The Great Command, The Great Commission (080325)

In the Gospel According to Matthew we find the Great Command and the Great Commission. Which comes first?

If you answered, “the Great Command,” then you are correct!

The Great Command

Turn to and read Matthew 22:35-40.

The great concern of Christ, about the church in Ephesus, which we find in Revelation chapter 2 is this…

Revelation 2:4 KJV 1900

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Maybe this “first love” could be a reference to the fact that the first great commandment is to love God with all of heart, and with all of our soul, and with all of our mind.”

It’s not likely that we will fulfill the “second love” - loving our neighbor as ourself - until and unless we are truly loving God the way that we ought to!

In fact, it’s interesting to note what Christ says about the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:6:

Revelation 2:6 KJV 1900

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

The church in Ephesus was more known for what they hated than what they loved!

I don’t know that John was writing to the church in Ephesus or that he had the church in Ephesus in mind but…

Turn to and read 1 John 2:7-11.

Turn to and read 1 John 4:7-12.

Recently we had the opportunity to watch a wonderful presentation, by the Academy of Arts summer ministry team, about Amy Carmichael, who served as a missionary in India during the first half of the 20th century.

Her ministry was mainly directed toward rescuing young girls who had been forced to serve in the pagan temples, often including prostitution.

During her ministry, Amy took in over 1,000 children.

To increase her effectiveness and out of respect to the Indian culture, Amy dressed in Indian clothing and also dyed her skin with coffee to better blend in with the Indians.

While serving in India, Carmichael received a letter from a young lady who was considering life as a missionary, asking, "What is missionary life like?" Carmichael wrote back, "Missionary life is simply a chance to die."

What would cause a young woman like Amy Carmichael to do everything that she did; to endure everything that she did?

I can tell you simply: It was first, her love for her Savior, and second, it was her love for others.

How are we doing at loving God? How are we doing at demonstrating our love of God in our love toward others?

The Great Commission

Turn to and read Matthew 28:19-20.

Our purpose: Proclaiming the Gospel; Experiencing the Miracle of Changed Lives

Proclaiming the Gospel

Mark 16:15 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

How are we doing at proclaiming the Gospel?

Experiencing the Miracle of Changed Lives

Turn to and read 2 Peter 1:3-8.

Is your life changing? Are you becoming more like Christ!

The Great Command/The Great Commission. They should go “hand in hand.”

The Great Commission will be most effective when it is driven byt the Great Command.

Turn to and read Romans 9:1-3.

How could Paul say that? How could Paul have such love and concern for his fellow Israelites that would cause him to say:

Romans 9:3 KJV 1900

For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

It was his love for his Savior.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 KJV 1900

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

The love of God had gotten ahold of Paul and wouldn’t let him go. And it was this same love that drove Paul to love even those who hated him. It was this same love that led Paul to be able to say:

Romans 9:3 KJV 1900

For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Our we consumed of that same love? Or, are we, like the church in Ephesus simply doing all that they did out of a sense of duty?

How can we manifest our love of God and our love for others to the world around us? To the mission field that God has brought to us?

Allow me to make a suggestion:

This year, we have over 20 Indian families that have their children enrolled in South Charlotte Baptist Academy. (From the same country to which Amy Carmichael went!)

I would encourage our church families to adopt an Indian family this year - just for the course of the school year. (Just like Amy Carmichael did.)

The exciting thing about this is that you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own country and fly around the world to do this. These families have flown around the world to come to you!

Introduce yourself to the family. This could be in person, by letter/note, by text, by email - your choice. Let them know that you attend South Charlotte Baptist Church and that you will be praying for them this year.

Get to know the family. Find out when the child’s birthday is. Find out when the parents’ anniversary is. Do they have other children. Where are they from? What brought them to the States? Do they have other family in the States?

Love on the family. Send the child a birthday card. Check in on them, occassionally, to see how they are doing; to see how their child is doing in school. Again, you could drop by sometime during the year to simply say “Hello” and maybe take them some chocolate chip cookies or something else. Ask yourself, “How would Amy Carmichael love on this family?” Use your imagination!

Pursue them for Christ. Pray for their salvation. Invite them to special services here at SCBC.

Master Clubs for the children.

Friend Day in October.

Christmas Celebration in December.

Resurrection Sunday next spring.

Our invitation, for this message, will come in the form of an email tomorrow. In that email you will simply be asked, “Will you adopt and Indian family this year?” You’ll be given the opportunity to respond to that question. This will be an opportunity for you to obey the Great Command and to fulfill the Great Commission.