Subject: "Have You Recieved A Word of Reconciliation?"--Pastor Horace Dukes Jr.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Paul makes two calls in this passage: A call to be reconciled, and having been reconciled, a second call to join in the ministry of reconciliation. It may seem odd that one has to call the church to reconciliation, i.e., to come to a place of fellowship with God. After all, shouldn't the saints already be in fellowship with Him? Since the call to reconciliation is made by Paul--God's ambassador and agent--let's look at the agency that hinders reconciliation.
1. The Secret Agent--one who has been called but lacks the faith to take the call to a higher level. Such a person has a comfort level with the body of Christ but stands in fear that those in their past life will reject their Christian confession. In Saint John 3 we find a secret agent by the name of Nicodemus--One that for fear of the "religious right" will not confess his call. Problem: God can never get glory from a secret agent. He can't use a coward soldier.
2. The Double Agent--one that is serving two opposing sides and wants the better of two worlds. Judas was a double agent because he supped with the Lord and yet betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. Problem: God would rather we be hot or cold--real or fake--thereby being in a position to be corrected.
3. The Sold-Out Agent--one that is sincere in their faith-walk and wanting God to get the best out of their life. The Sold-Out agent can receive the "Words of Reconciliation" found throughout the bible--for once we receive vertical reconciliation (spiritual), we can receive reconciliation horizontally (on natural things).
