You've Been Chosen

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See terms and conditions at UNEs 0:01:29.760 --> 0:01:30.080 dot co. 0:01:31.600 --> 0:01:34.360 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:34.400 --> 0:01:37.520 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:01:37.640 --> 0:01:40.240 enjoyed today's MESSI, why don't you be a blessing and 0:01:40.280 --> 0:01:42.959 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:01:43.000 --> 0:01:49.480 for God's very best in your line. God bless you. 0:01:49.720 --> 0:01:52.320 It's great to be with you today and I hope 0:01:52.360 --> 0:01:54.720 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:01:54.800 --> 0:01:58.800 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can 0:01:58.840 --> 0:02:01.320 come visit us in per We'd love to have you 0:02:01.400 --> 0:02:03.960 be a part of one of our services. I'd like 0:02:04.000 --> 0:02:06.720 to start with something funny, and I heard about this 0:02:06.920 --> 0:02:10.560 church one Sunday morning. Everything was going great until a 0:02:10.600 --> 0:02:14.280 bolt of lightning hit the sanctuary. When the smoke cleared, 0:02:14.520 --> 0:02:18.360 Satan himself was standing behind the podium. People panicked and 0:02:18.520 --> 0:02:21.840 took off running as fast as they could. Everyone that is, 0:02:21.880 --> 0:02:24.720 except one lady. She sat on the front row as 0:02:24.720 --> 0:02:28.400 calm as can be. Satan was appalled. He said, lady, 0:02:28.480 --> 0:02:30.760 do you know who I am? She said, I sure do. 0:02:31.360 --> 0:02:33.840 He said, well, aren't you afraid of me? She said 0:02:33.840 --> 0:02:37.000 not in the least spit. He said why not? She said, 0:02:37.000 --> 0:02:39.200 why should I be? I've been married to your brother 0:02:39.320 --> 0:02:43.320 for thirty years. Okay, like you mean it. This is 0:02:43.400 --> 0:02:46.400 my Bible. I am what it says I am. I 0:02:46.440 --> 0:02:48.920 have what it says I have. I can do what 0:02:48.960 --> 0:02:51.720 it says I can do. Today I will be taught 0:02:51.760 --> 0:02:55.960 the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, 0:02:56.360 --> 0:03:01.080 my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. Jesus' name, 0:03:01.520 --> 0:03:05.000 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:03:05.040 --> 0:03:09.680 about you've been chosen. I grew up playing basketball and 0:03:09.800 --> 0:03:11.600 from the time I was a little boy, I loved 0:03:11.639 --> 0:03:14.639 the game. When I was twelve years old, we went 0:03:14.639 --> 0:03:17.560 to my grandparents' house to spend the day in I 0:03:17.600 --> 0:03:20.200 took my ball and walked to the park about three 0:03:20.240 --> 0:03:23.960 blocks away, and there were all these guys playing. They 0:03:24.000 --> 0:03:27.680 were in their late teams, much bigger, stronger, and better. 0:03:28.160 --> 0:03:30.880 It's very competitive, and I was over at shooting on 0:03:30.919 --> 0:03:33.000 a goal, making sure to stay out of the way. 0:03:33.720 --> 0:03:37.200 When the game was over, the two best players started 0:03:37.240 --> 0:03:40.360 to pick new teams. There's about fifteen people waiting, and 0:03:40.920 --> 0:03:43.840 this one captain looked around at all of his friends. 0:03:44.080 --> 0:03:47.400 He knew everyone, all these great players. Then he looked 0:03:47.440 --> 0:03:50.560 over at me and said, I choose that guy. I 0:03:50.640 --> 0:03:53.200 nearly passed out. He was a foot taller than me, 0:03:53.600 --> 0:03:58.320 a different nationality, twenty times better. Yet he bypassed all 0:03:58.400 --> 0:04:01.400 the people he was supposed to pay, and he chose 0:04:01.520 --> 0:04:05.480 a stranger. His friend said, are you kidding? He's too small. 0:04:06.040 --> 0:04:09.840 One said yes, Plus he's white. That means he can't jump. 0:04:10.320 --> 0:04:13.280 Another said he's not one of us. You don't even 0:04:13.320 --> 0:04:17.359 know him. I never expected to be chosen. I didn't 0:04:17.400 --> 0:04:20.679 deserve it. I couldn't perform at their level. I didn't 0:04:20.680 --> 0:04:24.240 come from their background, but for some reason, he picked me. 0:04:25.040 --> 0:04:29.640 I'll never forget how that made me feel valuable, approved confident, 0:04:29.839 --> 0:04:33.960 all because I had been chosen. That's what God did 0:04:34.000 --> 0:04:38.040 for us. We were all strangers. We couldn't measure up, 0:04:38.360 --> 0:04:42.320 We didn't deserve his love, his mercy, his goodness. But 0:04:42.360 --> 0:04:46.240 the scripture says, while we were yet strangers, while we 0:04:46.240 --> 0:04:49.839 were far off, God brought us near through the blood 0:04:49.880 --> 0:04:53.400 of Christ. Jesus said in John, you didn't choose me. 0:04:53.880 --> 0:04:58.440 I chose you. God hand picked you. You may feel 0:04:58.480 --> 0:05:01.559 like I did at the park, fit in. You weren't 0:05:01.600 --> 0:05:05.080 raised in this, you come from a different background. None 0:05:05.160 --> 0:05:09.200 of that stops God. He still chooses you. Thoughts will 0:05:09.240 --> 0:05:13.080 tell you made too many mistakes, you're too small, you're 0:05:13.120 --> 0:05:16.320 not qualified, you don't come from a background of faith. 0:05:16.640 --> 0:05:20.040 God says, that's okay, You're exactly who I'm looking for. 0:05:20.520 --> 0:05:24.400 I choose strangers. I choose people that don't look like 0:05:24.440 --> 0:05:28.320 you to expect, people that don't perform perfectly, people with 0:05:28.400 --> 0:05:34.040 flaws and weaknesses. That doesn't disqualify you, it's just the opposite. 0:05:34.240 --> 0:05:37.800 You're who God chooses. He sees what's in you. He 0:05:37.880 --> 0:05:42.560 knows your potential. He told Jeremiah, before you were formed 0:05:42.680 --> 0:05:46.080 in your mother's womb, I knew you and approved you. 0:05:46.720 --> 0:05:50.880 I've called you to speak to nations before you were born. 0:05:51.240 --> 0:05:54.120 God not only chose you, but he put a calling 0:05:54.240 --> 0:05:58.320 on your life. He put greatness in you. He's destined 0:05:58.320 --> 0:06:02.000 you to leave your mark. The enemy will work overtime 0:06:02.400 --> 0:06:04.880 to try to make you feel left out, like you 0:06:04.920 --> 0:06:08.400 don't matter, You're not smart enough, you don't fit in, 0:06:08.520 --> 0:06:13.360 You're too different. Don't believe those lies. God specializes in 0:06:13.440 --> 0:06:19.560 choosing strangers. He chooses people that society wouldn't expect. He 0:06:19.680 --> 0:06:23.240 chose a shepherd boy named David to become the King 0:06:23.279 --> 0:06:27.480 of Israel. David didn't come from royalty. They were poor. 0:06:28.040 --> 0:06:30.880 His family had no influence. When he showed up at 0:06:30.880 --> 0:06:34.120 the palace, they would have thought, who is this stranger, 0:06:34.320 --> 0:06:38.920 He's not qualified. God chose Moses to lead the Israelites 0:06:38.960 --> 0:06:42.520 out of slavery. Moses had made a mistake and took 0:06:42.560 --> 0:06:45.599 a man's life. He had to spend forty years in 0:06:45.760 --> 0:06:49.080 hiding in the desert. He had a problem with his speech. 0:06:49.400 --> 0:06:53.560 He stuttered. God could have found someone with less baggage 0:06:53.680 --> 0:06:59.000 more eloquent, but he chose a stranger. Jesus was traveling 0:06:59.040 --> 0:07:03.240 to Galileeen. He told his disciples, I must go through Samaria. 0:07:03.880 --> 0:07:06.520 That wasn't the normal route, that was the long way. 0:07:07.360 --> 0:07:10.560 He was at a well waiting when a woman came 0:07:10.640 --> 0:07:13.680 to get water. He asked her for something to drink. 0:07:14.280 --> 0:07:17.840 She said, sir, you're a Jew. I'm a Samaritan. You 0:07:17.880 --> 0:07:20.440 know we don't get along. Why are you talking to me? 0:07:21.440 --> 0:07:24.480 Jesus said, if you knew who I am, you would 0:07:24.560 --> 0:07:28.240 ask and I would give you living water. Jesus began 0:07:28.360 --> 0:07:30.800 to tell her all about her life, how she had 0:07:30.800 --> 0:07:34.000 had five husbands, how she was living with a six man. 0:07:34.720 --> 0:07:37.239 No doubt, she was the talk of the town. People 0:07:37.280 --> 0:07:41.000 looked down on her, made fun. There's that lady. Who's 0:07:41.040 --> 0:07:44.400 she with this week? She was so amazed that Jesus 0:07:44.520 --> 0:07:47.840 knew everything about her. She said, we know one day 0:07:47.920 --> 0:07:51.720 the Messiah will come. Jesus said to her, I am 0:07:51.760 --> 0:07:56.080 the Messiah. The first person Jesus ever told he was 0:07:56.120 --> 0:08:00.200 the Messiah. Wasn't the head rabbi, wasn't the chief priest, 0:08:00.440 --> 0:08:05.120 wasn't the mayor. It was this woman, a stranger, someone 0:08:05.120 --> 0:08:09.520 that society had written off, too many mistakes, not worthy, 0:08:09.680 --> 0:08:13.320 She doesn't fit in. God doesn't choose the way we choose. 0:08:13.960 --> 0:08:17.000 He never writes you off. He never gives up on you. 0:08:17.280 --> 0:08:21.560 His calling on your life is irrevocable. That means he 0:08:21.640 --> 0:08:26.200 doesn't change his mind. When Jesus chose his disciples, he 0:08:26.240 --> 0:08:29.240 didn't go to the synagogue to find the best candidates 0:08:29.400 --> 0:08:32.160 with the best credentials. He didn't run an ad on 0:08:32.280 --> 0:08:37.239 ziprocruider to get the most qualified. He chose Peter, a fisherman. 0:08:37.960 --> 0:08:40.640 He didn't have any kind of background of faith. He 0:08:40.760 --> 0:08:43.960 never been to the temple. He was hot tempered, cursed 0:08:43.960 --> 0:08:48.680 people out. He chose Matthew, a tax collector. They were 0:08:48.720 --> 0:08:52.320 known for being dishonest. What if Jesus would have hired 0:08:52.360 --> 0:08:55.920 a consulting firm to review his choices, he would have 0:08:55.960 --> 0:08:59.000 come back something like this. We'd run a test on 0:08:59.120 --> 0:09:02.600 all the menu submitted. We're sorry, but none of them 0:09:02.720 --> 0:09:07.720 are qualified for a management position. Peter is emotionally unstable 0:09:08.000 --> 0:09:11.080 and given to fits of range. Thomas has a doubting 0:09:11.160 --> 0:09:16.040 spirit that underminds morale. Matthew has integrity issues, has been 0:09:16.040 --> 0:09:21.439 blacklisted by the Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. Here's what I'm saying, 0:09:22.160 --> 0:09:26.360 why are you disqualifying yourself thinking you have too many flaws, 0:09:26.720 --> 0:09:29.840 you don't fit in, you don't come from the right background, 0:09:30.040 --> 0:09:34.040 You've made too many wrong choices. God knew every mistake 0:09:34.120 --> 0:09:36.959 you would make, He knew what you would struggle with, 0:09:37.400 --> 0:09:40.320 he knew the environment you'd be raised in, and he 0:09:40.440 --> 0:09:45.200 still chooses you. Think about this. Jesus knew that Peter 0:09:45.280 --> 0:09:49.200 would deny him before he chose him. He knew Peter 0:09:49.320 --> 0:09:52.760 had some dysfunction, that he struggled with his temper, that 0:09:52.840 --> 0:09:55.600 he'd tell you what he thought. He knew Peter didn't 0:09:55.640 --> 0:09:58.920 look like a quote religious person, that he didn't fit 0:09:58.960 --> 0:10:02.199 in that mold, that he was a rough, strong fisherman. 0:10:03.080 --> 0:10:07.079 Jesus took that all into account, and he still chose him. 0:10:07.480 --> 0:10:11.960 It's because God loves to choose strangers, people that don't 0:10:11.960 --> 0:10:15.080 seem like they fit, people that weren't raised in faith, 0:10:15.400 --> 0:10:18.640 people that have shortcomings, that are rough around the edges. 0:10:19.559 --> 0:10:23.520 You wouldn't be hearing this if you weren't chosen. Don't 0:10:23.559 --> 0:10:26.760 go your whole life thinking you don't measure up, you 0:10:26.800 --> 0:10:30.120 don't perform good enough, you're not talented enough, you don't 0:10:30.160 --> 0:10:34.040 fit in when in fact, you've been handpicked by the 0:10:34.080 --> 0:10:38.320 creator of the universe, the God who knew you before 0:10:38.360 --> 0:10:42.320 you were formed in your mother's womb, not only chose you, 0:10:42.960 --> 0:10:47.400 but he's approved you. He calls you a masterpiece, one 0:10:47.440 --> 0:10:51.800 of a kind, fearfully and wonderfully made. Now, people may 0:10:51.880 --> 0:10:55.120 disapprove you, They may look down on you, tell you 0:10:55.200 --> 0:10:57.680 what you're not, try to make you feel less than 0:10:58.320 --> 0:11:00.680 Let that go in one ear and out the other. 0:11:01.000 --> 0:11:04.440 You don't need their approval. You have Almighty God's approval. 0:11:05.320 --> 0:11:08.680 Every morning we should start the day, Father, thank you 0:11:09.240 --> 0:11:13.280 that I've been chosen, that your hand picked me. What 0:11:13.320 --> 0:11:17.360 you're saying is I am worthy, I am valuable, I 0:11:17.360 --> 0:11:20.920 am needed, I am loved, I am full of purpose. 0:11:21.280 --> 0:11:24.559 I have seeds of greatness. I will leave my mark. 0:11:25.440 --> 0:11:28.400 When you know you're chosen, you hold your head up high. 0:11:28.880 --> 0:11:31.760 You live with confidence, not because of who you are, 0:11:32.160 --> 0:11:35.960 but because of who you are. And yes, God could 0:11:36.000 --> 0:11:40.280 have picked someone more talented, from a more influential family, 0:11:40.880 --> 0:11:45.880 with less weakness, less baggage, but on purpose, he chose you. 0:11:46.600 --> 0:11:50.880 It's because you're a perfect fit. You have exactly what 0:11:50.960 --> 0:11:55.520 you need to fulfill your assignment. What you've been through 0:11:56.000 --> 0:11:59.959 that didn't stop you. That prepared you. That's set back 0:12:00.240 --> 0:12:04.160 didn't disqualify you. It was necessary to get you ready 0:12:04.240 --> 0:12:07.800 for where God is taking you. Quit beating yourself up 0:12:08.400 --> 0:12:11.640 thinking you missed your chance. You've been through too much. 0:12:11.920 --> 0:12:15.679 If I'd have performed better, not made these mistakes, God 0:12:15.720 --> 0:12:18.920 took all that into account, and he still chose you. 0:12:19.800 --> 0:12:25.240 He doesn't disqualify you. Don't disqualify yourself. When that young 0:12:25.320 --> 0:12:28.040 man picked me to be on his team, even though 0:12:28.080 --> 0:12:31.360 I was half his size and not nearly as skilled 0:12:31.440 --> 0:12:35.439 as those other players, I'm either naive or a little 0:12:35.440 --> 0:12:39.200 bit crazy. But that spirit of Lebron James came on me. 0:12:40.080 --> 0:12:43.240 I thought, if you think I can play, if you 0:12:43.400 --> 0:12:46.280 have that much confidence in me, then I must be 0:12:46.280 --> 0:12:49.160 better than I thought. I took that as a sign 0:12:49.480 --> 0:12:52.280 that it was my time to shine. That he wouldn't 0:12:52.320 --> 0:12:56.319 have chosen me if he thought I was going to fail. Now, 0:12:56.360 --> 0:13:00.319 when opportunities come across your path that seemed too big, 0:13:00.600 --> 0:13:04.960 too much, don't shrink back. I can't take the management position. 0:13:05.240 --> 0:13:08.360 I'm not that qualified. I'll never get in that college. 0:13:08.400 --> 0:13:11.240 I'm not that smart. I could never date that person. 0:13:11.240 --> 0:13:13.920 They're so out of my league. Have a new perspective. 0:13:14.520 --> 0:13:17.840 God has so much confidence in you, he wouldn't have 0:13:17.920 --> 0:13:21.679 put you there if you're going to fall apart, be overwhelmed. 0:13:21.960 --> 0:13:25.440 The fact that he chose you means he's already equipped you, 0:13:25.920 --> 0:13:30.040 empowered you, and anointed you. This is your time to shine. 0:13:30.679 --> 0:13:34.320 Step into your greatness. You've been raised up for such 0:13:34.360 --> 0:13:37.240 a time as this, and yes it may be over 0:13:37.280 --> 0:13:40.520 your head, but it's not over God's head. You and 0:13:40.600 --> 0:13:44.280 God are a majority. As you take a step of faith, 0:13:44.600 --> 0:13:49.840 you'll discover courage, strength, ability like you've never seen. Imagine 0:13:49.840 --> 0:13:52.960 how David felt when he was chosen to face Goliath. 0:13:53.040 --> 0:13:55.520 That didn't make sense. He could have thought, this is 0:13:55.559 --> 0:13:58.160 not God choosing me, This is the devil trying to 0:13:58.160 --> 0:14:02.040 get be killed. I mean was twice his size, He 0:14:02.080 --> 0:14:07.040 had more training, more armor, more experience. But God doesn't 0:14:07.040 --> 0:14:11.280 call you without equipping you. What you have may seem 0:14:11.360 --> 0:14:15.720 small in comparison to what you're up against, just a slingshot, 0:14:16.200 --> 0:14:19.480 a few stones, but when God breathes on it, it'll 0:14:19.480 --> 0:14:24.040 bring down giants. God's favor on your slingshot is more 0:14:24.080 --> 0:14:27.920 powerful than an army coming against you. And don't talk 0:14:27.920 --> 0:14:31.200 to yourself out of your dreams. Talk yourself into your dreams. 0:14:31.800 --> 0:14:35.160 This giant may look big, but I know I've been chosen. 0:14:35.760 --> 0:14:38.640 God wouldn't have allowed it if I wasn't well able. 0:14:38.960 --> 0:14:42.680 I can do all things through Christ. When Jesus was 0:14:42.720 --> 0:14:46.160 on his way to be crucified, the soldiers forced him 0:14:46.160 --> 0:14:50.560 to carry his own cross. He'd been beaten, mocked, and ridiculed. 0:14:50.800 --> 0:14:54.040 His body was weak, his mind was tired. He was 0:14:54.080 --> 0:14:58.000 suffering from exhaustion. As he was carrying the cross, he 0:14:58.080 --> 0:15:02.520 fell down, couldn't take it anymore. The scripture says there 0:15:02.600 --> 0:15:06.480 was a man coming in town from another country, Simon 0:15:06.640 --> 0:15:11.520 of Serene. The soldiers had him carried jesus cross. It's 0:15:11.560 --> 0:15:15.840 significant that it tells us Simon was from Serene. Serene 0:15:15.960 --> 0:15:19.680 was a city in North Africa. He wasn't from Jerusalem. 0:15:20.000 --> 0:15:24.200 He was a foreigner, a stranger, no doubt. He didn't 0:15:24.200 --> 0:15:27.840 know who Jesus was. He's just traveling through and suddenly 0:15:28.200 --> 0:15:32.080 found himself carrying the cross. He didn't know he would 0:15:32.120 --> 0:15:35.520 be a part of history. Simon never dreamed we'd be 0:15:35.600 --> 0:15:39.080 talking about him today. God could have had one of 0:15:39.120 --> 0:15:42.640 the disciples close by to carry the cross. After all, 0:15:43.000 --> 0:15:46.000 this was such a historic moment. He could have had 0:15:46.240 --> 0:15:50.160 blind Bartimaeus, who Jesus healed, be there, one of the 0:15:50.280 --> 0:15:55.160 lepers that were cleansed. But of all the people Jesus impacted, 0:15:55.360 --> 0:15:59.840 all the ones he taught, fed, encouraged, healed, the one 0:16:00.040 --> 0:16:03.480 who would be with him in his final critical moments 0:16:04.000 --> 0:16:08.280 was a stranger. Simon didn't look like Jesus. He was 0:16:08.320 --> 0:16:12.320 a different nationality. He didn't worship in the temples like Jesus. 0:16:12.760 --> 0:16:16.440 He wasn't Jewish, he was from another faith. But God, 0:16:16.560 --> 0:16:22.080 on purpose chooses strangers, people that seem unlikely, people that 0:16:22.160 --> 0:16:26.600 don't look like they belong. Sometimes we fight being chosen. 0:16:27.320 --> 0:16:30.240 Simon could have said to the soldiers, no, not me, 0:16:30.400 --> 0:16:33.880 find someone else. I don't know this man. I'm not 0:16:33.960 --> 0:16:37.160 a religious person. I don't come from a family of faith. 0:16:37.320 --> 0:16:40.640 Can't you see I'm a different nationality. None of that 0:16:40.720 --> 0:16:44.920 matters to God. He knew Simon was a stranger. He 0:16:45.000 --> 0:16:47.880 knew there was no history with Jesus. He knew his 0:16:48.000 --> 0:16:51.840 family was from a different background. He knew voices would 0:16:51.840 --> 0:16:55.760 whisper Simon, you can't do this, this doesn't make sense. 0:16:55.920 --> 0:16:59.960 Don't get involved. Tell them that you're busy. All these thoughts, 0:17:00.080 --> 0:17:02.560 trying to talk him out of it. But deep down 0:17:02.880 --> 0:17:07.040 he could hear this voice whispering, You've been chosen. This 0:17:07.080 --> 0:17:09.960 is your moment. I know you're a stranger. I know 0:17:10.080 --> 0:17:12.640 this is not the environment you're used to, but I'm 0:17:12.680 --> 0:17:16.840 calling you. Simon could have made excuses, he could have 0:17:16.880 --> 0:17:20.800 tried to turn away, but he accepted the calling. He 0:17:20.840 --> 0:17:24.600 stepped into purpose and destiny greater than he ever dreamed. 0:17:25.520 --> 0:17:30.159 Maybe today, like Simon, you're fighting being chosen. You know 0:17:30.320 --> 0:17:33.800 God's calling is on you. But you're a stranger. You 0:17:33.880 --> 0:17:36.520 weren't raised in this. You don't look like you're fit. 0:17:37.080 --> 0:17:40.919 You have weaknesses, You've made mistakes. The truth is we 0:17:41.000 --> 0:17:44.159 were all strangers. We may look like we have it 0:17:44.200 --> 0:17:47.919 all together, but we've all fallen short. This is the 0:17:47.960 --> 0:17:51.800 beauty of our God. While we were yet strangers, while 0:17:51.800 --> 0:17:56.200 we were far off, God, in his great mercy, chose us. 0:17:57.000 --> 0:18:00.440 He didn't choose you based on your performance. He chose 0:18:00.480 --> 0:18:04.840 you based on his love. Simon didn't know Jesus, he 0:18:04.880 --> 0:18:07.960 didn't have any history with him. But God had a 0:18:08.000 --> 0:18:12.080 divine purpose for his life, something bigger than he ever dreamed. 0:18:12.760 --> 0:18:15.760 Who knows where God will take you? If you'll simply 0:18:15.840 --> 0:18:19.640 answer the call. Sometimes we think to carry the cross, 0:18:19.800 --> 0:18:23.200 to accept that we've been chosen, we'll have to give 0:18:23.280 --> 0:18:26.160 up so much and just live a lame, boring life. 0:18:26.520 --> 0:18:30.520 The truth is you'll gain so much more. God's dream 0:18:30.600 --> 0:18:33.800 for your life is so much bigger, so much more rewarding, 0:18:34.280 --> 0:18:41.960 more fulfilling. Yes, you will give up some things, fear, insecurity, addictions, depression, compromise. 0:18:42.720 --> 0:18:47.320 He's chosen you. My question is will you choose him? 0:18:47.920 --> 0:18:52.080 Don't go through life handpicked by the Creator, with seeds 0:18:52.080 --> 0:18:56.679 of greatness, redeemed and forgiven, but never step up to 0:18:56.760 --> 0:18:59.840 who you were created to be. Let today be the 0:19:00.760 --> 0:19:04.760 you say God, I believe I'm chosen. I believe I'm worthy. 0:19:05.200 --> 0:19:08.960 I believe I'm valuable. I may be a stranger, this 0:19:09.000 --> 0:19:11.800 may be new to me, but I'm coming into the family. 0:19:12.200 --> 0:19:14.640 I'm going to live my life as a son, as 0:19:14.680 --> 0:19:19.160 a daughter of the Most High God. There was this 0:19:19.520 --> 0:19:23.560 very wealthy lady that had passed and as far as 0:19:23.600 --> 0:19:25.960 they knew, she had never left a will. She had 0:19:25.960 --> 0:19:29.000 this huge house filled with all kinds of furniture and 0:19:29.080 --> 0:19:34.480 expensive antiques. She had beautiful jewelry, huge art collection, paintings 0:19:34.520 --> 0:19:37.760 from all over the world millions of dollars of worth. 0:19:38.320 --> 0:19:41.840 A company came in to auction everything. Often a couple 0:19:42.000 --> 0:19:45.280 hundred people were there. They started the auction in the 0:19:45.359 --> 0:19:49.639 foyer with a picture of this lady's son. It was 0:19:49.720 --> 0:19:52.880 a portrait hanging on the wall. It was nice, but 0:19:53.119 --> 0:19:56.560 nobody wanted that. They were waiting for all the other items. 0:19:57.160 --> 0:20:01.080 After a couple of moments of silence, the eighties housekeeper 0:20:01.560 --> 0:20:04.920 bid twenty dollars. She'd help raise the boy and loved 0:20:05.000 --> 0:20:09.240 him dearly. The auctioneer looked around one more time, finally 0:20:09.280 --> 0:20:13.639 said going, going, gone. The housekeeper took the painting down. 0:20:14.240 --> 0:20:17.359 On the back there was a handwritten note signed by 0:20:17.400 --> 0:20:22.080 the lady. It said, whoever chooses the son gets it all. 0:20:23.080 --> 0:20:27.960 The auction was suddenly over. Now the housekeeper owned it all. 0:20:28.119 --> 0:20:30.840 It's the same way today. When you choose the sun, 0:20:31.359 --> 0:20:34.640 when you choose the risen Savior, when you choose Jesus, 0:20:35.040 --> 0:20:41.360 you get it all. Abundant life, eternal life, joy, Pea Street, Victory. 0:20:42.320 --> 0:20:45.080 My father was raised in a family that didn't know 0:20:45.119 --> 0:20:48.399 anything about God. They were very poor and they lost 0:20:48.440 --> 0:20:51.320 everything during the Great Depression. He had to drop out 0:20:51.320 --> 0:20:53.960 of high school to work on the farm to help out. 0:20:54.480 --> 0:20:58.480 Looked like his life would be limited, no money, little education, 0:20:58.800 --> 0:21:01.760 no future to speak up. But my father had a 0:21:01.760 --> 0:21:04.960 friend named Sam. He would get to school early and 0:21:05.000 --> 0:21:08.760 write scriptures on the chalkboard. My dad was so embarrassed. 0:21:09.080 --> 0:21:11.119 He don't want to have anything to do with religion 0:21:11.240 --> 0:21:15.080 or faith. But at seventeen years old, he was walking 0:21:15.160 --> 0:21:17.679 home from a nightclub at two o'clock in the morning. 0:21:18.280 --> 0:21:20.840 He looked up at the stars and for some reason 0:21:21.040 --> 0:21:23.399 he began to think about God and what he was 0:21:23.440 --> 0:21:26.480 going to do with his life. The next morning, my 0:21:26.560 --> 0:21:29.280 father went to church with Sam and gave his life 0:21:29.280 --> 0:21:33.200 to Christ. That changed the whole trajectory of our family. 0:21:34.240 --> 0:21:38.280 My father was like Simon, a stranger. There was no 0:21:38.480 --> 0:21:41.639 history of faith, nothing in his background that said he 0:21:41.680 --> 0:21:45.920 would believe. He was a teenager partying doing his own thing. 0:21:46.520 --> 0:21:50.359 But God, in his mercy, chose my father before he 0:21:50.400 --> 0:21:54.040 could choose him. Walking home from that nightclub that night, 0:21:54.240 --> 0:21:58.560 that was God drawing my father like him. You may 0:21:58.600 --> 0:22:01.240 not have a background of faith, you don't think you 0:22:01.240 --> 0:22:03.960 could live up to the standards. You've had too much 0:22:04.080 --> 0:22:08.159 negative baggage. None of that stops God. He loves to 0:22:08.240 --> 0:22:12.640 choose strangers and do something awesome with their lives. Don't 0:22:12.680 --> 0:22:16.120 make excuses. My father could have thought, God, I don't 0:22:16.160 --> 0:22:19.840 have much to offer. I don't have much education, don't 0:22:19.880 --> 0:22:22.920 have any influence. I don't have a family that's honored you. 0:22:23.680 --> 0:22:26.639 God's not looking at what you don't have. All he 0:22:26.760 --> 0:22:30.960 needs is what you do have. Your willingness, your obedience, 0:22:31.080 --> 0:22:35.119 your courage, your faith. You can impact your family line 0:22:35.400 --> 0:22:38.840 for generations to come. You can be the one that 0:22:39.000 --> 0:22:43.439 breaks the cycle of defeat, mediocrity and starts the cycle 0:22:43.560 --> 0:22:49.000 of blessing, favor, honor, integrity. You may be a stranger, 0:22:49.560 --> 0:22:54.360 but don't stay a stranger. You've been chosen. God's calling 0:22:54.480 --> 0:22:58.240 is on your life. There's an assignment for you to accomplish. 0:22:58.400 --> 0:23:01.960 It's something bigger than you imagine, and you may not 0:23:02.040 --> 0:23:05.480 feel qualified. You don't have the training. The giant looks 0:23:05.520 --> 0:23:08.560 too big. But when you step into that calling, there's 0:23:08.600 --> 0:23:12.119 a supernatural force that will push you into your destiny, 0:23:12.359 --> 0:23:15.440 a favor that will open doors no person can shut. 0:23:16.080 --> 0:23:20.640 A power to accomplish dreams you never thought possible. When 0:23:20.720 --> 0:23:24.280 Jesus was on the cross, there were two thieves crucified 0:23:24.320 --> 0:23:26.800 on each side, and one mocked him and said, man, 0:23:26.840 --> 0:23:30.680 you couldn't even save yourself. The other said, Jesus, when 0:23:30.680 --> 0:23:34.760 you come into your kingdom, please remember me. He believed 0:23:34.840 --> 0:23:38.119 Jesus was the Messiah, that he was a king going 0:23:38.160 --> 0:23:42.600 into his kingdom. Jesus didn't say, I don't even know you. 0:23:42.600 --> 0:23:45.480 You didn't follow me. You never came to the temple 0:23:45.520 --> 0:23:49.000 when I talked, you never got baptized. Oh, Jesus said, 0:23:49.440 --> 0:23:53.600 this day you will be with me in Paradise. Down 0:23:53.640 --> 0:23:57.280 to his last breath on this earth, God was showing 0:23:57.359 --> 0:24:02.160 us that he chooses strangers, that our past doesn't determine 0:24:02.160 --> 0:24:05.560 our future, that when we're at our worst, God is 0:24:05.600 --> 0:24:09.840 at his best. That's when his mercy shows out. Jesus 0:24:09.880 --> 0:24:11.760 could have said to the man, well, tell me did 0:24:11.760 --> 0:24:14.359 you do any good works? How much time did you 0:24:14.400 --> 0:24:17.320 serve others? How were you raised? Then don't think about 0:24:17.359 --> 0:24:21.280 your request. No, the scripture says, by grace are we 0:24:21.440 --> 0:24:25.000 saved through faith, not of works. It is a gift 0:24:25.040 --> 0:24:28.919 from God. Does a man in the scripture named Saul. 0:24:29.400 --> 0:24:32.320 He was the greatest enemy of the church. He went 0:24:32.359 --> 0:24:36.720 around arresting believers, having them put in jail. You would 0:24:36.800 --> 0:24:39.600 think God wouldn't have anything to do with him. He's 0:24:39.640 --> 0:24:43.440 too far off course. No, don't ever write anyone off. 0:24:43.840 --> 0:24:48.000 The mercy of God is bigger than any mistake you've made. 0:24:48.080 --> 0:24:51.400 It's bigger than any force that's trying to stop your children, 0:24:51.720 --> 0:24:56.080 your loved ones. As Saul was traveling to Damascus with 0:24:56.200 --> 0:24:59.800 papers in hand to arrest believers, a bright light shine 0:24:59.800 --> 0:25:03.240 down from heaven knocked him off his horse, fell to 0:25:03.280 --> 0:25:07.160 the ground and couldn't see. A voice boomed out, Saul, 0:25:07.320 --> 0:25:10.560 why do you persecute me? Saul was puzzled. He said, 0:25:10.600 --> 0:25:15.000 who are you? The voice answered, I am Jesus. Of 0:25:15.080 --> 0:25:18.600 all the people God could be dealing with, he's talking 0:25:18.640 --> 0:25:22.920 to this stranger. This man is so against him. God 0:25:22.960 --> 0:25:26.480 told Anonius, go pray for Saul, for he's a chosen 0:25:26.640 --> 0:25:30.800 vessel to bear my name. Here's the biggest enemy of 0:25:30.840 --> 0:25:34.560 the church, and God is saying I chose him. Why 0:25:34.640 --> 0:25:38.000 are you believing those lies that you've made too many mistakes, 0:25:38.480 --> 0:25:40.840 that God won't have anything to do with you, that 0:25:40.880 --> 0:25:44.119 you're stuck where you are, when in fact God is 0:25:44.160 --> 0:25:49.679 saying you're a chosen vessel. Your mistakes didn't cancel your destiny. 0:25:50.160 --> 0:25:54.639 God doesn't consult your past to determine your future. The 0:25:54.800 --> 0:25:58.840 enemy would love to keep you condemned, feeling unworthy, like 0:25:58.920 --> 0:26:01.680 you don't belong, you don't measure up. That's why the 0:26:01.720 --> 0:26:05.120 scripture says, while you were far off, while you were 0:26:05.119 --> 0:26:09.760 a stranger, God brought you in through Christ. In that 0:26:09.840 --> 0:26:14.439 one destiny moment, Saul's life was forever changed. He became 0:26:14.480 --> 0:26:17.760 the apostle Paul. He went from the greatest enemy of 0:26:17.800 --> 0:26:21.000 the church to the greatest asset of the Church. He 0:26:21.040 --> 0:26:24.639 wrote over half of the books in the New Testament. Now, 0:26:24.720 --> 0:26:29.000 all that time Saul was reaking habit, causing trouble. That 0:26:29.040 --> 0:26:33.199 didn't stop God's plan. God knew he was a chosen vessel. 0:26:34.040 --> 0:26:36.879 God doesn't give up on you. People look at what 0:26:37.000 --> 0:26:40.960 you are, but God sees what you can become. It's 0:26:41.000 --> 0:26:44.760 no coincidence that Paul wrote in Ephesians. You are no 0:26:44.880 --> 0:26:49.000 longer strangers, you are no longer foreigners, but you belong 0:26:49.160 --> 0:26:52.640 to the household of God. Get this down in your spirit. 0:26:53.119 --> 0:26:57.840 You've been chosen. You belong in God's family. The creator 0:26:57.880 --> 0:27:02.080 of the universe hand pics you not meet, y'all. I've 0:27:02.080 --> 0:27:05.119 made too many mistakes. You don't know what I've done. 0:27:05.520 --> 0:27:08.000 You're a song, You're a chosen vessel. 0:27:08.760 --> 0:27:08.920 Well. 0:27:08.920 --> 0:27:11.520 I don't come from a background of faith. I wasn't 0:27:11.600 --> 0:27:14.320 raised like this. I don't fit in. You're a signmon. 0:27:14.800 --> 0:27:18.439 You're still chosen. While I have flaws and weaknesses, I 0:27:18.440 --> 0:27:23.320 don't perform perfectly. You're a Peter. God knew every shortcoming 0:27:23.720 --> 0:27:27.320 and he still chose you. Now, the tragedy is to 0:27:27.359 --> 0:27:31.639 go through life being chosen and never recognize it. You 0:27:31.760 --> 0:27:34.920 have to accept that God has a calling on your life, 0:27:35.320 --> 0:27:38.200 that he's put seeds of greatness in you, that He's 0:27:38.200 --> 0:27:43.600 given you a purpose, a divine assignment. Don't let fear, guilt, 0:27:43.840 --> 0:27:47.920 insecurity keep you from stepping into your greatness. Step up 0:27:48.000 --> 0:27:50.880 to who you were created to be. This is your 0:27:50.960 --> 0:27:54.360 time to shine. You've been chosen to set a new 0:27:54.400 --> 0:27:57.719 standard for your family. You've been chosen to break a 0:27:57.760 --> 0:28:03.000 cycle of dysfunction, chosen to live a life of excellence, integrity, 0:28:03.280 --> 0:28:08.840 and abundant victorious life. Now, when thoughts whisper no, no, no, man, 0:28:08.880 --> 0:28:13.639 you're unworthy, you're unqualified. This is not your background. Tune 0:28:13.680 --> 0:28:17.239 all that out every morning, Father, thank you that I 0:28:17.280 --> 0:28:20.800 am chosen. Let me tell you again, you are worthy, 0:28:21.359 --> 0:28:26.000 You are valuable, You are favored, You are anointed. Your 0:28:26.080 --> 0:28:29.760 past is forgiven, your future is bright. You are well 0:28:29.840 --> 0:28:34.840 able to fulfill your purpose. I believe and declare, like Simon, 0:28:35.320 --> 0:28:38.960 You're about to step into some destiny moments, things you 0:28:39.000 --> 0:28:41.840 couldn't make happen. The favor of God's going to propel 0:28:41.880 --> 0:28:46.040 you ahead. Like Saul. God's gonna free you from every bondage, 0:28:46.320 --> 0:28:50.959 turn negative situations around. Promotion is coming, healing is coming, 0:28:51.240 --> 0:28:55.920 breakthroughs are coming. The fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name. 0:28:56.440 --> 0:29:01.320 If you receive it, Can you say amen? I'd like 0:29:01.360 --> 0:29:04.120 to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord 0:29:04.160 --> 0:29:08.280 of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 0:29:08.880 --> 0:29:12.720 I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 0:29:12.880 --> 0:29:16.080 make you my Lord and savior. If you prayed that 0:29:16.160 --> 0:29:19.560 simple prayer, we believe you got born again. We'd love 0:29:19.600 --> 0:29:22.120 to send you some free information on your new walk 0:29:22.160 --> 0:29:24.320 with the Lord. You can text the number on the 0:29:24.360 --> 0:29:27.200 screen or go to the website. But I hope you'll 0:29:27.200 --> 0:29:30.560 get into a good Bible based church and keep God 0:29:30.880 --> 0:29:34.520 first place. Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:34.640 --> 0:29:37.440 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:37.480 --> 0:29:40.960 podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 0:29:41.120 --> 0:29:43.320 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:43.360 --> 0:29:44.840 with those all around the world. 0:29:45.160 --> 0:29:47.920 Visit Joelosting dot com or click the link in the 0:29:47.960 --> 0:29:50.120 description to partner with us today. 0:29:50.360 --> 0:29:52.840 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:52.920 --> 0:29:55.720 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:29:55.800 --> 0:29:58.880 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 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