What Now?, Part 3

To his disciples. Jesus said these comforting words be sure of this with you always, even to the P was not with me more when I was a younger man that he is now.

He is not with me now more than it will be 10 years from now if I'm still alive.

He is still engaged still making himself available still empowering us to do what were meant Bible teaching pastor and author Chuck Swindoll you've chosen a milestone data joining today's program features the final message. Chuck's first fiber study through the entire Gospel of Matthew teaching from chapter 28 in particular, were focused on the parting mandate to escape to his disciples. Jesus commanded going to all the nations and make disciples. Let's pick up the study.

Now Chuck titled his closing presentation with a simple two word question, what now, Jesus said plan, which was brief, simple and clear. I've 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 will go on right there.

He had authority over everything on earth and heaven.

They didn't heed. We don't heed up makes it clear so he has the right to level command. He certainly outranks us as the second member of the Trinity has the right to declare a statement that requires obedience is. This is not a suggestion.

This is a command. This would be their marching orders from now on. Now let me have you noticed something very important.

The main verb yet. The main verb is make disciples looking at the commission.

You would think the main verb would be go, but it isn't. You might even think the main verb would be teach. It isn't so long to render it correctly or render it in a way that that underscores the main verb therefore make disciples of all the nations going baptizing in teaching the three other words surround the main word make disciples. It will take going. It will certainly involve baptizing those who believe and it will definitely include teaching, but the main commission is the making of disciples.

When you are involved in making disciples men don't limit your involvement to the familiar your own world plan to be going beyond the familiar to people who have a culture that's different from yours who speak a language unfamiliar to you because I want you to go into all PLO all the nations, but let me have you notice the repeated use of all look at it all authority. Verse 18, all nations verse 19 all the commands. Verse 20 I will be with you always. From now on wherever you go to whatever nation there are no limitations. There are no reservations.

There is no area marked off because it is dirty or dangerous or because of the people are sophisticated or perhaps live in a lower standard than you. Perhaps they are people that are illiterate or there are those who are highly educated, all the nations known to give you the third statement that I observe here Jesus was intense about the mission, but flexible regarding the method he was intense about the mission, but flexible regarding the method the words all revealed intensity all all all now having said that, we must keep in mind that there are different cultures at every one of those nation you don't go to a country in Africa and communicate to them or expect from them. The kind of things you would as you as if you were going to minister in New Zealand or Japan or Indonesia, so there's a flexibility that must be built into the method.

The point here is your to reach all the nations, keeping in mind that there are cultural uniqueness is that need to be honored observed cooperated with peers. The fourth, Jesus expected obedient action from all of his followers hello. I know that verse 20 teach these new disciples to obey all the commands given you in what that says to me, level with nobody gets off light. I have no business preaching a watered-down message that makes you feel good or helps relieve thinking that upward will have life Lord, unless you are engaged in what God would want you to do and then you won't have that attitude. My responsibility is to put cookies on the lower shelf and not back off from anything Christ has said and he says were to obey all the things he is commanded, you will know something not testify only because I know me better than anybody else is the driving force of my life every day of my week.

I think of it I'm driven by day and night and I was before I went into ministry. I love the Lord that deeply. I just got training so I could do it better. But the point is, it is the driving force of my life into doing what I do.

It's what takes the word retirement out of my vocabulary is what says to me you need to be doing this as long as you could do it effectively and stay at it because Christ expects you to fulfill what he is commission you to do me give you some examples. Why do you buy a car to drive it to use it when you purchase fishing equipment to finish skiing equipment ski one you got a whole lipid while you fix a meal to eat it bodybuilder swimming pool to swim in it what you put the book off the shelf to read it while you follow Christ. You don't have plans or doing what he says when ability or club here wearing Jason what is called the Christian way of life where we trust him follow his teaching and do it to the last day of our life, regardless now hopefully we do it tactfully, graciously, but consistently, and the more we do it the better we get it because that's what we trusted in Jesus we trust Jesus just to miss hell we trusted in Jesus to become like him so that the Lord could turn our lives around and make us like Christ. In fact his last words in this gospel were so comforting. Look at the assurance be sure of this. I'm with you always, even to the end of time that great he is. He was not with me more when I was a younger man that he is now. He is not with me now more than he will be 10 years from now if I'm still alive still doing what I'm doing, he is still engaged still making himself available still empowering us to do what were meant to do. The application is I will give all the strength you need provide all of the energy necessary open all the doors that need to be opened and when I do walk through the screech of those people. Open your heart open your doors open your life. The question is are we doing it. Which brings me to the story.

Remember the legend I listen to the story on a dangerous seacoast's notorious for shipwrecks. There was once only a crude little lifesaving station. Actually the station was more like a hut with only one boat for saving lives, but the few devoted members of that hut.

The constant watch over the turbulent sea with little thought for themselves, they would go out day at night, tirelessly searching for those in danger as well as the loss, many, many lives were saved by this brave small band of men and women who faithfully work as a team in and out of the lifesaving hut bye-bye it became a very famous place. Some of those who had been saved, as well as others along the seacoast wanted to become associated with this little station, they were willing to give their time and energy and money in support of its objectives. New boats were purchased new crews were trained. The station that was once obscure and crude and virtually insignificant began to grow some of its members were unhappy that the hut was so unattractive and poorly equipped.

They felt more comfortable and attractive place should be provided emergency cuts were replaced with lovely furniture, rough handmade equipment was soon discarded and sophisticated, classy systems were installed. The hut of course had to be turn torn down to make room for all the additional equipment new furniture.

The systems and appointments by its completion. The lifesaving station had become a very popular gathering place and its objectives had begun to shift. It was now used as a sort of clubhouse and attractive building for public gathering, saving lives, feeding the hungry, strengthening the fearful and combing the disturbed rarely occurred. By now, fewer and fewer members were now interested in braving the sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired professionals command the lifeboats and to serve as the crew to do this work. The original goal of the station wasn't altogether forgotten.

However, the lifesaving motifs still prevailed in the club's declaration.

In fact, there was a liturgical lifeboat preserved in the room of sweet memories with soft indirect lighting which helped hide the layer of dust on the once used this about this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast near this place in the book crews brought in loads of cold, wet, half brown people. They were dirty, some terribly sick all of them will only frightened others were black and brown and different from the majority of the club members the beautiful new club suddenly became messy and cluttered special committee saw to it that a shower house was immediately built outside Edmonton and down the road from the club so victims of shipwreck could get cleaned up before coming inside the nice building at the next meeting. There were strong words and angry feelings which resulted in a division among the members. Most of the people wanted to stop the clubs lifesaving activities and all involvements with shipwreck victims as they put it is just PE is just too unpleasant.

It's a hindrance to our social life.

It's really opening doors to folks who were not our kind as you would expect some still insisted on saving lives that this was their primary objective that their only reason for existence was ministering to anyone needing help regardless of the club's beauty or size or decoration. They reported that and they were told you they want to save the lives of various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast, which they did. As years passed, the new station will experience the same old changes.

It evolved into yet another club and yet another lifesaving station was begun elsewhere. History continued to repeat itself and if you visit the coastline today to find a large number of exclusive impressive clubs along there owned and operated by slick professionals who have lost all involvement with the saving and rescuing of life. Shipwrecks still occur in those waters, but no most of the victims are not saved every day they drown. See in so few seem to care so very few remember Gabriel's question. Your memory, don't you, have you made other plans. If those 21st-century people grow weary of obeying your commission.

Remember the answer no, I have no other plan. The great commission, or there is no other plan.

Now I close with the question you engaged in your life in obeying the great commission case you wonder about how you can answer. Can you name a disciple is a result of your influencing their life reaching out speaking caring, rescuing loving those who were lost. Please bear with me said very quietly right there and think about what you have just heard. The question is really not hello, much of Matthew.

Have we gone through, but rather how much of Matthew has gone through us. Jesus really meant it when he said go make disciples baptize and teach and do it from now on I am with you all the way to the end. If we can help you get engaged in this vision, nothing with rose more firmly not here just to study we're here to obey as we make Christ known in this desperate hospital lost were we are vision. Oh Lord, we pray, break us free from habits of indifference and self satisfying objectives for living free us in our giving, so that we release rather than withhold give us eyes to see beyond the obvious and to hear the hurts along the ragged edges of people's lives behind the tears in their eyes, and the brokenness in their voices cultivate within us as a church continued heart of compassion as we do, what you have commanded us to do go and to make disciples of all, I pray that his father believing in the name of Jesus are seen in all God's people said Amen amen God's plan was expressed in the great commission of Jesus and truly there is no other plan nothing to advance or manufacture. The command is binding and clearly stated going to all nations and make disciples you're listening to Insight for living in the Bible teaching of Chuck Swindoll today.

Chuck concluded his comprehensive teaching series through all 28 chapters of the gospel according to Matthew and to learn more about the resources and study guides available for this study, please visit us online@insightworld.org from the Davis ministry started back in 1979 until now we've taken these words of Jesus very seriously to make disciples of all nations and gratefully thousands of like-minded friends have joined us in this effort. In fact, it's culminated in an audacious plan that God planted in our hearts to carry the teaching of insight for living to 195 countries of the world. We call this initiative vision 195.

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Once again, 1-800-772-8888 or you can give a donation online@insight.org as we conclude this broadcast series in the gospel according to Matthew, I remind you insight for living is highlighting the commentary wrote the complements is teaching its goal swindles living insights on because of the scope of this study. The commentary comes into hardbound volume find them readily available for this online insight.org/offer or if you prefer to speak with one of our friendly ministry representatives call us right now listening in the US, 1-800-772-8888. In March, 20, 22 insight for living ministries is hosting an unforgettable journey to Israel carefully planned to deepen your understanding of the Bible and draw you closer to God Chuck Swindoll for thousands of years no place has been warming will to God's children in the land of Israel. The rugged landscape reminds us to find refuge in God alone. The fertile valleys invite us to follow our ship Jerusalem's position at the very center of the world announces the good news of Christ.

Every nation, and now you can see Israel with Chuck Swindoll insight for living ministry March 6-17, 2022.

Every time I visited the holy land of returned home with a refreshed heart for God and a renewed vision for the world. Really, I mean it every time.

So I want you to have the same life changing experience to learn more, go to insight.org/events call this number 1-888-447-0444 insight for living ministries tour to Israel is paid for and made possible by only those who choose to attend. Join us when Chuck Swindoll describes the wonderful virtue of gratitude. That's our subject Monday on insight for living in the preceding message. What now in the sound recording were copyrighted in 2010 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. all rights are reserved worldwide.

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