Controlling the Lord‘s Servant?

Can the Assembly control the Lord’s Servants?

J. H. inquires:

“Whether Barnabas and Saul were sent out on their first missionary journey by the church at Jerusalem or Antioch, and the same order ought not to be observed here?”

They went out from Antioch, but the important thing to note in Acts 13:1-3 is that the going forth of these servants of Christ emanated from the Holy Ghost, The church at Antioch did not choose them for this service; their part was, in obedience to the direction of the Spirit, to put the hands of fellowship upon them and send them forth with their prayers. So that their mission originated with the Holy Ghost and was prosecuted with the hearty fellowship of the as­sembly.

In those days, before things were in the broken condition in which we now see them, the presence of the Holy Ghost was evidenced in a very distinct way—His voice in the assembly was supreme ; now He is largely quenched and hindered by the self-will of men in their plans and organizations. Yet His presence is still here and is a great reality to faith. He is able still to call and direct the servants of the Lord, and all who are in communion with God will gladly accord their fellowship to and prayers for those who are divinely called to serve the Lord. It is not the place of the church to call and command, but only to recognize the right of the Holy Ghost to do this.

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