2016 – THE YEAR OF INFLUENCE: JESUS’ PRESENCE

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 all that I have commanded you. And, behold, I am with you to the end of the age” – Matthew 28:16-20, The Holy Bible (English Standard Version)

At the heart of a believer’s influence to transform the nations is Jesus’ presence which is mediated by the Holy Spirit who empowers the believer for witness. Authority and protocols have their place in a formal relationship but a personal one requires intimacy. So it is not surprising to find that Jesus promises His very presence to the eleven on their mission. Since their mission is to replicate themselves in the lives of others, by extension this means their mission is also the mission of every disciple. That is, you and me. Jesus had told His disciples that He is like a vine and they are like its branches so that apart from Him they can accomplish nothing (John 15:4). He had also told them that He would not leave them alone as orphans but that He and the Father would send the Comforter/Counselor / Helper ( literally The-One-Who-Stands-Beside, paraklētos  in the Greek) who would be with them (John 14:12-20). He had even said that they would do greater things than He did because He was going to return to God the Father in heaven (John 14:12) referring to the worldwide scope of their ministry as opposed to His ministry that was restricted to the nation of Israel (Matthew 15:21-28) and the many powerful miracles the disciples and their followers would perform as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The secret of their success would be the Helper,  the Holy Spirit, whom the Father would send and Who would guide them in all things and bring to remembrance the teachings of Jesus (John 14:25, 26; 1 John 2:26, 27). The Holy Spirit would bear witness about Jesus and, in turn, the disciples would bear witness about Jesus too (John 15:26, 27). In fact, it was to their advantage that Jesus should go to the Father because, if Jesus did not, the Holy Spirit could not come to them because Jesus would not send Holy Spirit to them (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit’s work as regards the unbelieving world was to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8)

It is small wonder then that Jesus had to emphasize – He actually says “behold” or “look” in the last sentence Matthew records Him saying – His continued presence with them. Luke emphasizes that Jesus told His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem because Jesus was sending them the “Promise of the Father” so that they could be “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). This Promise of the Father was the baptism in the Holy Spirit that John the Baptizer had spoken of (Acts 1:4, 5; Matthew 3:11). Specifically, it was the reception of spiritual power to be global witnesses of Jesus when the Holy Spirit would come upon them on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:8). And come, He did (Acts 2:1-4). It was on the Day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and they started witnessing to the greatness of God as they spoke in other languages speaking of the mighty works of God (Acts 2:5-12). Filled with the Holy Spirit, Apostle Peter stood up and preached a powerful sermon that day that called people to repentance, to be baptized in water, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit which he said was promised to all who believe in Jesus (Acts 2:37-40). Whether one thinks of this empowerment as being evidenced in the charismatic/spiritual gifts (which I believe) or not, the point here is that the Holy Spirit is the one who empowers Christians to witness and so influence the nations.

In this year of influence, may you seek a close walk with Jesus through the Holy Spirit because Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven but it is the Holy Spirit who is with us and mediates Jesus’ presence (Acts 2:32, 33)! May you seek the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (whether you believe that is evidenced in charismatic gifts or not) as you influence the nations! May you remember that the Holy Spirit is your Helper in your mission of influence this year!

2016 – THE YEAR OF INFLUENCE: JESUS’ PROTOCOLS FOR INFLUENCE

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 all that I have commanded you. And, behold, I am with you to the end of the age” – Matthew 28:16-20, The Holy Bible (English Standard Version)

Protocols are rules that govern how a particular procedure is to be undertaken. They are very important, for example, in diplomatic circles where cross-cultural miscommunication is always a risk and can lead to disastrous results between nations. So protocols help lay a foundation for communication so that such cross-cultural communication is clearly understandable to all parties involved. In the same way, the Great Commission, the verses quoted above, also offers us protocols of how Christian influence is brought to bear on the world. It is the basis of a believers influence as it is addressed not only to the original eleven but to all who will follow the faith of the eleven, even us. As I stated in the last post, it is a reminder to us that Jesus’ universal authority has granted the believer influence to transform the nations.

What protocols are in place for those that will carry on Jesus’ work of exerting godly influence in the world? In His imperative to the eleven we see that kingdom influence is brought about by “going” into the world and “discipling” the nations. Jesus issues the command to “go” to all the nations obviously with the Gospel of the Kingdom of God which is aptly captured in Mark 1:14, 15: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” It is both a proclamation and a demonstration of the fulfillment of the times and the soon in-breaking of God’s righteous reign in the earth that one can only enter into by believing in Jesus and turning from one’s sins. The proclamation aspect is the preaching of the Gospel (Mark 1:14, 15) while the demonstration aspect is the spiritual power encounters with the forces of darkness (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) as well as the works of love Christians perform (Ephesians 2:10). This proclamation of the gospel, or evangelism, is the first thing that disciples are to do in bringing about kingdom influence both corporately and individually whether targeting groups or individuals.

The second thing disciples are to do, which is not explicitly stated but assumed in Jesus’ instructions, is to worship God. Jesus’ death and resurrection becomes the basis for sinners’ reconciliation with God (2 Corinthians 5:18) so that they can now be children of the Heavenly Father (John 1:12-13). The essence of this new relationship with God is one of worship, for how else can a created being relate to the Creator? Jesus had a told a Samaritan woman who had played the “I-am-not-from-your-church” card that regardless of places of worship, God the Father is looking for worshipers  who will do so in spirit and in truth because God is spirit (John 4:23, 24). Such worship consists of not only set times to go before God in prayer, singing, or any other practice/s that make His presence more tangible for us – whether in church or individually – but also extends to the believer’s occupation in life as Paul exhorts: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23, 24). So then worship touches the totality of our lives; it’s not just a Sunday thing.

Believers are also to “disciple” those that have heard the gospel. The verb in the original Greek language is mathēteuō, which means to follow or be a committed student. Interestingly, it is also the root word from which we get our English word mathematics. This discipleship is not simply a passing on of doctrinal facts encapsulated in a formal creed or catechism but is life-on-life. Again Paul sheds more light on this with his relationship with his spiritual son Timothy: “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me” (2 Timothy 3:10, 11). It definitely encompasses that which is popularly known as mentoring plus more. Moreover, discipleship is supposed to be a perpetual process that moves from one spiritual generation to another as Paul instructed Timothy that “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). In Paul’s way of thinking in this verse, four generations are envisioned: himself, Timothy, “faithful men”, and “others”. This discipleship is both the personal responsibility of every believer as well as a mandate of the corporate body of Christ, the church. This is at the heart of the gospel’s triumphant march to the ends of the world these past two millennia.

Discipleship assumes that there is a community that nurtures the believer. That community is the church. When one believes, one is to show that belief and identification with the Trinitarian God through the act of baptism in water. Baptism itself is symbolic of the believer’s spiritual union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:1-3). This spiritual union is effected by the Holy Spirit who baptizes every believer “into the body of Christ”, the church, in the spiritual realm (1 Corinthians 12:13). The believer then is not only in fellowship with the Trinitarian God but also with the community of worshipers of that God called the church (1 John 1:3). It is in this fellowship that a believer receives the nurture to fulfill God’s purpose for his/her life (Acts 2:42-47) and partners with others to fulfill the Great Commission (Hebrews 10:24, 25; Philippians 1:5).

Finally, every believer has been given a gift that flows from Christ’s grace (Ephesians 4:7-10; Romans 12:3-8) which he/she is to utilize in doing good in the world (Ephesians 2:10). Christ has granted leadership gifts in the church to bring unity, stability, and maturity in love so that all believers can work synergistically to fulfill the Great Commission (Ephesians 4:11-17). So then every believer is in ministry or service, be it within the church community and/or in the broken and hurting world outside the believing community. Everyone in the church has a calling and gifting to match and we are all called to minister or serve.

So what are Jesus’ protocols for your influence in the world around you? That influence must center on proclaiming and demonstrating the gospel in evangelism, worshiping God in spirit and in truth, fellowshiping and partnering with other believers, being discipled to grow in faith, and serving your church community and the world around you with your gifts and talents. May 2016 be your year of influence as you centre your life around evangelism, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry!

2016 - The Year of Influence

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 all that I have commanded you. And, behold, I am with you to the end of the age” – Matthew 28:16-20, The Holy Bible (English Standard Version)

Have you ever had that awkward moment when you meet a person who tells you that you were in the same class in primary or high school and you didn’t have the foggiest idea who they were? It’s always kind of embarrassing especially when they seem to know you more than you do them. Fret no more. The truth of the matter is that it may not be your fault. Some people are just so forgettable. They are neither scandalous enough to cause you to notice them nor are they geniuses enough to make you not forget them. They just coast through life. They are forgettable. They are simply not influential.

That’s not supposed to be the case for the believer in Jesus Christ though. Because, according to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus’ universal authority has granted the believer influence to transform the nations, not just their classmates. How does that happen? The text points us to the fact that this comes about by Jesus’ power, Jesus’ protocols, & Jesus’ presence.  In this post, I will deal with the first fact and follow up on the other two with corresponding posts in the days to come.

Jesus’ universal authority has granted the believer influence to transform the nations through His power and this is seen in the setting of the text, the addressees in the text, and the declaration in the text. Our passage is situated right at the end Matthew’s eyewitness account of Jesus’ life on earth. In fact, these are the very last words of Jesus as far as Matthew is concerned so they a very important meaning for Matthew, his original audience, and those of us who believe in Christ today. These words are so crucial to Matthew that he sets the scenery on top of an unnamed mountain back in Jesus’ home area of Galilee. Bear in mind here that in the Bible mountains are places of God-encounters. For example, it was at Mount Sinai that Moses received the law from God; it was on Mount Carmel that Elijah prayed to God for it rain again after three-and-a-half years. And so this is tantamount to an encounter with God Himself. So before Jesus opens His mouth to declare His authority, Matthew the author has already given us pointers as to who we are dealing with, God Himself.

The people addressed in the text are the 11 disciples. They were originally 12 disciples to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel, God’s chosen people through whom He would work out His purposes in saving the world. In choosing the 12, Jesus was definitely making the unmistakable point, from a Jewish perspective, that He was the promised Messiah through whom God’s promises of salvation would be worked out. Jesus had sent these 12 on an exclusive mission to the house of Israel with strict instructions not to go to the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5, 6). He Himself had told a Canaanite woman who came asking for healing for her child that His ministry was to the house of Israel though He was impressed by her faith and proceeded to heal the child (Matthew 15:21-28). But with His resurrection from the dead, a new era has dawned in which His disciples are not just the chosen 12 or Israel but the 11 whose mission is going to extend beyond Israel to the ends of the world (Matthew 28:20). In other words, what is being addressed to the 11 is being addressed to all that will believe the message of the 11. The 11 symbolize all believers in Jesus’ name, Jew and Gentile.

Finally, there is the declaration of the resurrected Jesus’ universal authority. Having tacitly made His point about His power by the very location of His commission, Jesus goes on to declare what His death and resurrection have brought about: “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”. He was resurrected by the “immeasurable greatness of His [God the Father’s] power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him as His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:14-21). He has all the power.

 

Because Jesus has all authority, those that believe in Him also share in that authority. It is authority to touch nations for the Gospel as His mandate to go to all the nations is clear in the Great Commission. May you remember that you are part of a very powerful kingdom whose King has all authority in heaven and on earth! May you know that your destiny is one of kingdom influence in the earth! May you make 2016 the Year of Influence!