By THE SPIRIT, it is written in Hebrews chapter 13:
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
This Truth is the basis of our salvation today for Our Savior is alive and sitting at FATHER’S right hand as our advocate. His resurrection assured us of our ability to go before Our Heavenly Father once we were reconciled through His Blood. In Matthew chapter 28, Jesus spoke to the disciples after His resurrection:
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 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,
20 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.” Amen.
A disciple is a “follower,” someone who adheres completely to the teachings of another, making the teachings his rule of life and conduct. In John chapter 9, Jesus healed a blind man who was then taken to the Pharisees.
24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”
25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”
27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples.
29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”
The Pharisees prided themselves in being disciples of Moses because they knew FATHER spoke to Moses. The miracles performed by Jesus confirmed to all that FATHER spoke to Him as well, in a much greater manner. Jesus’ followers were called “disciples” long before they were ever called “Christians.” Their discipleship began with Jesus’ call and required them to exercise their will to follow Him. In Matthew chapter 9, Jesus spoke to Matthew and asked him to become a disciple:
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
Each of us must ask the question and be brutally honest in assessing our priorities, “Am I focused on doing what Jesus commanded me when He gave His disciples (including you and me) the Great Commission?” “Am I fully equipped to carry out His command?” I must confess that I have allowed myself to become lax in this area but have repented and recommitted myself to re-equip myself. My focus had shifted to studying “advanced” topics within the Scriptures which have nothing to do with “making new disciples”. There is nothing wrong with advanced study if we keep it in perspective and not allow ourselves to forget the Great Commission.
In the coming weeks, I will focus on topics to “re-equip” those of us who are committed to the Great Commission. We must be able to minister the Gospel to the unsaved and at the same time minister healing to those in need. After all, Jesus’ ministry is two-fold: salvation and healing. Hopefully, you will join me in this recommitment to the Great Commission and become fully equipped to minister to those FATHER sends across our paths. Now is the time!