Let’s take a look at how the gospels recount these events in light of the Great Commission and how the seven key elements are shown in them”

A. Resurrection Sunday morning -Jesus meets the women: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary coming from the tomb
Matthew 28:10
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

(As we learn later on in Mark, the disciples didn’t believe the women that they had seen Christ and therefore didn’t go to Galilee.. just yet.)

B. Resurrection Sunday evening - Jesus speaking to the eleven at their meeting room in Jerusalem
John 20:19-23
19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled,[a] for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit

- Prayer: Here Jesus gives them the first instruction to go out. They are sent (Set apart as ambassadors, commissioned) But first, He breathes on them the Holy Spirit. Throughout the New Testament we learn that the Holy Spirit can be with us in three distinct positions: with us, in us and upon us. Here the disciples get the Holy Spirit in them in the same way that you and me received Him when we were born again. We can’t go out to proclaim His news if we don’t know them, we cant talk about a cure we haven’t experienced. We need to have a close relationship with Him grounded in a life or prayer. Not just prayer in the sense of interceding for those who we come in contact but prayer in the simplest sense, a personal relationship with Christ

Mark 16:14-19
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. .”.16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

- Proclaim: (Preach: Proclaim, publish, let know, ) As simple as it sounds it all comes down to speaking out. having a conversation, creating relationships, finding opportunities and proclaiming. Speak out, take the opportunity just do it.

- Follow up: This passage and concept of baptism in relation to salvation is in some circles very controversial. Is baptism essential for salvation? Jesus here says that he who believes and is baptized will be saved. However He also says that he who does not believe will be condemned. He doesn’t say that he who does not get baptized would be condemned. Baptism, as circumcision, is not what matters as itself because it is an external sign of an internal change and internal reality. The thief in the cross didn’t get baptized and Jesus told him that he would be in paradise. Circumcision is not the covenant, but the heart, salvation is not from baptism but from believing. With that being said, it is very dangerous to say that baptism is not important. Is obedience a non-essential? Well, we are to obey God –end of the story. Jesus commanded us to believe and get baptized, and so should we. … and so should we encourage the ones we lead to Christ, to believe, to be baptized and to grow in the Lord.

- Power: Jesus mentions some signs that would follow those who believe. In simple words, it doesn’t mean that you can prove whether or not someone is a believer by throwing him a snake. The point is that when God sends us, He sends is with His power and protection. Many miraculous signs and wonders happen in the mission field everyday, He takes care of those He sends.



C. Sometime later to the eleven at Galilee
Matt 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you . ; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

- Preparation: As Jesus had instructed the disciples, they go to the appointed mountain. We too, are too follow His instructions and be where He wants us to be and be ready.

- Follow-up: When you see the original language, you notice that the apparent three instructions (Go, make, baptizing, teaching) is actually one instruction with peripheral information. The words ‘go’, baptizing’ and ‘teaching’ are in the original language a participle. This means that they denote movement or action. In the other hand ‘make’ is actually the only verb in this sentence. Therefore we have that the command is ‘make disciples’ .. “as you go”, or “while going”, make disciples, baptizing them, teaching them..” Though some are specially called to be missionaries and pastors, we are all going somewhere in life. and as we go, to work, to school, we are to make disciples, students of the word.


D. Before the ascension (?) in Jerusalem with the eleven
Luke 24:44-49
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise[a] from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem[b] until you are endued with power from on high.”

- Prayer & Preparation: Right before He tells them that they are witnesses of those things, He opened their understanding that they may comprehend the scriptures. We too need to pray for understanding and invest in studying the Word of God.

- Provision: How did they get to be witnesses? Well, a simple answer is that they were at the right place and the right time. In other words, God appointed them to be then and there. God provides us with opportunities to be witnesses. Let’s take advantage of them


E. Before the ascension in Jerusalem with the eleven
Acts 1:4-8
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 … 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

- Power. Jesus knew that the disciples –us included, couldn’t be effective witnesses for Him on our own. We need to have the power of The Holy Spirit in us, upon us. There is much controversy about this topic and some people call one thing one way and others call it a different way. The bottom line is that we find enough Biblical support to understand that there are three distinct ‘positions’ of forms of relationship that we can have with the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter how we name them, the point is that the Bible describes them :

- The Holy Spirit WITH us. This happens when a person begins to be lead by God –more specifically by The Holy Spirit towards Christ and salvation. God is everywhere, He is omnipresent and as such, He comes along your side and guides you to Christ. John 16:8: And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. We can see the difference between the Holy Spirit walking with you vs. dwelling in you in John 14: 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

- The Holy Spirit dwelling IN us. This happens at the moment of conversion, (Every believer) When He comes to live in us and we are sealed with His Spirit:

Eph 4:30 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

John 20. I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Rom 8:9 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

1 Cor 6: 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

1Cor 3:16 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

2 Tim 1:14 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.


Now, there is the filling or overflowing or baptism of The Holy Spirit, which is an additional empowerment from God to do His work on earth. We have examples in the Bible that show us that this can and should happen not only once but as often as needed (Everyday?). This is an experience that can happen at the time of conversion for some and at a latter time for others. Please bare in mind that we are not talking about weird signs or unbiblical crazy stuff. As someone put it. it is a supernatural power to work in very natural ways; to and always in the context of proclaiming the Gospel, serving Him.

- The Holy Spirit UPON us
Acts 1:8 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem

Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

[Notice that these disciples had already received the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them. They had Him “in”, but now needed Him “upon”, they needed to be filled.]

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!

And again..

Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

[Notice that Peter had already been filled , yet he is filled again. The original grammar indicates that it was a brand new event that happen right there and then. He was filled anew, he was filled again...and again..]

After Paul’s conversion on the road t Damascus, he also was filled… Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

And he was filled again…Acts 13:9
Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. [Again..]

There are several more verses that illustrate this. Also, there are some instances in which a person is filled right at conversion and some others a while after.

Acts 8 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19.. 1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

The bottom line is that we need to be filled and empowered to be His witnesses. If you haven’t yet, ask The Lord. He promises that, if we being evil give good gifts, how much more would He give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.


F. After the ascension in Jerusalem with the eleven
Mark 16:19-20
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.[c]

- Power: The power of God was confirming the word preached.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. .”.

-Proclamation. Peter took the opportunity

Acts 2:40-
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly[a] received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church[b] daily those who were being saved

- Power: The power of God was at work changing hearts

Acts 4:1-4
1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. - - -

- Persecution: This is not one promise we tent to claim often, but it is a reality. When we preach, we will be persecuted. But as jesus said: ”Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”. He is in control, he will protect us, he promised to be with us until the end.

Interesting enough, after that persecution came, the disciples were set free shortly after and…

4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

Application;

In which of these areas do you need help, accountability or practice?

1. Prayer & Relationship
2. Power
3. Preparation
4. Provision
5. Proclamation
6. Persecution
7. Follow-up

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