When the Lord Jesus gave the great commission to His followers to go into all the world, in order to make disciples (new followers) of all nations, His expectation could not have been that only these approximately one hundred and twenty (Acts 1:15) followers of His will manage to fulfill this great task with the limited resources of their time. The only way this task could be accomplished was by passing on the commission to whoever becomes a follower so they can also pass it on.
On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1) the number of followers had increased through the preaching of Peter and the eleven (Acts 2:14) and on that day about three thousand souls were added to the followers of Jesus (Acts 2:41). From that time people were being added daily to the Church, but we do not see these disciples going out of Jerusalem into other far geographical areas as per command (..into all the world – Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8b). Not until a great persecution rose against the Church, which was at Jerusalem do we see them move into other regions and as they went, they continued to spread the gospel and fulfill the great commission.
In Acts 8:4-8, Philip went to a city in Samaria and the Lord used him to influence the city for Christ. In the same chapter and verses 26-38 Philip preaches to a eunuch, who was a man of great authority in Ethiopia. The Lord by divine arrangement chose to minister to this person, as he was one of the “links” to passing on the great commission to Africans.
In the early Church persecution was the vehicle that accelerated obedience to the command of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. The Lord wants us to carry on the great commission in the West no matter the reasons that caused us to migrate. Many in the West have heard about Christ but they have not ‘seen Him.’ Christ said, “As my Father has sent Me, I also send you (John 20:21).” As Christ represented the Father, so our need to represent Him wherever we are by doing what we see Him do (John 5:19). We have been sent and authorised by Jesus Christ to do His works (John 14:12). As some have said, “Preach Christ, if necessary use words,” and also, “Actions speaks louder than words.”
Bishop Jeston & Rev. Charity Katebe
Greetings Bishop J & Rev. Charity and thanks for the message.
It’s been a long time since we have been preaching the word and testifying to the so called atheists here in Europe. We continue to sow the seed but let us never forget that some seed will fall on hard ground. Only God knows.
Amen God loves us
Bishop do you tell your flock to make disciples on the day of pentecost(shavuot), the day of celebration of receiving the torah? Are you going to tell your flock that 28 september is day of Yom Kippur(day of atonement) , or are you going io ignore the biblical feasts and teach human traditions while pretending to be righteous.
Bishop Katebe,
Your article is a great encouragement in an era in which the church has began emphasizing the needs-centered as opposed to the christ-centered gospel. It is a good reminder that the great commission to preach the good news about Jesus remains with the church today. And we can proclaim it with the demonstration of the holy spirit’s power. His spirit has been freely given to us because of the finished work of christ. May God continue to use you to remind us of our responsibilities in christ.
Slam dog shalapungu I have one question for you? Are you of Nubian, of the Chocolate Adamic descent because you are suspiciously beginning to give me doubts my brother. If I may at all refer to you as my brother. God loves you I and everybody on this planet, but he totally hates sin and we are all sinners, but those that choose his son as their saviour shall be saved and shall God’s children.
#5 we are NOT all sinners.Speak for yourself.I have been made righteous as if I have never sinned. ALL my sins have been washed away,I don’t know about you?
Mwanakitu what has your message got to do with me ? You are not nubian , you seem to think your colour somehow gives you heritage to nubians. Nubians are modern day sudanese not you, you hail from the Bantu tribes a totally different branch . Before you go into your usual youtube learned ignoramus stage tell me what makes you nubian when you hail from sub saharan africa? You are delusional to say the least
The Great Commission? “And The Messiah said unto them, Go into all the world, and PREACH THE GOSPEL TO
EVERY CREATURE…….”(Mark 16:15)
And then a generation after “The Messiah ascended into Heaven” Paul bore witness to The Truth that the so-called “great commission” was fulfilled…….
“Be not moved away from the hope of THE GOSPEL, which you have heard, and WHICH WAS PREACHED TO EVERY CREATURE WHICH IS UNDER HEAVEN”…….(Col 1:23)
So what “gospel” is being “preached” today?
Simply a false “gospel”…….