The Great Commission

Key Passages

(Mathew 28: 19) ‘Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit’

(Mark 16:15) “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

(Luke 24:47) It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 

(John 20:21) Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 

What is the great commission?

During Jesus time on earth,

·        (Luke 9:1-2) One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.  Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick

·        (Luke 10:1,9) The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’

·        (Mark 6:12) So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.

·        (Mathew 10:7-8) Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

After Jesus resurrection but before his ascension, he gave this command:

·        (Mathew 28:19-20 ) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you

·        (Mark 16:15) And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone”. The good news is about Jesus Christ.

After Jesus ascended, we were told in Mark 16:20 that the disciples went everywhere and preached.

The great commission is to:

·        Witness and tell people about Jesus (who he is, what he did, why he did it and what it means). Acts 1:8, ‘And you will be my witnesses telling people about me everywhere’

·        Tell people the need to repent of our sin, turn to God and be baptized (Acts 2:38)

·        Teach them

·        Ultimately make disciples of people, to follow Jesus and have eternal life.

Some challenges to carrying out the great commission

·        It’s not a priority (e.g. I’m not called to be a preacher, evangelist, just an ordinary Christian)

·        Too much activities in our lives

·        Laziness

·        We are not certain of our faith

·        Fear ( not knowing what to say, answer question, attack, humiliation)

What we need to carry out the great commission

·        A relationship with Jesus

·        You can’t talk about who and what you don’t know

·        The commission was given to Jesus disciples (believers) not non believers

·        You can’t produce fruit without being a branch of the vine (John 15:4, 5- Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing)

·        The Holy Spirit

·        It was a requirement from Jesus before the Disciples were to start witnessing

                                                              i.      (Luke 24:49) And I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven

                                                            ii.      (Acts 1:8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

·        The Holy Spirit gives us the power to witness effectively. The HS transformed the Apostles and gave them courage, boldness, confidence, ability, insight and the authority not only to speak but to perform miracles, signs and wonders

·        Love

·        It is love that made God gave His only Son to die so that we might be saved (John 3:16)

·        It is love that will propel us to want people to also make it to heaven. It is love that would make us go the extra mile for people in order to win them to Christ. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13)

·        We can only obey this commission when the love of God is imprinted in our heart. Loving God means doing what God has commanded us (2 John 1:6) and we do what God commanded us because we love Him (John 14: 15, ‘If you love me, obey my commandments).

·        It is love that expels fear and gives us the courage to talk to others about Christ. (1 John 4:18 such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love)

·        Compassion

·        When you love, you would be filled with compassion for people and the burden to save them for eternal damnation

·        Jesus was moved with compassion and he began to teach (Mark 6:34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things (Math 9:36-37) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.

·        It is compassion that would help to reach and evangelize to those who hate us (Luke 6:35 – 36, ‘Love your enemies! Do good to them….and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High… You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate).

We can’t have these four if our heart is not right with God.

Empowered for the great commission

·        We have been given the power and the authority

o   (Luke 9:1-2) One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 

·        We have been given the mantle (Holy Spirit) that empowers with all we need. (Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere )

·        We have the assurance of the presence of Christ always (Math 28:20 ‘….And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’

Importance of carrying out the great commission

·        God works by delegation. God needs us. He needs our legs (to go places to spread the good news), our mouth (to tell the good news), our hands (to lay hands and heal the sick), our heart (to serve Him)

·        We demonstrate obedience to God’s commandment

·        It hastens Christ’s return (Mark 13:10 for the Good News must first be preached to all nations).

·        It helps us to develop intimacy with God because you learn and grow as well

·        We manifest our spiritual gifts.  As the disciples were going around spreading the gospel, healing, miracles, signs and wonders followed them

·        We depopulate the kingdom of darkness and frustrate the plan of the enemy

·        It brings great glory to God (John 15:8, ‘When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father’)

Ways of carrying out the great commission

1.     Mass evangelism: missions, outreach, crusades

2.     Personal Evangelism (for all believers)

a.     1:1 direct preaching

b.     Influencing through our lives (can influence people to Christ or drive them away)

                                                             i.      Content of our character

                                                           ii.      Quality of our work

Whatever approach you take would depend on YOU

·        Your specific calling

·        Your decision

·        Your personal circumstances and opportunities

Jesus Christ asked only one thing of his disciples when he was leaving the world, to go and preach the good news to all nations. When we think about what he did for us, asking one thing from us is not too much is it?

How many Souls have you won?