THE GREAT COMMISSION

THE MANDATE, THE MISSION AND THE METHOD

Yeshua trained twelve disciples and sent them 2x2 (Mark 6:7). They went and made seventy disciples. He then sent them 2x2 with an Ekklesia planting strategy (Luke 10:1-9). They planted Ekklesias in the ‘houses of peace’. He then empowered 120 ‘persons of peace’ with Holy Spirit and they baptized 3000 people. They went and multiplied disciples that starting from Jerusalem, reached the ends of the earth. The Lord has given His Ekklesia the mandate to go and make disciples of all nations, tongues and tribes (Matt. 28:18-20). Thus, the Ekklesia’s focus must be on finding and saving the lost until panta ta ethne is discipled.

The Great Commission is the core of the core, the driving agenda, the primal mission and the mandate, and the raison d’être or the reason for the existence of the Ekklesia. This is important because it is the last command of Yeshua to go to the ends of the earth as His witnesses and make disciples of all nations. That apostolic mandate has not changed and will not change until is fulfilled (Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20). Any church that is not prioritizing it a counterfeit church.

FROM BLIND EYES TO INHERITORS OF THE KINGDOM IS A PROCESS

Yeshua commanded, “Open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18). All the cookbooks prescribe the ingredients and the process to make those delicious eatables. However, you cannot eat the ingredients. You must go through the process and then only can you relish the finished product. 

Starting from scratch to become an inheritor of the Kingdom is a process and not a onetime spasm. We are to open the eyes of those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death through the light of the Gospel (Matt. 4:16). This results in their coming out of the darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9) and from the power of Satan into Kingdom of God. They are then forgiven through repentance, baptism, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3739). Finally, they must advance the Kingdom to claim their eternal inheritance.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, so, ‘Go make disciples of all nations, baptize them, make them to obey all my commands, and send them on to replicate” (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

GO

Who is the sender? The Lord Jesus.
What is the Purpose? To make disciples.
How many should go? 2x2 (Luke 10:1-2).
Go with what? With authority to cast out evil spirits and heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2).
Where to go? Wherever Christ has not been named (Rom. 15:1920).
What to do there? Find a “House of Peace” and make reproducing disciples that plant healthy multiplying Ekklesias (Luke 10:5-9).

MAKE DISCIPLES

Who is a disciple? “One known for his loving relationship with other disciples” (John 13:34-35).
A disciple glorifies God by making more disciples, by bearing abundant lasting fruit (John 15:8, 16).
A disciple imitates his teacher, and like Jesus willing to pay the cost (Luke 14:26; 6:40).

BAPTIZE

Baptism is dying to self and rising in Christ as a new creation (Rom. 6:3-4).).
God baptized 603,055 families in the Red Sea the same day (1 Cor. 10:1-2; Num. 1:46).
John’s baptism of repentance (Matt. 3:11).
Jesus gives baptism of empowerment through the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11; Acts 2:38-39).
Baptism of fire with the Word to withstand fiery trials (persecution) (Jer. 23:29; 1Pet. 4:12).
OT priests did not baptize anyone, they only offered sacrifice and burnt incense in the temple (Exo. 29:1).
Jewish men and women take a Bath of Purification in separate pools (Mikve).
Every baptized believer can baptize others (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:47,48; 1Peter 2:9).
Everyone was baptized on the day they repented (Acts 8:35-39).

TEACH THEM TO OBEY

Adam disobeyed and lost Paradise, but Abraham obeyed and was blessed to be a blessing to the nations (Gen. 12:3; 22:17-18).
Yeshua was obedient unto death (Phil. 2:8).
Yeshua gave five love commands to his disciples: Love God, love your neighbors, love yourself, love your enemies and love each other. These can only be practiced in the context of a house church and not in an institutional church (Luke 10:27; Matt. 5:44; John 13:34-35).
We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). 
We are to give freely, cheerfully and generously for reaping of the harvest (Luke 6:38; 2 Cor: 9:6-7).
All faithful men (anthropoi = men and women) are to teach others.         (2 Tim. 2:2; Heb. 5:12-13).
Yeshua commanded us to go make disciples, baptizing and teaching them to obey (Matt. 28:19).
The measurement of success based on the Great Commission is not how many that come to your Ekklesia, but how many you sent out as Disciple-makers, Baptizers and Equippers).

SEND

God is asking, “Who will go for us?” (Isa. 6:8).

Jesus sends us out as fishers of men, seekers of lost sheep, sowers of seed, fruit bearers and reapers that brings thirty, sixty and even a hundredfold harvest (Matt. 4:19; 13:8; Luke 15:7, 10; 19:10.).

We are to go as His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Go where people sit in darkness, in the shadow of death (Matt. 4:16).

“We are not to grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Jesus blessed, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21).

Abrahamic Commission: God chose one-man, Abraham, to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. Now He chooses every believer to be a witness to the ends of the earth. (Gen. 12:3; Acts 1:8).

Mosaic Commission: God chose one nation, Israel’ to be priests to the nations. “You shall be a kingdom of priests to all the peoples, for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5-6). Now he ordains all believers to be priests to offer spiritual sacrifices. (Rev. 5:9,10; 1Pet. 2:5,9) 

Evangelic Commission: From one nation to all nations, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all nations, even to every creature. (Mark 16:15; Matt. 24:14).

Ethnic Commission: “Go make disciples of all the nations (panta ta ethné), baptizing them and teaching them to obey all things that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:18-19).

Geographic Commission: “You shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Double Decker Commission: It is not just making disciples, baptizing, equipping, and sending them out but making them disciple-makers, baptizers, equippers and senders who go and “viralize” DMMs (Disciple Multiplying Movements) (2 Tim. 2:2).

To go or not to go is a choice that has consequences. If we choose not to go, then we cannot demolish strongholds, ignite Christ-ward movements and claim our inheritance (1John 3:8; Joshua 1:3). Yeshua has called only those willing to take up their cross, not those who sit in a spectator zone, once a week (Luke 9:23). Taking up our cross means dying to the world along with all our pet projects, which are idols and rising up with the mission, “that they may all come to the know the truth (Yeshua) and be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4). When warned that Herod was planning to kill Him, Yeshua said, “Go and tell that fox (Herod) that I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be martyred. Nevertheless, I must journey today, tomorrow and the following day” (Luke 13:3133). The Ekklesia is the army of God, and the Great Commission is her marching orders.

GO DUNK, DISCIPLE AND DISPATCH

The Great Commission encapsulates the mission of the Ekklesia, requiring no academic tag, nor does it suffer from age, caste, class, race or gender bias. The only attribute the disciples had was that “they had been with Yeshua” (Acts 4:13), and they only preached, “What we have seen and heard” (1John 1:3). It commissions every believer to dunk, disciple, and dispatch. The objective is to fill every human habitation with the knowledge of the glory of God as the water covers the sea (Hab. 2:14). Everyone must confess that Yeshua is Lord, and every knee must bow and worship Him (Phil 2:9-11). This is the true mission of the Ekklesia. The rest is details (1Cor.3:12-14).

FROM THE GOSPEL OF ‘NONE EFFECT’ TO CLUSTER EFFECT

There are millions of villages and townships in the world. India alone has over a million. Every person must be confronted with the gospel until he accepts or rejects it. We can say that the whole world has been evangelized only when every human habitation has its own discipling hub. It would be impossible to reach all the 2.5 million villages and myriads of shanty towns of the world through the structured church, complete with buildings and professional staff that remain unengaged for six days of the week. Nor are they necessary as homes of ‘persons of peace’ are always available for free. 

Even though Saint Paul claimed that he had fully preached from Jerusalem to Illyricum and there was no place left un-reached, he had planted only a few regional Assemblies. However, like a cluster bomb, those few exploded and whole regions were saturated with the gospel. This happened because Paul trained his first disciples in the synagogues in how to debate with the Jews. Later he shifted to the Hall of Tyrannus where they learnt how to make disciples of Gentiles. The result was that within two years, all who dwelt in Asia heard the gospel. This is the appropriate model for us even today (1 Cor. 1:17; Acts 19:1-12).

YESHUA, THE GREAT GO-MISSIONER

The Great Commission is a “Go-mission.” Because Yeshua was intentional about seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10), He remained on the go everyday (Luke 13:33), refusing to stay in one place. He explained, “I must preach the Kingdom of God in the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent” (Luke 4:43; 8:1; Mark 1:38). Yeshua knew that there were other sheep that were not yet in His sheepfold, so He has asked us to bring them into the fold (John 10:16).

NOT ONLY COMPASSION BUT DO SOMETHING

When Yeshua saw the multitude, He was filled with compassion (Matt. 9:36-38). He called His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and preach the Kingdom (Luke 9:1,2). After these things, the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them out two by two (Luke 10:1-9). Sadly, we have compassion and do a lot of humanitarian work without proclaiming His name. We ordain our young pastors to serve as aquarium keepers, to take care of domesticated fish that look good especially in Sunday church services, but do not reproduce. What a colossal waste. Yeshua ordained His disciples to go find the persons of peace and plant the kingdom of God in their homes (Matt. 10:35-38; Mark 16:15-20; 2 Cor. 5:18-20).

ANGELS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT JOIN THE FRAY

The gospel rapidly spread from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. The Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit and the angels of heaven joined in the fray. An angel of the Lord released apostles in the temple jail, telling them to go stand in the temple courts and speak to the people (Acts 5:20). When an angel of God told Philip, “Arise and go,” he went, preached to an Ethiopian high official and baptized him (Acts 8:26-27, 35, 38). The Spirit instructed Peter to arise and go preach the Good News to the Household of a Gentile, Cornelius (Acts 10:19-20). Paul was told in a night vision “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent” (Acts 18:9-10).

When God gives a vision, He also makes provision. You take the first step in faith and see what God will do for you. If He can take care of the sparrows, then He can certainly take care of His saints. The reward for taking that crucial first step has a 100-percent return on investment. “Everyone who left houses or brothers or sisters, father or mother, wife or children or land for My name’s sake, shall receive a 100-fold, as well as the right to everlasting life” (Matt. 19:29).

EKKLESIA PLANTING REQUIRES ENABLERS

For Ekklesia planters to function effectively, many other resourceful people must get involved:

1. Senders (Acts 13:1-3; Rom. 10:14-15).
2. Equippers (Eph. 4:11-12).
3. Intercessors (Eph. 6:18; 1 Tim. 2:8).
4. Encouragers (Acts 4:36).
5. Financiers (Luke 8:1-3.).
6. Hospitality providers (1Cor. 16:15).
7. Helpers (Rom. 16:2; John 14:16; Heb. 13:6).

THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF A PRIEST

In our man-made church, the function of a professional priest is to administer the church’s seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, confession, holy communion, marriage, holy orders, and anointing of the sick. He also visits the sick, oversees religious education programs, and provides pastoral care to his parishioners. None of these functions are ascribed to a priest in the Scriptures.

THE OT LEVITICAL PRIEST HAD THREE CORE FUNCTIONS:

Offer animal sacrifice for atonement. (2Chron 7:12, Exo. 23:42)

Offer incense and intercede for the nations. (Exo. 30:6,7; Psalm 141:2)

Keep, seek, and share knowledge of God (Mal. 2:7)

YESHUA AS OUR HIGH PRIEST FULFILLED ALL THESE FUNCTIONS:

1. Yeshua offered Himself as full and final sacrifice for our    atonement (Heb.10:10).
2. Yeshua is interceding for us before the Throne (Heb. 7:25).
3. Yeshua is the treasure of all wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).

THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF A NT PRIEST

1. Offer lost souls as living sacrifice. (James 5:20; Rom. 15:16)
2. Offer intercessory prayers. (1Tim. 2:1-4; 8; Rev. 8:3,4)
3. Keep, seek, and share knowledge of God. (Col. 1:10; Acts 17:11; 1Tim. 4:13)

A COME CHURCH OR A GO EKKLESIA

Here is one way of finding out whether yours is a “go” Ekklesia or a “come” church. Sing and holler, “Praise the Lord,” then sleep through the boring sermon, but carefully listen to the announcements. If they say, “Monday-brothers’ meeting, come; Tuesday, sisters’ meeting, come; Wednesday, youth meeting, come; Thursday, church committee meeting, come; Friday, cottage meeting, come; Saturday, choir practice, come; Sunday, of course you must come, but do not forget to bring your offerings.” Such is a man-made “come church” that has nothing to do with Yeshua’s “go Ekklesia.” He went every day till he had covered all the villages and cities, and then sent His disciples two by two to make more disciples (Matt. 9: 35; Luke 10:1).

Now that you know that yours is a “come church,” it is time to call it quits, however hard that may be. You need to go, make your own disciples, and gather your own flock, actualizing the Great Commission and be counted worthy to stand boldly before the Throne. The Great Commission stands as His final explicit command. Failure to obey will bring eternal consequences; obedience will bring eternal glory.

CPM INHIBITORS 

• Building – Diverts resources. Stabilizes the church, stops the gospel from reaching oikos to oikos where Christ is not known.
• Professionally qualified pastor – Usurps your priesthood to baptize, break bread etc. Minimizes you into a spectator.
• Sunday service – One day a week, artificially choreographed religious event.
• Christian focus – Excludes people of other faiths to have an encounter with Christ.
• Indiscrete external funding – Creates dependency. Corrupts 
• the DNA of spontaneous spread of the Gospel that births unhealthy churches.
• Outside leadership – The church is seen as a foreign implant.
• Baptism of water – Unless born of water and Spirit, you cannot enter heaven (John 3:3,5).
• The Great Omission – no discipling, no growth, no multiplication - fruitless and barren church. 

CPM ACCELERATORS 

• Breaking bread from house to house – Builds relationships with seekers, meets felt needs of the poor, provides holistic ministry to body, mind and spirit (Luke 10:5-8; Acts 2:46,47; Matt. 25:31-46).
• Local leaders – Seamlessly develop multi-generational leadership (2Tim. 2:2).
• Daily gatherings – Not just daily addition of those being saved but daily multiplication of disciples leading to daily multiplication of Ekklesias. (Acts 2:47; 6:1,7; 16:5; Heb. 3:13)
• Gentile Focus – Provides forum for people of all faiths to engage with Christ (Acts 19:8-10). 
• Local resources – The harvest field provides all the resources for DMM birthing churches with healthy DNA (Luke 10:7).
• Contextualization – Creates relationship with Yeshua within their own ethno-religious-cultural-linguistic identity (Acts 15:20; 17: 23, 26-28). 
• Baptism of the Holy Spirit – Empowers to heal the sick, deliver the demonized and gives boldness to preach where Christ is not named (Acts 4:29,30; Rom. 15:19,20). 
• The Great Commission – Obedience leads to catalyzing DMM that lead to rapid discipling of the nations (Matt. 28:18-20). 
• Yeshua gave five love commands to his disciples: Love God, love your neighbors, love yourself, love your enemies and love each other. These great CPM accelerators can only be practiced in the context of a house church (Luke 10:27; Matt. 5:44; John 13:34-35).

The “church age” has come to end and once again, “A little one will become a thousand and a small one a strong nation. I the Lord will hasten it in its time.” (Isa. 60:22)

GEMS:

• There are 18 references of panta ta ethné (all Gentile nations) in the Scriptures. Three words that set the finish line for the church and defined the strategy for the missions.
• Matt. 24:14 “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to panta ta ethné, and then the end will come.”
• Matt. 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of panta ta ethné, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.”
• Matt. 25:32 “Panta ta ethné will be brought before Him, and He will separate them, as shepherds separate sheep from goats.”
• Matt. 24:9 “You will be hated by panta ta ethné because of My name.” 
• Mark 11:17 “My house shall be called a house of prayer for panta ta ethné.”
• Luke 12:30 – “For panta ta ethne of the world seek these things.
• Luke 21:24 – “They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among ta ethne panta.”
• Luke 24:47 – "Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to panta ta ethne, beginning from Jerusalem." 
• Luke 12:30 – “For panta ta ethne of the world seek these things.”
• Acts 24:47 – "Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to panta ta ethne, beginning from Jerusalem." 
• Acts 17:26 – “And he made from one pan ethnos of men to live on all the face of the earth…”
• Rom. 1:5 – “We have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among pasin tois ethnesin.”
• Gal. 3:8 God preached the gospel to Abraham, saying, families of the “panta ta ethné will be blessed in you.” 
• 2Tim. 4:17 – “But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the word fully, that panta ta ethne might hear it.”
• Rev. 12:5 – “One who will rule panta ta ethne with a rod of iron.”
• Rev.15:4 “For panta ta ethné will come worship you.”

Copyright © 2023 Dr. Victor Choudhrie

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