Point #1 The Great Commission is NOT a suggestion – but a command
Point #2 You have a Message
Point #3 You have a Role
I suspect that I did indicate in Point 2, this point. But I also believe it needs emphasizing. If you are a Christian, then by definition… WE ALL HAVE A ROLE. You don’t know your role? Look to your own story… and share it. Look to your gifting… and share it. Both will give you opportunity.
“A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him And brings him before great men.” [Proverbs 18:16]
Zechariah 4:10 also speaks of this when it says: “Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings?” Only a portion of verse 10 but it speaks to all of us. Just like a gift will make room for you… it may be a small beginning.
As a young Christian this was never a comforting scripture because I was trying to discover who I now was as a Christian and I knew the verse that said all believers are given a gift for the benefit of the body (1 Corinthians 12). However, I wanted to be able to ‘do something’ now. But what? What I hadn’t realized that I was still in the season of learning, and though this never ends, there are certain understandings that need to take place before we begin our ‘ministry’. Fortunately, once I took the simple step of asking the Lord… my path became a bit smoother.
Part of your role is your gifting. Scripture teaches that all believers have a gift. And if we have a gift, then it’s to be shared. Even the world knows this – even if they don’t acknowledge it…. Look at what Google says:
“All believers have received at least one spiritual gift from God, and they are not to hoard these gifts but use them faithfully as stewards of God’s grace.”
(1 Corinthians 12–14).
The secular world may not know what to do with this, but they don’t seem to deny its truth. But we take our learning from the Word, not from the world. So what does scripture say?
“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good.” [1 Corinthians 12:7]
Every Christian needs to read 1 Corinthians 12 more than once. And I would add… in more than one version/translation. We need to see the breadth of what has been given us, then it’s importance, and lastly why. Ephesians 4: 10 -16
“… until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].” [v. 13]
Our ministry is to our church family in supporting them in their gifting and sharing with others to help them understand who Jesus is and how He can change their lives.
“Let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head —Christ. From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.” [v. 15-16]
Do you see why you are an integral part of the Great Commission. You have a role. And together with your brothers and sisters in the Lord can provide a reason for your hope (1 Peter 3:15] to others.
“Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,” [Colossians 3:23]
When we remember Whose we are and partner with Him… When we allow ourselves to share the ‘Good News’ then we are living in the fulness and fruitfulness of our ‘role’.
