The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Great Commission, #5

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (I Corinthians 12:7-11)

Some Are Sent as Apostles While Others Have Different Roles and Callings

It often is said that every disciple has been charged with the Great Commission. He does not have to seek the Lord to find out how and when he should go forth and attempt to "save souls." The Bible commands him to go, and go he must—as soon as possible!

To set out in this manner without knowing the Lord's will may be compared to a workman who goes about with his toolbox looking for work. He comes upon a site where various tradesmen are constructing houses on a large tract of land. He looks for a suitable area, takes out his tools, and then goes to work.

After a while the construction supervisor comes over to him and asks him what he is doing. He says, "I am skilled in the building trades and am beginning to stake out a house."

The supervisor says to him, "We did not hire you to do this. It might interest you to know that where you plan to build has been set aside as a park where children can play. You haven't seen the blueprint!"

The New Testament teaches us that every believer has been given by the Holy Spirit a specific role to play in the Body of Christ.

Ours is the day in which Christ is to come to full stature in the saints. In order for Christ to come to full stature, all the ministries of the Body must come into operation. The Holy Spirit is ready to give numerous, varied ministries and gifts to each believer who will present his or her body a living sacrifice to God in order to prove His will for his or her life.

As Christ comes to maturity in us, we will shine as a great light to the end of the earth. This will take place before the Lord returns so that a true witness of God and His Kingdom may be given to every nation on earth.

It is time now for both the wheat and the tares to come to maturity.

Only genuine disciples of the Lord will be able to bear the end-time witness. Those who merely have "made a decision for Christ" and then have not followed the Lord in sanctification and consecration will not be able to bear a consistent witness during the age of moral horrors which rapidly is coming upon us. Instead their love will grow cold because of the abundance and availability of sin.

For example, the pornography that today is readily available on the Internet will cause a multitude of believers, and pastors as well, to fall into sexual lust and perversion.

The Lord Jesus knew what He was saying when He commanded us to make disciples and not just to try to get people to "make a decision for Christ."

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:16-18)

The above verses precede the giving of the Great Commission.

To be continued.