THE MISSION FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND EVERY CHURCH
The last words of a person on earth are often very significant. Sometimes, they tell you not only how a man died, but also how he lived. For example the great evangelist, D.L. Moody said at his deathbed, to his sons who were with him, “If God be your partner, make your plans large.” Before our Lord Jesus departed for Heaven, He gave His bewildered disciples a commission to continue and expand the Gospel to the whole world. That same mission that was given to His disciples is meant for us as well, both individually and corporately, through His Church.
The work of missions is not an easy task. No one could do it by his or her own power. It takes the power of God for anyone to survive any missionary venture, including reaching our neighbors, work associates, and family members for Christ. Before Jesus ascended, He promised the disciples and us that we “will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). If we did not have His power and His command and His authority, our efforts to win persons to Christ would be futile. Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Having assured His disciples of His power and authority for the task ahead, He then gave them His mandate to carry out. We serve a great Lord, who, before He gives us a task, equips us for such responsibility.
In Matthew 28:19-20a, Jesus specifies His divine plan for His mission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” In Jesus' plan, there is one main imperative verb, which is “make disciples” and three subordinate participles, which explain how one makes disciples.
As every Christian goes (living their normal life), they are to witness to those without Christ. When a person trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are to be baptized, which is their public confession of faith in Christ. This new believer is then helped to grow by teaching them to know and observe all that God has commanded us. God's plan was always growth by reproducing godly followers of Jesus. So often, today, when someone comes to Christ, there is little or no follow-up. God has not called us to make decisions, but to make disciples who in turn make other disciples, beginning where we are.
Having reassured them (the disciples) and us of the power for missions and the plan of missions, Jesus Christ gave them one further promise for their success. Jesus reassured His disciples of His continued presence with them after His departure: “And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b, NIV). This promise conveys the constant and continued presence of Jesus with His people. This presence was a timeless one—to the very end of the age. God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).
God is still calling every one of us to join in His mission. The field is ripe for harvest, but the laborers are few. Would you answer God's call to join Him in this challenge? Our mission is global and our mandate is very urgent because many people are dying in their sins daily. Begin where you are, receive His power, follow His plan, and go with the confidence of His eternal presence. May God find us faithful when He comes!