Victory Life KY

Commissioned III

Episode Summary

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.

Episode Notes

• 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.