CHRIST’S AUTHORITY AND THE SPIRIT’S POWER
LESSON # 2
THE THREE COMMISSIONS

  1. Learning from the Master Teacher :
    • Sermon on the Mount: disciples taught Kingdom principles — Matthew 5:1-2
    • The Lord’s Prayer : the disciples are taught to pray — Luke 11:1-4
    • The disciples are taught to have faith, as Jesus calms the storm — Matthew 8:23-27
    • Christ took the 12 disciples with Him as He traveled throughout Israel, and He trained them to proclaim the Gospel and minister to the needs of the people — Matthew 8:1

  2. First Commission : training over and work for the Kingdom begins — Luke 9:1-6
    • Christ sends the 12 disciples and he gives them: 1. power to preach the Kingdom of God.
    • He gives them: 2. authority over demons and 3. to heal the sick.
    • They were to take nothing with them including money — a journey of faith depending on God solely.
    • They went through the towns preaching the gospel and healing the sick.

  3. Second Commission : sending of the 72 disciples throughout Israel — Luke 10:1-19
    • Christ sent 72 disciples to every city and town that He was going to visit — they prepared the way for His visit.
    • Jesus warned that the Harvest was truly great, and that workers were needed. Pray to the Father for workers for the Harvest.
    • They were to carry nothing with them, including money — a journey of faith trusting God’s provisions and grace.
    • They were to: 1. proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom , 2. heal the sick , and 3. even the demons were subject to them in Christ’s name.

  4. Third Commission : To Jerusalem , Judea , Samaria , and the ends of the world :
    • Before Jesus went back to the Father after His resurrection, He appeared to His disciples and told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. Luke 24:49
    • At that time, they would receive power to be His witnesses in the whole world. Acts 1:8
    • He told them that all authority had been given to Him in heaven and on earth. Matt 28:18
    • Therefore they were to go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them all that Jesus had taught them.
    • And these signs would follow those who would believe: In His name, 1. they would cast out demons ; 2. They would lay their hands on the sick and the sick would be healed ; 3. And they were to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom in Jerusalem , Judea , Samaria , and to the ends of the world.

      • IMPORTANT: All three commissions had the same commands:

      AUTHORITY to cast out demons and heal the sick . POWER to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom .

    • Jesus promised to be with them to the end of the world.

  5. Funding Christ’s ministry while on earth — Luke 8:1-3
    • There were women who ministered to the traveling needs of Christ and His disciples and they paid for all the expenses out of their own personal wealth.
    • These women traveled with them and they paid for food, lodging, and other expenses.
    • Christ told those who wanted to follow Him, that there was no money in His ministry and that He did not even have a place to rest His head — Christ had no personal wealth. — Matthew 8:20
    • Christ depended on others that God had given Him to fund His ministry.
    • Jesus told those who wanted to follow Him and become His disciple that they needed to forsake all in order to follow Him.