God Has Chosen You
Introduction
Do you remember when you were a child and played childhood games?
Weather it be dodge ball, red rover come over, flag football, or hid and seek there was a time that teams were chosen and sides were chosen and you waited patiently for your name to be called.
If you where a good player or very popular, then you would be chosen first and if you didn’t know how to play you would be chosen last.
Could one of the reason that we where not chosen was because of our looks?
Remember that God has created you and you are special to God.
Like the potter placing the clay on his wheel and fashions a vessel, God carefully fashions you on His wheel.
You are His creation and he is very proud of how you look.
Remember, mankind, not God, defines beauty for He is the potter and you are the clay.
Turn with me to Ephesians 1:4 and stand as we read from the Word of God.
Scripture
“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,” Ephesians 1:4 (NKJV)
Prayer
1. You Have Been Chosen!
A. Whether it is dodge ball or The Academy, Awards we all want to be chosen.
Chosen to belong or chosen to be recognized.
There is with in us a desire to be chosen.
During the time of Paul and the time of the church of Ephesus there was an event that all seemed to want to be a part of and that was to be an Olympic Athletic.
The Olympics at Athens was a big event and people prepared all year to be chosen for that event.
Only the best were chosen and only a few where given the crown.
Remember that God has chosen you!
B. In life when one is chosen others are excluded.
Just as it was in Ancient Athens and the early Olympics so is it today as we approach again the Olympics in Athens and as all of America watches, some have been chosen and others excluded but only a few will be crowned.
With God all are chosen and none are excluded.
The Lord … is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
God does not choose the best or show favor, He chooses all that will call upon him.
There is nothing that we can do to earn his choosing!
We cannot purchase the privilege of being chosen by God.
All we can do is give our repenting hearts and souls to him. Then he chooses us.
C. There is no doubt that God wants us even though we are unworthy.
2 Peter 3:9 tells us:
The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake.
He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act. 2 Peter 3:9 (GW)
Look at what Isaiah says:
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8 (KJV)
2. You Where Chosen Before God Made the World
A. Before, God made the world means that He was thinking about us—planning for us.
He created the world for us to have dominion over all things.
Knowing what we would do, He planned ahead for our redemption.
B. God paid a big price to let us be free moral agents to think and choose for ourselves.
C. Look what Psalms 139:
13You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex. It is amazing to think about.
16You saw me before I was born.
17How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly. Psalms 139: 13,16-17 (LB)
D. God made us to have fellowship with Him, but we focus on what is in it for us and the fellowship with God is broken.
Think of what God had in mind before He created all things, including us.
Now consider how we compare what we have in mind for the world and ourselves.
Now listen to what Isaiah 55:8 has to say:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).
3. We Are His Chosen Ones.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9
I know that this verse is in reference to the nation of Israel, however all scripture is God breathed and it is given to us, because it also applies to us.
Matthew 22:2-14 verifies what I have just said:
Illustration
[2] "The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.
[3] Many guests were invited, and when the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify everyone that it was time to come. But they all refused!
[4] So he sent other servants to tell them, 'The feast has been prepared, and choice meats have been cooked. Everything is ready. Hurry!'
[5] But the guests he had invited ignored them and went about their business, one to his farm, another to his store.
[6] Others seized his messengers and treated them shamefully, even killing some of them.
[7] "Then the king became furious. He sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city.
[8] And he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren't worthy of the honor.
[9] Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.'
[10] "So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
[11] But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.
[12] 'Friend,' he asked, 'how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' And the man had no reply.
[13] Then the king said to his aides, 'Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
[14] For many are called, but few are chosen."
Matthew 22:2-14 (NLT)
Now let me share with you what 2 Peter 1:10 says:
“So dear brothers, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen, and then you will never stumble or fall away.” 2 Peter 1:10 (TLB)
Conclusion
God has chosen you and there is a final victory for the chosen.
“Together they will wage war against the Lamb, and the lamb will conquer them; for He is Lord over all lords, and King of kings, and His people are the called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14 (TLB)
We are all chosen by God!
Have you accepted the call?
