Matthew 28:19, 20 - Jesus Great Commission Today.
Matthew 28:19, 20 (NKJV) 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, 20 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.
COMMENTARY PEARL
I remember my first try at evangelizing.
It was at a church event held near a local
park. We were told to approach strangers in pairs,
tell them the Good News, and invite them to
church. As a new believer, this was very tough for
me. I was tongue tied and embarrassed to walk up
to people in New York City that I didn't know.
New Yorkers definitely didn't want to be
distracted, I reasoned. But the truth is I was ashamed
and ashamed of being ashamed. How would I make
disciples of "all the nations" when I couldn't even
approach someone in the park up the street?
After years of going around the mountain,
I settled the evangelism issue in my heart: I
would share my faith naturally, in whatever way I
could, with whomever I could, whenever I saw an
opportunity. I would be mindful, willing, and available.
Resolving this dilemma has freed me to have many
wonderful "Jesus encounters" with waitresses,
neighbors, HVAC repairmen, extended family members,
folks in nursing homes, and grocery-store clerks.
Even small gestures like writing "Jesus cares
about you" on the envelope with a hotel staff tip
or on a dinner check, is evangelism. As a
result of being available this way, I've prayed
with many and even seen some healed in Jesus's
name. Don't get me wrong, evangelistic events and
overseas mission trips are awesome experiences. But
the main way I fulfill the Great Commission is
by simply sharing my faith with people I
encounter as I walk along life's way. Pamela Toussaint
Howard
Faith Step: Commit to being mindful of
Him, willing, and available to speak for Him as
you go about your daily activities. [Mornings
With Jesus 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
The Best Way to Help People Believe
Have you ever led someone to Christ? If
not, why not? Maybe you think that God can never
use you in this way, that youre just not
gifted in that regard, and it is only for a
privileged few to lead others to Christ. But if this
were the case, why was the Great Commission given
to every Christian? Every believer is called to
go and make disciples of all the nations
(Matthew 28:19). That means we are all called to
evangelism. We all have a part to play.
I must admit that its a mystery to me
that God has chosen to use people as the primary
communicators of His truth. An interviewer once commented
to me that I seem to be very natural when I
speak, that it must come easily to me. Nothing
could be further from the truth, I said.
Before I was a Christian, I wasnt a public
speaker.
I remember being in an English class in
school where we were all required to give an
impromptu, five-minute speech in front of the class on
an assigned statement. Being a poor student, I
hadnt read the assignment, so I stood frozen with
fear in front of the class. I was not a public
speaker.
But after I came to faith in Jesus
Christ, I realized the best way to help people
believe was through verbal communication, be it in
front of a group or an individual. I realized that
it is not about me or what I feel comfortable
doing; it is about obeying God.
The primary way God reaches people who do
not yet know Him is through verbal
communication. How can people hear about Christ unless
someone tells them? That someone is supposed to be
you or me. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
The Most Difficult Part of Evangelism
I think the most difficult part of
evangelism is getting the conversation started. When I
preach, its a monologue. Basically I get up and
speak and then ask people to make a decision. But
when I talk to people one-on-one, its a
dialogue.
As Ive said before, everyones
favorite subject is themselves. People love to talk
about themselves. So I ask questions and listen
for an area where I can appropriately apply the
gospel to the conversation. Then I try to find that
bridge to build to take us to the next place.
The objective in sharing your faith is to
build a bridge, not burn one. A lot of times
evangelistic conversations end before they start because
were unnecessarily offensive or weird. Or, we
simply put people off.
Jesus said, Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness sake (Matthew 5:10
NKJV). So be persecuted for being righteous not
for being weird.
Also, the objective in sharing your faith
is not to win the argument; its to win the
soul. Ive seen people armed with the latest
apologetics, with their gospel guns ready, and they blow
the nonbeliever out of the water. They won the
argument, and the other person walks away feeling
humiliated and offended. That is not good evangelism.
We want to win the soul.
Think of Jesus with the woman at the well
in Samaria. He could have said, Look,
lets just cut to the chase. Youre an immoral
woman. Im God in human form. So repent.
Would that have been true? Yes.
Is that what He said? No.
Instead, He engaged her in conversation
and drew her in. So dont try to win the
argument; try to win the soul. Be a nice person. If
you want to win some, be winsome. [Greg Laurie
from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com re 1 Corinthians 2:4]
One More Stepping Stone
Anika was our German shuttle bus driver
who carted us and our luggage from the Munich
airport to our hotel. As we pulled away from the
curbside, I said, "Anika, we're going to pray here in
the back seat. But you're driving, so don't
close your eyes!" The look she gave us in the
rearview mirror said it all: You people are odd. We
were wonderful examples of 1 Peter 2:9, "...a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light" (KJV).
But it's the odd things that stick in
your mind. And sometimes your heart. The next
morning when Anika loaded us up to take us back to
the airport, she thanked us after we prayed out
loud for her (we also interceded for her live-in
boyfriend, as well as her parents, whom she hadn't seen
for years). When we said goodbye, she commented
with wet eyes, "I like you people. There's
something about you that makes me happy. I wish I
could go with you."
"You can," I said. "One of these days
we're going to lift off, and we'll go higher than
any airplane could ever take us. It's all about
following Christ." Anika smiled. We were one more
stepping stone in her long journey which, I'm
convinced, will land her in heaven.
Sometimes evangelism doesn't mean
delivering the whole Gospel message at a curbside and
asking for a response before the light turns green.
Everything we say or do that moves an individual one
step closer to Jesus and salvation is evangelism.
And allowing our joy in Christ to just spill
over and splash on others is as powerful a
witness as a three-point sermon.
Holy Spirit, fill me with your joy today
as I walk in your presence and lean on your
strength. I pray for the opportunity to move at least
one person at least one step closer to heaven.
[Joni Eareckson Tada Daily Devotional:
http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional re Acts 16:25
ILLUSTRATION
Spreading the Good News
When I was a child, I loved to pick
fuzzy, fluffy dandelions. I'd blow the seeds and
watch them drift away on the breeze. Then I'd run
to pick another flower. We lived in the
country, and it didn't matter if a gazillion
dandelion seeds were scattered hither and yon. But in
a neighborhood with pristine lawns, blowing
dandelion seeds might get you in trouble with the
friends next door who spent hours digging up weeds.
The truth is, dandelions are designed to spread.
A windy day can scatter plenty of seeds even
without a little girl's help.
Another plant that spreads easily is the
tumbleweed. It begins with a small seed taking root in
dry ground, and it grows from the nutrients and
moisture available. Then, drying out and dying, it
breaks free from its roots and tumbles along with
the wind, casting its seeds as it rolls.
Like dandelions and tumbleweeds, our
faith begins with a small seed planted by another.
God provides the light and living water,
allowing the seed to grow. Then we die to self and
break loose from our worldly bonds, allowing the
Holy Spirit to take us where God wills so that we
can spread the Good News. Our words and actions
are the seeds God plants, waters, and brings to
new life.
If we wonder whether we're capable of
spreading the gospel, Paul's words to the Corinthians
can encourage us. The believers in Corinth had
been arguing about which disciple they
followed"Paul, Peter, or another preacher named Apollos.
Paul let them know that ultimately, it didn't
matter which disciple had first shared the message
or had the biggest influence. He wrote, "I
planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered
it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not
important who does the planting, or who does the
watering. What's important is that God makes the seed
grow" (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). We are not
responsible for other people's spiritual growth. We're
responsible for our own faithfulness in letting
ourselves be used by God, in letting the wind of the
Holy Spirit move us where we need to be. We have
the privilege of letting people know there is a
wonderful future for those who believe in Jesus, and
that heaven awaits.
Be a dandelion. Be a tumbleweed. Spread
the Good News.
Lord God, I want to be like a dandelion
or tumbleweed, ready to be moved by the wind of
Your Holy Spirit. Teach me to be responsive to
Your leading, trusting in what You are asking me
to do. When You give me an opportunity, may I
always be willing to share with others the good
news of who You are and what You have done.
[Earth Psalms by Francine Rivers]
ONE LINERS
Christ's method alone will give true success
in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled
with men as one who desired their good. He showed
His sympathy for them, ministered to their
needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them,
"Follow Me." MH 143
If the love of God flows through us, we will
find ourselves sharing that love with those
around us, for God is love, and that love is bigger
than its container, the Christian, so it must
overflow. Al Bryant; [Time with God SB mod.] re Luke
12:35
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Matthew 28:19, 20 - Jesus Great Commission
Today.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201011-1126.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio:
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
