WHEN ARE WE CALLED.

WHO ACTUALLY CALLS US.

WHEN ARE WE CHOSEN

HOW DO WE BECOME COUNTED AS FAITHFUL

The amazing answers are contained in the following pages, it is vitally important that we know the above answers if we are to be in Gods kingdom. If we are Gods people we must take our calling very seriously..

CALLED 

When God calls us we come out of the world and be separate, we must still live in the world but we can distance ourselves from the ways of the world, we are not of the world, our thoughts and actions and the way we live our life should mirror Gods ways, we should not go along with the world and all its wrong ways, actions and thinking. This is a type of the Israelites leaving Egypt. They left the ways of the Egyptians behind them and started to obey God, and His laws and His ways.

When God calls us we are able to understand a certain amount and obey to a small degree but we desire more. We need the Holy Spirit of promise. We are able to comply to God and His laws in a limited way, but once God opens our minds and calls us, we desire to have Gods Spirit in us

Before pressing on we need a period of time to delve into the bible and see if what we have been taught is correct. We must be like the Bereans.

ACTS 17 V 10-11

10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

This calling must be treated seriously, we need to be thorough in our study and investigations, we must prove things to ourselves conclusively that what we know is the truth and that we are prepared to believe it. We must have this solid foundation before we can build any character at all that is worth having.

We must have fear of God, we must believe God and what the bible says, we must have faith in what we believe is true, and we must believe that this calling to be a firstfruit is the most precious, honourable and valuable possession anyone could ever be offered in the entire universe.

We must also count the cost, we must know what this precious calling entails, it is not the popular route to travel, amongst family and friends, it is not the easy road. It will be hard, it entails study, prayer, fasting, meditation, and a great deal of effort to change, and grow , to overcome, to grow in knowledge, love, understanding, wisdom, faith. All of this requires a great deal of effort, there is much more to overcome than I have mentioned here, many things to change, we must continue to examine ourselves and try to grow spiritually until the day we die, this is not a part time exercise. Gods calling is a full time love that requires daily attention with great zeal.

LUKE 14 V 28

8For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Once we have truly counted the cost, and we are sure we can finish the race, once we fully understand what is required of us then we come to the point where we need to be baptised.

So it was with the Israelites, they left Egypt, but they needed to cross the Red Sea to truly leave the old ways of Egypt behind. So in baptism the old man must die, and a new man comes up out of the baptismal waters.

ROM 6 V 3-5

3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

When we are first called, we have that first love, that excitement, we can suddenly understand the bible, but unfortunately for some the parable of the sower must be applied.

MATT 13 V 3-9

3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

We see that the calling of God is treated by people in different ways, the 1st group has very little interest, the next group had an interest, but if that belief led to changes and becoming uncomfortable, they just gave up. The 3rd group was too busy with the cares of this world, and had other Gods before the one true God. The final group actually loved Gods calling and they tried hard to prove faithful to God, but as we see some tried harder than others.

However, God calls many, and then He watches carefully to see what those people will do with this precious gift. Many are called, few are chosen.

MATT 22 V 14

4For many are called, but few are chosen.

Once we are baptised we receive the Spirit of promise, or the earnest of the Spirit.

EPH 1 V 13

13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory

This Spirit of Promise, or Earnest of the Spirit is a down payment, of Gods Spirit, this enables us to obey His laws, overcome, grow and produce fruit in our lives it enables us to become what ever God wants of us, we will be able to achieve all God requires of us with this small down payment. We will have love faith mercy knowledge understanding the ability to obey God, just how much will depend on how much we use the Holy Spirit and grow, how much we pray, how much we study the bible and believe what we see, and how much effort we put into our spiritual calling.  Be aware that we do have what it takes to please God if we do our part. If we put little effort into our calling we will not receive much back in return. If we are zealous , believe God, obey Him, and Fear Him, expect much growth in our spiritual lives.

What a shame some people just are indifferent about the precious calling of the Creator of the whole Universe. A great invitation from the Almighty to join His family and together with Him and His Son, rule the entire Universe, is considered by some as nothing.

How can such an important invitation be cast off and counted as nothing, when this calling should be the most valued and the most prized possession on the face of the earth.

Do we understand exactly what our calling is, if we do, if we truly understand what the extent of the invitation from the Creator is, then how can we be indifferent about it. How can that attitude exist in us today.

Understand this point, that once we begin to understand the bible, and believe what it says, God is calling us from that point. If we desire to go on and be baptised, after we have counted the cost, as is explained previously, we are headed towards a closer relationship with God through the receiving of the Holy Spirit of Promise.

God the Father is the one who calls us there is no other way

JOHN 6 V 44

44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Once we start to understand the bible, and believe and obey God, we are baptised and receive the Spirit of Promise, we are called.

CHOSEN

When we are baptised {a type of Crossing the Red Sea} we receive the Spirit of Promise

EPH 1 V 13-14

13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

2 COR 5 V 5

5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Once we receive the Earnest of the Spirit we are tested to see if we obey, believe and trust God. {this is a type of wandering in the wilderness}. This process could take many years. We need to be tested. We have to face many trials and tribulations to see if we obey. Some of the main things God is looking for is, do we fear Him and do we believe Him.

Once God is satisfied with us, once He feels our heart is right before Him, and our thoughts and motives are pure, He then reveals to us the knowledge of eternal life.

When we accept this knowledge, we are showing Him that we want to enter the promised land, like Joshua and Caleb, who brought back a good report of the promised land. The spies who brought back a bad report are a type of people today who will not accept the truth about Eternal Life, they lack the belief to enter into the Promised Land.

HEB 3 V 16-19

16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17But with whom was he grieved forty years was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness 18And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not 19So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Dont say, oh that only applies to the Israelites, not us today, Nothing could be further from the truth, All of these things happened for examples for us today. So we wont fall into the same trap

HEB 4 V 11

11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Unbelief is a dreadful sin.

Once we show God we want to enter the promised land, we cross the Jordan River, we are given the Holy Spirit of power. God will decide when this fantastic event will occur. Once we have Gods Holy Spirit, we are chosen.

What has happened to our loved ones who were baptised and have since turned back to Egypt.

This has probably caused many of us to suffer in anguish as we contemplate their fate. If they failed to repent and turn back to God, we have always believed that the Lake of Fire awaited them.

Well read on and rejoice in the wonderful mercy of our God.

The truth is that these people would not have received the Holy Spirit of power they only get this once they believe and accept the knowledge of Eternal Life.

So we see in Gods great mercy, that He has tested them, found them wanting, and although they had the Holy Spirit of promise, they will not be in the lake of fire.

What a wonderful, loving, merciful God, we have who knows what is ultimately the best for us, whatever our state, He looks to our ultimate salvation and eternal life.

HEB 10 V 26-31

26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Even though these people will not be thrown in the lake of fire, God is not pleased with them because He had called them and they decided that they were not interested in the calling. These people have chosen the hard way to see the truth of God, these people will need to be put through the time of Jacobs Trouble and or the Day of the Lord. God does not want that to happen, but the people themselves have chosen not to listen to God now, so for their own good and long term salvation, God has this process of learning for the hard headed, stubborn, self righteous, individuals who simply feel they know best by rejecting Gods calling at this present time.

There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Scripture states that a person must have had the Holy Spirit of power and wilfully sin and trample underfoot the Son of God or blasphemed the Holy Spirit, before that individual is sentenced to the Lake of Fire. So we see most clearly that our loved ones, who were once baptised will not be in the Lake of Fire, because of Gods great mercy, loving kindness and plan of salvation for all mankind. God is very merciful and wise, He knows many of us lack the desire to push ourselves, truly examine ourselves, change when we see error, spend time with God and grow, humbling ourselves daily. But unfortunately these people will have to go through Jacobs Trouble  and possibly the Day of the Lord. These are not easy sayings, but they are nonetheless the plain and simple truth.

All the people God calls have the ability to succeed in their calling.

2 PETER 1 V 5-10

5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

We see that if we put forward the effort we will not fail. Some people do not put God first, they put little value on this most precious of all gifts.

MATT 6 V 33

33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Also some people did not think it was all that important to be a doer of the word instead of a hearer

JAMES 1 V 23-25

23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

If we are to succeed we must take our calling seriously and put forward a great deal of effort. I repeat again All the people God calls have the ability to make it into the kingdom.

PHIL 1 V 6

6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

MATT 19 V 26

26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 

2 PETER 1 V 10

10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Did you notice that, read it again, firstly we are to make our calling sure and then our election, this is two different phases of our spiritual path, our election is the same as being chosen, it is what has been discussed above. Called, and Chosen, and Faithful. How clear, our election is to be chosen. There is simplicity in Christ.

God simply will not give His precious Holy Spirit to anyone who is half hearted, or luke warm.

REV 3 V 15

15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

That is why the Spirit of promise is given first, to see if the called ones are genuine. After a great deal of testing, God  decides to give His Holy Spirit, of power to those that obey Him.

God must be careful, He is so very merciful and wise, He is thinking about us all the time. Remember God does not want any to perish.

2 PETER 3 V 9

9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God gives us all we need to be successful in our calling.

MATT 25 V 14-30

14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lords money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

These scriptures show some people value the precious calling of God above all else, they work hard to be profitable stewards, sadly though, some are barely interested and do nothing with what God gives them, God calls them wicked and lazy and what God had originally given to them was taken from them..

MATT 25 V 25-28

25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

To examine ourselves is hard, to change is hard. We must never forget that our inner feelings, our hearts and motives, are all open to God, we cant hide these things from God. He is all knowing.

The stakes are just too high, eternal death is the penalty for those who turn back to Egypt, once the Holy Spirit of power is given. God does not want any to perish, but ultimately this decision is up to us. Despite all the love, patience and mercy God extends to His called ones, once we have the Holy Spirit of power, and Eternal Life, we will still face the Lake of Fire, if we turn away from God.

So we see how vitally important it is for God to be sure about us when He give us the Holy Spirit. This is something that God takes very seriously and so does the one who receives the Holy Spirit. The penalties are far too great for the individual if they are not really 100% ready willing and able to receive Gods Spirit. God is all knowing, He knows who to give His Spirit to and when to do this.

Once God has tested us to see if we are ready for the knowledge of Eternal Life, once we accept this knowledge, receive the Holy Spirit of power, we are chosen.

Now we are beginning to see the new knowledge of the huge difference between being Called and Chosen.

1 PETER 2 V 9

9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

FAITHFUL

Once we are chosen, the Holy Spirit can work mightily in us if we are led by it.

ROM 8 V 14

14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

But along with this added power comes a much greater testing period and persecutions. To whom much is given, much is expected.

LUKE 12 V 48

48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

We cant do anything on our own we need God to help us, every day we must ask God to help us overcome, grow, to have faith, love, wisdom, knowledge, understanding and to be led by the Spirit and to indeed give us His spirit.

Once we have the Holy Spirit of power, and Eternal Life, we must be put through a final severe testing period. This could take the form of persecution, mockery, jail, loss of family and friends, put out of the church, hated by the world, perhaps put to death. This is the period of making the bride ready, and being without spot and blemish {this is a type of the lambs which were sacrificed for the Passover, they had no spot or blemish} and becoming Holy as our Father is Holy.

1 PETER 1 V 16

16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

We must endure to the end. After we have been successful in this final testing we are then faithful.

REV 17 V 14

14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

1 COR 4 V 1-2

1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

We see here that it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. We have a tremendous responsibility for all eternity, once we are faithful, we will be Kings and Priests forever, we will be responsible for millions of people and showing them Gods way. How could God give this fabulous honour to someone who was indifferent about his calling.

Once we are called and chosen, we then must endure to the end, then we are faithful

REV 17 V 14.

14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

MATT 7 V 13-14

13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

This scripture also indicates, that the number of saints  will be very few indeed, plus there will not be much faith at the end either.

LUKE 18 V 8

8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Very few since the creation of man have had the desire to believe and obey God, whatever the consequences to them. Very few will put God before the pursuit of what this world has to offer, very few will put in the time to study and change into someone who God can use in His kingdom. Are you one of the very few, or are you one of the 5 virgins who slept and neglected to fill their lamps with oil.

MATT 25 V 1-13

1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Remember the parable of the virgins, they all slept, we have all been sound asleep for a good while. Now we must wake up and be ready to go forth and meet the bridegroom.

BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOM!