Confirm: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Mark 16:17-20

“And theses signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will….And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.”

His name. His presence. His authority.

How often do we forget that sharing the good news with life changing power depends on His foundation and not ours?

Too often we concentrate on the how to share, what words to share, when to share and let this training ground become the criteria for accomplishment instead of recognizing them as tools we are given to bridge our diverse communication gaps.

A sign for one person may have no influence on another.

Or we may be given a word to speak that seems impossible and confusing and yet it is exactly the word that needs to be said at that moment—at that time—to only that one person.

Recently our worship community read the story of Paul and Ananias (Acts 9: 10-20) when the Lord called Ananias to go to Paul with a message. Respectfully Ananias first requested a confirmation that they were talking about the same dangerous Paul who was hunting down new believers to jail and that the Lord was the one sending him. Then with the confirmation he then went out and proclaimed the Lord’s message as given. In obedience, and in the Lord’s strength.

Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear when You give us Your signs to share Your message. May we speak only under Your light and follow Your Spirit’s leading keeping us faithful to Your work and not our own man-made substitutions.

In Your name—in Your presence—and only under Your authority.

Psalm of Worship: 1 John 1:6

“If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true.”

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Unbelief: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Mark 16:14-16

“He upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.’”

In what ways does our personal lack of faith hinder not only our own lives but also those around us? Like the disciples we may believe in Jesus and yet still resist His words.

To trust them. To live them. To share them.

To a whole creation!

How? Some of us are so bold in personality that we come across like hammers and frighten listeners away as we point fingers at sin and demand immediate repentance. So are some of us so timid that we clam up our faith from honest seekers for fear of failure or embarrassment. Or so self-centered that we pick and choose to whom we will share good news.

All focused on ourselves instead of trusting in His Spirit to guide us and use us—usually in circumstances far beyond our comprehension. So that we don’t interfere with His good news given to each individually. So we don’t interfere with His light piercing the lies and darkness.

We are not all called to be ministry evangelists but we are all called to live our days in faith: ready to give an answer—ready to share—ready to pray—ready to introduce anyone to His saving grace.

Or does our own unbelief put up barriers of hardness and condemnation and selection?

Lord, please forgive our silence when we should speak and quiet our self-centered rhetoric we rehearse. Instead may our hearts be so filled with Your truth that our words and our actions live Your good news with open welcome.

Psalm of Worship: 1 John 1:5

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.”

Stand Firm: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

           Stand Firm

            Because

            He is present

            kingdom readied

            take seriously command.

            Proclaim

            message in all circumstances

            with patience

            knowing of judgment.

            Persistent

            with compassion

            convince, rebuke, encourage

            life eternal.

Persist: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-2

“In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable, convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.”

There are many situations in our lives that we come to recognize as an end. Perhaps a relationship, or a job, or a goal, or a hope, or a question. Opportunities have dissolved. And, as if in a battle, weariness, discouragement, and doubt invade our hearts and souls. We often quit trying in all areas of our life and not just the one where we have been disappointed.

That is not an option, Timothy reminds us, where God’s message is to be spoken—shared—sustained—with or without words.

Solving a solution or seeing results is not the measure. Faithful persistence is. Especially in times of setbacks and failure. When we most need to trust in His truth and His word. Which never fails even when we cannot see, and may never see, the outcome.

His word that we all need in all circumstances because if we don’t stand firm we lose any hope of strength. The damage goes deeper than the surface and erodes compassion in our hearts. Building more walls. Burying truth instead of sharing it.

He stands for us. We only need to ask.

Lord, please give us Your strength to persist in all situations and stand firm in battles that try to separate us from Your grace and truth. May Your message hold us up together, with each other and with You.

Psalm of Worship: 1 John 1:1

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“We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with out eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.”

Shoes: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Shoes

            Different shoes for

            different days

            each has a purpose

            each to keep walking

            for whatever is necessary

            for destination

            multiple ways

            multiple preparation

            proclaim gospel of peace

            proclaim hope

            just choose whatever works

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            just choose to wear them.

Reflection Proclaim: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What defines “peace” to you? External or internal or both? What does it look like?

2.     What person in your life do you consider a peacemaker? In what ways do their actions or attitudes confirm that quality?

3.     Where are you struggling to live in gospel peace right now?

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Share: What possible “shoes” could help you share gospel peace this week?

Proclaim: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Ephesians 6:15

“As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.”

“Whatever” in today’s slang tends to mean “who cares” as in a true disinterest for a topic, or to hide a curiosity behind a personae of indifference.

Yet “whatever” in scripture builds from a foundation of commitment, opportunity, and promises.

“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who bring good news,” says the prophet Isaiah (52:7), “who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, And says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

We love good news. We cherish those who bring it to us and we hurry to pass it along to others we care about. What about those God cares about? How do we share His peace that is beyond our own understanding? Real peace. Not an external standoff but an internal reality that can holds on.

Soft slippers, spiked heels, metal boots, strong hiking shoes, playful sneakers, or vulnerable bare feet to walk and run alongside with words of hope and peace and restoration. By whatever means of communication: silent or verbal.

Music, scripture, prayers, art, dance, sports. Whatever means of  sharing God’s presence here and now and forever.

Lord, help us to proclaim Your gospel of peace Your way.

Psalm of Worship: Isaiah 55:9

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“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Reflection: Chosen: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you think of yourself or others as chosen, or a royal priesthood? Why or why not?

2.     What does that look like to us as ‘common’ people without degrees in ministry?

3.     Can even the quiet ones among us proclaim? How?

4.     What are some ways we can keep “seeking His face”?

Share: What mercy have you been given this week?

Chosen: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 2: 9-10

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you might proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Do you remember times on the playground in school or camp where teams were chosen? Were you quietly thinking ‘pick me, pick me’, or ‘don’t pick me’? What about now at home or work or organizations?

Being chosen for any task implies a responsibility. And even when we deeply desire the opportunity we don’t always feel capable. Or qualified. Or confident we won’t fail.

Yet here the Lord calls His people not only chosen but priests and holy. So far beyond our deepest desires or strengths—even those with some pastoral training. Chosen by the Lord Himself—why—how—for what purpose—here—now—in my family—my work—my community?

Is it not as staggering a concept for us today as it was then?

And yet, we have been called out of darkness. We have received His mercy. We have been gifted with His light and His Spirit. We have been given truth to share.

Chosen to pass it on. Chosen to encourage hope. Chosen to love others as He has loved us. In His strength, not ours. So any act of mercy is possible. Proclaim.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27: 8

“’Come’, my heart says, ‘Seek his face!’

Your face Lord so I seek.”

Introduction: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Mark 16:15, “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.’”

In previous series as we have been reading Scripture to understand how we can respond to Paul’s call “to lay aside the old self…and put on the new self,” we have looked at turning away from the world’s ways, beginning discipleship, and stepping into a life of faith. Now  in this new series we examine what it means to be sent back into the world as Jesus said, only now as ambassadors for God. How does He define the role of envoy or messenger of His words? What does He mean by all the world and the whole creation?

We are familiar with the concept of apprenticeship where a person will study under a Master Craftsman until deemed ready to venture out on their own—now as an experienced, capable, and polished expert ready to train others.

But God gave this charge to Israel when they were still struggling to become a nation and still considered an infant from the world’s perspective: “Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.” Psalm 96:2-3 NAS

Jesus sends His overwhelmed disciples out after a few years of relationship with Him when they got almost everything He taught them confused. He gave them one strong word of counsel: Wait for the Holy Spirit, and one promise: He would be with them always until the end of days.

On his missionary journeys Paul often left a new group of believers as witnesses and ambassadors after only a few weeks and in some instances a few days. How? What could they possibly have to share? Often we stumble over words within our own families.

Israel also struggled to understand this new role as they entered the Promised Land in the Book of Joshua. New Christians wrestled with a new form of church—a new shape to worship in the book of Acts, and believers are still exhorted to speak God’s words and His story today—sometimes under great deprivation and battle. Revelation warns us of corrupted churches and insidious values.

His story. To us and through us to others by His Holy Spirit. His words. Whether we’ve only known Jesus for a few days or for decades. We share His life changing words that we have seen and touched and felt personally—even when we mess up—maybe especially when we mess up.

This study unfolds as stories of decision and indecision, small personal choices and large public commitments, silent personal prayers and strong battle armor. Mondays we will reflect on a Scripture passage. Wednesdays we'll consider meditative questions. Fridays we'll respond with poetry.

Thank you for continuing the journey. As you discover your own questions and insights, prose and prayers, please share.

Lord, please speak Your words in our hearts and souls and thoughts so that we may always be ready to give Your words of truth and hope and grace as You send us into everyday living.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 146:5-9

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,

Whose hope is in the Lord their God,

Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them;

Who keeps faith forever;

Who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphans and widows.”