weekly sermon
3-30-08
The Few, The Proud, The Chosen
Last week our Lord and Savior raised from the grave after three days showing
that He defeated death, sin, and hell. Christ raised from the dead for one true
purpose, to save a dying world. Just as it states in John 3:16, "For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlasting life." You can see this is an
unconditional power of God's love. There is just one other thing I want you to
notice from this power and love that God gives to us. I want you to notice who
has chosen whom.
Turn back in time with me if you will to 1940. Now I know that some of you may
not be that old, including myself, but you will all remember the history lesson
of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. You may not remember it by
this name, but you will all remember it as it was commmonly called, "the draft".
The draft was a time when the selective service drafted men into the military
unvoluntarily. These men did not chose to go into the military, but were chosen
by the government to fulfill an obligation for a branch of the military.
How far back can we go and still see there was a form of a draft? There is a
word that discribes the draft, it is called "conscription". Conscription,
according to the dictionary, means, compulsory enrollment of persons for
military or naval service; draft. "Conscription" has also sometimes been used as
a general term for non-military involuntary labor demanded by some established
authority. Some translators of Old Testament commentaries use the term to
describe the levies of labor used to build the Temple of Solomon. As you can see
here, as far back as King Solomon, there has been some sort of system where
folks have been chosen without chosing for them selves.
Turn with me now if you will to John 15:16, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have
chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and
[that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in
my name, he may give it you." When you read this passage you can see that, even
before King Solomon's time, God had a draft in plan.
Once drafted, you have no choice as to which branch you go, you have no choice
as to your training, nor do you have a choice as to where you go or what you do.
The military makes all of these choices for you.
Looking at the passage of scripture that John writes, we can see that we do NOT
have a choice in this instance either. I know you are thinking to yourself, I
have a choice, and in some sense of the word you do. You have the choice to
choose Jesus as your personal savior and accept His saving grace, or not. Of
course there has to be a "but" here. What is that "but"? If God chooses you then
you do not have the power to resist. I know this sounds harsh but it is true.
You may think that you could resist anything, but once God touches you, at that
moment you become His and you will not even know it. What I mean is that your
heart will belong to God even though your head may tell you different. You must
know that your heart speaks a completely different language than your head. Your
head talks in the world, whereas your heart talks in love that is not of this
world. This is the love of God and His plan for our salvation.
Let us take a close look at the passage of scripture that John has written. The
first thing we notice is that WE have NOT chosen Christ, but He has chosen us.
This should make you feel very good for a couple of reasons. There is nothing
for you to do on your part except to be there to be chosen. Plus we must notice
that no matter our condition, either physical or mental, He has the power to
choose us. There are several things required of us in this draft. We are chosen
to go forth and bring forth fruit, produce eternal works, and get answers to
every prayer. This is a responsibility like no other.
What is bringing forth fruit? The souls of man is the fruit that is being talked
about here. We are to go out and bring the souls of man to Christ that they may
also find His saving grace. This fruit is eternal. The works you do on earth for
your job or for your family at home are things that remain here on earth when
you pass away, but bringing a soul to Christ flows into the afterlife and
becomes eternal.
Not only have you been chosen, but you have also been ordained by God. What does
it mean to be ordained? To be ordained means that you become a true minister for
Christ. To be considered a true minister for Christ means that you perform the
things mentioned above including love for all mankind. Remember that God so
loved the world that He gave His ONLY Son to die for mankind. Do you think you
could have love enough for mankind to sacrifice your ONLY child, or even
yourself? This is an unconditional love that most men can not phathom.
Lastly look at the authority that Christ has given to us in the above scripture.
Whatsoever we ask in His name it will be given to us. When we ask anything in
prayer in the name of Christ, then Christ gives us His authority and God will
answer our prayers through that authority.
The most important thing we must notice here is that we have already been
chosen, now all we have to do is accept that "draft notice" and perform the
works that God has planned out for us.
If you have already been chosen and have not taken that first step by receiving
total salvation through Christ, then all you have to do is say a simple prayer
with me.
Dear Lord, take over my life and forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of
everlasting life. Amen.
If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received
salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our
link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few
things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
With Love in Christ,
Pastor Stone