There is a difference I believe between working on commission and being commissioned by someone to carry out an important task. Working on commission normally involves the sale of some product to a customer. These sales can either be through a storefront business, over the internet or even in the form of a multilevel company. Being commissioned by someone means that you represent the one who is commissioning you and carrying out the task that they have assigned to you. Please read Mark 16:14-20 as Jesus commissions his disciples to spread the gospel around the world. What is the gospel? The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross for humanity’s sin debt, paying it in full. Being buried and being raised back to life on the third day. Anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, places their faith and trust in him alone for salvation will be saved. Right after Jesus’ resurrection there was a problem. He had to rebuke his disciples for their willful unbelief that he was raised from the dead. The Lord has sent the women who testified to his resurrection and the two men who were on the Emmaus road. Jesus had told them before his crucifixion that he would rise again on the third day. They were refusing to believe the reports of these witnesses. The Lord Jesus still rebukes his disciples today when they stubbornly, willfully refuse to believe him and his promises. What are you refusing to believe that the Lord has made known to you through his word and the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? After the Lord rebukes (reprimands) his disciples for their unbelief he commissions them to proclaim the gospel to the whole of creation. There is no such thing as silent evangelism. Evangelism is basically you sharing others what the Lord has done in your life. When people hear this message they either believe the good news or they don’t. Notice what happens if a person believes they are saved. God the Father places them in the body of Christ and they take on Christ Jesus having been crucified with him, buried with him and risen to walk in the newness of life. (Romans 6) Jesus promised his disciples that he would authenticate their message of salvation through various works of the Holy Spirit in and through them. If you take the time to read the book of Acts you will read that the Holy Spirit does this through the lives of his messengers in this book and the message of Jesus is spread throughout the known world. Today, as you walk with the Lord and share his gospel the Lord Jesus still authenticates his message and messengers when need be. Our calling is to be obedient and walk by faith letting Jesus build his Church as he sees fit. Are you being obedient to the commission that He has given you and called you to?
Categories: Weekly Sermon