The commission given by Jesus to his disciples is referred to as the Great Commission. This significant moment is found in the New Testament Matthew 28:19-20 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’
Many of us as christians who are living ignore this commission. Our Judgment for us will be based on the commission that God has given to us. So this begs the question, what are we supposed to do to undertake the commission. Can we all do like how apostle Paul did ? are we all supposed to be like our church pastors or full time ministers to do this commission ?
What does it take to undertake this commission that God has given to us ? The answer to that is 2 Timothy 2:1-7
Be Strong in Grace
2 Timothy 2:1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
We cannot undertake this commission by ourselves, we have to depend on God’s grace to undertake this commission
Without Grace we can never complete the commission of God.
When we try to live a life of Righteousness aligned to God, it can help us get more Grace from Jesus.
Romans 5:20-21 'The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
Romans 4:5 'However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. '
We have a God who is a King and our saviour, who has a throne of Grace, we are called to approach him to receive the grace to make us stronger..
Hebrews 4:16 'Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.'
We are called to value the Grace provided to us and not waste it - 2 Corinthians 6:1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
Be Spiritually reproductive
2 Timothy 2:2 'And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ‘
A seed only reproduces plants. We are being credited with many spiritual blessing to be called as a blessing to others..
We are not called in Christ just to receive forChrist came to this world to give his goodness.
We receive from Christ the living water every day - 'John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” '
We are to worship the Spirit if we are to be reproductive - John 4:23-24 'Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” '
If we have to live to be reproductive, our lives should have the light of Jesus, shine in us..2 Timothy 2:2 (a) …entrust to reliable people
Our ways of life should speak the fruits of Christ to be a reliable people. The righteousness should reflect in our lives, As far as possible we have to be righteous with God and aspire to become like Jesus.
Cloth yourself with the fruits of Spirit to be “Holy” Colossians 3:12-14 'Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. '
We cannot become a reliable people ourselves as we walk with our wisdom, we have to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us, once we walk according to the Holy Spirit the righteousness of God is given to us, for every walk ,there are good deeds that is deposited in us from Christ. 2 Timothy 1:14 'Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. ‘
Our life becomes a testimony to others and builds the credibility of reliable people to hear / listen God’s word.
Once we become Spiritually reproductive to earn the trust, we can preach to others. 2 Timothy 2:2 (b) …who will also be qualified to teach others.
Teach others does not mean its only for pastor to teach sermons, its to do the works of God - teaching the goodness of God by evangelisation or even preaching or any service for God.
All cannot be qualified to become teachers unless we become reproductive seeds in christ.
If we are not filled with the Holy Spirit or lead by the Holy Spirit we will not be qualified to teach others. In case you choose to teach others when you are not qualified, we will become like Sons of Sceva where Satan can pound on us and break us down like how we read in Acts 19:11-15
When Moses went to meet the Lord and came back, his face was radiant and people were afraid to come near him. Thats how we must emulate ourself to be spiritually reproductive, the goodness should show in our face / action and all that we do.. Exodus 34:29-30 'When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord . When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. '
Suffering in Christ
2 Timothy 2:3 'Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ‘
We share all that God has given to us. we share the Power and authority that God has given to us to cast all the demonic powers that attack us. We share the joy and suffering as christ experienced in this world.
Undertaking the Commission we will have suffering. There is no path outside that. Jesus himself described that to his disciples Matthew 24:9-13 ' “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ‘
Without suffering there is no place in Kingdom of God - As children of God we inherit all what God has gone thru, he suffered in the world, same way we suffer, but by the strength of Jesus we can overcome suffering - Matthew 19:23-24 'Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” '
We are called to Rejoice in suffering as we experience suffering, rejoicing breaks the strongholds of Satan. Paul did this when he was in prison. The gates of high security prison had to tremble. 1 Peter 4:12-13 'Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ‘
When we suffer, God pours his grace more to walk thru the struggles, thats how the perseverance spirit in us comes to us. 1 Peter 4:14,16 'If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. '
Many times when we suffer, we have a feeling we have lost everything. Thats true only for the worldly people. when we walk with Christ, we are no longer worldly people, we are citizens of heaven, we gain a lot like how Paul describes his suffering, the world opposite to what God sees (see the underlined verse)
2 Corinthians 6:4-10 'Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. '
Stay untangled with the world
2 Timothy 2:4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.
As you do the commission for Jesus, we have to have a disciplined life like a solider. Timothy compares how a solider does not mix with the civil people.. He always lives to please the commanding officer.
As a Soldier waits for the Command from his commanding officer our directions have to be only from Jesus not from the world.
We cannot live like the people of world that’s what Timothy says “soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs” - James explains this well James 4:4 'You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. '
Strive Lawfully
2 Timothy 2:5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.
There is no shortcut in Christ or Christian living. similarly there is no shortcuts in fulfilling the commission, its a hard work like how a mason worker builds the house or any factory worker works in the ground.
Everything works based on sincerity of heart, truth and intent of our mind. You don’t experience the Spirit and power of God unless you pray that way. You don’t experience the spirit and fruit of the work unless we are sincere in the work God calls us to do.. There is no fruit for backbenchers and people who do for the sake of doing the commission. Look around each mega church ,,analyse the history all the growth has been possible because of how they did lawfully with utmost sincerity to God.
Struggle Intently
2 Timothy 2:6 'The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. ‘
Patience is the key for God’s blessing, Patience and faith are two pillars for God to act and do his work.. James 5:7-8 'Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. '
God rewards for the struggles we go thru, He will reward us with the blessing for even small thing we sacrifice for him. Hebrews 6:10 'God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. '
Our God is a promise keeper, Our God is a God who fulfils his promise. Its impossible for God to lie and take you thru shortcuts to fulfill his commission - Hebrews 6:13-15,17-18 'When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. '
Remember once we full fill the commission great is the blessing that awaits us. He will cover over a multitude of sins if we turn one sinner to God’s way.. Think of this verse James 5:19-20 'My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.'
We have a place in God’s eternal kingdom that cannot be measured here.. We receive the share of our work when we return home to be in his kingdom..
If we prepare the above 6 , we will be thoroughly equipped to Undertaking Commission. Pray more to God to enable you to help you. Remember the last day when we stand before him, he is not going to ask what we did in the world. His question is what did we do to fullfill his commission. We live in last days. Not much time is left, lets act quickly to be like the last worker who receives the wages in full Matthew 20:1-19
Matthew 20:12,14-16 '‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” '