FOCUS SCRIPTURE: (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ~ Matthew 28:19-20
SUMMARY: In “The Great Commission,” Jesus entrusts believers with divine authority (exousia) to represent Him in the earth, through the power of the Holy Ghost. This authority, given to Holy Ghost-filled believers, is not for personal gain but to fulfill God’s will. Acts 3 illustrates this power as Peter, invoking the name of Jesus, healed a lame man and declared that it was not by human might, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus commanded His disciples to teach and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, affirming the Trinity and our church’s belief in one God eternally existent in three persons. Each person of the Godhead (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) plays a vital role in salvation and in equipping the believer for ministry.
Jesus calls believers to not only teach but to teach people to observe His commandments with a heart ready to hear and obey (John 14:15–16). The teaching must include the need for salvation (Romans 3:23; 6:23), the message of repentance, and the life-changing power of Jesus’ sacrifice. It must also include the promise and necessity of the Holy Ghost. Jesus assures His followers that they are never alone, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” This promise was not only for the apostles but for every generation of believers, extending to us today and those to come. Believers are urged to embrace their divine assignment with urgency (John 9:4) and wholehearted commitment (Colossians 3:23), remembering: “I was created to do God’s will.” For the unbeliever, it starts with recognizing God’s love; His love always comes first and empowers true transformation.
Supporting Scriptures: Acts 3:1–8, 12, 19; John 14:12, 15–16; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Psalm 73:26; Colossians 3:23; John 9:4
Affirmation: I Was Created to Do God’s Will.