INTRODUCTION
All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me.
Mat 28:19 Then having gone (GO) , disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the completion of the age. Amen.
Matthew 28: 18b-20 (LITV-Literal Translation of the Holy Bible)
(I’ll be using this passage again on April 23, in the message entitled “Process of Maturity”; it will center in the benefits of the disciples. Today it will be centered in the reasons why we need to disciple others.)
We have seen in the previous messages that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the business of making disciples. He called the first 12, then the 72 and then the hundreds to him. Until now multitudes are becoming his disciples through that follow him earlier.
A normal disciple must CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE MASTER.
A normal disciple will
I. MAKE DISCIPLES, 19
Because…
A. He is authorized, 18 (All authority … was given to me)
B. He is commissioned, 19 (Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…--in most translation)
C. He is expected, 19 (Then having gone—LITV, the connotation is that the believer is expected to go)
Here, making disciples is to tell them that the messiah is Jesus. He is the perfect lamb sacrifice for sins. He paid it all and he must be accepted as the LORD and SAVIOR.
II. TEACH DISCIPLES, 20
Because…
A. He is a learned man (whatever I commanded you—Apollos, Aquila and Priscilla)
B. He is a lead man (teach them to observe all things—WALK YOUR TALK)
A normal disciple will not abandon a newly born disciple. He will take care of him/her. He will see ton it that he/she will become a discipler , too (2 Timothy 2:2).
III. INSPIRE DISCIPLES, 20 (And, behold, I am with you all the days until the completion of the age. Amen.)
Because…
A. He is guided by the Lord (“I am with you” not “I will be with you”—like with Moses of old when he was sent back to Egypt)
• “My Spirit is with you, the Comforter shall abide with you, Joh_16:7.
• I am with you, and not against you: with you to take your part, to be on your side, and to hold with you, as Michael our prince is said to do, Dan_10:21.
• . I am with you, and not absent from you, not at a distance; I am a very present help,” Psa_46:1.
B. He is powered by the Lord (Moses performed miracles by the power of the Lord) (from E-Sword)
[1.] To carry them on through the difficulties they were likely to meet with. “I am with you, to bear you up, to plead your cause; with you in all your services, in all your sufferings, to bring you through them with comfort and honour. When you go through the fire or water, I will be with you. In the pulpit, in the prison, lo, I am with you.” [2.] To succeed this great undertaking; “Lo, I am with you, to make your ministry effectual for the discipling of the nations, for the pulling down of the strong holds of Satan, and the setting up of stronger for the Lord Jesus.” (from E-Sword)
If these truths will be seen in us by the people we disciple, they will be inspired to become discipler, too.
CONCLUSION
A normal disciple is someone who is always sharing the message of salvation to someone and taking care for a convert’s personal growth. He is someone who is living for the continuance of the Lord’s mission—that is to make disciples.
