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THE GREAT COMMISSION

The Meaning of the Great Commission:
It’s Significance and Implications for You and Me

  1. 1 Chronicles 12:32
    1. Understanding the times…
    2. Context:
      1. Understand the times…the principle applies to us.
      2. For us it is not a case of "physical warfare"….
    3. Spiritual Warfare…e.g. Ephesians 6:10-18 (Eph. 2:1-5); 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
    4. Martin Luther is purported to have said "Unless we preach the gospel with contemporary relevance, we have not preached it."
  2. Questions:
    1. What is going on in our culture/society?
    2. What are the ideas or views and values that influence our society the most?
    3. How do these beliefs and practices effect or impact our sharing the gospel?
    4. Our society: multiculturalism, naturalism, postmodernism, relativism, scientism, skepticism, etc.
    5. How does God want us to understand them?
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:3-5
    1. How do we do this?
    2. Our Society: Postmodernism, Etc.
    3. The Need to Do Apologetics, E.G., Pre-Evangelism

The Great Commission
Four Major Misunderstandings

  1. Matthew 28:18-20
    1. Misunderstanding #1
      1. The man verb is to "make disciples," not go. Point: to Teach, Make Mature.
      2. Mathetes: a learner, someone who follows someone’s teachings…an adherent
      3. Notice: "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
      4. Point: as you are going: "going" (present participle) or in essence "as you are going."
    2. Going is not just "in or to the mission field," but as you are going around—your daily life, your field or sphere of influence or world—as well as of course the mission fields.
    3. In your world…
    4. This leads us to our next passages.
  2. John 4:4-42
    1. Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest"
  3. Misunderstanding #2
    1. Note: verses 28-41
    2. Point: the field was right there, not just "out or over there."
    3. So it is for you and me!
  4. Acts 1:1-8
    1. The point here is the same as above. That is, start in Jerusalem, then….
  5. Misunderstanding #3
    1. We have to go door-to-door or stand on street corners, to downtown L.A., or at the beach or otherwise. We have to approach complete strangers…or do other things we hate to do.
      1. Yes, some of you might do this, those who really feel called to and enjoys it.
    2. However, not most of us.
    3. We are primarily sent to our world, that is, our world or sphere of influence.
    4. Family, Friends, co-Workers, Colleagues, and so forth
  6. Misunderstanding #4
    1. The great commission—sharing the gospel—is for you and me as well, not just the pastor(s) or professional missionaries or evangelists like Billy Graham.
      1. It is for all of us!
    2. For example, for Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist" does not mean to be a full time Billy Graham, but to share the gospel in his world of influence (2 Tim. 4:5).
      1. So it is for you and me
    3. If we all would do this—in our world or sphere or influence—we would see the gospel preached to the whole world in our lifetime (or close to it)! If we each would just do what the LORD has asked us to do—by His grace—we would see it fulfilled.

Practical Pointers

  1. The Word of God
    1. We need to know it and share it! Psalm 126:5-6, Isaiah 55:10-11, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 1:23-25 (Isa. 40:6-8)
    1. Prayer: 1st and Foremost (In the Process)
    2. Luke 18:1-2; John 14:13-14; 15:7-8; 16:23-24; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 4:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 John 5:14-15
    3. This includes praying both for our "own" sharing of the gospel and supporting others that share the gospel on and individual or mass basis.
    4. While we may not be able to physically travel to destination-x, we can—should—must—support it with our prayers (Ps. 127:1; Col. 4:2-4).
    5. Prayer should not be an after-thought or seen as the last resort: "Oh well, there is nothing else that I can do, I guess I could pray."
    6. Prayer should be our priority!
    7. Also, if we do not have the attitude or heart that we should have, admit this to God (He already knows it anyway), and pray for the right attitude. We need to pray for a heart for those who do not know Christ, a genuine love for the lost. God will even give us this too.
  2. There is no sure-fire combination of Scriptures
    1. There is no sure-fire way that is guaranteed to produce certain results every time one witnesses. There is no "just-right" combination of, or usage of, passages and/or arguments that works every time, that is, with a guaranteed instant conversion.
    2. Trust God—He is working, whether you feel like He is or not, or see any visible signs that He is (Isa. 55:11; John 16:8-11).
    3. Thus, be patient and don’t despair (2 Pet. 3:9).
  3. Do not speak Christianese—slang!
    1. Washed in the Blood…
    2. Raptured out of Here…
    3. In the Flesh…
    4. Die to Self…
    5. Walking in the Spirit…
    6. These are great Christian truths but will not be understood by non-Christians. Thus, watch your language. Do not speak Christianese to non-Christians!
    7. Like any good missionary (1) learn what is important to the person or people you are trying to reach, (2) how to best communicate what you want to convey to them!
  4. It’s Not Up to You!
    1. Trust God!
    2. Relax!
    3. The work or "burden" is not yours or on you.
    4. You cannot do it!
    5. You’re not closing a sales deal!
    6. You’re not a salesperson closing a sale or deal, or having to meet your quota or else (or God will be upset with you if you don’t "produce").
    7. Again, relax and enjoy!
      1. Start with and share what you do know about the gospel.
      2. Enjoy, it’s a blast, a responsibility too, yes, but a privilege as well. It’s fun sensing and seeing God working through us.
      3. God is pleased with you that you are sharing the gospel in the first place, period!
  5. Only the Holy Spirit can enable a person to believe in or trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!
    1. God draws them to Himself!
    2. The Holy Spirit, working through the word of God, draws or leads people to a saving faith in Jesus.
    3. See, e.g., John 1:13; 6:44, 65; Romans 9:16; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:8-10
    4. It’s not our job and we cannot do it anyway! It’s not our job to try to convict or convince anyone, but to simply present the message (Matt. 28:19; John 16:8-10; Rom. 10:14-15; 2 Cor. 5:19-20).
    5. Thus, do not give up or despair. God loves them (even more than we do)!
  6. Five Factors Why People Reject the Gospel
    1. Spiritual: 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 2:1-5
    2. Emotional: E.g., Family Ties (e.g., Mormonism, Orthodox Judaism)
    3. Ethical: "Sleeping" with Someone
    4. Economic: E.g., White Collar Crime
    5. Eclectic: All the Above!
  7. Spiritual Warfare
    1. You are involved in spiritual warfare (Acts 26:17-18; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; Eph. 6:10-12-18; Col. 1:13; 1 Th. 2:18).
    2. Never, never, never forget this.
    3. It is not just an issue of reading the Bible, logic, or simple persuasion.
  8. Do not take it so personal!
    1. If they "reject" you (unless you’re really obnoxious or offensive) it is because they are rejecting the One you represent (Matt. 10:24-40; 1 John 4:5-6).
    2. See John 15:18-25; 17:14-15!
    3. If they reject Jesus it is not per se a personal referendum on you or your popularity.
    4. See it for what it really is—the ultimate spiritual contest (Matt. 13:1-23) and do not retaliate or strike out or back in anger because you are offended or hurt (remember Matt. 10:24-25).
  9. Go for it!
    1. Ephesians  6:10-18
    2. Philippians 4:13
    3. Hebrews 13:20-21
    4. Philemon 1:6
    5. Matthew 9:35-38!

Copyright ©1999 Craig S. Hawkins. All Rights Reserved.
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