WHY ME?
Notes
Transcript
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
INTRODUCTION
Those words have gripped me to this day.
I have an exhortation for you from the Lord. It is not a prophecy, but it is prophetic. Today’s message is not for everyone, but I believe it is for everyone here. I believe God ordained the day and time we would meet so you could receive God’s word grace. It is a promise. It is a covenant stipulation.
Before we go any further, take a time for reflection after this message. Take inventory of your life and determine what you will surrender and what direction you will go. Not everyone will be saved. But you will. Not everyone will be used of God, but you will.
We have been talking about, “The keys” of the kingdom of Heaven. What we learned Jesus Christ blessed his disciples to know him as the Son of God. We stand upon the rock of our salvation through faith. And we have the authority to bind and loose in agreement to God’s will.
I told the story before.
I preached for an African congregation. People greeted me after the service. One man said, “that we a deeply moving message.” I said, “Thank you. I tried to say what God has given me.” He said, “It’s not about you trying.” Then he said, “It is not him who willeth, nor him who runneth, but God who showeth mercy.”
When I look back over my life and count my blessings, I ask myself, “Why me?”
GOD CHOOSES WHOM GOD WILLS
Jesus Christ said of the last days,
Matthew 24:40–41 (NIV)
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
It was no accident Jesus walked along the seashore and met Peter and Andrew, James and John and chose them to be disciples. It was no accident Samuel held back the horn of oil from all the sons of Jesse until he saw David, even though David was smaller than all his brothers. It was no accident Moses was in Midian when he climbed the mountain and saw the bush on fire without burning. It was no accident Esther was queen when all Israel was threatened, and her uncle told her she was there for such a time as this.
The apostle Paul makes a strong argument to the Church at Rome explaining God’s sovereignty in choosing people for himself. Paul distinguishes those who are descended from Israel, from those who are chosen by God.
Romans 9:6–7 “For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.””
So God makes a distinction between Israel’s biological descendants and spiritual descendants.
Ishmael and Isaac had the same earthly father. The only difference between Isaac and Ishmael is God declared Isaac was the son of the promise.
Abraham’s spiritual descendants are those who are called for according to God’s Sovereign will. Paul makes this profound statement regarding Isaac’s children.
Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
This statement is an unreasonable choice in every way. Esau was a hunter; Jacob was a mama boy. Esau was a strong man; Jacob lacked physical strength. Esau was Isaac’s favorite. Jacob was Rebecca’s favorite. The real difference between the two is what they wanted in life. Esau chose the food that was right in front of him; Jacob always chose God’s blessings.
Spiritual things mean more to you.
When you receive worldly goods, you believe they came from the Lord. When you come out of a bad situation, you believe God brought you out. You turn people away in life because something about them is wrong for you. They’re not bad people. They’re just wrong for you. You find yourself led to pray, needing to pray. Sometimes it’s all of a sudden. It doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. You cry and you cannot explain it. You worship over the smallest things. You can look out of a window and feel that the entire universe has come into you.
Is God unfair In God’s selection?
Paul said,
For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
We know all have fallen short of the glory of God. So those whom God choses still commit sins. So what is the difference between Esau and Jacob and all those who receive mercy from those who don’t. It is the sovereign will and knowledge of God.
You are marked by God. The Mark distinguishes you as a vessel of God, An instrument of his will, an adopted son or daughter, an heir of salvation, and a joint-heir with Christ.
The Lord told the prophet Ezekiel,
Ezekiel 9:4 (NIV)
“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”
The mark protected the righteous from judgment.
You see it again in the book of Revelation. The Lord told his angels,
Revelation 7:3 (NIV)
“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal [mark] on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
The Mark is an indicates your spiritual calling, your adoption in Christ, and your ability to know the Lord. It identifies your blessing. You have God’s favor.
Some people do not even know that they are blessed. But you know. The fool have said in his heart there is no God.
Why were you the one chosen?
Why were you given the knowledge of God and others were not?
1. That his name may be glorified
2. To display his glory on the Earth
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
This is not fatalism. If it were, we would not have a choice. This is according to God’s sovereign knowledge, and will. The Lord knows before hand we will decide, and chooses us accordingly to do as well.
Do you have a choice in the matter. However, God knows which choice you shall make and he has blessed you accordingly.
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
It’s not about willpower or desire.
Some people will try and try and try and never get there. And others will receive the prize because their timing was just right. Some want greatness and accomplishment. They plan. They study. They network and it does not happen. Another will plan, study, network and hope. Their planning, studying and networking may fall through, yet they receive the blessing.
If you do not work hard, you will never get there. If you rely upon your talent, you will never get there. If you rely on God’s grace and mercy, You will do exceedingly abundantly above…
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
You’ve been given a key.
It is not a physical key. It is a spiritual key. You have been given means to unlock the door leading to the knowledge and grace of God through Jesus Christ. Have you ever said to yourself, “I do not deserve blessings.“
It means you see yourself as sinful and weak as others, and yet you know you are under divine protection; Something will only let you go so far because your life in the hands of God.
You know you are blessed, but you cannot explain why. You will always have needs, however, you will have enough; you know you have favor, but there is no justification for it. You know you will accomplish things others more gifted than you will not accomplish.
The Lord picked you as an object of his favor. The Lord chose you to know him, the Lord chose you through his mercy and grace.
What do you do about your moment of weakness? You bless God for it. Paul said, “When I am weak, God is strong.” Without your weakness you would not be dependent upon the Lord. Pride would set in your heart and you would go your own way. It is your weakness that you find God strength.
What do I do about my sin? You abhor it. You hate it for all it’s worth. Never make it your own. Never believe that your sinful nature is your portion. Always remember. You fall into sin from weakness or fatigue or depression or hurt, because when you’re in a better place, you are inclined to walk on the path of Jesus Christ and enjoy, his presence.
Don’t blow it. Don’t handle this GRACE in a casual fashion. Honor and respect the favor God is giving you and the grace upon your life. If you try to keep it, it will we and die. If you give it away with wisdom, it will grow, and you will have more.
Be kind and humble. Keep your feet on the ground, but your heart always before the Lord. You must be as wise as a serpent, and as harmless as a dove.
Don’t always ask why. Just obey. The Lord will direct you to do things that make no sense to others. They don’t even make much sense to you. The same presence which called you to do it, is the same presence that saved you. There will be several entreaties before you obey. God will constantly prick you until you’re ready to say yes to as well. But you know it’s the Lord.
The Lord loves you. I don’t know why!
Painful events will happen in your life. They will hurt more. They will be more embarrassing. The trials and tests will be longer. And when you come out with him, he will enter your royal priesthood. You will never be alone.
The scripture speaks to you. Every promises not yours. But many of them are. And when you hear them, you will know. Because they will match your life experience and your prayers. You live your life under observation. God is watching you and God is concerned about the decision to make. Because your life is in his hands, and God wants you to do his well without resistance. Mercy is better than sacrifice, and the Harken is greater than the fat of rams.
Whatever you receive from the Lord is not for you. It is for others. God can trust you with his presence. So do not hesitate to impart truth and knowledge to others. Do not hesitate to pray for them. Do not hesitate to show mercy to others. Because the hand of God is upon your life.
GOD HAS SHOWN YOU MERCY.