We believe that it was us that chose God. We often say it was me that went to church, I heard the message, I got up when they made the alter call, I said the prayer, I got saved. But the reality is God said I gave you the desire to go to church that night, I let the preacher preach that message, I pricked you in your heart, I caused your legs to move, I caused you to pray, I gave you the Holy Ghost. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.”
John 15:16 says “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
Is there any that God has not chosen ?
The answer to this question is summed up in John 3:16 “For God so Loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life”.
Selected, Preferred, Special Deuteronomy 7:6 says “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”
(Originally this was talking about the Children of Israel; but Thanks be to God in
Romans 11:7 the Bible says “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakes of the root and fatness of the olive tree.”)
Chosen by God Himself: Jeremiah 1:5says “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
In Psalms 139:15-16, David declares that God’s eyes were fixed on us not only when we were in the earliest stages of being formed in our mother’s womb, but even before we were conceived. David said concerning himself (and us), “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
According to David, God knew us when we were nothing more than mere “substance” in the earliest stages of being formed in our mothers’ wombs. God was so intricately aware of us that He took note as our arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and toes were being formed. In fact, this verse says He even knew us “…when as yet there was none of them” in existence! Think of it! Long before we were conceived, God already knew of us – and by faith He could see us being conceived, formed, and born into this world. This means there isn’t a single human being on the earth who was a surprise to God, and that includes you!
1.) Be a witness Isa. 43:10 says “Ye are my witness, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
2.) He has chosen us to go and bring forth fruit. Go and Bring are verbs (words of action). Faithful
Contrary to popular belief God did not choose you to sit in a church, but to be a worker. There is a job to be done in his kingdom. The job is to bring forth fruit.
it = produce, crop, outgrowth. The word produce means: to bring into being. We are to bring into being the world into being Christians. Growth means to increase, escalation. Crop means: harvest
There is too much at stake for you to make the mistake of sitting around and feeling sorry for yourself. You’ll only begin to experience true significance when you accept the fact that God has chosen you, and when you begin to live up to the glorious calling He has placed on your life! No matter how large or small the task, no matter how big or tiny the assignment, joy and satisfaction will be yours when you start accomplishing what God brought you into this world to do.
3.) To be the vessels God uses to show the world who he is.
God has chosen us to show the world how they should live in godliness and righteousness.
4.) Be a minister. 1st Corinthians 4:1 says “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
a. A under-rower was the slaves that sat in the belly of the ships and pulled the oars to carry the ship across the water.
** God is the Captain and His ship is the word of God, we are his ministers (slaves – under-rowers) to carry His word across the world.
To be steward of the mysteries of God. The word steward means: overseer. The steward was always a slave, but he was placed in charge of the other slaves. (This does not mean that everyone will be a pastor, but everyone has charge over the word of God to ensure that it is delivered to the world).
** The mysteries of God. A mystery is not something hard to understand, rather it is something that has been hidden and kept a secret.
2nd Corinthians 4:3-4 says “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
How is the light or image of God going to shine
Matt. 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world.” It shines through the children of God.
We have been chosen to be the light of the world.
We have been chosen to fight in the battle of Armageddon.
Revelation 17:14 says “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful
The Price of being Chosen: John 15:19 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
Despite your fears and doubts, you have wonderful things to accomplish for the Kingdom. God formed you. He gives you power to reach amazing achievements. God Doesn’t Call the Qualified He Qualifies the Called. But you have to trust Him in order to seize these victories.
You may get discouraged. You may wish that God called someone else but that is just your flesh talking. It is subtly distrusting God’s casting. While you should always strive to be holier, you cannot be anyone else than you…and you are perfect for the job. How do you know? God chose you and He is never wrong!
David is a great example of this truth. David was a young boy when he was called to fight a giant for God. He trusted in God’s call on him rather than man’s judgment of his. This allowed him to show God’s glory.
The reward of being Chosen: The Bible says Matt. 20:16 “ …for many are called but few are chosen.” If we do as Moses as stated in Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.The teaching implies that those who have prospered through wickedness will fail, whereas the good who have suffered for the sake of God will win salvation
Although the world hates us we can rest assured because:
John 15:16 says …that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
Colossians 3:24 says “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
We must not confuse the rewards we receive for holy living with the free gift of salvation which we received freely by grace through faith in Christ. As born-again believers, our sin was judged at the Cross and we are no longer under God’s condemnation, but as born-again children of God, we are to live as God instructs us and to love as Christ loved us – in purity of heart, humble obedience, and for His greater glory.
If you claim to be God’s chosen servant and you have not had this one-on-one encounter with God Himself, you are not.
If you know you were created for the gospel, wait for God Himself to come, reveal Himself to you, reveal to you who you are, your specific assignment, instruct and power you before you move out. Sit and wait for God.
Do not move on your own without God Himself coming to you. Outside in the world, it is a dark Satan’s kingdom. You will not make it without Him.
If you are chosen by God, you had a one-on-one encounter with Him, you know your specific assignment on earth, God gave you everything you need to accomplish what you were created to do. Follow His instructions and directs. Do not move without Him telling you to move and do not do anything without Him telling you to.
If He says move move. If He says stop stop. Do not use your mind. Listen to God if you are His chosen servant.
You can neither power yourself or be powered by humanity for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is only God who can power you for His gospel.
You cannot choose yourself, you cannot manipulate God in any way. God knows all our thoughts and all the motives of our hearts.
A person’s life becomes pointless when he or she contributes nothing to the world. Don’t let that describe YOUR life! God didn’t bring you into the world so you would live a pointless and inconsequential life! He has a purpose for your life. He wants to use you! He wants you to be a significant part of His plan!