GO! What are you waiting for? GO!
Scripture Reference: Matthew 28:19 (KJV)
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Part I
Matthew 8:28-32 (KJV)
Matthew 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished into the waters.
In (verse 28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.) Jesus met two men who were demon possessed.
Some of us are filled with devils too. Somehow we have allowed Satan to enter our spirit to go for a ride and he is taking over. He is insisting on driving. Like these two men the devils are causing us to spend all of our time in dead places around dead people. (The two men were at a tomb)
The devils however, immediately recognize Jesus and were ready to do his will at once (verse 29 - And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?). We have to ask ourselves. Are we truly ready to do the will of God? No matter what he asks us to do. The demons had an unprecedented respect for Jesus. They realized that whatever he said to do that they would have to obey.
Matthew 8:31 - The demons realized that if Jesus were to speak the word for them to be cast out of the men then they would have to move immediately (verse 31 - So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.). They also knew that their fate was death so they begged Jesus for mercy. They begged him to allow them to live in the pigs that were close by.
It is interesting that even though the demons knew that their fate was death they were still ready to obey. God is not asking us to die (physically) he is only asking us to be obedient to the word that he has placed in our hearts.
What is it that is stopping us from being obedient to his word? Although pigs are known to be able to digest anything they were not willing to allow the demons who had already been living in the men to live inside of them.
Major Points
1 Some of us are filled with devils
2 These devils are causing us to spend time in dead places with
dead people
3 The devils know God recognize his voice and they are ready
to do his will
4 The devils respected God
5 The devils knew that Jesus had the power to cast them out
6 The devils knew that their fate was death
7 It wasn’t just one devil but there were plural devils
Part II
Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)
Matthew 28:18 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.
Now that we have looked at how the devils and pigs reacted to the word of God now let’s take a look at the people of God react when God tells them to move.
Jesus invites his disciples to follow him (Matthew 4:19 - 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.). This seemed easy for them to do as well as us when we have come to a dead end in our life, job, marriage, etc. At this point the disciples seemed rather easy to convince to move.
Jesus is shown here persuading Peter to follow him (Luke 5:6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.). First Jesus showed Simon a miraculous sign by catching fish where there were no fish.
Then after that Peter still begged Jesus not to use him because he was such a great sinner (Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.).
Let’s think back to the demons. Remember how they just moved immediately at the word of Christ. Although they begged to go to a certain place they knew that they would have to move.
Finally after Jesus assures Simon that he is one of the chosen then they agree to follow.
Jesus is telling his disciples to go (Matthew 28:18 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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.). But notice that he can’t just be direct like he was with the demons. He has to reassure them of certain things before he goes.
The disciples seemed much more nervous to move forward with Jesus physically being there. They realized that without their leader the possibilities for mistakes increased. They realized that the privilege of blaming their leader when the got in awkward situations or for mistakes was gone.
Supporting Points
1.) In (Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you
fishers of men.) Jesus tells his disciples to follow him
2.) This is easy to do when you have come to a dead end in your
life/job (something different)
3.) In (Luke 5: 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out
into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said
unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing:
nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done,
they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.) Jesus is
persuading Peter. He taught the multitude using Peter’s boat.
Then he showed Peter a better way to catch fish. Then he
invited Peter to follow him. At this point Peter was sure that
this was a man that knew a better way. Fish can’t be easily
persuaded. Peter still begged God not to use him because he
was a sinner. God insisted and after a miracle catch they were
ready to follow Jesus.
4.) In our scripture for today (Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: ) God is telling his people to go (Go over this scripture)
5.) The possibility for mistakes increase
6.) The privilege of blaming someone else so fast goes away
7.) When Jesus came back to check on how his disciples were
doing (They weren’t)
8.) They had gone back to what they knew was comfortable (John
20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the
doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came
Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.)
9.) In (John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son
of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou
knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.) Jesus asked
Peter did he have more value in catching fish than spreading
the word
Conclusion
The disciples should have had enough encouragement to move forward and do the will of God. Yet when Jesus came back and checked on their progress they did not have any progress to report (John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.). They were locked in a room waiting for someone to encourage them.
It is totally unacceptable for the people of God to allow demons to be more obedient to the commands from God than they are
Are we still waiting for God to give us another sign? Let’s go saints. We have total victory in our hands and he has the whole world in his hands so if He be for us who can be against us.
GO! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GO!
Let’s Pray:
Dear God I would like to say thank you for all that You have done in my life so far and I would also like to use this opportunity to let you know with all assurance that I am now making myself fully available to your will for my life. Anyway that you decide to use me I am willing to go. I know that there have been some things in my life that I had full authority permission and resources to do yet I allowed the enemy to stop me. From this day forward I am going to move at your command no matter the cost. This prayer I pray in your son’s Jesus name.
Thank You. May God continue to bless you and keep you. Amen
Your Friend
Minister Juan D. Lane Sr.
