The Great Commission

October 15, 2006

Introduction

Audio of this Sermon

 

            Today, the United States is involved in war.  We call it the war on terror.  What is terror?  It was all brought home to us in a new and more forceful way on September 11, 2001.  That day has been dubbed “9/11.”  That’s all that has to be said, is “9/11,” and we can all recall the horror and the pictures.  Maybe we remember the call for action by one man on one of the planes as he said, “Let’s roll.”  He and those with him were going to die, but they saved the lives of many others.  It’s all very real, and becomes more real as we watch videos of the events.

 

            Yet, Jesus has another message that sometimes gets overlooked.  (Mat 10:28 NKJV)  "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  {6} And then there is Jesus statement about war, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {7} "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. {8} "All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Mat 24:6-8 NKJV) 

 

            So what is the message?  What is Jesus trying to tell us?  We all understand the horrors of war, but Jesus is saying there is something worse.  The something worse is to die, and not be right with God.  Who would want to go through the horrors of crucifixion?  Jesus paid a horrible price on Calvary, but it does us no good if we do not accept his sacrifice in our place.

 

            The New Testament talks about two commissions:  The limited commission, and the great commission.  "These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. {6} "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  (Mat 10:5-6 NKJV)  -- The commission was very limited, but that changed.  "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. {16} "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."  (Mark 16:15-16 NKJV) 

 

            It’s 9/11, but we don’t see it happening.  We don’t see the fire, or the smoke, or the screams, but it must be bad.  By comparison, Jesus said, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Mat 10:28 NKJV)  He wants us to rescue those who are lost.  It is terrible to be lost.  Sometimes we take for granted the peace, the joy, the happiness that God gives to our lives for the present, and then the hope of eternity with Him in the world to come.

 

Body

 

I.     “Preach the gospel to every creature.”

 

  1. Who are the heroes of “9/11”?

 

1.      How about those who ran into burning buildings to try to rescue those who were there?

 

a.       Many of those never returned.  They lost their lives in their efforts to save others.

b.      Even those rescued will one day die of other causes.

 

  1. We are to be saving the lost around us.  It’s a different job.

 

1.      We won’t risk burning to death in a building.

2.      Jesus paid the price with His life.

3.      He’s asking us “Shepherd my sheep.”

 

II.  We are to make disciples.

 

(Mat 28:19 NKJV)  ""Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

 

  1. Make disciples carries the idea of making learners.  We are to make students of those we teach.

 

1.      Learning is a life long activity.

 

(1 Pet 2:2 NKJV)  "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,"

 

2.      When we stop learning we stop growing. – Peter said we are to grow.

 

(2 Pet 3:17-18 NKJV)  "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; {18} but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."

 

  1. We need to help them stay disciples.

 

1.      Paul said we need to take heed how we build on the foundation.

 

(1 Cor 3:10-15 NKJV)  "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. {11} For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, {13} each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. {14} If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. {15} If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

 

2.      Paul definitely had the idea that our reward will be based on who is ultimately saved.

 

(Gal 4:9-11 NKJV)  "But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? {10} You observe days and months and seasons and years. {11} I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain."

 

3.      So there are two great areas where we need to work in the kingdom:

 

III.   Reaching those who are lost and leading them to Christ.

 

  1. We need to reach the lost because they need being reached.

  2. We need to reach the lost because Christ died for them.

  3. We need to help those who are saved stay that way.

  4. We know what God doesn’t want:

 

(Zec 11:15-17 NASB)  "And the LORD said to me, "Take again for yourself the equipment of a foolish shepherd. {16} "For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or sustain the one standing, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs. {17} "Woe to the worthless shepherd Who leaves the flock! A sword will be on his arm And on his right eye! His arm will be totally withered, And his right eye will be blind.""

 

  1. While we are not all shepherds, the Bible is clear about what God and Christ really want.

 

Conclusion

 

The scenes of 9/11 are haunting scenes.  Most of us hope we will never see our nation experience something like that again, but Jesus says there is something worse.  To meet God, unprepared.   

 

Paul said, ("I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." 1 Cor 3:6 NKJV) 

Are you planting—talking to those out of Christ?

Are you watering—helping those in Christ to stay in the faith.

Are you praying—talking to God Who gives the increase?

Are you involved in the kingdom of God

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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