Go!- The great Commission isn't a Suggestion part 2

The Great Commission Isn't a Suggestion (Part 2)

We Don't Go Because We Are Qualified, We Go Because We Are Sent

In Part 1, we looked at what it means to be commissioned.

A commission is not a suggestion. It is not a casual invitation. It is an assignment given by someone with authority.

When Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission, He did not simply give them information to remember. He gave them a mission to accomplish.And at the center of that mission is one powerful word:

Go!

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..."— Matthew 28:19

The command of Jesus begins with movement.

Go.

Not sit.Not wait.Not hope someone else does it.

Go.

The Great Commission Is a Call to Action

Throughout Scripture, God often calls His people to move before they feel completely ready.

Think about Abraham. God called him to leave what was familiar and go to a land God would show him.

Think about Moses. God called him to stand before Pharaoh, even though Moses felt inadequate.

Think about the disciples. Jesus sent ordinary fishermen, tax collectors, and everyday people to carry the message of the Kingdom.

The pattern we see throughout Scripture is this:

God does not wait until people feel qualified before He calls them.

He calls them, and then He equips them.

The Great Commission is not reserved for a small group of people with a specific title. It is not only for pastors, missionaries, or those who stand on stages.

It is a call for every follower of Jesus.

Our Mission Field Is Where God Has Placed Us

When many people hear the word "missions," they immediately think about traveling to another country.

And certainly, God calls some people to serve in other places and among other cultures.

But the command of Jesus was not only for a select few.

Every believer has been placed somewhere on purpose.

Your workplace is a mission field.

Your neighborhood is a mission field.

Your family is a mission field.

Your friendships are a mission field.

The question is not, "Am I called to go?"

The question is:

Where has God already placed me, and how can I faithfully represent Jesus there?

We often pray for God to show us where He wants us to go, while missing the people He has already put around us.

We Don't Go Because We Are Qualified — We Go Because We Are Sent

One of the greatest reasons people hesitate to share their faith is because they feel inadequate.

"I don't know enough."

"I'm not a good speaker."

"I don't have all the answers."

But Jesus never told His disciples, "Go because you have everything figured out."

He told them:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."— Acts 1:8

Notice the order.

First comes the Spirit.

Then comes the mission.

Jesus did not send His followers out in their own strength. He sent them with the power and presence of God.

The same is true for us.

We do not go because we are impressive.

We do not go because we have mastered every answer.

We go because Christ has sent us.

We Are Not Called to Timid Christianity

The Great Commission is not a call to quietly keep the Gospel to ourselves.

The message we carry is not a suggestion for self-improvement.

It is the good news that Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death, that forgiveness is available, and that the Kingdom of God has come.

That kind of message requires boldness.

When the early church faced opposition, they did not pray for God to remove every difficulty. They prayed:

"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness."— Acts 4:29

And God answered:

"And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."— Acts 4:31

The first followers of Jesus understood something we must remember:

Boldness does not mean arrogance.

Boldness does not mean being harsh or combative.

Biblical boldness means faithfully proclaiming the truth because we trust the One who sent us.

We do not carry opinions.

We carry the Gospel.

We do not announce ourselves.

We proclaim Jesus.

The Danger of Waiting

Sometimes we can convince ourselves that we are being patient when we are actually avoiding obedience.

We say:

"When I know more, I'll go."

"When I feel more confident, I'll go."

"When the timing is better, I'll go."

But Jesus did not say, "Go when everything is comfortable."

He simply said:

Go.

Faithfulness often begins with willingness.

God can use a willing heart far more than a person who is waiting for perfect conditions.

The Question We Must Ask

The Great Commission forces every follower of Jesus to examine their life.

Not just:

"Do I believe the Gospel?"

But:

"Am I carrying the Gospel?"

Not just:

"Have I received the message?"

But:

"Am I sharing the message?"

Jesus has commissioned His Church.

We are not spectators watching God's mission happen.

We are participants in it.

The Great Commission isn't a suggestion.

It is a call to go.

And the question for each of us is:

Where is God sending me?