SENT - Your Calling to Adoption/Foster Care

SENT - Your Calling to Adoption/Foster Care

Understanding the Great Commission as Action

This Bible teaching from Founded In Truth Fellowship emphasizes a fundamental shift in understanding Christian faith: that believing in the gospel is not a passive intellectual exercise, but an active commitment that demands tangible action. The speaker recounts a pivotal moment of realization, describing it as a "launch" rather than a mere "shift," akin to the secondary boosts that propel a rocket into the atmosphere. This realization challenged the speaker's previous understanding of faith, which had been centered on reading, knowing, and talking about the Bible. The core message conveyed is that the essence of the gospel of Yeshua (Jesus), the King, lies in actively living out one's faith.

The teaching then delves into a review of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28, specifically verses 16-20, which are presented as the final words of Yeshua in Matthew's account. It highlights the scene where the eleven disciples, having gone to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had directed them to, worshiped him, although some harbored doubts. In this context, Jesus declares, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." This powerful statement is linked back to Daniel 7, where the Son of Man is vindicated and receives dominion. Following this declaration of authority, Jesus commands, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." This passage is identified as the Great Commission.

The teaching challenges the common interpretation of the Great Commission as simply going and telling everyone about Jesus. While acknowledging that ministries, t-shirts, websites, and blogs are often built around this concept, the speaker asserts that the true essence of the Great Commission is to teach the world to observe all that Jesus commanded. It's about teaching the world to watch and follow Jesus. The purpose of Jesus' ministry was to demonstrate that the time had arrived for God to fulfill his promises, bringing about a world characterized by peace, justice, and mercy – a manifestation of God's reign on earth, a "new Genesis 1." The prayer "may your kingdom come" is presented as a reality inaugurated in the person of Yeshua, with the subsequent question posed: are believers going to follow him so that this kingdom comes through them as well?

The speaker strongly refutes the idea that the Great Commission is about establishing churches for passive attendance, experiencing fleeting emotional moments, or simply updating social media religious affiliations. Instead, the Great Commission is a call to action, demanding the investment of one's life, energy, time, and resources into the mission of God's kingdom being manifest on earth. When this active participation occurs as a kingdom, Jesus is present and felt by those around. This involves seeking out individuals who are concealing their struggles and offering support rooted in God's love, not just praying for them. It's about discerning needs in others' lives and asking God to reveal how to meet those needs, becoming a conduit of His love rather than simply offering prayers without corresponding action.

The Great Commission, according to this teaching, was Yeshua's directive to his followers to enter God's creation and replicate his actions: to become servants, to suffer alongside others, to embrace daily self-denial, to be raised to new life, and to demonstrate this way of living to the world. Jesus assures his followers of his constant presence when they choose to emulate him and act as conduits of his love. This is significant because one cannot effectively show the world something they themselves do not practice. The command to "go, make disciples" is equated with replicating oneself and creating image-bearers. This echoes the creation account in Genesis 1, where God created humanity as his image-bearers, tasked with subduing the earth and multiplying, representing his reign, justice, and kingdom. The Great Commission is presented as a continuation of this original mandate to multiply image-bearers. Yeshua invites believers to rediscover God's original intention for their lives, offering the same Spirit that resurrected him to empower them for this active walk.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Shift from passive belief to active doing: Recognize that faith is not just about what you know or say, but what you do. Look for opportunities to put your beliefs into action daily.
• Embrace a servant's heart: Follow Jesus' example of washing the disciples' feet by actively seeking ways to serve others, even in seemingly small and uncomfortable ways.
• Look beyond your own needs: Be attentive to the needs of those around you, especially those who might be hiding their struggles. Move beyond simply praying for them to actively seeking ways to support them.
• Pray for God to use you: Instead of only asking God to meet others' needs, pray that God would use you as the means to provide help and demonstrate His love.
• Focus on embodying Christ's commands: The primary focus should be on learning and then actively living out the teachings of Jesus, rather than solely on intellectual debate or emotional experiences.
• Replicate Jesus' life: Strive to emulate the way Jesus lived – as a servant, someone who suffered alongside others, and who daily chose to put God's will first.
• Prioritize serving others: Aim to be known for your service to others, allowing your actions to speak first, and then explaining the theological basis for your service when asked.
• Push others forward: Instead of seeking prominence, actively work to elevate and support those around you.

References

Matthew 28:16-20 https://biblehub.com/matthew/28-16.htm

Daniel 7 https://biblehub.com/daniel/7.htm

John 1 https://biblehub.com/john/1.htm

John 13 https://biblehub.com/john/13.htm

Genesis 1 https://biblehub.com/genesis/1.htm

Books and Resources Mentioned

• The Bible by Various Authors

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