As I read Roland Allen on the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), I am forced to rethink my understanding of the Lord’s command. He skillfully weaves together the whole intent of God’s Word, so we do not miss the divine meaning in these verses and others for a complete picture.
I will start with verse 18. “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”” In one sense, Jesus always had authority as Creator (Colossians 1:15-16). Since His death, burial and resurrection, He is given specific authority as the “firstborn from the dead that in everything He might be preeminent” (1:18). There is no possible part of creation or new creation that is not included in the scope of that authority. Having completed redemption (salvation), His authority is also over every aspect of proclaiming new life as it is offered to those who are still “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Anyone who goes out into the world with the message of the gospel is not doing so based on his own authority, or that of an organization or church. He or she is directly under the Commander-in-Chief, the Head of the Church, and Author of Salvation who has complete and full authority. Going out into any venue of life and ministry under the command of Christ gives confidence and courage, strength and power. No matter what happens to us physically, there will be victory!
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“And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak”” (Mark 7:37).
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If anyone had a doubt about the sincerity of Paul’s love and concern for these young disciples in Thessalonica, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 should dispel any such doubts. He wanted to see them again and Timothy’s report confirmed that they wanted to see Paul again as well. In spite of the distance and not being able to see them yet, Timothy’s report was so encouraging that Paul says, “now we live!” So strong was Paul’s concern that hearing the good report was like breathing new life into the apostle.
Just in case they became complacent in how well they were doing, he adds; “if you are standing fast in the Lord” (8). This indicates Paul’s commitment to their spiritual growth and steadfastness. One of the indicators that they were growing was his longing that “the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all” (12). He was not satisfied with where they were. As Paul was concerned about this, so we should never be complacent about where we and others are in walking with the Lord. As we consider our spiritual impact on others, we must always desire to “establish [their] hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints” (13). We must keep the final goal always before us. Our measure of mature is never some human standard. “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Are you growing? That will encourage others to grow. Approximately 15% of the Karen people group in Myanmar (Burma) are believers in the Lord Jesus. Their situation has become very serious as this report shows. Please be in prayer for them! “The situation in Karen (Kayin) State is dire, with the 20,000 newly displaced, unable to tend their crops or take care of their animals and surviving on emergency rations they have hidden. But not only do they need food now, this will become a greater crisis if they cannot plant their fields. The Burma Army is improving their road network into Karen State to further project their power, with dismounted infantry moving with bulldozers to build and repair roads. They are resupplying their camps in the area including new camps they have built. The infantry battalions also attack from roads and camps into villages and chase the villagers deeper into jungle. The Burma military is conducting airstrikes into Karen State for the first time in over 20 years and for the first time that we know of, which means the Burma military has increased its capability, capacity, and lethality. The targets that they have hit are schools, clinics, homes, and mining operations. Men, women, and children have been wounded and killed. As of this report, over 40 are wounded and 14 killed. The biggest result of these airstrikes has been over 20,000 people hiding in the jungle, afraid to stay in their homes and be the next target, unable to go out to their fields.” (David) As we pray for them, do not forget what Paul wrote to Timothy; “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1–4). That means our enemies! Yesterday we thought about being “available” when Jesus calls us to be with Him. “Appointing” the disciples and giving them the title of “apostle” was simply to confirm that His calling was for a specific purpose. Their “appointment” was to be “messengers” of His gospel to the world.
It is important to grasp how these principles work together in order for the disciples to carry out their assignment. The first reason for Jesus’ call was “so that they might be with Him” (Mark 3:14). Without spending time with Jesus, they could not understand their assignment or how to carry it out. Think about that in relation to your call from Jesus. Can the details of your assignment be worked out in your life and ministry without receiving His instructions? The next part of this very important event is how “He might send them [YOU] out to preach” (Mark 3:14). Going out into any ministry or mission without HIS sending is doomed for failure. A careful study of Acts reveals how critical this is. As one who is in ministry and has been on many mission trips, I know the disappointment when I go because it’s my idea. I also know the ecstatic joy of seeing God work when I was utterly dependent on Him. P.S.: Sending us out to preach the gospel in any venue is being an “apostle - messenger.” As I spent time with a brother this morning, seeking to disciple him, I thought of Jesus and how He discipled twelve men. None of them were selected because they were qualified or had attributes that Jesus could build on. There was only one asset common to all of them - availability.
Mark describes this event. “And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him (availability). And He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach” (Mark 3:13–14). One of the first requirements of discipling someone else is spending time together. Passing on ‘information’ is a very small part of the discipling process. Paul outlined what is gained through discipling someone else; “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me” (2 Timothy 3:10–11). As we apply this principle to our discipling others, there is a critical element we cannot leave out. The life of the mentor must be such that it can be followed as an example. Time together and a model worth emulating are essential ingredients! I have tried and it DID NOT WORK! There have been so many times in my life when I have tried to live for the Lord and do God’s will with my own ability, and it ends up fruitless and with no power. That is why we need to better understand what ‘resurrection power’ is and how it works in us.
That is why I referred to Philippians 3:10 yesterday. In addition to that reference, Paul asked God to “grant [us] to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner being” (Ephesians 3:16). This is notrelying partly on what we can do and partly on what God can do. This is a complete reliance on God working in us so that doing the will of God is also done in His power. What is the result? “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen!” (3:20–21). If only we realized that this is how fruitfulness takes place in our lives in order for God to be glorified and honored. This week has given me cause for deeper thought and reflection on the tradition of Good Friday and Easter. I think of all the time, effort and expense that goes into preparation for church services, sending cards and special meals. As my mind traveled through all we do, I wondered if we are missing the real purpose and outcome that God wants us to have.
Am I saying that all the activities we engage in at Easter are wrong? Only if they eclipse the real meaning God wants us to gain. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are the essential and central elements of this remembrance. But if they remain in our minds merely as a historical fact, we have lost their moral import. Without them we have no means of eternal salvation from the penalty of sin and redemption into a new relationship with God as His children. There is something that is as important as what I have just mentioned. Paul says it better than I can; “that I may know HIM and the power of HIS resurrection” (Philippians 3:10). Why was this such a critical point for Paul? Knowledge of Christ was not enough for Paul (1 Corinthians 8:1). He knew that the power of Christ which is made available to us by His resurrection and giving the Spirit, was what transforms lives. We are to be “filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19). If you and I are going to fulfill God’s purpose, the power of Christ’s resurrection must be working in us so others are drawn to Jesus. Again, last night, we had a wonderful time as our team gathered via Zoom to bend our hearts in prayer. We feel the pressure of needing to “GO” to certain countries and introducing our training with God’s Plan for His Disciples and God’s Plan for His Church. At the same time, the restrictions caused by COVID 19 have made securing visas and flights very difficult. What should we do? PRAY, and that we did! Will you join us? Burkina Faso and Nigeria are a pressing need.
There is another point in missionary work that I want you to think about. Is it important that we “volunteer” to “GO” or should we first have a strong sense that God is calling us? Think about Acts 13:2-4. While God had been working in the hearts of Barnabas and Paul to prepare them for HIS work, it was the specific call of the Holy Spirit that pushed them out of Antioch to places of HIS choosing. Oswald J. Smith says, “If God has called you, do not hesitate to go. No greater honor can come to any man or woman than the honor of being a missionary. You are the Lord’s ambassador. Be faithful and the Crown of Life will be yours.” (The Challenge of Missions, page 117). There is another challenge that comes from standing firm in our freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1). Our flesh may seek to “use your freedom and an opportunity for the flesh” (5:13), exalting itself in a different way. While the flesh likes to pride itself in following an exterior ‘law,’ it seeks to work secretly through the freedom we have in Jesus Christ. It often tries to say that ‘anything is acceptable’ since we are saved by grace. This must never be!
As we read further in Chapter 5, this idea is challenged by the divine requirements of this freedom to “walk by the Spirit…[be] led by the Spirit…live by the Spirit, [and] let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (5:16, 18, 25). If these characteristics are true in us, there cannot be any allowance for the flesh to work, “but through love serve one another” (5:13) because love is the fulfilment of the whole law. This is the mind of Christ for us. When we submit to the Spirit in this way, the fruit of the Spirit will automatically be produced in us. God will be glorified in us and others will see a living demonstration of God’s power at work. |
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