July 12, 2015
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
We are chosen and equipped by God
to do His work in the world.
All Scripture Is From the NIV Bible
Acts 6:1-7
2 Thessalonians 2:13
John 15:15-16
1 Peter 2:9-10
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Exodus 3-4
Acts 22:14-16
“I Have Chosen You…”
Prayer for God’s word to be heard through me or in spite of me…
You are so certain of what they want to do in life…what they feel called to do. You strive and strive but you just don’t quite get to where you think that you are called. Then you decide that maybe…just maybe…you should give it to God and see what happens. Well what may happen is you are called to a place…to a job…to a neighborhood that you feel is just a little…ok a lot…out of your comfort zone. The next thing you realize is that you would rather be doing nothing else but what you are doing now…you would rather be where you are than any other place in the world. You have been chosen to be who you are or where you are…
Last week I talked about what we receive with salvation. And we realized that with salvation we are chosen by God as it states in 2 Thess. 2:13…
“2 Thess. 2:13 But we always must thank God for you, brothers and sisters who are loved by God. This is because he chose you from the beginning to be the first crop of the harvest. This brought salvation, through your dedication to God by the Spirit and through your belief in the truth.” But what are we chosen for? What is the plan that God has for us as we are chosen by Him?
Well there are several scriptures that tell us the answer. But let’s start with the scripture that tells us about what Jesus said to His first disciples as well all who came after…
John 15:15-16New International Version (NIV)
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 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. Jesus tells we are chosen to do good works of God. We are given power to our prayers because whatever we ask in Jesus’ name we will be given. As long as it is in the will of God that is… We no longer are strangers to God as we were before we accepted Christ as our Savior.
1 Peter 2:9-10New International Version (NIV)
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. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. We are chosen by God and are called to declare His praises to a world full of darkness and chaos… The church grew and still grows as Jesus Disciples share the Good News of “Choseness” with those around us. For all that God has done and is doing…for all the answered prayers…how can we not want to sing His praises to the assembly…?
Acts 6:1-7New International Version (NIV)
The Choosing of the Seven
6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. We are called…we are chosen…to do both…spread God’s word and take care of those who are less fortunate…to be their voice of justice when they have no voice…
OK Pastor Ruth…how are we equipped to do these things for God…these good works? Well 2Timothy 3 tells us exactly what we need…where we get our training…
2 Timothy 3:14-17New International Version (NIV)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. We are equipped by and for the spread of God’s Word. It is within that same word we share that we find our training. We are equipped to equip others to do the same we are chosen and called to do…
But Pastor Ruth…I don’t think God can use me. I am too old…I am to ill…I am to scared…I don’t like to speak in public…I don’t…(Fill in the blank)… Well…God uses even the unusable by our standards. As a matter of fact…that is what He does best…maybe it’s because these are the ones that would give Him the glory instead of the ones who feel they are already there…
Exodus 3-4 Moses called…Chosen…Lead the Israelites out of bondage…
Now God called and used Moses…a murderer…a person with a speech impediment…a Hebrew slave by birth…fought with God about being called… was arrogant…had a temper on him…disobeyed God…
Acts 22:14-16New International Version (NIV)
14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’ Even Paul was called… who hunted down and killed many Christians…I think I have gotten my message across…God uses all who will allow themselves to be used.
We are chosen to do God’s work. Even if we feel we are incapable of doing His work…He has the final say. He calls us…chooses us…uses us right where we are at. We are given our instructions through His word and are equipped not only with that but we are also given His Holy Spirit and the Armor of His making. What more would we need? Let us go forth in the strength of the Spirit following in the steps of our Risen Lord Jesus into our calling that we are chosen to do. It really isn’t that hard when we remember we are not doing this on our own but with the strength of God, the Guidance of the Spirit and the presence of our Lord Jesus who said to His first disciple as well as to us…I will be with you until the end of days. What do you think?
Amen…
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