Kingdom mandate is a Divine Command and Order
from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is generally referred to as “The
Great Commission” Just before His ascention to heaven “Jesus came and told his
disciples, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to
obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18 – 20 New Living Translation)
This command is to every spirit-filed
Christian Deacons inclusive. Deacons in the early church took this mandate very
serious as recorded in the Acts – Philip and Stephen example. These deacons
faithfully served the table, but they did not stop at that. They also preached
the good news of Christ wherever they were. Philip was both deacon and Evangelist.
They served as church workers kingdom preachers and missionaries. Deacon
Stephen obeyed the mandate to the last breath of his life thus becoming the
first mytha for the sake of the kingdom.
With the above preamble, the present
generation of deacon, I mean deacons that are spirit-filled and in good
spiritual standing before God and man have no option than to obey and effect
the commission.
Jesus says “You are my friends if you
obey Me” Obedient Deacons shall play active roles and relentless efforts
through effective evangelism and mission works. The outline below is a guide to
follow:
I.
Deacons
must be evangelism oriented - planting
churches
-
Deacons
must take evangelism as a priority assignment
-
Deacons
must sensitize the church members
-
Deacons
must set up a prayer group-intercessory
-
Deacons
are expected to witness to the nearest person within neighborhood
-
Deacons
are expected to witness to foreign places far and near
-
Deacons
must make disciples of such new people in the kingdom
II.
Deacons
must cooperate with the church program on both home and foreign missions:
Deacons must be mission conscious and
demonstrate
-
Leadership
in giving for mission works
-
Sponsoring
pastors/missionaries on the field
-
Adopting
churches home/foreign mission field
-
Meeting
the needs of missionaries or the needs of their children
III.
Deacons
must come to the knowledge of relevant scriptures that count so much on their
services to win souls into the kingdom: (A) Romans 10:13 – 15
How will the world hear if we do
not tell them?
“For whoever call upon the name
of the Lord will be saved How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have
not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And
how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear
without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent” Deacons
should evaluate themselves through this checklist to note certain excuse(s)
they might have used for not bothering to pray for and reach the lost for
Jesus:
(a)
I did not know of the Bible’s teaching that
every person is lost until he or she believes on Jesus.
(b)
I did not understand the reality and horror of
hell for the unsaved.
(c)
I
have not accepted my personal responsibility to obey Jesus command in His great
Commission.
(d)
I
have been too busy keeping my own family and myself together to bother with
other peoples problems.
(e)
My
Church and Christian Organization see evangelism as a project-not rescuing
souls from satan’s kingdom.
(f)
I
have been taught to be tolerant of all peoples religions and not to think of
mine as superior to theirs
(g)
Since
God knows who will be saved anyway, why should I bother?
(h)
I
lack understanding of the power of the Holy Spirit to use and bless my
seemingly feeble efforts.
(i)
I
am afraid I will fail
(j)
I
am afraid of discussing spiritual matters
(k)
I
would rather be liked by people than to push my religion on them
(l)
I
just have not cared
Deacons,
grade yourself and take steps to amend wherever it is necessary. However, pray
this prayer:
1.
Ask
God to forgive you for each one of your excuses for not bothering to pray for
and win people to Jesus
2.
Ask
God to give you His burden for the lost near you and around the world.
3.
Promise
God you will start to pray faithfully for the lost
4.
Promise
God that you will obey as He directs you to witness to the lost.
EVANGELIZE
IN THE POWER OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT BUT NOT IN OUR OWN STRENGTH
(B) Deacons must allow the Holy Spirit
indwell them. Let us recall here the activities and effect of the Holy Spirit
on those ones sent out to tell the world about Jesus: (i) Lk 24:49- “And behold
I am sending forth the promise of my father upon you; but you are to stay in
the city until you are clothed with power form on high”
(ii) Acts
1:8” But ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you
shall be my witness both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and even to
the remotest part of the earth” This promise of the Holy Spirit came to pass on
the Pentecost Day –Acts 2:4
-
Acts
11:22-24: Says that when God used Barnabas to bring considerable numbers to the
Lord, He was full of the Holy Spirit
-
Paul
said it was God’s power that worked mightily in him. Colossians 1:29
-
When
Paul confronted supernatural evil and the magician was struck blind (Acts
13:8-11), Paul’s power was because he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
-
The
Holy Spirit gave these followers boldness to preach to those that crucified
Jesus: Acts 2:14-23
-
Their
courage to suffer and even die for Jesus was because of the Holy Spirit in
them.
Finally
beloved brother deacons pray fervently to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
who is the only, power enabling us play our roles faithfully in evangelizing
and mission works both at Home and foreign lands, so that we all may say like
Paula of Tarsus “How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for considering me
trust worthy and appointing me to serve Him” 1st Timothy 1:12 NLT.
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