He Has Commissioned Us!

VERSE OF THE DAY: ~Mark 16:15-20 ~ “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.”

I love this record given by Mark! We know that God gives us the power, grace, ability and authority to fulfill whatever He requires of us. The question is; Does this commission extend through time to our generation of disciples? I have found zero biblical evidence to suggest that these words from Jesus are anything other than His will for the church until He returns. God has always intended for His people to establish His Kingdom on earth! Here in Mark’s gospel, we see the connection made between the demonstration of God’s power being related to the disciple’s obedience to preach His word.

The church’s commission to go into all the world and preach God’s kingdom is found to some degree in all four gospels and the book of Acts. John simply writes “As the Father sent me so I send you..” Luke 24 “..it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead and that repentance and remission from sins should be preached in His name to all nations…” Mt 28, Mt 10. Lk 9, 10, and Acts 1:8 all send them out to preach and to either heal, cast out devils, or some other reference to spiritual power accompany the word or witness of their preaching. But why? For what reason is it so important that the gospel message be preached in all the world? And why throughout scriptures was Holy Spirit and power to heal or deliver from demonic oppression so prominent?

Because God’s will is that none should perish and that ALL should have eternal life. So then if it is God’s will, why doesn’t it just happen? Why isn’t everyone already saved? Another rhetorical question that comes with this topic is: If God is love then why there be evil or darkness, or some “sin” that one must be saved from? I ask then; If God is love then how can He force anyone or thing into servitude? The gospel is that Christ demonstrated God’s love by becoming man and paying the penalty of sin in man’s place. Then He empowers his believers to overturn the effects of sin on humanity and the world. Hence to loose the bonds of oppression, see sins forgiven, heal the sick and drive out any demonic forces that may at play, lurking in the darkness….   

PRAYER/DECLARATIONS: I declare that the bonds of oppression that have kept people bound are broken and the captives are free from their captivity! I confess that Jesus is the Messiah who died, resurrected, and ascended ti the right Hand of God the Father. In his name addictions and afflictions are broken! The sick are healed, and the blind can now see. Spiritual blindness and deception are broken and replaced revelation knowledge of Christ and His Kingdom.  

VERSE FOR FEARLESS LIVING: Numbers 14:8-9 ~ “ If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’  Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they[c] are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”