GREAT COMMISSION PART ONE

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After Jesus’s resurrection but before He ascended back to heaven, Jesus repeated His Great Commission five times. Christians are to reach cities, nations, and the world! Every Christian, not just church leaders, were tasked with the Great Commission.

“Go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt.28:19).

  1. “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark16:15).
  2. “Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke24:47).
  3. “As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you” (John20:21).
  4. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts1:8).

The first Great Commission verse in Matthew in its entirety is foundational and covers the most, so we will look at it.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the very end of the age!’” Matthew 28:18-20

Let’s look at each point that Jesus said:

  1. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

“ALL authority… on earth” certainly has to include all civil authority on earth in all nations. If you truly comprehend the first thing Jesus said here, we can stop right here. No one should need any more than this to see Jesus’s Great Commission is a civil mandate for all nations on earth.

The words “all authority” are also translated as “all power.” And you don’t need ALL power or ALL authority on earth to be able to disciple a few Christians! But you definitely do need all power and authority on earth to be able to do what Jesus then commands us.

  1. “Therefore, go and teach all nations.”

“Nations” are by definition: “A group of people led by the same civil government.” Nations are NOT a group of churches or a group of disciples. Nations are civil governments. Therefore, this is Jesus’s civil mandate, to go and teach all nations, exactly as the verse says. The rest of the Great Commission Jesus tells us exactly how to successfully accomplish His civil mandate.

  1. “Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Contrary to what many assume, this sentence is NOT referring to water baptism for the New Covenant Believers, for a lot of reasons:

  • First, the context of the verse right before has no basis for being that.
  • Second, the pronoun in “baptizing them”, has to refer to a noun in the previous sentence. And in the previous sentence and according to the literal Greek, there is only one noun, and it is the word – “NATIONS”.
  • Third, but how do you baptize nations? In the Greek language, the word “baptize” is more often used in other ways than water baptism. It was used – “to immerse, to wash, to cleanse and even to overwhelm.” In fact, most of the time in the NT this word is NEVER used for water baptism new believers. For example, Matt. 3:11: Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Matt. 3:11: Baptism of fire, Matt. 28:19: Baptism of nations, Mark 7:4: Baptism of food, Mark 7:4: Baptism of cups, Mark 7:4: Baptism of pots, Luke 3:3: Baptism of repentance, Luke 7:29: Baptism of John, Luke 12:50: Baptism of suffering, Rom. 6:3: Baptized into Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 10:2: Baptized into Moses, 1 Cor. 12:13: Baptized into one body, 1 Cor. 15:29: Baptized for the dead, Gal. 3:27: Baptized into Christ.
  • The ONLY time water baptism for New Covenant Believers was ever referred to in the New Testament was after Pentecost in the book of Acts. Moreover, every time it was used there for new Believers, the phrase – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – was NEVER said. The Book of Acts actually records what was said, and this is what was said every time: Acts 2:38: “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”, Acts 8:16: “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”, Acts 10:48: “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”, Acts 19:5: “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”

Contrary to what some may think, Jesus’s Great Commission was not talking about water baptism of New Covenant Believers, but rather to cleanse and overwhelm “all the nations” with the teaching and authority of the whole God-Head – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So how then did Jesus tell them to cleanse and overwhelm all nations?

  1. “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Jesus did not say, teaching them to “to know all” but “to obey all.” That is exactly what is required for all civil law – “to obey all” that Jesus commanded. One of the first things Jesus commanded was to “do and teach” all God’s Law in His “Sermon on the Mount” (Mat. 5:17-19).

  1. “And behold, I am with you always, to the very end of the age!”

BEHOLD! The end of the age has not yet come — so God’s new Jesus Family today can and is to still carry out Jesus’s Great Commission – His national civil mandate!

BEHOLD! Jesus is with us today — to carry out His national mandate!

“Therefore, go and teach all nations… And behold, I am with you always, to the very end of the age!’”

To practically go and teach any nation, which by definition is civil government, and to obey all that Jesus has commanded may seem impossible. But Jesus said:

“With God all things are possible!” Matthew 19:26

In the next post, we will look at how successful Christians have been with the task they have been given – The Great Commission.

For more information on the Great Commission and the church as God intended, visit Jim McCotter’s website, http://www.jimsbookstore.com.

USE END TIMES BIBLICAL PROPHECY TO COMPLETE THE GREAT COMMISSION

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“And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:19-21

The Bible is full of fulfilled prophecies, which testify to its divine inspiration and inerrancy. It is estimated that as much as 75% of the 2,500 prophecies in the Bible have been already fulfilled, and most of those yet to happen are last-day/end-time events.

Do you realise there are far more prophecies about Jesus second coming than His first coming? The Pharisees and Sadducees did not get it with His first coming, and the church is not getting it with His second coming, maybe in your lifetime.

“For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” Matthew 24:44

With knowledge of the Bible’s last days’ prophecies, we can use them to evangelize unbelievers, showing them that God controls history. I hope my book, Living Eternal Now – Ready for Jesus Return will assist you in being equipped to complete the Great Commission before Jesus’ second coming. It is available as a paperback and ebook on Amazon.

WHO IS TO COMPLETE THE GREAT COMMISSION?

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Jesus told eleven unremarkable people with no platform of any kind to go find other people in every nation. When they found these people, they were to teach them to be the same kind of disciples they were. He was telling His disciples (then and now) to influence culture, not from the top down, but from the bottom up. Jesus’ plan is to change the culture through you and me – not a professional class of priests, pastors, full-time ministers, or cultural elites.

Paraphrasing Scripture Jesus says to us: “I have all the power and authority in the universe. The master of the universe and beyond is your friend. I picked you to be on my team. Now since I am the master of the universe, I want you to report directly to me. I’m giving you an assignment that is of the utmost importance—to find others just like you in every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you“. Teach them my protocols.

“In the last days perilous times will come … evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse…” (2 Timothy 3:1,13)

The Bible doesn’t say that things will get better in the last days, but “worse and worse.” That tells us that humanity will become more corrupt. Rotten will become putrid. The issue is deeper than what concerned most of us leading up to the US Presidential election—abortion. Christians are the big hindrance to same-sex marriage, the normalization of homosexuality, gender identity, euthanasia, assisted suicide, sex education, and many other issues.

This is why we mustn’t forget our agenda. Jesus said to preach the gospel to every creature. This is because the gospel is the power of God to salvation. It not only saves from wrath, but it can transform sin-loving sinners so that they love righteousness.

WHAT TRUMP’S WIN MEANS FOR CHRISTIANS

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Ray Comfort of Living Waters (http://www.livingwaters.com) makes it clear to Christians that Trump’s win is not going to save anyone only preaching the Gospel, as Jesus commanded us to do, will save people from God’s judgement.

Trump is not going to turn back the clock and restore Judaeo-Christian values. Jesus and in fact even the O.T prophets particularly Daniel make it clear that Jews and Christians are going to experience intense persecution, tribulation, and great tribulation in the time up to Jesus second coming to Earth to defeat the Antichrist army in the battle of Armageddon and usher in His Millennial Kingdom.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:9-13

JESUS TAUGHT: NOT PEACE, BUT A SWORD

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The following is a tough Scripture we would all like to overlook but that is impossible. God requires total commitment.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39

“And Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag, knapsack, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one with a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For, I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” Luke 22:35-37

Our greatest weapon is always the Gospel. But there may be a time to heed all of Jesus’ instructions, even to buy a sword.

“All authority… on earth has been given unto Me, therefore go and make disciple of all nations… and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus did not say disciple churches or disciple disciples but rather disciple “nations” – civil rule, civil governance. For this reason and mission, Jesus said – “I am with you!” Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to guide our every step.

For what excuse will we give King Jesus for not completing the great commission?

The Bible does not teach us to pray and hope things get better. “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22). We must be “doers” – like the leaders of Issachar who understood the times and what God’s people should do (1 Chronicles 12:32).

Note God does not use those who think they are wise by worldly standards.

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

We must keep God’s commandments and get God’s vision for His King and Kingdom! “Where there is no vision, the people perish. But happy are those who keep God’s Law!” Proverbs 29:18

Also, if not you, who? If not now, when? We must unite and go forth – “For the cause of truth, humility, and righteousness! Psalms 45:4

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THE POWER OF ONE

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Reaching one person with the good news of Jesus Christ seems insignificant compared to the world’s population. Repeatedly, Jesus sought one person, ministered to one person, touched one person, healed one person, and saved one person. When we are the ONE who has been saved, we are the ONE appointed to find ONE more!  

Jesus unlocked the potential of one person over and over again, in this new era of global evangelism, the focus needs to be on each person who needs Jesus.  Together, the impossible task can be achieved, one person at a time.  The Power of One shows how we can see the most significant Great Commission effort in history.  

A new era of global evangelism is dawning in our post-pandemic, fast-moving, 21st-century world. Jesus’ method of reaching one person and thus unlocking their capacity to touch the masses is being reclaimed. The most significant days of the Great Commission effort in human history are before us.  

Reaching every person on Earth will necessitate and demonstrate . . . The Power of ONE!

What people are saying about The Power of One

“One of the biggest reasons most Christian believers never share their faith is they don’t realize how deeply God wants his lost children found. Just as Jesus explained that the Good Shepherd leaves 99 safe sheep to go after the one sheep that is lost, “The Power of One” explains  why and how each of us can do our part in reaching everyONE with the Good News that they matter to God, Christ’s died for them, and that He wants them in his family forever!”

“If our culture has shown us anything in recent years, it presents to us a world in desperate need of the good news of Jesus. In The Power of One, Dr. Billy Wilson offers both the challenge before us and the remarkable opportunity to proclaim the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. As president of Oral Roberts University, I particularly appreciate his insight into Gen Z and its potential as a gospel force. We need a fresh burden for the lost and a renewed practice of evangelism that this book details!”  – Ed Stetzer, Dean, Talbot School of Theology 

“The Power of One is a must-read for anyone who desires to make a lasting impact for the cause of Christ. In this book, Dr. Wilson shares his expertise and insight on how to effectively reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. His approach is practical, easy to understand, and biblically grounded. “If you are looking for a book that will challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and share the love of Christ with others, The Power of One is the book for you. I highly recommend it!” – Reggie Dabbs, The Youth Alliance
https://youtu.be/OSazMpktoYE?si=k5DCZR9Vdp5udxKi

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE GREAT COMMISSION?

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The Great Commission, that is, the making of disciples of all nations by going, baptizing, and teaching them to obey all that Christ commands us, has been pushed aside as the church scrambles after various social and political causes to make itself relevant.

People in churches are seeing and hearing virtually everything else except their need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and what life really submitted to Jesus Christ really looks like. They are being taught to look to external measures to solve issues in our world, rather than asking the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) who is our counsellor, teacher, and comforter. Jesus made it clear that what He accomplished for us on The Cross was life-changing. He made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to enable us to live the Christian life. Proverbs 20:27 tells us that our Spirit was always meant to be the lamp of the Lord which requires oil, the Holy Spirit to function as God intended.

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. Proverbs 20:27

Instead of people hearing that the problem of mankind is endemic—that each individual is culpable for their own sin before a holy and just Lord, they hear that the largest issue of our day is systemic racism (Critical Race Theory and Black Lives Matter). Instead of recognizing issues bound within homes due to selfishness and fatherlessness many wish to relegate issues to a lack of money, education, or healthcare. Instead of shunning every instance of sexual immorality, impurity, and sensuality, our culture and entertainment promote them as exciting and desirable.

The natural result is half the populace is confused about what the gospel is, with roughly another half confused about how the gospel applies to all of life. The second group wants a seat at the table in the cultural marketplace. Nearly ten years ago Carl Trueman challenged the Reformed world with these words: “…the beautiful young things of the reformed renaissance have a hard choice to make in the next decade. You really do kid only yourselves if you think you can be an orthodox Christian and be at the same time cool enough and hip enough to cut it in the wider world. Frankly, in a couple of years, it will not matter how much urban ink you sport, how much fair trade coffee you drink, how many craft brews you can name, how much urban gibberish you spout, how many art house movies you can find that redeemer figure in, and how much money you divert from gospel preaching to social justice: maintaining biblical sexual ethics will be the equivalent in our culture of being a white supremacist.”

Peruse any Reformed group on Facebook and you’ll see that these words are equally as applicable as they were when Trueman first gave them, which means they’ve been largely unheeded. Even many who hold strictly to their confessional documents are wildly inconsistent with a rigorous Christian worldview. Simply ask a piece of basic advice and see how many different prospective teachers offer up counsel that is not only unbiblical but often anti-biblical.

Obviously, this is not all Reformed Christians, nor all Evangelicals for that matter, but I have to wonder at what point people will stop scratching their heads when they see surveys that reveal most people don’t “get” the gospel. At what point, will people drop the convenient talking points and blame-shifting, and take a long, hard look at what has happened? Proper discipleship still demands a comprehensive biblical worldview born out of the gospel. Therefore, we now need to target those in our churches who reject parts of the Biblical worldview for whatever reason. We need to focus our efforts and funds on the proclamation of the gospel.

How many young people in the Reformed island of conservative Christianity are wedded to degenerate worldviews opposed to that of the Bible and enjoying it? How many of them no longer believe that the proclamation of the gospel is the primary mission of the church? How many of them are lying to themselves about why the majority of people in the broader church cannot articulate a saving gospel?

Jesus told us that in the last days there will be a great falling away (apostasy) in the church. This is evident now even in Reformed and Evangelical circles.

IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY

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Singer and actress Jana Kramer was baptized Sunday, and offered a touching proclamation on her Instagram page, writing that she has found “healing” in Jesus and now realizes she was “never alone.”

“I don’t have the words yet…I will…but for now… ‘In the name of Jesus, there is healing,’” Kramer wrote in her initial post. She then shared an emotional video of the baptism. You can find it on Instagram.

Christian celebrities and fans responded with encouraging and touching affirmations.

“Praise the Lord,” actress Candace Cameron Bure wrote. “And all the angels sang in Heaven and rejoiced! Praise His holy name!! A step in faith reaps an eternal reward.”

Former “Bachelor” star Ben Higgins added, “Amen.”

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The Great Commission

Afterward, he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. “And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name, they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18

COMPLETING THE GREAT COMMISSION

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What are we doing to witness to the goodness of God in a world that has ceased to acknowledge His existence, let alone His sovereignty over the Cosmos. Jesus gave us an assignment to tell those around us about the good news of the Gospel.

Bible prophecies forecasting the events prior to Jesus second coming to earth are being fulfilled at an ever increasing rate much like “birth pangs”. This should prompt spirit filled believers to get about our master’s business. We will need to give Him an account of our actions or inaction.

Let us not be like Jonah. When God sent him to Nineveh he rebelled and took a boat to Tarshish, far from Nineveh. God used the situation to have Jonah witness to the sailors on the boat. Jonah told them he was the cause for the terrible storm and that if the sailors threw him into the water the storm would cease. They eventually did and the storm ceased. “So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.” Jonah 1:15

Next God orchestrated for a fish to swallow Jonah, he repented after God called him a second time, and Noah eventually fulfilled his mission. The response to Jonah’s message was astounding . This notoriously immoral city and an enemy of Israel repented with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. When Nineveh repented, the reason for Jonah’s rebellion became clear: he had feared that God would forgive the Ninevites; and when God did forgive them, Jonah resented it (Jonah 4:1-3).

And finally, God’s question to Jonah “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left… ?” is unanswered and should confront each of us. There are many people who have not heard the gospel and just as Jonah was commanded to go we also are commanded to go and share the gospel with all God brings across our path or leads us to. Are we being obedient to His call?

THE CALL TO REACH NON BELIEVERS WITH THE GOSPEL

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Christian Post: You’ve said that your life inspires everything that you do and you often speak about how much you love Jesus. For the Christian audience, for those that want to know what they can look forward to in the film, what would you say to them?

Emmy award-winning entertainer Kathie Lee Gifford is gearing up for the release of her new film, “Then Came You,” part one of what she said is a five-part film series on the power of redemption. The outspoken Christian said she feels the Lord has called her to reach unbelievers. The following is a short edited transcript of The Christian Post’s interview with Gifford.

Gifford: I hope people aren’t disappointed that this is not your typical, this is not a faith-based film, in the terms that it’s different than anything I’ve ever done before. But I felt the Lord’s calling on my life to write a movie for people who don’t know yet that God loves them. I didn’t know why I thought that was a strange thing for Him to say to my heart. But I have many, many, many friends, more nonbeliever friends than I have Christian friends actually in my life, people that I share my faith with and they respect it, but they’re not there yet.

I think the Church has failed nonbelievers in many, many ways through the years and one of the biggest ones is that we haven’t loved them into the Kingdom.

Daytime TV host Kathie Lee Gifford had her final day on NBC’s “Today” show Friday, after 11 years of co-hosting. Before making her official exit, the Emmy Award winner released a short film, titled “The God Who Sees” featuring Nicole C Mullen.

The “modern oratorio” was directed by Gifford and shot in Israel. Mullen, the star of the film and the voice of the song and narration sings and shares about multiple characters in the Bible who have had desert experiences but God saw them through.

“Can you identify with Hagar the single mother, Ruth the widow, David from shepherd boy to King … but still struggling? Or how about Mary of Magdela whose mental illness was caused by demonic forces? Ever been afraid, uncertain, worried, on the run?” Mullen wrote in an Instagram post about some of the people she mentions in the song.

The title is based on one of God’s biblical names — El Ro-ee — which translates to “The God Who Sees Me.” Hagar gave God the name in Gen 16:13.  

The song begins in the Old Testament and shows how God is faithful all the way through and ultimately shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“God was giving us something special,” Gifford testified in a behind-the-scenes promotion for the project.

The respected entertainer linked up with Mullens to create the song. After writing it out, it was recorded in one take at a studio in Nashville. Gifford believes God then told her to shoot the video as a short film in Israel.

I hope you will be challenged by the testimony of Kathy Lee Gifford to start witnessing to the unbelievers in your circle of influence for the time is short.