Because I Am Chosen

Luke 9:28–36 NKJV

28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. 33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

This is one of the most incredible moments that Peter, James, and John experienced in their entire lives. They went up the mountain with Jesus to pray. While they were praying, the glory of God began to overshadow them and they were overcome with the weight of it.

They wake up—were fully awake—and saw Moses and Elijah with Jesus. This was no vision nor dream. This was a glimpse of heaven invading earth. Jesus was changed in appearance, clothed with light (Psalm 104.2).

Before he could think about what he was saying, Peter offers to build tabernacles for the three of them. In Peter’s mind, this was probably meant as a great honor acknowledging Jesus as an equal to Moses and Elijah.

In the midst of Peter’s statement, God cut him off. God set the record straight. This wasn’t just anyone. Neither Moses nor Elijah, Law-giver or Prophet, were even close to Jesus’ level.

“This is My beloved, my Chosen, Son.” Before you can hear Him, you have to recognize and accept Him.

Let’s pray

I want to talk to you about how you can approach life with the same advantage that Jesus had in approaching His.

We talked last week about how the cycle of works seeks to find acceptance through achievement. It’s about working to gain acceptance instead of being free to give because we are accepted.

Cycle of Works

This approach depletes us. It is characterized by striving and effort and the constant feeling of not being good enough.

Illustration: The cycle of works feels like when you were on the playground where two captains are picking teams. You want to be picked, you try hard, but maybe you aren’t the best player at that sport. The anxiety and the desire to be chosen weigh on you. This feeling makes you try harder.

And many of us struggle with whether or not what we do even counts in life or counts with God.

Matthew 7:21–23 NKJV

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

What if the “spiritual” work we do misses the mark? What if fear of failure or a need for significance or a desire to perform pressures us to do things that ultimately fall short?

The people in this story were standing before the Lord. They did a lot of things in His name, even impressive things. But they were not accepted on the basis of those things.

Before Jesus started His ministry and the work that He came to do, He was chosen and accepted by God.

Matthew 3:16–17 NKJV

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

What if you could rest in the knowledge that God chose and selected you, just like He did with His Son Jesus?

When you receive Jesus, you receive the Spirit of adoption, and the privilege of becoming a child of God (John 1.12, Romans 8.15).

Business Before Belonging

As you can see, this is not about working and trying to earn God’s acceptance and love.

Despite this, we somehow think that it is our works that God is after. And truthfully, it is often easier to be busy than to believe that we are loved.

And this works-first mentality is what creates the circumstances by which many believers become discouraged and disenfranchised. It is what drives so many in the church.

We serve because we are trying to please God and earn His favor. We pray and we give because we want to get God’s attention and His favor on our lives.

And when things don’t go the way we want, we get mad at God and at the church because haven’t we been working and serving and giving and doing all these things?

We struggle to accept the Lord’s acceptance because we don’t feel we deserve it. We feel like we need to earn it and work for it. And so we try, we fail, and we try harder. We just want our Heavenly Father’s approval.

Grace is not opposed to effort. It is opposed to earning. — Dallas Willard

We need to go back to beginning and remember that even before we did anything for God, He chose us.

Romans 5:6–10 NKJV

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Notice that we were without strength, and still sinners, and enemies. In other words there was nothing we did that made God love us.

And yet, despite these things, God does love us. God chose to justify and reconcile and save us. God accepted us before we deserved it.

When we start there, just like Jesus did before He began His ministry unto the Lord, then we discover that the Spirit of grace that God gives us is an empowerment. It is a gift from a loving Father, not a loan with interest.

Belonging Before Business

Luke 12:32 NKJV

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The more we live from God’s love and acceptance the more we understand that His blessing and favor are things that He is pleased to give you.

You don’t have to earn them because He has already chosen to give them to you.

So then how do we learn to accept God’s acceptance and rest in that identity?

Remember You Are Chosen

2 Thessalonians 2:13–15 NKJV

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

The simple truth is that you were chosen. You were called by God and chosen by Him to be His special people (cf. Deuteronomy 7.6).

The best way to remember your calling is to recall what the Lord Has said.

Joshua 1:8–9 NKJV

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Illustration: The picture my wife gave me describing all the the ways that I love her. It reminds me who I am to her and encourages me to continue doing those things.

Remember that you are chosen and called by God and when you doubt that truth, meditate in the Scriptures. Memorize them. You are who God says you are!

Resist the Devil’s Lies

Not only is our natural tendency to try to earn acceptance, but the devil wants nothing more than to cause you to doubt yourself and your position with God. The Bible says that the devil is the accuser of the brethren who accuses us before God day and night trying to bring condemnation and judgment (Revelation 12:10).

When the devil sought to undermine Jesus’ identity and challenged Him to prove His relationship to God by doing works (miracles), Jesus answered Him in a specific way.

Each time satan tried to instigate Jesus to prove His acceptance by His works, Jesus responded, “It is written...” (Luke 4:1-13).

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

Illustration: “Whenever the devil reminds you of your past, remind Him of His future.” Read to him Revelation 20:7-10.

Remember that you are chosen, resist the devil’s lies and...

Remain in God’s Love

Jude 20–21 NKJV

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

We are to remain in the love of God, keeping ourselves there in faith and intimate relationship.

In this place we do not work to earn our Father’s approval, we live in response to it.

John 5:19–20 NKJV

19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

This is the rest of God which comes from faith, where we cease from our own works and enter into His (Hebrews 4.10).

Illustration: I no longer have to earn my wife’s love. She has given it to me. What I do have to do is continue in it and preserve it. I remain in her love by living with her in a way that honors and prefers her.

You have the love of God. You have been chosen by God. You are accepted by Him. Remain in His love. Keep yourself immersed in it.

Conclusion

We need to get out of the cycle of works. Our achievements and actions are not what qualifies us for a life of significance and acceptance with God.

When we enter the cycle of grace and accept the acceptance of the Lord then we will have greater confidence in coming to God and enjoying His presence.

We will no longer be driven to pursue God’s approval or blessing through our works. The works we do will be done because we are chosen and accepted.

Remember that you are chosen. Even before you chose God, He chose you.

Resist the lies of the devil that seek to shake your confidence and doubt God’s love for you.

Remain in God’s love through prayer and living in a way that values and honors the relationship that you have with God as His son or daughter.

Accepting God’s acceptance is the first step to living in the cycle of grace and entering into the abundant life with God. Amen.

Pray