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Rick Warren

Rick Warren - We Are Ambassadors (Part 1)

November 2, 2025 | 27:29

Rick Warren - We Are Ambassadors (Part 1)
Pastor Rick shares biblical truth and practical tools for living the full life God desires for everyone.
#IdentityinChrist #Jesus #Chosenpeople #Calling #Setapart #Grace #Purpose #Gospel #Lifestyle #Honor #GlorifyGod #Missions #Missionary #Witness/Witnessing #Authority #RickWarren

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Rick Warren | Rick Warren - We Are Ambassadors (Part 1) | November 2, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Cc by aberdeen captioning (800) 688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Pastor rick warren: this weekend, i want us to look at
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  • The word ambassador.
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  • The bible says in 2 corinthians 5:20, "we are
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  • Christ's ambassadors."
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  • If you're taking notes, circle that word, we are
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  • Christ's ambassadors.
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  • Now what is an ambassador?
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  • Well, an ambassador is a representative sent out on a
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  • Mission to build relationships, that's usually what an
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  • Ambassador is.
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  • A representative sent out on a mission in order to
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  • Build relationships.
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  • Now, there are political ambassadors, there are economic
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  • And business ambassadors, there are cultural ambassadors, there
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  • Are goodwill ambassadors, and the bible says there are
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  • Spiritual ambassadors.
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  • And we are christ ambassadors.
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  • If you are a follower of christ, the bible says you are an
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  • Ambassador for him in the world.
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  • So what i want us to do this weekend is three things.
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  • I want us to look at the role of an ambassador, i want us to look
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  • At the responsibilities of an ambassador, and i want us to
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  • Look at the rewards for being an ambassador of jesus christ.
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  • Let's get right into it.
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  • First, what is my role as an ambassador?
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  • Well, what it means, number one, it means that if i'm an
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  • Ambassador, i am a representative of jesus.
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  • I am a representative of jesus.
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  • I represent jesus in the world.
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  • Now, to understand this, you need to understand the
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  • Difference between your career and your calling.
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  • You need to know the difference between your job and
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  • Your vocation.
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  • Now, the word vocation comes from the latin word "voce,"
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  • Which is the word for voice.
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  • We get the word vocal from it.
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  • Like a vocalist or a vocation.
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  • It means your calling.
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  • It has to do with your voice.
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  • Now, i was talking to somebody a while back and i said,
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  • "what do you do?"
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  • Is a person i just met. i said, "what do you do?"
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  • And they said, "well, i'm actually an ambassador for jesus
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  • Disguised as a businessman."
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  • I talked to a woman one time, she said, "i'm an ambassador for
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  • Jesus disguised as a professional basketball coach."
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  • So what's your disguise?
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  • You are an ambassador for jesus.
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  • If you're a follower of christ, that's your primary calling.
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  • You're an ambassador for jesus, but you may be disguised as a
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  • Mom, as a nurse, as a truck driver, as a mechanic, as a
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  • Realtor, as a salesman or whatever.
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  • That's your job, that's your career, but that's not
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  • Your calling.
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  • It's not your vocation.
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  • The bible says this on the screen, 2 timothy chapter 1,
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  • "god saved us and called us to be his own people, not because
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  • Of what we have done, but because of his own grace
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  • And purpose."
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  • Now notice it says, "he has called us."
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  • "he has called us."
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  • What's your calling?
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  • This week i looked up the phrase calling and what we're called to
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  • Do in the bible.
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  • And the bible says this in romans 1:7, we're called to be
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  • His people.
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  • John 15, we're called to be god's friend.
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  • 1 corinthians 1, we're called to be holy, and we're called
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  • Into fellowship.
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  • The bible says in 2 corinthians 5, we're called to speak
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  • For christ.
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  • Galatians 5, we're called to serve each other.
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  • In colossians 3, we're called to live in peace.
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  • Romans 8, chapter 8 verse 28 says, we're called in verse 29,
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  • Called to become like jesus for god's purpose.
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  • 1 peter 2, we're called to suffer for him.
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  • In 1 peter 3, we're called to bless those who curse us.
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  • 1 timothy 1 says, we're called to eternal life.
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  • And 2 thessalonians 2 says, we're called to share his glory.
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  • That's your calling.
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  • It's not your career, but it's your calling.
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  • If you are a follower of jesus christ, you are a representative
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  • Of jesus christ.
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  • You are an ambassador.
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  • You have an assignment and your assignment is to
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  • Build relationships.
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  • Now, if you're gonna follow jesus as an ambassador, it's
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  • Gonna have to affect the way you live.
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  • It's gonna radically change the way you live.
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  • In fact, the bible says this, philippians 1:27, "be sure that
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  • You live in a way that brings honor to the good news
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  • Of christ."
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  • Says, if you're gonna be ambassador, you're gonna be a
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  • Representative of jesus, you gotta live like it.
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  • You can't just name the name without playing the game.
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  • You gotta back it up with your life.
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  • We need to remember that we represent jesus.
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  • Many years ago when i was a high school student, i was selected
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  • As one of eight students in this state in california to be
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  • Ambassadors to the international congress on science and
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  • The environment.
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  • And they said it's gonna be eight high school students, and
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  • You're going for a week, all expenses paid, we're giving an
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  • Unlimited credit line and no chaperones.
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  • What a life.
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  • And so i'm one of the eight ambassadors from the state of
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  • California as a high school student to go to this congress.
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  • As i'm walking out the door, my dad says to me, "son, remember
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  • Who you represent."
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  • "remember who you represent."
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  • I didn't just represent california, i represented the
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  • Warren name.
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  • And i didn't just represent the warren name, i represented
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  • Jesus christ.
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  • I think it's a good phrase we need to ask ourselves quite
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  • Frequently as we get up in the morning, when you're going out
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  • For the day's work, remember who you represent.
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  • Now, the bible says in ephesians chapter 4 this, "live a life
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  • Worthy of the calling you have received."
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  • And i have been called to represent jesus in the world,
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  • And so have you.
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  • This is not just for pastors.
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  • It's for every believer.
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  • Now, number two, an ambassador not only represents someone,
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  • Number two, i've been given a mission.
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  • That's the second thing an ambassador does.
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  • You're given a mission.
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  • Ambassadors are sent on diplomatic missions.
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  • In fact, the embassies where ambassadors work are called
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  • Permanent missions.
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  • I've been in many of them around the world in many capitals of
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  • Different countries.
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  • I've been to the american embassy and usually when we go
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  • Into a major city, major like a capital, we'll get invited to
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  • The embassy just to meet with everybody.
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  • And they're called the permanent mission.
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  • The permanent mission to china, the permanent mission to
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  • Australia, the permanent mission to israel, the permanent
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  • Mission whatever.
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  • Because the word mission is what an ambassador does.
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  • Now, jesus said this in john 17.
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  • He said, "in the same way that you," father, "gave me a mission
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  • In the world, i give them a mission in the world."
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  • Did you know that you have a mission?
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  • That the moment you step across the line spiritually and you
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  • Become a follower of jesus, god has a mission for your life, and
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  • That is to be his ambassador.
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  • Now, when you're on a mission, friends, that's all
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  • That matters.
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  • You're not there to see the scenery, you're not there to
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  • Take pictures, you're not there to try the local cuisine, as an
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  • Ambassador, you're there on a mission.
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  • Now, of all of the missions in the world, the most important
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  • Mission of all is helping people get to know god and settle their
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  • Eternal destiny because they're only gonna be on earth for 60,
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  • 80 years, but they're gonna be in eternity for trillions
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  • Of years.
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  • And so our mission, the mission of ambassadors of christ is more
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  • Important than any other mission.
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  • Than a mission to the moon or a mission to some other country.
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  • The bible says this.
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  • Paul says, "i don't care about my own life.
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  • The most important thing is that i complete my mission,
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  • The work that the lord jesus gave me--to tell other people
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  • The good news about god's grace."
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  • He says, "my job is to complete my mission."
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  • At the end of his life, paul said, "i finished the race," he
  • 00:08:48.844 --> 00:08:53.416
  • Completed his mission.
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  • You know, he said, "i did what god told me to do."
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  • Are you gonna be able to do that?
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  • One day when you stand before god, he's gonna say, "did you
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  • Complete the mission i gave you?"
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  • "oh, oh, i didn't even know i had one."
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  • Well, yeah, you did.
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  • You think i put you on earth just to live for yourself?
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  • No, i put you on earth for a mission.
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  • Now, the bible says, not only am i given the responsibility of
  • 00:09:12.335 --> 00:09:17.239
  • Representing jesus, and not only do i have a mission, number
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  • Three, this is real important.
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  • I have been given authority to speak.
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  • I've been given authority to speak.
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  • And sometimes, you know, we don't feel very confident in
  • 00:09:29.652 --> 00:09:31.754
  • Talking about god to other people and maybe we feel a
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  • Little insecure or a little unsure, a little timid, a
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  • Little hesitant.
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  • We go, who am i to talk to anybody about jesus?
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  • You know, i don't know what to say, i don't know how to say it.
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  • I'm not a professional witnesser or whatever.
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  • I don't know what to do.
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  • But god says, "no, you're authorized."
  • 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:53.709
  • And he says, "whenever i ask you to do something, and i ask you
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  • To represent me, and i ask you to have a mission, and i ask you
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  • To speak for me," he said, "i'm gonna empower you to do it."
  • 00:09:59.248 --> 00:10:03.486
  • And in matthew 28, jesus said this.
  • 00:10:03.486 --> 00:10:07.189
  • "i have been given all authority in heaven and on earth."
  • 00:10:07.189 --> 00:10:12.161
  • Circle the phrase all authority.
  • 00:10:12.161 --> 00:10:13.863
  • "i've been given all authority in heaven and on earth."
  • 00:10:13.863 --> 00:10:16.332
  • Obviously god has all the authority in the universe.
  • 00:10:16.332 --> 00:10:18.834
  • And he says he's given it to his son jesus christ.
  • 00:10:18.834 --> 00:10:21.671
  • And he says, "therefore, because i've been given all authority,"
  • 00:10:21.671 --> 00:10:24.840
  • He says, "i'm gonna authorize you."
  • 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:26.709
  • "therefore go to all peoples everywhere and make them my
  • 00:10:26.709 --> 00:10:31.013
  • Disciples: baptize them in the name of the father, and the son,
  • 00:10:31.013 --> 00:10:35.117
  • And the holy spirit, and teach them to obey everything i've
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  • Commanded you."
  • 00:10:38.954 --> 00:10:40.322
  • And he goes, you can count on this.
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  • "i will be with you always."
  • 00:10:41.657 --> 00:10:44.126
  • Now, that verse is called the great commission.
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  • It is our commission.
  • 00:10:48.264 --> 00:10:50.199
  • It is our mission in life.
  • 00:10:50.199 --> 00:10:52.368
  • And the great commission was not given to pastors.
  • 00:10:52.368 --> 00:10:56.172
  • It was not given to missionaries.
  • 00:10:56.172 --> 00:10:58.474
  • It was not given to priests or elders or
  • 00:10:58.474 --> 00:11:01.844
  • Professional evangelists.
  • 00:11:01.844 --> 00:11:04.447
  • The great commission jesus gave to every one of his followers,
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  • It's your commission.
  • 00:11:08.417 --> 00:11:09.752
  • And one day god's gonna say, "did you do the commission i
  • 00:11:09.752 --> 00:11:13.456
  • Gave you?
  • 00:11:13.456 --> 00:11:14.790
  • Did you do the mission?
  • 00:11:14.790 --> 00:11:16.325
  • Somebody gave you the good news because they represented me
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  • To you.
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  • Did you pass it on?
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  • Did you share it with anybody else?"
  • 00:11:22.965 --> 00:11:24.333
  • And he said, "i have all the authority and i'm authorizing
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  • You to speak."
  • 00:11:26.602 --> 00:11:27.970
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Pastor rick: one of the things that god wants us to do, and he
  • 00:11:35.111 --> 00:11:37.747
  • Says it over and over in scripture is to
  • 00:11:37.747 --> 00:11:40.082
  • Practice gratitude.
  • 00:11:40.082 --> 00:11:42.351
  • I don't know if you've ever noticed that the more grateful a
  • 00:11:42.351 --> 00:11:44.820
  • Person is, the happier they are.
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  • That's the power of gratitude.
  • 00:11:47.323 --> 00:11:50.826
  • Now, i've put together a brand new bible study called "the
  • 00:11:50.826 --> 00:11:54.463
  • Power of gratitude," and in it,
  • 00:11:54.463 --> 00:11:57.500
  • You'll find scriptures and
  • 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.834
  • Teaching and exercises that'll
  • 00:11:58.834 --> 00:12:00.669
  • Help you develop the habit
  • 00:12:00.669 --> 00:12:02.638
  • Of gratitude.
  • 00:12:02.638 --> 00:12:04.774
  • You'll discover how to stay in god's will, how to defeat
  • 00:12:04.774 --> 00:12:08.344
  • Discouragement, how to conquer complaining, how to reduce
  • 00:12:08.344 --> 00:12:12.715
  • Stress, and how to experience god's blessing
  • 00:12:12.715 --> 00:12:16.719
  • Through gratitude.
  • 00:12:16.719 --> 00:12:18.087
  • So today when you partner with me by giving a gift, a financial
  • 00:12:18.087 --> 00:12:22.792
  • Gift to "daily hope" to help us take the certain hope of jesus
  • 00:12:22.792 --> 00:12:27.429
  • To people all around the world,
  • 00:12:27.429 --> 00:12:28.964
  • I'm gonna have my team send you
  • 00:12:28.964 --> 00:12:31.167
  • "the power of gratitude"
  • 00:12:31.167 --> 00:12:32.802
  • Bible study.
  • 00:12:32.802 --> 00:12:34.136
  • I just wanna say thanks to you.
  • 00:12:34.136 --> 00:12:35.704
  • I wanna be grateful for you.
  • 00:12:35.704 --> 00:12:37.173
  • You know, your support
  • 00:12:37.173 --> 00:12:38.607
  • Is essential for us taking
  • 00:12:38.607 --> 00:12:40.509
  • The daily hope message of jesus
  • 00:12:40.509 --> 00:12:42.711
  • All around the world.
  • 00:12:42.711 --> 00:12:44.313
  • Pastor rick: there's a term that's often used in foreign
  • 00:12:47.883 --> 00:12:50.085
  • Affairs called plenipotentiary.
  • 00:12:50.085 --> 00:12:53.389
  • It's a latin phrase that literally means full power.
  • 00:12:53.389 --> 00:12:58.327
  • And what a plenipotentiary is, is it's somebody who is
  • 00:12:58.327 --> 00:13:02.832
  • Authorized to represent a government with offers without
  • 00:13:02.832 --> 00:13:08.137
  • Having to check back with anybody else.
  • 00:13:08.137 --> 00:13:11.240
  • A plenipotentiary is someone who can negotiate on the behalf of
  • 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:17.980
  • The country without having to say, "i'll get back to you."
  • 00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:22.818
  • During the revolutionary war, john adams and benjamin franklin
  • 00:13:22.818 --> 00:13:30.326
  • Were both plenipotentiaries to both france and to england,
  • 00:13:30.326 --> 00:13:37.032
  • Which means they were authorized by our young government to sign
  • 00:13:37.032 --> 00:13:41.237
  • Treaties without it having even to be approved by congress.
  • 00:13:41.237 --> 00:13:45.441
  • That's how much power they were given.
  • 00:13:45.441 --> 00:13:48.277
  • And they were saying, "we give you the authorization to make
  • 00:13:48.277 --> 00:13:52.114
  • The offer on our behalf without having to check back with us."
  • 00:13:52.114 --> 00:13:57.219
  • Now, historically, the people who have this ability, there's a
  • 00:13:57.219 --> 00:14:00.422
  • Word for them.
  • 00:14:00.422 --> 00:14:01.790
  • They're called ministers.
  • 00:14:01.790 --> 00:14:04.627
  • Now, when we think of minister today here in america, we think
  • 00:14:04.627 --> 00:14:08.831
  • Of like pastors and we think of people in churches, but around
  • 00:14:08.831 --> 00:14:12.401
  • The world, minister is often a plenipotentiary.
  • 00:14:12.401 --> 00:14:16.906
  • For instance, we talk about a minister of state or a minister
  • 00:14:16.906 --> 00:14:21.076
  • Of commerce or a minister of foreign affairs or a prime
  • 00:14:21.076 --> 00:14:25.981
  • Minister, we don't use these terms in america.
  • 00:14:25.981 --> 00:14:28.884
  • We use the term president, we use secretary of state,
  • 00:14:28.884 --> 00:14:31.820
  • Secretary of commerce, secretary of foreign affairs, things
  • 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:35.190
  • Like that.
  • 00:14:35.190 --> 00:14:36.525
  • But most of the world uses the word minister.
  • 00:14:36.525 --> 00:14:39.628
  • And a minister is somebody who has been authorized to act on
  • 00:14:39.628 --> 00:14:43.732
  • Behalf of somebody else.
  • 00:14:43.732 --> 00:14:46.268
  • Well, that's really a cool thing because the bible says that you,
  • 00:14:46.268 --> 00:14:51.140
  • You are authorized as a minister of jesus christ.
  • 00:14:51.140 --> 00:14:57.046
  • Every christian is an authorized minister of jesus christ.
  • 00:14:57.046 --> 00:15:01.583
  • You're not a pastor, you're not a priest.
  • 00:15:01.583 --> 00:15:04.053
  • You're not a full-time christian worker, but every believer is
  • 00:15:04.053 --> 00:15:08.624
  • A minister.
  • 00:15:08.624 --> 00:15:09.959
  • The bible teaches this over and over.
  • 00:15:09.959 --> 00:15:11.694
  • And he says, "you are authorized to speak on my behalf."
  • 00:15:11.694 --> 00:15:16.298
  • You don't have to go check with anybody else.
  • 00:15:16.298 --> 00:15:18.267
  • You can talk in the name of christ to other people.
  • 00:15:18.267 --> 00:15:23.205
  • And he says, "you represent me, i've given you a mission, and
  • 00:15:23.205 --> 00:15:27.977
  • I'm giving you the authority to speak."
  • 00:15:27.977 --> 00:15:30.579
  • Now, there's one other thing you need to remember as an
  • 00:15:30.579 --> 00:15:32.147
  • Ambassador, number four, and it's this, i serve in a
  • 00:15:32.147 --> 00:15:36.118
  • Foreign culture.
  • 00:15:36.118 --> 00:15:38.420
  • You've probably never thought about this.
  • 00:15:38.420 --> 00:15:41.123
  • But if you are a believer, a follower of jesus christ, your
  • 00:15:41.123 --> 00:15:45.461
  • Home is not on earth.
  • 00:15:45.461 --> 00:15:47.563
  • Your home is in heaven.
  • 00:15:47.563 --> 00:15:49.264
  • Your homeland is in heaven, and your identity is in eternity.
  • 00:15:49.264 --> 00:15:54.737
  • So he's saying this isn't my home.
  • 00:15:54.737 --> 00:15:57.973
  • And as an ambassador i'm simply on a short term assignment.
  • 00:15:57.973 --> 00:16:02.378
  • Now, where does an ambassador live?
  • 00:16:02.378 --> 00:16:05.114
  • In their home country or in a foreign country?
  • 00:16:05.114 --> 00:16:08.617
  • They live in a foreign country.
  • 00:16:08.617 --> 00:16:10.085
  • So for instance, america's ambassador to china lives
  • 00:16:10.085 --> 00:16:14.423
  • In china.
  • 00:16:14.423 --> 00:16:15.758
  • And america's ambassador to japan lives in japan.
  • 00:16:15.758 --> 00:16:19.461
  • They don't get to live in their home country.
  • 00:16:19.461 --> 00:16:21.530
  • Ambassadors don't live in their home country.
  • 00:16:21.530 --> 00:16:23.732
  • They live in somebody else's country.
  • 00:16:23.732 --> 00:16:25.167
  • In fact, they often live in enemy territory.
  • 00:16:25.167 --> 00:16:28.504
  • During the cold war, american ambassadors lived in all the
  • 00:16:28.504 --> 00:16:31.373
  • Communist nations even though they were our enemies and were
  • 00:16:31.373 --> 00:16:34.576
  • Actually trying to bring us down.
  • 00:16:34.576 --> 00:16:37.646
  • And so, an ambassador will often live not just in a foreign
  • 00:16:37.646 --> 00:16:41.483
  • Country or culture, but in an alien or enemy culture.
  • 00:16:41.483 --> 00:16:46.989
  • And he says, that's what you are as an ambassador of
  • 00:16:46.989 --> 00:16:49.825
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:16:49.825 --> 00:16:51.160
  • This world is not your home, you're just passing through.
  • 00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:55.364
  • Said you were made for eternity.
  • 00:16:55.364 --> 00:16:57.833
  • You were made for heaven.
  • 00:16:57.833 --> 00:17:00.436
  • If you want to go back and read on this in the first seven
  • 00:17:00.436 --> 00:17:02.337
  • Chapters of "purpose driven life," i talk about this
  • 00:17:02.337 --> 00:17:04.840
  • In detail.
  • 00:17:04.840 --> 00:17:06.475
  • The bible says this in 1 peter chapter 1, here on the screen.
  • 00:17:06.475 --> 00:17:10.279
  • "if you call god your father," he says, "live your time as
  • 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:17.386
  • Temporary residents on earth."
  • 00:17:17.386 --> 00:17:20.355
  • An ambassador, and i've met a lot of ambassadors around the
  • 00:17:20.355 --> 00:17:24.126
  • World, they don't buy a permanent home, whether they
  • 00:17:24.126 --> 00:17:27.529
  • Live in paris or in, you know, rio de janeiro or anywhere else.
  • 00:17:27.529 --> 00:17:33.602
  • They rent.
  • 00:17:33.602 --> 00:17:34.937
  • Why?
  • 00:17:34.937 --> 00:17:36.305
  • Because they know i'm just an ambassador.
  • 00:17:36.305 --> 00:17:37.639
  • And when the next administration comes in, they're gonna appoint
  • 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:40.209
  • A new ambassador.
  • 00:17:40.209 --> 00:17:42.144
  • So they say, "we're not gonna stay here for the rest of
  • 00:17:42.144 --> 00:17:44.279
  • Our life."
  • 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:45.614
  • Nobody moves to a country and then lives there their entire
  • 00:17:45.614 --> 00:17:47.616
  • Lives if they're an ambassador.
  • 00:17:47.616 --> 00:17:49.218
  • You're there on short term assignment and you're in a
  • 00:17:49.218 --> 00:17:52.421
  • Foreign culture and you're not really in your home--homeland.
  • 00:17:52.421 --> 00:17:57.259
  • What jesus is saying here is, don't get too comfortable living
  • 00:17:57.259 --> 00:18:02.131
  • In this world.
  • 00:18:02.131 --> 00:18:03.499
  • You're just an ambassador.
  • 00:18:03.499 --> 00:18:07.202
  • Don't get too comfortable.
  • 00:18:05.601 --> 00:18:08.670
  • Don't think that this life is all there is here on earth.
  • 00:18:08.670 --> 00:18:11.673
  • Don't get sucked into the myth that, you know, all there is is
  • 00:18:11.673 --> 00:18:15.511
  • The here and now, and don't forget your role.
  • 00:18:15.511 --> 00:18:19.515
  • Your role is not to create a little cushy pad and make your
  • 00:18:19.515 --> 00:18:24.086
  • Life as comfortable as possible.
  • 00:18:24.086 --> 00:18:25.587
  • That's not your role.
  • 00:18:25.587 --> 00:18:27.422
  • Your role is an ambassador.
  • 00:18:27.422 --> 00:18:29.658
  • Your role is to represent me, to fulfill your mission, and to
  • 00:18:29.658 --> 00:18:34.196
  • Speak in my name with authority and you're doing it in
  • 00:18:34.196 --> 00:18:38.467
  • Foreign territory.
  • 00:18:38.467 --> 00:18:41.003
  • The bible says this in philippians chapter 3, here on
  • 00:18:41.003 --> 00:18:43.705
  • The screen.
  • 00:18:43.705 --> 00:18:45.440
  • Comparing believers and unbelievers, he says, "all the
  • 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:47.876
  • Other people think about is life on earth."
  • 00:18:47.876 --> 00:18:51.647
  • They're not thinking about eternity.
  • 00:18:51.647 --> 00:18:53.482
  • They're not thinking about what's after this.
  • 00:18:53.482 --> 00:18:55.450
  • They're just thinking about here and now.
  • 00:18:55.450 --> 00:18:57.286
  • Get all you can, can all you get, sit on the can and spoil
  • 00:18:57.286 --> 00:19:00.289
  • The rest.
  • 00:19:00.289 --> 00:19:02.057
  • You know, the one with the most toys wins.
  • 00:19:02.057 --> 00:19:04.660
  • No, the one with the most toys still dies.
  • 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:08.197
  • And you're valuable and your value is not, have nothing to do
  • 00:19:08.197 --> 00:19:12.467
  • And your self-worth and your net worth have nothing in common.
  • 00:19:12.467 --> 00:19:15.337
  • Life is not about the acquisition of things.
  • 00:19:15.337 --> 00:19:17.406
  • So he says, don't get caught up in the thing that you think that
  • 00:19:17.406 --> 00:19:20.642
  • Life is all about things.
  • 00:19:20.642 --> 00:19:21.977
  • The greatest things in life aren't things.
  • 00:19:21.977 --> 00:19:24.413
  • He says, "other people, they're always thinking about what life
  • 00:19:24.413 --> 00:19:26.648
  • Is like here on earth."
  • 00:19:26.648 --> 00:19:27.983
  • He said, "you are citizens in heaven."
  • 00:19:27.983 --> 00:19:30.319
  • We are citizens of heaven, where the lord jesus christ lives, and
  • 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:35.457
  • This really isn't our ultimate home.
  • 00:19:35.457 --> 00:19:37.125
  • We really, our ultimate home is in heaven.
  • 00:19:37.125 --> 00:19:39.261
  • You're only gonna be here for 80 years.
  • 00:19:39.261 --> 00:19:42.097
  • You're on temporary assignment.
  • 00:19:42.097 --> 00:19:45.234
  • Now, what am i supposed to do while i'm here?
  • 00:19:45.234 --> 00:19:49.137
  • Have you ever thought about this?
  • 00:19:49.137 --> 00:19:51.340
  • After you become a believer, after you accept god's
  • 00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:54.843
  • Salvation, once your sins are forgiven and you know you're
  • 00:19:54.843 --> 00:19:58.247
  • Going to heaven, why didn't god just take you on right then?
  • 00:19:58.247 --> 00:20:02.284
  • You ever thought about that?
  • 00:20:02.284 --> 00:20:03.785
  • I mean, once you're saved, why didn't god just kill you?
  • 00:20:03.785 --> 00:20:07.122
  • You know what i mean, because ultimately you're going to
  • 00:20:07.122 --> 00:20:08.957
  • Heaven anyway, why should he leave you here for another 20,
  • 00:20:08.957 --> 00:20:11.593
  • 30, 40 or however many years it is with all its sins, suffering,
  • 00:20:11.593 --> 00:20:15.564
  • Sorrow, sadness, depression, despair, discouragement,
  • 00:20:15.564 --> 00:20:20.369
  • Problems, you know, pressures and difficulties and trials and
  • 00:20:20.369 --> 00:20:25.641
  • Tribulations and tears and, if you're gonna go to a perfect
  • 00:20:25.641 --> 00:20:30.045
  • Place anyway, why doesn't he just take you there the moment
  • 00:20:30.045 --> 00:20:33.849
  • He knows for sure you've accepted the invitation.
  • 00:20:33.849 --> 00:20:38.687
  • Once you're in, why does he leave you here on earth?
  • 00:20:38.687 --> 00:20:44.259
  • To be an ambassador.
  • 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:45.627
  • That's why.
  • 00:20:45.627 --> 00:20:47.095
  • To be an ambassador.
  • 00:20:47.095 --> 00:20:48.463
  • You see, there's only two things you can't do in heaven.
  • 00:20:48.463 --> 00:20:53.935
  • You can have fun in heaven.
  • 00:20:53.935 --> 00:20:56.438
  • You can sleep in heaven.
  • 00:20:56.438 --> 00:20:59.007
  • You can rest in heaven.
  • 00:20:59.007 --> 00:21:00.876
  • You can fellowship with other people in heaven.
  • 00:21:00.876 --> 00:21:02.844
  • You can pray, you can worship, you can be creative in heaven.
  • 00:21:02.844 --> 00:21:07.115
  • You can eat in heaven and no calories, all right, there are
  • 00:21:07.115 --> 00:21:14.556
  • Only two things you cannot do in heaven.
  • 00:21:14.556 --> 00:21:18.760
  • One of them is sin, because it's a perfect place, and the other
  • 00:21:18.760 --> 00:21:24.032
  • Is, be an ambassador to unbelievers.
  • 00:21:24.032 --> 00:21:28.236
  • Tell people who don't know the good news, the good news.
  • 00:21:28.236 --> 00:21:32.040
  • So there's two things you can't do in heaven, sin and share
  • 00:21:32.040 --> 00:21:36.545
  • Your faith.
  • 00:21:36.545 --> 00:21:38.246
  • Which of those two do you think god leaves you here to do?
  • 00:21:38.246 --> 00:21:44.086
  • Let's just think about that one for a minute.
  • 00:21:44.086 --> 00:21:47.422
  • Why does he leave you here on earth?
  • 00:21:47.422 --> 00:21:49.091
  • He leaves you here to tell somebody else, you're gonna go
  • 00:21:49.091 --> 00:21:52.461
  • To heaven 'cause somebody told you.
  • 00:21:52.461 --> 00:21:55.597
  • Have you been an ambassador to anybody else?
  • 00:21:55.597 --> 00:21:59.034
  • Now, that's the role of an ambassador.
  • 00:21:59.034 --> 00:22:01.603
  • I'm a representative, and i am, you know, i'm authorized to
  • 00:22:01.603 --> 00:22:07.275
  • Speak and i've been given a mission to tell the good news to
  • 00:22:07.275 --> 00:22:10.812
  • Other people, and i got to remember that it's just a
  • 00:22:10.812 --> 00:22:13.382
  • Temporary assignment and this really isn't ultimately my home.
  • 00:22:13.382 --> 00:22:17.185
  • So, what am i supposed to do?
  • 00:22:17.185 --> 00:22:19.721
  • Well, the bible says three things.
  • 00:22:19.721 --> 00:22:21.089
  • Let's look at it.
  • 00:22:21.089 --> 00:22:22.424
  • As an ambassador, you have three responsibilities here on earth.
  • 00:22:22.424 --> 00:22:26.061
  • And these are the things that god wants you to do as
  • 00:22:26.061 --> 00:22:28.563
  • An ambassador.
  • 00:22:28.563 --> 00:22:29.931
  • Number one, i must be an example.
  • 00:22:29.931 --> 00:22:34.536
  • I must set an example for other people.
  • 00:22:34.536 --> 00:22:37.873
  • The first thing god wants you to do is help other people know
  • 00:22:37.873 --> 00:22:41.843
  • What god is like by being an example of his character
  • 00:22:41.843 --> 00:22:46.148
  • Qualities, love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness,
  • 00:22:46.148 --> 00:22:50.285
  • Faithfulness, kindness, meekness, self-control.
  • 00:22:50.285 --> 00:22:54.990
  • Now, the bible says this in 1 peter chapter 2, "people who do
  • 00:22:54.990 --> 00:23:01.730
  • Not believe are living all around you."
  • 00:23:01.730 --> 00:23:06.201
  • That's kind of obvious.
  • 00:23:06.201 --> 00:23:07.869
  • "people who do not believe are living all around you, and they
  • 00:23:07.869 --> 00:23:12.541
  • Might say you're doing wrong.
  • 00:23:12.541 --> 00:23:13.875
  • So live such good lives that they'll see the good things you
  • 00:23:13.875 --> 00:23:20.348
  • Do and will give glory to god."
  • 00:23:20.348 --> 00:23:22.851
  • What's he saying there?
  • 00:23:22.851 --> 00:23:24.186
  • The first job of an ambassador whether it's for the country or
  • 00:23:24.186 --> 00:23:28.423
  • Of jesus is you set a good example, you set a good example.
  • 00:23:28.423 --> 00:23:32.427
  • Now, i took a team to latin america and we went to colombia
  • 00:23:32.427 --> 00:23:36.698
  • And to brazil and to uruguay and a bunch of different places.
  • 00:23:36.698 --> 00:23:41.102
  • One of the places we went to was argentina.
  • 00:23:41.102 --> 00:23:44.406
  • And while we were in argentina, we were in buenos aires, and the
  • 00:23:44.406 --> 00:23:49.478
  • Us embassy heard that the team from saddleback was in town and
  • 00:23:49.478 --> 00:23:53.582
  • They asked us to come over and meet the ambassador who wanted
  • 00:23:53.582 --> 00:23:57.052
  • To meet our team.
  • 00:23:57.052 --> 00:23:58.887
  • So we went over to the embassy, in buenos aires, and the guy was
  • 00:23:58.887 --> 00:24:03.725
  • Quite a nice guy.
  • 00:24:03.725 --> 00:24:05.060
  • He had been an ambassador to several different countries in
  • 00:24:05.060 --> 00:24:07.796
  • His lifetime, stationed at different missions.
  • 00:24:07.796 --> 00:24:10.932
  • And so i was asking about what it was like to be an ambassador,
  • 00:24:10.932 --> 00:24:14.269
  • And i said, what is the most difficult part of being
  • 00:24:14.269 --> 00:24:17.339
  • An ambassador?
  • 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:19.207
  • He said, the fact is you're never off duty.
  • 00:24:19.207 --> 00:24:26.114
  • You're always being watched.
  • 00:24:26.114 --> 00:24:28.917
  • He said, "no matter what i do, i represent jesus christ."
  • 00:24:28.917 --> 00:24:33.722
  • My job is not an eight hour, not jesus christ.
  • 00:24:33.722 --> 00:24:36.358
  • I represent the united states of america.
  • 00:24:36.358 --> 00:24:39.261
  • He was a christian, but he wasn't--that wasn't what he
  • 00:24:39.261 --> 00:24:41.763
  • Was saying.
  • 00:24:41.763 --> 00:24:43.098
  • He was saying everywhere i go, people look at me, and for many
  • 00:24:43.098 --> 00:24:45.834
  • People i'm the only american they know.
  • 00:24:45.834 --> 00:24:49.337
  • So they look at me and he said, "if i had an eight hour job i
  • 00:24:49.337 --> 00:24:52.707
  • Can go home at night and that was it," but he said, "if after
  • 00:24:52.707 --> 00:24:55.176
  • Work i go out to a restaurant, people are watching, they say,
  • 00:24:55.176 --> 00:24:58.713
  • 'isn't that the ambassador of the united states?'
  • 00:24:58.713 --> 00:25:00.849
  • And they see if i'm cranky to the waitress.
  • 00:25:00.849 --> 00:25:04.219
  • If i'm an ugly american and i'm demanding and i'm grouchy, or if
  • 00:25:04.219 --> 00:25:08.223
  • I'm egotistical or act like a prima donna," he said, "we're
  • 00:25:08.223 --> 00:25:11.826
  • Always on.
  • 00:25:11.826 --> 00:25:13.461
  • We're always being watched, we're always representing
  • 00:25:13.461 --> 00:25:16.865
  • Our country."
  • 00:25:16.865 --> 00:25:20.468
  • What if you lived your life like that?
  • 00:25:20.468 --> 00:25:22.938
  • That you realized that you're always on as an ambassador of
  • 00:25:22.938 --> 00:25:26.942
  • Jesus christ, that no matter where you go, you are the only
  • 00:25:26.942 --> 00:25:32.247
  • Christian some people will ever know.
  • 00:25:32.247 --> 00:25:34.149
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:25:34.583 --> 00:25:42.857
  • Pastor rick: one of the things that god wants us to do, and he
  • 00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:46.795
  • Says it over and over in scripture is to
  • 00:25:46.795 --> 00:25:49.130
  • Practice gratitude.
  • 00:25:49.130 --> 00:25:51.399
  • I don't know if you've ever noticed that the more grateful a
  • 00:25:51.399 --> 00:25:53.868
  • Person is, the happier they are.
  • 00:25:53.868 --> 00:25:56.371
  • That's the power of gratitude.
  • 00:25:56.371 --> 00:25:59.874
  • Now, i've put together a brand new bible study called "the
  • 00:25:59.874 --> 00:26:03.511
  • Power of gratitude," and in it,
  • 00:26:03.511 --> 00:26:06.548
  • You'll find scriptures and
  • 00:26:06.548 --> 00:26:07.882
  • Teaching and exercises that'll
  • 00:26:07.882 --> 00:26:09.718
  • Help you develop the habit
  • 00:26:09.718 --> 00:26:11.686
  • Of gratitude.
  • 00:26:11.686 --> 00:26:13.822
  • You'll discover how to stay in god's will, how to defeat
  • 00:26:13.822 --> 00:26:17.392
  • Discouragement, how to conquer complaining, how to reduce
  • 00:26:17.392 --> 00:26:21.763
  • Stress, and how to experience god's blessing
  • 00:26:21.763 --> 00:26:25.767
  • Through gratitude.
  • 00:26:25.767 --> 00:26:27.135
  • So today when you partner with me by giving a gift, a financial
  • 00:26:27.135 --> 00:26:31.840
  • Gift to "daily hope" to help us take the certain hope of jesus
  • 00:26:31.840 --> 00:26:36.478
  • To people all around the world,
  • 00:26:36.478 --> 00:26:38.013
  • I'm gonna have my team send you
  • 00:26:38.013 --> 00:26:40.215
  • "the power of gratitude"
  • 00:26:40.215 --> 00:26:41.850
  • Bible study.
  • 00:26:41.850 --> 00:26:43.184
  • I just wanna say thanks to you.
  • 00:26:43.184 --> 00:26:44.753
  • I wanna be grateful for you.
  • 00:26:44.753 --> 00:26:46.221
  • You know, your support
  • 00:26:46.221 --> 00:26:47.656
  • Is essential for us taking
  • 00:26:47.656 --> 00:26:49.557
  • The daily hope message of jesus
  • 00:26:49.557 --> 00:26:51.760
  • All around the world.
  • 00:26:51.760 --> 00:26:56.931
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:00.268 --> 00:27:30.000