07/24/2026
This is probably not the best sermon I have ever preached, but it is the most important.
Marching Orders-
(Matthew 28: 18-20)
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Introduction:
When Jesus had finished his earthly ministry and was about to return to His place at the right hand of the Father, He commissioned His disciples and His New Church with the words of our text. We call them “The Great Commission.” I think that when we begin to understand these verses, we begin to understand what the Church is to be doing. Here, if you will, are marching our orders (our command to stand in the gap!) I want to point out four truths that are evident about this text.
1. These words are imperative.
You see, those were His very last words before He went away, His last will and testament. I believe He said, “While you wait for My return, I want you to tell the lost world about me and make disciples of them. I believe the number one priority of the Church is to tell people about Jesus. The Church's second priority is to tell more people about Jesus. I believe, you’ve guessed it; the number three priority of the Church is to tell the whole world about Jesus. I can’t think of any other reason Christ would have left His bride, the Church, in the world to suffer the things we have had to suffer, other than to win this world to Him.
I am alarmed when I read that it took forty-seven Southern Baptists one year to win one soul to Jesus. In 2024, an estimated 43% of Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) churches reported zero baptisms, according to SBC Voices and social media reports that analyzed Lifeway Research data. Someone said, “We have turned the Great Commission into the Great Omission.” I think it’s time to rethink our priorities. The late, great Dr. Vance Havner said, “A lot of the activities in Churches are about as useless as rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic. Listen, folks, if it’s fruitless, it’s useless. Any program in our Churches that does not ultimately, ultimately point people to Jesus and make disciples of them needs to be reevaluated.
2. Not only are they imperative, the words are also personal
The text says, “Therefore, (you) go and (you) make disciples of all the nations.” (Matt. 28:19) Wait, Jesse, are you suggesting that we all go be missionaries? Well, I think we all should be willing if that’s God’s plan for us. Can I say something to you? Until we are willing to go next door with the Gospel, we are not ready to go into all the world.
Those who remember their Greek better than I do say these words can read, as you are going.”
Parents, that home which God has placed you in charge of, that’s your world. You are to make disciples of all your children. Folks, that place where you work, those places where you shop and do business, those friends you hang out with, that’s your world. As you go into your world, you are to make disciples.
3. These words are empowered.
I have said, “I believe I could preach to ten thousand people.” Crowds do not bother me, as long as I have a solid oak pulpit between them and me. What intimidates me are one-on-one conversations with people I do not know. When I try to talk to a stranger, I stumble over my words. Every time the Spirit prompts me to give a personal witness, the devil says, “Jesse, you know they will not understand you. You are just going to make a mess of it.” I used to go soul-winning with a pastor and pray we would not find anyone home. Don’t laugh; some of you do the same thing, and you do not even have a speech problem.
One of the highlights of our ministry was our work with the Caldwell County Prison Unit in Hudson, N.C. We would go about once a quarter, and I preached to the inmates. We would experience good fellowship with the men who had become Christians since their incarceration, and hopefully we helped them grow spiritually. I would often tell them, I was the only crook (Crooks) in there that got to leave after chapel. They seemed to love my humor.
I began asking about going into the yard. It seemed like the thing to do. Well, word came that we had been granted permission to go in the yard before our services on Sunday night. We went to the yard, for the second time, on a cold Sunday afternoon in early January. The first person I encountered was a Muslim who had come to hear me preach that morning. I looked around for another worker to help me, but they were all busy talking with other inmates. So I said to the Lord, “You are going to have to help me.” I began to dialogue with that inmate. I don’t believe my speech has ever been plainer or I have ever been more confident about what I believe. I shared things that I didn’t know I knew. I didn’t win him to Christ, but I got him thinking. Jesus promised that if we do this, He’ll go with us. He’ll give the courage, the boldness, and all that we need to do the job. (Matt. 28:30b) I tell you this command is empowered
4. Last, but not least, these words are impending or urgent.
I cannot read these words without them jumping from the page with a sense of urgency. I believe Jesus is saying, "You go, and you go now.” Over two thousand years ago, Jesus said, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:35b) If this was so then, how much more so is it now? I know enough about farming to know that if farmers don’t get out and reap the harvest when it’s ready, they lose the crop. I think we are just about to lose the crop.
All the Biblical scholars that I listen to or read after believe that we are living in the very last moments of history. For whatever it’s worth, so do I. Someone has said that the clock of eternity is striking midnight and it has already struck eleven times. When Christ vacates the mercy seat to return to earth, there will no longer be any hope for those who are without Him. The Bible teaches that they will be doomed and damned to a devil’s hell not made for human consumption. Read your Bible; hell was created for the devil and his crowd. Hell is an awful place. If we could pull back the curtains of this awful place and could look in for ten seconds, every one of us would show up for soul-winning visitation next week.
Whether Christ comes tomorrow or tarries a thousand years, when people slip out into eternity, for them Christ has already come. I am sorry; I can’t find anything in this Bible about purgatory being a second chance. I wish I could. Every day precious souls slip out into eternity without Christ, and we argue about what color to carpet the sanctuary or paint the nursery. God forgive us and help us. Let’s make the main thing the main thing.
Conclusion;
How long has it been since you gave a personal verbal witness? Well! I witness by the way I live. I witness as I preach or teach. Good! You should. However, I believe each of us is required to share the Gospel one-on-one with those we meet as we go into all the world. I want to commit to you and my church to give a personal verbal witness within the next two weeks.
It was suggested to me some years ago that I choose a lost friend I know. That I pray for them and look for opportunities to share Jesus with them. Then trust the Lord to do the rest.
