Tuesday: So Send I You
John’s gospel also reports Jesus’ first encounter with the disciples in the upper room but mentions other elements not included in Luke’s gospel.
Image © Providence Collection from GoodSalt.com
According to John, in what way did Jesus define the mission of the believers? See John 20:21.
Jesus had already mentioned this concept a few days before, when He prayed: As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world
(John 17:18, NKJV). Sending someone implies that the one who sends has authority over the one who is sent. It also involves a purpose, since one is sent with a mission to fulfill. Jesus was sent by the Father to save the world (John 3:17), and we are sent by Jesus to proclaim salvation through Him. Evidently, our commission is a continuation of Christ’s work, which consisted of a complete ministry to all people (Matt. 9:35). He expects us not only to continue what He had initiated but to go further. He who believes in Me,
said the Lord, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do
(John 14:12, NKJV).
Jesus provided the Holy Spirit to enable the disciples to carry out their mission. At Creation, God breathed into
Adam the breath of life
(Gen. 2:7). Now Jesus breathed on
the disciples the Holy Spirit
(John 20:22, NKJV). As the breath of life transformed lifeless dust into a living being, so the Holy Spirit transformed fearful and discouraged disciples into powerful living witnesses to continue Jesus’ work. The same anointing is indispensable today to fulfill the commission entrusted to us.
Jesus has called you to be a witness. What can you witness about? That is, what have you seen or experienced that you should share with others about Jesus?
(25)
The mission of me as the believer is directed by God but I must be peaceful in my endeavor.
Consistent with the pledge to follow the Lamb (Revelation 14:4) our mission is to lovingly call sinners to repentance like John, and to graciously call believers out of Babylon, or away from Baal like Elijah. The assignment is “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17), not to join with the fallen in Babylon, and sit at its table and partake of its wine (Revelation 14:8), so we may win the favor of the multitudes and supposedly make more believers.
Noah was not permitted to compromise and tone down the message, but with earnestness to call people into the ark of safety. So are we not at liberty to play ecumenism and soften the message, but with urgency to call the sheep into the one fold (John 10:16).
Just beyond the horizon there is a sound of abundance of rain (1 Kings 18:41), an outpouring and down pouring of generous measure. Can you hear it? Well go ahead and give the trumpet a certain sound, for the Word of the Lord is sure.
I have realized the power to witnessing comes from God, not I. Having this power from the Holy Spirit can we do more than Jesus who send us?
Jesus is the one who said His followers would do "greater works."
I think He may have meant that, together, they would do more. What do you think?
When we receive good news or something happens in our personal lives that makes us feel good we always share/tell others. So what more about the good news that Christ never leaves us no matter what the cirmstances in our lives.
a question;
Jesus gave mission for the one who believes. Now who are these believers? are they an Adventist or other religions like Romans, Lutherans and many others, or any one can work on that mission regardless of the religion?
The Word of God states in John 10:16 "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. ."
God knows who the true believers are whether they are in the Adventist church or the Sunday churches. Many a time we look at the outward appearance because we see this person and they know the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. We believe that they are a true believers but we must be very careful because there are wolves in sheep clothing. I would not worry about who the believers are I would be more concern about am I doing the will of God? Am I being a witness to those around me? Can others see Christ in me? Does my everyday action reflexes the Jesus in me?
Our problem in witnessing to other when we go into the community or work place even at home we are not Holy Spirit led many of us Christian we are camouflage and self centered so when we go to share and the first person that refuse us we get discourage and don't want to be bother with sharing the light God has shared with us. We must pray and ask the Lord to lead us to the heart He has prepared to accept the truth. We fail to understand that we of ourselves can't change no ones heart nor mind it's a task for the Holy Spirit. We serve a awesome God. He DOES NOT force Himself on anyone and we should not do that to those who have not yet come to accept the true and living God we serve.
Matt. 22:14 "Many are called, but few are chosen."
The churches you named, were not in exitence back then at apostolic times. In principle, I think, we will have to have a closer look at the messenger and the message. As to the messenger: Do we see any fruit of the gospel in their lives? Has the message they proclaim, changed their thinking and acting? (Matthew 7:16) As to the message: Is the proclamation they proclaim or witness in accord with the apostolic proclamation, as the apostles demand to abide in us and not to be changed for ever? (1 John 2:24; 2 John 1:1-2) Post-apostolic doctrines that have developed within the history of the church which the apostles did not even know of, are out of place.
This measuring rod does not exclusively apply to other churches, inasmuch as we are called on to apply it to our own witness and proclamation, otherwise an atmosphere of poisonous spiritual superiority can very easily influence our thinking and doing. The laodicean message can cleanse us of this attitude of superiority, bringing us closer in connection with Christ (Revelation 3:17-18.20) So our attitude in witnessing and proclamation will be Christlike and Christ-centered. This is good news.
Winfried Stolpmann
Jesus as sent me to let children with out earthly pearent that they have him, and he will not give us more then we can handle
Rev 12:11 states, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..." Jesus says in John 10:16, "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold...they will hear My voice and there will be one flock and one shepherd."
Certainly our mission is to spread the gospel message, especially in this end time, however it is unwise to think that God is not impressing others, who do not wear the label SDA. There are those who are still seeking, but while on their journey to truth are living up to all they know and are telling those around them as well---they are in affect performing the gospel commission in spreading the Good News to those around them. They believe truth; they are being led by the Holy Spirit; and soon they will join the fold and sound the trumpet of Jesus's soon return.
Luke 10:10,11 "But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you.'
In the West we tend to think so individually but here Jesus says that a "town" or "city" can reject the Gospel. What does this say about our cooperate responsibility to the town in which we live? Can we be lost because our town rejected the Gospel?
It's not about the Town it's about the heart of the residence in that town. In the day of Noah God save 8. In Lots day He save 3. Our Savior will do it again with us all who dwell on this earth. God is looking at our hearts and character. Repentance daily. Ellen G. White states. Each night before we go to bed we must confess our sins to God. Be faithful Ray, and by the grace of God you will hear those "well done thou good and faithful servant." Matt. 25:21
Thank God for the reminder that we are 'witnesses' as long as we live on this earth/ planet. Witnesses to the great love, grace and mercy that we can share with the world, who God and Jesus are, by our living testimony.
We know that that the mission is to go and tell the good news of salvation, which is the gospel. I don't believe that just about anyone can do this. Like the disciples, this person must believe in Jesus and be connected to Him. When we invite others to Chirst of course we point them to the saving power through his death and resurrection. However, just like the disciples when individuals come to Chirst they have to be instructed in the word of truth (all truth, not some) that is how they grow. Seventh-day Adventists Christians are unique in that we present tcomplete truth as presented in the word of God. As a matter of fact scripture declares that"if they speak not according to the law and the testimony, there is no truth in them." It is one thing to call someone to Chirst, but it is another to feed them and if they are going to be fed with lies then what's the sense of calling them in the first place?
Fantastic lesson.God sent forth Jesus Christ to the world,whilst Jesus sent His disciples to continue His work.Jesus accomplished His work to a certain and spercial point.Jesus Christ would have live with us alway even for us to experience His presence physically but that wasnt the plan of God.Jesus Christ has God,leaved His work to the disciples,the disciples has done their part,leaving to those behind.they had also done their part.It is left with us now to accomplishJesus commision.He will bestow power to everybody who accept to spread His gosple.
I think all of us struggle at times over this business of witnessing. Often times visions of a man with a beard standing on the corner of a street with a sandwich board sign draped over him with the message of judgment comes to mind as he trusts his bony finger in one's face and sternly inquiring, “Are ye saved?” I rather doubt that doing such things does much good and quite often it tends to fanaticize religion and turn people off.
To me if people can’t see some advantage in being a Christian then what we say won’t mean much to them. Christ was able to reach people because His life drew them. That is what Old Testament Israel was supposed to be to the nations around them but instead Israel valued the things of the world, the prestige and pride, the money and power. Before long they had become what the other nations were, full of corruption and dishonesty with just as much nastiness. And so they lost any apparent advantage they had in being God’s peculiar people and their light flickered and eventually went out.
After the Babylon captivity they decided to change things and pushed the pendulum drastically in the opposite direction and really became peculiar. They soon became arrogant and hateful of foreigners; excluding them from every advantage true religion was supposed to give and everything meaningful to life itself. Pride filled their hearts as they thought of themselves as the ONLY people who God loved and with their arrogance they became cold and unloving so their light again became darkness and the witnessing they did was more dangerous than if they had done nothing (Mat 23:15).
If we are to be effective witnesses first our lives must be in tune with Christ and He must live through us. Our lives are to be a drawing card. As they begin to see something desirable then we can meaningfully have something to say and begin to preach the Gospel, the good news, and eventually everything else as interest grows. We can’t scare people into the kingdom because in doing so we will only make them rebellious. They must be drawn by love just as Jesus drew them.
Tyler thank you for the comment, following Christ and being Led by the Holy Sprit in Love is good news. To me that is the gospel.
We would do well to reflect on the meaning of "As the Father has sent me, so send I you ..." (John 20:21)
Jesus left His privileged position at the Father's side to identify with the poorest of the poor on this earth and communicate with us in our language, however poor it is. He came to demonstrate the FAther's character of love for the lowest of the low, so that He could say that "Anyone that has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9)
Can others see Jesus in us?
If not, how do we need to change so that they can see Jesus in us - that they can recognize His love for humanity just be being around us? Does our conversation reveal the same priorities as Christ's priorities? Does our behavior reveal the same priorities as His priorities?
I believe we can do a better job of reflecting Jesus in our daily living by seeing every face as the face of Jesus. We instead, try to shove our doctrine in the brains of others. Jesus did little things that seems meaningless, however they were the greatest in his eventual followers sight. If we feed the hungry, help the sick, mow a lawn or two, even if neighbors are young and healthy, or shovel a drive way it goes a long way in portraying Jesus. The recipients will ask why and who you are by you demonstrating these little deeds and eventually you can introduce them to God. Seventh Day Adventists need to meet the needs of their community first, before spreading the gospel abroad. A soup kitchen is a good deed, but what about the neighbor three or four houses down the street from you. What are we doing to show that we are Christians other than dressing on Sabbath mornings and walking or driving by them without even acknowledging that they exists?
Brethren,I have a question: How come the Samaritan woman did not have to go through preparation in order to witness for Jesus?
Methinks all the preparation we need is an encounter with Jesus! Have you watched fans of a team rejoice when it is winning? Do they have to go through the motions we keep talking about? NO - They are excited, can argue in defense and some even fight and die for their beloved team and game. Have I seen Jesus? Have you?
The greatest evidence for or against the truth iis not necessarily what or how it is said but how it is lived by the witness .Be Blest