The Great Commission ? Exaltation
We believe that holiness of heart, zeal for service, compassion for souls and action to revolution is missing in the majority of professing Christians. Without all of these things, we cannot fulfill the great commission that was given centuries ago by the greatest man who ever lived, Jesus Christ.
In Luke 6:12-16, Jesus had his own personal all-night prayer, at the end of which he gathered his disciples. Judas was one of those chosen but he never fulfilled his offered destiny. Why? Because he wouldn?t pay the price.
God has chosen us and there is a price to pay. The calling depends on God and the choosing depends on us. If we go back and study this scripture, we find that Jesus was talking about two kinds of labourers. Jesus made disciples and asked the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. We can help to change the world by introducing men to Jesus Christ, the only one who can produce a changed campus, a changed city, state, nation and even a changed world. Jesus Christ was, and he is, and still will be the same yesterday, today and for ever.
Some lazy souls believe that the word "Go" was only for those eleven in verse 16 of Matthew 28. If that were true, where would you and I be today? The words of Jesus would have stopped at the death of his disciples. But God?s people are commanded to proclaim the ?Gospel? of Jesus Christ throughout the world in every generation (Mark 16:15).
The gospel of Jesus Christ is ?Good News? to the living not to the dead, for our Almighty is the God of the living, not the God of the dead. So for those living with and around us, there are full reasons for us to take the gospel to them. Look carefully, you cannot spell the word GOSPEL without the word "Go" . Jesus said "GO TEACH", "GO BAPTISE" and "GO MAKE DISCIPLES" of all nations.
These three, things GO TEACH, GO BAPTIZE, GO MAKE DISCIPLES, state our goal, responsibility and commission in the army of God. Jesus said, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor: he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted"etc. (Luke 4:18-19). It was the life style of Jesus when he was on earth to preach, for it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).
The great commission is an obligation to every Christian, the word of God teaches it (Matthew 4:19; Acts 1:8; Rom 10:14-15). The gospel power requires it (Romans 1:16). The joy of heaven encourages it (Luke 15:10).
Jesus Christ is our best example of how to seek out and save those who are lost. Notice how he witnessed to the Samaritan woman (John 4:4-30). In verse 7 he made a tactful approach and in verse 10 he recognized a need and offered an answer. In verses 13-16, he aroused a deep interest in spiritual things. While in verses 16 and 18 he produced a conviction of sin. In verses 19-24 he corrected the misunderstandings which would hinder faith. In verse 26 he directed the discussion to a decision point, when a public confession of faith was made in verses 28-30.
Witnessing is taking a good look at the Lord Jesus Christ and then telling others what we have seen. We do not stand in the world bearing witness to the world. In this work, God has a part and we have a part. These parts are distinct and separate, but they work together. Do not confuse them. Our part is to use the tools, the BIBLE which is the word of God, the sword of the spirit (Hebrews 4:12), and God supplies the power. We can never convert a person; only God, through His Word can do that. We simply tell the story and back it up with consistent living. God will do the rest.
Bro. George Njuh Emi (Limbe, Cameroon)
