Come that We Might be Sent
Wade E Taylor

 

“Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”  Exodus 3:10

 

The Lord carefully prefaces our “being sent” with the beckoning words that first, we are to “come to Him.”  This confirms a spiritual principle: All authentic and anointed ministry must be founded upon, and function out from a right relationship with the Lord.

 

“And He goes up into a mountain, and called to Him whom He would; and they came to him. And He ordained twelve that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.”  Mark 3:13-15

 

Here, to be “called and ordained” is to be set apart to the Lord Himself – “that they should be with Him.”  If we are faithful in our part, which is being with Him, then, He will be faithful in His part, which is sending us forth to preach, and to have power.  Ministry that is born out of this principle will have lasting results.

 

When Jesus took Peter, James, and John up into the Mount of Transfiguration and was manifested in visible Glory, His Father spoke and confirmed His relationship with the Son.

 

“...this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you Him.”  Matthew 17:5

 

Of primary importance was the relationship between God and Jesus, and His ministry flowed out from this relationship.

 

Another substantiation of this principle is expressed in the life of Joseph.  In this illustration, the expressions are between father and son.  In this human relationship is seen the devotion and obedience of the son to his father.

 

“And Israel said to Joseph, Do not your brethren feed the flock in Schechem? Come, and I will send you to them. And he said to him, Here am I.”  Genesis 37:13

 

This principle is again expressed by the Lord as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, and called Simon and Andrew.  He said to them:

 

“…Come you after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”  Mark 1:17

 

Our ministry is to be the result of time spent in intimate fellowship with the Lord.  Then, as the Lord works the qualifying anointing, grace, love, and power into our lives, He will faithfully send us forth into a place of ministry.

 

The clarity of this principle cannot be over-emphasized.  Many become so busy “doing” for the Lord, that they do not spend enough time in developing a quality relationship with Him.  Then, they lose the satisfaction and reward of “ministering with” the Lord.

 

This is beautifully pictured in the Song of Solomon, where the Lord expresses His desire to go into the places of ministry with His beloved, while enjoying an intimate relationship with her.  Once we have tasted ministering with the Lord - “let us,” we will never be satisfied with less.

 

“Come, My beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.  Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give you My loves.”  Song of Solomon 7:11-12

 

Before the fall, the Lord walked with Adam in “the cool of the evening.”  When Adam fell, he broke this relationship, and hid from the presence of the Lord.  The first thing the Lord did was to look for Adam.  He called out to Adam and said, “Where are you?”

 

The Lord certainly knew “where” Adam was hiding, but intensely desired the place of fellowship that He once had with him.  We should never be found in the position where the Lord has to “look for us.”

 

“I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.”  Proverbs 8:17

 

To seek the Lord “early” means that we respond quickly.  Adam hid, rather than admit his transgression and repent.  May we be careful to not make this mistake, and if necessary, repent and then respond to the desire of the Lord for our fellowship.

 

Let this word, “Come” change your daily pattern of activity.  As we become quiet enough to listen, Jesus will be heard saying to us, “come,” that He might have a ministry to “send.”

 

Are you ready to accept this principle?

 

“If we build the Lord a house of devotion, He will build us a house of ministry.”