Are you fulfilling your commission for the Lord? A commission is entrusting a person or group with power or authority. Jesus gave a commission to His twelve disciples. Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where (Luke 9:1-6).

The disciples were ordinary people just like you and me, and Jesus gave them everything they needed to complete the mission He had given them. He gave them the power and authority they needed over all devils. He gave them power from On High to cure sicknesses and diseases. That was a big deal in Bible times because people didn’t have the medical technology or medicines we have today, and many people suffered with pain that people today don’t have to.

Just think how amazing it must have been when the disciples went forth and prayed for the sick and the afflicted, and the people recovered. When the news spread, I’m sure many were ready to hear the Gospel message. The miracles and healings confirmed the fact that the disciples had been commissioned not only to preach but also to heal the sick.

Unfortunately, many people today don’t want to accept the truth in the Word which says, And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17,18).

God Will Provide

Jesus had given the disciples a commission, and He had also instructed them not to take anything with them on their journey. Imagine being sent on a journey and told not to take food, money or even an extra coat. Jesus wanted the disciples to go forth in faith and trust Him to provide all of their needs so they could stay focused on their commission. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

The Lord was going to protect the disciples and move on the hearts of the people they came in contact with to take them in and give them food, shelter and warmth. The Holy Ghost was going to give them the words to say and direct them in preaching to the people, and all the disciples had to do was obey the commission Jesus had given them.

Jesus warned the disciples that they may be rejected; but He told them, And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them (Luke 9:5). The disciples didn’t let anything stop them, and you can’t let anything stop you either. You have to keep going forth to spread the Gospel news to others.

The Seed of the Word

Jesus told a parable about a sower who sowed abundantly. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold (Matthew 13:4-8). In that parable, the seeds represent the Word of God; and Jesus was explaining the different ways the Word of God is received by people.

Some people listen to the Word, but it goes in one ear and out the other before the words can even take root because their hearts are hardened like the soil on the wayside was. The devil chatters in their ear and convinces them that the Word is not true, and then he snatches the truth away from them just as the birds ate the seeds. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side (Matthew 13:19).

Other people receive the Word, but the soil of their soul is shallow; and the words fall upon stony places. Those type of people endure for a while; but when trials come their way, they get offended and turn away because they have no depth in the Word. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended (Matthew 13:20,21).

Some people hear the Word, but the thorns of this world—the cares of life and the deceitfulness of riches—choke it out. They lose sight of the great commission because their life and their goals mean more to them than dedicating themselves to Jesus Christ. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful (Matthew 13:22).

Take the Gospel to the World

I’m sure the disciples witnessed all of these scenarios as they went forth sowing the seeds of the Gospel. It is hard to say how much of their seed fell on good ground, but all their efforts were worth it because some seed did bring forth fruit. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:23).

The Lord has commissioned His children to go forth and spread the Gospel. The seed you sow will not always fall on good ground, but you can’t get discouraged. You must continue to do the work the Lord has called you to do so He will consider you to be a good and faithful servant.

When people reject you, you have to do as Jesus said: And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them (Luke 9:5). Some people think it’s unreasonable for them to have to separate from friends and family; but the Word says, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (II Corinthians 6:14).

If you don’t keep yourself separated, you will not be able to fulfill your commission from the Lord. Jesus said, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26,27). Are you bearing your cross, or have you become weary and tired and laid it down?

You Need the Holy Ghost

You are under strict orders to carry out your commission, and the Word is your safety to keep you on track. It is also important for you to go on to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost after you receive Jesus Christ into your heart. You will never be able to fulfill your commission without having the Holy Ghost living inside you. Jesus said, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).

You are to be a witness for the Lord and help bring in the final harvest of souls. The Lord needs every child of God to help fulfill that great commission, and you must always remember that you are special and valuable to the Lord regardless of your abilities and talents. The key to success is to use whatever talents the Lord gives you to their fullest potential so they can multiply and win many souls for the Lord. Unfortunately, many people focus on what they don’t have instead of what they do have, and that hinders them from being productive for the Lord.

Use Your Talents for God

Let’s study the parable of the talents. For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey (Matthew 25:14,15).

The master gave each servant a commission, or responsibility; and even though each servant received a different number of talents, the master still expected the servants to use and multiply what they were given.

When the master returned, he wanted to hear the servants’ progress reports. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matthew 25:20-23).

The servant who had received just one talent had buried it and done nothing to multiply it. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury (Matthew 25:26,27).

The master then took that one talent away from the servant and said, Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). If that servant would have used his one talent instead of burying it, the Master would have praised him just as he had praised the others even though he would not have had as many talents as the others. Therefore, don’t get discouraged because someone has been given more than you. Be grateful for what you have because in the end, all that matters is what you do for Jesus.

Excuses Are Dangerous

You must yield to the Lord and deliver the Gospel, and it’s up to those you come in contact with to receive or reject that Gospel. Unfortunately, so many people put other things ahead of Jesus in their lives. Jesus told a story about a certain man who made a great supper, and he sent his servant to invite people to come to it.

When the servant returned, he told his master that the people he had invited refused to come. They all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused (Luke 14:18). That man was focused only on the land he had bought and cared nothing about the great supper.

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused (Luke 14:19). That man thought he was too busy to go to the supper. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come (Luke 14:20). His priority was spending time with his new wife, and he had no interest in the man’s supper.

The master in that parable represents the Lord. Each one of those people had been given a wonderful opportunity to come to the great supper, but they all made excuses. Many people today are the same way, and they think they are too busy to put the Lord first in their lives.

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity

The master was angry with those who had made excuses; and he said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled (Luke 14:21-23).

Jesus gave His life to make a salvation supper for this lost and dying world, and He has given all people an opportunity to come. It is up to each person to decide whether or not they will accept the invitation to receive Jesus without excuse. No one knows how many opportunities they will have to receive Christ, and some may have only one opportunity just like the people in that parable did.

The parable ends with the master saying, For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper (Luke 14:24). Think about all the people today who are turning their backs on their opportunity to receive Jesus because they are not ready to give up the things of the world they are holding on to. People think the Lord’s invitation will always be there, but that may not be the case. That is why the Bible says, Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (II Corinithians 6:2).

Let Jesus Save You

Friend, take advantage of your opportunity right now to receive Jesus Christ into your heart so you can fulfill your commission. Pray with me and say, Oh, God, save my soul. Forgive me for my sins. I have come home to serve you for the rest of my life. I believe the blood of Jesus washes away all of my sins. Come into my heart, Jesus. Come on in, Jesus. Amen.

Friend, if you meant that prayer, you have Jesus Christ in your heart. Now you must go on to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost so you can have the power from On High you need to make it to Rapture ground. Without that power, you will be left when Jesus comes.

God Wants to Heal You

Jesus is not just the Savior; He is the Healer. It doesn’t matter what sickness or disease you may have. God made you; He can heal you. Jesus told the disciples, They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:18b).

Friend, let the Lord bless you today so you can be a blessing to others and tell them about Jesus. I’m going to pray for you to be healed of any affliction or bondage you may have, so let God set you free.

Lord, you know what the people need. Break their bondages and set them free. Take care of every one of their requests. Move for each one of them and for those who are standing in the gap for their loved ones. Heal the people now, in the blood name of Jesus Christ I pray; and let everything come to normal in their bodies. Amen.

Friend, always give God all the praise, the honor and the glory for what He has done for you. You can write to us, email us or contact us on social media. We all have a responsibility to tell others about Jesus and what He has done for us, so we would love to hear from you.