" Let's Go On And Go If We Are Going" The Great Commision

“Let’s go on and go if we’re going”

Matthew 28:18-20

Acts 1:1-11

Ya’ll know that I love the movie Lonesome dove

And if you have been here any time at all you also know that I have seen it more times

Than is probably considered healthy

You also know if you have spent any time with me outside of church

That I quote from the movie often

It amazes me that I can’t remember important things

But little bits of trivia

And movie quotes just stick in my head like they are made of glue

When leaving for a trip

I often say

Well let’s just go on and go if we are going

This comes as some of you may know

From Lonesome dove

Gus is ready to go to Montana

Call wants to gather a few more cows

Gus says

As only Gus can

Woodrow

We have enough cows to stock five ranches

Let’s just go on and go if we are going

And go they did

This was the start of an epic adventure

That still makes an impact today almost 30 years later

Today

I want to continue our study of Easter

And more specifically the resurrection of Jesus

Even more specifically

I want to

Look at our reactions and responses to the resurrection

And look at What Jesus expects of those he willingly gave his life for

And the impact it has 2000years later

Recapping just a bit

We know that Jesus was falsely accused

Illegally tried

Beaten and tortured

And then brutally killed

For sins and crimes

That he did not commit

We know he was taken and placed in a borrowed tomb

And that 3 days later

He was resurrected

We saw the women’s reactions on Easter morning

His disciple’s reactions that same day

And last week the response of two of his followers as he met with them where they were

We saw them go from heartbroken and doubting

To seeking and finding Jesus

To having a burning desire to serve

They went

Remember they ran to tell what they had seen

That’s where we pick up today

After Jesus was raised from the dead

He remained on earth for 40 days

Appearing to many people

God’s word says over 500

Jesus Christ

Our risen Lord

Ate with his followers

And continued to teach them

He gave his closest companions intense training for what they must do once he left

And

In doing so

He gave marching orders to all who would believe

That is us – the believers

The All

Please open your bibles to Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus gives us our commission

Our job assignment if you will

Here in this verse and then he continue

It in Acts 1 just prior to his ascension

If you have spent any time here at Caney Creek

This verse should be marked in your bible

If not

Please make it now

Matthew 28:18-29

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Let’s go back top Lonesome dove for just a moment

In one scene, the hands are all lollygagging around the fire

And

Dish tells them

Let’s get back to the herd

The Captain don’t take too much of this sitting around

Put yourself in Call’s position

If you hired someone

Would you put up with them?

Sitting in the shade all the time?

Not doing their jobs

If you are anything like me

That would not set well with you

And most likely that person or those people would d be unemployed before the end of the day

Captain Call had the authority to ---hire – fire and give job assignments

With the expectation that what he said would get done

If you hire someone

You have that same authority

So let’s talk about authority

Webster’s dictionary has several definitions for the word authority

Here are just a few

1. the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.

2. The right to act in a specified way, delegated from one person or organization to another.

3. Official permission; sanction

4. A person with extensive or specialized knowledge about a subject; an expert.

Jesus says in verse 18

“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth”

Jesus says

I have the power

The right

The official seal from God

And

The expertise required to have the full authority

No one questioned Call’s authority- he said go and they went