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February 17, 2008AM
Matthew 28:16-20
The Authority of a disciple
The only people on the mountain with Jesus were the eleven disciples.
Here was the group of people who knew Jesus better than anyone else.
But Matthew makes an observation.
Matthew tells us that some of the disciples doubted Jesus.
What was there to doubt?
Here He was standing right in front of them and still they struggled.
They didn’t have all the answers.
They had not become instant spiritual super stars.
They were far from perfect.
But Jesus did something amazing.
He entrusted to them the Kingdom.
He was leaving things in their hands.
They were a mixed bag of faith.
Some were strong, others were weak.
But they were given the greatest assignment ever given.
We read the commission in verses 19 and 20.
That is helpful for us today.
We are not the perfect body of believers.
We have gathered to worship the Father today.
Yet, in the midst of our worship, some of us are doubting.
Jesus still gives the same responsibility to us that He gave the 11.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” Jesus said.
Jesus is the One with authority - all authority.
Somehow we have developed the notion that the spiritual success of the church
is our responsibility.
It is good for us to remember that we are not the suppliers of authority.
Jesus is the authority.
All authority has been given to Him.
Jesus has all power and the right to exercise it.
Jesus has unrestricted, universal sovereignty.
That’s how He can trust people who do not trust Him.
Let’s look at two words that capture His call to us.
I Go!
The outcome of Jesus’ authority is that we can “GO”.
The Greek literally says, “As you go make disciples.”
Jesus is not giving us a destination.
The focus isn’t the area of the world.
The focus is the people of the world.
As you go, make disciples wherever you are.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus said “you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost part of the world.”
He didn’t assign some to Jerusalem, others to Judea and so on.
As they went they were to be His witnesses.
Wherever they traveled, whether around the block or across borders.
We are not to leap frog over the people around us.
You are to look like Him and sound like Him with everyone you meet.
We are to live like Him in every context.
The word GO in the Greek comes from the thought of piercing.
Jesus could say, pierce every person with My presence.
Get into their lives with the very nature of the living God.
Influence them by exposing them to the character of God.
Bill Crowder who writes for The Daily Bread recounts influence in his life.
On February 9, 1964, the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and captivated the youth of America. After hearing their music and seeing their "look," I did what millions of young American boys did—I begged my parents to let me grow my hair. Then, along with my best friend Tommy, I started a garage band. The Beatles’ performance had such an impact on us that we intentionally tried to be like them. It was a significant introduction to the power of influence. Years later, the power of influence came to mean something far more significant to me as I began my journey as a follower of Christ. I had the desire to live under the influence of Christ, but I also wanted to be an influencer of others by pointing them to the Savior.
As I go, wherever I am, I show Jesus to everyone I meet.
Everyone I meet is left with a taste of Jesus.
Everyone I meet sees that Jesus and I are inseparable.
Everyone I meet is introduced to Jesus.
Our focus is not coming to Church.
Our focus is going from church to influence others for Jesus.
Go with the all-powerful presence of Jesus.
II And this brings us to our second word.
It is a word that some translations don’t even bother to include.
It is the Greek word idou.
It simply translates into the word “LO”.
A lot of translators just brush right over it.
So why make a point of it?
This word is designed to bring out the flavour of the message.
It was a word that gripped the attention of those listening.
Even Jesus could be tuned out.
Jesus used idou to arouse the attention of the disciples.
Going up and shaking them and saying, “Pay attention to this.”
When people heard this word it captured their imagination.
LO was used to indicate something huge was coming.
News of great importance.
News that will leave nothing the same ever again.
Something monumental is about to happen.
LO was used at the announcement of Jesus’ birth.
Joseph had just found out Mary was pregnant.
He wasn’t sure what he was going to do.
He was going to call off the wedding.
He couldn’t be seen with her.
In Matthew 1:20 he was mulling over what to do with Mary.
Matthew uses LO here.
Lo, behold, an angel appeared to him.
The angel was sent to help him make his decision.
The angel was about to say something amazing.
What Joseph was going to hear next would be life changing.
Nothing would ever be the same again.
“That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
That is the word Jesus now uses.
LO, make sure you hear this.
Are you getting this down.
“Lo I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Jesus never withdraws from accomplishing His work in us.
Jesus’ presence is unending.
Why would that be?
He has an intense love for the lost in the world.
He sends us to the lost and we never go alone.
LO when you leave this place Jesus leaves with you.
LO when you encounter your neighbour, Jesus is there with you.
LO when you are with your family, Jesus is there with you.
As you go Jesus is there.
We do not make disciples alone, ever.
Jesus is absolutely serious about you going and making disciples.
He knows you can introduce them to Jesus and teach them obedience.
You can do this because LO I am with you always.
He expects His disciples to take this commission seriously.
Listen to the difference it has made in South America.
During the first 70 years the Church of the Nazarene was in South America 349 churches were organized.
Every year 5 new churches were organized.
They received enough money from Headquarters each year to build 5 new churches.
So that is all they did.
They knew the lost were still dying all around their churches.
Were five Churches a year in South America what Jesus had in mind?
Their answer was no so they became external in their ministry focus.
In less than 10 years 900 churches were organized.
They realized every Christian should be making disciples.
They realized that every Pastor should be training another pastor.
They realized every church should be planting another church.
The Church went to the people and as a result the people came to Christ.
They believed Jesus.
We need to be a disciple on the authority of Jesus.
In the USA/Canada Jesus’ disciples are failing their world.
From 2000 to 2004 there was a net gain of 3,200 new churches in the USA.
13,024 new churches were necessary to keep up with the U.S. population growth.
The Church incurred a deficit of almost 10,000 churches.
We should be starting 4 times more churches than we are.
We are alarmed to hear about the doctor shortage.
The shortage of Churches is even more epidemic.
Visit http://www.christianitytoday.com/outreach/articles/americanchurchcrisis.html
Jesus cares about that and continually gives Himself.
We have no excuse.
Even in your doubting Jesus sends you.
“I'm profoundly convinced that the greatest spiritual danger for our times is the separation of Jesus from the Church. The Church is the body of the Lord. Without Jesus, there can be no Church; and without the Church, we cannot stay united with Jesus. I've yet to meet anyone who has come closer to Jesus by forsaking the Church.” (Henri Nowen)
Jesus wants every one of us to go and make disciples.
He says to every one of us you can do it, lo I am with you always.
Does He have your attention?