What is the Christian’s job description? It is the “Commission” given by the Risen Christ to every believer on the planet. We call it the “Great Commission,” for while Christ gave many commands to His followers, the “Great Commission” is the Greatest of all. Why? Because it is the last words spoken by Jesus before He ascended, but also the words which set forth His purpose for every believer and every local church – the task of “making disciples” of all the nations of the earth. In one word, it is “OUR ORDERS FROM HEADQUARTERS.” If we obey it, we have fulfilled God’s purpose for us on this earth; if we fail, we have missed His purpose and His blessing.
This raises the question, how many professing Christians obey the Great Commission. The latest statistic reveals that only two percent of professing Christians ever lead a soul to Christ. The great preacher, WE Sangster, made this observation: “You will embarrass any Sunday morning congregation by asking 2 questions, “When did you last win someone to Christ?” or “When did you last try?
Why, then do not more professing Christians witness?
- Many do not witness because they believe only “super saints” should witness such as the pastor, deacon, etc.
- Others do not witness because they do not know what to say.
- Others because they feel they would fail and be embarrassed.
- Too many do not witness because they simply do not have a witness because they have not been saved themselves.
- A growing number do not witness because they have left their first love for Jesus.
- Many cannot witness because they are tolerating sin in their lives.
- Quite a few do not witness now because they fear persecution (Gal. 5:11).
But there are no acceptable excuses for not witnessing, and every truly born again person can witness. In fact, Jesus, our Lord and Savior, has given us seven incentives for witnessing. What are those incentives?
- Jesus has given us a Personal Assignment. “You all go and make disciples.” (Matthew 29:19).
- Jesus has given us a Plain Assignment. Jesus said, “Go.” “Go” is just a two-letter, understandable word, many translate it, “attend, pray, give, sing, serve, study, read, etc. in any language.
- Jesus has given us a Possible Assignment. Jesus only commands that we “witness,” that is, just tell the story of our own conversion, which anyone can do. Please note that he did not command that we be “attorneys, debaters, skillful conversationalists, biblical or theological scholars. Illus: I read of one brother, with little education who heard a sermon on John 3:16, and was gloriously saved. He thought there was only one verse in the whole Bible – John 3:16 – and he went forth and won 50 persons to Jesus. How? Just telling the story of his own conversion.
- Jesus has given us His Authority. “ALL Authority is given unto me in heaven and earth. Therefore, you all go with My authority” (Matthews 28:18). Since Jesus gives us His authority we may obey Him without fear. No matter where He leads us, no matter what circumstances we face, He is in control. By His death and resurrection Jesus defeated all enemies – Satan, Sin, Demons, Sickness, Persecution, Famine, War, Diseases, Hygienic problems, etc. – and won for Himself and all His followers “All” authority. Illus: My house arrest in India.
- Jesus has given us the Ability. Not only does Jesus command that we go, but He has given us the Ability to do so by giving us the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 makes this crystal clear, “But when the Holy Spirit is come upon you, you shall receive power and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” So important is the Holy Spirit in witnessing that Jesus commanded His disciples not to try to witness until they had received the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). However, that was prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit to every believer on the day of Pentecost. Today every true believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside of him (Romans 8:9b, 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Gal. 4:6-7) and thus has the ability, the power (dunamis) to witness.
- Jesus has given us the Area in which to witness , which is “Everywhere, All the time” – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, uttermost parts of the earth.” The word, “go” is a present participle, meaning “While or whenever you go,” you are to witness.
- Jesus has given us the Assurance “And be assured that I will be with you until the end of the ages.” (Matthews 28:20) Illus.: Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, an internationally acclaimed Bible expositor, used to visit ladies once a week to read the Bible to them. When he came to the end of Matthew, Morgan read, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age,” and added, “Isn’t that a wonderful promise?” One of the ladies quickly replied, “Young man, that is not a promise – it is a fact.” When God called Moses, Moses said to Him, “I cannot go unless you go with me.” God promised to accompany Moses and He did. Not only does God accompany us as we go, but He precedes us before we go.
When you look at all these incentives: ASSIGNMENT, AUTHORITY, ABILITY, AREA AND ASSURANCE – You and I have no excuse for not going. Jesus says to you and me “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthews 4:19, Mark 1:17) Will you obey your Orders from Headquarters? Will you discharge you job description? If so the blessing is yours in this life and even more in eternity. If you fail, how will God deal with you? Many ask the question, “How will God treat those who never heard the gospel?” This should not be our concern – God will do right. Our concern should be this: What will God do with me if I have heard the gospel and experienced its life-changing power and do not tell the lost, wherever I live or go, how to be saved?
“In most churches, the congregation pays the pastor to preach, win the lost, and build up the saved – while the church members function as cheerleaders (if they are enthusiastic) or spectators. The “converts” are won, baptized, and given the right hand of fellowship, then they join the other spectators. How much faster our churches would grow, and how much stronger and happier our church members would be, if each one were disciplining another believer. The only way a local church can “be fruitful and multiply” (instead of growing by “additions”) is with a systematic discipleship program. This is the responsibility of every believer, and not just a small group who have been “called to go.”[1]
“The phrase “the end of the age” indicates that our Lord has a plan: He is the Lord of history. As the churches follow His leading and obey His Word, they fulfill His purpose in the world. It will all come to a climax one day, meanwhile, we must all be faithful.[2]
[1] Warren Wiesbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, pp 107-108.
[2] Ibid. p. 108.