W.W.J.D. (What Would Jesus Desire)
Tonight’s sermon is about a subject we all should be concerned about and that’s what our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ desire of us. We use the phrase "What Would Jesus Do" all the time. It’s become a T-shirt, a bumper sticker, a logo on hats, but we never ask what does Jesus desire of us. The Bible tells us what Jesus would do so why are we wasting our time asking what He would do?
Turn with me to Matthew 28:16-20. Matthew 28:16-20 says, "16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 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."
This particular passage of scripture is known as "The Great Commission." You see in this passage of scripture, Jesus tells us what He expects or desires of us. Let’s take a closer look at verses 19 and 20. "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."
We are to teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Today this passage of scripture holds truer than ever. Jesus was telling us the future of the church. You see back then spreading the Word of God wasn’t as easy as it is today. They had no cars and had to walk from city to city spreading the Word. Today we have the World Wide Web, television, and radio therefore making it easier to spread to fulfill this Great Commission of Jesus Christ. You see now we can literally teach all nations. We can make disciples with all over the world without even leaving the comfort of our own homes but don’t let this luxury prevent you from going out into the world.
You see Jesus Desires, no he requires us to go out and make disciples. We are to be a living testimony to His Word. What is a disciple? The dictionary says that a disciple is — a student, learner, or pupil. In the Bible the word is used most often to refer to a follower of Jesus. The word is rarely used in the Old Testament. Isaiah used the term "disciples" to refer to those who are taught or instructed (Is. 8:16). The word disciple is sometimes used in a more specific way to indicate the twelve apostles of Jesus (Matt. 10:1; 11:1; 20:17; Luke 9:1). In general, apostles refers to a small, inner group of Jesus’ followers; disciples refers to a larger group of Jesus’ followers, such as the women who stood at Jesus’ cross and discovered the empty tomb. So here we see that we are all disciples and therefore in the Great Commission Jesus was talking to all of us.
Now let’s back up to verse 17. "When they saw Him, they worshiped Him." What do we do when we worship? We bow down in awe and pay divine honors to God in humble, reverent homage. So here we see we are to not only go out and make disciples, but first, we are to worship our God. To properly worship our Lord we are to understand the three essentials in worship; they are:
(1) Faith, "The people believed;… then they bowed their heads and worshiped"(Exodus 4:31)
(2) Spirit, "Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth"(John 4:23, 24). Spiritual worship is worship directed by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Phillipians 3:3)
(3) Truth, "Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). You see Jesus Christ is truth, " I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Therefore, there can be no pretense or hypocrisy in true worship. The parable of the Pharisee and the publican illustrates true and false worship (Luke 18:9-14). The publican worshiped in truth and went home justified. The Pharisee worshiped in religious pride and he went home rejected.
Second, we the church are to work. The bible says, " For from you the Word of the Lord was sounded forth" (1 Thessalonians 1:8). The church in Thessalonica did the work of the Lord so well that the apostles did not to have to evangelize Macedonia and Achaia. The church shared its faith with the lost, and after all, that is the main work of the church. In this way, " for two years…all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks" (Acts 19:8-10). All of Asia did not journey to Ephesus to hear Paul. It is evident that the believers went everywhere sharing the gospel. The work of the church is to go with the gospel, because:
(1) The church is commissioned to work (Matthew 28:18-20).
(2) The church is to work with Christ (2 Corinthians 6:1) and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32).
(3) The church is to work with Christ in His field(the world)(Matthew 13:36-43; also Mark 16:15)
(4) The need for the church to work is great(John 4:35)
(5) The time for the church to work is now(2 Corinthians 6:2)
(6) The church is to work until Jesus comes to judge the works of the saints(2 Corinthians 5:10)
(7) The church will be rewarded for its works (1 Corinthians 3:9-15). God’s program for the local church is COME AND WORSHIP, GO AND WORK (witness)(Acts 8:1-4)
So, ask yourself what it is that Jesus requires of us? "What Would Jesus Desire" the church to do? Better yet ask yourself what would Jesus require of you to do.
