Week 4
After Jesus rises from his death on the third day, he returns to heaven. Before going, he tells the
disciples this:
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
This is called Jesus’ “Great Commission.” He tells the disciples and us today to go and share his
message of God’s love and grace with all the world. But they are not to go off and do this on
their own power. He tells them to wait and pray until the Holy Spirit comes to them. The Holy
Spirit would provide both the wisdom and power to share the message with others. So the
disciples went to Jerusalem and began praying. This is what happened ten days later.
Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
These disciples left that room and went into the streets to share the message of God’s grace that
was given to us through Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection. They did not stop there but
proceeded to share this message wherever God sent them. This is Jesus’ plan to make disciples
of all nations. There is no other plan! Through God’s Holy Spirit guiding us and giving us
wisdom and strength, we will reach out to others with God’s grace. That is how the whole world
will come to hear about him and know him. People come to see and know Jesus through us.
Yet, it is only through the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives that it is possible.
We are invited into the Father’s house so that we will know his heart for our lives and our world. We are sent out into the world through his Spirit, so that the rest of the world will come to know and love him as well. Making disciples of all nations is an impossible task for one person alone. Yet, it happens through each one of us sharing as we have opportunity with those around us.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.
We are invited into the Father’s house so that we will know his heart for our lives and our world. We are sent out into the world through his Spirit, so that the rest of the world will come to know and love him as well. Making disciples of all nations is an impossible task for one person alone. Yet, it happens through each one of us sharing as we have opportunity with those around us.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.