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In Isaiah 6:8-9, the Lord asks, “Who Here Am I, Send Me!” By Junior Tate November 11, 2025 When God spoke to Isaiah in the temple, the prophet heard one of the greatest questions ever asked in Scripture:“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah 6:8 (KJV)Isaiah responded with one of the greatest answers a believer can give:“Here am I; send me.” This moment captures the heart of true discipleship—complete surrender to the will of God. Isaiah wasn’t perfect. He even confessed, “I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). But after God cleansed him, he became willing. Availability, not ability is what God looks for. Centuries later, Jesus echoed this same divine call in the New Testament when He gave the Great Commission, the final command to all believers. Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV):“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” The command of Jesus is not optional. It is the heartbeat of the Christian life. Salvation is not the ending, it is the beginning of a life of discipleship. The Call to Build Christ’s Kingdom When a soul is saved, the Holy Spirit ignites a desire to serve Christ and grow His Kingdom. This desire is spiritual, supernatural, and God-given. Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) says:“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We are saved to serve, not simply to sit. Jesus said: John 15:8 (KJV):“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” A fruitless Christian is not walking in discipleship. True discipleship always produces action, growth, compassion, and a burning desire to reach the lost. Three Essential Tools for Every Disciple God calls us to go, but He also equips us first. Before God sends you out, He builds you up. The Word of God — The Foundation of Discipleship God’s Word renews our mind, strengthens our faith, and guides our steps. Romans 12:2 (KJV):“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Psalm 119:105 (KJV):“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV):“All scripture is given by inspiration of God… that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Scripture is our weapon, our food, our counselor, our map, and our anchor.Jesus Himself used Scripture when tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1–11).He prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) A believer who does not study cannot grow. A believer who grows becomes a disciple. Prayer — Our Direct Communication With God Prayer is the spiritual heartbeat of the disciple. Through prayer: We hear God’s voice We receive direction We intercede for the lost We gain spiritual strength and courage Jeremiah 29:12-13 (KJV):“Then shall ye call upon me… And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” James 5:16 (KJV):“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Matthew 7:7 (KJV):“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Prayer is where battles are won before they are ever fought. Fasting — Power, Clarity, and Spiritual Breakthrough Fasting humbles the flesh and strengthens the spirit. Ezra 8:23 (KJV):“So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.” Matthew 17:21 (KJV):“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Fasting: Sharpens spiritual sensitivity Dies to the flesh Breaks strongholds Opens the heart to God’s voice Prepares us for ministry Isaiah described God’s chosen fast: Isaiah 58:6 (KJV):“To loose the bands of wickedness… to break every yoke?” Fasting releases spiritual power for the work God calls us to do. Spiritual Gifts for Kingdom Service Every believer has at least one spiritual gift. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (KJV):“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit… to every man is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal.” These gifts are not optional, they are necessary for building the Kingdom. Teaching (Romans 12:7) Encouraging (Romans 12:8) Serving (Romans 12:7) Giving (Romans 12:8) Mercy (Romans 12:8) Evangelism (Ephesians 4:11) Intercession (1 Timothy 2:1) God did not equip us to hide our gifts but to use them for His glory. Where Do We Begin Our Mission? Jesus gave the blueprint for the Christian mission: Acts 1:8 (KJV):“Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” This shows that the mission starts small, but grows wide. Start at Home — Jerusalem Your home is your first ministry. Proverbs 22:6 (KJV):“Train up a child in the way he should go…” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (KJV):“Teach them diligently unto thy children…” Your family should see your testimony firsthand: Pray together Read Scripture together Live Christ before them daily A ministry that does not begin at home is incomplete. Serve in the Local Church — Judea The local church is God’s training ground. Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV):“For the perfecting of the saints… for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Hebrews 10:25 (KJV):“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” There we grow, serve, encourage, and mature. Build Small Groups — Fellowship and Discipleship The early church thrived in small groups. Acts 2:46-47 (KJV):“Breaking bread from house to house… praising God… and the Lord added to the church daily.” Small groups: Strengthen believers Encourage fellowship Multiply disciples Promote accountability Allow for deeper teaching God often uses small groups to spark revival. Go Across Town — Samaria and the Community Witness in your: Workplace School Neighborhood Stores Daily routines Colossians 4:5 (KJV):“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without…” Mark 16:15 (KJV):“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Every place your feet walk is a mission field. Witness Wherever God Calls — The Uttermost Parts When God prompts your … Read more

This lesson lays a biblical foundation on the doctrine of Hell. Hell is not a pleasant topic, but Scripture presents it as a literal place of torment and—most soberly—as separation from the presence of God. Revelation speaks of two deaths, and understanding these requires us to understand Hell’s abodes and the Lake of Fire. Before we go further, hear the heart of God: He desires mercy. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, KJV). The Great Commission flows from this heart: that the lost would be saved through Jesus Christ. Scripture does not give an exact map location, but it repeatedly describes Hell as “beneath,” or in “the lower parts of the earth,” even “the heart of the earth.” What does science say about the earth’s interior heat? While we can’t drill to the center, scientists estimate interior temperatures using earthquake waves and high‑pressure lab tests on iron. As a simple reference: • Outer core: about 7,000–8,500°F (≈3,900–4,700°C)• Inner core (center): about 9,000–12,000°F (≈5,000–6,700°C) These numbers are estimates, but all methods agree the deep earth is unimaginably hot. Regardless of where Hell is physically located, Scripture warns it is a real place of conscious torment—not a place any of us would ever want to be. With that sober truth in mind, notice how the Bible speaks about it by name: The Bible uses several terms: Hell (English), Sheol (Hebrew, OT), and Hades (Greek, NT). These refer to the abode of the dead—the place of torment for the lost. • Isaiah 14:9 — “Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming…”• Ephesians 4:8–10 — Christ “also descended first into the lower parts of the earth.”• Matthew 12:40 — “…so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Through Jesus Christ alone. We must be born again (John 3). This means believing that Jesus is the Son of God; that He died on the cross for our sins and rose again the third day; and surrendering our lives to Him. Salvation is not mere words—it is the Spirit’s drawing, true repentance, and a new life in Christ. A Christian grows by prayer, studying the Word, fellowship in a Bible-believing church, and obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). For the saved: Scripture speaks of “sleep” for the body (1 Thessalonians 4), but the soul is with the Lord. Paul writes, “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Your last breath here is your first breath there, in the presence of Jesus. For the lost: Jesus’ account of the rich man and Lazarus shows that upon death the lost “lift up [their] eyes in hell, being in torments” (Luke 16:23). The body is buried, but the soul immediately enters torment. Isaiah declares, “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure…” (Isaiah 5:14). Hell “enlarging” contradicts the idea of annihilation. Scripture presents Hell—and ultimately the Lake of Fire—as everlasting. 1) Present Hell (Sheol/Hades) — the current, temporary holding place of the lost. The lost are in conscious torment now, separated from God.2) Lake of Fire — the final, eternal place of judgment following the Great White Throne. This is called “the second death.” The first death (for the lost) is when they die in their sins and their soul descends to Hell. The second death occurs when “death and hell were cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14). At the Great White Throne, all the dead outside of Christ will be raised. Their bodies—wherever their remains lie—will be reconstituted and reunited with their souls from Hell. They will be given a body suited to eternal judgment and will stand before Christ for final sentencing. Key Scriptures (KJV)• Daniel 12:2 — “…some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”• Revelation 14:10–11 — “…tormented with fire and brimstone… and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever…”• Revelation 20:10 — “And the devil… was cast into the lake of fire… and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”• Revelation 20:14–15 — “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death… and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”   Revelation 20:4 speaks of the thrones and “the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus… and which had not worshipped the beast… neither received his mark,” and that “they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” These are the tribulation martyrs who will reign with Christ. The mark of the beast (Revelation 13–14) will be implemented during the Tribulation. Believers in Christ prior to that time (pre-tribulation view) will be raptured. As an observation about our times, national digital ID proposals can be seen as potential foreshadowings or infrastructures that future leaders might use for control. This is not to say such IDs are the mark—only that Scripture’s warnings help us watch and be wise. The prophecy of Revelation is true and will come to pass. Christ is returning. Today is the day of salvation. If the Holy Spirit is drawing you—if you sense conviction—turn to Christ. He conquered death, hell, and the grave. He is mighty to save, and He desires that none should perish. If you are ready to surrender your life to Jesus, pray from your heart:   Prayer of Surrender “Father God, thank You for loving me. Thank You for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins and for raising Him the third day. I believe Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave. I turn from my sin and give my life to You. Make me a new creature. Come into my heart and save me. Lead me in Your will all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” … Read more

The Great Commission: A Divine Command At the heart of the Christian faith lies a divine instruction from Jesus, known as the Great Commission. This pivotal directive, as outlined in Matthew 28:19-20, serves as a roadmap for all believers to follow: This scriptural mandate not only encourages believers to take action but also reassures them that Jesus is with us always, until the very end. It’s a call to reach out and embrace every nation with God’s love and truth. Empowerment through the Holy Spirit The journey of fulfilling the Great Commission does not occur in isolation; it requires empowerment from the Holy Spirit. As expressed in Acts 1:8, believers receive the Holy Spirit’s power to witness: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” This verse illustrates the three phases of evangelism from the early church, inspiring us to continue this mission: Our Ongoing Call as Ambassadors As believers, we are not just recipients of faith, but ambassadors for Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, we are reminded of our role: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” This serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility to live out our faith authentically and to contend for the truth: In-depth Study: The Book of Revelation Understanding our role as ambassadors includes digging deeper into Scripture. One way to do this is by studying the Book of Revelation. Our upcoming study guide by Junior Tate promises to be an invaluable resource, offering a verse-by-verse journey through this profound book. Stay tuned for the release of the study guide and book, and consider signing up to be notified. This resource will deepen your understanding of end-time prophecies and how they relate to the Great Commission. Stay Connected Excited about new studies and sermons? We are too! Engage with our community and stay informed by subscribing to our newsletter. Your involvement is crucial as we unite to fulfill Jesus’ call. Conclusion The Great Commission is not just a historical event—it’s an everlasting mandate that shapes our identities as followers of Christ. By embracing this mission, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and acting as ambassadors, we can impact our world for the Kingdom of God. Let’s commit together to spreading the Gospel and making disciples in our communities and beyond.

What Is the Great Commission? The Great Commission, as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20, is a clarion call for every believer. With these powerful words, Jesus entrusted His followers with a mission: This divine commission provides a clear directive: to make disciples of all nations. By fulfilling these commands, we actively participate in God’s plan to reach the world with the Gospel. Scriptural Foundation Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV): 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. Empowered by the Holy Spirit The Great Commission is not a command we fulfill in our own strength. In Acts 1:8, we are reminded that: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. This promise empowers us to be Christ’s witnesses. The pattern laid out in Acts illustrates how this mission expands: Our Ongoing Call As believers, we are ambassadors for Christ, tasked with a monumental responsibility. Our mission aligns with God’s desire for all to be saved: Scriptural affirmations of our calling include: Until every ear has heard, the Great Commission continues, calling us to be active participants in God’s kingdom. Study the Book of Revelation As part of our commitment to understanding God’s purpose, exploring the final book of the Bible can deepen our insights. Check out Junior Tate’s upcoming Revelation Study: Stay tuned for sample chapters and purchase links!