Go and make disciples of all nations
And Jesus came to them and spoke unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:18-20)
You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
The Promise
After the cross and the resurrection, the Lord Jesus taught His disciples for forty days before He ascended to heaven. One of His strategic messages of preparation concerned the Holy Spirit enabling was to fulfill their ministry.
- “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
After this vital promise was given, Jesus was taken up into heaven to be seated on the right hand of the Father.
Ten days later, on the day of Pentecost, this promise was fulfilled by the outpouring of the Spirit.
- “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4).
The impressive result of this empowering is to spread the gospel, town by town, region by region, throughout the entire world.
- “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The Result
The success of their assignment is documented in the scriptures. The religious opposition admitted that Jerusalem was swiftly covered.
- “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine” (Acts 5:28).
- In no time, Judea was being reached. “At that time a great persecution arose . . . and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea . . . Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:1, 4).
- Eventually, the message of Jesus entered Samaria. “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip” (Acts 8:5-6).
- Finally, the gospel of grace poured out around the world. “The word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world” (Colossians 1:5-6).
Fulfillment of the Promise
The worldwide outreach of the Gospel is an astounding development, considering the mediocre human character of Jesus’ followers who were commanded to Go and make disciples of all the Nations.
- “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Summary
The explanation for their effectiveness was contained in the last phrase. These men had spent time with Jesus; they had been impacted by Him, and were now walking in the spiritual strength of His Spirit.
- In order for any disciple (be it there and then; or here and now) to be a demonstration in the reality of the risen Christ, such must live effective by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are my strength. Take my life and make me a daily witness, declaring You in word, thought and deed, that Jesus is alive. Father, on my own, I am weak and I cannot accomplish this sufficiently as recurred of me to Go and make disciples of all the Nations. I hereby pray and humbly request, that You empower me through Your Holy Spirit, in Jesus name.
Amen.