HOW’S IT GOING?
Matthew 28:16-20
Getting
unstuck by obeying The Great Commission.
CONNECT
How’s it going? This is a common greeting among
friends. This morning I want us to hear Jesus asking, “How’s it going?”
Illustration
Last week we started talking about how to get unstuck in
your Christian life. We looked at Micah 6:8. We learned three keys to get us
moving again:
Do what is right.
Be faithful to our
commitments.
Humble ourselves to God.
TRANSITION
Today we want to look at some things Jesus said would get us
out of the ditch and on the road again.
Jesus said,
John 6:63 (NKJV) It is the Spirit who
gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The (rhema) words that I speak to you
are spirit, and they are life.
TEXT
Matthew 28:16-20 (NKJV) Then the
eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had
appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me
in heaven and on earth. 19 Go 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.” Amen.
Background and Context
This passage is often called “The Great Commission”. There are
versions of it in all the Gospels, and each one gives some different
details.
These are among the last words Jesus would speak to His
disciples. All of His words are important, but the last instructions are
very important.
Illustration
Going on a trip and talking to your grown children about
what needs to be done!
HOW THIS VERSE AFFECTS US
One of the biggest reasons we get stuck is that we lose
connection with the purpose and meaning in our life. Disappointments come and
we begin to wonder and wander: wonder what God is up to and wander from our
life’s purpose.
This verse focuses our purpose. This is why we are on the
earth. I can tell you this morning on the authority of God’s Word, this is
your reason for living!
1. TWO PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS
All authority is given unto me...
Jesus demonstrated authority in His…
Teaching (Matthew 7:29)
Healing (Matthew 8:1-13)
Forgiving (Matthew 9:6)
Defeating Satan (Matthew 10:1)
He delegated that authority to His Apostles…
Matthew 10:1 (NKJV) And when He had
called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to
cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Luke 10:18-20 (NKJV) And He said to
them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the
authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the
enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in
this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your
names are written in heaven.”
Now it has been delegated to us!
Daniel 7:27 (NKJV) Then the kingdom
and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall
be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.
We do not have to live in fear. We can go in the very
power and authority of Jesus. He restored to us the dominion that God
gave us in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 1:26 (NKJV) Then God said,
“Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the
cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the
earth.”
Genesis 1:28 (NKJV) Then God blessed them,
and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it;
have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over
every living thing that moves on the earth.”
This includes Satan!
GO
Most people think that this is the command in this passage,
but it is not. This word is really a participle. Now don’t fret
because you slept in English class in school, the word means…
As you go… In your going…
Jesus has used it before
Matthew 10:5-8 (NKJV) These twelve
Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the
Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The
kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
HOW DO WE DO THAT?
How did Jesus do it?
Acts 10:38 (NKJV) God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and
healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
1. Jesus was anointed and
filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. He went about His life
looking for everyone the devil was working on.
He wants us to do the same thing!
Luke 24:49 (NKJV) Behold, I send the
Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are
endued with power from on high.
1. Get somewhere and seek
God’s anointing and power!
Acts 1:8 (NKJV) But you shall receive
power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me
in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
2. Start looking for those
the devil is working on!
Spreading the Gospel is the definitive sign of being filled
with the Holy Spirit!
Illustration
Walk around with your antennae up!
1. To the people in need.
Matthew 9:35-38 (NKJV) Then Jesus went
about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the
people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them,
because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He
said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are
few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His
harvest.”
2. To the God Who is
there.
John 5:19 (NKJV) Then Jesus answered
and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of
Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also
does in like manner.
John 12:49 (NKJV) For I have not
spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what
I should say and what I should speak.
2. MAKE DISCIPLES
Explain the Text
This is the verb, the action word, in this passage. It is a
command…
Make disciples! This is the commission Jesus gave us!
This is our purpose in life!
Illustration
If you are disappointed and discouraged, get out and find
someone to minister to!
3. TWO COMPONENTS OF DISCIPLESHIP
BAPTIZING
Leading people to Christ.
Leading them to church.
Illustration
The most powerful weapon you have is your testimony!
What’s your story?
Be able to give it in 2 minutes
or less.
TEACHING
Teaching what? All things Jesus commanded… And is
commanding…
What has Jesus said to you? What
is He saying to you?
This is what you teach!
Illustration
A good friend of mine used to ask me, and everyone else,
when he saw us, “What is God doing in your life right now?” Or, “What is the last thing God said to you?”
Bring our testimony up to date!
Application
Now let’s put it all together so you can go out this week
and live it.
1. Don’t be afraid. Jesus
is with you
2. As you go, be aware of
those the devil is working on.
3. Make disciples by
sharing the Good News with those you encounter.
4. Lead them to church.
5. Help them walk like you
walk.
A PROMISE
Jesus says “I am with you! Doing the work!”
Mark 16:19-20 (NKJV) So then, after
the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at
the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord
working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
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