Bulletin Articles: Full Article for Record Number 1076
The Great Commission Applied
by Larry Ray Hafley
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:20).
In Acts 11:19-26, we find the above charge in working order. In the city of Antioch, by the preaching of the Lord Jesus, "a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they send forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord....and much people was added unto the Lord." Thus the disciples made disciples.
With the coming of Barnabas, more souls were sanctified; all were edified. Then Barnabas sought Saul, the tireless tentmaker of Tarsus, "And when he found him he brought him into Antioch. And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. "So," as the Spirit’s pen wrote elsewhere, "mightily grew the word of God and prevailed" (Acts 19:20).
These early disciples not only preached their Lord commission, but they also practiced and applied it. Yes, we need much talk of Matthew 28:18-20. But we also need the exercise of Acts 11.
