Page 16 - Florida Sentinel 4-26-19

Religious
Called To Make Disciples MATTHEW 28:16-20; ACTS 1:6-8 (KJV)
Scriptures
Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a moun- tain where Jesus had ap- pointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fa- ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to ob- serve all things whatso- ever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come to- gether, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the sea- sons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the ut- termost part of the earth.
Resurrection Over Doubt
(Matthew 28:16–17) Both Matthew 28 and Acts 1 are Scriptures that record events that took place after the Resurrection. Matthew 28 is basically the first encounter between Jesus and the disciples post-Resurrec- tion. Acts 1 is the last such en- counter. They both carry the same thread of thought: how to keep the movement (later called The Way and eventually the ekklesia or church) going and
growing. Critical to this growth of the movement was the prac- tice of discipleship.
After the traumatic event of Jesus’ crucifixion and death, the disciples had to wonder what they were to do now. Jesus was dead and had not left them any instructions on how to carry on His mission and ministry. More- over, one of His own disciples, Judas, had betrayed Him then hung himself (Matthew 27:5). So when word came for them to gather in Galilee where He would meet them, it had to be an exciting turn of events. When they gathered at the mountain in Galilee, Jesus was there to meet them.
Acts 1:3 tells us this was 40 days after His resurrection dur- ing which time He appeared several times to His disciples.
Upon gazing at their Lord and Savior one more time, the eleven disciples began to wor- ship Him (v. 16). This was spontaneous praise and thanks- giving for the Messiah who had transformed their lives. He was alive! In spite of seeing Christ with their own eyes and wor- shiping Him, a few had doubt creep into their hearts and minds (v. 17).
Sometimes the foundation of our faith can be overcome with thoughts of uncertainty. When we cannot explain the spiritual, we tend to ignore or dismiss it. But the disciples con- tinued to worship Him in spite of their doubts. We have to con- tinue to worship and serve Christ in the midst of our uncer- tainties because our faith will in- crease as we grow spiritually.
Doubt To Disciple Nations (vv. 18–20)
Jesus tells His disciples to go and make disciples of all na- tions. God gave all power and authority to Jesus (v. 18). This means when God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand, He was given power and dominion over all things in heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:20–23). The disciples were under His au- thority and called to make more disciples (v. 19).
The disciples understood what Jesus meant by “making disciples.” He had just done this with them for the past three and a half years. He was telling them to go and do what He had done with them so that other people could also become disciples of Jesus. He told them to teach the new disciples everything He had taught them. This is how disci- ples are made — through teach- ing them what Jesus says and what it means for our daily lives. And this command to make dis- ciples goes to every follower of Christ.
The main purpose of the church is to make disciples. Dis- ciples have to make other disci-
ples until the nations learn the teachings of Christ and how to live accordingly. We are to go teach any person who will listen, regardless of race or nationality, about Jesus. When they accept Him as Lord and Savior, they are to be baptized as a sign of their union and commitment to Christ. And we are to teach them to be devoted to the Word of God (vv. 19–20).
Jesus ended His Great Com- mission with the promise that He will always be with us (v. 20). The disciples may have been puzzled how Jesus would remain with them. But Jesus promised to send His Holy Spirit to be present with them — and us — forever (cf. John 14:16, 26).
Disciple To Witness
(Acts 1:6-8)
Acts 1 continues on the
same theme of discipleship, adding that the disciples would be Jesus’ witnesses in the entire world. Thus, in word and deed, they would testify of the teach- ings and the works of Jesus to the world. Jesus spent forty days after the Resurrection with the disciples teaching them about the kingdom of God. He urged them to remain in Jerusalem to await the coming promise of the Holy Spirit.
While gathered with them on one occasion, the disciples questioned Him about restoring Israel’s kingdom (v. 6). Many Jews thought the Messiah’s coming meant they would be freed from Roman rule and He would be their new king. But Jesus told them these events would happen according to the Father’s timetable, which was a secret. Most importantly, they needed to have the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they went forth to witness for Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the other parts of the world (v. 8). Without the power of God we can do nothing. The Holy Spirit gives us direction and power to act. The word trans- lated “witness” can also be translated “martyr.”
Following Christ happens at a cost. His followers are called to be witnesses and martyrs at the same time. Some will be called to obey even to the death — unto martyrdom — and that is part of the sacrifice that comes with fol- lowing Christ. We are invited to lay down our lives for the sake of His kingdom, and to do this, we need the Holy Spirit’s empower- ment.
When Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples, He was not only speaking to Hus listeners at that time; He was speaking to all his followers, in- cluding us.
The church must not com- promise or forsake its primary mission: to take to a lost and dying world the good news of eternal life available through Jesus.
PAGE 4-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019