Tag: Matthew 28:18-20

Off and Running

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

After five lessons now, we are off and running in the Bible study of the Book of Acts.  If you happen to be one of those who are following along on-line through this blog, I just want to thank you personally for listening.  Of course I want to encourage you to drop me an email if you have questions about any of the material presented.  Also, if you find these lessons engaging and valuable, please invite your social media friends to come and listen as well!

It seems to me that the richness of the stories presented by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles are so stunning at times that it almost takes my breath away.  I have read a lot in my brief 65 years on this earth, both fiction and non-fiction, spiritual and secular, enjoying the many different styles and methods of each author I follow.  Yet, I have never been so spell bound as reading over and over about the adventurous journey of these Apostles of Jesus when they launch the mission He gave them in Matthew 28:18-20.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

In fact, these days mostly I feel exactly like one of those 120 people gathered in Jerusalem who after experiencing the Baptism of the Spirit of God, and the filling of the Spirit of God, became the witnesses Jesus said they would become, in Acts 1:7-8.  Since this blog is being followed in 117 countries around the world, I’m doing my small part to share the truth of how the church began, and what God designs for our mission today.

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

This week someone said, “I feel like I’m right there, like I’m one of the 120.”  And honestly that’s how I feel every week as I prepare to teach.

So, for those who are reading this yet not following the Acts lessons, please allow me to invite you to listen.  There are handouts on each lesson for download, and follow up personal application.  Every week our focus in on the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ, how we see it in the passages we study, and how it applies today in our real world.

Come and see… the Lord Jesus still moving today, by continuing the work He started, when He established His Church!!  The links to the study are right here:

https://asiwassaying.me/2019/01/14/introduction-to-acts-of-the-apostles/

https://asiwassaying.me/2019/01/21/acts-13-11/

https://asiwassaying.me/2019/01/28/acts112-26/

https://asiwassaying.me/2019/02/11/acts-21-13/

https://asiwassaying.me/2019/02/18/acts-214-36/

God is One; God is Three; the Three are One

Dr. J.D. Wilkins2 Comments

It’s been a few days since my last article where we looked at different Models which illustrate some aspect of the Trinity. Rather than overwhelm you, I took a couple of extra days to let these ideas sink in. Someone might say, “Why are you spending so much time on this difficult topic?” The simplest answer is: to establish the link that LORDSHIP applies equally to all three of the “three in One.”

When we lay the foundation that God is in Control, God is Authoritative for all of life, and God is present with us in real time, each of these foundational thoughts apply equally to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit… because the Three are One.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

God is One

The tendency is to think of God as three persons, but the concept of “Triune” is the Three are One. The Israelites knew there was only one being worthy of worship, as opposed to the thoughts of the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Babylonians and Canaanites who all worshipped many different gods. Hebrew thought was that only one person can be fully in control of the world, speak with absolute authority, and yet, still be intimately involved in the life of His people whom He called by name. Since there can only be one Lord, there can only be one Savior… Jonah says, “For my salvation comes from the LORD alone.” [2:9]

God is Three

The Bible teaches that the LORD is three persons. Look at this image through David’s eyes.

Psalm 33:6
The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.

God the Father spoke, the God the Holy Spirit (breathed) the word (God the Son – John 1:1), and all the stars were born.

In this one verse we see the One true God, in three separate images, all taking part in the creation story.

WOW! That is exciting to me! Do you want to see another one… a little less detailed, but where the same principle applies?

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.”

Do you see it? “Let US… to be LIKE Us.” Don’t confuse “like us” to mean “little gods.” We’ll discuss this more in a later article, but for now just see the Triune God active as ONE in all of creation: Father, Son, and Spirit – One LORD of all.

The Three are One

There are many different scriptures through which we can see the three-ness of God, or the Triune God. But one of my absolute favorites is Matthew 28:18-20, where Jesus says:

I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

The attribute of AUTHORITY is absolutely God’s, so Jesus is saying out loud for all to hear, that He is God. Then Jesus lists the other two persons of the Trinity in His command for baptizing new believers. And finally, I AM translates all the way back to God revealing Himself (Three in ONE) to Moses:

Exodus 3:14
God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.”

Here’s another good reference from the New Testament:

2 Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Grace, love, and fellowship… Son, Father, Spirit… One LORD.

The conclusion of the early church patriarchs, the men and women of faith who planted the first churches in and around Jerusalem, all believed the Father, the Son and the Spirit are each one fully God… one LORD

Each of the three persons have the attributes of God as Lord equally:  control, authority, presence.

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Timing, Delivery, Result

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Daily Post: Delivery

delivery

What do UPS, FED-EX, Golf Professionals, and Preachers all have in common?  Timing, delivery, and results.

Almost every golf instructor in the world will tell you:

If you want to become a good golfer, you must learn to swing (deliver) the club on an inside-to-outside path.  There are many reasons, but the simplest is the inside-out swing path is nearly slice-proof; enabling you to hit a draw,  it transfers more energy (power) to the ball, which means more distance in the shot.  Combine this swing path with the right timing, and the results will astound you. (follow the arrows in the image)

UPS and their nemesis, Fed-Ex, along with all serious competitors in the shipping industry will tell you, it’s all about timing, delivery, and results.

If they are honest, with themselves and with their congregation/listeners, Pastors and Teachers all over the world will say the most impactful sermon or bible lesson has three elements: timing, delivery, and results.

For the optimum and singularly perfect application of this truth, consider if you will, the command of Jesus to His followers just before His return to heaven, after His resurrection.

Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This command is given authoritatively because Jesus has already been crucified, resurrected, and glorified on earth.  He didn’t come right out of the box with this statement when He first arrived, and asked John the Baptist to baptize Him.  Instead He took His time, spending three full years living out the proof of His authority before the eyes of the world.  Then He DELIVERED this truth in the most self-less act of love ever demonstrated on earth, by taking the SIN of the world on Himself at the cross.  The ultimate proof of His ability to deliver US from DEATH, was revealed by delivering HIMSELF from death, and leaving the tomb behind.  This command He gave in authority, supported by the delivery of His grace, resulted in 2,000+ years of folks doing exactly what He commanded.  Because they were filled with His power, led by His Spirit, and glorifying God with their lives.  Beautiful, is it not?

Has anything changed that would cause us to believe this command is not valid for our lives today?  Has the whole world suddenly come to trust God, be saved, and start glorifying Him, and I missed it?  No, the words of Jesus are just as important for you and I today, as when they were first spoken to the first Christ-followers.

These words, this command, travels on an inside-out path.

It’s impossible for you to have a sense that you are supposed to go, if you’ve never come to see Jesus as Lord.  It’s an “inside” choice.  Willingly yielding your whole life to the Lordship of Jesus is the first step in being a “disciple” – or Christ-follower.  Once this step is taken, the very first visible delivery of your testimony of faith to the world is supposed to be baptism.  The singular purpose of baptism is to identify yourself as a Christ-follower, and a member of the body of Christ, the church (universal).  It is “out” of these “inside” decisions, that the followers of Jesus are commanded to go spread His love to the rest of the world.

Inside-out.

Timing, delivery, result.

It still works today.

Do you see it?  Are you in it?  Need more practice?

So do I.

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