FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS WILL FINISH THE MISSION!
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” —Acts 1:4-5, 8
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty). —Acts 1:15
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. —Psalm 121:1-2
In three years, after Jesus called the first disciples to Himself, the group of believers grew to 120. From 0 to 12 to 72 to 120 believers in three years. Then, after the Holy Spirit of God came upon them, they began to be obedient as “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And that brings us right down to the present day.
It is estimated “by independent ministries and religious researchers” that “approximately 2.3-2.6 billion people world-wide identify as Christians.” But it is estimated “that around 200 million to 1 billion individuals actively identify as ‘born-again’ or strongly committed evangelical believers.” Whatever the number is of followers/disciples of Jesus, how did we get to so many? It is because of faithful obedience of the faithful—
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —Matthew 28:18-20
Faithful followers of Jesus have sought to be lovingly obedient to Jesus in making disciples by entrusting “to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (II Timothy 2:2). This will be the case until the mission Jesus gave us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” is complete.
How has this been done or how can we now finish the mission? It is by the power of His Holy Spirit which resides in every believer. Oh, that we would be faithful, know that, “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” and is not done, cannot be done, in my own “power.” Dear Father, may I trust in Your Holy Spirit’s power to accomplish the work You have prepared for me (Ephesians 2:10). Yes, truly, may this be so by the Holy Spirit’s power and in the authority of Jesus who have given me, and every believer/disciple of His, this mission. https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=new+generations+disciple+making+graphic+video&mid=5E997FF34188077794F45E997FF34188077794F4&churl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fchannel%2fUCaFsjRNi-ihWfu7xS_yo_ug&FORM=VIRE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdxSC1tHJn0&list=RDtdxSC1tHJn0&start_radio=1