Notice Jesus' words in Matthew 28: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore." We could reverse the order and put it this way: "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth; therefore, you go." We would be saying the same thing.
In other words, this is what Jesus is telling us: "All power has been given unto Me both in heaven and in earth; therefore, since all power has been given to Me, you go into the earth, teach all nations, and preach the Gospel to every creature."
Jesus is telling us here that all power has been given to Him and that now He is giving it to us so we can go out and be witnesses for Him throughout the whole world. Of course, this power is to be used in our daily affairs, but notice that the main emphasis - the primary reason Jesus is telling us that all this power has been given to us - is to be able to go into all the world.
Yes, this power is there for me to use to meet my daily needs and to overcome Satan in my personal affairs in this life, but you'll notice that the main emphasis is on our going. Jesus is telling us, "I'm giving you this power, this ability, this authority so that you may go!" Isn't that what He means here?
Now you may ask, "But what if I fail?" How could you? Jesus said, "Go, and behold, I am with you always." The Bible tells us, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31). How could you fail if you go? The only failure we've been involved in is being unwilling to go.
If you go and share the Word, you will not fail, regardless of the response you receive, because God's Word will not return to Him void. He has said so. "So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void" (Isa. 55:11).
The only failure that we have experienced is our own failure to take God at His Word and do what He has told us to do.
While we are on this subject, let me say this: Mere willingness on our part is not enough. There are many people who say, "Oh, I'm willing to go, but—I don't know how," or "I'm willing to go, but.... Whatever follows the "but" is one excuse or another for not going.
So we must qualify our statement about willingness. It's not enough just to be willing. We must be willing, and then do it. You see, the Bible says, "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isa. 1:19). It is not enough just to be willing; we must do what we are willing to do.
Excerpt permission granted by Jerry Savelle Ministries International