“…but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
Dear Ones:
After the resurrection of Christ, and the accomplishment of all that His finished work meant on the cross, Jesus gave to His disciples a mandate, or a commission. To the eleven disciples He said: “All power (authority) is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:18,19) His words resound down through the centuries to this present day. There has been no diminishing quality of their meaning, power, and authority, nor have they relinquished the disciple of Christ, and the church, from the mandate given them. Why is the proclamation of the gospel, making of disciples, and building up of the body of Christ, so very important, even essential?
When God made the earth, He did so according His design, wisdom, and purpose. When He designed “redemption,” and revealed His plan and way in the coming of Christ, and His work on Calvary, He laid the basis in truth, so that man could know his Creator, and be saved by His Redeemer. It would be only by God’s way, wisdom, and design and purpose, not man’s. The revelation of God’s plan actually began before the foundation of the world. It was first revealed in the creation in the Garden of Eve after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and death like a cancer, entered into the perfect creation of God. Throughout the Old Testament, spanning thousands of years, God has proclaimed by holy men and women, prophets, priests, and kings alike, the truths of the eternal God, and the revelation of His ways. It was Moses who prayed to God, “Show me now thy way, that I may know Thee.” (Ex. 33:13) For the one who would truly know the ways of God, God is ready and willing to reveal His ways that we may know Him. Beyond creation, by the appearance of the Lamb of who takes away the sin of the world, and the finished work of Christ on Calvary, God has revealed to all mankind HIS way, HIS provision whereby men might be saved, and come to a true knowledge of Him. So, how does the event of Pentecost enter into this picture, since it seems to be pivotal in the beginning of the realization of the mandate of Christ, or the Great Commission?
There are basically three elements which are necessary for truly answering the call, and being committed successfully to the accomplishment of the mandate. The first is the propagation, or spreading, of the truth. Paul wrote to the Romans, “…How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed….and how shall they believe in Him in whom they have not heard.” (10:14) Jesus spoke of Himself as being the TRUTH, who always spoke truth. He also said that it was by the truth, the knowledge of the truth, that one is set free. Secondly, as we see on the day of Pentecost, and the outpouring of the Spirit, the power of God came to be upon, and indwelt the disciples. This power was Christ Himself by the Spirit. Jesus had told His disciples, “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me…,” ultimately unto the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) So, the knowledge of the truth is essential, and also the power of the Spirit to spread the truth, manifesting the life of Christ before men. But there is a third element that is so very important. It has to do with calling of the individual disciple, and his acceptance and embracing of the call, whole-heartedly and without reserve. The gifts that God gives, and His calling which He does not retract, dominates the disciple in his objectives and means, for the accomplishment of his mission, always looking unto Christ, and abiding in Him.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see the imperativeness of the calling, and our individual role and response to that calling. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad