183. The great
commission- Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15
-Incredible truths on how we are to go about our business as
believers are revealed as Jesus gives His disciples, and us, His great
commission. He was sent by the Father, called to do a work, which He completed.
He was about to send His Hoy Spirit in complete fullness to indwell the
believer for amazing power and work in the spreading of the Kingdom. Let’s take
a careful look into the aspects of this commission so that we can obey the Lord’s
directives and commands.
-As He concludes with the fact that all authority in earth
and Heaven had now been given to Him as He had completed His task in saving the
world from sin (Matthew 28:18), He tells us what and how to increase His
Kingdom the proper way. He begins with the word therefore. This indicates that
we are fighting for His purposes through the victory and authority He has
already won. The word “go” is a participle and should have the connotation “while
you are going.” *Application* This refers to the manner in which we should be
operating our lives as believers. We should never put our Savior on the shelf
and act like He doesn’t fit in with our lives in any way. We always represent
the King in every place. There is to be no dichotomy between the secular and
the sacred in our lives. We are to be totally His everywhere we go and in
everything that we do. You are just as much a minister in the grocery store or
at work as you are in the church building.
-The imperative command in this commission is “to make
disciples of all nations.” Disciple making is the key ingredient to building
His Kingdom on this earth. *Application* Discipleship is hard work and will
take time. We must use the principle laid out by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:2 to his
young learner, Timothy. We must invest in people that will take the Word and
train others for the perpetual increase of the knowledge of the LORD. Pour into
people for the purpose of making them disciples of Christ Jesus and followers
of the true Way. In time all the world will know of Him and then the end of the
age will come (Matthew 24:14).
-The manner we are to make disciples is by baptism in the
Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism is immersion. They must not
only be baptized by water in obedience to His command, remembering though this
is not a requirement for salvation (Luke 23:39-43), but also baptized into His
Spirit as a believer sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). We are
also instructed to teach them to observe everything that the Lord commanded.
This all revolves around loving the Lord with all the heart, mind, soul,
strength (every ounce of everything), and loving our neighbor as much as we
love ourselves. All else supernaturally flows out of these two commands.
-Christ Jesus finally taught us that He is always with us in
this commissioned work in which He sends us. He will never leave us or forsake
us in the mission (Hebrews 13:5). He is the paraclete,
the “One who comes alongside” through His Spirit.
-*Application* Be renewed and energized by this ancient by
very relevant commission today. While you are going along life’s way, make
disciples everywhere you can by doing the works of Christ who is with you and
gives you the strength to do His perfect will. You can make a difference for
His Kingdom!
Verse to Memorize-
Matthew 28:19-20
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