How Many Does God Call?
By: Dr. Mike Jones
In Matthew 22:14, Jesus said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” He wasn’t offering an opinion, but stating a fact.
It’s true this scripture refers to salvation, but the principle of the verse also applies to the purpose God has called each of us to in our Christian service to Him. One of our truly great bible scholars of the 2lst century said, “From the time a believer is first called by God to the purpose He ordained for that individual to the time when the individual is actually given the ok by God to carry out their purpose in ministry, there’s always a period of testing that marks that individual’s life.”
Often, the more responsibility the believer is given, the more intense testing they have to endure up front. If the believer successfully endures the testing, then and only then will he/she receive the anointing to carry out the purpose for ministry.
An excellent example is found in the Old Testament book of Judges. Gideon (Mighty Man of Valor) blew the trumpet for battle and 32,000 men of Israel answered the call to God’s service. You know the story, by the time Gideon subjected all the men to the testing God had laid out for them, only 300 men were chosen out of the 32,000 that were called.
The Bible revealed to us that Gideon was able to de more with 300 men who passed the test than 32,000 who basically followed for the fishes and loaves. This same principle can be applied in the New Testament church. How you may ask? One dedicated, disciplined believer is worth more than 50 members who are simply sitting on the sideline as a member of a local church.
Some of you may be saying (now), “who are you to judge me of my Christian service?” Well, actually I don’t, but the Word of God does by using Jesus as an example. Doing his earthly ministry, 1,000’s followed him for the fishes, loaves, miracles, etc. but doing His final hours before His severe testing as His hour on the cross drew near; only 11 men remained faithful. Again, in 1 Corinthians 15:6, “Jesus was seen of about 500 brethren at once,” but only 120 believers obeyed Him in Acts, Chapter one.
There are two main ways in which God tests believers who are called to a specific purpose and who say, “Yes” to his call:
He allows things to become HARD, and He allows things to become easy. This is brought to light in Mark’s Gospel, Chapter 4: The Parable of the Sower. Jesus spoke of the seed that fell on stony ground and He compared it to believers who “endured only for a time. Afterwards, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. He also spoke of the seed that fell among thorns and He compared it to believers in whom “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
For their lack of a relationship with their Lord and savior, some believers are not prepared to endure opposition, persecution, ridicule, loneliness, nor failure for the sake of the Gospel. And some cannot remain steadfast in the mist of worldly pleasures, comfort, or popularity. When opportunity arises, because of their status, they become silent participants in the mist of all the wickedness surrounding them by not standing up for the gospel.
Throughout the New Testament, the Bible continually warns believers that they must expect to undergo testing. They Holy Spirit prompted James (1:2-4) to write:
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trials; knowing (this), that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have (her) perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” SIMPLY STATED: GOD TRUSTS US ENOUGH TO LET US BE TRIED!
The Holy Spirit prompted Peter (1:7) to write: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of god that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
SIMPLE STATED; IF YOUR FAITH REMAINS STRONG AFTER BEING TRIED BY FIERY TRIALS, IT WILL BRING YOU MUCH PRAISE AND GLORY AND HONOUR ON THE DAY WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS REVEALED TO THE WHOLE WORLD!
It’s that intense trials are not something strange for true believers; they are God’s own appointment for each of us that is called and those of us that endure trials and then are chosen for the purpose God has set before us.
To be on of the “few that are chosen” you must believer that the calling of God upon your life is:
First—a High Calling (Philippians 3:13-14), Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but (this) one thing, I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
A high calling is a calling to forsake everything else and love God more than these. Jesus said in Luke 14:26-27, If any man comes to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sister, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doeth not bear his cross, and come after me, he cannot be my disciple.
Simply stated, he got alone with God, to know the full purpose of God for his life. He did not consult with others to find out what they thought God had called him to do. As a noted Bible scholar stated, and I wholeheartedly agree with him; “Today, when God calls Christians to specific ministry, the first reaction of many is to seek the opinions of others. Who will send me? Who will finance me? As a result, the voice of God is soon drowned out by the opinions of men. But to the Christian who is called and who is willing to put all his confidence in God, there comes a blessed assurance from God’s own world: “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:24.
Last, but certainly not least, there’s an urgency in the Spirit realm to go quickly and do what God has purposed you to do. Psalm 95:7 states, “For he [is] our God; and we [are] the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, [and] as [in] the day of temptation in the wilderness.”
In my conclusion: Endure His tests. Dedicate yourself to being about the business of the Lord. It’s in YOUR power not to become another name added to the “MANY WHO WERE CALLED – BUT NEVER CHOSEN LIST OF BELIEVERS!
(Adapted from Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen; all Scripture references are taken from the KJV unless otherwise noted.)