The Great Commision

Matthew ends his gospel with what has become known as the Great Commission. The Great Commission is the instructions Jesus gave to his followers after His resurrection and before His ascension. Some form of the Great Commission can be found in all four gospels and in the book of Acts as well.

The Great Commission reveals the heart of the entire Bible. All of Scripture, both New and Old Testaments, call the world to a relationship with God. God has appointed a day in which He will judge the earth. At the present time He is calling the world away from sin and to Himself. He is doing that through His people.

There is no doubt that God is accomplishing His task. When we look at the spread of the gospel through the world, we must admit that the growth of the church can only be explained by the supernatural power of God.

Christ gathered twelve men to Himself. He taught them the gospel. He told them the kingdom of heaven was like a small mustard seed. It would be planted in the ground, but it would grow very large and be a benefit to the entire world.

Jesus preached for three years and was killed.

It seemed that the kingdom He spoke of would never come to pass. After His resurrection and ascension His followers turned the world upside down. They preached the gospel, and the church grew at an unbelievable rate. Churches exist all over the world and Christianity is by far the largest religion in the world.

This morning we consider Jesus’ Great Commission. If you are a Christian, these are your marching orders. What Jesus says is your responsibility. With that in mind we are going to answer the question “How do we fulfill the Great Commission?”

1. We must worship Christ without reservation (16-17).

A. Sometime after His resurrection Jesus met some of His followers in Galilee.

Galilee was about 70 miles from Jerusalem. It would have taken about a week to travel there. Jesus appeared many times to His followers after His resurrection. In fact, before this account, He had probably made seven appearances.

He had appeared to:

Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18)

Some other female followers (28:1)

Simon Peter (Luke 24:34)

The men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

Ten disciples (no Thomas) (Luke 24:36-43)

The disciples including Thomas (John 20:26-29)

Seven of the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-23)

That brings us to this account. Most scholars believe this is the account that 1 Corinthians 15:6. That verse says at one point Jesus was seen by more than 500 people at one time.

The mountainside in Galilee would be a place large enough for Him to be seen by so many. As well, word probably spread that Jesus was meeting the disciples in Galilee. Most of His appearances were surprise appearances. He came unannounced. Jesus had instructed a group of ladies to tell His disciples to meet Him in Galilee, so this would have been knowledge available to others.

It would be safe to say that Jesus had been risen about three weeks at least when this occurred.

B. When they saw Jesus, they worshipped Him.

Worship was their first response. Why? Because He is worthy.

He had just died for their sins.

He had just risen from the dead.

He had just delivered them from hell.

It was time to quit playing games!

It was time to stop trying to deceive Him like Judas did.

It was time to stop denying Him like Peter did!

It was time to stop doubting Him like Thomas did!

Worship fuels missions.

Why do we tell a lost world about Jesus? Because of what Jesus has done for us.

Why do we love sinners? Because Jesus loved us, and we were sinners.

Why do we invite people to church? Because God did a work in our hearts through the local church.

People who think little of God do little for God. When I think of all Jesus has done for me the only thing I know to do is to pour my life out in devotion to Him.

C. Some doubted.

I don’t think this was the disciples. I think this was some of the group of 500.

Why would they doubt? What else did the Lord need to do?

The Lord had done all that was necessary to convince these people. Perhaps one of the reasons we see so few working for the Lord is so many still doubt.

There is nothing I can do to convince you that Christ is who He says He is.

Where will your doubt lead you? Have you thought of that? You keep toying with doubt, but where will it lead you?

Picture yourself on your deathbed with a shipwrecked faith.

You put on a fake smile to hide the truth. You fill your head with the lies of the world and the logic of the devil. But the truth is you tremble on the inside.

You realize this life meant nothing.

You realize you have no hope after death.

Some of the people who love you are heartbroken because they fear you will die and go to hell.

Others who love you are not heartbroken, but they will follow you to hell in a few years.

Where did your doubt lead you?

Now picture yourself on your deathbed worshipping the Lord.

A life of labor for the Lord left behind as a testimony.

Treasures in heaven stored up.

The assurance of an eternity without pain or sorrow.

Loved ones who are heartbroken but hopeful because they know you are on your way to a better place.

These eleven disciples changed the world because their response to Christ was to worship Him. What is our response?

2. We submit to His authority (18).

A. The Father is exercising His authority through Jesus.

“All power is given unto Me in heaven and earth”

Matthew has demonstrated that in this gospel.

Authority in His teaching (7:29)

Authority over demons and diseases (10:1)

Authority to forgive sins (9:6)

Authority over death- in His resurrection

This authority is not only over the Jewish nation.

This authority is not only over His followers.

This authority is over all nations.

This is God’s world.

We are God’s creation.

We don’t get to write the rules. The sooner we realize that the sooner we will accomplish the great work God has for us. Too many look at Christ as if He is someone who bends to the authority of others. He doesn’t.

Who is returning with flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know not God? Jesus is. (2 Thess. 1:8)

Who says, “Depart from Me I never knew you?” Jesus does. (7:23)

Who says “Gather them up and throw them in the fire? Jesus does. (13:24-30)

It’s important that we recognize the authority of Jesus because we see it exercised I its full force.

B. When we spread the Word of God we do so in the authority of Jesus.

We are only repeating the things Jesus said.

We say there is only one way to heaven because that is what Jesus says.

We say people must repent of their sins and turn to Christ because that is what Jesus said.

We say marriage is between a man and a woman because that is what Jesus said.

Illust.- In mission center and a woman approached me asking if I knew a church that would accept her and another woman. I didn’t know them but discovered they were in a relationship. They were gay. I told her I could not recommend them to a church that would condone their lifestyle. I told her what God’s word said but she didn’t care. She just wanted someone who would tell her the relationship was okay.

She will probably find one because many go about to establish their own authority.

It’s important to remember these are not my opinions.

These are not the Baptists opinions.

These are God’s commands, and they will not change.

God has complete authority over everything, including our bodies.

What Jesus said 2000 years ago He would say today. People would hate Him for it. No one preached harder on sin and hell than Jesus did.

We will only accomplish the Great Commission when we recognize that Jesus authority is greater than the cultures authority. We must tell the world what He has told us to tell them.

3. We continue His work (19-20).

A. Jesus did not take the gospel to all nations.

He lived in a small part of the world. Jesus never lived in our town, our country, or our continent!

He lived for 33 years. He lived among a particular generation.

Jesus tells His followers to take His gospel to all nations.

Where do we start? Right where we are. We may end where we are. God may never call you to leave your town. But God has called you to share the gospel.

For too many years the church has subcontracted missions. We have paid people to do it for us. Here at JSBC we are trying to change that. The building of the mission center has given us an opportunity to engage in gospel conversations with our neighborhood.

That building reminds us of our responsibility. It’s a mission center.

It’s not a decoration to make people think we love the lost.

It’s not a warehouse to store stuff in we don’t use anymore.

It’s a mission center. It’s there to give us a place to do missions in our community. It gives us an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It gives us an opportunity to obey the Great Commission.

Why are we here folks? We are here because Jesus has left us as ambassadors for the kingdom of God. We have been given the ministry of reconciliation. God has us in Dublin Georgia, and this is our mission field.

That little word “all” is important. “All nations”. All people.

People ask, “Who is your target?”

All!

Our target is God’s target. His target is all!

Open up that front door.

Every car that drives by!

Every person that walks by!

Every bicycle!

Every skateboard!

All!!

Jesus did not take the gospel to the nations. He told us to do it.

B. What is the Great Commission?

The Great commission is a command to make disciples of all nations.

It’s not to make converts.

It’s not to try and get people to pray a prayer.

It’s not to try and get people to join the church or be baptized.

Those are things that can be done quickly and easily with the right persuasion. What is a disciple? Look at the eleven. Look at what Jesus did with them. Jesus wants us to do with others what He did with those who followed Him.

How do we accomplish making disciples?

We go. We have to share the gospel with people.

We baptize. We shouldn’t baptize people we can’t teach. That means we shouldn’t baptize babies. If we can’t teach them, we shouldn’t baptize them.

We teach them to obey the full counsel of God’s Word.

The goal of the Great Commission is not a church filled with people. The goal is people who love and follow Christ in obedience.

How do we accomplish this?

How do we accomplish this in ourselves?

We must be willing to become a student. Have you done that? Have you submitted yourself to the Word of God? Do you take seriously the Word of God?

Are you being faithful to your baptismal vows? When you were baptized you stood before the church and confessed your allegiance to Christ.

One of the most frustrating things about being a pastor. For me, has been doing weddings. Even though I require six weeks premarital counseling many of the weddings I have performed have ended in divorce. The people talked a good talk. They assured me they would be together til death do they part.

I have had the same experience with baptism. I speak with everyone about their soul before I baptize them. I always ask them if the love the Lord and want to live for Him. I explain that baptism is like putting on your wedding ring. You are telling the church you belong to Christ now.

But many of the people who are baptized fall away and often very quickly.

If you are going to fulfill the Great Commission it has to start with yourself. You must take your baptismal vows seriously. You must be willing to be a lifelong student of Scripture.

How do we accomplish this in our children?

They are your mission field. They are not your teacher. You are theirs. God will hold you accountable for them.

You must teach them the gospel and their need of salvation.

You must teach them about giving to God.

You must teach them about the importance of supporting the local church.

You must teach them their purpose in this world is to be a witness for Christ.

It amazes me that people think if you are a pastor, it’s easier to raise your kids for God. Friend, you have no idea. We don’t teach our kids to serve God because I am a pastor. We teach them to serve God because it is our responsibility.

That’s why even when we are on vacation our kids have always gone to church.

That’s why the two years I was a missionary we didn’t even miss a Wednesday night service much less a Sunday morning or Sunday evening one. We didn’t have to go to church. No one would have known. We don’t do it because it’s my job, we do it because we are saved. It has to be real in the home or it probably will not find a place in your children’s heart.

How do we accomplish this in our church?

We come.

We find joy in the teaching and preaching of God’s Word.

We stay in unity. We can’t fight the devil if we are fighting each other.

We support the ministries of the church.

C. The promise of Christ encourages us to continue in His work.

Look at the end of verse 20. He promises to be with us:

To protect us. The world will hate us if we share His Word. The devil would like nothing more than to shut down this church. If we are doing the will of God, he cannot.

To empower us. We can’t build this church. We can’t save souls. We can’t destroy the works of the devil. God can do all of that.

To encourage us. It’s not easy to labor for the Lord. It can get lonely. It can get discouraging. It can get hard. Thank God for the presence of Christ to encourage us.

Many have given up.

Many have quit.

Many have walked out those doors.

Why? It got difficult. When things start getting better some of them will start showing up again. But I thank God for the people who were tempted to quit but didn’t because the Lord stood by them. The Lord encouraged them.

I’ll tell you when we can quit folks. We can quit when God quits! If He is till working in you then He should still be working through you!

The Great Commission is our responsibility until Christ returns or calls us home. Let’s make sure we are fulfilling it.