Sermons
March 30th, 2025 by Pastor Solley033025AM Commission With Promise
Sub. The Great Commission
Theme: Promises that come with the Great Commission.
Text: Matthew 28:18-20
“Commissioned With Promise” Matthew 28:18-20
Introduction
Most Christians are familiar with what we call the Great Commission. – Matt 18:28-30 – To be commissioned is to be certified and recognized as being able to fulfill a task one has been given. In the military when an individual is commissioned to a certain rank they are certified and recognized as being able to fulfill the tasks that come with that particular rank. The Great Commission has to do with the salvation of lost souls which is why we call it great.
I. This commission of for each and every born again child of God: It was not given to pastors, missionaries, evangelists, Sunday School teachers, Bible college professors, as none of them were in existence at that time. It extends beyond the apostles standing before Jesus because none of them are here now and the commission is still in tact, it has not been repealed. If you are saved this morning, man or woman, young or old, this commission is for you as well as for me.
A. The Great Commission involves the giving of the gospel message to the lost: There are many ways to fulfill this commission.
1. We can approach people and talk with them about Christ, about sin, about the cross and tell them how they need to be saved and how to be born again: This seems to be the most daunting.
2. We can hand out gospel tracts: Often that simple task involves no conversation at all, just hand someone a tract.
3. We can invite others out to church: A good Bible believing, KJB church where the gospel message will be heard often.
4. We can pray for the lost by name asking the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin and draw them to Christ: They still will need to hear the gospel message, but we can pray for the lost by name.
5. We can live a life for Christ is such a way that it open the previews ways just named to us:
6. There are many ways to fulfill the Great Commission:
B. We can also say that we are failing in doing our part, in fulfilling the Great Commission: If each one of us were doing our part this church would be filled this morning and we would have chairs lining the aisles and the back of the church. But we do not.
1. And none of the excuses we may give for not doing our part in fulfilling the Great Commission will hold up before God: God certified us, God recognized us, God commission us, so what excuse will hold up before God.
a. Moses said he couldn’t speak. God said it didn’t matter.
b. Solomon said he was but a child. God said it didn’t matter.
c. Elijah said he was all alone. God said it didn’t matter.
d. Isaiah said he was a man of unclean lips. God said it didn’t matter.
e. Peter and John were ignorant and unlearned men. God said it didn’t matter.
f. Paul said he was the greatest of all sinners. God said it didn’t matter.
2. If those excuses did not hold up before God then what excuse can I give for not fulfilling the Great Commission?
C. Why then does it seem so difficult to us, so daunting of a task to us to share with others the gospel message: Often because we fail to realize what comes with the Great Commission.
II. The Great Commission is given five times in the New Testament: And each time it is given it comes with a promise. Five times the Great Commission is given and with it five different promises that will aid us in doing our part. Many miss the promises.
PROP: let us consider the promises that come with the Great Commission this morning. TS. For they will help us do our part.
Body
I. The promise of His presence: Matt 28:18-20 Notice again verse twenty. – Matt 28:20 – There have been servants of the Lord who have thought they were all alone in the work. Elijah stated “I, even I only, am left”. Paul stated “No man stood with me, but all men forsook me”. John was exiled to the island of Patmos and surely felt all alone. In truth none of them were alone as seven thousand stood with Elijah, the Lord Jesus Christ stood with Paul and John was welcomed into the presence of the Lord while on Patmos.
A. And we never need feel alone when we are engaged in the work of the Lord: Matt 28:20 This verse tells us when He is going to be with us as well how long He will be with us. – Matt 28:20 – Always, until the end and these are not just words on a page. We are never apart from the presence of the Lord and that presence can be very evident when we are engaged in the work of the Lord.
1. In Heb 13:5 we are promised His abiding presence: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” He is always with us.
2. But when engaged in His work a special promise of His presence to help and guide us: Matt 28:20 How this goes beyond the promise made in Heb 13:5 I cannot explain but I believe it somehow does. I don’t need to be able to explain or fully understand everything in the Bible but I do believe everything I find in His Word and His presence is with me right now in a special way.
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3. I have no ability to stand before people and speak, I am not a public speaker: Not until it is preaching time. – Luke 12:11-12 – I cannot bring a message this morning, but the Holy Spirit can and His presence makes it possible.
4. I am afraid when I am called to stand before a group of people and my nerves get the best of me: But not at preaching time.
Acts 4:13 ; Acts 4:31 His presence brings a boldness and the butterflies in the stomach pass.
5. Everything changes when one is engaged in the work of the Lord: His promised presence takes over.
B. That same promised presence is there in a special way when we tell others about Christ, when we share the gospel: If the Great Commission is for us, and it is, then so is the promise of His presence in a special way for us today. – Matt 28:19-20 – If you have never felt His presence with you perhaps it is because you have not been engaged in His work.
1. What door do I knock on, what person do I try and talk to? His presence will guide you.
2. Who can I hand a gospel tract to and how do I do that? His presence will guide you.
3. What do I say to properly share the gospel message and how do I say it? His presence will guide you.
4. Remember the excuses some have used and how the presence of the Lord went beyond those excuses: Remember…
a. Moses was the one who could not speak yet he was the only one who spoke to Pharaoh and the people of Israel.
b. Solomon was but a little child and his wisdom when beyond anyone else in the world.
c. Elijah was all alone and there appeared seven thousand to stand with him.
d. Isaiah was a man of unclean lips and there is no more beautiful prophecy than his found in the old Testament.
e. Peter and John were unlearned and ignorant men and they went beyond the professors of their day.
f. Paul was the greatest sinner and we know him as the greatest saint.
5. Because we have the promise of His presence in a special way we can be a witness for Christ, we can fulfill our commission:
C. The promise of His presence is ours: Matt 28:18-20
II. The promise of His protection: Mark 16:15-18 Notice verse eighteen. – Mark 16:18 – All of the things in verse eighteen were fulfilled in the lives of the apostles. Paul was bitten by a viper, they did lay on hands for healing and by implication the enemies of Christ tried to poison them. God protected those engaged in His work.
A. This verse is not to be used to do foolish things as some cults and false religions use it: Mark 16:18 This is not a license to engages in foolish practices and claim that God must protect me no matter what foolish thing I do. That is not what the verse is teaching. But we do find here a promise of protection when engaged in the work of the Lord. – Mark 16:15-18
1. Peter was taken by Herod and would be beheaded and there was no hope of deliverance: But God protected Peter.
2. Paul should have died in a shipwreck and then by snake bite: But God protected Paul.
3. Daniel should have been eaten by hungry lions: But God protected Daniel.
4. Jeremiah should have died in that mire: But God protected Jeremiah.
B. Without this protection nothing could be done for the Lord, nothing: Satan would kill every Christian in this room right now if it were not for the protection of the Lord.
1. You can’t see them, I can’t see them, but I know there are angels standing shoulder to shoulder surrounding me right now: I am at this moment protected by my God.
2. I think it wise to have someone in the lobby but the angels of God are protecting us right now: If Satan had his way the walls would spread out and the roof would fall in and we would all be killed. Angels are protecting us today.
3. It may very well be that I did have a heart attack a few months ago when I went unresponsive after the service: I know through evangelists, missionaries, and pastors prayers went up on my behalf up and down the east coast, in foreign nations and many churches.
C. And when we go about to fulfill our commission we are protected as well: Mark 16:18 It doesn’t mean nothing bad will ever happen but it does mean that God is protecting us and nothing will ever happen outside His permissive and perfect will.
1. Bill Nicholson and I were knocking on doors many years ago and we drove into a driveway and I got out of the car: A man came running out of the house screaming to get back in the car before the dog gets you, didn’t you see the sign, get back in the car quickly. He came running around the car and found me scratching the ears of his huge German Shepherd. He stated that dog bites everyone that comes into the yard. He is usually tied up or inside and if not he bites everyone who comes into the yard. He didn’t bite me or Bill.
2. I was asked to call on someone, to witness to them: We had a good visit, shared the gospel, and I found out later that he had threatened to kill anyone who came to see him for that purpose. He didn’t kill me. (Mark Spotts…)
3. We are not to be foolish or do foolish things: But when we are engaged in the work of the Lord we are promised protection and nothing can happen to any of us apart from the hand of God in that situation.
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4. If God then be for us who can be against us? Rom 8:31-33 We go forward with a Divine protection. We do not know the outcome when we knock on a door, hand out a tract, try and talk to someone, but we do know we are being protected.
D. The promise of His protection: Mark 16:15-18
III. The promise of His program: Luke 24:47-49 What is it that we are to tell someone, what do we do to get their attention, what methods are best in winning the lost to Christ? The best method, the best message, what people need to hear is the Bible message.
A. The modern and emerging church has come up with many new programs aimed they say at winning the lost: They are not aimed at winning the lost, they are aimed at numbers and not spirituality and true salvation. Among things I have heard and seen myself and these things you are not going to find at Cherry Corner Bible Church.
1. Get rid of the old: Things that are outdated need to be put away and forgotten and replaced with the new and exciting.
a. Get rid of the pulpit and replace it with a glass lecturing table. Looks more inviting.
b. Get rid of the old Bible and the old hymns and replace them with a modern Bible and praise music and praise teams.
c. Get rid of the name church and the traditional church look and replace them with worship centers and night club looking buildings with black walls, black stage, spotlights and make things look exciting.
d. Bring in the coffee shop and refreshment center so people can sip coffee and enjoy a snack during the service.
e. Get rid of the suit and the tie and replace them with jeans and a polo shirt.
2. But none of those things are of the Lord:
B. God says here is the program to follow: Luke 24:47 Preach the Word, give those who are lost the Word of God. Tell them of the need to repent, that Jesus doesn’t get all of us. Tell them of sin they have and need to have washed away. Tell them of the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for them. Give them the gospel because that is the only things that will make a difference in their lives.
1. We are to stick to the old paths: Jer 6:16 God’s way is not to be replaced for it is the right way, the right path.
2. Give the lost the Word of God: John 5:39 Will do them more good than a cup of coffee and doughnut.
3. Get them on the straight and narrow way for that is the way to eternal life: Matt 7:14-15
4. Jesus gave us a program to follow that still saves souls: It is not to be replaced because it is the tried and true. It worked for the apostles and why would anyone think that it needs to be changed?
5. My Bible says that Jesus never changes so why would the program He established need to be changed:
C. The promise of His program: Luke 24:47-49
IV. The promise of His peace: John 20:21-23 These verses deal with sharing the gospel message and not as some might see them as man having the authority to forgive or not forgive sin. That is not what verse twenty three is saying as we will see.
A. To think of people being lost and spending eternity in hell is far from a peaceful thing: The evangelist spoke of the Great White Throne Judgment and that will not be a time of rejoicing and far from a time of peace.
1. Especially when we think of people that we know or have known and do not know if they were ever born again: If they are not in heaven then they are in hell and that is far from a peaceful thought.
2. Add to that people we could have talked to about the Lord and did not and that is far from a peaceful thought: If they are not in heaven then they are in hell and perhaps would not be if we had spoken to them about the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. And no man had the authority to forgive or not to forgive sin: John 20:23 Only God can forgive or condemn.
B. But where do our part, when we share the gospel, when we try and point people to the Lord, peace follows: John 20:21-23 We see here the commission in verse twenty one. – John 20:21 – We are sent, sent into all the world to preach the gospel. – John 20:21
1. We carry a message of forgiveness and salvation: John 20:23 To remit means to forgive. But we can’t forgive sin. But the one we are pointing to does have the power to forgive sin. The Bible says Jesus has the power to forgive sin.
a. When we bring those sins to Jesus, Jesus forgives sin. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
b. It is the one we are pointing the lost to that can forgive their sin.
2. We also carry a message of judgment: John 20:23 To retain means to keep, to hold onto sin. We do not judge.
a. But if the lost do not get saved they will be judged and spend eternity in hell.
b. The same one who can forgive sin will judge sin.
C. But when we have done our part we can have peace: John 20:21 Even if that one we have talked to does not get saved, we have done our part, and there is a peace that comes with that.
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1. There are times when I am preaching that God’s Spirit changes the message from an emphasis on Godly living, of instruction, to one of salvation and evangelism: When no one responds for salvation I am not depressed, I am not discouraged, I have a peace that I have done my part.
2. I have done funerals when I know the vast majority of the people sitting in front of me are lost: I preach the gospel, I speak of hell, of heaven, of sin, of judgment and share the gospel. If no one gets saved I still have a peace knowing I have done my part.
3. When we do our part, when we do what we have been commissioned to do, peace follows that obedience: John 20:21
D. The promise of His peace: John 20:21-23
V. The promise of His power: Acts 1:7-8 It takes power to engage in the work of the Lord, it takes power to tell others about Jesus, it takes power to do our part, it takes power to fulfill the Great Commission.
A. It takes power because of the enemy that we face: Satan is a powerful foe, Satan is the prince and power of the air, Satan is standing in opposition to every work of God and especially evangelism. Satan is able to blind the minds of the lost. – 2 Cor 4:3-4 A spiritual blindness as complete as any physical blindness could ever be.
1. As a boy I asked an evangelist who was blind, what he was able to see: He was kind and he did answer me. He told me he could see nothing. I asked him if he could see black and he said no. He told me complete blindness in complete, he saw nothing.
2. That is a perfect picture of the lost who have had minds blinded by Satan: They cannot see, they see nothing.
3. It takes power to overcome that type of blindness:
B. That power is promised to those who engage in the work of the Lord: Acts 1:7-8 A power that can give sight to those in spiritual blindness, a power that overcomes that darkness.
1. This is a power that the prophet Micha had: Mic 3:8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
2. It is a power that Zerubbabel had: Zech 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
3. It is a power that Stephen had: Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
4. It is a power that we are promised as well:
C. When you seem to be overcome by fear remember the promise: 2 Tim 1:7-8 There is power in the gospel message.
1. Power to save: Rom 1:16
2. Powerful enough to reach the hardest heart: Heb 4:12
3. Powerful enough to make followers of Christ: 1 Thess 1:5-6
4. Powerful enough to win the battle we are in: 2 Cor 10:3-5
D. The promise of His power: Acts 1:7-8
Conclusion
We have been commissioned. That commission seems beyond us at times and perhaps because we overlook the promises that come with the commission.
I. The promise of His presence: Matt 28:18-20 Notice again verse twenty. – Matt 28:20
II. The promise of His protection: Mark 16:15-18 Notice verse eighteen. – Mark 16:18
III. The promise of His program: Luke 24:47-49
IV. The promise of His peace: John 20:21-23
V. The promise of His power: Acts 1:7-8