The Jesus Mission

Matt 28:19-20

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Acts 1:8

you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Dose anyone have a will?  What is the role of the executor of that will?

In both verses these are among the last words of Jesus and they are the marching orders not just for the Apostles but for all the Church.  In effect, these words are last will and testament of Jesus for His church.  All of us that have been redeemed by His name are the executors of that will.

In the western church we have become self centered where Jesus loves me has led to the belief that it’s all about me.  As a result, we have obey Jesus’ commands selectively depending on what benefits us.

So, for example, when we read these Scriptures we think to ourselves that those commands are for someone else, for someone who is called to do that.

On the other hand, when we read the following verses, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:28-30), we hold on onto them as personal promises.

We hold unto the privileges but we dismiss the obligations as being meant for someone else.

Once a year most churches hold a missions week.  We invite people who are “called” to the mission field to share stories of what God is doing in foreign lands and we decide if we are going to write a check to support them and if so, for how much.  All the time breathing a sigh of relief that God didn’t call us to do what they are doing.

I know, I know, different people have different gifts and not everyone is called to move to a third world country to minister the Gospel.  Besides, what about the needs here?

Pause.

That would be a great excuse except for the fact that most of us are doing little to impact our own back yard for Christ.  How many of you actually know your neighbors by name?  Have you shared the love of Christ with them?  What about your relatives; your co-workers?

Most of us think we’re doing pretty good if we make it to church on Sunday and catch a mid-week service. We are fulfilling our religious duty.  Some of us might even listen to Christian radio or watch preachers on TV during the week.  We hear the challenges that any good preacher puts out there and we cheer them on, “Yeah, preach it brother, you tell ‘em” as if it were meant for someone else.

Am I being too harsh?

After all, it must be God’s will that He has us living in the greatest nation on earth?  He wants us to enjoy our creature comforts doesn’t He?

Matt 16:24-25

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

That doesn’t sound like a call to a life of comfort to me, does it?  No, Christ has called all us, not just a special few to join Him in His mission.

The first part of His mission is to make disciples.  This means everyone.  This means representing Christ in peoples’ lives on a daily basis. This is called lifestyle evangelism.  It is more than just being involved in people’s lives, it is walking the walk, it is sharing with them what Jesus has done for you.

Let me clear up a misconception.  Most of us think that the goal of evangelism is to make converts.  That is not our job.  Our job is to make disciples.  Disciples are people that you are sharing your faith with and are at all stage of the faith journey.  Some of them have not asked Christ into their hearts but they are a part of your life and they are listening to what you are sharing with them.  Some of them are ready to surrender to Christ and so it is your responsibility to ask them the question.  The results are up to the Lord.  Still others have surrender their live to the Lord and you are now bringing them up in the Word.  That is discipling.  Jesus invested Himself in the lives of 12 men for 3 years.  11 followed Him and one betrayed Him.  The job does not stop at conversion.

This is the second part of Jesus’ Mission. In Native American lore if you save a man’s life then you are responsible for that man’s life.  It is the same way with us if we lead someone to Christ then we are responsible to bring the person along in their Christian walk.  We are to baptize them so that they give witness to the change that has taken place in their hearts and we are to teach them to obey His commands.

John 13:34-35

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

This sounds simple enough, but this command means that we are to dedicate ourselves to a life of sacrifice, a life of service to others because this is how Christ loved us; He gave His life for us.

The third part of the Jesus mission is to go to all the nations, first in “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

This means that while we are to start in our own back yard it doesn’t stop there.  It also entails our greater regional area on to our enemies and then all the way to what we know consider the mission field.  This is the calling to all of us not just those specially called.

Yes, we all have different giftings, but what that means is that, together as the body of Christ with all our gifts working in concert we are to impact the world for Christ.