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The Great Commission Series
Contributed by Rev. Bruce A. Shields on Aug 23, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Part 28:The Great Commission - The Great commission.
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The Great Commission
Part 28 – The Great Commission
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
6:00PM Evening Service at the church –
“Seminary Students will be preaching”
July 20th – Deacon Kurt Ulman
July 27th – Grace Steadman
August 3rd – Lori Ulman
August 10th – Lynnette Higgins
August 17th – Walker Spriggs
WHERE WE ARE AT
† Jesus Curses the Fig Tree – Warning to followers to produce fruit
† Jesus Teaches the parable of the Marriage Feast – Calling all good and bad
† The Last Supper – Accepting the covenant the Lord
† The Crucifixion – Sealing of the covenant, atonement for separation
† The Resurrection – Restoring the Lord’s Ministry
† Jesus calls the disciples to meet Him
Matthew 28:16 – 20 The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
INTRODUCTION
Today you will learn what it is the Lord wants us to do.
What command Jesus has left us with.
Today we will discuss the “TRUE” mark of a follower of Christ.
We see that the disciples had been told by the women that they were to meet with the risen savior, and so they went, into the mountain in Galilee to meet with Jesus.
This meeting took place at least a week after the betrayal, because the scriptures mention the “11” specifically, reminding us of the betrayal and the betrayers demise.
The scriptures say it would have been better for him if he had never been born.
Betraying Christ continues to happen today.
The scriptures warn that anyone who puts his hand to the plow, then turns away is not worthy of the Kingdom.
This message is not for the lost, but those who have tasted the kingdom, and know the truth, yet walk away from Jesus for whatever reason.
I know people who had served the Lord for years, then walked away because they wanted to live the way they wanted to live, they desired the worlds offerings.
And it isn’t because they don’t love Jesus, because they do. But they love the world more, and therefore the world has become their master.
They believe they are OK because they still love the Lord, but Jesus said you can not serve two masters.
I. They Worshipped Him, but some Doubted
a. You are the biggest obstacle in serving the Lord
What is the biggest obstacle in serving the Lord? Doubt
Who is the biggest obstacle you will have to overcome? Yourself
You are your worst enemy.
Romans 7:21 – 25
21…When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Your flesh is the enemy of your mind.
You are your worst enemy.
Your life will be a battle between your spirit and your flesh.
We see this in the people who surrounded Jesus in life, and hear of His resurrection after death.
b. Doubt = lack of faith
Many scholars disagree on who it was that actually doubted in the scripture here.
Some say it wasn’t the disciples, but they don’t know who the scripture is talking about.
Some say it had to be the disciples, because they were the only ones there.
I believe it is as it is written.
The 11 went to see Jesus, when they saw Him, They worshipped Him, but some doubted.
They saw the miracles, they heard the truth of God, they experienced relationship with God through Jesus Christ…
They witnessed the fulfillment of prophecy, the resurrection as Christ taught them would happen, Jesus in His resurrected body standing before them…
And some doubted…
Why? Because of what Paul said in Romans.
But the Lord understands your doubt, and the scriptures say, “If you seek, you will find…”