Post by disciple on Jun 1, 2010 14:35:32 GMT -5
CHAPTER 2:
THE GREAT COMMISSION
THE GREAT COMMISSION
PURPOSE: UNDERSTANDING THE GREAT COMMISSION AND ITS COMMAND TO TURN PEOPLE INTO DISCIPLES
INTRO: IF A LOVED ONE GAVE YOU A COMMAND OR A PROMISE RIGHT BEFORE GOING ON TO HEAVEN, WOULD YOU REMEMBER IT AND VALUE IT? THE GREAT COMMISSION (MATT. 28:18-20) IS THE COMMAND JESUS LEFT US WITH, YET WE FORGET IT AND DEVALUE IT.
I. THE ASSURANCE BEHIND THE COMMISSION
· DIVINE AUTHORITY-“ALL AUTHORITY” IS “OUT OF THE VERY BEING OF GOD” AUTHORITY (LIKE A POLICEMAN'S BADGE OR A DRIVER'S LICENSE)
· DELEGATED AUTHORITY-“HAS BEEN GIVEN;” TRANSFERRED TO CHRIST FROM THE FATHER
· DESERVED AUTHORITY-“UNTO ME.” WHAT IS HIS IS MINE, BECAUSE I AM IN HIM. (“YOU ARE CHRIST’S, AND CHRIST IS GOD’S”-1 COR. 3:22-3)
· DEFINED AUTHORITY-“IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH,” EVERYWHERE
II. THE ASSIGNMENT WITHIN THE COMMISSION
· THE GREAT COMMISSION IS THE CHRISTIAN’S ONLY MARCHING ORDERS
· DIFFERENT “VERSIONS:” MATT. 28:18-20, MK. 16:15, JN. 20:21, ACTS 1:8
· VERBS OF THE COMMISSION: GO, MAKE DISCIPLES, BAPTIZE, TEACH-ONLY ONE IS A COMMAND (MAKE DISCIPLES)
· 7 PARTS OF THE COMMISSION
· EMPLOY ALL AVAILABLE PERSONNEL (‘YE’ IN KJV)
i. SAVIOR’S STRATEGY: EVERY BELIEVER SHOULD BE A SOUL-WINNING, DISCIPLE-MAKING REPRODUCER OF THE SAME KIND OF REPRODUCERS
ii. SATAN’S SUBSTITUTE: CLERGY V. LAITY; HIERARCHY OF PROFESSIONAL RELIGIOUS MEN; SPECTATOR CHRISTIANITY.
RESULT: UNEMPLOYED MEMBERS & UNDEREMPLOYED CLERGY
· ENTER THE FIELD OF SERVICE (‘GO’)
i. SAVIOR’S STRATEGY: JESUS FULLY EXPECTS YOU TO TAKE ON THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD! “GO” IS NOT A COMMAND; IT IS A STATEMENT OF FACT (MIDDLE VOICE V.)-“AS” OR “SINCE” YOU GO
ii. SATAN’S SUBSTITUTE: COME & HEAR, NOT GO & TELL; HOLY HUDDLE OF PEOPLE WHO GATHER TOGETHER BUT DO NOT ACT
· ENLARGE OUR VISION (‘ALL NATIONS’)
i. SAVIOR’S STRATEGY: WORLD-CONSCIOUS, WORLD-CONSUMED, WORLD-VISIONARY DISCIPLES-THE VISION POSSESSES US; THE LIGHT THAT SHINES FARTHEST IS BRIGHTEST AT ITS SOURCE, AND VICE VERSA; EVERY CHRISTIAN A WORLD CHRISTIAN
ii. SATAN’S SUBSTITUTE: SHRINK THE VISION, EITHER IN SCOPE (WORLD) OR LEVEL OF IMPACT (TOTAL)
· TURN THE PROSPECTS INTO DISCIPLES (‘MAKE DISCIPLES’)
1. THE ONLY COMMAND (AORIST IMPERATIVE)
2. SAVIOR’S STRATEGY: BRING EVERY WILLING PERSON, SAVED OR LOST, INTO A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD-WILL BE CLARIFIED LATER
3. SATAN’S SUBSTITUTE: REDUCE THE STANDARD; SELF-CENTEREDNESS
ENLIST THE EVANGELIZED (‘BAPTIZING THEM…’)
1. SAVIOR’S STRATEGY: BAPTISM REVEALS THE BELIEVER’S FULL ENLISTMENT AND TOTAL INVOLVEMENT IN CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
2. SATAN’S SUBSTITUTE: BAPTISMAL REGENERATION OR MERE SYMBOLISM
EDUCATE AND EDIFY THE ENLISTED (‘TEACHING THEM…’)
1. SAVIOR’S STRATEGY: NEVER A MOMENT WHEN I AM NOT TEACHING OTHERS
2. SATAN’S SUBSTITUTE: APPRAISERS OF TRUTH; REPROBATE (“REPEATEDLY SUSPEND IN FRONT OF”) HEARERS
· EXPECT HIM TO WORK (‘I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS’)
i. THE PROMISE FOLLOWS THE PLAN; THE POWER FOLLOWS THE PATTERN
ii. SAVIOR’S STRATEGY: FULL FELLOWSHIP AND CONTACT WITH US (I WITH YOU)
iii. SATAN’S SUBSTITUTE: REDUCED ACTIVITIES, IGNORANCE TO THE SPIRIT OR THE COMMISSION, LIVING FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN BECAUSE HE DESERVES IT
· COMMISSION V. OMISSION-WHOSE STRATEGY DO YOU USE?
ONCE WE REALIZE THAT WE DO NOT SEE AS GOD SEES, HE CAN REVEAL HIS MARCHING ORDERS TO US IN THE GREAT COMMISSION. THE ONLY COMMAND WE ARE GIVEN IS TO TURN ALL NATIONS INTO DISCIPLES.