commissioned

Go to sermon webpage: EXILES ON MISSION

Paul's greeting to the Ephesians is absolutely loaded with wonderful promise and truth. In this introduction to his letter to the church in Ephesus, we discover the power of being commissioned by God, the joy of being called a holy people, and the security of being a people to whom God has extended his unmerited favor, divine enablement, and total reconciliation. And to top it all off, we are included among those who can call God "Father." All of this is ours because of Jesus Christ.

• Matthew 28, MSG,CEV- God authorized and commanded Me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.

• Now as with everything pertaining to Jesus and His Kingdom, the only way any of this is a reality is through faith. We have to believe this stuff!!

• Think about it, Jesus commissioned each of us, given each of us an assignment. This assignment is ultimately about creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance and reliance in Christ.

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life on the planet was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish on the cross, but showing us what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

• Matthew 18, Who’s the greatest in the Kingdom?

• v.4, Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom. 
• v.11, The son of man has come to save that which was lost. 

• v.21, “Lord how often do I forgive my brother that sins against me?”When Jesus said up to seventy times seven, He isn’t actually giving a specific number, He’s really insinuating limitless forgiveness.

• Chapter 19, Jesus counsels the rich young ruler;

• v.21-24,NKJV- Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 
• 22, But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 
• 23, Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 
• 24, And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

• Chapter 21, Jesus cleanses the temple, then once again He heals al that come to Him.
• The lesson of the fig tree v.21,NKJV- “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.”

• At the end of the day, we’ve got to believe this stuff!!
• Matthew 22, The parable of the wedding feast. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like...” A king who arranged a marriage for his son.

• Everyone invited all had excuses v.11-12, How dare you come in here with no wedding garment. In other words not clothed in righteousness.

• Matthew 23, Jesus hammers the Pharisees about their hypocrisy.

• Matthew 24:3,NKJV-  Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 

• This is a private teaching from Jesus to His disciples. (Jewish disciples)
• Many of the signs Jesus describes are religious deception, social and political turmoil, disloyalty, persecution...

• In 1 Corinthians Paul reminds us that there are 3 groups of people throughout the scriptures, Jews, Gentiles, Church and there are times that discernment will be necessary.

• Chapter 24, Jesus is talking about His return to the Jewish people, not the church going to Him. Read Revelation 6 along with this chapter.

• Jeremiah 30:7,  “Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.

• Daniel 12:1,  At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. 

• v.15,  “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),”

• In 2 Thessalonians Paul actually gives us a little further insight  concerning the coming of the Lord and our gathering to Him, he says I don’t want you to be shaken,
• That days will not come until the great apostasy and the man of sin sets in the temple showing himself to be God.

• Ive always with struggled with the “falling away” commentary on this passage, and after watching the documentary on the Galilean wedding, I was absolutely convinced.

• Think about it, it just doesn’t make sense that Christ would be returning for a bride that has fallen out of love with Him, not prepared for Him or looking for His return.

• I have a very old Oxford dictionary and this phrase falling away in the Greek is the word apostsia, is translated 2 ways, rebellion and departure.

• v.3, Geneva bible, Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come,except there come a departing first, and that that man of sin be disclosed, even the son of perdition.

• Before the Geneva bible, William Tyndale”s first translation also used the word departure in this passage.

• The Wuest translation, “Unless the departure of the church came first...”

• And I get it, this word, apostasia can be translated either way, departure or rebellion, but in the context of the chapter, it actually ties everything together.

• I personally think it’s simply more of a common sense interpretation.

• Matthew 25:1,NKJV- Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

• Live ready, v.7, trimmed their lamps, trimmed- (gr.kosmeo) where we get our word cosmetic- to beautify, adorn, arrange, to get ready.
• The point, its too late to get ready when He shows up. 

• v.31-32, When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

• Matthew 26:1-2,NKJV-  Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

• Matthew 27, Jesus institutes the Lords Supper. Peter denies Jesus. Jesus is crucified. Then you know...

• Matthew 28:5-8,NKJV- “But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 
• He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 
• And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 
• So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”

• Matthew 28:16-20,NKJV-  “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 
• When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 
• And Jesus came 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
• 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.”

• Now as with everything pertaining to Jesus and His Kingdom, the only way any of this is a reality is through faith. We have to believe this stuff!!

• Think about it, Jesus commissioned each of us, given each of us an assignment. This assignment is ultimately about creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance and reliance in Christ.

• Matthew 28, MSG,CEV- God authorized and commanded Me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.

• Now as with everything pertaining to Jesus and His Kingdom, faith is the constant. At the end of the day, you’ve got to believe this stuff!!

• And it starts with this, we’ve been commissioned, entrusted with supervisory authority by Jesus Himself, for a specific action.

• This assignment is ultimately about creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance and reliance in Christ.

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life on the planet was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish on the cross, but showing us what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

• As we go into chapter 13, Jesus begins revealing one of the foundational principles of how the Kingdom of Heaven operates in the parable of the sower.

• Matthew 13:10-13,NKJV-  “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 
• He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 
• For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 
• Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”

• As Jesus explains this parable, in Mark’s version He says this, “He who has ears to hear, let him. 
• Then He goes on to say, if you don’t understand this parable, you won’t understand any of them.

• Luke’s writing of this account lets us know that the seed is the word of God.

• Matthew 13:19-23,NKJV-  “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 
• v.20, But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 
• v.21, yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 
• v.22, Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 
• v.23, But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

• Throughout this chapter Jesus repeatedly tells us through different parables about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. Then in chapter 14 He once again displayed the Kingdom in operation.

• Matthew 14:16-20,NKJV- “But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 
• And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 
• He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 
• Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 
• So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.”

• Jesus walks on water as well as Peter. And once again, “As many as were brought to Him were healed.”

• Matthew 15:11,NKJV- “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

• Matthew 15 also shows us the only other account Jesus referred to as “great faith.” v.28,“Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

• Once again in chapter 15, Jesus heals all the sick that came to Him.
• Matthew 16, Pharisees seek a sign. Jesus warns disciples about Pharisee’s teachings.

• Matthew 16:15, “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

• v.19,NLT-“And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

• v.23,NLT- Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

• Then Jesus once again reminds everyone that when He returns He will reward each person according to their work.

• Matthew 17:1-3,NKJV- Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 
• and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 
• And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

• V.5, “THIS IS MY SON, HEAR HIM!!”

• Matthew 17:14-20,NKJV- And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 
• 15, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 
• 16, So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 
• 17, Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 
• 18, And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 
• 19, Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 
• 20, So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

• V.27, Jesus paid their taxes supernaturally 

• Matthew 18, Who’s the greatest in the Kingdom?

• v.4, Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom. 

• Chapter 19, Jesus counsels the rich young ruler;

• v.21-24,NKJV- Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 
• 22, But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 
• 23, Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 
• 24, And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
• Chapter 21, Jesus cleanses the temple, then once again He heals al that come to Him.

• v.21,NKJV- “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.”

• At the end of the day, we’ve got to believe this stuff!!

• We have to believe we’ve been commissioned, entrusted with supervisory authority by Jesus Himself, for a specific action.

• This assignment is creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance and reliance in Christ.

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life on the planet was showing us what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

• Matthew 10, Jesus sends out His first disciples. “You go preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

• 10:37, “He who loves father or mother, son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who loses his life for My sake will find it. 
• He who receives you receives Me

• Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
• Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 
• For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• The legalistic, religious system of that day was a severe burden, but Jesus is introducing a brand new way of living.

• Let's be honest, we've all experienced stress, anxiety, worry, and fear.

• And the world we live in thrives on whatever will add to these.

• The real question we've all got to be honest about is, are we willing to make the necessary changes to not get trapped in these unGodly emotions?

• Let’s face it, staying focused on the negative is a guaranteed path to just the opposite of, “My yoke is easy, My burden is light.”

• Don't misunderstand me, I realize making a change in your thinking doesn't automatically change your situation.

• But until there is a change in our thinking, overcoming any obstacle will continue providing stress, worry, and anxiety.

• Let me ask it like this, how big of a role would you say our thoughts play when it comes to stress, anxiety, and worry?

• 2Corinthians 10:4-5,NIV- “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 
• We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

• God designed us so that His word will transform our thinking, which will transform our faith, which is how we're designed to live.

• But when we're in the middle of things not going right, that’s where stress and worry try taking over.

• Because when we're stepping out in faith, following Jesus, discovering our new life of faith, usually it's the challenges, the difficulties that trip us up. 

• How many can related to this, you're running your race, you’re stepping out on your faith, you're focused on Jesus, and your motive is for Him to change you circumstances, but His motive is to CHANGE YOU!!

• Hebrews 12:1-2,NLT- Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

• I can't help but wonder how many of us have been guilty of allowing whatever we've been going through to define us instead of keeping our eyes on Jesus?

• The faith question is, are we going to come to the place where we trust Him in the middle of the storm, the challenge, when everything isn’t going the way we wanted?

• Could it be, that if we continually stress and worry over something that it's actually revealing an area in our own life that we've haven't completely given to Him.

• Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
• Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 
• For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• But the minute we come to the place where He actually becomes our shepherd, things like stress, anxiety, worry, and fear stop having the same kind of influence over us.

• Once again in Matthew 12:15, a great multitude followed Him and He healed them all.

• Later in the chapter Jesus is still teaching about the Kingdom and He says things like: A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. And a tree is know by its fruit. From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Just kidding...)

• v.36-37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

• As we go into chapter 13, Jesus begins revealing one of the foundational principles of how the Kingdom of Heaven operates in the parable of the sower.

• Matthew 13:10-13,NKJV-  “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 
• He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 
• For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 
• Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”

• As Jesus explains this parable, in Mark’s version He says this, “He who has ears to hear, let him. Then He goes on to say, if you don’t understand this parable, you won’t understand any of them.

• Luke’s writing of this account lets us know that the seed is the word of God.

• Matthew 13:19-23,NKJV-  “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 
• v.20, But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 
• v.21, yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 
• v.22, Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 
• v.23, But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

• Throughout this chapter Jesus repeatedly tells us through different parables about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.

• Matthew 14:16-20,NKJV- “But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 
• And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 
• He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 
• Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 
• So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.”

• Jesus walks on water as well as Peter. And once again, “As many as were brought to Him were healed.”

• Matthew 15:11,NKJV- “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

• Matthew 15 also shows us the only other account Jesus referred to as “great faith.” v.28, “Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

• Once again in chapter 15, Jesus heals all the sick that came to Him.
• Matthew 16, Pharisees seek a sign. Jesus warns disciples about Pharisee’s teachings.

• Matthew 16:15, “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

• v.19,NLT,“And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.””

• Remember, everything about this series is driven from Jesus’ commands in chapter 28, commissioning us to go do these things He’s teaching, because He’s given each of us with supervisory authority.

• Matthew 28, MSG,CEV- God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.

• Now as with everything pertaining to Jesus and His Kingdom, faith is the constant.

• Remember, we’ve been commissioned, entrusted with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, it’s creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance and reliance in Christ.

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life here was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish on the cross, but showing us what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

• Remember, Jesus told His first disciples to go and teach others to do everything He told them.

• In Matthew 9, Jesus goes back to His home town and right away, guess what’s the first thing He does? He heals a paralytic. I like Marks version of this passage.

• Mark 2:1-12,NKJV-  And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 
• Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
• Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 
• And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 
• When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 
• And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 
• “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 
• But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 
• Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 
• But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —He said to the paralytic, 
• “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 
• Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

• Then He calls Matthew to be a disciple and immediately goes to hang out with Matthew’s sinner friends, where He makes this radical statement from the prophet Hosea in v.13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

• Matthew 9:17 Jairus comes to Jesus about his daughter and is interrupted by the women with the issue of blood.

• Once again Mark gives us much more detail. Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

• v.29, He tells two blind men, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.”

• Matthew 9:35-38,NLT-  Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 
• When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 
• So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

• Matthew 10:1,NKJV-  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

• v.7-10,“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 
• Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

• He warns them of persecution, He also tells them they’ll be brought before kings as a testimony.
• v.25, It’s enough that a disciple be like his teacher. 
• v.27, Then he says whatever I tell you in the in the dark, speak in the light and preach from the housetop.

• Don’t be afraid, I know the number of hairs on your head.

• 10:37-40, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 
• And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 
• He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. 
• He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

• In chapter 11, John the Baptist asked if Jesus was the Christ or do we look for another? 

• v.4-5, “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

• Remember, Jesus told the 11, it’s to your advantage that I leave.

• v.11, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” 

• v.28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
• Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 
• For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• The legalistic, religious system of that day was a severe burden, but Jesus is introducing a brand new way of living.

• Matthew 12:7-8,NKJV- But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 
• v.8, For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” 

• v.15, a great multitude followed Him and He healed them all.

• Later in the chapter Jesus is still teaching about the Kingdom and He says that any kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

• A tree is know by its fruit. This is a heart thing. Remember, from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

• v.36-37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

• As we go into chapter 13, Jesus begins revealing one of the foundational principles of how the Kingdom of Heaven operates in the parable of the sower.

• Matthew 13:10-13,NKJV-  “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 
• He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 
• For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 
• Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”

• As Jesus explains this parable, in Mark’s version He says this, “He who has ears to hear, let him. Then He goes on to say, if you don’t understand this parable, you won’t understand any of them.

• Luke’s writing of this account lets us know that the seed is the word of God.

• Matthew 13:19-23,NKJV-  “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 
• v.20, But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 
• v.21, yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 
• v.22, Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 
• v.23, But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

• Throughout this chapter Jesus repeatedly tells us through different parables about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.

• Matthew 14 Jesus feeds the five thousand, v.16, “But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
• Jesus walks on water as well as Peter. And once again, “As many as were brought to Him were healed.”

• Matthew 15 shows us the only other account Jesus referred to as “great faith.” v.28, “Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

• Once again in chapter 15, Jesus heals all the sick that came to Him.
• Matthew 16:15, “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Religiously Incorrect Podcast 3/21/2021
Pastor Todd & Pastor Jeff welcome very special guest: Anson Dawkins of the Gospel group Dawkins & Dawkins!

#RIP #Real #Raw #Uncut 
Like, Share, and Follow on Facebook, IG, & YouTube!

Hosts: 
Pastor Todd and Pastor Jeff
Produced by: Michael J.
Production: Big Mike, Mr. Larry
Design by: Larry Johnson
Music: J. Austin

Follow:
WEBSITE: http://www.ReligiouslyIncorrectPodcast.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ReligiouslyIncorrectPodcast
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/OfficialRIPC
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ReligiouslyIncorrectPodcast

• Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.
• Matthew 28:16-20,NKJV- Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 
• When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 
• And Jesus came 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
• 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.

• This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, but extending His Lordship through us, His Spirit empowered church.

• It’s creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance to Christ.
• Embracing the fact that all the commands Jesus gave His first disciples are just as much a reality for us today.

• Remember, Jesus said, anyone who believes in Me and the works I do, they will do also. 

• Then Paul adds to that by making this statement in Corinthians, “imitate me as I imitate Christ.”

• It’s important that we understand we’ve been commissioned by the Lord to carry on His mission, to do the things He did, to follow His example, to imitate Him.

• Now, as with everything pertaining to God, Heaven, eternity, etc... the principle that governs this new world of Christianity, is faith.

• And the foundation it all has to be established on is God’s word.

• In Acts 17, there’s a group of believers that received the word of God with all readiness, and search the scriptures daily to make sure what Paul was teaching was truth.

• 2 Peter 1, God has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature...

• One of the most foundational truths about the Bible is that it is a living, continual unfolding of the revelation of Christ to His redeemed.

• God knew that without inspired revelation directly from Him to His people, we would be left with just human intelligence.

• But if we'll allow it, His word will transform our soul. How we think.

• Change the way a person thinks, change the way they believe, change the way a person believes, changes their life. That’s what repentance really is. We have to yielding to His Divine guidance.

• And one of the most amazing things about God's plan is that He chose from the beginning to use everyday people like you and me to advance His Kingdom. He commissioned us, supervisory authority.

• When we're open to His guidance, never underestimate what He'll do through someone who will dare to believe Him. So don't underestimate yourself.

• God knew that because of free will, humanity would have to have a point of reference that truth stems from. Living Word, written word.

• And because we've been created to live by faith, faith is the only way the bible, a spiritual book can ever be comprehended by a human.

• Hebrews makes an interesting statement, the word they heard didn’t profit them, not being mixed with faith.

• Remember when Jesus appeared to His first disciples giving them final instructions, commissioning them? Some worshiped, but some doubted.
• I believe this is God’s point in Hebrews, we’ve got to add our God given faith to the things Jesus tells us.

• Let’s go back to His instructions in Matthew, teach them to observe all things that I have commanded you. It’s very important that we approach our discipleship with this kind of faith filled attitude, “all things are possible to him that believes.”

• So as we go back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, one of the first things we see is Him getting baptized, showing every follower the way. Remember, He’s the first born.
• Luke tells us that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God. He’s the first born.

• Matthew 3:16,NKJV-  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

• Here’s the thing, why would Jesus have to have the Spirit come upon Him? Think about it, He’s the first human born of the Spirit. And just like He had to have the Spirit on Him to do the things of the Kingdom, so does everyone else born of the Spirit.

• And in chapter 4, right away the enemy comes to tempt Jesus. Hey, if satan tempted Jesus, don’t think for a second you’ll be exempt.

• Matthew 4:4,NLT- But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

• A key point here is to understand Jesus didn’t start His ministry until after the Holy Spirit came on Him. And the first thing he says is, “repent because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Change what you’re doing.

• Then He starts His recruiting plan for His first disciples at the same time that He’s establishing Kingdom realities.

• Matthew 4:23-25,NLKV- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 
• Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
• Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

• Chapters 5-7 is what’s called the sermon on the mount. He covers beatitudes, that we’re salt and light, that He’s the fulfillment of the OT law, deals with issues of the heart, love your enemies, don’t worry, don’t judge, put the Kingdom first, and lastly, build your life on everything He says.

• And the first thing He does when He finishes preaching is start healing people.

• Matthew 8:1-3,NKJV- When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I AM WILLING; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

• Here’s something I want all of us to take a closer look at as part of His body here and now; we’re good at teaching and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, but what’s up with the healing part?
• Teaching, preaching, and healing is one of the first thing He shows His disciples. Wonder what they’re suppose to do with that example?

• Matthew 8:7,NKJV- And Jesus said to him, “I WILL come and heal him.”

• We’ve got to understand that repeatedly God reminds us that He shows favoritism or partiality to no one. The scripture also makes it clear that Jesus and His word doesn’t change.

• Matthew 8:14-17,NKJV- Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 
• So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. 
• When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 
• that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.

• Remember, we’ve been commissioned, entrusted with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• And that action is to go and make disciples, teaching them to observe all things Jesus commanded.

• So why would He train His first disciples to live and minister a certain way,
• Then command them to train everyone they discipled to live the same way,
• Then He move back to Heaven and expect us to live a different way and not even say anything about it to His closest followers, not to mention something in His Word?

• When we follow the life of Jesus, why do you think He healed everywhere He went?

• John 6:38,NKJV- For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

• He even said, "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father."

• This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, but extending His Lordship to all of humanity through the Spirit empowered church.

• Creating disciples that openly acknowledges our allegiance to Christ.

• I think it’s important we have talks like this because there are so many different views on the life and ministry of Jesus, especially healing. And unfortunately to the degree that we leave it out of the gospel message.

• Matthew 4:23,NLKV- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

• Matthew 8:7, Jesus responding to the centurion said, “I WILL come and heal him.”

• v.13, Jesus tells the centurion, “As you have believed, so let it be down for you.”

• Heres a very important point, God repeatedly reminds us that He shows favoritism or partiality to no one. The scripture also makes it clear that neither Jesus or His word change.

• Remember, Jesus told us, "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father." So the whole if it be God’s will thing is out.

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life here was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish for all on the cross, but showing what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

• Remember Matthew, You go and teach them to observe all things I’ve commanded you.”

• Matthew 8:23-26,NKJV- Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 
• And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 
• Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 
• But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

• Then they land in the region of the Gadarenes and some demon possessed men met Jesus and said, “have you come to torture us before our time?”

• In Matthew 9, Jesus goes back to His home town and right away, guess what’s the first thing He does? I like Marks version of this passage.

• Mark 2:1-12,NKJV-  And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 
• Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 
• When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 
• But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 
• Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 
• But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

• Then He calls Matthew to be a disciple and immediately goes to hang out with Matthew’s sinner friends, where He makes this radical statement from the prophet Hosea in v.13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

• In v. 17 Jairus comes to Jesus about his daughter and is interrupted by the women with the issue of blood.

• Once again Mark gives us much more detail. Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
• Then he tells two blind men, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.”

• Matthew 9:35-38,NLT-  Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 
• When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 
• So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

• Matthew 10:1,NKJV-  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

• Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• Matthew 28:16-20,NKJV- Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 
• When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 
• And Jesus came 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
• 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.

• This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, but extending His Lordship through the Spirit empowered church.

• It’s creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance to Christ.
• Embracing the fact that all the commands Jesus gave His first disciples are just as much a reality for us today.

• In John’s gospel Jesus actually tells us that we can do the things He did.

• Then Paul adds to that by making this statement in Corinthians, “imitate me as I imitate Christ.”

• It’s important that we understand we’ve been commissioned by the Lord to carry on His mission, to do the things He did, to follow His example, to imitate Him.

• And for every believer, the word of God has to be our only source of truth. It’s a light for our path. It’s flawless and forever settled. Jesus tells us His word is Spirit and truth. 

• Paul tells us the word shows us the difference between natural and spiritual. And will transform our soul.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17,NKJV- All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

• Here’s the first thing, even though it may be hard to accept, the Bible was written for the people of God.

• Yes, anyone can read the Bible and get information, but revelation (a line upon line uncovering) only comes to the born again. Something else to remember, the Bible is 100% a spiritual book.

• 1 Corinthians 2:12-14,NLT- “And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 
• When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 
• But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.”

• The scriptures tell us the word is alive, flawless, perfect, forever settled, the word will enlighten our path, it framed the worlds. The written word reveals the living word.

• In the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses, Mt of transfiguration, “hear Him”

• The number one confirmation of the OT is how much Jesus quoted it.

• What we know as the NT started as letters being circulated from church to church. But was over 200 years before a complete collection of what we call the NT was compiled.

• Something we have to keep in mind is that at the birth of the church, they had the luxury of having eye witness accounts from those that walked the planet with Jesus.

• They had first hand, anointed information from those who walked with the Living Word.

• And as local churches were being launched around the world; God inspired holy men, by the Holy Spirit to write these prophetic letters that would become, the Lord’s Written Word to His creation.

• 2 Peter 1:19-21,NKJV- “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 
• knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 
• for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

• Keep in mind, every writer of one of these letters except Paul walked with Jesus on the planet. Paul was actually taken to Heaven and was taught by Jesus Himself.

• Now as these letters began to be circulated, copies had to be made which are known as manuscripts.

• A manuscript is an exact copy of an original.
• Not one word could be written from memory.
• Every word had to be referenced to exact placement of an original.
• Each writing had to be checked forward and backward.
• From these manuscripts a NT was compiled.

• From there we moved to a translation, which is taking the scriptures from one language to another.

• Which finally resulted in the versions we have today. A version is primarily translated thought.

• Here's one example of the thoroughness of detail to accuracy.

• KJV, completed in 1611. Ordered be King James of England.
• Took 54 men, 7 years.

• Now that Jesus (living word) lives in Heaven, by His Holy Spirit, He has left us His written word to build our lives on.

• John 1:1,14,NLT- “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

• As a matter of fact He made it very clear that anyone accepting a life in Him must embrace the reality that His words are life and truth. Spiritual reality. “It is written.”

• Matthew 4:4,MSG- “Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”

• Until a person is born of the Spirit, everything about God and His Word will remain a mystery. It’s still in seed form.

• Something every Christian needs to be aware of is that by design, the Bible is progressive in its revelation. It’s a living, continual unfolding of God’s nature, character and world. “With the same measure.”

• This is why Jesus needs every one of us practicing these instructions in Timothy.

• 2 Timothy 2:15,NIV- “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

• He’s counting on us representing Him and His Word in such a way that an unbeliever will be willing to listen. That we’re able to have confident, intelligent conversation concerning His word.

• Remember, we’ve been commissioned by Jesus Himself.

• Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• Once a human becomes a Christian, God’s Word becomes the foundation we build our new life in Christ on.

• One of the most foundational truths about the Bible is that it is a living, continual unfolding of the revelation of Christ to His redeemed.

• God knew that without inspired revelation directly from Him to His people, we would be left with just human intelligence.

• What Christians have to recognize is that learning how to live our new lives in Christ actually hinge on is yielding to His Divine guidance.

• And one of the most amazing things about God's plan is that He chose from the beginning to use everyday people like you and me to advance His Kingdom.

• So don't ever make the mistake of thinking you've got to have it all together for God to use you. Look at the people God used to write the Bible are a perfect example.

• Kings- David & Solomon
• Priests- Jeremiah & Ezekiel
• Shepherds- Moses & Amos
• Physician- Luke
• Pharisee- Paul
• Tax Collector- Matthew
• Scribe- Ezra
• Fishermen- Peter
• Soldier- Joshua
• Butler- Nehemiah
• Politician- Daniel

• When we're open to His Divine guidance, never underestimate what He'll do through someone who will dare to believe Him. So don't underestimate yourself.

• When a person yields to the written word, it becomes living word in their heart, transforming them more into His image.

• God knew that because of free will, humanity would have to have a point of reference that truth stems from.

• So please be humble enough to realize that it's only by God's grace that we even have the opportunity to discover the Living Word through His written word.

• That we can discover the awesome honor of the Lord Himself asking us to be part of His eternal plan.

• 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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

• Remember, we have been commissioned.

• Matthew 28:16-20,NKJV- Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 
• When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 
• And Jesus came 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
• 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.

• Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, but extending His Lordship to all of humanity through the Spirit empowered church.

• Creating disciples that openly acknowledges our allegiance to Christ.

• Matthew 4:23-25,NLKV- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 
• Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
• Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

• Chapters 5-7 is what’s called the sermon on the mount. He covers beatitudes, that we’re salt and light, that He’s the fulfillment of the OT law, deals with issues of the heart, love your enemies, don’t worry, don’t judge, put the Kingdom first, and lastly, build your life on everything He says.

• And what’s the first thing He does when He finishes preaching again? He start healing people.

• Matthew 8:1-3,NKJV- When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I AM WILLING; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

• I think it’s important we have talks like this because there are so many different views on the subject of healing, unfortunately to the degree that we leave it out of the gospel message.

• Matthew 4:23,NLKV- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

• Matthew 8:7, Jesus responding to the centurion said, “I WILL come and heal him.”

• v.13, Jesus tells the centurion, “As you have believed, so let it be down for you.”

• Heres a very important point, God repeatedly reminds us that He shows favoritism or partiality to no one. The scripture also makes it clear that neither Jesus or His word change.

• Matthew 8:14-17,NKJV- Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 
• So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. 
• When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 
• that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.

• Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

• So why would Jesus train His first disciples to live and minister a certain way,
• Then command them to train everyone they discipled to live the same way,
• Then move back to Heaven and expect us to live a different way and not even say anything about it to His closest followers, not to mention something in His Word?

• When we study the life and ministry of Jesus, why do you think He healed everywhere He went?

• John 6:38,NKJV- For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

• He even said, "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father."

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life here was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish for all on the cross, but showing what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.
• Remember Matthew, You go and teach them to observe all things I’ve commanded you.”

• Matthew 8:23-26,NKJV- Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 
• And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 
• Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 
• But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

• Then they land in the region of the Gadarenes and some demon possess men met Jesus and said, “have you come to torture us before our time?”

• In Matthew 9, Jesus goes back to His home town and right away, guess what’s the first thing He does?

• Mark 2:1-12,NKJV-  And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 
• Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 
• When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 
• But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 
• Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 
• But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

• Then He calls Matthew to be a disciple and immediately goes to hang out with Matthew’s sinner friends, where He makes this radical statement from the prophet Hosea in v.13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

• In v. 17 Jairus comes to Jesus about his daughter and is interrupted by the women with the issue of blood.

• Once again Mark gives us much more detail. Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
• Then he tells two blind men, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.”

• Matthew 9:35-38,NLT-  Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 
• When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 
• So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

• Matthew 10:1,NKJV-  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

• Matthew 28:16-20,NKJV- Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 
• When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 
• And Jesus came 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
• 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.

• Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, but extending His Lordship to all of humanity through the Spirit empowered church.

• Creating disciples that openly acknowledges our allegiance to Christ.

• Mark 16:14-20,NKJV- 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. 
• And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 
• He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 
• And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 
• they 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.” 
• So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 
• And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

• Instruct all the new disciples in the practice of all that I commanded you. Jesus tells us in John that the things he did, we are to do. Paul actually tells us in Corinthians, “imitate me as I imitate Christ.”

• So understand that we’ve been commissioned by the Lord to carry on His mission, to do the things He did, to imitate Him will require a higher level of faith and understanding.
• And for every believer, the word of God has to be our only source of truth. It’s a light for our path. It’s flawless and forever settled. Jesus told us His word is Spirit and truth. 
• Paul tells us that the word is what transforms our soul, and Hebrews lets us know that it’s God’s word that shows us the difference between natural and spiritual.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17,NKJV- All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

• At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, one of the first things we see is Him getting baptized, showing every follower the way. Remember, He’s the first born.

• Matthew 3:16,NKJV-  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

• Here’s the thing, why would Jesus have to have the Spirit come upon Him? Think about it, He’s the first human born of the Spirit. And just like He had to have the Spirit on Him to do the things of the Kingdom, so do the rest of us born of the Spirit.

• And in chapter 4, right away the enemy comes to tempt Jesus. Hey, if satan tempted Jesus, don’t think for a second you’ll be exempt.

• Matthew 4:4,NLT- But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

• A key point here is to understand Jesus didn’t start His ministry until after the Holy Spirit came on Him. And the first thing he says is, “repent because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

• Then He starts His recruiting plan for His first disciples.

• Matthew 4:23-25,NLKV- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 
• Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
• Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

• Chapters 5-7 is what’s called the sermon on the mount. He covers beatitudes, that we’re salt and light, that He’s the fulfillment of the OT law, deals with issues of the heart, love your enemies, don’t worry, don’t judge, put the Kingdom first, and lastly, build your life on everything He says.

• And the first thing He does when He finishes preaching is start healing people.

• Matthew 8:1-3,NKJV- When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I AM WILLING; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

• Here’s what I’m believing to change in who we are and what we do as part of His body here and now; we’re good at teaching and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, but what’s up with the healing part?

• Matthew 8:7,NKJV- And Jesus said to him, “I WILL come and heal him.”

• We’ve got to understand that repeatedly God reminds us that He shows favoritism or partiality to no one. The scripture also makes it clear that Jesus or His word doesn’t change.

• Matthew 8:14-17,NKJV- Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 
• So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. 
• When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 
• that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.

• Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 
• Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

• So why would He train His first disciples to live and minister a certain way,
• Then command them to train everyone they discipled to live the same way,
• Then move back to Heaven and expect us to live a different way and not even say anything about it to His closest followers, not to mention something in His Word?

• When we study the ministry of Jesus, why do you think He healed everywhere He went?

• John 6:38,NKJV- For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

• He even said, "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father."

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life here was pointing to what He was about to accomplish for all on the cross.

Ashleigh is a third-generation Naval Academy graduate. Both her grandfather and uncle attended Annapolis. Growing up she didn’t want to be a part of the military, but as high school approached her grandfather talked about wanting a grandchild to continue the tradition and she began looking into the Naval Academy. By her freshman year of high school, she had decided it was what she wanted to do and started working to complete all the necessary requirements for the application. She had her application completed by the end of her Junior year and found out that summer she had been selected. 

We discussed how her struggle with fitness and weight was a constant struggle throughout her time at the Academy. She had wanted to be a leader for Plebe summer but felt unqualified because she wasn’t the best fitness member. She received advice from a leader at the Naval Academy that she still had leadership value even if she wasn’t the fastest runner and if she wanted to do it, she should.

She commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer and was one of fourteen with an Engineering option. Her first assignment was difficult and she attributes it to having a bad leader and dealing with depression. She went to the doctor on her ship while deployed to get help and was told he didn’t know what to do because he felt the same way. She decided to focus on what she could control, which was her fitness and making healthier choices at meals. That along with receiving her Surface Warfare Pin helped bring her out of her depression.

Her next assignment at Norfolk was a much better experience and she had great leadership and a more manageable job. She also met her future husband. While at Norfolk she applied to go to graduate school and moved to Monterey to get her masters in Electrical Engineering. Shortly after beginning graduate school, her husband proposed and they got married while she was attending school. Before she graduated her husband deployed and they will finally be stationed together after being married almost two years. 

She has decided to leave the Navy after this assignment so she can focus on her health coaching business. She wants to have the flexibility of being able to work from home and raise a family and while she has gained a lot from serving in the Navy it isn’t where her passion lies anymore. She loves that she will continue to serve the military community through her coaching and online programs. 

She tells women who are considering joining the military to do it, but you don’t have to sacrifice who you are to do it. Know what you want and go for it.

Connect with Ashleigh:

Healthy Women Warriors Podcast

www.instagram.com/ashmageecoach
www.facebook.com/groups/HealthyWomenWarriors/
www.ashleighmagee.com
https://ashleighmagee.com/wellness-challenge/

Mentioned in this Episode:

Naval Academy

Related to this Episode:

From the Navy to the Air Force – Episode 15

Do I Belong in the Navy – Episode 6

Giving Back After Service to Find Healing – Episode 56

Read the transcript here.

Thank you Pateron members for your support. Want early access to episodes, ad-free content, and one on one mentorship advice. Become a Patreon member today! Click here.

Thank you to my Patreon Sponsor Col Level and above

Kevin Barba

Affiliate Support

Are you starting a business or needing help in the next step of your business check out the Ministry to Business Guide here.

Are you trying to decide what you are going to do as a parent for the upcoming school year? I'm diving into homeschooling, but I'm getting support. Check out the Clever Kid Curriculum here.

We recently started investing in the stock market, get two free stocks when you create your Webull Account today! Click here.

Resources:

Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Girl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold. 

Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military Service

Girl's Guide to the Military Series

From our Vision series. Canopy is a family of house churches learning to live free. This weekend, we explored Exodus 19:2-8 and the truth that we find freedom in being commissioned by God. God works through us. Jesus has invited us to partner with Him in God’s restorative work in the world through His Spirit with and in us. We want to grow in our awareness that He is at work and in our availability to join Him in that work. So, we always look for opportunities for partner with Him.

For more information, visit canopy.church.

We are called to impact our world for God.  These are our regular places, people, and routines that we experience everyday.