Three All's
Matthew 28:18-20
Suppose we were to buy a new car. Very few do this, but suppose that we take the instruction manual and read it, paraphrase it, write a commentary on it, and make an outline of the material. We might even set it to poetry and put it to music and even sing about it. We may even sit in the car and admire the beautiful craftsmanship and relax in its reclining seat while listening to the Dolby surround sound radio. But now suppose we never take the car out. We never drive it or put it to use. What good would the car be? No matter how beautiful, or how comfortable, it would be useless to us and we would never be identified with the car. To get somewhere with the car we must get in it and drive it. A lot of people are that way when it comes to discipleship. They read about it from God's Word, they may even sing about it; but few truly put it into action. In 1994, the Barna Research Group found that among American adults who said that they were "born again," seventy-five percent couldn't even define the Great Commission. Sadly, 95% of all Christians have never won a soul to Christ let alone discipled anyone; more than 80% of all Christians do not regularly witness for Christ. Discipleship is summed up in the Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20. Here Christ makes it clear that it is all our responsibility to make disciples of all people. In the Great Commission, Christ emphasized the small word "all" three times to convey important truths about the mission He has entrusted to us as His disciples - All Power, All Nations, All Things.
I ALL Power
A. Verse 18 - "“ALL POWER has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
B. Two Greek words are used in the New Testament; dunamis from which we get words like dynamite, dynamic, and dynamo, and exousia which denotes permission or right, privilege, control: it is the right to command and enforce obedience.
C. Jesus Christ in declaring He had been given "All Power" declared that He possessed the divine attribute of Omnipotence (Latin for all power).
D. His Authority and Power is sufficient to prevail over ALL MY INIQUITIES.
1. Psalm 65:3 "When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgression."
2. There is an intended contrast made by the Psalmist in these two clauses, which are more pointed and emphatic in the original than in our English Bible. They call attention to man’s impotence and God’s power in the face of the fact of sin. The first clause might be translated, with perhaps a little increase of vividness, ‘When my iniquities are too strong for me’; and the next clause ‘as for our transgressions which we cannot touch, ‘you shall purge them away.’
3. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
4. Understand There is no sin so great that Christ can’t forgive it. There is no sin that has so chains so great that Christ cannot unshackle.
5. 1 John 1:9 " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.
6. In Mark's Gospel we have the account of a paralytic man who friends sought to bring to Christ for healing. In verse 4 of chapter 2, we pick up the narrative, "And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:4-12 ESV)
E. His Authority and Power is sufficient to prevail over ALL MY INCAPACITY
1. So often we are at a loss as to what we are to do and how we are to carry out what God is calling us to do.
2. Jeremiah 10:23 "I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.
3. God mocks man's power. He laughs at our egotistical efforts at being good. He never uses the high and mighty but, instead, uses the weak things of this world to confound the wise. - Wilkerson, God Can Use You In Spite Of Your Weaknesses
4. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chose the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; And the base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not... That no flesh should glory in his presence"
5. When God gives you a mission to carry out , then God has or will also give you the gifts you need to carry out your mission.
6. 2 Corinthians 12:9 " But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
7. An African proverb says, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night in a closed room with a mosquito.” When we focus on ourselves — our faults, weaknesses and limitations — we may conclude, logically enough, that we are insignificant. Then again, look at the people God has used to make a difference in the world. For example, when God told Moses that he would use him to liberate Israel, Moses replied, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10). But God reminded Moses that, as Creator, He was more than capable of helping him. God used David, who was the youngest in his family, to conquer the Philistines and become the great king of Israel. He used Peter, who was fickle and unfaithful, to become the lead apostle in the early church. God chooses people and circumstances so simple, weak and ordinary so that we know God alone is the one who changes our lives and the world. - adapted from Your Bible Connection eNewsletter
F. His Authority and Power is sufficient to prevail over ALL IMPEDIMENTS
1. “Nothing, no matter how severe, can happen for which God does not also provide a way out, because God’s grace will always prevail.” - copied
2. Hebrews 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
3. The Biblical word “power” is the ability to bring to completion something that might even be hindered or impeded in various ways. In the days of Jesus, the Roman Emperor had the authority to send the Roman legions from one point in the empire to another (he did not, however, have the authority to send a legion into the city of Rome itself); the legions had within their ranks the power to carry out the Emperor’s orders by overcoming any and all obstacles in their way. Nothing could stop the legions when they were on the march. (- Colson) In like manner Christ has given us the mission to carry out His orders overcoming any and all obstacles and impediments in our way.
G. His Authority and power is sufficient for me to carry out ALL HIS IMPERATIVES.
1. As we have already alluded to if God gives you a mission He will provide everything you need to carry out that mission.
2. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
3. Through Jesus Christ you can do everything God wants you to do this year. You can face everything he wants you to face, you can fight every battle he wants you to fight, you can obey every command, you can endure every trial, and you can overcome every temptation through Jesus Christ. (Pritchard, Philippians 4:13: One Word You Shouldn't Say In 1993)
4. 1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
II ALL Nations
A. Our commission is to go not to sit.
B. John 20:21 “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
C. In His divine Jesus commands us to go. It is His authority that sends us, His authority that guides us, and His authority that empowers us.
D. Verse 19 - After saying all authority has been given to Him Christ commands, "Go therefore and make disciples of ALL THE NATIONS"
E. Mark 16:15 "And He said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
F. This is our mission to make followers of Christ and to “make disciples” both intentionally and as we are going about our daily lives. Our mission and ministry is wherever we find ourselves at the moment, whether it be at work, on vacation, in a restaurant or in the family. Christian parents are to make disciples of their children. Christian employers are to make disciples of their employees. Employees are to make disciples of their fellow employees. All believers are called to extend the call to discipleship to the unbelievers in their lives. - copied
G. The statistics of the unreached people of the world are staggering:
1. 865 million unreached Muslims or Islamic followers in 3330 cultural sub-groupings
2. 550 million unreached Hindus in 1660 cultural sub-groups
3. 150 million unreached Chinese in 830 groups
4. 275 million unreached Buddhists in 900 groups
5. 2550 unreached tribal groups (which are mainly animistic) with a total population of 140 million
6. a smaller - though important - unreached group are the 17 million Jews scattered across 134 countries
7. There are also many of our neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers, classmates, and those who serve us in restaurants, stores, etc. that may have never heard the Good News of Christ. How many unreached lives are there in your community?
H. But it is not enough for us to reach them with the message of salvation, we are commanded to make disciples of them.
I. Disciples are not spontaneously created at conversion; they are the product of a process involving other believers. - Guzik
J. Jesus came to save all men, He bare the sins of all on the accursed tree, He paid the price for all through His death, He would have all hear the Gospel, He desires that men, women, boys and girls from all four corners of the world would become His disciples.
K. What is a disciple?
1. According to Merriam-Webster 's Dictionary - one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another
2. Biblically - a disciple is someone who, by grace, has turned from their sin and in faith turned to Christ, and who learns from Christ to live like Him, and by God’s power and grace, conforms his or her words and actions to the words and will of Jesus seeking to have others become Christ's disciples.
III All Things
A. " teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you"
B. In Acts 8, we read of an Ethiopian eunuch, who had traveled to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. While returning home in his chariot, he was reading a copy of the writings of the prophet Isaiah when Philip, a disciple of Christ, met him. Philip asked the Ethiopian: “Do you actually know what you are reading?” The man replied: “How could I ever do so, unless someone guided me?” His comment is crucial for he needed a guide, someone to lead the way for him. That is the job of a disciple - to be a discipler. We are commanded to teaching the Word of God.
C. There is nothing in the teachings of the New Testament that is not included in the "teach them to observe all that I have commanded you."
D. The followers of Jesus are responsible to present the whole counsel of God to those who are made disciples. But we have not been commanded to simply present the teachings of Christ. Jesus’ was careful in the choice of words He used. Note, he did not merely say: ‘Teach them all the things I have commanded you.’ Rather, he said: ‘Teach them to observe all the things I have commanded you.’
E. To observe a command means to “conform one’s action” to a command—to obey, or keep, it.
F. God has established a pass-along principle.
G. 2 Timothy 2:2 "...what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
