You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My Name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another. John 15:16-17.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Saints are members of the Body of Christ. And each member is chosen and appointed, anointed and set apart for his or her part, and each has answered the invitation and come properly dressed.
Today we are going to talk about invitation, calling, answering, choosing, qualifying, being chosen, and how you sort that all out so you rightly divide My Word.
Many are called but few are chosen. You did not choose Me but I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit that endures. The call has to do with salvation and discipleship, the choosing has to do with positions of greater authority and responsibility.
Consider the following that My Spirit wrote though Paul, whom I chose and appointed, which has to do with the call, that is the invitation to salvation, for My heart’s desire is that all people be saved and come to know the truth. All qualify for the call, for Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, salvation, fellowship, and victory in walking in the freedom of the truth:
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6.
The invitation, the call, is the same for all and it all has to do with love. Love for Me and love for others. The call is answered in faith which works by love. One call, on baptism, one God—eternal life is this to know Me, the one true God, and the one I sent, Jesus Christ.
But each one then has a special gift, like the talents the Master gave in the parable of the talents, and how you use those determines your position and responsibilities.
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.” . . . And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4:7-16.
In love. Love is the one command Jesus gave you that fulfills all the commandments. If you have not love, I cannot promote you for you will harm yourself and others by your position of authority. Joseph had love for the brothers that sought to kill him and then sold and exiled him into slavery. He showed this by doing good for them and not retaliating, but above all by not having any bitterness towards them in his heart. He also was faithful in little things such as doing all tasks with excellence in slavery and in prison, he worked to profit his masters and not himself, he walked in integrity, which to Me were big things, such as keeping himself pure by fleeing from immorality. And I promoted him and gave him the wisdom and understanding he needed for the position with which I entrusted him, which had great responsibilities and could have easily corrupted a person to seek his own gain and advantage from it. But Joseph among all the wealth he amassed for Pharaoh kept perfect integrity. Faithful in little things, faithful in great things.
You cannot choose your position by just grabbing it, but like Joshua and the two good and faithful servants in the parable Jesus told about the talents, you can do things that qualify you to be promoted to positions of authority when you have proved trustworthy. But as Jesus told the mother of James and John when she sought the highest positions of authority in the Kingdom of My Beloved Son for her two sons, she could not choose that, it was for those whom I had chosen, that is, as Jesus told her, for those “for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” Matthew 20:23. He actually was telling her that she could not just grab that position for them because she desired it, they would have to qualify, and you see this in the fact that Jesus then interviewed James and John for the position, so to speak, by asking them if they were prepared to drink from the cup that He was going to drink. They said they would but Jesus than let them know that the final determination of whether they qualified was up to Me. To sit with Jesus on His throne you have to be an overcomer.
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10.
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11.
It is like when an employer is looking to fill a position and he puts out an advertisement (a call, an invitation) for those who would like to interview for the job, and usually he lists certain qualifications required for that position. Many people may answer that call and show up to take the job, having chosen that they want that job and the benefits it offers. But it is not for them to choose, they cannot choose the employer without him choosing them. If the employer wants a successful business, he chooses and appoints the one to the position that has a proven track record in his prior employments, experience and training to successfully handle the job offered and thereby prosper the employer’s business. If the applicant is weighed in scales and found wanting the wise employer would not give him that position of responsibility as it would not have a good end for either the applicant (it would be too much for him) or the business (he would not bring a positive contribution to prosper the work of the enterprise).
This happened with the rebellion of Korah against the leadership of Moses in the wilderness after I had worked mighty deeds through the hands of Moses and entrusted him with My commandments and My Word to form a great and mighty nation that was called and chosen by Me. Moses was My chosen leader for I know the kind of men I choose. But Korah chose to have the position of Moses as leader for himself and rebelled in the desert to take that position. And you see why he did not qualify; I resist the proud and give grace to the humble. He had failed in little things and I could not entrust him with greater. He chose to be the leader and stated he was better qualified than Moses, but I had not chosen him, and by his pride and rebellion to the leadership I put in place, for Moses was the most humble man on earth in his time and skillful in what I had called him to do, I rejected Korah. I had given Korah a high position as a Levite touching My sacred things and serving in My tabernacle but he disqualified himself. So he lost what he had. Numbers 16:1-32.
For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Matthew 13:12.
If you are faithful to My Word consistently, even in little things, I can entrust you with much, like Joshua, a willing servant to Moses, like Elisha, a willing servant to Elijah, and like David, a willing servant to Saul. In doing this each was subjecting themselves to the leadership I had put in place, but then when those I had given the position disqualified themselves, I removed that leadership and promoted them to that place as good and faithful servants.
Out of all His disciples, Jesus chose twelve that were chosen and appointed to preach and teach the good news, and of those one failed and three were promoted higher than the others.
Let us now consider two parables by which My Son explained these things to you and I speak to you through My Son.
“A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Luke 19:12-26.
Of those entrusted with the nobleman’s property only two qualified for promotion and one lost even what he had that he held on to so tightly and did nothing with it. As Jesus questioned the rich man in the parable he told of the man who did not give but only hoarded all the abundance I had given him, “this very night your life will be required of you, to whom will all this piled up wealth of yours go?” Not to his heavenly account.
You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. Philippians 4:15-17.
He has given freely to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in honor. Psalm 112:9.
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness endures forever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11.
I now would like you consider the parable of the wedding feast for you will learn here what is the difference between the invitation and the qualification. Just as in the world, you can begin in a very low position but by your diligence, devotion, humility, and integrity you can be promoted to higher and higher levels of responsibility, so it also is in the Kingdom.
And even if you qualify for a position of authority, by your misconduct in that position you can lose what you have. Like King Saul, like Judas, like Samson, like Korah, and like Adam and Eve. And, of course, like the one so many have followed, Lucifer, now known as the devil or Satan. He lost it all by trying to promote himself beyond what he was made for, chosen for, and promoted to. Currently through capturing mankind he is living as someone he is not, and thus he destroys all he touches, including himself. Selah.
Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests. But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:1-14.
What do you see here? All are invited to the wedding feast of My Son in My Kingdom as His bride the church, and this was no work on your part, everyone qualifies for I so loved the world that I gave you My Son so that all who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life. You answer the invitation, the call, to salvation by faith in the One calling. And I call you home through My Son. This is the call to all to be saved and come to know the truth so you are set free to prosper and be in good health as your once troubled soul finds peace by walking in the truth of what I have done for you in Christ Jesus.
But though I offer you a banquet of rich fare and the best of life, many are unwilling to come. They love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil and they find the things of the world system desirable or are just so overwhelmed in their own business of daily living that they find My Kingdom banquet as irrelevant and a waste of time. And some even are so hardened against Me that they persecute and kill the disciples that were sent out to share the invitation to the abundant life of salvation with them. But at all costs, even to the last drop of blood of My Son, I want the wedding feast filled with those I have made and love from everlasting to everlasting.
So in the parable, everyone was brought in. This parallels the great white throne judgment where everyone must appear. Revelation 20:11. Then there will be no choice of whether you come or not. Seek Me while I can be found in this time of grace.
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7.
And in the parable, you next see qualification. The king himself comes and a man is at the wedding feast not properly dressed in wedding clothes. What are wedding clothes? The garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness, that is, clothed in Christ (Yeshuah, Salvation).
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:26-27.
And when you receive Christ as Lord you are clothed in My righteousness.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21.
And what did the king say to this man not in wedding clothes? “Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?” You cannot come into My Kingdom any other way than clothed in Christ. He is the only way to Me and that is the way of truth and life. But notice also that this one was called “friend,” he had followed the command to come to the feast but though he knew My Word about Christ and what I was about he chose to reject it, and in rejecting My Son, you reject Me.
You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:14-15.
To whom much is given, much will be required.
And the man had no answer for himself, he was speechless, the Holy Spirit could not testify on his behalf because he had never received Jesus as Lord and would have to die in his own sins. And what was his fate by leaving his choice for salvation until too late? Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called (invited), but few are chosen.”
I consecrate you and appoint you for a life of good deeds, producing much fruit, fruit that will continue even after your departure from this world to My Kingdom.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Alas, Lord LORD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 1:5-8.
I call you, choose you, and appoint you, but it is up to you to say “yes” to that call—like Jeremiah, like Abraham, like Gideon, like Isaiah, like Mary, like Paul, and like you. Many are called but few are chosen. Not everyone says “yes” and is willing to walk it out in integrity.
Judas responded “yes,” and he qualified, but he turned aside and went his own way.
I have changed you from a sinner to a saint and put My Spirit in you, I qualified you for the inheritance of the saints in light and rescued you out of darkness and transferred you into the Kingdom of My Beloved Son, by whom you have redemption by His blood the forgiveness of your sins. I have qualified you for a fruitful life of good deeds in Christ Jesus your Lord, that is, the works He did and greater.
I never reject anyone who comes to Me but I do not put everyone in a position of authority to raise up the body of Christ, but I do tell everyone of you who believe to witness to others, so they too will be at the marriage feast properly dressed in wedding clothes. And this will be the permanence of the work of your hands, the souls you save for My Kingdom forever. It is wise to win souls.
You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My Name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another. John 15:16-17.
Since many are called but few are chosen, how do you make sure you are chosen for promotion?
Once I have called you, the outcome is resolved in four steps:
- You have to show up in answer to the invitation, do not be like the invited guests that were too busy to come. In other words, you have to say “yes” to the call.
- You have to be properly dressed, that is, by taking Jesus as Lord and clothing yourself in Him. There is no other way to come to Me than the way of Jesus in whom you have redemption and forgiveness of sins.
- You must be faithful in little things to be promoted to bigger things.
- You must walk in love.
I love you. And that is why I called you, blessed you, seek you, and reward you. And I will help qualify you as well, just read 2 Peter 1 and you will find out how.
For those whom He foreknew, He also preordained to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He preordained, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:29-30.