OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST SERIES
MESSAGE 4 – MORE THAN CHOSEN
We live in a world today that is filled with constant attacks on our identity in a variety of ways. As I had mentioned before, covid -19 has become political- diversity in America has turned into race wars, politicians is bowing down to protesters, But the fact that socialism does not lead to communism does not reduce the negative impact that socialist ideas have on society and the general welfare of mankind. Socialism always involves a powerful state and powerless citizens, and the equality it promotes applies to everyone but to those who run the state (think modern day control slavery).
In our first message titled “Who Are you”, we shared about the importance of recognizing who we are, as well as remembering who we WERE. In turn, this will assist us in discovering WHY we are which helps us to know both our general and specific calling.
The next message was titled “More than a Work” –
We saw that we are created in God’s image and because of that we are to declare who God is to a lost and dying world. We also looked at Scripture to help us realize that we are “more than a piece of work”, but we are truly God’s handiwork and then, the tremendous video by the skit guys showing God wants to continue to shape and mold us for His glory.
I shared a message titled: More than a Servant -
Not only are we Servants, but we are also:
- A Citizen of Heaven – We need to remember; this is not our home.
So, let’s get into today’s Message titled: “More Than Chosen”.
While we are chosen, we know today that it goes even deeper than that.
today’s let’s look at: Ephesians 1:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
It’s amazing to think that even before the foundation of the world that God had a plan for humanity, which includes each one of us here today.
As I said awhile back, Jesus made the first step toward restoring that relationship when He came to die on the cross for us.
The next step was when we came to the realization of God’s love and reached out toward Him and chose to serve Him with our lives. In other words, those of us who have come to Christ, and those who will in the future are taking God up on His offer of Salvation and Freedom from Sin.
Paul says that God "chose us" to emphasize that salvation depends totally on God. We are not saved because we deserve it but because God is gracious and freely gives salvation.
We did not influence God's decision to save us; he saved us according to his plan. Thus, there is no way to take credit for our salvation or to allow room for pride.
The mystery of salvation originated in the timeless mind of God long before we existed. It is hard to understand how God could accept us. But because of Christ, we are holy and blameless in his sight.
The first thing I would like to look at today is that we have been:
John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
While it’s a wonderful thing to be chosen, it’s even more significant to know that we have also been appointed or placed exactly where God wants us to be for maximum Kingdom impact.
God is the one that does the positioning and placement within the body and we can trust that He knows exactly what He’s doing.
As I’ve said before, earthly illustrations always fall short when trying to explain heavenly concepts, but they do help just a bit.
When you go into a place to interview, it’s not just so that you can work at a place in general, but you want to be placed in the exact job that will highlight your gifts and abilities. A place that will make the overall company perform better because you are where you can come alive so to speak not just because you were “chosen” to work for that company, but you are now “appointed” to work in the department that helps you and the company be successful.
Who ultimately makes the call? The owner, or should we say the one who writes the check makes the ultimate choice of where you will function
We’ve already talked about this a bit, but we see in verse 16 that God chose us for a purpose – That we would go and bear fruit, and that the fruit would last, or remain.
When we are in complete alignment with God’s will and purpose, we can in turn ask God for “whatever” and know that we are asking in His will.
One of my favorite stories about how God chooses people is found in the Old Testament and involves David who would be appointed and anointed by God to be the King of Israel after Saul.
Let’s look at that briefly today:
1 Samuel 16:10-12 (NKJV) 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"
Samuel the Prophet was told to go to the house of Jesse where the next King would be chosen, and Jesse had 7 of his sons pass in front of Samuel.
Samuel basically looked at Jesse and said “is this all you got”?
Jesse’s response was that there was one more but he had already made up his mind that Samuel wouldn’t want to see him because he was far too young, he was just a shepherd boy, and those who were older should be considered first choice.
Yet, God saw something that man didn’t see! God saw something family didn’t see!
You may be here today feeling content in just knowing God has chosen you and you’ve chosen to serve Him, but did you know God wants to do amazing things in you and through you?
Don’t become overwhelmed with what others say you aren’t but get wrapped up in who God says you ARE!
Sometimes, you might feel like the child on the playground who’s always picked last, but let me assure you today that we serve a God who doesn’t look on the outside, but He looks on the inside and sees that gem in you that may be hidden from the world!
He not only chooses you, but He appoints you!
Secondly today, you are not only Chosen, but you are:
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Perhaps some of you here today have what you would call a “special possession” – There could be value to you based on the financial worth of whatever it is, but more than likely, there is value based on something that exceeds financial value, and that would be sentimental value.
What a tragic thing it is to see homes devastated by tornadoes, hurricanes, or fires like we’ve seen this week in California. Before the invention of computer cloud backups for such things as family photos, quite often if someone were to go back to the rubble, they would search through all of it to find things like a family Bible, or family photos that if destroyed could never be replaced. While in the eyes of other people they weren’t worth anything, to the one owned them, they were priceless!
As we have said, the enemy of your soul’s desire is to make you feel worthless and useless even as a Child of God. Yet, we need to remember, he’s not our owner or boss anymore!
He was quite satisfied to leave you on the trash heap of life, but truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Jesus Christ saw the beauty in each one of us here today to the point that He not only “said” He wanted us, but He did something about it!
Romans 5:8 (NKJV) 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We are accepted and loved and valued by a wonderful God!
We all have a desire to be accepted and in fact, some people go out of their way to be accepted even despite making choices that would be detrimental to their well-being!
We often hear of crazy new fads that come out that people feel they must try and often it’s with the idea of being accepted.
Who ever thought that something as mundane as Tide Pods would become a challenge for kids to the point that it became a year ago?
Some of the challenges that have come out have served to remind us that “common sense isn’t so common anymore”, but they also serve to remind us that people are looking to be accepted.
Some of you grew up in a home where you never felt quite good enough. If you got a C in school, you were put down because you didn’t get a B or an A – If you got an A, you were put down because you didn’t get an A+ -
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with challenging our kids and young people to be their best even if it means a little hard work along the way but be sure to provide a welcoming and loving atmosphere where they feel accepted!
Kids that don’t feel love and accepted and valued at home often find ways of finding it somewhere else.
I’m glad God values us enough to not only lead us into the good things, but to warn us to stay away from the destructive things!
Verse 9 in the King James says that we are a “peculiar” people – Some don’t like that interpretation because it makes it seem like we’re a bit weird. Well, to the world, we are in fact, a bit weird. But that word means “purchased”!
In other words, we were bought with a price - 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NKJV) 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Jesus paid the price with His own precious blood on Calvary because He saw the value in you and me!
Something is only worth what someone else would pay for it. In other words, if I were to bring a collectible item here looking for a buyer, the only one who might purchase that thing would be someone who has studied and KNOWS the exact value of it!
It would then become their possession if they were willing to pay the price regardless of what someone else might think!
Lastly today, in addition to knowing that we are CHOSEN AND APPOINTED and GOD’S SPECIAL POSSESSION, we must know today that we are:
- CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE
Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
While all of us can say without a shadow of a doubt that everything that comes into our lives are not always “good” things that we would sign up for if we had the choice.
There are heartaches and heartbreaks that come along that come into our lives not because God put them there, but because we live in a sinful, fallen world.
When we become a Christian, we don’t insert ourselves in divine bubble never to be impacted by negative things.
Yet, the key is not avoiding the negative things, but realizing that God can take those things we view as negative, combine them with the things we call good, and work them all out for both our good, and His purpose!
One of the important keys though, I believe, is that we don’t become embittered against God and even people who may have been what we would call “instruments” in the hands of the enemy!
The mindset of the world is that when you treat someone bad, that there’s such a thing as “karma” that will come around and get you eventually. Well, I don’t believe in “karma” and as a matter of fact, it’s a Hindu belief that should have no place in the Christian’s vocabulary.
Romans 8:28 flies in the face of the thought of Karma – I’m so glad that those of us here today who serve, and love God don’t get what we deserve.
Jesus Christ came to bring us forgiveness and to erase our past, but He can even use some of the things and people that caused us pain to bring healing to our own lives, as well as the lives of others.
If we don’t forgive and release people who have hurt us, and the things that have caused us pain to the Lord, then we will become bitter to the point we believe everyone is out to get us.
The enemy wants you to be sick with the disease of “get-even-ism” instead of realizing that God can take the bad and the good, mix it together for our long term peace and ultimately, His purpose!
Note that God’s goal isn’t to make you and I happy, but it’s to fulfill His purpose!
This promise also isn’t for everyone, but those of us who have identified WITH Christ, and have our identity IN CHRIST!
We have a new perspective, a new mind-set. We trust in God, not in worldly treasures; our security is in heaven, not on earth. Our faith in God should not waver in pain and persecution because we know God is with us!
Professor E. C. Caldwell ended his lecture, “Tomorrow,” he said to his class of seminary students, “I will be teaching on Romans 8. So tonight, as you study, pay special attention to verse 28. Notice what this verse honestly says, and what it doesn’t say.” Then he added, “One final word before I dismiss you—whatever happens in all the years to come, remember: Romans 8:28 will always hold true.”
That same day Dr. Caldwell and his wife were in a tragic car-train accident. She was killed instantly, and he was crippled permanently. Months later, Professor Caldwell returned to his students, who clearly remembered his last words. The room was hushed as he began his lecture.
“Romans 8:28,” he said, “still holds true. One day we shall see God’s good, even in this.”
- We are Chosen AND Appointed
