Chosen For This

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen YOU, and ordained YOU, 

that YE should go forth 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.

John 15:16

As an individual believer, you are part of the corporate body of Jesus Christ known as the Church. If the Church is to fulfill its mission in the world, then each member must recognize their part in God's plan. WE have a personal responsibility for the world. That responsibility goes beyond mere church affiliation or membership.  It is more than the giving of an offering and even more than tithing. 

Our mission becomes our personal responsibility to the world as we move from being a spectator to becoming a participator in God's plan for the nations.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Matthew 28:19

When Jesus said "Go Ye into all the world and preach the Gospel" and "YE shall be my witnesses," He was talking to a group of His followers. But as with every group, this group was made up of individuals. When Jesus said "Go Ye", it was not meant in just a collective sense, it was not only a group challenge, but also an individual challenge. Each member of the group was to accept the challenge personally. If the individuals within the group failed to respond, then the group would fail.

The challenge to go to the nations of the world is now assumed by the body of Christ; the Church. But the Church is made up of individuals and it will only be as effective in meeting this challenge as each person personally responds to the Great Commission.

In the early church, each person took personal responsibility for spreading the Gospel. Cross-cultural evangelism was done by laymen who were not full-time clergy. Some of the greatest evangelistic campaigns were conducted by these laymen. Acts 6 and 7 illustrate this with the accounts of Philip and Stephen. They were both laymen, mightily used of God to spread the Gospel.

When persecution came against the Church at Jerusalem, believers were scattered throughout Judaea and Samaria. The Bible records:

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Acts 8:4

Each believer accepted the challenge to teach faithful men and women who would be able to teach others also:

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.             2 Timothy 2:2

This unbroken cycle of spiritual reproduction resulted in continuous multiplication of believers.

The idea of the home as a center of spiritual development is not new. From the giving of God's law to man, the home was intended to be a training center:

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house. . .

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-7, 9

Every home in the early church was a center of evangelism. Believers taught the Gospel not only in the temple, but daily in the home:

And daily in the temple and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.   Acts 5:42

The evangelistic thrust of the home groups was apparently so successful that when Saul was trying to crush the church he did not feel he could do it by just concentrating on the temple. He also entered every house to stop the spread of the Gospel:

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.   Acts 8:3

The vision of God's plan for the cross-cultural spread of the Gospel was given in a home as Peter prayed on the rooftop.   As a result of that intervention, the first message to the Gentiles was preached in the home of Cornelius.  Acts 10

The great cross-cultural evangelism of  Apostle Paul was discipled by Ananias in a home (Acts 9). Apostle Paul taught both publicly and also house to house during his ministry:

And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.  Acts 20:20

Apostle Paul's final days of ministry were in a rented house where he received all who came, teaching and preaching to them:

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him.  Preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.    Acts 28:30-31

Jesus declared that His house was to be called of all nations a house of prayer:

And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?   Mark 11:17

What were the results of this "every person" and "every home" approach in the early Church? They reached their world with the Gospel. The enemies of the Church themselves declared:

These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.   Acts 17:6

What would be the results if every believer followed this pattern today?  If each believer would reach just one person each year, disciple them, and have them pledge to disciple one person each following year, the world could easily be reached with the Gospel.

Much of the population of the world is yet unreached by the Gospel. But God has provided a strategy that, if employed by each professing believer, would easily complete the task of spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom.

There is a movement growing throughout the world today. It is not a denominational or an organizational movement. It is a group of believers who have come to recognize their personal responsibility in spreading the Gospel to the nations of the world.  This group is composed of people of many races, cultures, languages, and religious denominations. The one thing they have in common is their personal commitment and ability to see the world through God's perspective - seeing the world as a harvest field; ripe and ready.  These believers are those who:   

*      Acknowledges the God revealed in the Holy Bible as the one true God

*    Acknowledges the Holy Bible as God's written Word.

*     Has personally accepted God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.

*     Has adopted a Biblical World View.

*      Has personally accepted the challenge to take the Gospel to the nations of the world.

This does not necessarily mean believers will leave their own nation to go to another culture, although we are willing to do so if God should so lead. What it does mean is that we are committed to spreading the Gospel right where we are, in our own town or city.  Whether in full-time ministry or a specialized occupation, the first priority of a true believer is spreading the Gospel.

The people who have accepted this personal challenge have made a special commitment to God. This is how every believer chosen of God should not only settle within themselves but commit themselves

By God's grace and for His glory, I am committed wholeheartedly to obeying the commission of Jesus Christ :

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  Matthew 28:18-20

Make up your mind that wherever and however God leads you, giving priority to those peoples currently beyond the reach of the Gospel; endeavor to share this vision with others.

Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:  But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.  Romans 15:20-21  

As believers ready to accept the challenge of Jesus and become actively involved in God's plan we must be in right position:

  Ø   PREPARE FOR THE CALL OF GOD:

*      Present yourself a living and sanctified sacrifice to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2)

*        Be sure there is no sin which will interfere with your spiritual hearing or eyesight (Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 1:9)

*       Eliminate preconceived personal plans and ambitions (Psalms 25:9)

*      Form the habit of daily prayer and Bible study (Joshua 1:8; Psalms 77:12; 119:15,25,45)

*      Wait patiently on the Lord and expect Him to direct every step of your everyday life and activities. He will make His purpose and calling sure (Proverbs 3:6; Psalms 23:3; 32:8; 37:5,7)

(Biblical Studies) 

12/31/15
02/20/17
11/30/19

05/21/21