From the desk of Steve Shultz:
YOU are chosen. Get that? Excellent word by my friend Catherine Brown on this matter and she'll have much more to say. AND let's not forget to pray for Israel in this hour which IS the apple of God's eye and they are His chosen people.
Also, would you do me a favor? Please help us keep sending you words by buying as many prophetic items as you are able to from the Elijah List at this link: www.elijahshopper.com. You might save a buck by buying it online through Amazon, but you'll help us build the Kingdom more effectively if you buy things through us. Will you consider that "proposal"? Thank you for supporting us!
Catherine Brown:
A Chosen People
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10
Introduction
The first of Apostle Peter's letters was sent to scattered groups of Christians in the five Roman provinces which covered the greater part of modern Turkey, north of the Taurus mountains. Peter most probably wrote from Rome (see 1 Peter 5:13) at the outbreak of Nero's persecutions. He had John Mark with him, and his companion Silvanus (Silas) to help him write. Christians in other parts of the Empire would soon be suffering as they were in Rome. Peter's message is one of comfort, hope, and encouragement to stand firm.
The second letter mentions neither place of writing nor destination. Scholars have very great doubts whether the letter is really Peter's. It certainly differs in language and subject from 1 Peter – and some scholars point out anachronisms and believe the writer "borrowed" from Jude. It is possible that a disciple of Peter wrote in his name, incorporating his teaching, but there is no conclusive proof. Long-standing tradition and the care taken by the early Councils as forgeries incline us to assume the letter is Peter's. He is facing death as he writes (2 Peter 1:14). The Church is beset and confused by false teaching – about Christian behavior, and about Christ's return. His theme, therefore, is true knowledge. (Extract: The Lion Handbook to the Bible).
Apostle Peter is deeply concerned that the message of salvation is preached in all its fullness. The message of the centrality of the Cross is resplendent throughout the two Epistles. Peter is speaking to a suffering Church and wants to encourage the Believers, but also wants to keep them doctrinally sound as they face persecution.
The great themes of the redeeming work of Christ are woven throughout the two Epistles. Other recurring themes are the triune nature of the Godhead, holiness, purity, love, fear of the Lord, obedience, suffering for one's faith, humility, justification, sanctification, Kingdom teaching. Apostle Peter makes destiny declarations alongside of practical discipleship instructions.
Even as he faces death, Peter writes of a living hope, being living sons and living for God. His work is ALIVE!
We are going to look briefly at four statements Apostle Peter makes, but we will focus on the first one today:
(1) A chosen people
(2) A royal priesthood
(3) A holy nation
(4) A people belonging to God
A Chosen People
Apostle Peter opens his Epistle to "God's elect." The context is to the Jew first, although Ephesians 2 shows the two have become "one new man" in Christ.
(1) "He [Christ] was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." 1 Peter 1:20 (This reveals Christ's eternal perspective in creation and over all things created.)
(2) "As you come to Him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him..." 1 Peter 2:4 (We see the revelation of the eternal relationship between Father and Son.)
(3) "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame." 1 Peter 2:6 (Christ's eternal Personhood and duality of purpose is revealed both in His priestly capacity as Saviour and in his kingly capacity as the Son of God [see Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:27]).
Three times in Scripture Peter records "chosen," and three times "precious" (including 1 Peter 2:7: "Now to you who believe, this stone is precious"). The context of our being chosen is in Christ and through covenant with Him. God chose Jesus and calls Him precious; we, too, are chosen and equally precious before the God of all creation.
We are chosen by God:
Ephesians 1:4 "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight."
It is essential that every Believer comprehends that they have been chosen by God and also that they have been chosen for a divinely inspired purpose. If you never realize that being "chosen" by God is because He has a unique plan for your life, then you will remain aimless and without focus in your walk with Him. We are revived for mission!
Apostle Peter stresses that our position as chosen sons and daughters of God requires us to walk in holiness before God. Each one of us has no holiness of our own by which we can obey this instruction, but it is through the grace of God and the righteousness of Christ imputed to us at salvation that we are enabled to walk blamelessly before Him. What a glorious God, who not only chose us and sealed us with the Holy Spirit, but He who also blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ!
Apostle Paul echoes the glorious themes of being chosen for holiness in his opening message of the first letter to the Church in Ephesus: "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves" (Ephesians 1:4-6).
It is the love of God that gives us access to untold blessings when we surrender our lives to Him.
Paul goes on to list some of the blessings of being chosen by God:
- Redemption through the Blood of Jesus
- Forgiveness of our sins
- Lavish grace given as a gift to the children of God, along with godly wisdom and understanding
- The making known of the mystery of God's will
- Access to and outworking of the predestined plans and purposes of God
- A living hope in Christ
- Our surrendered lives become a praise of His glory
- Inclusion in Christ through the truth of the Gospel of salvation
- Marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, guaranteeing our inheritance
Truly, it is a most remarkable and awesomely wonderful thing to be chosen by God!
Is Israel Still "Chosen"?
It would be totally remiss of us not to consider the absolute importance of Israel as being chosen by God, for the Gospel is first for the Jew (see Romans 1:16).
Israel is chosen by God; "[Moses speaking to the Israelites] Yet the Lord set His affection on your forefathers and loved them, and He chose you, their descendants, above all nations, as it is today" (Deuteronomy 10:15).
"For the sake of His great name the Lord will not reject His people, because the Lord was pleased to make you His own." 1 Samuel 12:22
Chosen means: selected, picked, taken, indicated, elected, pick out, decide on, go for, point out, vote for; decided, wanted, preferred, desired, wished, opted.
God chose Israel as the apple of His eye and His firstborn son; God has also chosen the gentiles as His beloved. Today, meditate on the fact God has chosen YOU and has made provision through Christ to fulfil every dream He has for you.
Glory to God!
Catherine Brown
Founder/Director, Gatekeepers Global Ministries
Co-Founder, Scottish Apostolic Networking Enterprise
Email: admin@gatekeepers.org.uk
Catherine Brown is the founder/director of Gatekeepers Global Ministries (GGM) and is a sought-after national and international preacher and teacher. She is presently leading a global evangelism and discipleship mission entitled "GGM 7 Million Souls" and is working with her team and valued partners from many nations to achieve the vision objectives. She operates in an impacting apostolic/prophetic mantle with a strong revival thrust on her preaching, serving the Church and the lost through Christ's Gospel of love. She has ministered in Europe, Africa, Israel and the USA and has had the privilege of seeing people saved, baptized, healed and delivered in the glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit, with signs and wonders following. Catherine's passion for Christ and His Kingdom is contagious and wherever she ministers people are envisioned, equipped, empowered and mobilized. Catherine is married to Stephen and they have four lovely children and live in the West Coast of Scotland.
