Going on a mission trip like the one I am raising money to go on to London is all about fulfilling the Great Commission with a global mentality. However over the last several months, God has revealed to me that we have limited the Great Commission by giving it the name "Commission".
Why? Well, I am glad you asked. The definition for "commission" summarized means "to grant authority to complete a mission." I submit to you that if you understand the Great Commission to only mean this then you are missing an important aspect of it: Jesus didn't just send us to do a mission, He authorized us to join Him on this mission! Therefore, He didn't just give us a commission, but a "co-mission".
Let's look at Matt. 28:18-20, "Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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 the age."
So, if this is a Co-Mission, who shares in it? First, and most obvious, is Jesus, Himself. The basis for going on the mission is because Jesus has the authority. It is through Him alone that we have authority. Therefore, since every Christian in "in Christ", every Christian has been given this mission. Jesus also tells us that He is with us always. There is no context in the Bible where Jesus expects you to fulfill this mission without His authority, support, and power. You are not alone in this endeavor!
Second, the Bible tells us that Jesus has sent His Spirit to be our Helper. So, not only does Jesus give us the mission, but He gives us His Spirit in order to have the inward discernment, strength, and courage to complete the mission. This means that Jesus literally comes to live within us via His Spirit. So we are on a Co-Mission with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Third, we are on a Co-Mission with other believers. The command to make disciples is given to all Christians of all ages. This means that Jesus has given us an army of fellow believers who are all follow Jesus and possessed and empowered by His Spirit through which to accomplish the mission. This is encouraging because you are not in this alone. There are millions upon millions of believers across the world. So we are on a Co-Mission with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and other believers.
If the command to make disciples was simply a "commission" then we could get discouraged in our limitations, but it isn't just a commission, it is a Co-Mission. Where God, through the completed work of Christ, the empowering power of the Holy Spirit, and the partnership of other believers has called us to preach the Good News of freedom, reconciliation, and redemption to lost and dying souls.
The question now turns to you. How are you partnering in the accomplishing this great Co-Mission that every believer is called to? One way you can partner is through prayer. Another way is by personally going to the lost in your neighborhood, town, or in other countries. Yet another way, is you can financially assist people like me as I go to share the Gospel. I need to raise $1350 by April 1st and an additional $650 by May 1st. If you would like to give to assist me in raising this money, you can do so two ways. First, you can send a check to:
Central Baptist Church
P.O. Box 746
Borger, TX 79007
Memo: London Missions
Or you can give right now electronically by clicking on the button below:
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