Great Commission

Recently I have spent a lot of time studying different topics and themes of the bible. I’ve been studying Fasting, Spiritual Disciplines, Satan/God, but through all of that I have been trying to develop a heart for evangelism and seek that in everything that I study. The bible ultimately should point us closer to God and I feel that every aspect of the bible does so. I firmly think that as Christians and believers in the Gospel message we are called to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to continue pursuing their faith and to avoid sin in their own lives. But on top of that we have another calling, the Great Commission that was given in Matthew28:16-20. The Great Commission points out our duty to spread the message of God to those who don’t believe, hoping and praying that God uses our words to stir their heart into belief in him.

After Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection, an Angel appeared to Mary and said:

Matthew28:7 “Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen form the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you. So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them….”

Matthew28:16-20 “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Now imagine, Jesus is about to be lifted up to join his Father and the Angels in Heaven. He is about to leave this earth and he has one last thing to say to those who have followed him throughout this entire ministry. He could talk about a number of biblical concepts such as sin, grace, love, money, fasting, and serving others but he chose to focus on one. He spoke of evangelism.

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.”

 The eleven disciples were the men who followed Jesus through his entire ministry. They witnessed the miracles, heard the parables, protected him, broke bread with him, and prayed with him. These disciples witnessed incredible moments in history. The disciples and the other followers of Jesus Christ witnessed his ministry and life every single day and still had doubts. It is innate in our flesh to be filled with doubts. Often times I find myself asking God for a sign. “God, show me this and I will believe in you.” But God is evident in our daily lives. The followers of Christ(disciples and those who followed with them) saw the miracles, they were the miracles, and they performed miracles. These followers witnessed the life of Jesus in human flesh and still had doubts. So, even if you are living with doubts, understand that the apostles doubted as well. But those doubts never stopped them from spreading the word of God through Evangelism. Don’t hide behind your “doubts” and thus forsake spreading the message of God’s love and kindness in Christ Jesus. These earthly signs are significant but do not measure up to the ultimate sign of God’s love for his children! Jesus’ resurrection on the Cross serves perfectly as the display of God’s love and grace for us. He gave his one and only son to die for our sins and Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. God still performs miracles in our lives today so why do we continue to ask for a sign or a signal to help us grow in our faith when the ultimate miracle that will last for eternity took place 2000 years ago?

“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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”

         Being with the disciples before he Ascended to Heaven, Jesus had one last opportunity to speak truth into their lives. He did not speak specifically to the disciples who worshipped him, or to those doubted him. He spoke to believers of all kinds. Sharing the gospel is not limited to those with a seminary degree, pastors, preachers, or missionaries in foreign countries. A desire to evangelize is not meant to be a characteristic limited to the “super Christians” or the “solid Christians”. Evangelism is one of the most fundamental facets of living a christian life. It is as basic as attending church, praying, worshipping. All believers are meant to go out and turn others into followers of Jesus Christ. We are all equipped with the power of the Jesus to make disciples of all nations. There is an incredible need for the gospel to be shared on our campus, in our families, in our organizations, in our own Country and each and every one of us is called to be that person sharing the gospel.

          Application: There is nothing else other than go out and share the gospel. For most of us in this fraternity, that means living a life worthy of Christ. Broken people are meant to share the gospel and witness to the transformation Christ has done in our own lives. But in order to share God’s work in our lives we must first allow him to move and transform our hearts.

1. Pray to God for repentance of Sins you’ve committed and the ones you don’t even know you commit.
2. Ask God for an opportunity to share the gospel. If you ask God for an opportunity he will provide one
3. Be Bold in your faith. Have confidence in what you believe and share the Gospel. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but while we were still sinners, Christ died for us and gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins so that we might know him. So offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. 

Matthew 5: 14

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." 

"Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us."
-Oswald Chambers