## The Great Commision, the Personnel

## Mark 16:15

Introduction: The Holy Spirit chose Mark, the writer of the gospel of Mark to present Jesus as a servant. A servant is not interested in genealogies, legalities, proper order in an age long commission. He is interested in WHAT HE, PERSONALLY, IS SUPPCSED TO DO. Whom am I supposed to serve? What is my job? So Mark's interpretation of the Great Commission is "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature". A simple commission to be personally obeyed by each servant of God.

I. Being a personal witness is the ordained way. cf John 15:16

A. "I have chosen you, and ordained you..."

1. Jesus was talking to his disciples here- individual members of the local church

2. We chose to follow Jesus, but not until He had first chosen us. Jn 6:44, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him..."

3. Not only did Jesus choose us, but He ordained us--that simply means that He has appointed us to do a job for Him

B. "...that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain."

1. The first reason you have been chosen and appointed is to 'go'

a. there are 168 hours in each week

b. we were appointed to use some of that time witnessing to others

2. Go and bring forth fruit

a. this fruit is souls won to Christ

b. it is only natural that we should reproduce

c. this is the reason we were saved

3. Our fruit should remain

a. this Is a result of teaching and. training them

b. it's not enough simply to make new disciples--we must teach them to observe

II. Being a personal witness is the assured way

A. God promises results Ps 126:6

1. 'He that goeth forth and weepeth...'

a. we won't see many souls won to Christ if we do not go

b. we won't see many saved if we don't go with a burden

2. '...bearing precious seed...'

a. the seed is the Word of God

b. that is exactly what people need--they don't need to hear what we have to say-they need the Word of God

c. the Holy Spirit does the plowing in their heart and we are used to sow the Word. of God

3. '...shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bring his sheaves with him'

a. there is no doubt that reaching others for Christ will bring rejoicing

b. to do God's will for your life is a sure way to be happy

c. the joy of just having a part in seeing someone saved is impossible to describe

d. NOTE: everytime a farmer goes to the field he doesn't bring back the harvest-everytime you go soul- winning you may not return with a harvest, but we have the assurance from God's Word that one day we shall

e. what kind of a harvest would a farmer have if he went out once and got discouraged and decided not to go anymore?

B. God promises wisdom F'rov. 11:30 0

1. 'He that winneth souls is wise'

2. Wisdom = spiritual discernment = deciding what God wants you to do

3. When we go soul-winning we reveal our spiritual discernment in doing what God chose and appointed us to do

C. God promises the abundant life. Jn 15:16b

1. "... that whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, he may give it you"

2. Need to have your prayers answered more often? -- be a soul winner

3. When you are doing God's will, (reaching others for Christ), you are as close to God as you can get, as a result "whatsoever ye shall ask... he may give it you"

III. Being a personal witness is the historical way

A. The individuals in the early church

1. they went from house to house

2. this is the way the Apostle Paul taught them to go. Acts 20:20 3. As they went, they had one primary goal in mind. "to teach and preach Jesus Christ" Acts 5:42

B. The individuals in the persecuted church

1. Acts 8:1-4, "... and at that time there was great persecution against the church..." therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word."

2. These were not the apostles cf vl

3. Individual witnessing was the historical way of fulfilling the 'Great Commission'

C. Note the individuals in Ephesus. Ac 19:1-7

1. They had come in contact with religion- but they weren't saved

2. 'If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his' Ro. 8:9b

3. After they were saved--then they were trained. v8

4. After two years of training these 1121 men were able 'by the power of God' to reach the entire region of Asia.

Conclusion: The Bible teaches method as strongly as it teaches doctrine. Keep in mind Mark looked at the 'Great Commission' as a servant. The servant's job is to do exactly as he is told. Consider this evening, where you would be if an individual believer had not witnessed to you.