God’s Choice!
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6)
God has chosen us to be His people. He has chosen to bless, heal, help, deliver, save, and prosper us. He has done it all and has made it all available by the victories of the Cross. But we have real choices to make to accept it or not, to believe Him or not, to obey Him or not. Even after we have become part of the family of God, we have serious choices to make in our walk with God even on a daily basis. Such choices as:
· Whether we shall be meek and humble or proud and arrogant for all the things that God will be, do and give to us?
· How dependent are we on Him? Are we willing to stick it out through the good and the bad times?
· How open are we to His Presence in our life and able to hear His voice? Once having heard His voice are we willing to do His Will?
· Is pleasures and material gain the priority of our existence on this earth and of paramount importance or will we trust for God to provide?
· Do we meet the needs of the fatherless, widowed, imprisoned and dying? Has hope been provided to the end of their days?
· Do we do God’s will in good service to others, to love, forgive, care and carry the burdens of others? To make their yoke easier not heavier? To give new hope and spring in their step?
These are real choices and decisions that we must make and others can’t make them for us. However it is possible to make the right choices through the empowerment of God’s people as they depend on Him and His Holy Spirit and receive His power, gifts and Word.
Now we must also go and do what God has called us to do in His Word. We are called to action, to love, to work, to trust, to do what God has ordained us to do. To obey His Word and His commandments in the Bible and to trust Him to make it all so. Choices must be made and effort must be put forth in order to bring results.
The ox must tread the grain or else it hasn’t worked. God’s oxen must willingly go to work or there will be no harvest. No revival. No souls saved and changed and healed. Only work will do this. God’s people must go to work. Work based on faith. For God’s word is true:
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? (James 2:14)
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.(James 2:17)
But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18)
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:20)
Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? (James 2:22)
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. (James 2:24)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)
For many of us, prayer is work. However! We must pray for God’s people. We must pray that the Lord of the harvest will send workers into the fields to harvest because great is the harvest but the labors are few. Pray that the people will see the value in labor and their purpose in labor.
God’s people must stop looking for someone else to do it. They must look to themselves to do it. Each doing their part will make the whole complete, working together as bone and sinew. There are real choices to be made and real consequences to be faced.
Faith and works are interdependent. One is not acceptable to God without the other. Both must be present in order for God to recognize our efforts. Many work very hard but show little or no faith. Others have great faith but put little effort out to work in the vineyards God has given to them. The result is neither group of people are acceptable to God in His eyes. People who have a healthy balance of both faith and works are those who found the key to true service in the LORD.
Jesus also told us that the Kingdom of Heaven was to be compared to a man who was called to travel to a far country. He called His own servants and delivered His goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on His journey.
Well the one who had received five talents went and traded with them, and made five more talents. Similarly, he who had received two talents worked and gained two more also. However, the one who had received one talent went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his lord's money. The Word of God records:
After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
"He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
"Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'
"But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 25:19-30)
Many of us were taught that we are eternally secure in Christ no matter what happens and that God wouldn’t do such a thing as this to us as he did to the unprofitable servant. He wouldn’t cast us away into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for being unprofitable servants. For after all Jesus is the gentle redemptive lamb who gave His life for His sheep and wouldn’t hurt a bruised reed or offend anyone. He is a God of love and He loves His own and this is against His character and teaching.
But nothing is further from the truth! We can and we will get into serious trouble with God like the lazy servant did. If we fail to remember that these are the words of Jesus and not men. The words of the One who went into the temple and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold doves. He is the one who said:
"It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " (Matthew 21:13)
"Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. (Matthew 15:13)
"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:6)
God has chosen us to be His people and His servants and there is a responsibility and consequence with this choice. As Jesus also told us of a parable where His subjects were invited to a wedding and they refused to go. They made light of the King’s command and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. Some even seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
So when the king heard about the rebellion and unbelief, he was furious. He sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then He commanded His servants to go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. The Word of God tells us:
"So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. "
So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:10-14)
Good and bad people were pressed in to the kingdom and then they were separated by God. But even though many are called few are chosen.
We also see in this parable another side of the character of God who commanded the foolish ones to be bound hand and foot and taken away and cast into outer darkness. A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Just as an angry and furious King who doesn’t take lightly the disobedience of His commands God doesn’t hesitate to deal out serious consequences to His rebellious subjects. Yet, we say this can’t happen today because this isn’t in the character of God.
However, do we really know the character of our God? He who is justice, righteousness and truth as well as love. Do we know the one who would cast into outer darkness those who don’t have a proper wedding garment, which we ignorantly assume to be our guarantee of salvation, rather than the good works which accomplish salvation?
For the same Jesus also told us that the Kingdom of Heaven was to be compared and understood in light of what the subjects of the Kingdom did and do for the least. After the parable of the unprofitable servant Jesus also said:
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'
"Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:31-46)
Doing things for the least, that is the strangers, sick people and those in prison by itself aren’t the standard of measurement to determine whether we have everlasting punishment and/or eternal life that is preached by many prominent ones today? But they are the standards which Jesus talked about. As a result, some would say “who can be saved?” However, Jesus’ answer to this question was:
"With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)
"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)
Faith without good works is dead. Good works must accompany faith. Bad works show that there is no faith. Hence God‘s Word states:
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 5:17-19)
In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. (Titus 2:7)
Again as demonstrated in the many religious Evangelical scandals of the last generation, integrity, incorruptibility, good works, being blameless and accountable for their real deeds and actions due to right choices were and are missing among many prominent religious ones in America today. Even though God‘s Word states:
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14)
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. (Titus 3:8)
Amazing that those who preached the Word of God to others forgot that it also applied to them. They forgot that there are two sides to a coin and to God’s character and integrity.
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; "but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; "and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. "Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them. (Deuteronomy 7:6-11)
Those who don’t do good works but bad works will be repaid by God and He will destroy them. That is His Word and he has stated it and it doesn’t change. God keeps His covenant and mercy with those who loved Him and keep his commandments. If bad works are done to such as these God won’t forget and He will deal with the transgressors and it won’t be pleasant no matter who they are.
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6)
God has chosen us to be His people. He has chosen to bless, heal, help, deliver, save, and prosper us. He has done it all and has made it all available by the victories of the Cross. But we have real choices to make to accept it or not, to believe Him or not, to obey Him or not. Even after we have become part of the family of God, we have serious choices to make in our walk with God even on a daily basis. Such choices as:
· Whether we shall be meek and humble or proud and arrogant for all the things that God will be, do and give to us?
· How dependent are we on Him? Are we willing to stick it out through the good and the bad times?
· How open are we to His Presence in our life and able to hear His voice? Once having heard His voice are we willing to do His Will?
· Is pleasures and material gain the priority of our existence on this earth and of paramount importance or will we trust for God to provide?
· Do we meet the needs of the fatherless, widowed, imprisoned and dying? Has hope been provided to the end of their days?
· Do we do God’s will in good service to others, to love, forgive, care and carry the burdens of others? To make their yoke easier not heavier? To give new hope and spring in their step?
These are real choices and decisions that we must make and others can’t make them for us. However it is possible to make the right choices through the empowerment of God’s people as they depend on Him and His Holy Spirit and receive His power, gifts and Word.
Now we must also go and do what God has called us to do in His Word. We are called to action, to love, to work, to trust, to do what God has ordained us to do. To obey His Word and His commandments in the Bible and to trust Him to make it all so. Choices must be made and effort must be put forth in order to bring results.
The ox must tread the grain or else it hasn’t worked. God’s oxen must willingly go to work or there will be no harvest. No revival. No souls saved and changed and healed. Only work will do this. God’s people must go to work. Work based on faith. For God’s word is true:
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? (James 2:14)
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.(James 2:17)
But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18)
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:20)
Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? (James 2:22)
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. (James 2:24)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)
For many of us, prayer is work. However! We must pray for God’s people. We must pray that the Lord of the harvest will send workers into the fields to harvest because great is the harvest but the labors are few. Pray that the people will see the value in labor and their purpose in labor.
God’s people must stop looking for someone else to do it. They must look to themselves to do it. Each doing their part will make the whole complete, working together as bone and sinew. There are real choices to be made and real consequences to be faced.
Faith and works are interdependent. One is not acceptable to God without the other. Both must be present in order for God to recognize our efforts. Many work very hard but show little or no faith. Others have great faith but put little effort out to work in the vineyards God has given to them. The result is neither group of people are acceptable to God in His eyes. People who have a healthy balance of both faith and works are those who found the key to true service in the LORD.
Jesus also told us that the Kingdom of Heaven was to be compared to a man who was called to travel to a far country. He called His own servants and delivered His goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on His journey.
Well the one who had received five talents went and traded with them, and made five more talents. Similarly, he who had received two talents worked and gained two more also. However, the one who had received one talent went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his lord's money. The Word of God records:
After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
"He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
"Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'
"But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 25:19-30)
Many of us were taught that we are eternally secure in Christ no matter what happens and that God wouldn’t do such a thing as this to us as he did to the unprofitable servant. He wouldn’t cast us away into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for being unprofitable servants. For after all Jesus is the gentle redemptive lamb who gave His life for His sheep and wouldn’t hurt a bruised reed or offend anyone. He is a God of love and He loves His own and this is against His character and teaching.
But nothing is further from the truth! We can and we will get into serious trouble with God like the lazy servant did. If we fail to remember that these are the words of Jesus and not men. The words of the One who went into the temple and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold doves. He is the one who said:
"It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " (Matthew 21:13)
"Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. (Matthew 15:13)
"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:6)
God has chosen us to be His people and His servants and there is a responsibility and consequence with this choice. As Jesus also told us of a parable where His subjects were invited to a wedding and they refused to go. They made light of the King’s command and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. Some even seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
So when the king heard about the rebellion and unbelief, he was furious. He sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then He commanded His servants to go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. The Word of God tells us:
"So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. "
So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:10-14)
Good and bad people were pressed in to the kingdom and then they were separated by God. But even though many are called few are chosen.
We also see in this parable another side of the character of God who commanded the foolish ones to be bound hand and foot and taken away and cast into outer darkness. A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Just as an angry and furious King who doesn’t take lightly the disobedience of His commands God doesn’t hesitate to deal out serious consequences to His rebellious subjects. Yet, we say this can’t happen today because this isn’t in the character of God.
However, do we really know the character of our God? He who is justice, righteousness and truth as well as love. Do we know the one who would cast into outer darkness those who don’t have a proper wedding garment, which we ignorantly assume to be our guarantee of salvation, rather than the good works which accomplish salvation?
For the same Jesus also told us that the Kingdom of Heaven was to be compared and understood in light of what the subjects of the Kingdom did and do for the least. After the parable of the unprofitable servant Jesus also said:
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'
"Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:31-46)
Doing things for the least, that is the strangers, sick people and those in prison by itself aren’t the standard of measurement to determine whether we have everlasting punishment and/or eternal life that is preached by many prominent ones today? But they are the standards which Jesus talked about. As a result, some would say “who can be saved?” However, Jesus’ answer to this question was:
"With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)
"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)
Faith without good works is dead. Good works must accompany faith. Bad works show that there is no faith. Hence God‘s Word states:
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 5:17-19)
In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. (Titus 2:7)
Again as demonstrated in the many religious Evangelical scandals of the last generation, integrity, incorruptibility, good works, being blameless and accountable for their real deeds and actions due to right choices were and are missing among many prominent religious ones in America today. Even though God‘s Word states:
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14)
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. (Titus 3:8)
Amazing that those who preached the Word of God to others forgot that it also applied to them. They forgot that there are two sides to a coin and to God’s character and integrity.
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; "but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; "and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. "Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them. (Deuteronomy 7:6-11)
Those who don’t do good works but bad works will be repaid by God and He will destroy them. That is His Word and he has stated it and it doesn’t change. God keeps His covenant and mercy with those who loved Him and keep his commandments. If bad works are done to such as these God won’t forget and He will deal with the transgressors and it won’t be pleasant no matter who they are.
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