Specifically Chosen

Last week we spoke about being chosen by God for His purposes. out of all of creation God chose us for the personal relationship and desires that we are His mouthpiece. But God did not stop there. Did you know that your life if you follow the will of God has deep purpose for those around you in this time? Did you know that God decided where you would live and when you would live there? I Ephesians 3 we find Paul explaining his position in Christ and his responsibility with the will of God. He explains 3 things to the church. First that he was chosen to be in this time, he was chosen to be in this place.

Rubel Shelly tells of his friends Rich and Patty White, who traveled to a 3rd world country to adopt a little girl named Olona. After 2 years of effort and paperwork, the Whites stood before a judge who read words from an official document: “Inasmuch as Olona Morgan is orphaned and unwanted by any family in this country... Inasmuch as no citizen of this country wishes to have Olona Morgan...” When this recitation concluded, which gave the Whites custody of Olona, the loving couple dropped to their knees, hugged their new daughter, and promised, “You will never have to hear the word ‘unwanted’ spoken of you again.” When they arrived back home in Tennessee, they changed their daughter’s name from Olona Morgan to Hope White. “You and I are unwanted orphans in a hostile universe,” Shelly writes. “Dearly loved, sought after, and claimed, we are God’s children. We have been given Christ’s name as our own. We are secure because of him. On the authority of Jesus, we rest in confidence that we are more precious than we dared dream.”

You see as Christians we will never have tofeel unwanted again. But a part of that message is to take it to the World so the people we live around do not feel unwanted. We are to be God’s Hands and feet in the places we are at the times we are here.

For this time

Ephesians 3:1–8 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

How do you like the world today? I hear many different feelings on this. It isn't like it was when I was a kid. This world is going south quick. The world gets worse every day. The list goes on and on and we could all sit here and give the feelings we have towards the world at this time. What about the fact that God decided that we would be born in this time? Do we consider that if we are alive today it is because God has chosen to allow us to live again today? The reason we were born to our parents is because God chose to place us in our mothers womb. Remember what the Bible says.

Esther 4:13–14 ESV

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Time is hard for us to understand. In one sense it feels as though it moves so quick then in another sense it moves so slow. We as a human race have never really been good at taking a grasp on time. God has given us a time to live here and has done so because if we follow His will He understands the impact that we can have in our time. We are designed specifically for this generation, for this specific time in God’s timeline. Just as Jesus was born at a specific time to fulfill God’s will. Are we living every day with the understanding that we are in this time for a specific reason. It is not often that I go back in the night before to add a sermon illustration but I had to do it last night. Time is so important for us to keep an eye on and to take seriously. Last night in the last 2 seconds of the FSU Miami game the Miami QB made the decision to spike the football because he wanted to stop the clock. In this decision he did not factor in the college football rules that state that in order for a quarterback to spike the ball there have to be 3 seconds left and because of his decision the game was ended in favor of the seminoles. Had he been more understanding of the time they may have tried for 1 more play and chanced winning the game. Ignoring the time that we are in and the importance of us in this time causes us to miss our opportunity to win. Paul understood and wrote that he was designed by God for the time he was in. Paul took his time seriously and desired to Honor God with his time on earth. How do you use your time. How are your years, months, weeks, days, hours, and even minutes spent? Are they spent with the idea of God’s mission in mind? You were created and chosen for this time. Paul did not stop there though he continued to understand that he was chosen for this place that God placed him in.

For this place

Do you view the place you are in as important and chosen by God? Do you understand that where you live, go to school, and work are all chosen by God?

Ephesians 3:9–10 ESV

9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Paul understood that now God was making known through him, His will to bring the Gentiles to Himself. Paul understood that God placed him in this region as a Jew not to punish him but because of the great witness and leader to the Gentiles he could be. You see Paul was extremely versed in Judaism, as a matter of fact he was the next great leader for the Jews. Paul at that time was Saul and was the greatest leader the church had. He was so good that they placed him in charge of finding and killing these Christians because of their Heresy against Judaism. Paul was very well versed in the laws and customs of the Jews. Who could you think better to be the voice of truth to the gentiles who were trying to be taught false religion by Jews? You see the gentiles were being told that they first had to be circumcized and further they had to not eat foods that were considered unclean and as if that were not enough they must follow all Jewish customs and other laws. Paul was able to explain to the Gentiles that this was not necessary and able to tell the Gentiles with confidence how God truly wanted them to live. So think about your life and all the things you have been through. How is God using your life and experiences to bless those He has placed you around? Maybe you have been an accountant and you are good with money. How are you blessing those around you? Teach them to be good with money and to Honor God with their finances. Maybe you are a recovering drug addict, who better to help other drug addicts? Maybe you are a great business leader? Who are you mentoring and using the gift God gave you to bless others?

Just like God used Esther in her time He is calling to use you. You see the places we are and the people who are there were no accident. You need a little more proof? Here is what the bible says about where you live

Psalm 16:5–6 ESV

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

You see God has placed you in the home you are in, in the church you are in, in the neighborhood you are in, and in the workplace you are in for a powerful purpose. But Ryan I dont want to be where I am and I dont like the people I am around. These people are horrible to me they make me hate going to work, they make me hate living in the neighborhood I am in. I want to get away to a place that is better for me. Well I can completely understand this but we as Christians dont get to live based on our feelings that is for the world. We must live according to the Scripture. So how does the Scripture say we must live? What happens when we run from the places God puts us? Anyone in here remember the story of Jonah and the Whale?

Jonah 1:3 ESV

3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

See it is possible for you to leave where God is designing for you to be. However this does not come without consequence. Read on

Jonah 1:4–6 ESV

4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

You see God has designed for you as a Christian to show those you are around now in your places the love of God. To honor Him with all we have. Paul understood this. Remember that as a Jew the places Paul would go would destroy his testimony with the Jews who followed Judaism. For Paul to associate and to eat with Gentiles would cause him to be separated from the people he longed to please for a large portion of his life. We must like Paul understand that we are made for this time in these places for the people around us. How are you reaching the people around you. Your family? Your Neighbors? You Co-Workers? The gas station attendant at your favorite gas station to get a polar pop. These are not random places and these are not random times. God has placed us all here for a reason and we must Honor His will.