GOLDEN TEXT:
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Starting with the Ministry of Paul

1 Corinthians 16:
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
……. Here is the Apostle Paul giving a brief explanation of his life prior to Salvation. He claimed himself to be the worst of the worst in persecuting the church and killing Christians.
Example in Acts 8:
1 And Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen) death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

1 Corinthians 16:
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace
of God which was with me.
……. Brother Paul just as us, had distinct memories of his past, and though they obviously laid on his mind he never let his sinful experiences affect the work of Christ. No matter the sin or depth of sin that had control over your life prior to Salvation, if you let God he will take you to places you never thought you would go. You will minister in ways with his anointing that were thought impossible in younger days.
…….It is thought that Paul was the author of 13 of the New Testament books. What a testimony of a man who thought his purpose was to destroy every follower of Christ.
……. Though he claimed himself to be the least of the Apostles, he through Christ accomplished more than any other of the disciples and apostles together. The reason for this is because he never one time took credit but always gave the glory to God. Always remembering what God brought him from, never forgetting the promise ahead of him.

PAUL ACCEPTING THE CALLING
……. One great driving force for Paul was that he was not ignorant to the word of God. When he accepted the call he secluded himself in a desert alone with God for 3 years.
Galatians 1:
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
…….Just as any other minister operating in truth, he had his alone time with Christ. There is no greater feeling than to be in prayer and study, seeking some thing of the Lord, and then receiving it.
The older you become Spiritually, the less sporadic you can be with your relationship. God is looking for a people who will be tied down to his call.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
…….He just testified of being the the best Pharisee of his time. When Paul set his mind to it, he accomplished!
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred (communicate or reason with self) not with flesh and blood:
…….He said he didn’t calculate what was worth losing. Nothing was even near equal to missing the the calling if the Lord.
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
…….When his time was right, he immediately joined himself to the church. Though Paul was the greatest if the Apostles, he knew he couldn’t do it alone.

THE TRUE CHOSEN OF GOD
Romans 9
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God
…….This scripture makes me reflect on all the churches and organizations who started off with Christ in the drivers seat, but somehow deterred. All the ones who were exposed to and changed by ministries such as the Billy Graham crusades, where thousands we’re converted in such small time frames. The ones who were involved with the revivals that swept our land that created the paved path for this country.
Why do people who have all the tools in place, fail to pick them up for the purpose? Why do those who start with the right Spirit ever stray from the first fruits that empowered them?
The only answer that comes to mind is complacency.
We should never become so satisfied with what’s seen that we stop searching for the unseen.
May we ever use the examples from the past, when God’s chosen were left wondering while the unchosen were called to the purpose!!!

JESUS’ PARABLE OF THE CALL
Matthew 22
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
…..Climax of the first message in the story.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
…….The second message in the story.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
……. In the first message there were people who heard the call and refused it all together. The result and outcome of these people was destruction.
In the second message
He commanded his servants to select the ones who were not previously invited. After this selection was made they hastily came into the wedding and all were prepared knowing whose presence they were entering except for one.
The moral of the story; God is going to call you for his work and when he does we must already be prepared.
……. God will have no mercy for the ignorant. We must know God’s expectations.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

GOD’S MERCY IN MINISTRY
1 Corinthians 3:
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
……. This is the evidence of the mercy of God. We don’t have to be perfect and others don’t have to accept our ministry, but we must try. No matter what we anticipate the outcome to be, it is never dangerous to step out and try.
God has wrought a work in your life specifically and it doesn’t have to meet others expectations for certain ones to be touched by it, only God’s.
Put your studying and prayer life into action and watch God take control.