The Great Commission
Part 3 – Jesus Travels through Galilee
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org : www.TruthDigest.org
WELCOME
Jesus has just finished the Sermon on the Mount. He and his Disciples and Apostles begin to travel from Galilee to Capernaum.
On the way they ran into the Centurions servants, where Jesus heals one of them.
He then has dinner in a Pharisees home where He was anointed by a sinful woman who had repented.
Jesus then returns to Galilee preaching along the way.
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 8:1 – 3 The Gospel
“1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
INTRODUCTION TO SERMON
Jesus, the Disciples and Apostles, left Capernaum and the home of the Pharisee where Jesus was anointed by the sinful woman who repented, and they traveled back to Galilee and Jesus preached the Good News.
As we work towards the Great Commission given to us by Christ, you will se many examples that He has lived for us, so that we may know what we are to do.
He did not simply command from on High and watch.
He came, and lived what He asks us to live.
Then He went to prepare a place for us, and while He is there, we have the Holy Spirit residing within us to strengthen us for our task.
I. GO AND PREACH THE GOOD NEWS
a. The Great Commission by example
Matthew 28:18 – 20
“And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All the power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to obey all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen.”
Why did Jesus have all the power (or authority)?
When did Jesus say this to the Apostles? 40 days after He rose from the dead.
It’s because He paid the debt of mankind, that authority was restored to Him.
That authority was taken from man because of the fall.
Because of the Cross, sin no longer ruled over those who belonged to the Kingdom through Jesus Christ.
b. Go into all the World
Jesus, as He commanded the Apostles in the Great commission, says, Go ye therefore into all the world.
We see that is exactly what Jesus did in our scripture reading today.
Every village and every town, all the way back to Galilee.
His love for the lost was not hindered by their unbelief, nor their hatred.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
c. Proclaim the Good News
What was the Good News? The Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is;
A. Why we need the Good News of Jesus Christ?
a. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23
b. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. – 1 John 1:8
c. know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. – Galatians 2:16
B. What is the cost of sin?
a. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord - Romans 6:23
b. Not just death of our un-redeemable flesh, but an eternal death for our everlasting souls. For this reason, Gehenna was created, as a place to hold the everlasting souls of those who do not belong to the Kingdom of God.
C. When do we pay the debt we owe?
a. Remember the parable in Luke 7 about the debt that could not be paid that was cancelled? Jesus has cancelled our debt.
b. This debt will be collected on Judgment Day. If you have not accepted the FREE gift from Jesus Christ, then you still owe your debt.
c. If you do not belong to the Lord, you will have to pay your debt, which is, eternity in Gehenna.
D. How do we RECEIVE the FREE gift?
a. Confess that you sin against God. You OWE a debt.
b. Repent of that sin. Turn away from, stop doing it!
i. Do you truly wanting forgiveness if you continue living in sin?
ii. Committing a sin / living in sin
iii. Paul was living in sin as he condemned and killed Christians. But he REPENTED when Jesus appeared to him, he STOPPED killing Christians. Forgiveness ONLY comes through REPENTANCE.
iv. Did Paul ever sin after he was converted? Yes. But he did not LIVE in those sins, asking forgiveness and repenting.
c. Submit to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
i. What is submitting to Jesus?
1. He tells us to obey all He commands.
2. He tells us to be baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (This is NOT the baptism of John).
3. Walk in the Spirit, not your flesh.
II. WOMEN IN THE MINISTRY
a. Mary Magdalene, Joanna wife of Cuza, Susanna And many others.
III. Supporting the ministry out of their own means
a. Why did the Lord need support?
i. Out of their wealth, and abilities they took care of Jesus and the Apostles and other Disciples.
b. He ministered only to others
One may ask: Couldn’t Jesus take care of Himself?
The Devil tried to get Jesus to take care of Himself in the desert after 40 days of fasting. He told Him to turn a rock into bread so He could eat.
But Jesus did NOTHING for Himself while He was here, everything He did was for others out of Love, He never acted in selfishness.
Jesus’ whole life and ministry was to be and do for others.
i. Fed 5,000
With the few fish others gave.
ii. Healed
Straightened crooked limbs.
Gave sight to blind eyes.
Cast out demons.
iii. Raised others from the dead
Raised Lazarus.
Many others.
iv. BUT, did not minister to Himself after 40 days of fasting
Did not turn a stone into bread.
v. Did not save Himself from the beatings
vi. Did not save Himself from the Cross
c. His example teaches us that we must care for others, not ourselves
Jesus said in Matthew, the birds do not think of what they are to eat or drink, or where they shall sleep. Your Father in heaven cares for them. How much more does your Father care for you?
But how can He care for you if you do not want to belong to His kingdom?
There was uproar when the California government said it would offer free health care to illegal immigrants, while millions in the US who are tax paying citizens could not receive that very same treatment.
This seems ludicrous, yet, no one seems to think it strange when those who do not belong to God’s Kingdom want the benefits and blessings of God’s Kingdom.
How can God be your Father in Heaven if you are not His child?
How can He take care of you as His child if you do not belong to Him?
When you are His child, and He is your Father in heaven, He will look after you.
Jesus said, “Who asks his father for bread and receives a stone? If a father on earth knows how to do good for his child, how much more would your Father in heaven who is perfect do?”
We live for others.
i. Together (not alone) we are the Body of Christ
With Spiritual Gifts from the Holy Spirit given to us so that we may care for others in the body, using our gifts to BUILD and STRENGTHEN others.
ii. Love your neighbor as yourself
We are told to love your neighbor as yourself. When we love God, we love others as well.
iii. Neighbor does not mean your brother in Christ
As for loving your brother, the scriptures say, “Anyone who says he loves God, yet hates his brother is a liar, for the love of God is not in him.”
Loving others is a must.
d. What you do to the least of these, you do unto me.
Jesus reminds us all that what we do for the least among the people, we are doing to Jesus Himself.
CLOSING
Are you sharing the Gospel everywhere you go?
You should be.
Are you loving your neighbors as yourselves?
If you do not want to end in hell, love your neighbor enough to share the Good News with them as well.
Are you loving your brother as you love God?
If not, if you have hate for your brother or sister in Christ, you have a problem. The bible says clearly you cannot hate a brother or sister in Christ and be loving God.
Are you living for others as Jesus did?
If you do, your Father in heaven will care for you and your needs.
Is God your Father? Do you belong to His Kingdom?
If not, you need to take care of that today, right now.
Call on the name of the Lord and be saved!
Confess you have sinned against God, and repent!
And God will send His Holy Spirit to fill you and dwell within you and He will change your life and give you a promise of everlasting glory in heaven with Jesus Christ, your Lord.
