Text:        Matthew 28:18-20

By:           Bro Chris Afekolu (Bishop)

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And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV)

An old legend says that after Jesus had ascended back into heaven, He was talking with some of the angels, telling them all that He had accomplished while living on earth. When He explained that He had left the entire project of the kingdom in the hands of twelve ordinary men, the angels were astonished! How could such a tremendous achievement as the salvation of the world be left to a handful of ordinary people? Their chief question was, what if they fail? Jesus replied: I have made no other provision.

While the story is legendary, it conveys a remarkable truth. One of the truly amazing aspects of Jesus ministry as the Son of God, the King of Israel, and the Savior of the world is that He did it all and then left it in the hands of twelve imperfect men who had lived with Him and learned from Him for only three years.

While the story is legendary, it conveys a remarkable truth. One of the truly amazing aspects of Jesus ministry as the Son of God, the King of Israel, and the Savior of the world is that He did it all and then left it in the hands of twelve imperfect men who had lived with Him and learned from Him for only three years.

Area of confusion especially among the denomination world arises when the term “disciple” is used to designate a special class of Christians, the “super-committed”. It is not unusual to hear someone ask, Yes, you are a Christian, but are you a disciple? In this usage, becoming a disciple is something of a two-stage process: You first become a Christian; then you are “discipled” into a committed servant of Christ. Biblically speaking, every Christian is a disciple.

In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19,20), Jesus instructed the apostles to “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”. They were to make disciples by baptizing and teaching them. Becoming a Christian and becoming a disciple are not two separate processes, or even two stages of one process. Acts 11:26 says that in Antioch the “disciples” were called “Christians”.

Key message today is to remind us that we are disciples of Jesus Christ. The Gospel massage was handed over to us to pass on to the next generation should our Saviour tarry in His second coming – “just like the relay race”. The early disciples obeyed the command of God not through human compulsion, rather by imitation of Jesus Christ. No wonder Antioch the disciples were called “Christians” – ‘Christ like’. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:11a, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men”. The treasure of the gospel is in earthen vessel (2 Corinthians 4:7). Angels were not given the privilege of delivering the gospel to the world. The honor and responsibility was given to men. Men are saved through the preaching of the word (1 Corinthians 1:21). In this sense, men save other men …..”let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins”(James 5:20 NKJV). Certainly, the New Testament writers considered human contributory effort as a vital link in the chain that saves.

We do not force men to be Christians. We do not force or entice Christians to obey our Savior commandments. We do not frighten them. Rather, we persuade them. This is the great key in saving souls and achieving godly and faithful living as children of the Most High God. Not by rhetoric but by persuasions. God rules the material universe by force, but He does not rule man in the same way. Instead, He stands at the door of man’s heart and knocks, desiring an invitation to enter ….”Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20 NKJV)

Teaching is the only method of bringing people to Christ. If they cannot be won by teaching, then it is impossible to win them. Paul said that he persuaded men because he knew “the fear of the Lord”. KJV uses the “terror of the Lord”. This is an attribute of God which people sometimes overlook. God is both good and severe ….” For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NKJV). Both the goodness and the wrath of God are seen throughout the Old Testament. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31 NKJV). Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28-29 NKJV).

“Reverence” means “profound respect mingled with fear and affection”. It exists in the hearts, but it is expressed and manifested in many ways.

Those who have reverence for God will show this profound respect in their daily lives. One great characteristic of God and quite explicit in the scripture is His omnipresence. God is everywhere. We should live in constant recognition of this truth. The Elders, preachers, Teachers, or your fellow brethren cannot be present everywhere! You do not need to deceive yourself by pretending to live the Christian Culture when they are present.

Live your real self so that your brethren could see your area of weakness for possible support to overcome such challenge(s) in this present age. As I always say, you can deceive man but not God. You may be seen by many to be pious, is it how God sees you? If we would remember that the God who sees each sparrow fall is also watching our every act, it would be a great influence for good in our daily lives.

Those who have reverence for God will manifest it in worship services. Many come to the assembly and do not see God, but He is there. If only we could recognize this? It will help us in our composure and conduct and appearances during worship. Emphasis; those persistent late comers, those that roam about, those that dress half naked, those that are distracted with every little pin that drop ……. May have a rethink!

At the burning bush God said to Moses, “…. remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). The presence of God makes it holy. I am not saying you should walk on bare feet in the meeting hall but rather we should purge our hearts of all filthiness and worldliness as we approach the throne of mercy for worship.

TAKEAWAY

• As we become Christians, we should at every point in time or continuously know that we are Disciples of Jesus Christ. The entire project of the Kingdom rest in our hands and salvation of the world is left in our hands.
• Only let the lives you live be worthy of the Good News of the Christ, in order that, whether I come and see you or, being absent, only hear of you, I may know that you are standing fast in one spirit and with one mind, fighting shoulder to shoulder for the faith of the Good News. (Philippians 1:27 WNT)
• We are encouraged to live as citizens of Heaven, conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Jesus Christ.

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