Fall 1991

Come Lord that we may be sent
Wade E Taylor

"Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh,
that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of
Israel out of Egypt" Exodus 3:10.

The Lord prefaces our "being sent" with the directive word 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 an established and on-going relationship with the Lord.

"And he goeth up into a mountain, and called unto Him
whom he would; and they came unto 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. 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 with Him and was manifested before them in Glory, His Father spoke and confirmed the relationship He had with His Son. "This is my beloved Son, INWHOM I AM WELL PLEASED; hear ye Him" Matt 17:5. Jesus has first pleased His Father; now He is ready to come down from the mountain and fulfill His ministry upon the cross.

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 unto Joseph, "Do not thy brethren feed
the flock in Schechem? COME, and I will send thee unto
them. And he said to him, Here am I" Gen 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 ye 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 Grace, Love, Anointing, 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 among the Lord's people. Many become so busy doing for the Lord, that they do not have enough time to develop a quality relationship with Him. As a result, these loose the satisfaction and the reward of ministering with the Lord.

This is beautifully pictured in the Song of Solomon, where the Lord expresses His desire to go forth into the places of ministry with His beloved, while enjoying an intimate relationship with her.

"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 thee my loves"
Song of Solomon 7:10-12.

Before the fall, the Lord walked with Adam in "the cool of the evening." When Adam fell, he broke that relationship and hid from the presence of the Lord. The very first thing that 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, but intensely desired the place of fellowship that He once had with him.

We should not be found in the position where the Lord has to "look for us" in our busy schedule. It is extremely important that we set apart time to be in His presence and then respond to His desire for our fellowship. Let this principle, "Come" change our daily pattern of activity. As we become quiet enough to listen, He will be heard saying to us, "Where are you?".

He is yet saying "come" that He might have a ministry whom He can "send".

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

Are you ready to accept, and act upon this principle?