The Mission Continues
The Jesus Mission Continues • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsWe exist to ensure the Jesus mission continues.
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We only exist to continue the Jesus mission!
1. Today, I want to talk to you about the Jesus Mission. I am convinced that we, the Jesus Followers, are here for one reason and only to ensure the Jesus mission continues. But, I find today there are very few Churches, Pastors, and Jesus Followers committed to seeing the Jesus mission continue. While most or all churches have a mission, it may not be the Jesus mission. My experience is that most churches fall into this category consciously or unconsciously, in part or whole. A church, or a Christian for that matter, pursues any other mission than the one defined by Jesus is pursuing the wrong mission, heading to the wrong destination, and opening the gates for the enemies of God to come and devour his Flock, the Sheep of His fold.
Ha-Foke-Bah
Ha-Foke-Bah
De-Cola-Bah
Ha-Foke-Bah
Ha-Foke-Bah
Mashiach-Bah
Turn it, and turn it, everything you need is in it.
Reflect on it, grow old and gray with it.
Do not turn from it.
The Messiah is in it.
3. Today, I wonder how many Jesus followers here or watching online can tell me the four passages Jesus commands his followers to continue His mission.
1. Matthew 28:19–20
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,
teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
2. Mark 16:15-18
Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will never harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
3. Luke 24:46–48
He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day,
and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
4. Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
As we consider these texts, two things ought to remain in our minds. These four texts and only these four texts should inform everything you and I understand about the Jesus Mission. or what is commonly called the Great Commission. Secondly, these four passages state that Jesus' mission is what Jesus' followers are supposed to be doing all the time in every generation.
Now let me make a few brief comments on these four passages.
A. We Exist for This Reason.
1. First, there is no such thing as repetition for repetition's sake in the Jewish understanding of Scripture. Since the time of Jesus, there has been a Jewish Bible Study Rule, "Ka-yotze bo mi-makom acher" ("Like that in another place") and means when you find passages of similar content, you must explain them in light of one another.
2. Second, all four of these passages happen at different times after the most significant event in human history: the resurrection. In other words, the continuing Jesus mission is a top priority.
B. It is For All People.: Third, Jesus' mission in Matthew 15:24 is not the mission we continue, but we continue to take Jesus' mission to the nation of Israel and all the nations. Mathew says, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…" and Luke says explicitly in Acts they will are witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
C. Wholeheartedly Follow Jesus.:
1. Fourth, they are instructed to teach all that Jesus commanded them. The message is so important that Jesus says in Mark, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
2. Fifth, the Jesus commission is given to the disciples of Messiah who had just abandoned, doubted, and forsook the Messiah. So what have sin have you committed that you will use as your excuse? None.
3. Sixth, we are not eye-witnesses, but we are blessed witnesses (John 20:29). This is how we know that every future generation of Jesus followers has the mandate to continue the original Jesus mission. Have you tasted that the Lord is good? Has the light of His salvation awakened your soul? Then you are blessed because you did not see the horrors of His death nor the splendor of His resurrected body, but you believe unto salvation.
D. It Must be Spirit Inspired: Last, Jesus' mission is made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. Every single believer from the moment of that first Shavuot the Spirit of God dwells in every single Jesus follower, and some Jesus followers are especially empowered.
Every single Jesus Follower exists to inspire all people to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
II. Application and Validation of Passage
A. The Jesus mission must be more than a heavenly institution being operated in an earthly manner.
1. There are four "must-dos" to continue the Jesus mission: STEP.
2. Must have the power that comes from the Holy Ghost.
3. Loyalty to Jesus first and foremost at any cost.
B. The characteristics of a congregation continuing the Jesus Mission.
1. They naturally bear the fruit of the Holy Ghost.
2. They are not discouraged by disappointment.
3. They speak the truth in love, and they do not falsify themselves or the Gospel.
4. They are the ones making a real difference in the world today.
C. The kinds of people who will not be happy continuing the Jesus Mission.
1. Those who don't like God's slow pace.
2. Those who refuse to let Jesus' mission reck their own plans.
3. Those who expect Jesus' mission to be fun.
4. Those who embrace Jesus' mission for what they can get out of it.
D. The kinds of people who will be happy continuing the Jesus Mission.
1. Those who have tasted and taste that the Lord is good.
2. Those who have surrendered to the Cross of Christ.
3. Those who care about the lost being found.
4. Those who care about the found being matured.
We only exist to continue the Jesus mission!
III. Conclusion
A. Now, what are we going to do with this truth? Are we going to sit around all day and argue about it? Strategize it to death? Or, are we going to do something about it? Are we going to stand up and be counted among those who put loyalty to Jesus and his mission first at any cost? I will tell you as for me and my house; we will serve the Lord and continue His mission.
B. You don't have to be afraid as if God will give you a burden beyond what you can bear. He never gives us more than we can handle, But don't you dare break down into tears, run away from the challenge of the burden God gives you. If He gave it to you, then He believes you can bear it; you need to get on His page with Him.
C. In my opinion, the Jesus mission has never been more neglected and threatened than by the current American church (and I include Messianic Judaism in that category). Church fads, Christian entitlements, an over-emphasis on music and production over the Gospel itself, mega-churches and satellite locations, social media, and the like.
D. I am not scared. I know that Jesus himself ensures the survival of His own mission. He will always have a remnant. The darkness will not prevail. He will not let his bride go long in corruption. The power of His Spirit in his wholehearted followers will challenge the darkness.
The Mission Continues
The Mission Continues