Before the beginning of time, as we know it, the Church was the master plan of God. A people created, called out and chosen to become by faith, a people of power, worship, praise and unity, revealing the very nature of God, himself.
From Genesis to Revelation, men have been and are being called out and chosen, to declare the Glory of God throughout the world! “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14). “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world begun.” (II Tim. 1:9). For the Church of the living God to be relevant in 2020 and the preceding years, to the coming of Christ are crucial. The Church must know its mandate, and know the spiritual dynamics of the day, in which we are living.
Abraham became the father of faith and journeyed by faith into the unknown, looking forward to a gathering, of a people and a place which he never saw, but believed and died in the faith, which it shall come to pass!
Many are the men and women, who withstood adversities, ridicules, life threating circumstances, miraculous experiences and even death, over the centuries of time, to bring forth the Church, birthed in the mind of God, to reveal His unfailing love and Deity to man!
The gathering of people called and chosen to be carriers of the Glory of God cannot afford to be scattered and not come together. We should be the pillar of strength and security for the nation, a solid foundation, of Godliness, comfort, healing, love and the soul redeeming element to the lost, confused, weary, forgotten and all those who know not the greatness of God past, present and that which is yet to come! Amen!
The Church has always been and shall continue to be a challenging force within society. It is “the pillar of strength” that holds society together, politically, socially, spiritually, and morally. Your individual towns, communities, cities and country will not survive the test of time without it. History has proven that, a nation who rejects God shall fall!
The Church is a Body with many members. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bound or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.’3 For the body is not one member, but many.14 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.’8 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.27 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”28 (I Cor. 12:13-14, 18, 27-28). All members are needed, to fulfill the great commission of Jesus: Go ye into all the world and preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make disciples.
The Gospel is not just words; it has to be implemented with human involvement. Jesus did not just send the word, but he became his word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ The same was in the beginning with God.2 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”3 (John 1:1-2, 14). He left heaven and came down and did a ministry of action, which involved the human touch and inner personal actions.
We have become very comfortable, anxious to embrace all the technologies. Have we really looked and researched all the wonderfulness we are enjoying? The cloud (satellites), smart phone, the internet highway and mobile money offerings. It all seem so convenient and the answer to our 21st Century needs. The coronavirus has forced the church to depend on it for spiritual survival. The church has been motivated by fear and other elements of society, such as, high ranking religious communities and valid political concerns. The Church in 2020 and preceding years to come are crucial. The Church must know the mandate and know the spiritual dynamics of the day in which we are living.
What other message does the Church, a people called out and chosen, vibrates with in society at large? Have we responded with absoluteness and courage? Has it caused or revealed cracks in our pillar of strength? Is this virus a wakeup calls and shake up to mankind, especially the Church?
God’s plans and ways have never been in line with the political and religious norms of the day. It can be challenging to mankind, to activate and follow through in difficult times. It requires unity and collective efforts and obedience, to the Word of God, causing His blessing to act on our behalf. The Church must go beyond just words, but words that take on life in the believers, according to the purpose and will of God. A preached word without mobilized gathering and action is just a word without life.., and dead.
The People Called Out and Chosen
Old Testament (Scripture Ref.)
ABRAHAM
- And when Abram was ninety, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
- And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
- And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall
come out of thee. Genesis 17:1-2, 6 - 0 ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen.
- He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
- He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Psalm 105:6 — 8
- That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, That I may glory with thine inheritance.
- Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power
to be known. Psalm 106:5, 8 - He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving
glory to God. - And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Roman 4:20—21
JACOB - And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed
him. - And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more
Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. - And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a
company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy lions.
Genesis 35:9-11 - Harken unto me, 0 house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which
are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: - And even to your old age 1 am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made,
and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. - To who will ye liken me, and make me equal. and compare me, that we may be like?
- Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God,
and there is none like me. - Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not
yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do my pleasure. Isaiah 46:3-5; 9 -10
The People Called Out and Chosen
New Testament (Scripture Ref.)
- Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the Apostles whom he had chosen.
- To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
- And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
- For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
- When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
- And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which
the Father hath put in his own power. - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:2 — 8 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter
and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost. - For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
- And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from this untoward generation.
- Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:4, 37—41
The People Called Out and Chosen
The Future (Scripture Ref.)
- The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
- Thou are worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:10 — 11
- And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
- He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8a. note but the fearful shall not have a part! Revelation 21:6 — 8a - I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:16
The Gathering of a People Called Out and Chosen
Old Testament Facts of the Called Out and Chosen
Noah — Preached, Prophesied
Built never seen before (Ark),
Heir of righteousness
Abraham — Left all for a place he knew not; Asked to sacrifice his only son;
Father of our faith.
Jacob — Deceitful, Runaway, called out to return back, wrestled with God, became the father of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Joseph — Dreamer, favorite, lied on, preserver of the called out and chosen.
Moses — Hid by his mother, rescued, raised an Egyptian, murdered an Egyptian, ran away, called out, chosen to go back into Egypt to deliver God’s people, lead them through the Red Sea and gathering them, to journey through the wilderness.
David — the most unlikely, a murderer, squeezed into repentance, a man after God’s own heart.
Daniel — refused to eat the King’s meat, prayed with his window open 3 times a day to his God and not the King’s image. the prophet of the things to come! (End time).
Ruth — young, foreigner, gleaner of the fields in a strange land, caretaker of aged Naomi, she became the great grandmother of King David.
Esther — orphan. young, Jewish, not knowledgeable of the affair of the things to be a serious contender to be queen, but was placed in the position to become queen and became queen! Queen Esther went to the King on behalf of her people, breaking all the laws, to stand before the king, in order to save her people, the law to destroy her people was reversed!
New Testament – Facts of the Called Out and Chosen
John the Baptist — dwelled in the wilderness, dressed like a wild man, called out chosen from his mother’s womb, known as John the Baptizer, a voice crying prepare ye the way of the Lord!
Peter — uneducated, not courageous, denied Jesus, had a pure love for Christ, called the rock, the Church’s New Testament Pentecostal fire and foundational apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Paul — once Saul, prosecutor of the Apostolic Church, Blinded and called out and chosen, New Testament Missionary, imprisoned, a courageous and prolific writer.
John — The Beloved, exiled, the Revelator of the closing of the book and the future of the gathering of the called out and chosen, final judgments, and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All these men and women died in the faith and many died terrible deaths because of their faith in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Read Hebrew 11:7-40
We are still living the New Testament Gospel, Go ye into all the world!
The Gathering Place
MOSES
- Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the
children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they. - And Moses did look upon all the work, and behold, they had done it as the LORD had
commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them. Exodus 39:32, 43 - And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards
thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. - And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent
above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. - And he took and put the Testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put
the mercy seat above upon the ark. - And he set the layer between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water
there, to wash withal. - And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat.
- When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the
alter, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. - Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled
the tabernacle. Exodus 40:18 —20, 30 — 32, 34
JEHOSHAPHAT
- And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the
LORD, before the new court. - And said, 0 LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? And rulest not thou
over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is there not power and might, so
that none is able to withstand thee? - Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of the land before thy people
Israel, and gayest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend forever? - And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
- If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand
before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in
our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. - Ad all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their
children. - And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king
Jehoshaphat, thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this
great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
II Chronicles 20:5—9, 13, 15
The Gathering Place
Our temporary places or structures of worship are all over the world. Our Churches, the gathering places, some are built with much pride and effort. The place of worship, praise, is to fellowship, planning for unified efforts, discipleship training, strategic planning, to carry the Gospel to the lost, weak, poor, the sick, the hungry and dying. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.42 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,46 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And he Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”47 (Acts 2:42, 46-47)
The Church is the gathering place of combined prayerful effort, it is where we bring our resources, spiritual gifts and minds. Having all things in common to fulfill, the authority giving to us by Jesus after his resurrection. “And all that believed were together, and had all things common.” (Acts 2:44)
Upon Jesus’ death, the veil in the midst of the temple was torn open, so we all can freely worship, in a place as one, in His presence, drinking freely from the fountain of life! Hallelujah! Amen!
There is a place set aside, where God dwells in the midst of the believers. The Church should not take lightly, the place appointed and anointed for worship, as David put it “a house for God”!
Abraham looked for it. (Hebrew 11:10)
Moses constructed a tent. (Exodus 40:18-19)
David desired and prepared for it. (I King 8:17-19)
Solomon built it. (I King 8:20, 29, 30)
The 21st century Church has left much to be desired. (Read the Book of Revelation)
The place of gathering have always been a place of corporate prayer, for the body of believers. “And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13). The gathering and coming together, in unified prayer is essential. Every believer’s daily prayer life when joined together, in the gathering place, in obedience to the Word of God, brings down the presence of God for the world to know that Jesus is alive and well!
Our Churches must collectively stand up! Step up! It cannot be complacent or political in words or deeds, but set ablaze with the fire of Pentecost! Men and Women cried out, what must we do to be saved! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!
About the Author: District Elder Dr. Myra B. Simpson DISTRICT ELDER AT-LARGE
Liberian West African Council (35th Episcopal District), Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.
Directress of Christian Education and Early Childhood development, HMI/P.A.W. INC
Founder and Chairperson of Women Assured Ministry, HMI/P.A.W. INC
Pastor, Haywood Mission Institute Chapel, HMI/P.A.W. INC
First Lady, Liberian West African (35th Episcopal District) Pentecostal Assemblies of the world INC.
Member of the Board of Directors, LWAC/ PAW, INC.
Advisor to missionary and Christian Women Auxiliary, LWAC/ PAW
President of the Ministers’ Wives, LWAC/PAW, INC.
Awarded One of the Liberia’s Prestigious Medals by Her Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia in July 2011