Go into all the world and preach the gospel

I daresay we have all heard it preached that as Christians, disciples of Jesus Christ, we are all to be actively involved in the Great Commission as stated in Mark 16:15.

I have heard it preached so often that if you are not out there fulfilling the Great Commission then you are guilty of disobeying God.

I have seen people struggle with this over the years, even justifying it by saying that Jesus didn't really mean all the world, but those of the world in your neighbourhood.

I know of a couple who, in obedience to the Great Commission, sold up everything and went overseas to preach the Gospel. They came back destitute and disillusioned.

Who should go?

Does God want us all to go into all the world to preach the Gospel? I'm sure the airlines would appreciate the business! But let's have a look at what the Scriptures say.

Mark 16:14 Afterward He appeared to the Eleven as they reclined. And He reproached their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation.

So first up, who was Jesus speaking to? Mark 16:14 says He was speaking to the eleven. The Great Commission was given to eleven men who had been with Him for around three years and had been taught by the Master! If the Lord, who is well able to speak to you and I today, has not told you to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, then don't do it! To attempt to do what Jesus asked of the eleven without the Lord telling you to do so comes not of faith, but of good intentions, and good intentions are not good enough! We are called to a walk of faith and faith comes when our Lord shows or tells us something.

I know of a number of people who have been told by the Lord that they should go to this country or that, and have had successful ministries. I should hasten to add that they, in most cases, have had their faith tested and have been through hard times, but they are living in obedience to Him who sent them.

The fruit of the believer

When the eleven were sent out to preach the gospel, some exciting things happened, as Jesus said it would.

Mar 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Mar 16:17 And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues;
Mar 16:18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well.

Jesus said that in His name those believing will cast out demons, speak in new tongues, heal the sick etc. So then, if we believe the gospel, that Jesus is the Word of God, sent by the Father for our salvation, why do we not see these things happen all the time?

The answer is simple. In verse 17 it says "in My name". The phrase "in My name" could be translated as "with My authority". Or, in other words, if He tells you to do it, it will happen. If He doesn't tell you or show you to lay hands on a sick person to heal them, then it may not happen. You see, Jesus said John 5:30 I can do nothing of My own self. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father who has sent Me. So how much more should we do as the Lord tells us? I am not talking so much as obeying the Scriptures as hearing from our Lord and obeying Him. This is true faith at work. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, who is, was and always will be Jesus. As I have stated on other pages, there is no Scriptural validation for calling the Bible the Word of God. In fact, Scripture points out very plainly that the Word (logos) became flesh! He was called Jesus! (John 1)

Good thoughts versus hearing

There is a simple illustration given to us in Scripture about the difference between hearing and thinking. Look at Peter when Jesus asked him who he thought He was.

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, You are blessed, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father in Heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

So we see that Peter was called blessed because he believed that which was revealed to him. Now let's look what happened when Peter gave way to his own thoughts.

Mar 8:31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mar 8:32 And He spoke that saying openly. And Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him.
Mar 8:33 But when He had turned around and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Go behind Me, Satan! For you do not mind the things of God, but of the things of men.

How can you tell the difference between thoughts and the Lord's voice?

Jesus said Joh 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

This is going to sound really silly, but it worked for me when I was a new Christian. I had great difficulty trying to tell the difference between the Lord's voice and my own thoughts on occasions. I have heard it said often that the first thought you have is from the Lord and after that your own doubt or the enemy steps in to take it away from you. This may be so on occasions but I think it foolish and dangerous to make it a rule.

I decided that I needed something to measure the thoughts/voice against, so I used my toes. When I was absolutely sure that it was the Lord speaking and there was no doubt in my mind, I considered it to be my big toe. Something reliable that I could act upon. On the other end of the scale, if I was sure that it was my own thoughts and there was little chance of it being the Lord, that was my little toe. It helped me to measure it this way. The middle toes gave me gradients. As I experimented by doing each thing that I thought the Lord was saying, I started to see what worked and what didn't. It was only a matter of time until I got to recognise His voice and could discard the use of my toes. It's a bit like hearing a voice on the telephone. The first time the person at the other end will need to introduce him/herself. The more they call the less need there will be for them to say who is calling because you will recognise their voice.

In the same way, we NEED to know our Lord's voice, because it is through HEARING Him that we receive faith. I can tell you that if you pray for someone to be healed because the Scriptures tell you that that's what we should do, then you may very well be disappointed with the outcome. But if the Lord actually SAYS to you, go pray for that person and I will heal them, then as you obey Him you will see the fruit of faith the way it was intended.

So what are we to do?

Scripture tells us to always let our light shine as a beacon on a hill. We are also encouraged to sew the good seed in and out of season. More importantly we are called to a walk of faith, which means we have to have such a relationship with our God that enables us to hear what He is saying to us so that we can obey.

Worship God with all your heart and with all that you are in everything that you do. Be obedient and let good reports come from your mouth only. If someone has something against you, approach them in peace to sort it out. Be quick to forgive and rejoice always in our God.

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