“…’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…
Then they gathered around and asked Him,’ Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the ends of the earth.’
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
Acts 1: 4-9
Anyone who has pulled military guard duty is familiar with the Four General Orders governing a sentry’s duties. The fourth order is “to quit my post only when properly relieved.” Until then, that sentry is to follow the last order given; the last command.
In like manner, as Christians we have been given a last command ; “you will be My witnesses.” This is a standing order.
These orders are not mere suggestions, to be followed only if “you feel like it” or only “if you’re in the mood”. Why? Because , like it or not, we have been entrusted with a sacred duty.
Moreover, this goes beyond mere duty, Jesus said,
”Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me, The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them,” (John 14:21)
Jesus had told his disciples that he was going away. And it was to their advantage that he went away; “Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16: 7)
Wait a minute! Hold the phone! What are you saying?! You are going away?! Peter holds his hands over his ears, and thinks back to the exchange that he and the other disciples had with Jesus at Caesarea Philippi. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” And Jesus levels his gaze on Peter:
“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matt.16:15-16)
And when many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him, Jesus asked the Twelve, “You do not want to leave too, do you?’ It was Peter who answered , “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 68-69)
And as this memory was ringing in Peter’s ears, “He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight”. An angelic messenger exhorted them, “Men of Galilee, …why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) In other words, we have our orders! Let us get on with it!
Our vows of love mean nothing if we don’t keep His commands. Our orders have not changed since the the Lord gave His last command. In the words of John Piper, “ That God is love impels us to be sure that the Truth gets to all people ; and that God is God impels us to be sure that what gets to all people is the Truth.”
Until the Lord returns , we have our standing orders; “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem , and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the ends of the earth. “ We have the blessed Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in all Truth. The mission continues and we will quit our post only when properly relieved.
Questions to Think About
1 In your current service to God, are you relying on your personality and skills, or are you actively seeking the “Advocate” promised in John 14? What does “relyingon the Spirit” actually look like in your daily routine?
Then they gathered around and asked Him,’ Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the ends of the earth.’
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
Acts 1: 4-9
Anyone who has pulled military guard duty is familiar with the Four General Orders governing a sentry’s duties. The fourth order is “to quit my post only when properly relieved.” Until then, that sentry is to follow the last order given; the last command.
In like manner, as Christians we have been given a last command ; “you will be My witnesses.” This is a standing order.
These orders are not mere suggestions, to be followed only if “you feel like it” or only “if you’re in the mood”. Why? Because , like it or not, we have been entrusted with a sacred duty.
Moreover, this goes beyond mere duty, Jesus said,
”Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me, The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them,” (John 14:21)
Jesus had told his disciples that he was going away. And it was to their advantage that he went away; “Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16: 7)
Wait a minute! Hold the phone! What are you saying?! You are going away?! Peter holds his hands over his ears, and thinks back to the exchange that he and the other disciples had with Jesus at Caesarea Philippi. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” And Jesus levels his gaze on Peter:
“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matt.16:15-16)
And when many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him, Jesus asked the Twelve, “You do not want to leave too, do you?’ It was Peter who answered , “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 68-69)
And as this memory was ringing in Peter’s ears, “He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight”. An angelic messenger exhorted them, “Men of Galilee, …why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) In other words, we have our orders! Let us get on with it!
Our vows of love mean nothing if we don’t keep His commands. Our orders have not changed since the the Lord gave His last command. In the words of John Piper, “ That God is love impels us to be sure that the Truth gets to all people ; and that God is God impels us to be sure that what gets to all people is the Truth.”
Until the Lord returns , we have our standing orders; “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem , and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the ends of the earth. “ We have the blessed Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in all Truth. The mission continues and we will quit our post only when properly relieved.
Questions to Think About
1 In your current service to God, are you relying on your personality and skills, or are you actively seeking the “Advocate” promised in John 14? What does “relyingon the Spirit” actually look like in your daily routine?
Posted in The Last Command