The last command

By Dr Les Norman

Who will go to her?

If not you - who?

If not now - when?

in your bible read this ~

Matthew 28, 11-20; Mark 16, 15-20;

Luke 24, 45-49; John 20, 19 -23.

here is your memory verse ~

Jesus said, " Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."  John 20:21

afterwards talk about this ~

What have you seen Jesus doing in your lives? If you went on a missionary journey have you got something good to say?

something to do before next time ~

In the quietness of your own heart see how you would react if God made it very clear to you today that he wanted you to be a missionary.  What doubts and fears would rise up?  Offer them up in prayer to the Lord and ask for his help to overcome.

written diploma work ~

Look at Revelation 7, 9-10.  Who do you think is there?  Name a few names. How do you think they got there.  What does the elder say about them in verses 15-17.

meditate word by word on this verse

Genesis 12, 1-3

Be sure to teach this lesson to others. Always pray and prepare well adding your own verses and stories to bring it to life.

1. is the great commission for you?

It’s for men and women of every colour, poor, rich, young or old. Missions heroes are often people who think they are too old or too young, too broke, wrong colour or wrong sex!  But let’s ask some of the people who knew Jesus best.

2. let’s hear first from matthew.

He suggests that before we ever go anywhere Jesus has some missions work of his own do to do inside us. Matthew says in chapter 28, verses 11-20 that for him the Great Commission is all about ~

being obedient to all that jesus says

Jesus told the disciples to go to Galilee, where they would see him, and they went. It was a test of obedience and if they had not obeyed then they would have gone no further. Jesus tests us a hundred times a day in the small affairs of life to obey him. Matthew 28, 10,16

seeing jesus for yourself

Missions is first of all about seeing Jesus for ourselves, then we will have some-thing exciting to tell others, Mat. 28.17. There has to be a time when Jesus leaps out of theology and becomes our real Saviour, Lord and King forever. When we have seen the risen Lord Jesus entering our lives, and seen what he has does for us, then we have something good to tell others.

worshipping jesus 

Verse 17 also says, "When they saw him, they worshipped him."  All true service comes from our love for God and our worship of him. See Rom. 12.1.

overcoming your doubts

In Matthew 28.17 some doubted him. You may not, but are you trusting his promises for your future. In Matthew 26.32 Jesus said, " I will go ahead of you into Galilee." In order to keep that promise to his disciples Jesus had to go through the Cross, death, hell and the resurrection!  He did, so after that dare we really doubt his word?

hearing his command to go

Many people listen to passionate sermons from Matthew 28, 19-20 about the need to reach the unreached peoples at the ends of the earth but do we really hear what God is saying, and obey. If not you - who will go?

3. now, let’s listen to mark.

Mark is Peter’s writer and he says for him the Great Commission is also about ~

dealing with unbelief

In Mark 16, 14 which opens another Great Commission passage Jesus begins by telling them off for their lack of faith and stubborn refusal to believe.

using supernatural tools

In verses 17-20 we find God’s supernatural toolbox for supernatural mission. Verse 20 says that the Lord worked powerfully with them, confirming their words with the supernatural signs and wonders that he had spoken about.

4. luke was gripped by the commission.

From Luke, chapter 24, 45-49. For Doctor Luke the Great Commission meant so much that he later became a missionary ~

jesus must open our minds to scripture

Understanding that Old and New all fit together in perfect harmony in Christ.

be persuaded of his plan

As it is written in the Scriptures.

take forgiveness to all nations

In the name of Jesus, through repentance and beginning at home.

understand his perfect time

There is a time to stay and a time to go.

be clothed with power

Before stepping out into a disbelieving and sometimes hostile world.

5. finally, meet the apostle of love.

For John, the dear friend of Jesus, in 20, 19-23 the Great Commission is all about ~

the power of the risen lord

When the disciples were behind locked doors, Jesus showed his power by literally coming through either the door or the wall to appear in their midst.

the high cost of man's salvation.

Jesus showed them his hands and side and they saw the marks of the Cross in torture and death. This is the price of man's salvation in that the spotless, sinless perfect son of God was unjustly punished not for his own wickedness but for our unholy sinfulness against God.  No higher price could ever have been demanded or paid.

receiving god’s call

Jesus willingly left the splendour of heaven to come to our sinful world to do the will of God in missionary service, giving his life that others might live.     In turn he now says " ..So send I you."   And, " I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."  John 13.15, Hebrews 10, 5-7

receiving holy spirit's power.

Jesus breathed upon them, and before many days had gone by that breath of divinity had become a mighty, rushing wind that filled these waiting men.

knowing our job, forgiving sins

Christian people have opened schools and hospitals all over the world and that is a wonderful testimony to the mercy and compassion of the Lord.

However it is well proven that unless man is restored to fellowship with his Maker, genuine progress does not really come. Jesus insists, "You must be born-again." Jesus is underlining the need to bring men to a place of receiving forgiveness from God and restoration to him. Then God can get inside a man or woman and change that life from within. Then that man can be used by God to bless the whole community. John 3.3,7

And there we are - the Great Commission according to those closest to Jesus. Say, “Yes, Lord, have your way in me for the sake of a world of people you died for.”

A House of Prayer For All Nations

pray for nicaragua

Operation World page 416

5,000,000 suffering people history of earthquake and warMany have turned to God for help

Many wounds need to be healed.

Published with permission of Dr. Les, Norman of DCI.