Tag: chosen

Posted in Hiding His Word

The Foolishness of God is Wiser Than Men

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Ezra 1:1–2:70; 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 20:22-23

The Foolishness of God is Wiser Than Men
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. – 1 Corinthians 1:18-29

Who is There Among You of All His People?
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. – Ezra 1:2-4

Wait on the LORD
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. – Proverbs 20:22

I think it is safe to say, whether in good times or bad, whether with easy decisions or difficult decisions, whether smooth roads or a bumpy path, whether at work or play…that it is always best to seek the LORD and then to wait on the LORD and allow Him to direct every step both on the path and in the timing. Allow Him to fight your battles.

Teach Me Thy Way, O LORD, and Lead Me in a Plain Path
Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. – Psalm 27:11-12

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Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving me a brand new day! Thank You that Your mercies are new and that You have a mission for me for this new day, in this place, that only I can do. Lead, guide, and direct each step and each word that comes out of my mouth. Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit in me, I pray!

Please help me to wait on You in all things!

Would you please teach me Thy way, LORD? I can go and sit under the teaching of anointed women and men, and I know that You have gifted them to teach and preach, but there is no better teaching than being taught Your Word directly from You. Teach me Thy way, Holy Ghost!!!

Father, I ask that You touch each person that is reading this prayer today. I ask that You show Yourself mighty in their lives at the place of their greatest need. Heal the sick. Deliver those that are captives to addictions, depression, anxiety, and imaginations. Teach the hungry. Comfort the grieving. Draw the backslidden and prodigals back to You and their spiritual and natural families.

I ask this all in Jesus’ precious and holy Name. Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

The Way You Choose for Me

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Today’s passages: Exodus 10:1-12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; Psalms 25:1-15; Proverbs 6:6-11

That you may know that I am the Lord
And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord. – Exodus 10:1-2

Everything that God was doing, all the plagues, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was not just to change Pharaoh so he would let God’s children go. It was also, maybe even more so, for the Israelites. A sign that the Israelites and their children and their children’s children and all the generations to come would know that He is the Lord. THAT YOU MAY KNOW “that I am the Lord.”

Many are called, but few are chosen
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Many people are called to follow Jesus and do God’s work. God uses all types of people in many different ways. The reason only a few are chosen is that when people are called, they don’t respond, or they choose to ignore the call. Many want Jesus, but they don’t want the duty of following Him. We must go when we are called and do it speedily. If we don’t, we will miss the great opportunity and great blessing of following and serving Him.

But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. – Matthew 20:16, 22-23

The Son of Zebedee and their mother did not know what they were asking. When Jesus asked them if they could drink of His cup and be baptized in His baptism, they replied, “We are able.” What was the cup and the baptism? It was a cup and a baptism of suffering for the sake of the Kingdom. It was also a cup of death…the cup of God’s wrath.

It is interesting to note what happened in the lives of these two sons. James was beheaded in Jerusalem. He was the first of the disciples to be martyred. He drank from the cup of death. John did not die a martyr although he gave his life willingly to the Lord to die a martyr, a miracle of God spared him, he was baptized in the baptism of suffering. He was hated and persecuted. He was exiled to the Island of Patmos. In Rome, they tried to kill him by plunging him into boiling oil. But John did not die. He escaped, and because of the miracle and escaped from death, he went on to plant churches and write books of the Bible.

Teach me, O Lord!
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. ~ Psalms 25:4-5

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and testimonies. ~ Psalms 25:10

What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. ~ Psalms 25:12

Oh Lord, give me a holy fear and teach me in the way You choose for me! Teach me Your paths and Your truths, my God!

Provide and Gather
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. ~ Proverbs 6:6-8

Do everything you can today to make sure you have a harvest and be prepared to gather it.

Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have called and chosen and are teaching me. I ask You to give me strength day-by-day to follow and serve You. Help me to hide Your Word today and to get in so deep in my heart that it will do an excellent work and never leave me. Your Word is my bread Lord, and I pray that in season it will bring forth a great harvest. Holy Ghost, I ask You to go where I can’t go and touch those in my family and community that need You. Bring conviction and repentance to our hearts. Bring revival to our homes and churches, and nation. Bring revival to me, Jesus. I know You order my steps, and I ask You to use me as You will today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Chosen

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God has been continuing to speak to me today about those that are chosen, the elect, those He has gathered.  There were other things as well but these are the passages that struck my heart as I was reading.

Numbers 8:6 – Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.

Numbers 8:10-11 – And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: and Aaron shall offer an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the Lord.  

Numbers 8:16 – For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.  (these were the chosen, the firstfruits of the people set apart for God)

Numbers 9:8 – And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you. (example of the prophetic ministry of Moses)

Mark 13:20b but for the elect’s sake, whom He hath chosen, He hath shortened the days.

Psalm 50:5 – Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made the covenant with me by sacrifice.

Proverbs 10:29a; 30a – The way of the Lord is strength to the upright. The righteous shall never be removed.

Elect – to pick out, choose. To select by vote for an office. To determine in favor of. Selected. Chosen by God.

Chosen – elect; selected; preferred, pick.

Gather – to bring together into one group, collection, or place. To bring together or assemble; collect gradually. To pick or harvest . Pick up piece by piece.

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Proverbs 50:23 – Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of the Lord.

Off topic but I didn’t want to leave this out. The Word is so rich with instruction for our lives. Those that offer these praises and glorify Him, choosing to order their steps and conversations so as to be shown the salvation of the Lord will surely be set apart ones, so guess not really off topic after all.

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Help me today Jesus to be content with where you have me in this life. Help me to always strive for Your best for me but to cease striving in my own strength to be liked or accepted or included. Help me to always be aware that Your presence accompanies me, Holy Spirit, even in those most lonely moments of this life when I can’t sense it. Help me to trust totally in Your Word regarding that. Love to you, my friend and counselor. I pray this in the precious and glorious Name of Jesus. Amen!

 

Posted in Journal

just some thoughts on being chosen and adoption

Posted on by Melissa Lynne
Thoughts on being chosen –

Before the world ever existed there was God and in that moment He loved me. His love is eternal. He doesn’t just love me now, He loved me then. I am who I am because of the eternal love of God. This separates God’s love from every other love on the planet. If God has eternally loved me then His love for me is not based on my past because He loved me before I had one. It is not based on my efforts or trying to do good because He loved me before. His love for me is based on the death of His Son. It is His Son’s righteousness that makes Him love me. If God has eternally loved me then there is this anticipation by God for me. Not just for us but for me. Anticipation for me and great love for me. This love is the foundation that my destiny is built on. Before creation of the world He chose me to be holy and blameless. He picked me! Do I think He made a mistake? He picked me and it says in the scripture He’s happy about it.

Thoughts on adoption –

God predestined me. He has adopted me. Adoption is a word that in our world is used mostly as taking in a child as our own if we can’t have our own. But I feel God is saying I am a Father and I had my own Son. I had my own Son and I gave Him away so I could have you. I had my own Son and I allowed Him to suffer and gave Him away so you could be adopted. Do you get what that means? Do you know who you are? Amazing.

I am starting to get it.