Philippians 1:20
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

1 Peter 4:19
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 3:15-17
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil

As Ambassadors of Reconciliation we must first be reconciled to God ourselves. 
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."
Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
Romans 10:8-10
(8) But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
(9) that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
(10) For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

*No. 2643
Reconciliation:  reconciliation (restoration) as the resulting of Christ exactly (precisely) exchanging His righteousness (blood) for our guilt

It is only through the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross that we can be reconciled to God: there's no other way, no other name.

The Way
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
The Name
Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.
Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for saving me, for dying on the cross to save me from the punishment of my sins. Thank You for reconciling me to You. I pray, Lord, that You would strengthen me with Your Strength and make me worthy in Your sight. Thank You for this new life I have in You. Mold me into the Christian You want me to be. I surrender my life, my breath, my all to You. You are everything to me. May my life shine Your light into the darkness around me, that Your name would be glorified. Speak to my heart, Lord, and cleanse me from all unrighteousness that I might be found a 'good and faithful servant' in Your sight. 
In Jesus' name, I pray,
Amen. 



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