Marching Orders

Marching Orders

(Matthew 28: 18-20)

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 Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Introduction:

When Jesus had finished his earthly ministry and was about to return to His place at the right hand of the Father, He commissioned His disciples and His New Church with the words of our text. We call them, “The Great Commission.” I think that when we begin to understand these verses, we begin to understand what the Church is to be doing. Here, if you will, are marching our orders, (our command to stand in the gap!) I want to point out four truths that are evident about this text.

1. These words are imperative.

I don’t believe Jesus stood there that day and looked off over yonder somewhere and said “well, if you folks can get around to it, you may want to make a few more disciples while you are waiting for My return.” You see, those were His very last words before He went away, His last will and testament. I believe He looked them strait in eye, eyeball to eyeball so to speak, and said, “While you wait for My return, I want you to tell the lost world about me, make disciples. I believe the number one priority of the Church is to tell people about Jesus. The number two priority of the Church is to tell more people about Jesus. I believe, you’ve guessed it; the number three priority of the Church is to tell the whole world about Jesus. I can’t think of any other reason Christ would have left His bride, The Church, in the world to suffer the things we have had to suffer, other than to win this world to Him.

I am alarmed when I read that it took forty-seven, Southern Baptist one year, to win one soul to Jesus. In ’98, ten thousand of our Southern Baptist Churches did not have one baptism. These are old statistics. Someone said, “we have turned the great commission into the great omission.” I think its time rethink our priorities. The late, great Dr. Vance Havner said “a lot of the activities in Churches are about as useless as rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic. Listen, folks ‘if it’s fruitless, it’s useless. Any program in our Churches that does not ultimately, underline ultimately point people to Jesus. and make disciples of them, needs to be reevaluated.

2. Not only are they imperative, the words are personal

The text says, “Therefore, (you) go and (you) make disciples of all the nations.” (Matt. 28:19) Those who remember their Greek better than I, say these words can read,” as you are going.” Wait Jesse are you suggesting that we all go be missionaries. Well, I think we all should be willing if that’s God’s plan for us. Can I say something to you? Until we are willing go next door with the Gospel. We are not ready to go into all the world.

Parents, that home which God has placed you in charge of, that’s your world. You are to make disciples of all your children. Folks, that place where you work, those places where you shop and do business, those friends you hang out with, that’s your world. As you go into your world, you are to make disciples.

3. These words are empowered.

I have made the statement; “I believe I could preach to ten thousand people.” Crowds don’t bother me as long as I have a good solid oak pulpit between them and me. It’s these one-on-one relationships with people that I don’t know that intimate me. I go trying to talk to a stranger, and stumble all over myself. Every time the Spirit tells me to give a personal witness, the devil says, “now, Jesse you know they are not going to understand you, you’re just going make big mess.” I used to go out on soul winning visitation with a pastor and pray we couldn’t find anyone home. Don’t laugh, some you do also, and you don’t even have speech problem.

One of the highlights of our ministry was our work with the Caldwell County Prison Unit, in Hudson N.C. We would go about once a quarter, and I preached to the inmates, and we would experience good fellowship with the men who have become Christians since their incarceration, and hopefully we help them grow spiritually. I would often tell them; I was the only crook in there that got to leave after chapel. They seemed to love my humor.