GREAT COMMISSION OR OMISSION?

Christ’s last words included his marching orders for all Christians until he returns. These are called The Great Commission. Unfortunately, many who claim Christ don’t know what it is, where to find it, or how it applies personally or corporately. In that sense it is a Great Omission. Therefore, let us look at these orders.

Each of the four gospels and Acts have a record of what Jesus said during the five different times he gave his orders. Each has a slightly different emphasis. Let us look chronologically at how Jesus gave these during the 40 days after the Resurrection and before his Ascension.

The first gives a focus on “peace” in John 20:21. Jesus appeared after the Resurrection first to some disciples who had locked themselves in a room in Jerusalem. They feared the Jews might kill them like they did Jesus. Suddenly Christ appears and says, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Jesus encourages them with words of “peace” since they are being sent by Him personally just as He was by the Father. There is no need to fear since God is 100% with us. Fear of witnessing can best be overcome by trusting God and prayer.

The second Jesus issues the commission in Galilee to a large crowd of disciples. Matthew 28:18-20 says, … "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 the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

He emphasizes his divine authority to command them to make disciples of all nations. This is not just for pastors or evangelists; it was, and is, for all true believers. Today Christ is the most known person on earth and Christianity is the largest religion in the world and is still growing after 2,000 years. Are you attempting to making disciples?

It is said that the presence of Julius Caesar transformed every soldier into a hero. In a greater way the authority of Christ should propel us to carry out His plan. 

The third presentation of the commission is in Mark 16:15-16. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” This quote is questioned since the oldest manuscripts do not contain verses 9-20. However, it is in line with the New Testament. 

"Preach" is the primary verb in verse 15 and means to proclaim. That can be done from a pulpit but also from coffee tables, computers, toolboxes, or places of work. Note the serious warning of condemnation to those who reject this gospel. Lives depend upon it.

The fourth record of the commission was given to James and the apostles in Jerusalem shortly before Jesus ascension. In Luke 24:47 he says, “and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

Jesus emphasizes repentance which is a sincere change of mind about God. Our thinking changes from going one direction to the right direction. Preaching forgiveness goes along with this since it is a result of that repentance and faith. Are you forgiven! If so then proclaim this good news.

The fifth and final time Jesus gave his commission is in Acts 1:8 stressing the power we have.  “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Jesus then went to the Mt. of Olives and ascended to heaven. His follower’s mission was now clear. They started in Jerusalem where the giving of the Holy Spirit took place on Pentecost (Acts 2). Many powerful miracles followed during that time as the Gospel went out.

Note three important points here.

1.      They did have power and so do we since the Holy Spirit is in all true believers to guide us (I Cor. 12:13). We he goes ahead and paves the way. Adrian Rogers tells of a man who bragged he had cut off the tail of a man-eating lion with his pocket knife. Asked why he hadn’t cut off the lion’s head, the man replied: “Someone had already done that.”

2.      Their witnessing started where they were in Jerusalem. Our witnessing starts where we are too. We don’t always have to go to foreign lands. England once sent missionaries all over the world but neglected home base. As a result, many of the national churches there have closed and the country is now a mission field itself. Don’t neglect home base.

3.      Later their witness spread to neighboring Samaria, then to Judea, the larger area around them, and finally to all the world. As the Lord leads our witness will go far beyond where we are. Pray for our missionaries who are an extension of us.

At our Annual Ministry Meeting (1/26/2020) we voted on members coming and going, approved our 2020 budget, voted to establish a Pulpit Committee to recommend a replacement when I retire in September. We also accepted Dave & Elice Cooper as new missionaries. All motions were amazingly 100% unanimous. Paul Hayes was voted to serve another term as Elder and both Daniel Hunt and Zachary Travis were voted as new Deacons. We now have a total of five Elders and seven Deacons. I am thankful for the harmony we’ve had at DBC these past forty years and to have been your pastor. Full details and reports are in our 2020 Annual Report available at church. May God continue to bless as we move into 2020 with a mind to build.

Missionaries Tim and Martia Franklin and girls Rebecca and Hannah are with us and will be updating us on their ministry and speaking this Sunday Feb. 2nd as we resend them to Brazil.

Missionary Jon Mitchell will be with us May 3 to report at our church. If you have a loaner vehicle, he could use May 1-18 please let me know.

Pastor Mark

BORDERLAND TO BORDERLAND

Did you know the name “Ukraine” means “borderland?” Late last week Nancy and I parted ways in the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv and Caleb and I traveled from border to border in this borderland. It is about the size of Washington, Oregon and Idaho combined but with over three times the population.

It borders both Europe on the west and the old Soviet Union on the east. This has resulted in wars being fought here over it as well as ideological differences as well as the rich soil and access to the Black Sea. If you lived here, rather than the U.S., statistics say you would die ten years sooner, make 86% less income and be 13% more likely to be murdered. That being said, it is a great place to proclaim the gospel of Christ. 

Recently we were in Lviv on the western border. It feels much more European with many historic buildings and lots of beautiful old churches with minor key choirs, candles and incense. People cross themselves just walking by churches. There are also lots of coffee shops and sidewalk cafes. Tourist abound here.

Then we boarded a train to the far eastern border. The next morning we had a few hours in the middle of the country in Kiev where the Maidan revolution took place in 2013/14. We walked through the war ravaged area that has been cleaned up. It now has many memorials with pictures of those who died to free the country of corruption. There were still damaged buildings and bullet holes evident. Yet there was a festive attitude that was sad considering the death of the "heavenly hundred" that took place here as they are called.

Then we boarded another train and arrived in Druzhkivka the next morning near the front line of the current war. That is why we were here. A special seminar was being held to help Christian handle the stress of war and also minister to others with the gospel.  It alone provide answers for the evil of war and the problem of a sinful world and the promise of eternal life. 

We met with over a hundred church leaders in the Light of the Gospel Church.  The city was taken over by separatist forces in March of 2014 and freed several months later.  However, many surrounding cities have not done as well. People have fled, businesses closed, jobs became more rare and some places have been destroyed by fighting.  We were warned not to walk in fields because there may be mines there.

We also had the rare opportunity to visit an army base to do an outdoor chapel for the soldiers. The place looked like a war zone for sure.  Around it were numerous weapons. About 25 came into a dusty court yard to listen as we sang Christian songs to a guitar.  I spoke about our son-in-law Gabe who died in Iraq and how God sustained us through faith. Another speaker also gave a similar testimony. The soldiers clapped when each finished and many even wanted pictures with us.   

All of this took place as dust blew and an occasional troop truck arrived from the front with soldiers and guns going off duty.  We chatted with them after the service. One told me he had also served in Iraq the same time Gabe did as brothers in arms. What an amazing day. 

See the videos for more detail.