Chosen for a purpose

Israel was not merely a chose people but they were chosen to serve God among all the other nations: ‘un people choisi pour me servir’ (Exode 19:1-25). In the New Covenant the Church is a chosen race, a peculiar and holy nations to show forth the praises of God in the world (I Peter 2:9). The Jews often refer to themselves as ‘chosen’ but they leave out the purpose for being chosen: ‘to serve God’.

When you are chosen you are chosen for a purpose. Sportsmen and sportswomen are chosen to represent their country internationally. Politicians are chosen to serve the people of the country. Nobel prize winners are chosen for their particular contribution in a specific field of enterprise or research for the betterment of humanity.

In 2017 Bob Dylan received the Nobel Prize for literature even though he is a fold & rock singer. He was given the prize for his contribution to literature because of all the hundreds of songs he had written about so many subjects.

The Bible teaches: ‘many are called, but few are chosen.’ Many people have opportunity to serve a purpose but not many choose to do so. God chooses whom He wills, but we need to choose to be chosen. We need to agree with the purpose of God. Then He will help you to do what you were chosen to do. ‘For we know all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.’ (Romans 8:28)

When God told me by His Spirit that Nola & I would Pastor an AFM Church in Pretoria other Pastors competed with me for the job. But the Lord assured me: ‘I have chosen you to lay a new foundation in that assembly.’ The church was split 3 times in 10 years. God needed an apostle and a prophet to lay a new foundation. That Church trebled in three years and the finances trebled (although the Church board chose not to give us any raise in salary at all). Over 500 new souls were added in 2 years and God did many signs, wonders and miracles.

When the Lord told me to make the John G Lake video film, a son of a millionaire came to mock me and told me he was going to make that movie before me. But the Lord assured me I would make it. He never did. A businessman in Pretoria called Francois Rautenbach sponsored me to make the film. That film has blessed people in many nations around the world and it is available today on DVD as well.

When God chooses you to do something for a particular purpose others may compete with you or imitate you but God will help you complete what He has chosen you to do.

When I was 12 years old Aunty Raper came to our house in 65 Gardener Street, Brakpan and prophesied over my parents and I. She said God would use me in other lands. I am still fulfilling that prophecy today. By March this year I would have gone to 120 nations. I am simply fulfilling the purpose I was called for. Others try to imitate me or compete with me, but that means little to me. I know what I am called and chosen to do. God chooses families to do His purpose.

Judson was the first missionary sent from America to another nation. The Baptist Church sponsored him. The chosen country was Myanmar (Burma in those days). By going to Myanmar 4 times I stepped into the legacy of footprints left by Judson in Myanmar. His family served as missionaries for 4 generations and translated the Bible into Burmese. Judson also spoke and preached in Burmese.

When Judson lay fettered in ‘the death prison’ in Ma Yoon in 1820 his first wife Anne said, ‘bless God and take courage!’ She did not ask, ‘why did God allow this to happen to us?’ Judson had 3 wives. All of them and all his daughters helped with the mission in Burma. Referring to Judson, the General Secretary of the Baptist Church in America, Denton Lutz, wrote in the foreword of the Biography, ‘tell me your heroes and I will tell you who you are.’ Today there are 4 million believers in Myanmar. Judson loved Christ and loved people. He admitted he was not without flaws. All of them died of the effects of disease a