The Great Commission: The NOW Assignments of His Church
(This Weekly Prayer Summary was written by Devi Susanto, from the CBC English Prayer Ministry, and edited by Brigitta Tedja)
Watch full sermon here
Pastor Dion concluded the Mission Month series. What comes in your mind when we talk about mission? When thinking about mission, Pastor Dion was reminded about the movie, Mission Impossible. He stated that he really admires Tom Cruise because he is a good actor, but more than that, he thinks that Cruise has values. Last year, in September 2021, the Mission Impossible movie saga celebrated their 25th year. It has been 25 years since the first Mission Impossible. The first movie came out in 1996, when Pastor Dion was in high school. The fourth movie was called Ghost Protocol and it was filmed at the tallest building to date in Dubai with a height of over 2700’ tall. This is such an extreme building. In the story Cruise utilized high-tech gear to get out of the building. He used so many tools and stunts. Cruise had to vertically run down the building after jumping. Just imagine, they added more and more intensity for the scene. That movie was actually shot at the hotel in Dubai. They broke 20-30 windows and utilized the hotel for a single day. Mission Impossible is a successful movie and there are more to come. It is an amazing movie with an iconic line: “Your mission, {NAME}, should you choose to accept it . . .” Cruise’s character has a choice to accept the mission or not. He chose to do what he was trained to do.
Every character in a movie has a specific role in the movie. Each character has a purpose for their existence. For the past couple of sermons, we have been discussing about mission. The people and the Church are the main characters. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit and we are called to walk like He did. We are now the main characters with the Lord. Now the question is, many times Christians fail to recognize their mission and who they are, and make decisions as if they have a choice to decline God’s mission. The truth is, we do not have a choice. This is because we are not living in the movie, Mission Impossible. The mission from God is connected to who you are as a person. This is something beyond our control, but we have a mission because Jesus completed it and lived through it. We are called to live like Jesus so that has become a part of who we are. It is not an option, whether today you feel you have a toothache or if you decide to decline the mission. Your life is a mission. Let our lives become something that God loves. That is what the call for all of us as the Church is. There is nothing more frustrating than you are being built for something and then running away from your calling. Imagine that you are Usain Bolt, but you choose to be a lazy person. You feel useless, but if you discover who God created you to be, then life will be the most rewarding, powerful, and most satisfied when you are doing the mission of God.
In the last month, James and Pastor Paul has been speaking about sharing missions to the CARE Cells. Pastor Dion reminded us that when we go to the next month and talk about, “Be the Church”, it does not mean that mission will be erased. This is mission activation month. Why? Because it is supposed to be activated in all of us from now on. We need to get active and be motivated from now on because you will see amazing things in your life. Christianity will be boring no more.
The Great Commission: The NOW Assignments of His Church
Mark 16:14-18 NKJV
“Later, He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
What is the Great Commission? The Great Commission is not actually a phrase from Jesus, but a summary for what happened after His resurrection and the assignment for the Church, with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 24:36, 46-49
“And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.
And he said, ‘Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things. And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
The Great Commission
The question is, who is the Great Commission for? Maybe in some instances, people do not know about the Great Commission is or does not do the Great Commission because it is for “someone else.” Yes, the Great Commission was given to the apostles, but if you remember what we read, He gave the Great Commission to the disciples.
Is For Every Disciple:
The Great Commission is for every disciple. The question is, are we disciples? Matthew 28 states that we must preach the Gospel and disciple the nations. We, who are Asians, received Jesus because it was part of the Great Commission. This message of the Good News is given to all nations. We became a Christian because we received something from a disciple. Disciples make more disciples, allowing many nations to grasp the Gospel.
There is no scripture in the Bible where you can remain a passive Christian. Jesus said to make disciples and share the Good News. What is the Good News? We have no salvation by our own means. We are sinful people and in need of a Savior. We are told to come to the altar, the place of exchange. If one wants to receive salvation, one needs to hear the Gospel. The truth is, we should be punished and go to hell, but Jesus died and gave His life so that His righteousness becomes ours. Once you received Jesus, a transaction and exchange happens, and your life is no longer your own.
Mission Impossible is like modern-day Christianity. It can give the illusion that you have a choice to follow God or not. Remember, there is no such salvation. The salvation is Jesus loving you before the foundation of the earth. He gave it all and He requests in return that your life is lived for God. We are His disciples so everyone of us must do the Great Commission.Is for the Church:
The Church is a gathering of believers, a group of believers coming together. It is not an organization per say, but it is the people, so this Great Commission is for us who are doing things together, partnering with one another. What is happening in the modern-day Church? Many times, we pick a Church based on its programs. We can have the tendency to think that the organization is what God called to fulfill the Great Commission, but it is actually the people who make up the Church. The Great Commission is for the Church to fulfill.
Every Disciple Must Be Baptized by the Holy Spirit:
Luke 24:29
“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In the United States, when we send our soldiers to war, we equip our soldiers with the best training, weaponry, intelligence, and team that we can provide. The kingdom of darkness is ruling over the people. God wants to send us. God sent us the best after Jesus ascended, He gave us the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "You will do great work, greater work than I did." Many Christians are not doing anything because they are not filled with the Holy Spirit. Some Churches do not believe the relevance of the Holy Spirit and His part in the Great Commission. If you have not been filled with the Holy Spirit, it may explain why you often get attacked by the enemy. Without the Holy Spirit, you do not have the power of God in your life. Spiritual warfare is real and you need to be filled by the Holy Spirit to be victorious. Do not be fooled by the enemy.
Bishop Bart stressed the need for us to understand that we are in a greater spiritual warfare. Please note that on July 23rd, we are going to be equipped more about spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare is already happening, whether you believe it or not. Sometimes one can be affected in the mind or through a malfunctioning car that is prone to get into accidents. There are things that we cannot explain, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
We have citizenship of Heaven. We have a ticket to go to heaven, but we are still here because God wants to extend his mercy. We are his “characters,” we are His people used to enlarge the Kingdom of God. Before one can do the Great Commission, you must be baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit. Do not get fooled by the enemy. You can be victorious over the battle of your mind, over your conflictual relationships, over many different things, but only if you remain hungry and tell the enemy to, “Shut up!”
How can you receive the Holy Spirit? The Bible states that the disciples had to wait, to tarry, or to stay in the city. The disciples stayed and waited for 10 days and then went to all nations once they were filled with the Dunamis power of the Holy Spirit. You can become the light and you can become a solution to this dark world if you are filled with the Holy Spirit. The demonic influence that affects the society will be disrupted when you come with the power of the Holy Spirit and be the light of God. The world is only going to get worse, but if we shine brighter because we know the mission and we have the Holy Spirit inside of us, there is hope for this nation.
The Great Commission
To Go into All the World
You need to go and not be passive. Being a passive Christian will not bring any solution to this world. You will not be a blessing. Be active and do something!
To Be a Witness to What Jesus Has Done for You
Witnessing and preaching the Gospel are not the same thing. Being a witness in the court is simply saying what you have seen or heard, so we witness by our testimony. Witnessing consists of sharing your testimonies about the grace of God. Prepare a testimony to glorify God. Witnessing is to make people’s hearts ready and thirsty for the Good News.To Preach the Gospel with Authority and Power
If we just preach the Gospel without authority and power, it is just talk, but when you show the love of God, the power of God, then that is what the whole message of the Gospel is about.
See link below to be utilized as a tool:
https://knowgod.com/en/kgp-us/0
Relationship EvangelismTarget
Intercede
Associate
Decision
Nurture
Disciple
Practical Steps: How to Preach the Good NewsGod and Mankind
God created mankind. God loves mankind. God wants to have relationship with you. The main point of point #1 is that you know that God loves you.Sin and the Separation
Sin separates us from God. When we are separated from God, we cannot have a relationship with God. We cannot experience the love of God or the blessing of God due to sin.
Jesus is the Only Way
Decision: Make a decision today!
To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ (Second Part of the Great Commission)Spiritually Dead: Must be Born-Again
Ephesians 2:1-3BORN AGAIN
Spiritual Infant: Needs Guidance
John 3:3-8
Spiritual Child: Self-Focused
Galatians 4:19Spiritual Young Adult: Kingdom-Focused
1 John 2:14Spiritual Parent: Disciple-Maker
I Corinthians 4:15Spiritual Grandparents: Making Disciple-Makers
2 Timothy 2:2
Prayer Points:
Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit
Pray to be activated in His power and authority according to our calling
Pray to be discipled, to be under submission, to learn, to grow, to mature
Pray to become a witness, prepare testimonies of grace, bring the Good News
Pray to disciple all nations, be the light and solution
Be the Salt & Light:
Join our weekly prayer for California and for the nations:
Every Friday 8:30PM - 9:30PM PT
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THE PRAYERS BELOW ARE COURTESY OF:
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Pray for the American Economy
This year’s Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) is not nearly enough to help boost seniors’ purchasing power. According to data from The Senior Citizens League, high inflation has caused Social Security beneficiaries to actually lose 40 percent of their buying power since the year 2000.
Home sales fell for the third consecutive month in April as rising mortgage rates and affordability challenges pushed many would-be home buyers out of the market. Prices still continued to climb, reaching an all-time high.
We pray for those in leadership to “get a handle” on inflation and for American seniors who face additional struggles with their household budgets.
Pray for America’s Foreign Relations
Delegations from Sweden and Finland held talks in Ankara with senior Turkish officials in an effort to overcome Turkey’s objections to their recent applications to join the NATO alliance.
Government ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) major economic powers, including the U.S., put out a joint statement that they would agree to eventually phase out coal-fired power, a major contributor to climate change. The agreement on a phase-out is a step further from what countries agreed to during last year’s climate meeting in Glasgow when countries only agreed to “phase down” coal.
We pray for the members of the NATO alliance, including the U.S., as they collaborate on energy advancements and climate.
Pray for Our Military
General Mark Milley warned cadets graduating from West Point about the future of war during the commencement ceremony. He said international conflicts will only increase amid Ukraine’s conflict with Russia and the president’s recent deployment of troops to Somalia. “We are challenged in every domain and service: space, cyber, maritime, air, and of course, land,” he said.
The Army has signed a deal with Raytheon Technologies to purchase $687 million worth of anti-aircraft Stinger missiles to replenish stocks sent to Ukraine. There was no timeline indicated for completion of the work, but it was estimated that delivery could take as many as 30 months.
We pray for military suppliers and contractors as they work to reestablish America’s stockpile of weapons depleted by military aid being sent to Ukraine
Accept the mission, be activated in the Holy Spirit, and become His disciples!