So Send I You

(#1053, Imperial, 1964, 1967)

Read John 17:18; 20:21.

God is looking for men and women He can send.  The issue is not going but being sent.  This makes submission necessary, and preparation as we saw in the story of Isaiah.  The whole of Christian service is based on being sent.  This takes it out of our hands and puts it in God's hands.  It is God's service and His will we are doing.

Therefore only God can send!  Christ was sent (John 17:3,8, 21,23).  Paul was sent (Acts 13:3-4).  As Christ was sent so we are sent and we will go exactly as Christ did.  Christ came with a commitment.  He knew what He was going to do: His purpose, manner and conditions.

We are sent for the same purpose.

Christ's purpose was "to glorify God".  That is the chief end of man.  How did Christ glorify God?  By finishing the work God gave Him to do.  Paul also said, "I have finished my course."  Christ announced "It is finished."  We glorify God by finishing what God gives us to do.  Christ did this because "I do always those things that please Him" (John 8:29).  So by complete and utter obedience Christ came to do the Father's will.  We glorify God in the measure in which we obey Him.

We are sent in the same manner.

Christ became nothing (Phil. 2:5-8).  He was "set at naught" (Mark 9:12). 

ƒ      Christ could do nothing on his own, John 5:19,30.

ƒ      Christ's doctrine was not His own, John 17:16.

ƒ      Christ spoke nothing of Himself, John 8:28.

ƒ      The Father was doing the work, John 14:10.

So we do all things through Christ (Phil. 4:13).  Christ was the channel through which the Father worked.

We are sent under the same conditions.

Christ lived by the Father (John 6:57).  So we live by means of Christ (Gal. 2:20).

God is looking for men and women He can send.