Matthew 28: 16-20

(Jesus, The Ultimate (Jesus, The Ultimate Authority Figure)

Authority Figure)

Matthew 28:16-20 (New Living Translation)

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. [17] When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them still doubted! [18] Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you…

● ● How’s this for job description: “Go How’s this for job description: “Go everywhere and make disciples!”everywhere and make disciples!”

● ● With God it is not ‘the 10 Suggestions’ With God it is not ‘the 10 Suggestions’ but 10 commandments. The great but 10 commandments. The great commission is just as much a matter of commission is just as much a matter of Orders From Headquarters.Orders From Headquarters.

● ● I know him as Friend and Brother…but I know him as Friend and Brother…but let’s not forget he is first of all Lord.let’s not forget he is first of all Lord.

● ● Jesus commanded waves to subside and Jesus commanded waves to subside and diseases to flee… but he allows us to diseases to flee… but he allows us to choose whether he will be our master.choose whether he will be our master.

• Jesus was born of a virgin.Jesus was born of a virgin.• He lived a sinless life.He lived a sinless life.• He offered himself as an atoning He offered himself as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.sacrifice for our sins.• He was raised to life.He was raised to life.• Now he calls his disciples to take this Now he calls his disciples to take this message to the world.message to the world.• Included in the preaching is a call to Included in the preaching is a call to follow Jesus.follow Jesus.• The Great Commission has been given The Great Commission has been given to the church as well!to the church as well!

THE SETTING OF THIS POWERFUL THE SETTING OF THIS POWERFUL MANDATEMANDATE

• Abraham was promised a descendant

Abraham was promised a descendant

who would bless all ethnics.

who would bless all ethnics.

““And through you all of the world’s

And through you all of the world’s

ethnics shall be blessed.” Genesis 12: 3

ethnics shall be blessed.” Genesis 12: 3

THIS WAS CLEARLY GOD’S PLAN THIS WAS CLEARLY GOD’S PLAN FROM DAY ONEFROM DAY ONE

• “ “I will keep you and will make you to be a

I will keep you and will make you to be a

covenant for the people and a light for the

covenant for the people and a light for the

gentiles.” --Isaiah 42:6 and many others

gentiles.” --Isaiah 42:6 and many others

THE PROPHETS HAD DECLARED THAT THE PROPHETS HAD DECLARED THAT THE DOORS WOULD ONE DAY BE THE DOORS WOULD ONE DAY BE

THROWN OPEN TO GENTILESTHROWN OPEN TO GENTILES

• This is what Peter declared on the Day of This is what Peter declared on the Day of Pentecost: “Therefore let all Israel be assured Pentecost: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God made Jesus, whom you crucified, of this: God made Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” --Acts 2:33both Lord and Christ.” --Acts 2:33

• Paul made this clear as we; “…there is but Paul made this clear as we; “…there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” things came and through whom we live.” --I Corinthians 8:6--I Corinthians 8:6

• Jesus made the pronouncement: “The one Jesus made the pronouncement: “The one who comes from heaven is above all.” who comes from heaven is above all.” --John 13:13--John 13:13

JESUS IS LORD OF ALL JESUS IS LORD OF ALL …LORD OF THE WHOLE PLANET…LORD OF THE WHOLE PLANET

Remembering how the Remembering how the blood of Christ opens blood of Christ opens

heaven’s door to heaven’s door to “whosoever will.”“whosoever will.”

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

• I am under orders “We are Christ’s I am under orders “We are Christ’s ambassadors”ambassadors”

• I have a job to do “Woe is me if I do not I have a job to do “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” --I Corinthians 9:16preach the gospel.” --I Corinthians 9:16

• Faithfulness includes bearing witness of Faithfulness includes bearing witness of Jesus’ lordship. Jesus’ lordship.

AS OUR LORD, JESUS MAKES HIS DESIRES AS OUR LORD, JESUS MAKES HIS DESIRES MADE MADE

…CLEARLY AND EMPHATICALLY!…CLEARLY AND EMPHATICALLY!

• My relationship with Jesus My relationship with Jesus results in a change in results in a change in behavior…I am a person behavior…I am a person ‘under orders’.‘under orders’.

• I can love voluntarily, as a I can love voluntarily, as a nice person, but where my nice person, but where my niceness ends my niceness ends my stewardship begins.stewardship begins.

WHILE JESUS IS WHILE JESUS IS OUR OUR FRIEND AND FRIEND AND BROTHERBROTHER, ALSO , ALSO REMEMBER: OUR REMEMBER: OUR

1st LEVEL OF 1st LEVEL OF RELATIONSHIP IS RELATIONSHIP IS

‘LORD AND ‘LORD AND SERVANT’SERVANT’

• I can tell the Jesus Story because I want I can tell the Jesus Story because I want to, but where my ‘want to’ ends my duty to, but where my ‘want to’ ends my duty picks up.picks up.

• Love, ministry, compassion and character Love, ministry, compassion and character are results of being loved and forgiven. But are results of being loved and forgiven. But even when my gut doesn’t want to do those even when my gut doesn’t want to do those things I have a calling…as a disciple of things I have a calling…as a disciple of Jesus.Jesus.

• It isn’t so much a question of being It isn’t so much a question of being obedient to be saved …but rather a matter obedient to be saved …but rather a matter of being obedient to be considered faithful of being obedient to be considered faithful the Jesus’ lordship.the Jesus’ lordship.

““Why call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I Why call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” say?” --Luke 6:46--Luke 6:46

“ “ Let no one deceive you with empty words, Let no one deceive you with empty words, because of such things God’s wrath comes on because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” those who are disobedient.” --Ephesians 5:6--Ephesians 5:6

JESUS JESUS INSISTS ON INSISTS ON

OUR OUR OBEDIENCEOBEDIENCE

IF WE ARE TO IF WE ARE TO BE CALLED BE CALLED

HIS HIS DISCIPLESDISCIPLES

LET US NOT FORGET…LET US NOT FORGET…THERE CAN ONLY BE THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE LORD, ONE LORD, ONE GOD, ONE GOD, ONE WHO HAS AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN ONE WHO HAS AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTHAND ON EARTH…ONE KING…ONE KING

Returning to God out of our Returning to God out of our abundance. A gift of thanks.abundance. A gift of thanks.

PRAYER & PRAISE

● ● I accept I accept my job description: “Go my job description: “Go everywhere and make disciples!”everywhere and make disciples!”

● ● I will not forget I will not forget that the ‘Great that the ‘Great Commission’ is a matter of Orders From Commission’ is a matter of Orders From Headquarters.Headquarters.

● ● I know him I know him as Friend and Brother …but I as Friend and Brother …but I will always know Jesus as Commander-in-will always know Jesus as Commander-in-chief.chief.

● ● Jesus commanded waves to subside and Jesus commanded waves to subside and diseases to flee… but he allows me to diseases to flee… but he allows me to choose whether he will be my master. choose whether he will be my master. I I choose Jesus as my Lord.choose Jesus as my Lord.