699 million

Consider this:

There are 4.5 billion non-Christians in the world. Of those, 1.9 billion are unevangelized. In other words, they have no clue who Jesus is.

In the world, those followers of Jesus who know and attempt to obey his commission number about 699 million.

Those figures may challenge you or overwhelm you. After all, 1.9 billion people live in places that haven’t yet seen a missionary or heard a biblical text. And, of the 699 million Christians defined as “Great Commission Christians,” many are unable to go to an obscure place to talk about Jesus and his work.

But consider this:

After his resurrection, Jesus met 11 men on a mountain in Galilee. Some worshiped but some doubted.

Than came the kicker. Jesus sent these 11 men, even the doubters, to the world. They didn’t have 699 million other believers to help. They were sent:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations
Matt 28:19

How did 11 men make a difference in the world? That charge may have overwhelmed them like 1.9 billion overwhelms us.

But that’s looking at the wrong resources. Today, we look at the world and say, “that’s too big for me.”

But here’s what we need to learn. These 11 men, even the doubters, did change the world. How? Jesus went with them, just as he promised.

At Pentecost, the Spirit of God chose to live within those who follow Jesus. And look what they did.

When we look at those who have not yet heard about Jesus, the numbers can look impossible. But we’re looking at our resources, not God’s.

If 11 men could impact the world by trusting God’s resources, think what 699 million could do.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

hen Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

herefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

nd surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matt 28:16-20