CHOSEN TO BE DISCIPLES

JOH 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and {that} your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. JOH 15:17 "This I command you, that you love one another.

JOH 15:19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

2TH 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

EPH 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

There is an aspect of the gospel that is not well known or understood. We didn't choose Christ or the Father or the Holy Spirit, He chose us. He has chosen us out of the world. He has chosen us for salvation. He has chosen us in Christ.

1CO 1:26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 1CO 1:27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 1CO 1:28 and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, 1CO 1:29 that no man should boast before God.

ROM 9:10 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived {twins} by one man, our father Isaac; ROM 9:11 for though {the twins} were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose according to {His} choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, ROM 9:12 it was said to her, "The older will serve the younger." God chose, whom He chose, out of His sovereign choice. God chose you, you didn't choose Him! ROM 11:5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to {God's} gracious choice.

ROM 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; ROM 8:30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. ROM 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God {is} for us, who { is} against us?

I am presenting a question that each one of us should answer for himself. Did you chose to become a Christian or were you chosen to be a Christian by God's sovereign choice? We tend to put things into the perspective of making a decision to "be Christians", or making a decision to "be saved". We may choose to take "a discipleship training course".

Jesus made this statement about His choosing them and not them choosing Him to His 12 disciples at the last supper. This was going to be a very difficult time for the disciples and Jesus knew that they would forsake Him. If they had just chosen to follow this prophet or teacher, this would be a good time to chose to follow some other prophet or teacher because this one didn't pan out. He wasn't the success that they had expected. If they had chosen Him, they could also choose if they would continue. If they chose to follow, they could just as easily chosen not to follow.

Now if Christ had chosen them, they couldn't chose to not be chosen. It was out of the realm of their decision. Today, we have this gospel of salvation where we ask people to make a decision to accept Jesus as personal savior. If we accept Him, they tell us we are saved. Then those who have chosen Heaven over Hell, can also choose what church they will go to and how they will live their life and every other decision they want to make. We have developed a doctrine of free will, which means we are free to do what ever we will. If we make a decision to bear much fruit that would be a big plus and really impress God.

What we miss is that bearing " fruit" is the minimum requirement. If you don't bear fruit He can separate you and cast you in the fire. You may say "That is not possible because I chose Him". That is irrelevant. What is relevant is that He has chosen you and appointed you to go and bear fruit. The attitude in the western church is "I am really too busy to be concerned about all this fruit business". "I have accepted Jesus as personal savior and that is enough". JOH 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. JOH 15:6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Your decision is irrelevant. What God is looking for is fruit. This is why Jesus called us and this is what He has appointed us to do. This is not negotiable and nothing less that this will be accepted.

ROM 11:22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

Now, if we had chosen Him and did Him a favor by accepting Him as personal savior, we could also choose if we wanted to be bothered about fruit. That is not our privilege because we didn't choose Him, He chose us for the purpose of bearing fruit.

If we decided to do Him a favor and accept Him as personal savior he better not command us to do anything or we might reject Him. But if He chose us and bought us with His own blood and purchased us as His slaves, He has a perfect right to command us to do whatever He wishes. Therefore, He commands us to love one another. JOH 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. JOH 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." If He has chosen us out of the world and saved us from eternal destruction and forgiven us of our sin, then He has a perfect right to command us to love one another. He has called us "from" but He has also called us "unto" discipleship. There is no way to be His disciples unless we have love one for another. That is His character and that must be our character, if we are going to be His disciples. Therefore, He commands us because there is no choice and no other way. Fruit and discipleship go together.

What, then, is the significance of Him choosing us rather than us choosing Him? Was this unusual for disciples in that day? Didn't disciples always choose who they would follow? John the Baptist was a prophet. Many chose to follow him. He didn't choose them, they chose him. They remained loyal and committed to him. When Jesus began His ministry, John's disciples followed Jesus. John had to decrease and Jesus must increase. The common practice of the day was for disciples to choose what teacher they would follow. Discipleship wasn't a new concept. All craftsmen had their disciples, what we would call apprentices or students. If you wanted to be an artist, you chose what artist you wanted to be like. You paid him a fee and he trained you with his knowledge. If he wasn't doing a good job or the two of you didn't get along, you could quit and choose another teacher to follow.

If we see "the rich young ruler" in the light of a student looking for a teacher he could follow and be trained in his philosophy, we get a clearer picture of the scene. LUK 18:18 And a certain ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" LUK 18:19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. LUK 18:20 "You know the commandments, 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'" LUK 18:21 And he said, "All these things I have kept from {my} youth." LUK 18:22 And when Jesus heard {this,} He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." LUK 18:23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad; for he was extremely rich. It is one thing to pay a weekly fee to learn a trade or to be taught a philosophy but it is ridiculous to require all that you have, unless, of course you didn't have very much. The young man expected to pay something, because that was common policy, but no ordinary teacher could require that much.

LUK 18:24 And Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! LUK 18:25 "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." This is very significant because Jesus is not just another teacher with a new philosophy. He is making disciples for the Kingdom of God.

LUK 18:18 And a certain ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" ( Good Teacher, let me check out your philosophy concerning eternal life and I will decide if I want to be trained in that philosophy.) Jesus said, Lets get right to the real issue. I'm not here to teach primarily about eternal life but about the Kingdom of God. If all you are interested in is eternal life, just keep the commandments. You don't have to sell all you have to buy eternal life under the Old Covenant. But what My teaching and My life is all about is the Kingdom of God. For the Kingdom of God, you still lack something! I'm not interested in being a "good teacher". Do you want to become a disciple of the Kingdom? Then sell all you have and come and follow Me. This is not a matter of paying for a few lessons. This is a matter of the Eternal Kingdom! ( It is obvious that you have enough to contribute to My ministry but that is not what is in view here). You do not choose Me, I am the one who does the choosing. This is not a matter of learning some doctrines but it is a matter of coming into the Government of God.

LUK 18:26 And they who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" LUK 18:27 But He said, "The things impossible with men are possible with God." LUK 18:28 And Peter said, "Behold, we have left our own {homes,} and followed You." LUK 18:29 And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, LUK 18:30 who shall not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life. "

When the disciples heard what Jesus said to the rich young ruler they said in effect " Wait a minute. Who can be saved. We thought we were in this thing to receive "eternal life". What Jesus said was this: If you leave everything, it is for the sake of the Kingdom of God and not to receive some teaching. If you leave everything for the Kingdom your provision will be assured and in the age to come, you will receive "eternal life". Eternal life is at the end of this package. It is the Kingdom that I am here to announce. I am making disciples of the Kingdom and not disciples of some philosophy. For that reason, I have to do the choosing.

A disciple is one who is taught by another. The disciple must choose what he wants to learn and then choose the best teacher in that field, that he can afford. If he is poor, he would have to accept a lesser known teacher. If he were rich, he could check out all the teachers and choose which ever one he wanted. If he could pay promptly, any teacher would be happy to have him as a pupil. The whole problem with this Kingdom business is that it is not a matter of money but of a whole different life, vision and character. It requires a different kind of commitment. To be a disciple of the Kingdom requires all that you have. It is not a matter of paying promptly every week but a matter of giving everything up front. No wonder that the rich young ruler was sad. Now he would have to look for another teacher that would charge a reasonable fee. Who ever heard of a teacher making such a ridiculous requirement? Now, if it was up to the rich young man to choose, he could try one and if that didn't work out he could choose another.

In the Kingdom of God, God does the choosing. We can obey or disobey but we don't have the liberty of choosing. It is God who chooses. It is Christ who calls and it is the Holy Spirit who does the training. He is the "TEACHER AND THE GUIDE" who prepares the disciples. He is the one who has to "LEAD INTO ALL TRUTH". He is the One who takes the things that belongs to Jesus and reveals them unto us. He is the One who does the speaking but He doesn't speak on His on initiative but what He hears He speaks.

Jesus Christ is the Comforter (or paracletos) who is at the right hand of God. He is the one who has sent another Comforter (or paracletos), The Holy Spirit, who will stay with us forever. Now, this "DISCIPLER OF MEN" will be "IN YOU". You don't have to pay for lessons every week. This discipleship is not about money. Just give Him everything you have up front. He will see to it that your needs are met and in the age to come you will receive Eternal Life.

Now let us see if we can see this in perspective! JOH 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and {that} your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. JOH 15:17 "This I command you, that you love one another. He chose us to bear fruit and to love one another and receive definite answers to our prayers.

God has not chosen us to be hermits in a cave trying to be spiritual. He hasn't chosen us to be isolated Christians. Within His choosing is a whole fellowship of others that we have to learn to love. As disciples of the Kingdom, this is not an option. It is a commandment! This is not a one way love where we are commanded to love others but they are not commanded to love us. With His disciples there must be a fellowship of love. We could call this "the supportive love in relationship". This is a corporate love of everyone that has been chosen. The reason this must be a commandment is that in the Kingdom nothing less can be accepted. The Kingdom cannot function with inner conflict. In the next verses Jesus assured them that there was going to be all kinds of outer conflict with those on the outside but there cannot be any inner conflict within the Kingdom of God. Those who caused inner conflict were thrown out of the Kingdom of Heaven and He is not going to accept into the Kingdom of God those who do the same things as the Devil and his bunch. If you don't manifest love for each other you cannot participate.

JOH 16:2 "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. JOH 16:3 "And these things they will do, because they have not known the Father, or Me. JOH 16:4 "But these things I have spoken to you, that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

This really doesn't sound like "good news" but Jesus is warning them of the tremendous pressure that will come upon them. Now He is going away. However, He is not going to leave them as orphans, without a Paracletos or one to comfort and instruct them. When the Holy Spirit comes, He is going to be inside you so that no one can put Him in jail or crucify Him or separate Him from you. They are going to do some bad things to Me and I will be separated from you but when He comes He will never be separated from you but will be with you forever. If they put you in jail, he will be right there with you.

If Jesus had just chosen us and called us to learn His teaching and His doctrines, after we learned them we would be free to go and become teachers ourselves. Then we could charge others to learn the doctrines. The goal would be "the teaching". The goal of the New Covenant is not doctrines but our discipleship to the Kingdom.

The goal of our relationship is Jesus, Himself. We are chosen and called to the Kingdom, the government of God. But, we are selected to be with Him and become His bride. The first is discipleship and the second is relationship and preparation. Geneses 24 is a picture of the selection and the preparation. Esther chapter 2 shows how the queen is prepared. Both Rebekah and Esther were chosen. They didn't come looking for a husband. It is the Holy Spirit that selects and prepares. These are not two different callings but two aspects of the same choosing. One has to do with discipleship and obedience and love for one another and the other has to do with a love relationship and intimacy with Him.

JOH 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. JOH 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. JOH 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him."

We need to have a clear revelation of our twofold calling. The Kingdom is a Kingdom of love for one another. The bride-bridegroom relationship is a higher kind of intimate love for each other. If we have this revelation we will see why we are not called to be disciples of His teaching only but to become disciples of His Life. We surely must become disciples of His Kingdom but also disciples of His love. " I WILL LOVE HIM AND DISCLOSE MYSELF TO HIM" is much more than doctrine.

If we chose Him, we could set the terms of our discipleship. We could set perimeters and conditions. Lord, if you do this, I will do that. If all my needs are met to my satisfaction, I will follow you. If we chose Him we could say " I will go but first let me do something else". If we chose Him, we could put our hand to the plow a continue to look back.

However, if He chose us, and He is the sovereign God, we can't do anything but follow Him and do what He says. If He commands us, we can't do anything but say "Yes, Sir"! If He says "Bear fruit", we can only ask "How much"?

This "gospel of the giveaways" and the "gospel of the bargains" and the "gospel of the half priced sale", which has been presented as the "gospel of salvation" has undermined the whole concept of the "gospel of the Kingdom of God". It has asked us to believe something about forgiveness of sins but has not presented the Kingdom truth about discipleship. It has presented "Half-A-Gospel" and resents anyone preaching the other half.

If we chose the Kingdom, we could become ambitious to reap the "Kingdom Benefits" like Medicare. We could demand our rights as King's kids. If the Kingdom chose us, we just have to serve and see what the Kingdom provides. LUK 17:10 "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done {only} that which we ought to have done.'" The kingdom attitude is entirely different.

In the "gospel of salvation" Jesus loved us and died for us. In the "gospel of the Kingdom", 2CO 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 2CO 5:15 and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Our perspective in this matter of who does the choosing and who does the following will affect our eternal destiny. If we think we are here because we chose Heaven over Hell, Jesus over the Devil and life over death, we need to ask God to remove the scales from our eyes and to let us purchase eye salve so we can see. If God chose us, are we really seeing what that means.

If God chose us and Christ died to redeem us and the Holy Spirit has come to live in us to prepare us for the Kingdom of God and to become the bride of Jesus Christ, who are we to complain that we didn't get to do the choosing? Should we be offended that He makes certain demands upon us? Is it right that He should give us commandments and demand that we love one another and bear certain fruit? If we chose Him, we might resent it. However, if He chose us, then He sets the rules. If we ask ourselves what is the alternative to His Not choosing us, we will see from the right perspective.

If it is up to us to chose Him then we can make excuses that we have just got married and we can't be bothered at this time. However, if He chose us, we must forsake our wife, family, farms, lands or whatever prevents us from answering the call.

LUK 14:15 And when one of those who were reclining {at the table} with Him heard this, he said to Him, "Blessed is everyone who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" LUK 14:16 But He said to him, "A certain man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; LUK 14:17 and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is ready now.' LUK 14:18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.' LUK 14:19 "And another one said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.' LUK 14:20 "And another one said, 'I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.' LUK 14:21 "And the slave came {back} and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'

In the Kingdom, God does the choosing. We can accept or we can reject but we can't change the consequences. If we don't respond, God will chose others and reject us. If we do the choosing, He can wait until we are ready. If He does the choosing, we better respond immediately because we may never get a second chance. In "the gospel of salvation" we can make our decision whenever we choose. In the gospel of the Kingdom, He chooses. We are free to present our excuses but He will chose someone else in our place. LUK 14:24 'For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.' " If someone invites us to their house for dinner, we have the option to accept or postpone. We can ask for a rain check. When God invites us to the Kingdom, we don't have any options and there are no rain checks. If we did the choosing, that would be ridiculous. Since He does the choosing, He can set the requirements. If He says, " You get one invitation and no excuses or rain checks" that is how it is. This is not "the gospel of the giveaways" but the gospel of the Kingdom of God. It is foolish to wait for "the gospel of the half-priced sale". That only exists in the minds of men. The gospel of the Kingdom says "Count the cost and pay the price".

But, Lord, why can't I just join a discipleship class and learn the doctrines"? Because the Kingdom is not about teaching but about "life". I am going to send the Holy Spirit and He will teach you all things. He will not hold classes that you can attend but He will be "in you". Not to teach you the doctrines but to transform your life into "the life of the Kingdom". He will not teach you some facts about "truth" but will lead you into "all Truth". Not doctrine but "the reality of Truth" which is Kingdom experience. "Because of that I must do the calling and the choosing". 2PE 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 2PE 1:11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

REV 17:14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him {are the} called and chosen and faithful." To call and to choose is God's part. To be faithful is man's part. The "gospel of the bargains" tries to reverse this order. They want man to call and choose and God to be faithful.