Obeying the Marching Orders

A few months after I graduated with my DMin from Midwestern in 2012, I found out that I could return to Midwestern for up to 5 years or so and audit any seminar I wanted so long as there was space available, and the professor agreed. An audit simply meant that I could attend class, but not be held responsible for the reading or turning in the work. Now I did the reading but I didn’t write the papers.

So many in the church today want salvation but don’t want to put in the time to be a growing disciple of Jesus Christ. In other words, people would rather “audit” the Christian life…go to class to get the information, but not do any of the work. They want the data but no responsibility. That’s what some folks do every Sunday…audit Jesus.

I want you to listen to the text this morning as ask yourself this question… “Is Jesus calling me to audit Christianity, or is He calling me to experience life-transformation?”

Matthew 28:16–20 CSB

16 The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Church, I firmly believe Jesus made it abundantly clear what we should be doing as we follow Him.

You’ve been praying for 40 days about the Will and Work of God in your life and the life of UABC. I believe we’ve been praying for this text right here, for this morning. It is so familiar to many of us, and yet when it comes to our life, it’s as if we believe Jesus wasn’t talking to us, the church.

Yet discipleship is not a microwave meal that we can pop into the microwave and within one or two minutes have a meal prepared for us instantly. Discipleship is more like a slow roasted smoke turkey on Thanksgiving day, or one of Ray Kitigawa’s slow roasted beef briskets…it takes time.

The charge given to the 11 disciples on that day is still as relevant today as it was when Jesus spoke it. Let’s walk through this for a moment, and then I’ll add a few points to close our time this morning.

They Gathered, Worshiped, and Doubted

Isn’t that interesting what Matthew captured for us. The 11 disciples, not the 12 because Judas was not around any longer, obey Jesus’ command to travel to Galilee. The resurrection morning they were told to meet Him in Galilee.

As they meet on the mountain, they saw Him, they worshiped Him, and some doubted.

First, beloved one cannot meet the Lord Jesus Christ and not respond in worship. Kind of John 4 where Jesus tells the woman at the well that a time is coming and now is that location, skin type, ethnic belonging, language won’t matter because God is seeking true worshipers…those who will worship in spirit and in truth.

But some doubted - We know Thomas did for sure because John’s gospel captured that moment for us.

Doubt here can also mean “hesitate.” Hesitation and doubt do not necessarily mean “unbelief.”

You’ll remember last week, I didn’t make much of this in the passage, but there was an issue of “little faith” referring to the servant who didn’t invest the master’s mina.

Here, we must understand these disciples were hesitant…we can understand that as well…hesitation, not “no faith at all,” but some reservations…these guys are growing as well, growing in their trust, faith, and understanding…they had not yet reached maturity in their faith…but they will.

Very similar to Peter stepping out of the boat in Matthew 14:31, Peter took his eyes off of Jesus can began to sink. He called out to Jesus for help. Jesus asked him, “why did you doubt?” It isn’t that he doubted Jesus’ power but more that he was hesitant, uncertain, doubted.

Jesus’ Power, Mission, and Presence Make the Difference

Matthew 28:18 What is next for these guys, and essentially, what is next for the church? They are not the only believers. Acts tells us there are 120 before Pentecost…what is next for them?

Matthew 28:18 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Jesus doesn’t start with the command, He starts with the claim of authority.

The basis for the priorities Jesus are all based on His power and authority. There is no doubt in that Jesus commands our destiny…for “all authority” is His. He has “ruling” authority, power, and right to issue His kingdom command.

“No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me. From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand. Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the Power of Christ I’ll stand.”

This authority of Jesus continues the line of several passages where Jesus’ authority is stressed:

Matthew 11:27 - “all things have been given to me by my Father.”

Daniel 7:14

Daniel 7:14 CSB

14 He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

Authority to heal, the authority of His teaching, authority to command, over demons, to forgive sins, authority to judge, passing on to his disciples…This His position and His function as Messiah, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Say this with me this morning - WE WILL BELIEVE IN THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST JESUS

His mission will succeed because His power and authority guarantee it.

So Jesus issues His mission for the disciples, His command that as they go, they make disciples.

Matthew 28:19 CSB

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,

Matthew 28:20 CSB

20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Make Disciples

The disciples in Jerusalem, are no longer to be a “show and tell” for the nations, but rather as they go they are to make disciples. This is a bit different than the role of Israel, and for example the Temple set up in Jerusalem for a dwelling place for God.

Israel was more of a “show and tell,” kind of a “y’all come and see our God.” In other words, the nations would be drawn to Israel because of God’s presence.

I like what David Platt said about our tendency here, “This is not a comfortable call inviting most Christians to come, be baptized, and sit in one location. Yet that is exactly what we are tempted to turn our mission into, and if we are not careful, this is what our Christianity will consist of.”

But now, the disciples are supposed to go about life making disciples, not just of the Jews, but of all peoples, all ethnic groups…I’ll stop short of saying races because there’s only one race and that is the human race. The Gospel is for all…Just like at Pentecost in Acts 2…people heard these men preaching in different languages.

Baptize Them in the Name

Now, I don’t believe the Bible teaches that baptism saves you, or is the final act of salvation, or even introduces to salvation. What is it? It is an outward expression, and outworking of obedience for the new believer of what is happening on the inside of your heart. It is the first step of discipleship, and identification of people with this new way of life and faith in Jesus.

It is a declaration to the world, I belong to Jesus, I trust in Jesus, I follow Jesus. It declares the Gospel story…I have died to my sin, and I am raised to new life in Jesus Christ. It is an act of faith/trust in Jesus.

Teach Them the Truth

We are also instructed to “teach them to observe everything I commanded you.” The material we teach is all that Jesus taught His disciples. The rest of the New Testament flushes that out for us so that we are able to read, apply, and follow Jesus. But we remember that Jesus used the Old Testament for His ministry as the NT hadn’t been written just yet. So both are relevant to your walk with Jesus.

This is also a call to “keep on teaching...” There are some churches in the New Testament that crave the meat of the Word of God while others are needing spiritual milk.

But we are called here to teach obedience and this where they old saying comes true, “discipleship is caught more than taught.”

Look to the Sermon on the Mount, the Great Commandment, and other truth that we need to hear. Jesus’ teaching on worship, on His identity in the “I Am” statements of John’s Gospel.

Let us say this together this morning, “We will obey the command of Christ.”

His Presence

We obey and we do so because He is with us. Matthew’s Gospel ends the way it began in Matthew 1:23…God with Us…Immanuel. Here we see the omnipotence and omnipresence of Jesus. All authority is His, and His presence is always with us…even to the end of the age.

Matthew 18:20 CSB

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

Find encouragement in the truth that the mission is not based on who we are, how much money we have, or what we can do. Christ’s presence in us through His Spirit is the promise here, and no matter what is going on around us…The mission is based on sustained in His presence. What a promise.

Say this together this morning - “We will depend on the Presence of Christ.”

What is a Disciple?

What are we making? Disciples…what is a disciple? I like what Jim Putman stated in his book, “Real-life Discipleship.” The invitation is the definition.

Where is the first invitation given? Matthew 4:19

Matthew 4:19 CSB

19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

Being a disciple of Jesus will mean a change of life in your head your heart, and your hands.

Jesus said, “Follow me...”

A disciple knows and follows Jesus Christ.

From His perspective, a disciple is one who follows Him. Multiple times Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples in miraculous ways.

In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus helped the disciples catch two boatloads of fish. Peter and John followed Him after that. They had a very basic understanding of Jesus at that point. Others would follow.

It was a big deal to be asked to be a disciple of a Rabbi. But as His ministry carried on, Jesus walked on water, calmed the seas, fed 5,000 plus, and worked other miraculous moments and they came to a place of certainty that He was the one the Jews were waiting for.

To be His disciples, you and I must also recognize and accept who Jesus is…this is TRUST and FAITH.

In trust we submit ourselves to His authority. If your following, your behind them. He leads, we follow.

John 12:26 CSB

26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

To follow Jesus is to obey Jesus. So many folks like the idea of being saved from sin, but they don’t like the idea of Lordship. But He cannot be one without the other. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that its His job to follow you and fulfill all your wishes. Remember Jesus said, “All authority is given to Me...”

As Jesus changes you, He’s changing your head to know Him and trust Him with Him as our boss. Our authority.

A disciple is being changed by Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I will make you into something...” Hey Jesus did select these guys because they were something special, or because they were prepackaged disciples, just microwave them and their ready in an instant…They were regular uneducated fishermen and a few other hated professions like tax collectors…but Jesus made it clear he would make them into something.

He called them, equipped them for three years, and then empowered them with the Holy Spirit. They were changed as Jesus addressed their beliefs, their attitudes, and their actions.

He shaped them from fishermen into messengers of grace and mercy. The Holy Spirit came in as the catalyst, a catalyst of supernatural heart and life change. In this He now produces what we know as the fruit of the Spirit, in Christ we are fashioned into His image for good works which we were prepared beforehand by God.

A disciple is committed to the mission of Jesus Christ.

That mission is to be “fishers of men.” Instead of going after sea creatures, they are going after people.

We place a lot of value on things that, according to Scripture, don’t really matter. The people you know and love who do not know Jesus are lost for eternity unless they repent and trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. When we grasp this truth, our head, heart, and hands begin to transform. It changes how we think, pray, and use the time we’ve been given.

2 Corinthians 5:15–20 CSB

15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. 16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

Our abilities, gifts, skills, vocations, families, time are all on call for the Kingdom. And as the church, we are partnered with Christ and join Him on mission to see the lost world saved and discipled.

A disciple is committed to the mission of Jesus Christ.

What kind of fireman would I be if I didn’t warn you about fire? What kind of policeman would I be if I didn’t warn you about criminals? What kind of doctor would I be if I didn’t tell you about disease? What kind of disciple would I be if I didn’t warn you about hell?

What would you say about a fireman who saw your house burning down and who simply said, “It will burn itself out in a little while.”?

What would you say about a police officer who saw juveniles vandalizing your home and simply said, “Well, you know, boys will be boys.” ?

What would you say about a doctor who, when telling you that you had cancer, simply said, “Take two aspirin and rest.”?

You would say they are not taking their jobs seriously. Disciple of Jesus, are you taking your calling seriously?

Think about it.

The Gospel is the change that changes everything and this good news is for you. If you’ve never trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord, to forgive you of your sins, and give you new life, eternal life, then today, if you hear His voice calling you, don’t turn away. Only Trust Him...

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and that God raised you from the dead. I trust and give my life to you as Lord and Savior. Guide and help me to do Your will.” Amen

If you’ve been through the 40 days of prayer, whatever the Lord revealed to you each day, it is now your responsibility to act on it. I want to encourage you to join one of our D-Life groups that will begin again the first week of March.