Isaiah Roman

A Chosen Called Out People

“Who [goes to war] any time at his own charges? who [plants] a vineyard, and [eats] not of the fruit thereof? or who [feeds] a flock, and [eats] not of the milk of the flock” (I Corinthians 9:7)?

God is the Christian’s employer, if you will, and therefore the author and provider of His word: “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15: 16).

Unless the right purpose is in the mind and the heart is dedicated the one born again may very quickly and easily be diverted from truth. Unless and until a person acts out of love for God, that person’s diversion may divert them from being useful to God.

Christians “volunteer,” it is a willing response to Jesus’ call, “follow me” (Matthew 16: 24).  It is God who chooses, provides, preserves and ordains. The Holy Spirit provisions for service to “each one severally as he wills.”1 The re-born no longer work for God according to their own personal choice. They are an ambassador (one sent) for the Kingdom of God.

There are those who deliberately choose to be workers without the imputation of the Holy Spirit. They have not been purposed to the task by God’s almighty grace, nor does His mighty Word work in them. These do not go in the power of God but in their own strength. It is one thing to have a human desire; it is entirely another to receive from Christ at rebirth the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who burns within the heart2 spurring him on and providing the impetus3 for success through God’s plan.

An obedient Christian sent with a message of truth on his lips is an ambassador for God. He will have been given proper credentials, supplied by grace with the gifts necessary to “lift up” Christ and “draw all men”4 to Him. Regardless of intent, any other is an impostor.

It is imperative for a Christian to develop an active personal worship and prayer life to sustain him through the trials that will most certainly come. There are those who forget and/or neglect this. Because of this their strength will fail and when that strength fails, It will surely come to pass that they – as a streaming comet – will burn out as they streak across the sky.

On the other hand there are those who never seem to lose strength regardless of how long they live or what ever extreme conditions they may encounter. “How do you do it,” they are asked? They reply without exception, “by the grace of God, He is my provision.” The only answer is “sufficient grace” from God.5 For this kind of stamina there must be a definite call, an attention to worship and a prayer life that maintains the proper relationship with the Father through His Son Jesus Christ.

1. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (II Corinthians 12: 4-7).
2. “they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures” (Luke 24:32)?  God speaks to His Spirit that lives in the Christian’s heart.
3. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring “ (Acts 17:28).
4. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32).
5. “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9).