The Great Commission
(This Weekly Prayer Summary was written by Irene Sentosa, from the CBC English Prayer Ministry Core Team, and edited by Brigitta Tedja)
Watch full sermon here
June is Mission Month at City Blessing Church in Walnut. Pastor Paul continued on the series with a sermon entitled, “The Great Commission.” Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, God commissioned us to share the Good News.
Commission: The mission that God gives us. He will go with us when we share the Gospel and when we share our testimonies.
There is a possibility for some of us, since we have been going to Church and have known Jesus for many years, that we have been doing the great “omission” instead of the Great Commission indicating that we do not want to share the Gospel. May there be an impartation of the Holy Spirit to use every one of us. May you experience the goodness of God and know how loving He is—that you would experience the living Christ.
Some young people say they do not want to open their hearts and receive Jesus because they feel they are still too young. Pastor shared about his experience when he was young and moved to United States in 1979. God, in His divine plan, brought him to receive Jesus through his roommate who shared the Good News. That roommate shared the same name, same birthday, and even has the same birth year. Pastor Paul watched his life day in and day out and he wanted to be like him. His roommate was a “bad’ guy but when he received Jesus, Jesus changed his life and told Pastor Paul that Jesus is not a story but He is real. Pastor Paul prayed and received Jesus and from that time on, his life was transformed. Pastor Paul stated that he began to love reading the Word and began sharing his experience and the Good News to others. Many received Jesus, including his entire family.
When we focus on Mission Month, we need to understand the following 5 important points:
1. Now is the Acceptable Year of the Lord
Acceptable Year: This is the year of God’s favor. He will extend His grace to all of us and it is available for us today.
Luke 4:18-20, NKJV
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.
Isaiah 61:1-2, NKJV
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God;
The background of the context in Luke 4:16 was that Jesus went to the synagogue on a Sabbath and He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. When He opened the book, He found the scripture in Isaiah 61:1-2 and after He read it, He said to them “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21). It was not a coincidence that Jesus read that scripture. That day the scripture that was prophesied 700 years ago prior to His coming was fulfilled.
Pastor Paul stated he is amazed at the authority of the Word of God. Jesus knew what to read and He knew when to stop. He stopped and did not continue to read the last portion in Isaiah 61:2: “and the last day of the vengeance of our God” because Isaiah was referring to two prophetic words: 1) the first coming of Jesus and 2) the second coming of Jesus. The first prophecy was fulfilled on that day and the second one is going to be fulfilled. When Jesus comes back for the second time, it will not be the same as the first time He came to this earth. In His second coming, He will judge and do vengeance to those who do not want to believe or refused to believe.
2 Thessalonians 1:8, NJKV: “In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.”
There are two kinds of people; those who believe and those who do not or refuse to believe and they will be judged. We need to understand that NOW is the acceptable year of the Lord and it is God’s desire for all men to be saved. He is making a proclamation, like making an announcement. Sometimes, you are in a situation for too long, being broken-hearted for too long, being bullied for too long and you do not know that the prison doors are open and you do not move. To “proclaim” is a selective word. He made a proclamation that the prison doors have been opened. The door is open, He wants us to believe, accept the goodness and favor of God, step out of the prison, and He will transform our lives.
Mathew 24:14, ESV: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
We are living in the last of the last days. When they were alone, the disciples asked Jesus what will happen in the last days. Jesus stated there will be false prophets and false messiahs and they will perform signs and wonders too. You need to focus on the real Jesus so not to be deceived by the false prophets. The signs of the end times have been evident; wars and rumors of war, plaques like COVID, brother will be against brother, there will be calamities, and then Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed to the whole earth and then the end will come. The Bible does not say that the whole world will believe and then it will end, only that the Gospel will be proclaimed and then the end will come. We are living in an age that it will be possible due to the advance in technology.
2. Reconciled with a Purpose
We need to understand that when we received Jesus, we are reconciled with a purpose. God has entrusted you with His message.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19, NKJV: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:19, AMP: “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).”
When we are reconciled with God, He has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation. What are we going to do with it? Do not practice the great omission, but remember to do the Great Commission. You can say that you are an introvert and it is hard to share the Gospel. Pastor Paul was an introvert but when he received Jesus, something inside him changed. He now likes to share the Good News wherever he goes.
3. Partnering with the Holy Spirit
When you partner with the Holy Spirit, you partner with God. Go and make disciples of all nations, teach them what He taught you, observe His commandments, baptize them in water and in Spirit, and God will be with you until the end of the age.
Mark 16:9-13, NKJV: “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.”
Mark 16:14, NLT: “Still later He appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief (stiff-necked) because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.”
Mark 16:15, NKJV: And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:20, NKJV: “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.”
Jesus trusted them to go to the world and preached the Gospel. What was the secret that changed the disciples from their unbelief and transformed them to go out and preach everywhere? When they were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, suddenly they had the boldness, they were no longer afraid, and they had the desire to preach the Good News.
We who have received Jesus have the power of the Holy Spirit, but we do not know that we have that power until we act upon it. Just like when we see 20-30 lbs. dumbbells, we do not know if we can lift them until we try to pick them up. When we do it, we will see the results and will receive the reward, the joy. If we do nothing, we will get nothing. If we do what the Holy Spirit tells us to do, then we will see God’s power as we act upon it.
When we partner with the Holy Spirit, we will have courage to share. Holy Spirit will put the words in our mouths with the right testimonies for the right person. When God is using you, you have the power, and you do not know that you have the power until you act upon it. Some people pray for power and do nothing. Nobody needs power to do nothing.
4. You Are the Ambassador for Christ
Ambassador: A delegate sent from a country to represent the President.
We are the ambassadors for Christ, which means we need to represent Him in our lives, actions, words, and only by the grace of God we can do it because no one is perfect.
Roman 10:14, NLT: “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?”
This is not only a sermon or preaching or message, but I am commissioning you right now. This is where the switch and shift is: I am sending you right now. Those of you who have received Jesus and have been reconciled to Jesus, I am sending you out to the mission to share the Gospel.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21, NKJV: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”.
There was a song entitled, “He Paid a Debt He Did Not Owe” from the 80’s that stated, “We owe a debt we could not pay; He paid the debt He did not owe.”
“The Gospel is not a word of judgment. It is GLAD news, not MAD news. Christ is the Resurrection and the Life.” (Reinhard Bonnke)
1 Timothy 2:4, NKJV: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
It is God’s desires for all men to be saved. He does not want any man to face the judgment, vengeance, or wrath of God.
5. You Can Defeat the Dragon
The Bible mentioned in the book of Genesis that Eve was deceived by a serpent. Then in the book of Revelation, Satan became a dragon, an old serpent. We have the authority to defeat the dragon and it is connected with PRAISE.
PRAISE is not only clapping or singing, even though praise can include singing, clapping, music, and dancing. When we praise God, we proclaim the Good News!
Psalm 9:1, NKJV: “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.”
The Holy Spirit will put the words in your mouth, the right testimony for the right person. Start with your family members. When Pastor Paul received Jesus, his family watched him change, listened to him, and led his parents to the Lord, even praying deliverance over his father who let go of amulets and charms.
Psalm 9:14, NLT: “Save me so I can praise You publicly at Jerusalem's gates, so I can rejoice that you have rescued me.”
Some of us have been saved for some time, but we do not want to praise Him publicly. We have the Good News of the Lord. We are not sharing bad or discouraging news, you have Good News, so we do not need to be afraid. Praise Him among many people and proclaim the Good News!
Psalm 22:22, NLT: “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise You among your assembled people.”
Praise and then proclaim! You do not have to be a preacher to proclaim the goodness of God.
Psalm 35:18, NJKV: “I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.”
Revelation 12:11, NKJV: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
When we give a testimony, it is not for God’s benefit, but it is for our benefit because we can defeat the dragon, the old serpent, Satan himself, by the blood of the Lamb, by partnering with Holy Spirit, and by the word of our testimony. When you testify, you defeat the dragon. Do not be afraid of rejection.
Romans 1:16, NKJV: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes . . . “
Prayer Points:
Pray for the church to capture the heart of God and to have understanding that He has commissioned every one of us to share the Good News and entrusted us with the Ministry of Reconciliation.
Pray that we will say YES and to have boldness and courage on sharing the Gospel, to testify, and praise Him publicly.
Pray for fire and passion and for the Church to have the desire to share the Gospel, to have compassionate hearts for the lost, and that it will become a lifestyle of the Church.
Pray that we will be more sensitive to hear the Holy Spirit, learn to actively partner with Him like never before, and we will see God’s power as we act upon it.
Pray for understanding that we are called as Ambassadors for Christ to represent Him in our lives, actions, words, and everything by the grace of God.
Pray that we will walk in the power and authority God has given to us to defeat the old serpent and dragon by the blood of the Lamb, by partnering with the Holy Spirit, and by the word of our testimony. Do not be afraid of rejection.
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Pray for California:
AB2223 is headed to Senate Judiciary Committee on 06/14/22. Please continue to pray that this bill will not move forward. Pray for Holy Spirit to convict our lawmaker's hearts and end AB2223.
SB866 Allows minors to receive vaccines without parental consent and it can be voted in Assembly floor at any time. Please pray for our assembly members to block this bill.
Pray for America:
There has been an increase of violence happening all around our nation. Every few days there are news of mass shootings happening.
Pray for grace, comfort, strength and healing on the victim’s family and their community.
Pray against the spirit of violence in our state and nation.
Pray that our leaders and representatives will not turn this issue into a political theater
Gas prices, inflation, supply-chain disruptions, threats of a global food crisis, and baby formula crisis are still very much in the fore-front of our lives. Pray for wisdom for our leaders to come up with policies that will get these issues under control.
Roe vs. Wade decision from SCOTUS can be delivered at any time:
Pray that the 9 justices will have the fear of the Lord in them and chose life.
Pray for safety for the justices especially the 5 justices: Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett.
Pray for Ukraine:
Let us not forget that war is still raging in Ukraine. The number of casualties keep increasing. There are on-going war crime investigations. Please continue to pray for Russia-Ukraine war to end swiftly.
Let us fulfill the Great Commission and become Ambassadors for Christ this week and always!