Sent not formed! In Acts 13 the elders had a responsibility to pray fast and minister the Lord, before they know who to send. This is an apostolic warning. Be careful who and when you send. Premature sending is dangerous.

Apart from Me, Jesus said, you can do nothing. So if this person is not mostly in Him, they are not ready to be sent. Formation of the Life of Christ comes before, calling or sending. The challenge of the elders is to pray fast and minister before the Lord. Then, we are shown who to send in the power and impartation of the Lord. It is the Holy Spirit who sends, and our job is to be tuned in to when and how and whom He is sending. That’s the apostolic warning and example in this passage. Don’t send too soon. Formation of the life of Christ precedes calling in ministry. God knows when someone is formed enough to be sent. All too many have been sent too soon, and not only get destroyed, but are unfruitful in ministry. In addition they mis-represent Christ. Remember what Ghandi said: “I’d become a christian, if I ever saw one.” I have seen many mature christians who were sent at God’s time, and are beautiful cedars in the land. Unfortunately, many are sent too soon, and become living examples of what happens when we are not yet formed in Christ.