“…and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8a KJV)
Jesus’ words, above and below, are not only profound, but they are pertinent as it relates to our primary responsibility to perpetuate the growth of the church, both the local church and the large church, the universal church. I’m sure these are not new words for you, but I think we, Christians, need to find a newfound focus on making new disciples; find new revived, relentless energy in recruiting the lost, find returned rigor in rearranging the errant thoughts by means of the reliable truth contained in God’s word, and finally, find ways to retain people in the kingdom once they have come out of the darkness that once reigned over them. Please don’t read this thinking about my words but listen to the words from the mouth of the Master.
Now if you are saying, “I have brought some people into the kingdom,” or “I’ve done my part,” think about this for a moment. What would have happened if the apostles and first Christians had stopped at Jerusalem? What would have happened if they had restricted their witnessing to all Judea? What if they had boldly gone only as far as Samaria in being Jesus’ witnesses? What would have been the impact on the uttermost part of the earth if they did not continue to make disciples throughout the known world?
The old songs we sang in the past make all the more sense nowadays. Remember the one that contained the lyrics, “You bring the one next to you, and I’ll bring the one next to me. In no time at all, we will win them all, win them, win them, one by one.” The composer was not saying that we could stop winning others to Christ once we won one soul for the Lord, but the admonishment in the song is that we continue winning souls for the Lord. If you have brought one, bring another. And after that one, bring another. Let the pattern continue. Don’t do it because I said so or suggests that you do so, but do it based on the words from the Master’s mouth.
Someone asked me the other day if our church had an evangelistic program. My answer: We have the words from the Master’s mouth. Oh, we can be as creative and resourceful as our human minds devise and develop contemporary evangelistic outreach programs. But get this please. This matter of winning souls does have to be complicated. You see, Jesus gave us THE PROGRAM in the Great Commission. We just need to fight the enemies’ efforts to justify abandoning going ye therefore and get busy lifting up Jesus and let Him do the rest. Didn’t He say, “If I be lifted up from the earth, I’ll draw all men unto me?” Why are we procrastinating? Why are we letting fear rule over our faith and trust in the Lord? Why do we become shy when speaking up about salvation is of the most importance? Let each of us put forth the effort and make disciples. Does this sound like a challenge or a clear assignment this morning? Good! That was what the Lord intended by this specific, sent message. Yes, It is specifically for you, and it was sent for a specific purpose. Remember, it is based on the words from the Master’s mouth. Be blessed!
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King