PASSING THE BATON A TRIBUTE TO PASTOR WAYMAN MITCHELL

Mt 28:18–20

The Great Commission

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 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.” Amen.

The New King James Version. (1982). (Mt 28:18–20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

ILL: Wayman Othell Mitchell, born Oct. 29, 1929 went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on Sept. 21, 2020.

He and his wife Nelda were born again Christians in 1954 after being invited to a church service by his brother George Mitchell. Being saved only a few months he went and bowed at an alter and he did someone put their hand upon him and as they did he said,” I heard a rushing mighty wind , I had no idea what was going on , I was filled with the Holy Ghost, I wept, I cried, snot ran down my face, this was the accelerant that changed my life, and the fire has never gone out, hallelujah. After pastoring several churches in Foursquare, Wayman Mitchell was given the pastorate of the Prescott, Arizona Foursquare Church in Dec. of 1970 The Church had approximately 35 people attending. Revival broke out and today there are over 2700 over 120 countries. God has used him to start this movement.

I. CASTING THE VISION

A. MAKING DISCIPLES

1. In our text we have what is known as the Great Commission or Jesus’ instructions to his disciples just before He is taken up into heaven. Ac 1:9 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

2. These 11 disciples had been with Jesus for 3 years, they watched him as He preached, as He prayed, as He healed the sick, cast out demons, fellowship ed and loved sinners, they watched how He dealt with religious people who were only interested in ripping people off from knowing God for themselves, they watches as He gently dealt with the outcast and condemned, His compassion and feeding the hungry… He taught them the W.O.G.

a.) Then Jesus released them to do what they saw Him do. (Mt 10:5–8)

5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

1. This is what pastor began to do with the hippies that God was bringing into the Prescott Church! And they in turn as they were released to pioneer churches did with the converts God was giving them.

2. And so this the became the biblical pattern of our fellowship churches. We believe in discipling our own converts that God brings in to our churches. We believe that God can take a man and a woman, young or old and launch them into destiny.

B. WE ALSO BELIEVE THE CHURCH ISN’T ONLY MADE UP OF THOSE CALLED TO PREACH BUT OF PILLARS OR SENDERS

1. One of the powerful dynamics that pastor Mitchell discovered was that people were will to give more financially to those couples they grew up with in the church, their peers than to some missionary they didn’t know.

2. The scripture tells us that those who preach must be sent. (Ro 10:14–15

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

3. Pastor Mitchell said, “everything the church needs to carry out the great commission is inside of it in seed form,” Pastor Mitchell discovered that as these little pioneer churches began to function the Foursquare denomination said they were giving more money to them than the other more famous churches in California. He discovered that God was giving dignity back to the local church!

a.) I.e. God put into the church the capability to provide for it self, which in turn brings honor and respect to the church.

1. Most people view the church as an organization that needs their help. The church’s help comes from God not the world, man or government! Ps 121:1–2

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth.

2. God uses common people working a job that give regularly to support His work. ILL: P. Mitchell told me that they had their building paid for before the built it. 4 million! He called Prescott the low wage capital of the US.

b.) His point was financial transcendence, supernatural financial support. Through the local church.

II. DOING WHAT WE WERE TAUGHT

A. THE IDEA OF DISCIPLESHIP

1. The AP told the Philippian church, Php 4:9

9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

2. Part of discipleship is taking what you learned in your mother church and applying it when you’re out pioneering. ILL: When Lisa and were sent out in 2010, we took the pattern that we saw in our mother church and in our pastor’s and applied it to the area where we were sent. We evangelized, went door to door, had concerts, went on invasion teams even though it was just us( build relationships w/ other churches), had revivals, I began to challenge men to ministry. And it worked! Just like the bible says!

a.) This is why its important to follow instructions because when you are out you’re going to need it.

1. That’s what P. Mitchell did with His disciples. He set forth the example and they followed. Listen to what the disciples told Jesus, Lk 10:17

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

2. If we will do what we are taught, it increases our chances of reproducing, making disciples of our own.

B. PRAYING FOR THE SICK

1. One thing pastor Mitchell wanted to impart before he left was a ministry of healing. That’s why in the few years before he preached on and demonstrated the healing ministry because he want us to get it.

2. Healing is a crucial element in the preaching of the Gospel. (Mt 9:35

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

a.) Disciples must contend for healing. That means you’re going to have to step out in faith and pray for the sick.

III. PASSING IT ON

A. PASTOR MITCHELL PASSED DISCIPLESHIP ON TO US AS A FELLOWSHIP

1. He left a not only a legacy but a pattern an example for us to follow. The AP told Timothy, 2 Ti 2:2

2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2. This scriture is also known as ,”The four generations of discipleship.” Paul, Timothy, Faithful men, Others.

a.) Jesus said, (Mt 28:19–20

19 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, 20 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.” Amen.

1. If we will take the baton that has been handed down to us and do what God called us to do, Jesus says He will be with us always even unto the end of the age!

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