Go Therefore - 020903
“GO THEREFORE”
FEBRUARY 9TH, 2003
THERE ARE FEW THINGS IN THE BIBLE MORE UPSIDE DOWN THAN GOD’S PLAN TO SAVE THE WORLD….
THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE!
THE ALL-POWERFUL GOD OF THE UNIVERSE CHOSE LIMITED, FALLIBLE HUMAN BEINGS AS HIS MAIN VEHICLE TO SPREAD THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN!!!
HE COULD HAVE CHOSEN ANGELS TO DO THE JOB……HE COULD HAVE PARTED THE CLOUDS AND SPOKEN AUDIBLY AND SAID SOMETHING LIKE, “HELLO, HUMANITY……..I’M GOD….AND YOU’RE NOT”!!!
IN THE PAST EVEN…..HE SPOKE THROUGH A BURNING BUSH………APPEARED IN VISIONS….
CARVED LAWS ON STONE TABLETS…..
BUT IN OUR DAY…..HE HAS CLEARLY CHOSEN ORDINARY MEN AND WOMEN TO CARRY HIS MESSAGE OF SALVATON TO THE WORLD!!!
THE GREAT COMMISSION
NOW……..IF YOU’VE BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR LONG, YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD OF THE GREAT COMMISSION.
SOME OF YOU CAN’T HEAR THE WORDS WITHOUT WORRYING THAT GOD WILL SEND YOU TO SIBERIA AS A MISSIONARY!!!
OR MAYBE YOU’RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM AT ALL, AND YOU’RE THINKING ………WOW….THE GREAT COMMISSION……..IS THAT SOME KIND OF KICK-BACK WE GET EVERY TIME WE LEAD SOMEONE TO CHRIST?
WELL………YES AND NO!!!
I KNOW OF NOTHING IN LIFE SO REWARDING AS LEADING PEOPLE TO CHRIST!!!
BUT TECHINICALLY, THE GREAT COMMISSION REFERS TO JESUS’ COMMAND IN MATTHEW 28:18-20
GO WITH ME IN YOUR BIBLES AND LET’S LOOK AT IT TOGETHER!!!
IT SAYS…
JESUS CAME AND SPOKE TO THEM SAYNG…..”ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH……GO THEREFORE….AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS……BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ……..TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU……
AND LO……I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS….EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE”!!!
IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH JESUS WAS SPEAKING TO HIS DISCIPLES HERE,….
THIS COMMISSION IS INTENDED FOR THE ENTIRE CHURCH!!!
NOT JUST PASTORS…..EVANGELISTS OR MISSIONARIES……..!!!!! BUT THE ENTIRE CHURCH…..
(THAT INCLUDES YOU AND I)
AND BY THE WAY…
THE GREAT COMMISSION IS NOT SOMETHING JESUS SAID ONLY ONCE!!
IT’S EMPHASIZED THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT!!!!
THERE IS AN INTERESTING LITTLE PARABLE (A STORY THAT JESUS TOLD ONCE) ABOUT 10 VIRGINS….
OR BRIDESMAIDS FOUND IN MATTHEW 25
IN THIS STORY ABOUT A FIRST CENTURY WEDDING………WHEN A SHOUT INDICATED THAT THE BRIDEGROOM HAD ARRIVED TO ESCORT THE BRIDE TO THE WEDDING…..
FIVE OF THE TEN BRIDESMAIDS HAD ENOUGH OIL IN THEIR LAMPS AND WERE READY TO GO!!!
BUT THE OTHER FIVE (CALLED THE FOOLISH VIRIGINS) SAID…..”WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH OIL IN OUR LAMPS……CAN YOU GIVE US SOME OF YOURS?
THE WISE ONES ESSENTIALLY ANSWERED…..”SORRY…….GO GET IT FOR YOURSELF”…!!!
THE DOOR WAS SHUT AND THEY NEVER GOT IN!!!!
CLEARLY….THIS PARABLE IS A WARNING FROM JESUS TO ALL THE ‘PSEUDOBELIEVERS’ (ONE WHO IS REALLY NOT A BELIEVER AT ALL)…
WHO SIT IN THE PEW EVERY SUNDAY BUT HAS NO REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!!!
THE OIL JESUS MENTIONED IN THIS STORY COULD BE TAKEN TO SYMBOLIZE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BELIEVERS LIFE!!
THESE FIVE VIRGINS WITHOUT OIL ARE A PICTURE OF THOSE WHO MAY OUTWARDLY APPEAR TO BE CHRISTIAN BUT REALLY AREN’T!!!
IN FACT MOST MESSAGES I HAVE HEARD ON THIS TEXT TEND TO EMPHASIZE THAT ASPECT OF THE PARABLE!!…..AND IN FACT I HAVE GIVEN MORE THAN ONE MESSAGE MYSELF ON THE SAME SUBJECT!!!!
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT STRIKES ME ABOUT THIS STORY……SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS TO ME ABOUT WHAT A TRUE CHRISTIAN SHOULD LOOK LIKE!!!
NOTICE THAT THOSE WHO HAD OIL HAD NO PLAN TO GIVE SOME TO THOSE WHO DIDN’T !!!!
“THEN THE FIVE FOOLISH ONES ASKED THE OTHERS, ‘PLEASE GIVE US SOME OF YOUR OIL BECAUSE OUR LAMPS ARE GOING OUT.’
BUT THE OTHERS REPLIED, ‘WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH FOR ALL OF US. GO AND SHOP AND BUY SOME FOR YOURSELVES.” (MATT 25:8-9)
OUR ATTITUDE AS CHRISTIANS CAN EASILY SLIP INTO ….”I GOT MINE…..YOU GO GET YOURS.
I’M GOING TO HEAVEN -- -- TOO BAD YOUR’E NOT!!!
NOTICE TOO…..WHEN THE CRY WENT OUT TO ANNOUCE THE BRIDGEGROOM’S ARRIVAL, BOTH THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH WERE SLEEPING!!!
I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT.
IT CLEARLY SHOWS THAT WE AS CHRISTIANS CAN BE ASLEEP WHEN WE OUGHT TO BE PREPARING OURSELVES AND OTHERS TO MEET THE BRIDEGROOM!!!
JESUS ALSO TOLD A STORY ABOUT A SHEPHERD WHO HAD ONE HUNDRED SHEEP…
ONE WENT ASTRAY….BUT THE SHEPHERD DIDN’T SAY….”WIN A FEW, LOSE A FEW”
HE LEFT THE NINETY-NINE…….AND HE WENT AFTER THAT ONE SHEEP!!!
WHY???
BEC GOD DOESN’T VALUE JUST MULTITUDES……HE VALUES INDIVIDUALS!!!
HE VALUES HUMANS…….HE VALUES THE HUMAN SOUL!!!!
AND WHEN YOU AND I READ ABOUT THE EARLY CHURCH IN THE BOOK OF ACTS….AND WHAT MADE THEM SO STRONG AS A CHURCH…..
WE NOTICE THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT LOVING ONE ANOTHER……LEARNING THE THINGS OF GOD…..
WORSHIPPING THEIR GOD………..BUT ALL THOSE THINGS ARE ULTIMATELY PART OF MAKING THE CHURCH MORE EQUIPPED FOR EVANGELISM!!!!
IN FACT ….WE MIGHT CALL ‘THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS (THAT’S YOU AND ME)……..OUR MARCHING ORDERS!!!
SO HOW IS THE CHURCH GENERALLY RESPONDING????
THE GREAT CONCESSION!!!
SOME TIME AGO A LEADING CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE CONDUCTED A SURVEY AMONG ITS READERS AND FOUND THAT MOST OF THEM…
IN FACT 89% AGREED THAT FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WAS THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION!!!
(I’M NOT SURE WHAT THAT SAYS ABOUT THE OTHER 11%….BUT THAT’S FOR ANOTHER DAY)
AND 87% OF THE READERS AGREED THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVANGELISM!!!
BUT ONLY 68% OF THE REPSONDENTS AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK FOR CHRISTIANS IS TO LEAD NON-CHRISTIANS TO FAITH IN CHRIST!!!
AND ONLY 52% SAID…..”I HAVE BEEN MORE ACTIVE IN TELLING OTHERS ABOUT CHRIST IN THE PAST YEAR THAN EVER BEFORE”
I THINK THOSE FINDINGS ARE FAILY REPRESTATIVE OF THE RANK AND FILE CHRISTIANS IN TODAY’S CHURCH!!!
MOST OF US KNOW THAT CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD!!!
AND WE REALIZE THAT EVANGELISM IS PART OF OUR CALLING, YET WE RESPOND TO THE GREAT COMMISSION WITH SOMETHING LIKE….
“OH YEAH…….WE’RE SUPPOSE TO GO TELL EVERY NATION……..
I’M PRETTY SURE PART OF MY OFFERING GOES TO ONE OF THOSE MISSION GROUPS OR MISSIONARIES”!!!
SO…
HOW DID THE GREAT COMMISSION BECOE THE GREAT CONCESSION!!!
MOST RESPONDENTS TO THAT ARTICLE NAMED A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH EVANGELISM THAT THEY FACED….
THEY INCLUDED….
1. A FEELING THAT I AM NOT ABLE TO DO EVANGELISM AS WELL AS THE PROFESSIONALS
- I’M TOO TIMID
- I FEAR HOW PEOPLE WILL RESPOND
NOW….EVERYONE OF THOSE FEELINGS ARE REAL
BUT I BELIEVE THE BIGGEST REASON WE IN THE CHURCH ARE NOT CARRYING OUT THE GREAT COMMISSION IS THAT WE DON’T CARE ENOUGH!!!
WE ARE SIMPLY NOT THAT CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOUL OF OTHERS!!!!
GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH…..FOUNDER OF THE SALVATION ARMY…..ONCE SAID THAT IF HE COULD…..HAVE HIS WISH…..PART OF THE FINAL TRAINING OF EVERY PASTOR…….EVANGELIST……OR PARISHONER IN THE CHURCH………WOULD BE TO HAVE THEM HUNG OVER THE OPEN FIRES OF HELL FOR TWENTY – FOUR HOURS….”SO THOSE THAT SHOULD BE SHARING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE WOULD RECOGNIZE THE URGENCY OF IT”!!!
THE EARLY CHURCH UNDERSTOOD THIS URGENCY!!!
PAUL PUT IT THIS WAY TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH:
WE ARE THEREFORE CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS, AS THOUGH GOD WERE MAKING HIS APPEAL THROUGH US. WE IMPLORE YOU ON CHRIST’S BEHALF; BE RECONCILED TO GOD,
GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. (2 COR 5:20-21)
NOTICE THAT GOD IS MAKING HIS ‘APPEAL’ THROGH US….!!!
AND CHRIST IS ‘IMPLORING’ UNBELIEVERS THROUGH US!!!
THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE IS PLEADING WITH FALLEN HUMANITY THROUGH US!!!!!!
IF THAT DOESN’T INSPIRE US….I DON’T KNOW WHAT WILL!!!
THE FIRST CHURCH WAS PERSECUTED FOR PREACHING, AND YET LISTEN TO THIS:
THEY CALLED THE APOSTLES IN AND HAD THEM FLOGGED….THEN THEY WERE ORDERED NOT TO SPEAK IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AND LET THEM GO!!!
THE APOSTLES LEFT THE SANHEDRIN, REJOICING BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN COUNTED WORTHY OF SUFFERING DISGRACE FOR THE NAME. DAY AFTER DAY, THE TEMPLE COURTS AND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, THEY NEVER STOPPED TEACHING AND PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST!!!……..(ACTS 5:40-42)
DID YOU CATCH THAT???
THIS IS DEFINITELY UPSIDE – DOWN BEHAVIOR:
REJOICING BECAUSE THEY SUFFERED!!!
HERE IN THE U.S. THERE’S NOT MUCH SALES APPEAL FOR THAT KIND OF ATTITUDE!!!
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROCLAIM CHRIST WITHOUT SERIOUS PERSECUTION…..FOR THE MOST PART……..YET WE ARE STILL OFTEN SO CASUAL ABOUT THE GREAT COMMISSION!!!
BUT IN SHARP CONTRAST THOSE EARLY CHRISTIANS CONTINUED TO DO THE VERY THING THAT HAD CAUSED THEM TO SUFFER…..
IF I SAW MEN BEHAVING LIKE THIS ….IT WOULD SURE GET MY ATTENTION!!!
I’D WANT TO KNOWEXACLY WHAT CAUSE OR PERSON THEY BELIEVED IN SO PASSIONATELY!!!
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT A GUY NAMED ANDREW MEEKIN..
(READ STORY)
DURING THESE WEEKS AND IN THE WEEKS TO COME…….LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU THAT IF YOU’RE BECOMING PAINFULLY AWARE THAT YOU DON’T CARE ENOUGH ABOUT LOST SOULS…..THAT IN ITSELF IS A GOOD INDICATION THAT YOU DO CARE!!!
I KNOW THAT MANY BELEIVERS FALL INTO BED AT NIGHT DISCOURAGED…..MANY OF US ARE EMBARRASSED THAT WE’VE NEVER LED OTHERS TO CHRIST.
AND WE’RE NOT SURE WHY…BUT IT SEEMS THAT OUR CHRISTIAN WALK LACKS RESULTS!!!
MAY I SUGGEST TO YOU THAT THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE!!!
IT’S AS SIMPLE AS ASKING GOD TO WAKE YOU UP!!!……AS BEING WILLING TO TAKE STEPS OF FAITH AND TRY TO INITIATE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CHRIST!!!
IT’S AS SIMPLE AS ASKING GOD TO GIVE YOU A SINCERE BURDEN FOR THE LOST!!!
IT’S AS SIMPLE AS LOOKING AROUND EVERY DAY TO SEE WHAT PART YOU CAN PLAY IN GOD’S AMAZING PLAN OF REDEMPTION!!!
BUT ALSO….BEFORE WE GO THIS MORNING….LET ME GIVE YOU SOME MORE GOOD NEWS!!!
THE GREAT COMMISSION IS A JOINT EFFORT!!!!
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN CONVERSION…..YOU WILL REMBMER THAT YES,,,,,,THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN IT ALL CAME INTO FOCUS AND YOU MADE THAT COMMITMENT TO CHRIST!!!
BUT PROBABLY A SERIES OF THINGS BROUGHT YOU TO THAT DECISION!!!
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FOUNDATION YOUR PARENTS LAID OR A TALK YOU HAD WITH A FRIEND!!!
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING YOU WERE EXPOSED TO ON TV OR RADIO…..
WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY!!!
SOME OF US BREAK DOWN AN INTELLECTUAL BARRIER.
SOME OF US COME ALONG AND PENETRATE A HEART’S STUBBORN DEFENSES WITH OUR OWN STORY ABOUT WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US.
OTHERS OF US SENSE WHEN SOMEONE IS READY…..AND WE’RE LED TO ACTUALLY PRAY WITH A PERSON TO RECEIVE CHRIST!!!
THE APOSTLE PAUL PUT IT THIS WAY:
MY JOB WAS TO PLANT THE SEED IN YOUR HEARTS, AND APOLLOS WATERED IT……..BUT IT WAS GOD, NOT WE, WHO MADE IT GROW!! THE ONES WHO DO THE PLANTING OR WATERING AREN’T IMPORTANT, BUT GOD IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE SEED GROW. THE ONE WHO PLANTS AND THE ONE WHO WATERS WORK AS A TEAM WITH THE SAME PURPOSE. YET THEY WILL BE REWARDED INDIVIDUALLY, ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN HARD WORK!!!!!
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT ANOTHER GUY…….NAMED EDWARD KIMBALL.
HE SOLD SHOES…..BUT THAT’S NOT HOW HE CHANGED THE WORLD!
(READ STORY)
Edward Kimball ---- D. L. Moody ---- F.B. Meyer ---- Wilbur Chapman ---- Billy Sunday ---- Mordecai Ham ---- Billy Graham
WE DON’T ALWAYS CELEBRATE THE ANDREW MEEKINS AND EDWARD KIMBALLS OF THE WORLD.
WE REMEMBER THE D.L. MOODY’S AND BILLY SUNDAY’S AND BILLY GRAHAM’S….
BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD HAS PLACED HIS FAITHFUL ONES EVERYWHERE….
EVEN IN THIS CHURCH~~~~
AND WE ALL HAVE A CRUCIAL PART TO PLAY!!!
IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT NO PERSON IN THE N.T. CAME TO FAITH APART FROM THE AGENCY OF A HUMAN BEING. WHY DIDN’T THE ANGEL OF THE LORD JUST GO STRAIGHT TO THE ETHIOPIAN AND SKIP PHILLIP’S INVOVLEMENT???
AND WHAT ABOUT A GUY NAMED CORNELIUS? HE WAS COMMANDED BY AN ANGEL TO SEND FOR SIMON PETER, WHO ‘WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU MUST DO”
WHY DIDN’T THE ANGEL JUST TELL HIM????
BECAUSE GOD HAS CHOSEN TO WORK THROUGH PEOPLE. EVEN IN THE UNIQUE CASE OF SAUL OF TARSUS……A PERSON PREPARED THE WAY!!!
BEFORE STEPHEN WAS STONED…..AS SAUL STOOD BY….APPROVING……STEPHEN FEARLESSLY PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL MESSAGE!!
AND THEN AFTER SAUL ENCOUNTERED THE LORD ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS…..GOD SENT A MAN NAMED ANANIAS TO LAY HANDS ON HIM AND PRAY FOR HIM!!!!
DOES THIS MEAN THAT GOD CAN’T SAVE THE WORLD WITHOUT PEOPLE???
IS GOD ACTUALLY DEPENDENT ON US???
NO!!!
GOD CAN GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT YOU OR ME……BUT IN HIS WISDOM….GOD HAS CHOSEN PEOPLE TO COMMUNICATE HIS MESSAGE!!!
AND ALTHOUGH GOD COULD GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT US……WE COULD NEVER GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT HIM!!!!
MISSION POSSIBLE: GOD’S ROLE IN THE GREAT COMMISSION!!
GOD’S ROLE IN THE GREAT COMMISSION IS GREATER THAN YOU MAY REALIZE….BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH GOD GAVE THIS ASSIGNMENT TO HUMANS…..
HE DIDN’T LEAVE IT AT THAT!!!
WHEN HE COMMISSIONED US…..HE ALSO COMMITTED HIMSELF TO HELPING US!!!
YOU’LL NOTICE HOWEVER….THAT THE WORD “COMMISSION” DOESN’T APPEAR IN MATTHEW 28….BUT MY THESAURUS LISTS THE SYNONYMS…
ENTRUST………AUTHORIZE……..EMPOWER
AND EACH ONE OF THESE IS REFLECTED IN THE WORDS OF JESUS AND HELPS US UNDERSTAND GOD’S PART IN THE GREAT COMMISSION!!!
GOD ENTRUSTS US……..HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO ENTRUST SOMEONE WITH AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE?
YOU HOPE THEY GET IT RIGHT…….YOU PRAY IT GETS DELIVERED……
AND ABOVE ALL..
YOU WANT THE MESSENGER TO VALUE THE MESSAGE AS MUCH AS YOU DO!!!
JUST BEFORE JESUS ANNOUNCED THE GREAT COMMISSSION………’THE ELEVEN DISICPLES WENT TO GALILEE….TO THE MOUNTAIN WHERE JESUS HAD TOLD THEM TO GO……..WHEN THEY SAW HIM THEY WORSHIPPED HIM,……
BUT THE BIBLE SAYS…..SOME OF THEM DOUBTED……..THE JESUS CAME TO THEM AND SAID…….
AND IN HIS NEXT WORDS TO THE DISCIPLES……JESUS ENTRUSTED THEM WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN THE WORLD!!!
HE GAVE THEM THE GREAT COMMISSION…….EVEN WHILE SOME OF THEM WERE DOUBTING!!!!!
JESUS DIDN’T GIVE THE COMMAND ONLY TO THOSE WHO FIRMLY BELIEVED OR HAD A SPECIAL GIFT FOR TALKING TO PEOPLE….
HE GAVE IT TO ALL OF THEM!!!
HE CHOSE TO TRUST THIS GROUP WITH HIS APPEAL!!!!
LISTEN…
EVEN IF WE HAVE FEARS OR DOUBTS….WE ARE STILL CALLED!!!
GOD HAS CHOSEN TO TRUST US WITH THIS PRECIOUS MISSION!!!
BUT HE NOT ONLY ENTRUSTS US….
HE AUTHORIZES US!!!
NOTICE THESE WORDS IN THE GREAT COMMISSION!!!
ALL AUTHORITY…..HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME”
JESUS IS SAYING TWO THINGS HERE…
THE FIRST WAS “I HAVE TOTAL AUTHORITY….AND CONTROL HERE!!!
I AM IN CHARGE OF EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING!!!
YOU CAN’T APPEAL TO A HIGHER POWER……AND SO YOU CAN REST ASSUREED THAT THIS ASSIGNMENT IS FROM THE TOP!!!!
THOSE OF YOU WITH A MILITARY BACKGROUND UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT AS WELL!!!
YOUR SUPERIOR OFFICER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO!!!
AND WHEN HE SPEAKS YOU JUMP!!!
OTHERS OF US CAN REMEMBER A BABY-SITTER WHO USED THIS LINE ON US……
SHE WOULD SAY…”I’M IN CHARGE NO…..REMEMBER …THAT YOUR PARENTS HAVE GIVEN ME ALL AUTHORITY……YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT I SAY!!!!
AND WE KNEW SHE WAS RIGHT…..
BEC IF WE DIDN’T DO AS SHE SAID………WATCH OUT WHEN MOM AND DAD CAME HOME!!!
LISTEN TO PAUL DESCRIBING TO THE COLOSSIANS OUR AUTHORITY THROUGH JESUS:
CHRIST IS THE ONE THROUGH WHOM GOD CREATED EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN AND EARTH. HE MADE THE THINGS WE CAN SEE AND THE THINGS WE CAN’T SEE - - KINGS, KINGDOMS, RULERS, AND AUTHORITIES. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM. HE EXISTED BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE BEGAN, AND HE HOLDS ALL CREATION TOGETHER.
CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY. HE IS THE FIRST OF ALL WHO WILL RISE FROM THE DEAD, SO HE IS FIRST IN EVERYTHING!!!!
THE SECOND ASPECT OF WHAT JESUS IS SAYING IN THE GREAT COMMISSION IS THIS:
WHEN SOMEONE WITH ULTIMATE AUTHORITY HAS SENT US TO DO SOMETHING, WE SUDDENLY HAVE AUTHORITY OURSELVES.
WE READ IN MATTHEW 10:1 THAT BEFORE JESUS SENT HIS DISCIPLES OUT ONCE…..’HE GAVE THEM THE NEEDED AUTHORITY TO DRIVE OUT EVIL SPIRITS AND TO HEAL EVERY SICKENESS AND DISEASE!!!
THINK ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD TO ACCOMPLISH A PARTICULAR TASK AT WORK. YOU WENT TO A CO-WORKER AND SAID, “I NEED THUS AND SO.”
AND HE OR SHE SAID….”HMMMMMM……I’LL THINK ABOUT IT”
BUT THEN YOU PIPED UP AND SAID…..”THE BOSS SENT ME, AND HE NEEDS THIS BY 2;00 PM………SO DON’T GIVE ME ANY OF YOUR LIP!!!
THEY THEN RESPONDED….”OH….OK….I’LL HAVE IT READY….NO PROBLEM”!!!
THE GREAT COMMISSION IS NOT JUST SOMETHING GOD TOLD US TO GO OUT AND DO APART FROM HIM.
HE BACKS US UP.
HE IS OUR AUTHORITY.
AND HE LENDS US HIS AUTHORITY AS WE GO OUT INTO THE WORLD TO DO HIS WILL!!!!
HE EMPOWERS US!!!
LET’S GO BACK FOR A MOMENT TO THE MILITARY ANALOGY.
YOU’VE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE. AND NOW….YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY TO DELIVER IT.
BUT WHAT IF YOU HAVE NO MEANS?
“THAT’S GREAT SARGE, BUT DON’T I GET ANY BACKUP?
HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS?
WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE ASKED TO DO A TASK THAT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE, EITHER BEC WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO THE JOB OR WE DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED.
WE MAY FEEL THIS WAY AOBUT EVANGELIZING.
HOW CAN I EVER BE BRAVE ENOUGH?
OR ……WHAT DO I SAY??
BUT THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT WHEN GOD COMMISSIONS US, HE ALSO EMPOWER US TO BE HIS WITNESSES!!!!
AFTER THE GREAT COMMISSION IN MATTHEW, WE READ IN THE BOOK OF ACTS HOW JESUS APPEARED TO THE DISCIPLES YET AGAIN AND SAID….
DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM UNTIL THE FATHER SENDS YOU WHAT HE PROMISED. REMEMBER, I HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE. JOHN BAPTIZED YOU WITH WATER, BUT IN JUST A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT….
AND WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON YOU, YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER AND WILL TELL PEOPLE ABOUT ME EVERYWHERE - - IN JERUSALEM, THROUGHOUT JUDEA, IN SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!!!!
BASICALLY GOD IS SAYING HERE…..”WAIT….DON’T THINK YOU CAN JUST GO OUT AND DO THIS ON YOUR OWN….
YOU NEED SPECIAL POWER…
YOU NEED MY VERY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU!!!!
A.W. TOZER……A FAMOUS CONTEMPOARY BIBLE SCHOLAR ONCE SAID…
THAT IF THE HOLY SPIRIT WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE NEW TESTATMENT CHURCH…
90 PERCENT OF WHAT THEY DID WOULD COME TO A HALT….
BUT IF THE HOLY SPIRIT WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE CHURCH OF TODAY….
ONLY ABOUT 10% OF WHAT WE DO WOULD COME TO A HALT!!!
JESUS PROMISES TO PERSONALLY EMPOWER US. AND HE WON’T EVER ABANDON US IN THE MIDDLE OF A MISSION!!!!