My previous blog titled 'Sanctuary, Service, Sanctified' was on God's design for mankind - that he should be the heir of all his creation working in constant communion and collaboration with himself. A communion our Lord Jesus Christ exemplified throughout his three-year mission on earth: ''Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.'' John 5:19
To further build on the requirement by YHWH for a sanctified sanctuary and service, the consciousness of being 'SENT' is essential to our delivery.
There are different ways to make a delivery. One can deliver with great customer service - i.e. courteously, with a smile for example - or without. With novelty or just straight to the point, the most important thing is that the delivery is made.
The apostle Paul puts it succinctly:
''For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.'' 1 Corinthians 9:16-17
God does not appoint people to do their own thing. He sends people to do his things.
The word 'sent' is often overlooked when we read the scriptures but it is one of the most important parts of any job God assignment. Are you sent? Are you conscious of being sent?
Moses was sent. It was direct and obvious. ''So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” - Exodus 3:10
Joseph was sent but in not such a direct way. However because he was tuned to God as a devoted 'sanctuary' and in 'service', he could perceive that he was not acting out an accidental role based on chance occurrences, but that he was in fact:- SENT.
''But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.'''' Genesis 45:7-8
A sent man is backed up with the authority of the one who sends him. He might face many obstacles but as long as he knows he is not on a mission of his ordering, he perseveres because the most important part is that he does what he is sent to do and delivers what he is sent to deliver.
A 'sent' man is protected by the insurance of the one who sends him. He is protected not from the job, but in the Job. He is protected to fulfil the assignment. He must keep going till he delivers the job.
Are we conscious of the fact that we are sent?
Are we clear as to what exactly we are sent to do or deliver?
Are we loyal to that which we are sent?
Are we operating with the confidence of being sent?
Jesus the head of the Church said to his followers after his resurrection:
''Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.'' John 20:21-22
It is the Lord Jesus himself who sends us.
The Apostle Paul boldly proclaims in Galatians 1:1: ''Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—''. It is this consciousness that drove his loyalty to his message - a commitment to delivering it without compromise. Our delivery is not ours and should never be ours. We deliver God's words and goods and Christ's purchases for mankind.
''Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.'' 2 Corinthians 2:17
I pray that we would live in the awareness that they lived in such that our ministry and calling is not of ourselves nor men - but of God. Christ sent us. To him, we owe loyalty and honest delivery.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.'' Matthew 24:45-46
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