WE HAVE THIS MINISTRY…

Bible Text: Matthew 28:18-20

Subject: Commission

Title: We Have This Ministry, A Commission To The Lost

INTRODUCTION

Biblical Orientation:

So far, we have learned that we have a ministry, not just any ministry: we have this ministry. It is a ministry given to the Table Mountain Baptist Church by God. This ministry has factors that are important to the accomplishment of its tasks. They include a compassion for the lost and a burden for the lost. With Christ’s compassion, we will see the lost as they are. With a burden for the lost, we will care enough to tell them about Christ

We must understand and cannot forget the primary function of a church is not just to edify the saints; this ministry is to reach the lost. We will do this best when we have the right compassion and right burden

Sermon Orientation:

Tonight we will study that we have this ministry and it has a commission to the lost. According to Webster, the word “commission” means “a formal written warrant granting the power to perform various acts or duties.” This passage is what we call the Great Commission. Great in the fact that the ministry presented here is not just any ministry, it is the ministry of seeing men, women, boys, and girls brought to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ

We must fulfill our commission to be a church that pleases God. as we fulfill the commission, people get saved, lives get changed, and our church grows

EXPOSITION/MAIN TEXT

I. THE POWER OF THE COMMISSION

A. It Is A Powerful Statement At A Powerful Time

1. Jesus tells them only a few days after He has risen from the grave about their commission

a. Some were still doubting His presence

b. Such a lack of faith can cause us to lose the value of such a commission

2. He has displayed great power by the resurrection

3. The commission is so important that He came to them, to tell them to go

B. It Is A Powerful Commission

1. Jesus rightfully declares His power over all heaven and earth

ü Psalm 110:1-2 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies

2. He is the spoken Word that creates

3. The power comes from the Lord Jesus Christ

ü Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you

a. He has empowered us to do the work of the commission

b. Therefore, we do not go in our own power but in the power of the Holy Ghost

c. God Himself goes with us, He is able to bring His commission to pass

i. When you go, you go in His name

ii. When you go, you go in His power

II. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE COMMISSION

A. Go

1. It is sad that if we were to have a million dollar give away we would be inundated with visitors

2. If we said that we were giving away eternal life, hardly any would come

3. That is why we must “go,” to fulfill our ministry we must go and find those who are lost

4. The specifics of this commission are given in Acts 1:8

ü Acts 1:8 …ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth

a. We start where we are, Golden…

b. We reach to those in our area, Denver…

c. Then we go to those in the country, U.S.

d. Through missions we go to the uttermost part of the earth

B. Teach

1. There is but one teaching to the lost, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

2. It is otherwise known as the gospel

a. Paul told Timothy that the Scriptures contain this truth

b. 2 Timothy 3:15 Paul spoke of …the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus

C. Baptize

1. Baptism is always a result of faith or as it is sometimes called “believing”

2. Baptism is as Peter said, 1 Peter 3:21 …the answer of a good conscience toward God

3. Baptism shows a commitment to the salvation God has given

4. Baptism is always a picture of the old man dying and the new life from being born again

D. Disciple The Converts

1. It is not until they are saved and baptized that Christ tells us to disciple them

2. Then, we train them to follow God’s commandments

3. There is no reason to get the cart before the horse

a. After salvation and baptism we teach about holy living and the ways of the Lord for Christians

b. First, however, we need to teach them how to be saved by faith through grace

E. The Commission Is Not Carried Out Alone

1. Whenever we go out on our commission, Christ is there

2. That is why people get saved, He is at work in their hearts

3. With Christ we need not be afraid, He will help and guide our words and deeds

PREACHING PORTION

THE PEOPLE WHO CARRY OUT THE COMMISSION

In Our Case, The People Who Have This Ministry

A. Disciples- Those Who Know “All Things”

1. Christ taught His disciples all He wanted them to know as He lived among them for three years

2. Now, we have the Bible, it teaches us the teachings of Christ

3. The disciples, through the promptings of the Holy Spirit, have written the revelation of God to His children in the New Testament

4. What do we know from the Scriptures?

a. Everything God wants us to know about Him

b. Everything God wants us to do in our personal life

c. Everything God wants us to do for Him

5. It is important that we know “all things”

a. If we do not know what we are supposed to know, how can we teach others to observe?

b. Ignorance has the ability to not be a good thing

i. Sure, it can mean you just do not know

ii. However, it can also because you choose not to know

iii. When it comes to our commission, God has made it necessary for His children to know what it is and how to fulfill it

6. The disciples are the ones who must fulfill the Great Commission

B. Table Mountain Baptist Church Has A Ministry, It Is The Same Commission Jesus Spake About To These Disciples

1. We know that the Great Commission is serious

a. It contains Jesus’ last request on earth

b. It contains Jesus’ last words on earth

2. Serious Christians take the commandments of God seriously

a. They do whatever it takes to learn to fulfill God’s commandments

b. The strive as hard as it takes to fulfill God’s commandments

c. They are never satisfied with the status quo

3. For Table Mountain Baptist Church to be a great church, it must strive to fulfill God’s commandments

a. It must fulfill its ministry here and abroad

b. It must reach out to lives

c. It must be about the Father’s business

ü His business is men’s lives

4. We have this ministry…

a. It is compassionate toward the lost

b. It has a burden for the lost

c. It has a commission to the lost

CONCLUSION

Therefore, if you are involved in bringing people to Christ you have compassion for the lost

If you are involved in bringing people to Christ you have a burden for the lost

If you are involved in bringing people to Christ you are fulfilling the commission to the lost

You have accepted the Spirit of “we have this ministry”

For our church to continue to get better and to continue to grow spiritually, we must do more of what God commands. It takes work, it takes dedication, and it is so rewarding that you will never find anything else like it