Your Orders Sir?
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Date: 5 November, 2019
Text: Matthew 28:16-20
Title: Your Orders Sir
Introduction:
Tomorrow - Is rememberance day.
Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. It was originally called “Armistice Day” to commemorate armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.—on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Today is Rememberance Sunday - The second Sunday in November -
"to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts"
1.) As a church we are thankful for our military men and women.
2.) We're thankful for those who have fought and ARE FIGHTING for Britain and her allies.
3.) We're thankful expecially for those who have fought at great cost to themselves and their families.
a. Those who have died.
b. Those who were injured.
c. Those who engaged the enemy in combat.
d. Those who's lives are forever changed from their experiences.
note: As a church we are not opposed to the military. I remind us that the command, "Thou shalt not kill" is thou shalt not murder.
ill. King David was a soldier who took many lives in battle. But, you'll remember that one of his chief officers, Joab - took two men's lives in time of peace. (Abner and Amasa) King David charged his Son Solomon to deal with the blood guiltiness and Solomon rightly took Joab's life.
exp. I say that we respect those who have had to risk their own life fighting against the enemies of this nation and who have rightly used deadly force as needed.
note: A soldier fights for his nation. When he or she enlists in the military, he or she ceases to be their own person. They are now subject to the commands of their commanding officer.
As they present themselves to their commanding officer it may be with a short enquiry
such as, "Your order's sir?"
exp. As we remember our military today and those who fought and fight so bravely for our nation, may we be reminded that we too are soldiers in the army of God.
ill. Paul said to Timothy - 2Ti 2:3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
exp. We need to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. A good soldier is under command.
We ought to present ourselves to Jesus this morning saying, Your order's sir?
our text: Matthew 28: IS THE FINAL ORDERS OF JESUS BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE TO GLORY.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
exp. The crucifixion is over and Jesus has risen from the dead. He meets his disciples back in their home area of Galilee.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
exp. Some were still struggling to accept the reality of the resurrection. Others were beyond doubt and worshipped Jesus.
note: Here in our text we have the final orders Jesus gave to his soldiers (including ourselves) as he
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
note: This order paper from JESUS (our commander) has been called the Great Commission.
exp. Some have rightly said that for many, "This is the Great Ommission."
No matter what others have done or not done
- We must fulfil the orders which we have received from our Commander.
What have you accomplished as a soldier of Jesus in fulfilling this order from Him?
IF WE WERE BACK IN THAT DAY AND SAID TO JESUS, YOUR ORDERS SIR? He could hand us a paper and say....
I. Here is your order to depart.
19 Go
exp. To go is to depart.
ill. Peter used this word when he said, "I go a fishing."
exp. But to use the word as Jesus does so here it is to fish for men.
ill. I have a hat I bought at ASDA in the Southern United States - You would think I bought it at a Bible book store. It has a big bass on it and says, "Matthew 4:19 Fishers of Men"
app. Jesus wants us to go fishing - but it is fishing for men.
ill. A man near me has invited me to go fishing. I told him finally after a busy summer I could go fishing now, but we never went. It's vain to speak of fishing and not to fish.
app. We could be like that today - Jesus says "go fishing." Let's not just just talk about it - Let's plan a time to go. (Now - I want to put us back in the military mind set. The commander says, "Go."
A. Maybe "go" to basic training.
ill. A soldier doesn't start on the battle field. He has something called basic training.
- Where he learns that he doesn't know anything and that his commander knows everything.
- Where he learns he can ache in places he didn't know that he had.
- Where he learns how to clean and load a gun, shoot it, how to engage the enemy.
exp. If you are new to evangelism, you are wise to get some knowledge and experience. (Our TNT class is going to cover evangelism a little bit and then we are going to practice it.)
app. We do door to door on Saturdays, and we'd be happy to train you in evangelism. (But to learn, you need to go to basic training.)
B. Maybe "go" to the front lines.
ill. Not everyone is sent to the front lines, but some are called upon by their commander to go out into the front of the battle.
1. These are well trained.
2. These are well equipped.
3. These are well qualified.
ill. I shared Thursday night - David O'Gorman's Prayer Letter. David and Valerie were saved after they were married and in business. He left his business went to the USA to Bible College and returned to the front lines as pastor of the church.
exp. Many people have been saved in their ministry who weren't called to the front lines - but they were.
app. As I speak about this, I am speaking about a vocational call. There is a great need for FULL TIME SOLDIERS on the front lines. But nobody should take that position who is unqualified.
1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must....
app. It could be that you as a young man or young woman will here Jesus say to you, "Go" when it comes to vocational ministry. (Don't stay.
C. Maybe "go" to a support position.
exp. Every soldier needs to be ready and willing to go wherever God calls them. But, for some, they may have a support position for those God really wants to go.
ill. We have two men and their families on the front line which our church support - financially and prayerfully. We ought to aspire to take more men on.
app. You have a full time minister in this church who needs qualified and willing individuals helping us fulfil Jesus command to go in our local area.
final app. Jesus has given you an order to "go." We must fulfil that order.
II. Here is your order to enlist.
Go ye
exp. If you say that the "ye" here is not "me" here - you are mistaken. That ye is me and that ye is you.
question: How do you know pastor? Because in v. 20 they were to teach them all things that Jesus had commanded them and he has just commanded the to "go ye."
A. Do you have a reason for not enlisting?
1. Pastor, "I'm a shy person." - join the crowd.
exp. Spend time with Jesus and let him give you boldness.
Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
2. I'm not good at speaking.
exp. Good - you'll be more dependent upon God's enablement. Many is the man who has felt inadequate to God's calling.
ill. Moses - Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
ill. Jeremiah - Jer 1:7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
3. I don't like rejection - who does.
exp. Doesn't a soldier expect the enemy to fight against him?
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
B. Won't God accept you?
exp. God isn't looking for ABILITY. (He is the gifter and enabler.) But, he is looking for availability.
1 Cor. 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
C. Are you dodging the draft?
exp. A draft dodger has decided that no matter what he will not go into the military.
note: Christians can be that way - they have made up their mind that they will never go as a missionary to carry the Gospel.
ill. Remember Jonah - He was called to go and he went as far as he could from God's call.
Jon 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
app. His orders this morning are, "Go ye...." YOU need to go and fulfil his orders. If you have done basic training don't expect to go to the front lines. But, avoiding basic training does not exempt you from the orders which your commander has given.
III. Here is your order with authority.
therefore,
exp. "When you see the word, 'Therefore,' you see what it is there for."
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
note: There is some great power in heaven and in earth. JESUS POSSESSES EVERY BIT OF THAT POWER.
A. Because Jesus has "all power" we should obey Him.
note: I don't know about you, but I don't to resist the ALL POWERFUL GOD.
ill. Head Pharisee - Gamaliel - was right in one thing he said - Act 5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
quote: Dr. Bob Sr. "Your arms too short to box with God."
app. You don't pick fights which you know you can't win. The person who has commanded us to go is all powerful. (I don't think that is the primary emphasis of what Jesus is saying - but it is good for us to remember his POWERFUL authority this morning.)
B. Because Jesus has "all power" we can obey Him.
exp. If there was no AUTHORITATIVE power behind us, we could not hope to do anthing.
1. He is our authority.
exp. Try evangelizing and hear someone say, "What right do you have to foist your belief's on us."
answer: THEY ARE MY BELIEFS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY ARE THE TRUTH OF THE LIVING GOD BY WHO'S COMMAND I KNOW SPEAK.
Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
2. He is our enabler.
exp. No matter how capable you think you are - realize early that you HAVE NO POWER OF YOURSELF TO DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO.
ill. The disciples had trained for 3 years at the feet of Jesus. They had experience preaching. But they were to 'TARRY AT THE CITY OF JERUSALEM UNTIL THEY WERE ENDUED WITH POWER.'
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
app. You can't fulfil his command WITHOUT HIS POWER.
3. He is the Saviour.
exp. How can a man who's heart is full of sin and self ever come to faith in Jesus?
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
app. We pray for revival because God in His mercy at times has done that incredibly powerful work. ANYTIME someone comes to faith in Jesus - it is because of the gracious and powerful work of God.
transition: We have an order with authority behind it. "Go ye"
IV. Here is your order to teach.
and teach
A. To teach we need to learn the subject.
exp. Personal study is important for those who would teach.
ill. Katie's brother - Kirk - spent 4-5 years in Dundee with his family - preparing to teach History.
note: The Church needs people who are teachers.
2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men,
exp. That committing takes place by way of education. They have to learn the truth before they can teach it.
app. Have you given yourself to learning the truth so that you can teach it?
B. To teach we need to communicate the subject.
ill. Parliament - enjoyed sitting in on First Minister's Questions - Parliament has a way to communicate to the hearing impaired. You can see the person signing in a room attached to parliament. Why? Because communication is the only way to get information from one person to another.
2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
app. The devil likes "relational" evangelism. Why? Because it is not evangelism. Evangelism is me teaching the Gospel. If I don't communicate, I am not doing that.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
app. Have you fulfilled the order? Have you studied to teach others? To whom have you communicated God's truth? "Go ye and teach...."
V. Here is your order without boundary.
all nations,
A. Every ethnicity.
ill. The world is a big place and within it - there are different people groups - interestingly separated by the great boundary God put in place soon after the flood when he confounded men's languages.
ill. Rachael Saint - could have been made the heir of a wealthy woman who's traveling companion she had become. She would have mader her an adopted daugher of sorts. As Rachel was praying about her answer, "God reavealed to her, her people." Rachel entered into a life of reaching indiginous people cut off from the world by a language barrier. Her people were a group of 400 auca indians.
exp. The five martyrs who contacted them and died - died fulfilling this command "All nations"
B. Everywhere
exp. No matter where they live on this planet - they need to be reached.
ill. two moravian missionaries - trying to get to St. Thomas to reach the slaves - Court official strongly opposed their going asking how they would support themselves on the island, "We shall work as slaves among the slaves." The official said it would not be allowed. "Very well," replied Nitschmann, "I am a carpenter, and will ply my trade." After great difficulty they were allowed to go. They started a work which the Moravians maintained - Before any other missionary arrived on those islands they had baptized 13,000 converts.
C. Everyone
exp. This is a stranger, a loved one, a neighbour, a coworker, a child, an adult, a man or woman.
note: Jesus died for all - so that all might live. "He was wounded for our transgressions."
question: Can you refuse this order or have you lovingly taken it from His nail pierced hand.
app. How are you fulfilling the all nations order? (Praise God our society is multi-cultural. If you are faithful to witness in and around Edinburgh you can witness to people from all over the world.) But, we need to send missionaries and we need to support missions.
VI. Here is your order to save.
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
exp. You may ask, "Pastor - it doesn't say, "save" it says "baptize." How is it an order to save?
ill. Cattle rustlers - branding cattle that were not their own.
exp. We don't brand the devil's cattle. Baptism is only for those bought with the blood of Jesus.
ill. "Believer's Baptism" - Ethiopean Eunuch
Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
exp. Baptism isn't optional. It is commanded. It is the humble identification with Jesus of SOMEONE who has tasted the goodness of God's salvation.
app. Who has been baptized because you reached them with the Gospel? (Now, I will tell you that I do a lot of evangelism and have to ask myself the same question.) But, the God who told me to go also told me to baptize.
VII. Here is your order to disciple.
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
exp. We would love to have sat at the feet of Jesus as his disciple - but may I remind us that we still can.
-Our children can sit at the feet of Jesus when we teach them what Jesus said.
- Our neighbours can sit at the feet of Jesus as we teach them what Jesus said.
-Our church sits at the feet of Jesus as we teach what Jesus said.
A. Teach information to disciples: This is what Jesus said.
....all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
exp. - ALL THINGS - You can't avoid the blood, the law, hell, creation, inspiration and authority of God's Word. GOD SAID IT YOU NEED TO TELL IT.
app. It may be unpopular - Jesus teaching always was. It may cause criticism - Jesus message always did - BUT WE ARE NOT TO EDIT THE WORDS OF OUR GOD.
B. Teach application to disciples: This is what you need to do.
"....observe all things...."
exp. Discipleship is not knowing what Jesus said it is doing what Jesus said.
Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
ill. The rich young ruler - was not a disciple of Jesus. He was an aspiring religious person. To be the Lord's disciple he had to observe to do what Jesus said and go sell what he had and follow Jesus.
app. Our church isn't seeking a great congregation of people interested in knowing about Jesus. We are seeking to organize a group of people willing to do what Jesus said to do. WE ARE COMMANDED TO DO SO! That is what our commander has ordered!
VIII. Here is your order to serve with your Commander.
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen
exp. Jesus has never sent anyone into the battle field by themselves. He has gone with every soldier he has ever sent.
ill. "McReach and ___________ working with farmers." - If that is a good company it would be a great encouragement to have the assistance of that farming agency.
app. Jesus hasn't given this order to you and sent you away. He has given you the order and now says, "Go and I will go with you." What you are missing in not taking this order is the satisfaction of obeying God and the experience of knowing the presence of God.
conclusion:
Today is REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY - We honour today the men and women who have put themselves under the command of their commander and who have fought and served this nation.
We are reminded that we are soldiers under command. We ought to ask of Jesus, "Your Orders Sir?"
He gave the GREAT COMMISSION as his final orders to his soldiers including us.
He said as it were to us, "Here are you orders....
1) Here are your orders to depart.
2) Here are your orders to enlist.
3) Here are your orders with authority.
4) Here are your orders to teach.
5) Here are your orders without boundary.
6) Here are your orders to save.
7) Here are your orders to disciple.
8) Here are your orders to serve with your commander.
ARE YOU A GOOD SOLDIER?
Have you submitted to the orders of the GREAT COMMANDER?
