Lesson outline for June 26, 2025
Commissioned
- What’s the difference between authority and responsibility?
- When you hear or read the word commission, what comes to mind?
Hebrew and Greek Terms / Definitions
- Present yourself = #H3320 “yasab” – to set, stand up; position yourself, take one’s position, stand at attention; / G#3936 “parastemi” stand in the presence of God, stand ready, be at hand for service and #G1799 “enopion” in the presence of, to stand before (same context as Luke 1:19)
- Commission = #H6680 “sava” to give a charge, give command to, appoint, to commission / #G2011 “epitrope” permission, full power,
The green is the author’s notes in the verses below
What does it mean to be commissioned, or to commission?
- Legal definition – formal written authorization to perform acts/duties
- Navy ship – formal process marking acceptance of, completed testing, passed sea-trials and adjustments; ready to perform its mission
- Military Officer commissioning – transitions one from student to leadership
A Retirement and a Change of Command
Num 27:18-20, 22-23 ESV – 18 So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. 20 You shall invest him with some of your authority (splendor/majesty of God), that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey. … 22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, 23 and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the LORD directed through Moses.
Deut 31:2,14, 23 ESV – “2 And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’14 And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. … 23 And the LORD commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you.”
- Moses Retirement – No complaining about stepping into the “Promised Land” – Moses asked God to appoint another leader for the Israelites
- Change of Command – Joshua’s leadership credentials – spent time in God’s presence (Ex 33:7-11), humble, selfless, faithful, integrous, dependable, teachable, brave, decisive, wisdom – there is a guidon change
- Moses laid his hands, but God commissioned the one He prepared; are you willing to be prepared?
- God commissions the next shepherd – When you think of shepherd, what comes to mind? Joshua was Isreal’s next shepherd – “going out and coming in” – shepherds would go out and com in with their sheep – into the sheepfold
- What was Joshua’s assignment as he led the Israelites across the Jordan River? Lead the Israelites in taking the Promised Land – God gave you a promised land for you and your generations
- The promised land is taken day-by-day, year after year, decade after decade – through valleys and over mountains, through all seasons of life
- Joshua’s Commission / Inauguration was public, why?
- Moses was not Joshua’s biological father, but Moses fathered, mentored, taught Joshua; many of us haven’t had and don’t have a biological father, or our fathers did not develop us spiritually – it’s not an excuse for not seeking a spiritual father to mentor you
The “Great Commission” Without the word Commission
Matt 28:18-20 ESV – 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
End of age – #G165 “aion” age end of time, until this earth passes away, eternity, the new earth, Christ’s return.
Mark 16:14-18 ESV – 14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation (#G2937 “ktisis” creature, creation, building, ordinance, mankind – context is mankind, see Col 1:23 also). 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
- Jesus’ expectation of us and His disciples we read about in God’s word was not perfection; but, that we love, obey, walk in faith and abide in Him. “you can’t steer a parked car”
- How did the leaders in the Bible get their commission and what prepared them?
- Notice the word commission is not in the text above, but the command GO is clear
- Jesus commanded what He knew they (we) could / can do through Him
- If it is your vision – it may be too SMALL. What is God’s vision for you?
Final Thoughts – In military speak “Attention to Orders”
- Jesus commanded us to GO and commissioned us to lead – so let’s start leading ourselves, and those put in our charge – what we have charge of in the natural, we have authority of in the spiritual
- DEVELOP spiritual disciplines – read God’s word daily – make time, put it on your calendar, pray, meet with other men, go to a Bible believing church
- Get a Christian mentor, coach – My blog article gives you characteristics in a spiritual mentor and battle buddy – Press here
- Get a spiritual battle-buddy, someone to hold you accountable and walk with you – check your heart and motivations for not having a battle- buddy and spiritual mentor
- Step out in faith and set yourself apart from the world – remember the god of this world is Satan (2 Cor 4:4), and you can’t serve both Jesus and Satan – that is being double minded and James tells us a double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8)
- If your married, pray with your wife. Pray over your wife and family, instruct them, lead them – You are leading your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, etc – those yet to be born
God sees you in your generations…, and so does the enemy. What you do “now” with your commission is setting the pattern of your future generations
