The Great Commission by Matthew
The Great Commission by Matthew
The most well-known of the five but also the most underutilized. We must back up to verse 18.
”Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.“
1st underutilized aspect is the authority of the believer. Jesus has been given all authority. He then transfers our portion down to us. Do you remember the authority we have in Mark’s Great Commission?
”Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will never harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
Mark 16:15-18 HCSB
We have authority over forgiveness, demons, snakes, poison, and illnesses.
What about in Luke?
”And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
We have the authority to have the power of the Holy Spirit.
Did John give us any authority?
”Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” After saying this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
John 20:21-23 HCSB
Once again we have the authority over forgiveness and also peace.
2nd underutilized authority is to go make disciples. The church today uses discipleship as a bad word or a simple class to take for eight weeks. But Jesus used discipleship to spend 3 years with his 12 followers to grow them into His disciples. When was the last time you took time out of your year to invest in people to help them develop into a disciple of their Lord Jesus? We often want the church to do it for us, like the way we do with our Children’s education. When it is our job to teach and train our kids. It is our job to teach and train Christians to live for Jesus. There is coming a day when all people will know God but until then it is our job (Jeremiah 31:34). The problem is we have developed an educational approach to learning but we have forgotten the apprentice and master relationship. It takes years to develop a disciple.
3rd underutilized authority is to baptize people. Once again we have left it up to the church when we have the authority to do it ourselves. And some churches tell us you only have to be baptized once. I disagree if someone wants to make a new statement of faith in Jesus after being baptized earlier then what will be the harm of doing it again?
”Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent.“
Revelation talked about a church that had to do its first works over again and repent. But I would venture to guess that baptism was also part of their first works.
4th underutilized authority is in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Not just baptism but everyday life! When was the last day you lived in the power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? There is more power in the name of Jesus than Egypt, Rome, and Washington combined. Now we have the Holy Spirit inside us that operates in the same manner as Jesus lived!
4th underutilized authority is to teach what God has commanded us. This is found in discipleship but then also in Sunday school, preaching, and teaching from the pulpit but then it needs to be done in the world backed up by our actions.
5th underutilized authority is to remember, Jesus is with us always, to the end of the age. We do not leave Jesus in the church when we leave. He is sitting in our car on the way home. He walks in our house when we do. He knows when we get up and lie down. He is always there. He is there to help us in the trials and temptations. He is there to give us the words to say in times of rejoicing and hurt. Let us not be like the church in Revelation 3.
”I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent. Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne. “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 3:15-22 HCSB
But let us be the church of Revelation 2 living in the full power of the Great Commissions set up by Jesus.
”I know your affliction and poverty, yet you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.“
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