Go...God is with you!
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
And when they saw Him they worshipped Him,
Of course they worshiped Him! These men watched Jesus pulled from prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, drug to Pilate for conviction, beaten and flogged, carrying a cross to His death and ultimately giving up His life on that cross. They buried Him, they grieved for Him and now with all the hope they could muster up – they took the step of faith to go out to “the mountain to which Jesus had directed them” and there He was, just like He said He would be!
But some doubted.
Jesus did not take into any consideration any of their doubts, He went straight back to “Rabbi” mode and started instructing and directing His disciples – those who were mesmerized by His resurrection and those who were hanging on by a thread to believe. He does the same for us today!
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me...”
We have to stop here to check up on our faith in the Word of God, because this is literally the Word of God... all authority belongs to Jesus and yet... the Romans were running the government and the entire region, the Pharisees and Sadducees were running the temple and overseeing all religious activities... and corruption was rampant! And Christ is proclaiming that He is now in authority – in heaven and on earth…for all eternity!
Now we have to ask ourselves – Do we today, right now, where we are, in the midst of a corrupt governmental and religious regime with hazardous and troublesome and broken circumstances surrounding each and every one of us...believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth – who we confess as Lord and Savior – has all authority in heaven and earth?
Because if not...we will not be able to do what He says next......
Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Now... that’s a tall order... but they did it. They did it because they believed and because they were empowered by faith in the most important thing that happened through the life, death and resurrection of the Savior of the world...
And behold I am with you always – even to the end of the age. ~Matthew 28:16-20
The disciples were able to believe, they were able to hang their hope on and cling in faith to Jesus’s Word because He was with them! Back to life and doing life together. And even after He ascended, they had a foundation of a million other things He had told them over their three year tenure of Him being their Rabbi – their 24/7 hands on – doing life with teacher pointing them to the way to their Holy Father, God.
Can you see the importance of discipleship? The importance of those who are even only one step ahead in their faith walk, encouraging and teaching and doing life with those on a daily basis who need to move closer to the Lord? Can you see the importance of community? Can you see the importance of not forsaking gathering together where new believers and mature believers and struggling believers and overcoming believers can mutually encourage each other through time together? That “gathering together” is not exclusive to church events! Jesus said where 2 or more are gathered He is there among them, His Holy Spirit is with us wherever we go and He is with those we are in community with as well. What a celebration of life it should be when we all get together!
None of us have to go it alone or even in our own strength...
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. ~Acts 1:8
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them ~Acts 2:1-4
So, filled with the Holy Spirit, endowed with power from on high – from God Himself and operating under the authority of Jesus Christ... the disciples went... in 33 AD – and now generations have believed and went year after year, decade after decade, generation after generation until today – October 3, 2026.
This is our year, our decade, our generation. We, you and I, who have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and confessed Him as our Savior, we who have enjoyed His present Holy Spirit in our lives…we must share our faith in what Christ has done in us and for us with the world.
We must GO and Do what Jesus commanded. Going out into the world... with the good news of salvation to the lost and broken and empty and hopeless people who need to hear that they don’t have to do it alone. At home, at work, at the grocery store and the bank, in the line at the pharmacy and to whomever will listen. Because the news is that good, or is it? Are you so excited about what the Lord has done that you are willing to share it with anyone who will give you a listening ear? How excited are you that your sins have been washed away? How excited are you that the greater one, the overcomer is living in you helping and guiding you every step of the way in your journey through this life?
The truth is God has made a way – He cut a path in Jesus and made Him a bridge to the Father Himself!!
So, the questions are:
Who have YOU led to faith in Christ Jesus?
Who are YOU baptizing – yes, YOU – not your preacher or even at church. Who are YOU baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?
How far are YOU willing to go outside of your comfort zone to share what God in Christ has done for all mankind, not even allowing yourself to consider the doubts and rejections from others that are sure to accompany such a mission and journey? It’s something to think about. We need to remember that our courage and boldness have been mandated. The principles and precepts God has set forth in His word are not prideful or prejudice, they are truth!
The truth that Jesus presented to His first generation disciples must inspire each and every one of us who have asked Him into our hearts to be our Lord and Savior to do the same as the generations before us to GO and Do all that He has commanded for His glory for our generation.
PRAYER: Holy Father, help me to remember that very first moment you revealed yourself to me. Set my heart on fire for your will, your purposes and your glory. Let me bring you honor in all I think, say and do, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen!
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