{"id":12669,"date":"2013-06-24T01:00:06","date_gmt":"2013-06-24T05:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=12669"},"modified":"2013-06-23T21:19:46","modified_gmt":"2013-06-24T01:19:46","slug":"girls-with-swords-chapter-14-cross-carry-pgs-209-210","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/06\/24\/girls-with-swords-chapter-14-cross-carry-pgs-209-210\/","title":{"rendered":"Girls With Swords: Chapter 14 \u2013 \u201cCross Carry\u201d (pgs 209-210)"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we come to the final section of our book, we find a new word:\u00a0 COMMISSIONED<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 I looked it up for us so we would know what we were talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

COMMISSIONED<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty.<\/li>\n
  • \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A group of people officially authorized to\u00a0perform certain duties or functions.<\/li>\n
  • \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In Active Service.<\/li>\n
  • \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Authority to undertake or perform certain duties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    There are a couple of very powerful words hidden in the definition of this word.\u00a0 In the first<\/b> point, someone has the authority<\/span> to grant certain powers or authority<\/span> to another person to enable them to carry out a task or duty.\u00a0 In the second<\/b> point, there are a group of people who have been assigned this authorization<\/span> \u2013 they have been \u2018commissioned.<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0 In the fourth<\/b> point, being commissioned<\/span> means someone has the authority<\/span> to undertake or perform assigned duties.<\/p>\n

    BUT, <\/i><\/b>in the third<\/strong> point<\/i>, someone who is commissioned<\/span> is IN ACTIVE SERVICE<\/strong>.\u00a0 Someone is not authorized to be in passive service, or absent service, or \u2018when you want to\u2019 service.\u00a0 If you are commissioned, you are in ACTIVE<\/strong> service.<\/p>\n

    Throughout our study of \u201cGirls With Swords<\/em>\u201d we have learned that we are CHOSEN<\/strong>.\u00a0 We have been EQUIPPED<\/strong> and ARMED<\/strong>.\u00a0 In this final week we are learning what it means to be COMMISSIONED<\/span> by our Commander to enter Active Service.\u00a0 Look with me at the words of Jesus as He prepares the remaining eleven disciples for ACTIVE SERVICE in His Kingdom.<\/p>\n

    JESUS Gives The Great COMMISSION<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Jesus came and told his disciples, \u201cI have been given all authority<\/b> in heaven and on earth.\u00a0 Therefore, go<\/i> and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing<\/i> them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Teach<\/i> these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.\u00a0 And be sure of this:\u00a0 I am with you always, even to the end of the age.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    Matthew 28:18-20<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Did you notice the action words in this passage?\u00a0 Go, Baptize and<\/span> Teach<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 As commissioned disciples of Jesus, we have a JOB.<\/strong>\u00a0 Jesus did not give us a job without teaching us how to carry out that job.\u00a0 Look back at Matthew 16:24, \u201c<\/span>Then Jesus told his disciples, \u201c<\/span>If anyone would come<\/em> after me, let him deny<\/em> himself and take<\/em> up his cross and follow<\/em> me.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span> Again\u2026more action words: Come, Deny, Take<\/strong> and<\/span> Follow<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

    Jesus says \u201canyone<\/em>\u201d and that includes you and me.\u00a0 We have the ability to accept His invitation to follow Him, to obey Him, to deny ourselves, and take up our cross.\u00a0 Lisa says we each have a different cross because we are different people.\u00a0 We each walk our own journey and need His help carrying our cross.<\/p>\n

    For us to be able to wear the King\u2019s crown one day, we must learn to carry the cross.\u00a0 Lisa says something pretty profound:<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe wear the crown, and we carry the cross.\u00a0 Jesus bore our cross so we could wear his crown.\u00a0 He became like us.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it time we became like him?\u201d <\/strong><\/em>(page 210)<\/p>\n

    So, what is OUR cross?\u00a0 It is our part of the Kingdom.\u00a0 We each have a job to do.\u00a0 We are called into ACTIVE SERVICE<\/strong> because Jesus has the Authority<\/span> to Commission<\/span> us.\u00a0 Jesus invites us to join Him in His work.\u00a0 He has given us a job.\u00a0 Will you participate actively?\u00a0 Are you passive?\u00a0 Are you still sitting on the bench waiting and watching other people carrying THEIR cross?<\/p>\n

    When I have a really big job to do, it bothers me to no end to see my kids sitting on the couch watching TV or painting their nails.\u00a0 We all have a part to play in the proper function of our household.\u00a0 If I am the only one working, I begin to have a bad attitude.\u00a0 I imagine Jesus has felt the same way about us, don\u2019t you?<\/p>\n

    Jesus has offered us the opportunity to come alongside Him and serve.\u00a0 He has commissioned<\/span> us Into Active Service<\/strong>.\u00a0 We have a job that only we can do.\u00a0 If you are sitting on the sidelines, someone else is doing your part and getting your blessing.\u00a0 Your cross is not a \u2018memorial\u2019 or a symbol.\u00a0 It is your active service to the KING.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Take up your cross, do your job, and be honored to lay your crown down at the feet of Jesus.\u00a0 Let\u2019s begin this last week together worshipping the King.\u00a0 You have been chosen, equipped, trained, and commissioned<\/span>.\u00a0 Let\u2019s make our Commander proud.<\/p>\n