Have We Begun To Penetrate The Darkness?

What is the “Great Commission”, and what is our responsibility as believers and disciples of Jesus? When we study the Scriptures we can see the missionary heart of God. The latin phrase which was coined “Missio Dei” or Missionary God is an apt description of the heart of our Savior.

In Luke 19:10 we learn that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. In Luke 5:31-32 we see that Jesus did not come for the righteous but instead to call sinners to repentance. In John 13:20 we learn that God the Father sent Jesus the Son of God who in turn sends His children to bring the gospel to the nations.

It’s interesting to see that delivering the great commission to the disciples to be carried out was of utmost importance to Jesus. Here are some examples of the fortelling of this event.

The Foretelling of The Great Commission

When we take a look at Matt. 26:32 Jesus foretells that He will be in Galilee after His resurrection to give the great commission. He says this after He is betrayed by Judas, and just before He goes to the cross. In Matt 28: 7 an angel announces that Jesus will be going into Galilee ahead of  the disciples as well to meet them there to receive the great commission. Then in Matt. 28:10 Jesus tells Mary Magdalene and the other woman with her to gather the brethren to meet in Galilee as well for this significant meeting with the purpose of giving the disciples great commission.

It’s clear to see that Christ had an important message to share with the disciples after his ressurection. As a matter of fact I would say it was of utmost importance to Him as these were his famous last words before His ascension. Should it not also be of utmost importance to us to obey and carry out this great commission for those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ?

The Giving of The Great Commission

“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Lostness in the World (estimated by the IMB)
6.8 Billion People in all the Earth
6  Billion are estimated to be lost
3.5 Billion are estimated to never have heart the gospel
6,647 Unreached people groups (estimated by Daniel Akin)
258 Million lost estimated in North America

We Have a Great Task Before Us

Act’s 1:6-8 reveals to us that beleivers have power from the Holy Spirit on high to accomplish this task. We cannot do it of our own human merit. We must trust this impossible task to our God who makes all things possible. For this is indeed a God sized mission that we can only fullfill in Christ, apart from Him we can do nothing. How are you fullfilling God’s “Great Commission”?

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