As You Go

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew:28:17-20

Just before the Accession of our Lord Jesus Christ  into the Heavens He gathered His Disciples together upon a mountain and He vest them, and all Christians,  what has been historically called the Great Commission, that is the responsibility of His followers to preach the Gospel of  message  to the world. Christian throughout the ages are in Marks' Account commanded to preach the Gospel "as you go" 
"Then he told them, "As you go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to everyone."Mark:16:15

This Commission is also given in the  Luke: 24:46-48.

Jesus gives the church the responsibility of telling the world about the Salvation that He has accomplished for us all, if they will but freely receive it.

Facing Opposition

The early church took this commission seriously even to the point of facing great pains, imprisonments and even death. Historically we know that all the original Apostles  but ,John, were martyred in some way. The Apostle Paul himself was executed in Rome in the 60's AD.    As Christians moved throughout the empire and beyond they faced opposition yet persevered even to death preaching the word delivered to them.

These early Christian understood that the work they were engaged in was not their own but that it was Jesus' work and they were invited to be apart of it. The Church was and is to do collectively what Jesus did personally.

" We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."2Corinthians:5:20
 
 The church has the right to do this because Jesus holds all authority ,This work  of preaching the Gospel is carried out because of His authority, it can not be undertaken by the energies of the flesh.

For All Peoples

It is a message for all peoples everywhere in all times, it is a message that the Great God has visited us in the Person of Jesus Christ and through Jesus' Atoning work upon the cross and by His resurrection we can have an eternal relationship with God. 

Just before His ascension  Jesus gave an ever expanding vision  of where to take the Gospel.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Acts:1:8

This  ever expanding vision , which meant to reach as many as possible, "as you go" through life.

It is conducted under the power of the Holy Spirit none of us can adequately of our own selves carry out this work.

 “So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.” Zech:4:6 

All Christians

This work is not just for the clergy but  it is for all of us,  all Christians are to have their part. This is not just a calling and commissioning to evangelist, pastors, elders, but to all Christians as a Priesthood of believers. 

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”1Petr:2:9

“as you go”,  that is,  as you go through your life,  where ever you  go,  you are to be a part of the work of Jesus our lives reflecting the finished work of our Lord, conducting our selves in a away that honors Jesus and demonstratives that we are believers. Others should be able to look upon each of us and see what a relationship with Christ looks like.

  

There are people who need to see genuine Christianity lived out in our lives.  How do those around us read the epistle of our lives. The world around us needs to see this relationship  lived out. We,  as we go through life should  proclaim the Atoning work of Jesus through how we live not just by what we say.

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.” 2Corinthians:3:2

 For All to the End

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”1John:2:2

 Jesus has by His cross taken away all of humanities excuses , none need be left out of an eternal relationship with Him, He has dealt with all of humanities sinfulness, He has done what none of us could ever do.

This is a work that is to continue even up to the very end of human civilization. To the “end of the world” or to the end of our lives  here upon the earth we are to proclaim the message of salvation to any and to all that they might believe and walk in that Salvation that is theirs in Jesus.

 This is the Commission that Jesus has called each and all of us to be apart of   “as you go”. Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com