The Great Commission - Part 2

Go

....go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28: 19 NIV)

Previously, we discussed the fact that The Great Commission involves the command to "go". There is no disputing the fact that Jesus intended and intends for His disciples to make intentional efforts and intentional journeys specifically to share the good news. His disciples certainly took this command seriously. The book of Acts is primarily a record of the intentional missionary efforts of Peter, Paul, Barnabus, Silas, and others.

As You Go

This week we'd like to consider another idea of what Jesus was commanding.

Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28: 19 ISV)

Although only a few of us are called to be full time "career" missionaries, whose only vocation is sharing the gospel, each of us is called to a "mission field". Several New Testament churches were started by believers who spread the good news wherever life took them. The great missionary church in Antioch was started by Christians fleeing persecution in Jerusalem. The church at Rome was probably started by Roman Jews who had become believers while visiting Jerusalem during Pentecost. And even the churches that were planted as the result of missionary efforts, experienced growth primarily because the members were willing to be witnesses to their neighbors.

We've all agreed before; Let's acknowledge the fact again: Each of us (by our membership in the force of 70, and by our desire to follow Christ) has been called to be an evangelist. Let's consider the tremendous impact we could have if we are willing to be used by the Holy Spirit to make disciples "as we go".

Always On The Go?

Where will you be going this week? Home,.... work,.... the grocery store,.... school,..... the pool,.... the beach? As you go, will you listen for that inner voice that might be leading you to share the good news with someone by words and action. We have learned that the choice is not ours: We are the salt of the earth! Let's find joy in spreading it everywhere life takes us.

The Great Comission - part 1

Going

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28: 19-20)

In the English language, Matthew 28:19 is an imperative sentence. Jesus' direction to his followers to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach, is not an option or an extra of the Christian life, they are absolute imperatives! Jesus made it clear that the task of spreading the good news wasn't to be simply a sideline of his followers, it was to be an integral part of their being. This had been a recurring theme in Jesus instructions to his closest followers. He hadn't told them that they could be or might become the salt of the earth. He told them "You are the salt of the earth." Instead of telling them that they might someday have the potential to enlighten some people, He told them "You are the light of the world". And before His ascension He left them no other option. He said "you will be my witnesses."

Let's take a closer look at these imperatives or commands.

Go

Staying in the upper room and sharing fellowship only with one another wasn't an option. Likewise, we, His followers today do not legitimately have the option of staying within the four walls of our church buildings. We are expected to go out among those who need to know the Savior and show His love to them.

Make Disciples

As witnesses of the power of God to change people's lives, our job is not just to "make believers", but to strive to convince individuals to become close followers and devoted "students" of Jesus.

Baptizing

The word "baptize" comes from a Greek word that means to immerse in water. Jesus’ command was not only to initiate people into the Kingdom through the ordinance of Baptism, but also to show them how to immerse themselves into the living water that is the life that Jesus promises.

Teaching them to obey

We teach primarily by example. We have "seen" how Jesus acts, and we model that to those with whom we come in contact.

Though these four commands are absolute imperatives, they may at first seem overwhelming. However they are followed by a promise from Jesus himself. We have the great privilege and joy of the Lord's presence in our lives as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. So “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Turning The World Upside Down

The 11 disciples were generally:
Uneducated
Unsophisticated
Simple
Ordinary
Inexperienced


And they lived in a culture that was closed to outsiders.

Yet they were given this task:
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28: 19-20 NIV)

To fulfill this commission, they would have to overcome cultural barriers, language barriers, financial barriers, and educational barriers, as well as their own prejudices. What allowed these unsophisticated tax collectors and fishermen to be able to spread the gospel through Asia, into Africa, and into Europe as far west as Spain in less than one century? What changed these simple men to the point that it was said of them that they had “turned the world upside down”?

Let’s look at some of the things Jesus told them close to His departure:

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14: 25-26 NIV)

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15: 26-27 NIV)

I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: (John 16: 7-8 NIV)


Jesus promised to equip and empower this loosely aligned band of common men to carry the good news of new life to the whole world. The barriers we face in our world may seem great, but it would be difficult to compare our task to the uphill climb that these simple men faced. Yet Jesus did come through on His promise – and in no uncertain terms!

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2: 1-4 NIV)

This is the explosion that Jesus had predicted. The Holy Spirit fell on these common ordinary men, and 3000 people were saved in one day!

We still have this power today. We have not been given this task, and then been expected just to figure out how to accomplish it by our own will, strength and cleverness. Jesus has left us His Holy Spirit to teach us, remind us, testify through us, and to convince others through us. The power is available to turn our neighborhoods, workplaces, our area, and our world upside down.