In Matthew 28:16-20, the Great Commission is detailed. “16 Then the eleven
disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus told his disciples He was giving them the responsibility to make other disciples from other nations along with the authority needed to execute the task. Prior to this commission, Jesus had accepted the full weight of the world’s sins as our Redeemer, ultimately going to and dying on the cross. In Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10, and Luke 5:24 we read of Jesus demonstrating His heavenly power to forgive sins. These passages relate the account of a man afflicted with palsy who had to be let down through a hole in the roof into the presence of the Lord. Jesus not only healed
this man but He forgave his sins as well. In this instance, Jesus demonstrates His authority to forgive sins. As our example for living as well as ministry, there is an underlying truth here- Jesus had the responsibility of our redemption and the authority to forgive sins as our Redeemer which was bestowed on Him by the Father. Likewise, in order to finish the task of the great commission, authority is crucial.
A look at everyday life validates this point. A store manager has the assumed responsibility to ensure a successful operation of the store. This means all operations come under his surveillance and it is his main job to maintain customer satisfaction. Recently, I took my daughter’s damaged camera to the store. The young man who attended to me did not have the authority to confirm if the store could fix the problem so he called his manager. The manager informed me the manufacturer had authorized all damaged cameras to be sent directly to them for repairs. He apologized that even though he was the store manager, their store was not the correct entity to solve the problem. This store manager had the responsibility for operating the store but did not have the full authority to execute solution for the problem.
God exemplifies this concept of responsibility backed up by authority multiple times throughout scripture. God gave Moses a huge commission - to deliver Israel out of Egypt. Moses, being only human, felt ill-equipped to complete the assignment. However, God turned Moses' walking stick into a powerful tool of authority which was used for His glory. God gives gifts which we are each responsible for manifesting within our lives. He calls, equips, and He has given His children His authority in the person of the Holy Spirit, without which we are helpless and powerless. He has given evangelists an un-quenching zeal to evangelize, intercessors a consuming passion to pray and intercede without ceasing, preachers a vigorous insight to proclaim the good news consistently, teachers a divine wisdom to rightly divide and explain the mysteries of the Word completely, prophets a boldness to encourage and prophesy without hesitation, as well as ministers a devotion to serve relentlessly and tirelessly. We all have authority in heaven and on earth to “Go” and execute for the glory of God. The best part of the commission is that Jesus is right there with you always, even to the end of the age.
Remember your authority validates your responsibility. Go!!
disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus told his disciples He was giving them the responsibility to make other disciples from other nations along with the authority needed to execute the task. Prior to this commission, Jesus had accepted the full weight of the world’s sins as our Redeemer, ultimately going to and dying on the cross. In Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10, and Luke 5:24 we read of Jesus demonstrating His heavenly power to forgive sins. These passages relate the account of a man afflicted with palsy who had to be let down through a hole in the roof into the presence of the Lord. Jesus not only healed
this man but He forgave his sins as well. In this instance, Jesus demonstrates His authority to forgive sins. As our example for living as well as ministry, there is an underlying truth here- Jesus had the responsibility of our redemption and the authority to forgive sins as our Redeemer which was bestowed on Him by the Father. Likewise, in order to finish the task of the great commission, authority is crucial.
A look at everyday life validates this point. A store manager has the assumed responsibility to ensure a successful operation of the store. This means all operations come under his surveillance and it is his main job to maintain customer satisfaction. Recently, I took my daughter’s damaged camera to the store. The young man who attended to me did not have the authority to confirm if the store could fix the problem so he called his manager. The manager informed me the manufacturer had authorized all damaged cameras to be sent directly to them for repairs. He apologized that even though he was the store manager, their store was not the correct entity to solve the problem. This store manager had the responsibility for operating the store but did not have the full authority to execute solution for the problem.
God exemplifies this concept of responsibility backed up by authority multiple times throughout scripture. God gave Moses a huge commission - to deliver Israel out of Egypt. Moses, being only human, felt ill-equipped to complete the assignment. However, God turned Moses' walking stick into a powerful tool of authority which was used for His glory. God gives gifts which we are each responsible for manifesting within our lives. He calls, equips, and He has given His children His authority in the person of the Holy Spirit, without which we are helpless and powerless. He has given evangelists an un-quenching zeal to evangelize, intercessors a consuming passion to pray and intercede without ceasing, preachers a vigorous insight to proclaim the good news consistently, teachers a divine wisdom to rightly divide and explain the mysteries of the Word completely, prophets a boldness to encourage and prophesy without hesitation, as well as ministers a devotion to serve relentlessly and tirelessly. We all have authority in heaven and on earth to “Go” and execute for the glory of God. The best part of the commission is that Jesus is right there with you always, even to the end of the age.
Remember your authority validates your responsibility. Go!!
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