We'll
learn: This SENT Trio helps us to understand our marching authority,
and associated elements.
It
was badly broken and must be fixed immediately. The unity of the
hand-picked team of disciples was not in any shape to get their plan
and launch out in loving leadership spreading the Gospel of salvation
and service to the world. In writing to the Jews about Jesus, Matthew
caps off his book with the simple marching orders, God has inspired
him to put in writing for you and I.
If
you built a bolts 'n beams steel bridge across a deep dark chasm,
it's easily seen the whole bridge must be a well-built unit with all
the parts in their proper place, and of the highest quality. That
bridge will be no stronger than its weakest part. What are some other
examples where one weak link destroys the unity and power of the
whole? Could this principle also be applied to all the principles and
activities within our own character and manner of living?
Matthew
28:17 tells us 'that some doubted'. Christ's team of disciples had
some bad parts and needed to be fixed immediately with simple
powerful authoritatively direct marching orders. Just like a great
football coach would hope to do, the 'players', the disciples got it
straight and simple enough to be able to write the exact words on
their hearts and in their minds.
'All
power'. - we easily see this all refers to energy; force to move
people or processes in the desired direction. But it also refers to
authority. Jesus reminded his team, and us, that He ALONE has the
responsibility and approval, from His heavenly Father to command the
team of disciples, that includes us too. It's crucial here, to
realize that Satan and his demons have only the power that Jesus
allows them to have. When Christ says He's in control, that means
EVERYTHING!
'Go
ye'. - Jesus says, “Don't let some preacher or church committee do
the work. YOU GO!” How would you have liked sitting in that team
group and look into the eyes of the One with power that mankind can't
begin to describe? His eyes reach into your soul saying to “get on
your hard hat and tool belt and launch out.”
'Teaching
all Nations' – I think it's just wonderful that God gave us the
word 'ALL'. It's so clean and simple. There is no room for debate or
discussion about where and how much. All is all. Any 8 year old will
tell you all is 'nothing left out'. Our outreach to teens and
others, extends beyond our own family, church, neighborhood, and
nation. In Acts 1:8, the church (that's us) is given its marching
orders in an interesting way. The church's outreach was to include
'in Samaria'. You can think of the Samaritans (from the Jewish point
of view) as being half-breeds, outcasts, worthless appearing. I can
imagine Jews today looking at our teens with orange hair, excessive
black makeup, chains hanging all over themselves, and saying, “Boy.
Those teens are about like Samaritans – no good, worthless, the
rotten apples in our barrel of good church folks.” Name some other
groups of souls that may never truly lovingly hear the gospel because
of prejudice and unfounded bias.
'Teaching
them to observe ALL' – What are we to teach all these nations and
teens with orange hair? The answer is simple... what Jesus has taught
us. This is the supreme act of spreading the word. If you are a
person with enlarged 'bragging bones'... here is your chance.
Speaking about Christ and His blessings to us – you just can't
possibly exaggerate. Isn't that great... I mean – GREAT!
'I
am with you, always' – Is there any part of the word 'always' you
don't understand? You need to teach the meaning of this truth to
others today... time is running out... GO YE!
