Sent With Presence and Power

All this month on the blog we’re looking at the concept of Missional Living, and today’s post looks at how we are Sent with the Presence and Power of Jesus to share the Gospel and live as ambassadors for Christ. 

Jesus commissioned Believers to “Go therefore…” and make disciples. Why? And how, specifically, can we do this?

Why Are We Sent?

The reason why Jesus sends us is multifold. Finding the answer starts with asking: Who am I?

That question may be easy or hard to answer. Perhaps you’re a woman, mother, grandmother, sister, or friend. (Or a combination of those.) Maybe you’re known for being intellectual, shy, or outgoing. There are many ways of answering that question because we humans are such intricate creatures.

But when we’re answering the “Who am I?” question, we must start at the beginning. 

Ultimately, God has created us to glorify Him. No matter who we are, we are “purposed” to do His work. One very important part of that work is sharing the gospel with those who don’t know about Jesus. It’s really amazing, isn’t it, that God has designed us to glorify Himself? He will use us the way He’s intricately created us to do what He’s called us to do.

So, part of why we’re sent is because He’s created us to bring Him glory.

Another reason why is because He tells us to go.

I love the short version of the Great Commission in John 20:21. (This is called the Johannine Commission.) 

 

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

Jesus makes it really simple there, doesn’t He? He tells us quite plainly that we are sent because He was sent. We get to continue sharing His message.

Most of us are familiar with the longer version of the Great Commission found in Matthew:

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.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

These instructions have more details. We’re sent to continue sharing His message, and Jesus gives us the instructions on how specifically to do this.

How?

Ultimately the how (as in “the instruction,”) is found above in that Matthew passage.

How do we fulfill the Great Commission? We do it by going, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching them to observe Jesus’ commandments.

But it’s that very last part that tells us more about how. (As in, “How is it even possible!?”)

I imagine myself standing there listening to Jesus. When He gets to the “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” part, I see myself nervously raising my hand about chin high, sorta hoping not to be seen, clearing my voice, ready to ask, “Do you mean me, too, Jesus? Because I’m shy. I get super anxious and sometimes I feel like passing out under pressure. I don’t think I’m enough for this task!”

But before I can speak, I hear Him say, “And behold, I am with you always…”

It’s a bit of a mic drop. My excuses and reasons? They don’t matter a hill-a-beans because:  He. Is. With. Me.

And I don’t feel embarrassed about my thoughts; instead, I feel loved. I feel empowered. I feel like maybe I can after all. Because? He’s with me. He who calls, equips.

He will equip me for the specific task He asks of me. 

We Each Have a Part

The Lord has given us each a part.

13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)

God has a part for each of us to play in sharing the gospel and in living missionally for His Kingdom. The specific ways He sends me might look different from the ways He sends someone else to share Him.  But He will use me the way He’s created me and in the way He’s chosen to empower me for the task of bearing witness to His beautiful name.

I get to go, live as an ambassador, love others, and share Jesus with them when and how He asks me to. One way I get to do that is by “proclaiming His excellencies” in my current relationships and as I make new ones.

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (I Peter 2:9)

I have so much learning and practicing to do when it comes to being missionally-minded. I am still challenged on a daily basis to live with increasing mission-ality (I think I made that word up), but I aim for obedience and I thank Jesus for stretching me out of my comfort zone for His glory. And the times that I’ve been successfully obedient have made me braver. (That’s growth!)

I’m thankful that He sends me with His presence, and with His power. Look at what Jesus told the disciples when He sent the Holy Spirit to them:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come 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)

Yes! The very same Holy Spirit that empowered the disciples to bear witness to Jesus right there in their city, their area, the neighboring areas, and the ends of the earth has also empowered me.

Friends, we are sent with His presence and His power. How beautiful and encouraging! And, wow! What a privilege!

Things to Think About

Make a plan today to follow Christ outside your comfort zone and share Him with someone.

Think about this statement: “If you don’t participate in sharing the Gospel, God is still going to save people, but you will miss out on being part of God’s good plan.” (S. Heleman)

Does the Great Commission challenge you? Does it pull you from your comfort zone? Thank God that He sends you with His presence and in His power!

In Christ,
Ali