The Great Commission: The Forgotten Mandate That’s Shaping Your Life More Than You Realize

 Do you know the mission Jesus left His followers?

Recent studies revealed that many Christians can’t even explain what the Great Commission is.


(Only 17% of Christians know what it is and it's meaning)

If that’s true, what does it say about our priorities as believers?
More importantly, what does it reveal about our obedience to Jesus Himself?

Here it is, the Great Commission of Jesus to His disciples:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:18-20

The Great Commission was a command unto something that God Himself would supply every need for.

It was a sending—an invitation to continue the mission of Jesus Himself.

In John 17, Jesus prayed to the Father:

“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

This final mandate wasn’t given to the qualified, but to the surrendered—those who had said yes to the One who died for them, rose in power, and fulfilled God’s promise to reconcile humanity back to Himself.

He promised to never leave them.
He promised to fill them with resurrection power to be His witnesses.

But here’s the question for us today:

Have we embraced the power of God to transform us and testify to His glory?

Or have we taken on the name of Christ without the mandate of Christ?

If we miss the Great Commission, we’re missing the very mission of why we’re here.

Jesus didn’t call us to simply:

• Attend services.
• Be nice people.
• Wait for heaven.

He empowered us to go, make disciples, and reveal His Kingdom to the world.
This isn’t a burden—it’s the most freeing, fulfilling life you could ever live.

Because here’s the truth:

You were made for this.

This isn’t about adding another obligation.
It’s about discovering the life Jesus always intended for you:

A life where His Spirit moves through you to bring freedom to the bound, hope to the hopeless, and love to the lost.

This is your inheritance as a son or daughter of God.

But if we don’t know the Great Commission...
how can we live it?

Let’s dive into what Jesus actually said—and why it changes everything for you today.

If we’re honest...

Many of us have settled for something far less than what Jesus intended.
We’ve embraced routines, programs, and surface-level faith...
while the heartbeat of Jesus’ mission—the Great Commission—has been neglected.

But what if the Great Commission isn’t just a command?

What if it’s an invitation into the most profound adventure with God?

Look at the early church.

The book of Acts shows believers who didn’t just believe—they lived out their faith with boldness, risking everything to make Jesus known.

Why?
Because they understood the weight of Jesus’ words.

Peter, who once denied Jesus, stood before thousands after receiving the Holy Spirit, declaring the gospel with power (Acts 2:14-41).
Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8).
Paul, once a persecutor of the church, traveled the known world to make disciples, enduring beatings, imprisonment, and shipwrecks because the mission was worth everything (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

This wasn’t human effort.
This was grace-empowered obedience.

The early disciples understood that the Great Commission wasn’t optional—
it was the core of their new identity in Christ.

What about us?

Have we forgotten that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us?

The same Spirit that empowered the first disciples is available to us today.

We don’t have to rely on our strength, wisdom, or courage.
Jesus promised:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

This is the essence of the Great Commission:

Not just going, but going in His power.
Not just making converts, but making disciples who walk in intimacy with God and teach others to do the same.

The early church fathers understood this urgency.

Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John, didn’t shrink back from the call even when facing death.
Ignatius of Antioch encouraged believers to remain steadfast in spreading the gospel despite persecution.

For them, following Jesus meant living out the Great Commission daily—no matter the cost.

So... what’s holding us back?

Is it fear?
Jesus promised He would be with us.

Is it inadequacy?
He has given us His Spirit.

Is it distraction?
He is calling us back to our first love.

The Great Commission isn’t just for pastors, missionaries, or “super-Christians.”

It’s for every believer—you, me, all of us.

Imagine what could happen if we truly embraced it.

• Homes would become places of worship.
• Workplaces would become mission fields.
• Cities would be transformed by the love and power of Jesus.

And we would experience the joy of living fully alive in Him.

Today, Jesus is still saying,

“Follow Me.”

Not to a life of comfort, but to a life of purpose.

Not to an easy path, but to an empowered one.
 

Will we answer the call?

Because the Great Commission isn’t just His mission—
it’s ours.

Takeaways:

1. The Great Commission is more than a command—it’s an invitation into the heart of Jesus’ mission to the world. It’s about making disciples, revealing His Kingdom, and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives.

2. The mission isn’t just for pastors or missionaries—it’s for every believer. The call to go, make disciples, and live as witnesses is for all who follow Jesus.

3. True discipleship involves surrender—embracing the power of God, being empowered by the Holy Spirit, and living out the mission with boldness and obedience.

4. The early church lived with urgency—they understood that the Great Commission was their identity and purpose. They took risks, faced persecution, and lived empowered lives for Jesus.

5. The same Spirit that empowered the early church is available to us today—we are not called to rely on our own strength but to go in His power, bringing freedom, hope, and transformation to the world.

How to Respond:

1. Embrace the Great Commission: Recognize that Jesus didn’t just leave us a set of instructions; He invited us to join in His mission to make disciples of all nations.

2. Live as a witness: Understand that your life is meant to be a reflection of the power and love of Jesus. Whether at home, work, or in your community, embrace your calling to be His witness.

3. Rely on the Holy Spirit: Know that you don’t have to do this in your own strength. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit and empower you to fulfill His mission in the world.

4. Prioritize discipleship: Don’t settle for surface-level faith. Invest in others, teach them to obey all that Jesus commanded, and live out the Great Commission every day.

5. Overcome fear and distractions: Step out of comfort zones, let go of distractions, and take on the mantle of the Great Commission. Trust that Jesus is with you every step of the way.

Scriptures to Reflect On:

1. Matthew 28:18-20 – The Great Commission: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2. John 17:18 – Jesus' sending prayer: “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

3. Acts 1:8 – Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses...”

4. Luke 9:23 – The call to discipleship: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

5. 2 Corinthians 5:20 – We are ambassadors for Christ: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

6. Romans 10:14-15 – The urgency of spreading the Gospel: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?”

7. Acts 2:14-41 – Peter’s bold preaching after receiving the Holy Spirit. (Shows the transformation of believers who embraced the Great Commission).