"All Authority" to Go and Make Disciples
“All Authority” to Go and Make Disciples
Last week we were confronted with any unbelief and doubt regarding who Jesus is and the truth of His resurrection. If Jesus has not risen, our faith is futile. Any unbelief in this truth is good indication that one is not of Christ and Christ does not live in him/her. We saw that Jesus “rebuked” his disciples of unbelief before He could command them to go make disciples.
Today, we look at what Jesus told the disciples regarding who is sending them and the “authority” He has. Here is our text under study: Matthew 28:16-20:
"16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go [c]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, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [d]Amen.”
The word “authority” in the dictionary says: 1. “The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience;” 2. “A person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative, sphere.”
No human (king, president, governor, etc.) has absolute authority. But the risen Christ has absolute “all authority.” Jesus is not saying I have some authority but all authority. Jesus also defines the sphere of his authority, “in heaven and on earth.” Jesus is God period. The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are one. This is the authority and power that created all things and all people and raised Christ from the dead.
Do we really comprehend what Jesus is saying? Christ is say, “I am the creator, I died, I was buried, I have risen and I have the keys to the Kingdom of God. I have defeated the devil and forever paid for all sins. He is under my feet. You don’t have anything to fear, therefore “go and make disciples of all the nations.” And I give all who believe eternal life"
Jesus goes on to further define the sphere of his authority – “all nations.” Without exception, all nations (people groups) are under Christ’s authority. It is a global gospel that we have been entrusted with. He is a global Jesus and not an American, Western, or Jewish Jesus.
Jesus has the power to give the gospel command and to enforce obedience to the great commission of “go and make disciples.” With this kind of understanding of the “Sender”, we are guaranteed success in the mission. His authority and power will make disciple. Our responsibility is to “go” and be obedient.
Jesus, in those last hours before ascension, repeated his command and said, “8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [c]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8.
Jesus did not just command, he backed up his authority by releasing His power to His disciples and to the present church. Acts 2:1-4:
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
We have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit with us to obey Jesus in going and making disciples. We have no excuse unless we do not believe the words of Jesus and the reality of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, his followers and disciples. Lord, help us to obey out of love for you.
With all the authority and power of God within us and with us, let’s go forth and make disciples and be witnesses to Jesus; of who He is and what He has done in our lives by cleansing us from all sin. This is worth saying to this dark world that is swimming in sin. Jesus is the only answer to the whole world and to its dysfunctions which are manifestations of sin. All have sinned. All need Jesus, the Savior and the Lord.
Next week, we will look into the practical of the going and the making of disciples. What does Jesus mean by “baptizing them” and “teaching them to observe”. Making disciples is a command not a suggestion to all believers.
Again, who can you love, pray for and tell about the love of Jesus today, this week, this month and this year? We must be intentional, otherwise, nothing happens. Let’s go in the power and authority of Jesus. Amen. What is at stake? People will go to hell if they don’t hear and believe in Jesus the Savior. Are we bothered? Let’s do something.
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
Jesus has sent us. Let us Go......
PS:
This mini series on the Great commission are some of my reflections in a book I have written that will be published very soon. The title of the book is : "From Incestuous Christianity to Making Disciples: At Least One Sunday a Month." Please stay tuned and look for the book. Thank you!
Last week we were confronted with any unbelief and doubt regarding who Jesus is and the truth of His resurrection. If Jesus has not risen, our faith is futile. Any unbelief in this truth is good indication that one is not of Christ and Christ does not live in him/her. We saw that Jesus “rebuked” his disciples of unbelief before He could command them to go make disciples.
Today, we look at what Jesus told the disciples regarding who is sending them and the “authority” He has. Here is our text under study: Matthew 28:16-20:
"16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go [c]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, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [d]Amen.”
The word “authority” in the dictionary says: 1. “The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience;” 2. “A person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative, sphere.”
No human (king, president, governor, etc.) has absolute authority. But the risen Christ has absolute “all authority.” Jesus is not saying I have some authority but all authority. Jesus also defines the sphere of his authority, “in heaven and on earth.” Jesus is God period. The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are one. This is the authority and power that created all things and all people and raised Christ from the dead.
Do we really comprehend what Jesus is saying? Christ is say, “I am the creator, I died, I was buried, I have risen and I have the keys to the Kingdom of God. I have defeated the devil and forever paid for all sins. He is under my feet. You don’t have anything to fear, therefore “go and make disciples of all the nations.” And I give all who believe eternal life"
Jesus goes on to further define the sphere of his authority – “all nations.” Without exception, all nations (people groups) are under Christ’s authority. It is a global gospel that we have been entrusted with. He is a global Jesus and not an American, Western, or Jewish Jesus.
Jesus has the power to give the gospel command and to enforce obedience to the great commission of “go and make disciples.” With this kind of understanding of the “Sender”, we are guaranteed success in the mission. His authority and power will make disciple. Our responsibility is to “go” and be obedient.
Jesus, in those last hours before ascension, repeated his command and said, “8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [c]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8.
Jesus did not just command, he backed up his authority by releasing His power to His disciples and to the present church. Acts 2:1-4:
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
We have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit with us to obey Jesus in going and making disciples. We have no excuse unless we do not believe the words of Jesus and the reality of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, his followers and disciples. Lord, help us to obey out of love for you.
With all the authority and power of God within us and with us, let’s go forth and make disciples and be witnesses to Jesus; of who He is and what He has done in our lives by cleansing us from all sin. This is worth saying to this dark world that is swimming in sin. Jesus is the only answer to the whole world and to its dysfunctions which are manifestations of sin. All have sinned. All need Jesus, the Savior and the Lord.
Next week, we will look into the practical of the going and the making of disciples. What does Jesus mean by “baptizing them” and “teaching them to observe”. Making disciples is a command not a suggestion to all believers.
Again, who can you love, pray for and tell about the love of Jesus today, this week, this month and this year? We must be intentional, otherwise, nothing happens. Let’s go in the power and authority of Jesus. Amen. What is at stake? People will go to hell if they don’t hear and believe in Jesus the Savior. Are we bothered? Let’s do something.
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
Jesus has sent us. Let us Go......
PS:
This mini series on the Great commission are some of my reflections in a book I have written that will be published very soon. The title of the book is : "From Incestuous Christianity to Making Disciples: At Least One Sunday a Month." Please stay tuned and look for the book. Thank you!
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