Hey BCU Family!
Please enjoy the condensed audio podcast (by clicking on the icon below), read through written format or do both! Be encouraged in the Lord!
Last time, talked about being grounded (attached to The Foundation–Jesus) and ROOTED (having deepness) in WHO God says we are, rather than being tossed about with what the world, the adversary, TV, Bubba and dem and anyone else says contrary to Word of God. We explored Romans 8, which reminded us that God says we are:
– No longer condemned
– Walkers in the Spirit
– Sons/Children of God
– Heirs/joint heirs
– We suffer
– The called according to His purpose
– Predestinated
– Justified
– Glorified
– SO Loved
– More than conquerors
– Not separated from the love of God
This gives us a good foundation into who God says we are, so we can withstand the attacks of the adversary without retreating/recoiling every time.
Let’s talk through 1 Peter 2:9. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Our focus this week? “but you are a chosen generation….” Let’s look at the word “chosen.”
Short Definition: chosen, elect, choice, select. Longer definition: chosen out, elect, choice, select, of those chosen out by God for the rendering of special service to Him.
I want to get across to you how precious and special you are to God—this is really NOT to be taken lightly. When we think about what our final destination was and how God “called” and chose us and we responded…we ought to serve the Lord will GLADNESS!!!! Let’s talk about some biblical examples of chosen, so we can continue to be encouraged to #StayOnTheWall.
Going to our study a few weeks ago in the book of Ruth, (you can catch the initial podcast here ), we HAVE to include Naomi. Yes NAOMI! If we think back to Ruth chapter 1, after Naomi and her daughters-in-laws, Ruth and Orpah lost their husbands, Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem and urged her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab to find rest with their “new” husbands (Ruth 1:9). Orpah went back to “her people and her gods” (v 15), where she would life comfortably, back home with what was familiar.
On the other hand, Ruth saw something in Naomi. Ruth felt compelled to leave the comfort of her country, familiarity of her worship, take on a mother-in-law, exchange certainty for uncertainty, face poverty, possible rejection and assault in a new land…all because Naomi lived in SUCH a way that Ruth WANTED to serve NAOMI’s God (v 16)—who we know is the ONE and ONLY true God! Naomi was CHOSEN to bring this one soul out of the darkness of idol worship and into the marvelous light of ONE God! Did we not trade what was comfortable to us—the partying, the drunkeness, the ungodly behavior, the sin we became accustomed to, took on uncertainty about what/who we would lose, possible poverty (be it financial or emotional, rejection from friends/family), and even assaults from the enemy— because, thank God for the free will He gave us, we made the decision to give our lives to Christ?! Who was “your Naomi?” Who witnessed to you about the goodness of God? Thank God for them!!! Glory to our awesome God!
Ahhh, but think about Naomi’s life under the light of Romans 8:28. Marriage, abundance, famine, widowed, daughters-in-law gained, sons lost—an elderly woman with a bleak future. Yet in all that, Ruth was won to God, she got the rest in Boaz (representative of Christ) due to Naomi’s instructions, Naomi gets taken care of, Ruth became great-great grandmother to King David (Ruth 4:22), and is named in the lineage of Christ (Matthew 1:5). AND her story is blessing and encouraging us THOUSANDS of years later! ROMANS 8:28 is in effect!!!! I Peter 2:9 say WE ARE CHOSEN!!! Naomi was CHOSEN!!!! CHOSEN to bring this ONE soul in and much fruit was bared after that! From now on, be mindful of how YOUR life effects others. You never know who will come to Christ because they see the Lord in your actions, decisions, attitude. GOD CALLS YOU CHOSEN!!!!!!! Next up? God called you EQUIPPED!
Moses. I know you all know the story—but let’s look at the backstory for those who feel like you are too “inadequate” to be used by God. Moses was actually supposed to be killed as a baby, due to the wicked Pharoh’s instruction to do so, as the Israelites were starting to outnumber the Egyptians (Exodus 1). Moses had a wise mom who arranged for her infant son to be in a basket down by the river where the Pharaoh’s daughter would happen to be, and of course the palace became Moses’ home (Exodus 2:1-10).
While Moses grew up privileged, he did kill an Egyptian and was a fugitive for years, settling in Midian (v 11-15). Exodus 3 records, while tending sheep in back of Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God, Moses heard the voice of the Lord who CALLED/CHOSE Moses to lead the Israelites OUT of bondage. Moses said:
Exodus 3:11– Who am go to Pharaoh? (Verse 12. Certainly I will be with you. When you bring the people out of Egypt, you will serve God on this same mountain).
What do WE say to God? Who am I to witness? Who am I to use this gift?
Exodus 3:13–Who do I say you are? What do I say when they ask your name? (The God of your fathers sent me and I AM that I AM. I Am sent me. This is my name forever and a memorial to all generations. The people will listen to you, the king won’t let you go, but I will smite them with all my wonders. You will spoil the Egyptians. Exodus 3:14-22).
Who do we tell people God is? How do our actions, words and thoughts line up with what He said? Are we bold enough to tell it? Live it out loud? God called Moses and warned him that the king would not let them go, but God would smite them and the Israelites would get the victory. How many times has God called us to something, a ministry—witnessing, doing something for someone, told us it would be difficult but promised the victory. Did we lean into the promise? or try and get out of it? Moses goes into another chapter with his excuses.
Exodus 4:1 –They won’t believe me! They will say the Lord did not come to you! (God turned a rod to a serpent and back again, and on top of that made Moses’ hand white with leprosy and immediately healed him. God assured him of they didn’t believe Moses’ voice or the first two signs, they would believe the voice of the second sign where Moses was to take river water, pour it on dry land, and the river water would become blood on the dry land (verses 2-9).
What miracle did God do for you—saved you, kept you before you got saved, after you got saved and messed up, blessed you, delivered you— we all have a testimony to tell!
Exodus 4:10– I am not eloquent, slow of speech and tongue. (v 11 The Lord told Moses to GO! HE made the mouth and he would be IN his mouth and would teach Moses what to say).
God will give us the words to say, if we ask Him. He saw this moment for you to speak coming way back yonder and wants you to do well. Just rely on Him for every Word. If you do, it will be perfect.
Exodus 4:13-Then Moses wanted someone else to go (Verses 14—17). Now God gets angry and consents to Moses’ brother Aaron being the spokesperson to the people, but MOSES still had to work directly with God to teach Aaron what to say and Moses was in charge of the rods and signs). Moses finally relented.
What finally happened? Moses met with Aaron, they gathered the elders of the children of Isreal, Aaron spoke what Moses told him that God said, Moses did the signs and the people believed, bowed their heads and worshipped (Exodus 4:28-31).
Notice, Moses did NOT get out of what God called Him to do. He got some help, but still had to do the “heavy lifting.” We can cry, pout, weep, fast, pray and wail all day, everyday, but when God says I chose YOU to do it, YOU will not get out of it. How do I know? It happened to me. 🙂
God did not save you for a decorative showpiece—He chose YOU to do something—teaching, preaching, ushering, cleaning, taking care of your family, witnessing by attitude on the job whatever He called you to, He chose You for and –will equip you accordingly!
GOD CALLS US EQUIPPED!
BONUS info: And lest you think to yourself, well, Naomi and Moses were famous and God doesn’t call everyone to that. I’d say…you’re right. That still doesn’t get you out of what God called YOU to do. Many of the “supporting cast” in Ruth and Exodus were just as chosen as Naomi and Moses. Let’s check out one such example in Exodus 1.
As briefly mentioned before, prior to Moses coming on the scene, a new king arose over Egypt and was vexed that the (chosen) children of Isreal out numbered and were mightier than the Egyptians. Worried about the Israelites joining with their enemies in a war, the Egyptians decided to enslave and drive them hard–but the Israelites multiplied all the more (Exodus 1:8-14). Then the king gets this wicked idea to speak to the midwives, in particular, Shiprah and Puah. Shiphrah, meant splendid or pleasing, and Puah means to coo and cry out.
So imagine telling these wonderful women to kill ALL the male children upon birth! (verse 16). The Word says BUT the midwives feared {reverenced} God and they did not do what the king told them, rather saved the men children alive (v 17). When the king questioned the women about why his order was disobeyed, they said the babies came too quickly for the midwives to see what the gender of the baby was, so it sounds like the midwives got there too late to kill the babies.
Verse 20-21 of Exodus 1 says that God dealt well with the midwives, the people multiplied and waxed mighty. Moreover, in reward for their heroic and virtuous behavior, God “established households” for Shiphrah and Puah which probably means that they became the matriarchs of enduring families in Israel.
The Bible does not record ONE death of an Israelite due to the king’s order—the actions of these women allowed THOUSANDS of Israelites to flee from Egypt with their families intact at the appointed time.
Bottom line: Nothing that God called you to do is trivial or unimportant.
Whew!! Once again, the meat is off the bones and now it’s time to apply what we learned.
God calls us to action—in all capacities. If you know what God has for you to do, walk worthy of that vocation with His grace. If you do not, ask God to reveal it to you and walk in it with His help. If we ask, He will answer!
I am prayerful that you all should be excited and renewed to function in the body of Christ on all SIX cylinders. There are days where it will be a challenge, like God told Moses, but just the same, God was with Moses. And He is with us.
God called us CHOSEN!
God CALLS us EQUIPPED!
You are who GOD said you are! Amen? Amen!
God bless you and until next time #StayOnThe Wall.
Love,
BCU
BCU 