A Command For All
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Introduction
Introduction
Last week I spoke to you about God’s will and purpose for your lives. His will and purpose are truly why we exist....
People struggle with their purpose, what they are here for… and often they struggle because they have not sought God’s will for their lives, they do not know His direction.
God has placed each of us here for a reason… it is more than us, we are not the center of the universe.... Sadly to often people focus on self and leave God out of the picture.
Our true identity, our true purpose, our true happiness and satisfaction I believe are found in Jesus… and His will for our lives..
His will for us has many different facets, God’s will for your life might be differently than mine… but there is commonalty in it.
We know we are here to bring honor and glory to the Lord our God.
Part of that duty, is to share the goodness and name of the Lord with all around us… To be His witness in the hopes that others might share the joy of knowing the Lord as Savior.
Ole Preacher used to remind us, “..what ever your hand finds to do, do it for the glory of God...”
What if in every task, we said here am I… use me for your glory…
14 But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you.
Each of us are called to be a witness…
1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: 2 “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. 3 It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds. 4 You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, 5 and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.’ ”
7 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. 8 And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.
10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. 13 Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. 14 But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”
16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” 17 And certain of the elders of the land arose and spoke to all the assembled people, saying, 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts,
“ ‘Zion shall be plowed as a field;
Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,
and the mountain of the house a wooded height.’
19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord, and did not the Lord relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves.”
20 There was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah. 21 And when King Jehoiakim, with all his warriors and all the officials, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt. 22 Then King Jehoiakim sent to Egypt certain men, Elnathan the son of Achbor and others with him, 23 and they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and dumped his dead body into the burial place of the common people.
24 But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.
What if in every task, we said here am I… use me for your glory…
I believe He will
So this morning we are going to look at two passages of Scripture… you can find both and mark them if you want to follow along as we read the word of God.
, verses 8-11
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
The second passage is , verses 18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
A distinct command for us as a child of God…in two separate passages, lets investigate them.
So right there is the first thought I want you to remember....
1. His Command....
1. His Command....
The first truth we must consider is that it is His command. He has commanded His disciples to be His witness in this world.
He is speaking to the disciples, those 12… but do not forget that a disciple is a follower of Christ, we are His disciples today...
Now....
In the opening verses of the book of Acts we find Jesus after the resurrection, in fact this is day forty, 40 days after the resurrection. Scripture testifies to this truth....
Now while Jesus was with them, He told them to stay in Jerusalem until the promise of the Father is fulfilled, until the Holy Spirit is sent into the world.
Remember Jesus has already told them the night before his crucifixion, When he went away the Father would send them another, the comforter, the Holy Spirit into the world… John chapter 14.
Then the conversation changes....
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
The disciples have asked Jesus a question, is now the time you will establish your Kingdom?
The Jews believed the Messiah would establish His kingdom here on earth, but we know that it is not time for that… Listen to what jesus says to them in His reply....Verses 6-7
Verses 6-7
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
Jesus essentially tells them no, that the time of its establishment is left entirely to the will of the Father, no one, not even the Son knows the time or the season when the Lord will establish His kingdom on earth.
Then Jesus redirects their thinking to what they need to be focused on… Preparing the Kingdom of God in peoples hearts until that day comes...
Verse 8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The word but is the word of transition… While you are waiting you will receive Power when the Holy Spirit comes, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth...
The command Jesus gives them.... You will be my witnesses....
Those 12 men would be His witness, and today the command is for us as well.
The word witness is a legal term, it is like you have been called to the court room to speak about what has happened… For them and us today even.... it is the story of Jesus death, burial and resurrection… and the change He made in us when He saved us.....
For example; I was lost, but now I am found, Jesus saved me...
Jesus is not asking them, He is telling them.. when power comes.. When the Holy Spirit comes to you, You will be my witnesses...
Friends, You have that same power if you are a born again believer, The Holy Spirit has entered your heart, your life at the moment you invited Jesus into your heart. He filled your life.
As such you can be His witness… not in your power but his power...
This is the command that Jesus has given all of His disciples, they are to be, you are to be His witnesses.
There is no avoiding it… we are called by Jesus command..
Now lets advance that thought… It is His command… and it is by His power...
2. His Power....
2. His Power....
When we share Jesus with others it is important to remember we are not working in our strength or our personal authority, but His!
This truth is seen in two things we see from the Lord Jesus himself.
The first is in the passage we have already been discussing… Jesus said believers would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them… the Holy Spirit fills and indwells the believer working in and through him.
Now if we also turn to … listen to what else Jesus has told the disciples...
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
So we have power, Holy Spirit power, but secondly we have His authority!
Now lets break this down.. Jesus says.. all authority in heaven and earth has been given me...
The word “authority” refers to the right given to a person to do or accomplish something from higher power… In our minds it could be equated to the idea that you have received permission by the authority of a high court in this land to do or accomplish a task that you have a desire to complete.
Jesus is saying the Father has given all power and authority into His hands.. The highest authority, God the Father has given this to the Son, Jesus. As such He has commissioned the disciples, and yes us today to go and be a witness.
And look at what Jesus says then because He has all authority and I would argue power as well...
Verse 19, look at it.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Go there and make disciples… The word ‘Go” means as you are going and doing here in this life, along the way of life, we are to make disciples for His honor and glory.
So as you are work, in the store, visiting with friends, walking down the road… As we go about life.. make disciples.
Stop right there, let me ask you a question… Are you doing this… is one of your prime motivations in life to make disciples, to invite those you love and meet to come and know Jesus...
Now if you say NO.... I have not been doing this, then why not?
Listen we love people enough to say, hey don’t buy this or don’t eat there you are wasting your money… but we won’t tell them hey, Jesus loves you, we wont speak to them so they will miss Hell… something is wrong my friends.
What do we care about....
Jesus says go.....
Make disciples.... make fully devoted followers of the Lord Jesus Christ..
Now of whom?
All nations… ta ethno - meaning all peoples. Family, friends, neighbors, Virginians, Citizens of the US and also people from around the world. Everyone, and from everywhere is our target...
Wow… we better get busy…
Why is this so important pastor...... some might ask me… Hell is real, punishment is for eternity and Heaven is sweet, and Jesus died for the world.
We are to see them converted and Jesus says baptized… Now baptism doesn;t complete our salvation… but it is the outward expression of our heart. we do it because it tells the world, I belong to Jesus.
Now lets get real.. People say all the time - people tell me from time to time, I cannot do this or that..... your right you can’t… But the Holy Spirit, who is in you, the third person of the Holy Trinity can… and if you will go, God will do the rest....
People say all the time
Now one last thought today...
3. His Message.....
3. His Message.....
My friends, people are often worried about what to say and how to say it… when they speak to others about Jesus…
Here is the truth… you just speak in love...
The Bible teaches us that Jesus came, we have just finished celebrating His coming… He lived, was crucified and died, was buried in a borrowed tomb and praise be to God, He arose on the third day...
The greatest thing that every happened to me was the day I asked Jesus into my heart.
Jesus tells us to go and make disciples… there are lots of ways to do that, lots of verses we can share, ways to present the gospel… literally His death, burial and resurrection.
But the message must be bound in love… do you love enough to go?
Jesus says to teach them all that I have commanded you,…verse 20.
That must begin with ;
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
God loved the world, He still loves this world and all of humanity, that is why God is still calling people to be saved, to be his disciples and to repeat… keep doing what He began as Jesus came and called 12 to follow him...
It is our job… fear will always be there…
I can help you learn different ways and methodologies if you want… but the first step is being willing to go and just invite.
Statistically, 8 out of every 10 people you invite to church will attend…
Today we partner with Truelife.org The answers are provided all you have to do is go...
Dora, play the video clip....
I am giving each of you 5 cards,… I am asking you to reach out, and invite a person to church.
And let the Lord work through you to see people enter the kingdom of God..
Jesus has called us to go.... will you go?
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“ ‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’;
and
“ ‘Let another take his office.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“ ‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’;
and
“ ‘Let another take his office.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.