Today, we want to examine exactly how this mandate would be fufilled.

It seems a little far-fetched right? How exactly can the whole world be reached?

The answer is simple: through you and me.

This mandate, the great commission, was given to the disciples in:

Matthew 28:19-20
New King James Version
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

In this passage, Jesus was about to ascend to heaven and the one instruction he gave to his disciples was this great commission- to make disciples of all nations.

If you read through the book of Acts of the Apostle following the lives of the apostles, you would see how the disciples made sure to follow the instruction till their literal last breath.

In fact they were stoned, harassed, shamed and ultimately killed because of it. They entered into every city, making disciples till that message in it originality got to us.‭‭ All because they were given a mandate from God.

However, in order for such an instruction to be followed there must be be an emphasis on growth in the Word of God. If we are to indeed make disciples of nations we must place a great premium on the study of God’s Word.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭3‬
New King James Version
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Even in addition to all the teaching they underwent prior to Christ’s’ death, Jesus remained with his disciples 40 days after his resurrection teaching them! The only way we can fully fulfil God’s mandate is if the Word of God dwells in us richly.

Even in the great commission, the instruction is to teach others what they first received. You can only be a good teacher of the Word of you are a good student of the Word.

‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬
New King James Version
16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Paul’s charge to Timothy was that the reason he should take heed to himself and to the doctrine that was delivered to him was that it would not just save him but also those that will hear him.

The reason why you are growing in the Word is not just for yourself but also for those that would hear you. The people you are to disciple are beneficiaries of your labour in the Word.

There are people that you have been sent to, there are people that are waiting to hear you. What would you say when you meet them? What would be the content of your teaching?

We are charged with the responsibility of passing on what we have received without changing the message, this in and of itself requires study.

2 Timothy 2:2
New King James Version
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Apostle Paul was writing to his son in the faith, Timothy, and he said he should commit what he has heard and learnt from him to faithful men that would be able to teach others.

The word “faithful” is the Greek word “pistos” which means reliable. Paul was simply telling him to put it in the hands of people he can trust enough to carry on the message the same way it was given to them. You must be faithful in handling the Word of God!

So, we have been given a mandate, a responsibility and a burden for evangelism, follow up and discipleship. And the only way we can fulfil this is if we ourselves know the Word of God. We must grow!

Remain under sound teaching, give yourself to Bible study and prayer. Remember it’s not just for you but also for those that will hear you so take it personally

You have to disciple men! Lives depend on it.

We must train others, to multiply! To fill the earth with the good news of Christ.

Prayer Point
Lord, as I pray now, I receive a burden for much more growth. Help me to yearn for Bible study and prayer not just for myself, but for those that would hear me.