The Great Commission
In what now seems like another life, I recall developing a rewarding career as a marketing professional within global technological corporations; in other words, I was an ambassador for the companies I worked for.
My job was to provide our clients with the best support and help possible. To deliver shining endorsements of my company’s products and services and glowing commendations on the advantages and benefits of using them.
Today it often strikes me that Christian ministry operates similarly. We offer our best help and support to others, give radiant proclamations of our faith, endorse the advantages and benefits we enjoy and look forward to as Christians, and invite others to get on board with us in The Great Commission.
The Coming of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1-4 NRSV
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven, there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Reflection:
After Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan a dove descended upon Him and endowed him with the gift of the Holy Spirit. This signalled the beginning of his ministry and his commissioning as the Messiah.
Then after three years of an astonishing ministry, Jesus’ work on earth started drawing to a conclusion with the events of his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. During these times the Old Testament holy prophecies were being fulfilled concerning the coming of a Messiah or King of Kings.
As a result, shortly after Jesus ascended to heaven, at the Jewish Feast of the Harvest (known today as Pentecost) the Holy Spirit was released and accepted by all those with faith in Jesus.
As the Holy Spirit settled within the hearts of the disciples on that day they realised that they had now been commissioned to be Jesus’ ambassadors here on earth. Since then, they and the millions who came after them have gone out into the world as Christ’s ambassadors.
St Paul was a fantastic ambassador for Christ; in a letter to the people of Corinthia said: ‘We are ambassadors for Christ’. He concluded a letter to the people of Ephesia by asking them to: ‘Pray for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains’ – the letter was written from a prison cell.
Since those early days, there have been countless ambassadors for Christ who helped build up the kingdom. They are known today collectively as the Communion of Saints. This is a spiritual union between Christians alive today and the saints departed who are resting in heaven.
It is unlikely that any of us will have the vigour and drive of St Paul but it is our turn today to go out into the world and, as best we can serve as ambassadors for Christ.
The deliverance of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost provided a divine support system for all Christians down the ages, to guide and protect them as they go into the world to proclaim the gospel; and it will help and support us today too.
God has plans for each of us and has given us all various gifts that can be used to help spread the hope that Christians have in Jesus.
There are so many ways we can use our life experiences to make small positive actions to further The Great Commission and I feel that investing ourselves in the well-being of others is a brilliant way to reach people.
Below are a few of my blogs that might give you some ideas on polishing your Christian ambassador skills alongside your own unique and God-given gifts and life experiences.
Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Help people with prayer by talking them through the Lord’s Prayer
