“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” — Mark 16:15, 16.
"Before our Lord gave his disciples this commission, he addressed them in tones of serious rebuke. You will observe that, appearing unto the eleven as they saint meat, “he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardiness of heart because, they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.” So honorable an estimation did he set upon testimony; so marked a censure did he pronounce upon those who neglected it. The reprimand they received on such an occasion may well serve as a caution to us for unbelief unfits the Christian for service. It is in proportion to our personal faith in the gospel that we become competent witnesses for the teaching of it to others. Each one of us who would get credit for sincerity, must say with David, “I believed, therefore have I spoken,” or else a want of faith of ourselves will effectually deprive our speech of all its power over our fellow men. There can be little doubt that one reason why Christianity is not so aggressive now as it once was, and exerts not everywhere the influence it had in apostolic times, is the feebleness of our faith in Christ as compared with the full assurance of faith exercised by the men of those days. In vain ye hide a timid heart behind a modest face, when the attitude we should show, and the living force that should constrain us is a bold reliance upon the power of the Holy Ghost, and a deep conviction of the might of the truth which we are taught to deliver. Brethren, if there is to be a revival of religion it must begin at home. Our own souls must first of all be filled with holy faith and burning enthusiasm, and then shall we be strong to do exploits and to win provinces for the scepter of King Jesus. Having thus made a note upon the context, I want you to refer to a parallel passage in Matthew. There we learn that in delivering this commision our Lord assigned a remarkable reason for it, and one that intimately concerned himself. “All power,” he said, “is given unto ME in heaven and in earth, go YE therefore and teach all nations.” These words were adapted to strengthen the faith of his disciples, of whom it had been just observed that “some doubted.” Do you not see the point of this announcement? Jesus of Nazareth, being raised from the dead, tells his apostles that he is now invested with universal supremacy as the Son of man. Therefore he issues a decree of grace, calling on all people of every clime and kindred, to believe the gospel with a promise of personal salvation to each and every one that believes. With such authority is this mandate clothed, and so’ imperative the duty of all men everywhere to repent, that they who do not believe are threatened with a certain penalty of damnation. This royal ordinance he will have published throughout the whole world; but he enjoins it on all the messengers that those who bear the tidings should be thoroughly impressed with the sovereignty of him that sends them. Let the words then ring in your ears, “Go ye therefore.” They sound like the music of that glad acclaim which hails the Redeemer installed with power, holding the insignia of power in his possession, exercising the full rights of legitimate power, and entrusting his disciples with a commission founded on that power, “Go ye into all the world.”
C.H.Spurgeon- "Preach,Preach, Preach Everywhere"
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