The Commissioning
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20 KJV
The eleven stood before him in Galilee on the same mountain where He had appointed them. Some worshiped Him and some doubted Him. He however spoke to all of them saying the same thing. In summation they were challenged to action in the following words: Go, Teach All, Baptize them, Teach them.
After submitting His will through this challenge He promised them He would be with them until the end of the age.
Afterwards He explained that all things that were foretold about Him must take place that all may be fulfilled. He opened up the scriptures to all of them that they may understand who He was and why these things must happen.
Once He told them He ascended into heaven. They gave glory to God, and the angel said He will come again in this manner.
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem[i] until you are endued with power from on high.50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and[j] blessing God. Amen.[k]
Luke 24:49-53 KJV
To Waiting and Praying
Jesus had told them to wait. To wait for the promised Holy Spirit. Therefore they had an expectation. A hope that another was coming as Jesus had promised. How was He left, but would be with them until the end of the age? As they were all in one accord waiting and praying suddenly a mighty rushing wind came upon them and cloven tongues of fire. They erupted in tongues. Tongues not their own. Understandable by others. They were filled to the measure with the Spirit of God. Peter gave a sermon with revelation of Christ being seated on the throne in heavenly places.
Where are you at on your journey with Christ? What are you doing while you are waiting for the promise?
As mentioned in the beginning we must remember our first works. How we believed so simply, and were so fully prepared to follow from right where we were with expectation. We should know we have the victory of the one seated in heavenly places, and we are fighting from a place of love and victory through persecution, tribulation, trial, and ministerial duty.
However, as we follow Him today we can forget that victory, and His great love and acceptance of us as we sympathize with what the disciples of Christ experienced in different ways in our lives depending on where we are in our relationship with Jesus. We need to be reminded that before one of us sinned Jesus died for all of them. Are you stuck somewhere between the call to follow and the cross? Maybe it is time to ask ourselves a question about where we are to follow Him to next.
Do you believe God, or do you just believe in God? Are we following Him not just for the fellowship with others, the miraculous, the ministry in which the demons are subject unto us, avoiding the pressing places, confusion, doubt, and death then stopping at the cross with why isn’t God who I thought He was on our minds?
To Victory!
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6 NIV
Jesus never said stop following Me. Where is He now? Where do we follow Him to? I’ll give you a hint. He is seated in heavenly places. Breath in the heavenly air. Operate from Victory. Don’t get stuck at the cross. Jesus isn’t there. He reigns in victory and calls us to join him as joint heirs. Praise His holy name!
Another Samaritan Woman 