Following Jesus (5) – ‘COMMISSION’

COMMISSION: 3 TOOLS FOR MISSION
(Mark 3:14-15; 6:7-13; Mat. 10:1-42)
A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 2 November 2008

I. JESUS SENDS US WITH PURPOSE ( Mark 3:14b; Mat. 10:7, 8 )

1. PREACH THE WORD!

Preaching, Healing the sick, Casting out demons – this is God’s work.

You have been commissioned to preach! We preach through our
Lifestyle – who we are
Action – what we do, and
Words – what we say.

What are we to preach?
There are so many things we could preach out against…
We preach ONE MESSAGE: JESUS CHRIST!
Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen from the dead (Rom. 1:16)

Mk. 6:12 The disciples “went out and preached that people should repent.” We must preach repentance. Repentance is a sign that God is at work..
We must go out. Instruction without application is useless. We must go out and put it into practice. (Matt 28:18, Acts 1:8). People are not going to church. The church needs to go to the people.

2. MAKE DISCIPLES
“Discipleship is the process of bringing people into right relationship with God and developing them to full maturity in Christ through intentional growth strategies, that they might multiply the entire process in others also” (Tony Yeo)

The Great Commission called for disciples to teach others who would learn, who would in turn train others – a ministry of multiplication.

Jesus saw the Disciples as His greatest accomplishment

Keep the main thing the main thing! Mat. 28:19, 20; Mk 16:15-16

The Power of Multiplication

“There’s nothing more exciting than helping another person become a Christian – except helping that person into an exhilarating experience of discipleship.” (Lloyd John Ogilvie)

OUR MISSION’S PURPOSE
To win souls and to make disciples

II. JESUS SENDS US WITH POWER (Mark 6:7; Luke 9:1)

“He gave them power and authority”

Jesus simply gave them the authority and power of God. Mark 6:7 Luke 9:1.

The church got its authority in Matthew 28:18 and its power in Acts 1:8. Our power and authority is found in our relationship with Jesus (see Acts 19:13-16). It is His power! We have a delegated authority. exousia = the right to act

If we have spent time in true communion with our Lord, and allowed ourselves to become like Him, then the commission of power is for us. It is not about you, but what God can do through you. (Mat. 11:11; John 20:29; 14:12)

The disciples did two things. In Mk. 6:12, we see them ministering to people’s eternal needs. And in verse 13, we see them ministering to people’s felt needs. God calls us to minister to the whole person! JESUS HEALS!

III. JESUS SENDS US WITH PROVISIONS (Mark 6:8-11; Mt. 10:9-15)

Mat. 10:1-42 Limited Commissioning. “Some verses in the Bible were not written TO everybody, but the entire Bible was written FOR everybody.”

Mark 6:8, 9 “Travel light!” You can always count on God to take care of you.
- God’s call will never lack God’s supply.
- Be totally committed to the mission, and not preoccupied with material things.
Mk. 6:10 Stay in one place. Don’t focus on personal comfort.
Mk. 6:11 Sometimes you just have to Move On. Don’t push yourself where you are not wanted.

Someone once said, “You need to be L and M. Liquid and Mobile. The idea was that you should be able to take everything you need in a suitcase and a briefcase. GOD WILL PROVIDE for your physical needs. This is a step of faith. Any time you take a step into the unknown, trusting God and His providence, it’s a step of faith.
Luke 22:35-36 When we step out in faith to serve Him, we will always have everything we need to live our lives – commissioned lives.

GOD IS CALLING YOU!
GOD IS USING YOU FOR HIS SPECIAL PURPOSE
YOU ARE COMMISSIONED WITH …
PURPOSE
POWER AND
PROVISIONS