We are all called to proclaim the gospel in the world. Matthew 28 calls all of us to make disciples, not just the seventy who were there, not just the apostles, but all Christians everywhere. Just 25 years ago, the majority of Christians understood this. Now the majority think it’s not necessary to share the Gospel through God’s word and that we instead share the gospel through good works and exemplary lives instead. But the Holy Spirit and the Bible never change. We must proclaim the gospel message in order to lead the lost to salvation in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:14-15,17). Without the Holy Spirit working through the gospel message, no one will be saved.
With that being said, the great commission is not our business but God’s business. Jesus is the initiator and the one orchestrating everything in these verses. He calls them, He instructs them, He designs the strategy, and He sends them. Jesus does all this for His disciples because He wants them to succeed. He knows that the world is a tough place and the task He’s given is also difficult. So He provides what we need in order for us to fulfill His will.
So Jesus emphasizes two things in His instructions. The first is trust. Jesus said, “Take nothing”. This shows that this is not man’s work, but God’s work. What men need most when obeying the Great Commission is a heart that trusts in God completely. Trust is better than knowledge or talent. Jesus said “take nothing”, not even the essentials. The disciples were not allowed a staff, bag, food, money, or tunic. They were without help, protection, sustenance, or comfort. However, while they were without their things, they would not be alone. Jesus will be with them and He will provide for them. Nehemiah 9:21 and Luke 22:35 show that Jesus provides what we need. We can trust in Him.
We need trust and we also need the Holy Spirit to be successful in our evangelism. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot change people’s hearts. Sometimes it takes just a short conversation, other times it takes years of teaching over and over again. Conversion depends on the Holy Spirit instead of our circumstances (John 16:8). Billy Graham’s crusades were famous for thousands of coming to Christ each night. Sadly time showed that only a few were truly saved. Those were the ones that truly received the Holy Spirit. So the hearer’s salvation does not depend on our talent but on the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 10:19-20, Acts 10:38). Therefore be filled with the Holy Spirit and trust in the Lord in order to fulfill the Great Commission.
To what extent should we trust in the Lord? We must trust in Jesus absolutely. The disciples were not allowed to take anything, not even a piece of bread. Jesus proved that life does not require bread but God’s word (Matthew 4:4). Jesus proved that He is trustworthy, and that He can even raise the dead (Luke 8:50). He directs us not to be afraid but to believe in Him. George Muller once said, “Faith rests on the naked word of God”. Simply trust in God and His word completely.
If we look at our own church, we are also called by God. We believe it is the will of God to be in Los Angeles and witness to the millions who are lost. This is our mission given to us by God. To pursue, it requires discipline and consistency. It requires working and giving blessings in the place where you are (Luke 9:4). Not everyone will listen to you but your labor is not in vain. As you give the blessings of Christ’s love and the gospel, you will receive the blessing back and your reward is in heaven (Matthew 5:10, Romans 14:17)
In Luke 8:5 Jesus gives instructions on how to respond to those who reject the gospel. He is showing them that it is not their responsibility to save them, but only to trust in Him and preach. Salvation is ultimately up to God. Our responsibility is to obey and tell them (Ezekiel 3:17-21 ). The disciples obeyed and went (Luke 9:6). We too must go. If you look at yourself and your own ability, then you won’t be able to save anyone. Don’t look at your books or others for knowledge or strength. Look at Jesus. He is the one who sends you. Trust in Him and He will provide. For our church to grow, we must look to Jesus and obey Him.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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