Category: Evangelism

The ALL consuming call of Jesus

May 26, 2024

Bible reading: Matthew 28:16-20

The title of this message is the ALL Consuming Call of Jesus. I want to look at Jesus’ last words before He returned to heaven. This is known as the Great Commission. As we work through the passage from Matthew 28, I want to take special notice of the word ALL.

1. ALL authority belonged to Jesus

Matthew 28:18 – Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”

Jesus has all authority on heaven and earth. That is a big statement. It means no-one has more authority than Jesus. But as we look at the Scriptures we see this is true and undeniable.

In Matthew chapters 8&9 we see that Jesus had authority on earth. He had authority over sickness and disease, demonic forces and demons, the forces of nature, life and death.

Not only did Jesus say He had all authority, but He clearly demonstrated in the way He lived and ministered to the people He came in contact with. No demon, sickness, storm or death could disobey His command and authority.

2. Jesus said to go to ALL the world and make disciples

Matthew 28:19a – Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…

In the last point we see Jesus has all authority. With this authority and His final words to His followers He said, “Go into all the world and make disciples”. It is a compelling command. It is an all-consuming call that can’t be ignored.

All of us here all called to the mission field too. Though not all of us are called to go abroad. We have a mission right outside this church. One church I went to once had the sign over the exit, “Mission starts here”. People would often reach up and touch as they left church.

People here is our region need to hear about God’s love for them, how Jesus came to show us what God is like, that Jesus died to pay the price for our sin and He rose again to life. And by putting our faith and trust in Him we have abundant life now, and live for eternity with Him when we die.

3. Jesus told us to teach them to obey ALL His teachings

Matthew 28:20a – Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.

I have been a Christian for 35 of my 57 years on earth. The first 15 years of being a Christian I was really good at going into the world and preaching the good news. I was able to talk to people, share my faith, give them tracts and people would come to Christ. So, I was being obedient to the first part of the Great Commission.

However, I found that while people were getting saved, I would lose track of people and not know if they were growing or not. One day I felt God speak to me and say, “I told you to make disciples, not just Christian converts”.

This got me thinking what sort of things did Jesus teach? If we look at the sermon of the mount in Matthew 5-7, we see that Jesus talked about being salt and light, loving one another, giving to the needy, loving our enemies, not talking revenge, praying and fasting, money and possessions, the golden rule, being true disciples and producing good fruit.

Matthew 7:24 says, “Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock”. We need to help people build their house on the solid rock of Jesus’ teachings.

4. Jesus promises to be ALL-ways with us

Matthew 28:20b – And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Jesus promises to be with us always. He says, “Be sure of this!” So, He really wants is to get it.

Jesus’ presence is with you by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. He is with you when you are alone. He is always with us when we meet together. He is our God and we are His people.

Knowing that Jesus is always with me by the presence of His Indwelling Spirit gives me courage and strength. Courage when I am afraid to share my faith or step out and pray for someone. And strength to know His power is with me to enable to share my faith, disciple others and allow God power to flow through me.

The key thought here is Jesus promises to never leave us until He calls us home individually or He comes back for us all. He does not expect us to fulfil the Great Commission alone.

Closing summary

Today we have looked at the passage known as the Great Commission of Jesus. His last words on earth to His followers before returning to heaven. In the message we saw.

  1. Jesus has ALL Authority in heaven and on earth
  2. Jesus told us to go into ALL the world and make disciples
  3. Jesus told us to teach them to obey ALL His teachings
  4. Jesus promises to be ALL-ways with us

In these passages Jesus bookend His commands. He says all authority is with Him and He promises to be all-ways with us. In the middle He says to go and make disciples and teach them to obey all His teachings.

Tears of joy

November 23, 2023
Billy Graham Crusades have been held in 85 countries on six continents. Mr. Graham’s largest Crusade in the world was in Seoul, South Korea, with an estimated 1.1 million people in attendance on June 3, 1973. (From BillyGraham.org)

What brings a tear of joy to your eye?

What brings a tear of joy to my eyes? Seeing people accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

I have watched countless crusade events online where people have come forward to accept Jesus. I have also been to a few. Every time I end up crying my eyes out with joy. It is the evangelist in me.

Knowing people have changed their eternal destination from hell to heaven impacts me greatly. It is a large part of why you and I are here on earth – to bring people to Jesus.

As I type I am reminded of Luke 15:10, “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

This verse reminds me that I am not the only one crying tears of joy. All of heaven celebrates with joy when people come to Jesus too!

Imagine if Jesus came to our little town

June 29, 2023

This morning when I was doing my devotions the words, “Imagine if Jesus came to our town” popped into my mind.

Imagine if Jesus came to our small town. Wow that would be awesome! But then I started to think about the things He would do?

As my mind wandered I imagined Jesus starting His day on the Peak. It is a solitary place overlooking town where He could pray to His Father.

When He came down where would He go? I suspect to where the people were. My first thought was the main street where all of the shops are. I could see Him interacting with people. Preaching, teaching and healing like He did in the Bible.

Then I could see Him crossing over the railway line and going to Hospital and the Nursing Home. Praying for and encouraging people who were sick. Some would be miraculously healed and many would be set free.

After that I could see Him going to the western end of main Street where the bakery is found. I could see Him encouraging the people in the street and then sitting across from the bakery waiting for the lunchtime crowd.

As people came and went I could imagine Him talking about the Bread of Life and having spiritual food that never runs out. People would forget their physical hunger and crave the spiritual food He would give.

From there I could see Jesus going to the primary school and shooting hoops and kicking the footy with the kids. When He was tired I could see Him sitting with all of the pre-school kids on His lap and even more gathered around. He would be sharing the Parables.

As day turned to night I could see Him looking for a place to sleep. I could imagine that rather than staying in the best hotel in town, I could see Him curled up in a doorway with one of the homeless people who sleep rough every night.

The next day He would wake and do it all again in… or move on to some other town that His Father in heaven showed Him.

If Jesus came to town… I suspect it would be about people. It would be about blessing, encouraging, healing, loving and saving people – all people. It would be about showing God’s love and God’s Kingdom to everyone.

God Bless,
Dave