God Hath Chosen December 31, 2017
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound(put to shame) the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29. That no flesh should glory in his presence.
God’s ways are so vastly above ours. He knows what not to choose. God hath not chosen:
Not many wise (after the flesh). So if you’re not smart, it’s okJ. Some were wise, like Joseph.
Genesis 41:39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, there is none so wise as thou art:
But Joseph knew his wisdom was given to him from God.
Genesis 41:16 And Joseph answered, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Solomon also had wisdom given to him from God.
1 Kings 4:30-31a And Solomon . . . was wiser than all men;
These were some wise men – but not after the flesh. We don’t want to think we know it all. We have to be taught. It’s not education or mental capacity. God reveals His love letters by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:18-19a Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
Not many mighty (powerful or capable). Some were mighty, like Apollos, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures... (Acts 18:24)
Acts 7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
Notice that God did not choose Moses at first when he went about to deliver Israel in his own strength. God was not going to use worldly might. Moses had to wait 40 years on the backside of the desert before he was ready. When he realized he was nothing then God could use him.
Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent,
Not many noble
The angel of the Lord didn’t announce the birth of the Saviour to kings and nobles but to shepherds.
But God hath chosen . . . The foolish things of the world. The cross is not foolish to those that believe.
1 Corinthians 1:18-21 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
The weak things of the world. Psalms 102:23 He weakened my strength in the way;
The new man is renewed (the outward man perishes). When we are self-sufficient we don’t cry out to the Lord. When we realize we are weak, He will show Himself strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, 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: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
The base (ignoble) things of the world. God used Gideon even though he was the least.
Judges 6:15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
David knew the battle was the Lord’s and defeated Goliath.
The despised. Christ was despised and rejected of men, He took the weak way.
Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Luke 16:15 that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Things which are not God calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Rom. 4:17)
God called Abraham the father of many nations when he didn’t even have a son. The angel of the LORD called Gideon a mighty man of valour. God knew what they would be. It is the same for us. When He proposes, it might not be visible now that we are ravishing to Him, but He knows our hearts. This is not our day, but God will reveal whom He has loved. Naturally we don’t take pleasure in being weak, despised or base, but God knows what He is doing. There are so many testimonies of those that would not have traded their trial for what God revealed to them in it. As we look forward to the New Year, we know we all have needs. God knows our heart and will bring exactly what is best for us. He’ll show Himself strong, and we’ll say thank you Lord! God specializes in things called impossible! Got any rivers?
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Sermon Topics: Chosen of God