The Great Commission- A Sitting-Church or a Going-Church?

 “Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…" Matt 28:19 (TLB).

Friends, the church of Jesus Christ are commanded to go and make disciples in all nations. Our mandate is making disciple for Christ. We are NOT commanded to raise “members” but make disciples. A disciple has a sense of belonging; buys and runs with the vision of the house and follow wherever the Master goes. But not so with a member.

The first step to making disciple is to “go” where the people are and preach the good news of the Kingdom to them. Refusal to “go” is failure of duty and a lip service to the mandate of making disciple for Christ.

Friends, we have a mission to “go”. We are saddled with a mandate to “go”. Go where? To go into the whole world; starting from the immediate environ to the uttermost preaching the good news of Christ Kingdom to the not yet believers in Christ.

It is rather unfortunate that many of the Churches of today have assumed a sitting position. Instead of the church going to the world as commanded, are now waiting for the world to come into the church. So many churches and the ministers in particular have become so complacent and cold towards the matching order of “go…”

The many churches of today seemed to me so satisfied with the few disciples raised; build their empire around these few disciples as long as they feel very secure with their loyalty and interest towards the church and their calling. They never burred again about the remaining straining sheep outside the fold. It seemed also to me that we have left the work of soul winning entirely to the Lord of harvest- the Holy Spirit. As though the work of soul winning has no human figure involved.

The church is suppose to be the apostolic base where men and women are groomed/ trained and launched out into the field to reap in the ripe harvest. The church in addition to its status of been a going-church is also a sending-church. The Apostle, having understood this were constantly reaching out to their world and sending out trained disciples to fulfill this great commission.

“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away”. Acts 13:1-3 (KJV).

The church then, had no difficulty training and releasing men into their callings and ministry, but only few are doing this today.

We are the going-church and the sending-church. Not a sitting-church.

This is what the small group ministry as laid down by Jesus Himself and by the Apostles wants to achieve. Jesus “go” i.e. went out in search of souls in the likes of Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip… Afterwards trained and commissioned them to function as His disciples. The Apostles in like manner followed this pattern from Christ after He left.

Brethren, if only the church of today could return back to the basis, embrace the principles of small group ministry into the main stream of our church activities; we will see greater result in the body of Christ. Many things are calling for our attention BUT one thing is needful- making of disciples. And this process will start and continue with obedience to the matching order- “go”. And will be best carried out through the small group activities.

The Growing Faith…The Growing Love

A healthy church is not only known by its exploits of Faith but also her walking in genuine love for God and His people. The small group ministry in the body of Christ is targeted at achieving both- faith and love among brethren. The church that is actively growing and full of faith must also be full of love. Both faith and love are most needed as we attempt to do effective ministry.

Friends, please kindly listen and pay attention, we cannot talk of growing faith in the church of God in absence of genuine love for God and the people. Love is the soil upon which our faith grows and works. You may make a boast and share your testimonies of how your faith in God worked and delivered to you timely results and answers to your prayers BUT if there is no love, all that is nothing.

“… and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing”. 1Cor 13:2 (NKJV)

To measure your faith in God without measuring your corresponding love for God & His people is merely living in a world of fantasy. There is no such thing as faith without love. Don’t be excited only at people’s work of faith be interested also in their walk of love. For faith will always need love to produce the desired result.

Apostle Paul didn’t lose sight of this very thing when he acknowledged both the faith and love of the believers in Thessalonica. He saw their growing faith as well as the abounding love towards one another as they live in fellowship. Hear what the Apostle Paul said: “…because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds towards each other…” 2Thes 1: 3-4 (NKJV)

As an evangelist your love to see the people saved and come to the knowledge of God precedes your strong faith to birth the needed miracle of salvation, & healings anticipated in every crusades ground. Because faith always work by love- Gal 5:6

It was love that motivated Jesus to accept the assignment to come and die for us so we might be saved. “For God so loved the world…” This principle cannot be broken. Love must be the reason why God should choose to sacrifice His only son for our redemption. Love is the motivating and the driving force here. And we ministers of the gospel must be love driven in everything we do in His vineyard.

As a shepherd of a local church assembly, the people want to see your love first before they see your faith. Your exploits of faith will be more real and well understood and even replicated by your congregation when they perceive love from you. In addition, it is your love for God and the people that motivates and compel them to stay and become emotionally & spiritually attached to you. Faith that works by love!

Church growth is very possible when love is in place. And a better working of our faith to do exploit is equally enhanced by love. What a perfect combination- faith & love!

So, as an Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher and even Prophets and Apostles of God, all workers in the vineyard of God, I plead with us all to ensure the workings of this duo in our lives and ministry. There is no need sharing our exploits of faith without a genuine love for God and for people at work in us. That will be another display of hypocrisy in the body of Christ.

And conversely, where there is genuine love for God; there MUST also be faith at work. God’s power and anointing MUST be released by faith for the salvation, healing and deliverance of God’s people. It is also NOT enough to love the people and still see them under the bondage of the enemy- devil. Compassion and love should stir your faith to work and release the people from bondage. Beloved, our faith in God must of a necessity be at work to save and heal the people. And not watching them to suffer as there is no need for the pains. However, as mentioned before, this faith must work by love.

Beloved, we do not have a God who is full of compassion and love BUT cannot save, heal or deliver those who come to Him. That is not the God we serve! Our God is not only the God of love but equally the Power God! At whatever condition/situation Christ should meet a man; compelled by love would never leave that man to go home the same way He meets him. And every minister of the gospel must strive to maintain the balance- faith and love.

Love, love, love is our true motive of doing ministry. And faith is the vehicle upon which God’s blessing could reach His people. We sincerely need the duo for effective working of ministry. Because:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him…” Heb 11:6 (KJV). And of cause- “…faith which (must) works by love”. Gal 5:6 (KJV).