It's God's Choice, Not Mine

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever prayed and asked God to show what He wants from you? 

Lord, what do you want me to do? I don't understand what's going on, please show me! What is your choice for me?... job, mate, where do you want me to live? What is my ministry function for you?

What do you want for me and my family?

Another word for Choice is ORDAIN. What does the word ordained mean?  According to Webster it is - Appointed; instituted; established; to be invested with ministerial or pastoral functions; or settled.

However, just because an individual goes through church ordination, doesn't mean they will have the support of the church.

There was a pastor who became ill and the woman’s group voted to send him a get-well card. The vote passed by 31 to 30  .  Oh, such love!

Throughout scripture we find God putting people in places to perform different ministry functions. He uses each of us in ways that accomplish His will in our lives and in the church.

You are important to God!

He wants to use you, and me, and the person around you - to accomplish His will. Let us be reminded that it is His will, not mine.  

Playing God merely gets in the way of spiritual growth. Many churches don't grow because there are too many little god's walking around. Growth occurs when God ordains, not man.

I.  GOD ORDAINED PLACES – Chosen Places

Act 18:1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

Interesting...I don't see Paul having any discussion with God...like "Why Corinth, God?" "God, is this really where you want me?" God desires to use us where we are....He knows what is best for us and those around us...God will use you right where you are.

Corinth was a city in Greece. It was a place of great mental activity as well as commerce and manufacturing enterprises. The inhabitants were considered wealthy, however they were victims of vice. The goddess Venus was their focus of worship which led them into great immoral behavior.

We live in an age and in a nation were education and wealth are very highly valued and immorality is a great temptation.  I'm not putting down education and wealth, but merely presenting the awareness and dangers that their pursuit can present.

We know from many recent events on the news how many smart and successful individuals have been deceived and been found living immoral lives and performing inappropriate business activities.

Young people are tempted to cheat on tests to get better grades. Even pastors and teachers are tempted to copy messages from successful ministers to make themselves appear more appealing to their congregations. 

The internet is full of messages already prepared. It would take nothing at all to bring a message to you by Chuck Swindoll or Charles Stanley. Just Open, highlight, hit Control C/Control V and wallah...I'm done. Just copy & paste and move on.

The problem is that you, as a congregation, are unique and God has a specially chosen messenger to bring you God-ordained messages, not internet obtained messages. God not only has a special message to be delivered by chosen (ordained) messengers, but God has chosen special people to be a part of our lives.

God-ordained PLACES

II.  GOD-ORDAINED FRIENDS

Act 18:2-3 - And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tent-makers by trade.

This verse tells us that a husband and wife, Aquila and Priscilla, had just come from Italy, not as a result of personal choice, but because they had experienced persecution in Rome... And they were of the same craft as Paul...tent-making.

     God wants to use us right where we are doing what we are doing being sensitive to those who He brings across our path....at our place of employment, in our neighborhood, and even in our shopping. God frequently brings people together because they have the same needs and interests in life and God has a special message that He wants to give through me/us.

There's a story told---maybe true, maybe not---about George Bush, Sr. & his wife Barbara who were riding in the presidential limousine while campaigning their way across Texas. (With Texas being their home state, of course, they knew almost everyone.)

Needing a gas refill, the limousine followed by the accompanying SUV's pulled into a gas station. The gas station attendant seeing the presidential seal on the limousine runs outside and starts pumping gas right away. (He wants to be able to brag to his friends about pumping gas for the President's limo!) Barbara looks up & recognizes the guy, jumps out of the limo and rushes over to give him a big hug. They yak it up for a few minutes, then she gets back in the limo.

After a couple minutes, George says “Who was that?” and Barbara responds “O, that was my old boyfriend from high school.”

George gets this big grin on his face & says“Let me get this straight: You're married to the most powerful man in the world, President of the leading economic force in the world---the USA. But you could have married him, and then you'd be the wife of a gas station attendant.”

Barbara replied, “O George, don't be silly. If I had married him, then HE would be President!!” 

God brought Judy and I together because of our mutual love for music. How special it is for a trumpet player to have a wife who plays piano. A truly God-ordained plan. When husbands and wives are working together for the Lord, whatever the task, there is a powerful message that the Lord will use.

Sometimes we do things that we don't understand. It's a faith walk. I have to confess, I honestly don't know yet why I'm here at Beechgrove. Many of you have a passion for bikes and being honest with you, it doesn't interest me in the slightest. But that's OK. 

At home, my wife could care less about the computer, but to me it's fascinating. Our differences make us complete.

It is the same way spiritually. We each have different Spiritual Gifts which are used in the "Body of Christ." God uses our differences to make up the body of Christ. In order to be a complete body there must be eyes, a mouth, ears, hands and feet. 

How strange it would be if my body was one big ear. I would starve to death because there would be no way to eat without a mouth. 

I know many of you could care less about teaching, but I love to teach. 

Judy's passions (other than music) are reading, working with books, teaching woman’s groups and planning programs. 

What is your passion? How can God use it for His glory? What message does God desire for you to communicate through your passion? 

PLACES, FRIENDS

III.  GOD-ORDAINED MESSAGES

Act 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Paul's messages came out of his passions.

One Greek dictionary (Thayer) describes the word reasoned (dialegomai) as

to think different things with one’s self, mingle thought with thought

1a) to ponder, revolve in mind to converse, discourse with one, argue, discuss.
 

The more arguments you win, the fewer friends you'll have.

Paul was an "internal thinker." He didn't just nod his head and go along with the crowd.

First he pondered. He let thoughts revolve around in his mind.

Then he spoke, discoursed, argued and discussed the facts at hand to the goal of persuading others to receive the truth of God's Word. 

He delivered “God-ordained messages” by taking time to think things through.

Paul persuaded his listeners by turning them into friends and by seeking their favor. He had their welfare in his heart. He gained their trust because they sensed he was compassionate about their welfare.

You no doubt have heard the saying by John C. Maxwell, Christian author, speaker, and pastor, that "People don't care know how much you know until they know how much you care." 

Maxwell also said, “If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone.” and “A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”

Paul didn't run away from challenges and he was passionate about his God-ordained message of hope in Christ. and being comfortable wasn't one of his goals.

PLACES, FRIENDS, MESSAGE

IV.  GOD-ORDAINED AUDIENCE

Paul was sensitive to the Spirit's leading to carry the message of Jesus Christ to a people group that, to him, were unclean - the gentiles.

Act 18:5-6 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 

And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and 

said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

When we follow God-ordained friendships, we must be willing to go where those friendships lead us. Paul, along with Silas and Timothy were led by God to carry the message of Christ to the Gentiles...and thank the Lord that they did, for that's where you and I enter the picture.

The Jews have been called God's Chosen People and certainly they were, however, when they rejected Christ, God chose to have the message of salvation in Christ go to the Gentiles. 

Our salvation in Christ has come to us because of the rejection by the Jews. Such a special gift...let us not become as some have said, "The Frozen Chosen." May we be forever thankful for what God has done for us. As Scripture says:

2 Th. 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Eph 1:4-6 just as he chose us in the Messiah before the creation of the universe to be holy and blameless in his presence. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself through Jesus the Messiah, according to thepleasure of his will, so that we would praise his glorious grace that he gave us in the Beloved One.

God ordained us in love for adoption to himself through Christ. It was His will so that we would praise his glorious grace (unmerited favor) that He gave us in Christ.

May we be on fire for the Lord before others so that they may experience the love and forgiveness that we have so graciously been given.

The Jews rejected Paul's message of salvation in Christ and God sent (ordained) Paul to carry that message to a people group (the Gentiles) that would be least expected to be the recipient of salvation through Christ.

PLACES, FRIENDS, MESSAGE, AUDIENCE

V.  GOD ORDAINED GROWTH (Proselytes)

JUSTUS' HOUSE

Act 18:7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.

Though Paul was changing the direction of his ministry focus, that is to Gentiles, he didn't go to another city or town. He just went to a house next door to the synagogue...the house of Justus.

What a beautiful picture of the fact that our ministry can begin right with our next door neighbor. Paul carried on his labors for Christ in the house of Justus, which was next to the synagogue. 

The house would be easily accessible to synagogue worshipers that would be open to the light of Christ. Justus, too, probably being a proselyte (a converted Jew), would more easily draw a mixed audience than the synagogue itself. From this time forward, conversions rapidly increased.

The easy way out is to invite people to church. However, the more effective, yet costly way is to invite people into your home. It is a stronger message.

CRISPUS' HOUSE (The Synagogue Ruler)

Act 18:8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

GOD-ordained PLACES, FRIENDS, MESSAGES, AUDIENCES, GROWTH

VI.  GOD ORDAINED PROTECTION

Act 18:9-11 - And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people." And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

God told Paul in a night vision not to be afraid and not to be silent. Persecution will always have at least two effects...fear and the being afraid to say anything.

Persecuted people are seldom vocal. Pleading the 5th protects against accusations, but it silences what is true and creates internal conflicts. However, there are times to remain silent. Jesus himself at one time was silent:

Mat 27:12-14 - And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.

When is it appropriate to speak and when is it appropriate to be silent? Ask God for wisdom (or your lawyer).

At this time in Paul's ministry, he was assured that he would be protected. God wasn't through with Paul yet in the same way that Christ was protected by God so that He was able to deliver completely God's message to the world.

CONCLUSION

God has a message for us to deliver to the world and He will protect us in order that we can deliver that message. However, let us not forget that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. For us, God has ordained...

PLACES, FRIENDS, MESSAGES, AUDIENCES, GROWTH AND PROTECTION

In Christ, we have overcome the world. Use us Lord for your honor and glory until we hear the words,

“Mat. 25:21 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.