The Name, “God,” contains the directions, “Go,” (first two letters) and “Do” (last two letters backwards).
Jesus’ Commissioning Words verify our Mission with Him. It is both a “Go” and a “Do.”
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in The Name of The Father, and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19
Many of us, in our zeal to spread the gospel take off running. If we do, we won’t get very far before we run out of steam. In order to make disciples, we must first be Disciples ourselves.
We baptize with The Spirit with which God baptizes us. The Power of baptism comes from the ongoing Fountain of God’s Love inside us.
After Jesus’ Resurrection, the Disciples must have felt they truly had a new lease on life. Jesus had been crucified. He had been sealed in a tomb and yet … He was back, in the flesh!
They were forgiven, enjoying His Presence, listening to Him teach and even enjoying His cooking.
“He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about The Kingdom of God.”
Acts 1:3
They thought they were ready to go forth and spread the gospel. But …
“On one occasion, when they were eating with Him, He gave them this command, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for The Gift My Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with The Holy Spirit.'”
Acts 1:4
Then Jesus disappeared from their view and went into Heaven. That must have deepened their feeling that they should go and tell everyone about Him. But one thing they had learned in following Jesus was that when He gave a Command, He expected it to be obeyed.
Jesus had said, “Wait!” So they stayed in Jerusalem. They waited.
Why did Jesus make them wait? They had been in the classroom, listening to The Teacher. They had been seeing Jesus in front of them. Now they needed to practice following His Commands from the inside of them.
And they needed to practice the one thing Jesus had said would identify them as His Disciples.
“A New Command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know you are My Disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35
Jesus wanted His Disciples to begin with loving each other, as He had loved them. This was no simple task. Jesus had been easy to love, but putting up with each other’s human faults was different.
People can get on your last nerve. People can interpret Jesus’ Words differently. When people wait for God to reveal Himself, they can start to blame each other for nothing seeming to happen.
But they persevered, lived together and shared everything. And they prayed together.
“They joined together in constant prayer …”
Acts 1:14
As they praised God together, their differences blended into a Glorious Unity with Him. And then God showed them The Power of His Love in their unity.
Jesus had told them to go forth and “baptize in The Name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit.”
In response to their love and unity with God and each other, God showed them the kind of Baptism He had in mind. He baptized them with His Holy Spirit!
As The Disciples surrendered themselves completely to The Power of The Holy Spirit, He gave them abilities beyond their natural abilities. They spoke Words, not formed from their own thoughts, but sent directly from The Heart of God through them to those who heard.
Now they were ready to go and do. They went forth in Unity, Love and Power. And God’s Love flowed through time and space to you.
Now it’s your turn to receive and share!
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says The Lord Almighty.
Zechariah 4:6
