WHY WE SEND AND WHY WE GO - Three Things to Re-Learn about God and His Gospel

I can’t develop any of these points. But even this fly-over should reveal the passion of God for the mission of the redeemed:

1) WE SEND AND WE GO BECAUSE THAT’S WHY GOD SAVED US IN THE FIRST PLACE

Some of Jesus’ last words on earth were these - John 20:21 - "Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."

Notice that Jesus is laying the Father’s heart bare in these words. The sending assignment is not done with the sent Son. The Father’s whole aim in redemption is to instill His Son’s faithfulness and passion in millions of the redeemed by the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s why Jesus wasn’t kidding when He said “Follow me,” or, “I will make you fishers of men.”

I think about this whenever we have corporate worship time. If all our worship songs about being like Jesus mean anything at all, they mean being shaped by His sending heart. Taking on the life of Jesus means you live either to send like the Father or go like the Son. There is no third option of being saved by Jesus and living on your own terms. Real love for Jesus doesn’t work that way.

2) WE SEND AND WE GO BECAUSE THE GOSPEL HAS THE POWER TO SAVE ALL THE UNREACHED

Let’s make it clear all over again. We never have to fear the gospel message won’t work. Paul’s words on this point are as bold and clear as have ever been penned - Romans 1:16 - “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Don’t skip over the fact that Paul defines the Gospel as filled up with the concentrated, almighty power of God. The parting of the Red Sea and all the plagues of Egypt were child’s play compared to what God does in making the spiritually dead live and the spiritually blind see. Our sending and our going will prove we either believe that or we don’t.

3) WE SEND AND WE GO BECAUSE WHEN WE RECEIVED THE GOSPEL IT SAVED US FROM LIVING FOR OURSELVES

If we are saved at all, this is our new DNA - 2 Corinthians 5:15 - "....and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

This is what the Gospel does - can’t help but do - when it’s been embraced in understanding faith. There is nothing static about its effect on my affections. The gospel comes like electricity comes. This is the power of the gospel Paul described. It does more than save me from hell. It makes me sick of living for myself.
The heart’s treasure shifts from self gratification to the mission of Jesus. There’s no other New Testament way to describe the effect of conversion on our affections. This is a manifest change - an obvious change - a visible change - an unavoidable change.

Test the transformation of your deepest affections where you’re sitting right now. This simple rhyme will help make a deep truth simple and rememberable. Learn it with me:

“My greatest treasure is made clear 
By what brings me most pleasure here.”

And everyone said....