Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Chosen

Warning: As doctors are fond of saying, this might sting a little.
Since I have to leave the house in exactly thirty minutes, so I can make a meeting I plan on attending, I will make this short and to the point. No, it could not wait, it burns in me and wants to be let out.

It seems to me that modern day Christianity has become a bastion for mediocrity. After men have failed at everything else in life, they seem to gravitate toward ministry, and depending on how much scripture they are willing to twist, how much they are willing to compromise, they even become moderately successful in the eyes of the world, and fellow believers alike.
Although the men of God in scripture varied in age, formal training, educational background, even size and shape, one commonality is that they were all chosen of God.
One does not choose ministry, one is chosen, and called into ministry. Throughout the Word, those whom God called in to the work, into ministry, realized what it was they were being called to.
It was not a life of glamor, of fortune or fame, but a life of rejection, of being misunderstood and hated, of being beaten, imprisoned, hunted and persecuted.
This is why I often wonder about those who sometimes approach me with sunny dispositions, and say they want to be prophets, and watchmen. I wonder if they realize what it all entails.
It is because those who have not been called, or sent have gained prominence in Christendom that there is so much confusion, so many ruined lives, and shattered hopes.
One who is chosen, is not called to enjoy but to endure, he is not commanded to placate but to rebuke. A chosen vessel, one who is accountable to God, already knows the path will not be easy, that few will heed, and many will dismiss the Word, but he has no choice, for to refuse the calling would be to disobey God.
Every man chosen of God realizes and acknowledges his shortcomings. Some such as Moses even attempting to point their limitations out to God, in the hope that He might find a more suitable candidate.
If we truly realized, deep in our hearts what it means to be chosen, there would be allot less people jumping up and down shouting, 'pick me, pick me!'
The sun shone down as Elisha labored, with twelve yoke of oxen, he plowed the fields, and as he lifted his eyes, wiping the sweat from his brow, he looked toward the desert and saw a man approaching. The man walked with hurried purpose, and as he passed by Elisha, the man threw his mantle on him.
In one instant, in the span of a breath, the life he would never lead flashed before Elisha's eyes, the appreciation dinners that would never be given in his honor, the familiarity of his own bed night after night that he would never know, the anonymity that came with simply being a man plowing his fields he would never enjoy. All the simple pleasures of a simple man, gone. All that he had envisioned his life would be, all the dreams and plans, all of them disappeared in the span of a few seconds as he felt he weight of the mantle upon his shoulders.
Apologetically, Elisha spoke to Elijah after running and catching up to him, and explained that the wanted to go and bid farewell to his mother and father, to kiss them one last time, then he would follow.
Then Elijah looked upon the man whom God had chosen as his replacement, the one who would now lead the school of prophets, and shrugging his shoulders he said, 'go back again, for what have I done to you?'
In essence he was saying, 'you don't have to explain yourself to me, I am not the one who chose you.' Elisha turned back from Elijah, took a yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them, cooked the meat, and gave it to the people to eat, then arose and followed Elijah and served him.
When God calls, when one is chosen, he must be prepared for both labor and sacrifice. In order that we may obtain the crown, we must first be faithful in both the yoke, and the cross of Christ.
Too many desire the crown, but refuse the yoke, and since the cross of Christ can often be heavy and cumbersome, they substitute it with a miniature one they can carry in their pockets, or wear around their necks.
One who is chosen learns very quickly that you cannot be sent of God, unless the knowledge that walking with Him presupposes the yoke, the burning, and the cross, is firmly established in the heart.
Many go whom God has not sent, many speak when God has not spoken, and many consider the mantle to be the means by which they will achieve popularity and fortune.
It is the reason for which so many ministers and ministries that seem to have started out on the right track, with godly principles, wander from truth so often, because rather than pray for humility and endurance, they revel in the thought that their ship has finally come in.
When one is truly chosen, and called into the ministry, he does as Elisha, he goes and with one last kiss severs the ties to the life that might have been, arises and follows after Jesus, wholly committed, wholly engaged, wholly obedient.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.

10 comments:

A Seed Sower said...

Simply put a beautiful word Bro Michael. Yeah everyone wants to be the head and noboby wants to be the tail. Let he who would be the greatest amongst you, be the servant of all...no one wants to serve any more either, all want to be served..to bad.

Anonymous said...

michael you certainly have a way with words-and are quite the wordsmith, as someone else has penned you should consider writing:)-i have enjoyed hanging out reading your blogs---personally i have lived in pentecostal circles most of my christian life and i remember many moons ago when a Godly old saint gave me word out of luke-where Jesus spoke about he who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for service in the kingdom of God. in my youth at that time i was somewhat offended but now the wisdom is obvious. to the called out ones there must be a clean break with the past to enter into the new beginnings. as you have penned, elisha slaughtered the oxen and burned them and the yoke as an offering to God. he started out at great cost not only to himself but to his family as well. he truly burned his bridges when he entered into the call of God. i wonder how further in our walks each of us would be if we would have had as clean of a break from the old when we embraced the new.

pete g.

Anonymous said...

I don't know about being imprisoned, beaten etc, though these things may come - but what I have experienced is being ignored.

Somehow, that feels worse - trying to give something of the deep heart of God - to find it like water off a ducks back. I would rather be risen up against than politely thanked and the message ignored.

Still, it is not true of all, and of that I am most grateful.

Anonymous said...

Oh, my....Wow! Ouch! Yes and Amen X a thousand! [I hear knees and hearts crashing down to the floor...] Father, have mercy, because of the false images graven in the hearts of Your people. Bring us all back to Your sanity and the true concepts of Your purposes and callings. Bring an outpouring of repentance in this very hour when so many ministries and ministers are bringing reproach upon the Gospel and the Messiah. Should you find few in America worthy of Your Name and Kingdom, it would not surprise me or be unjust on Your part, for we are truly a pathetic representation of Your set-apartness and Your suffering Son, but please, keep the knife of circumcision upon our hearts until we come forth in the Image of our Savior. Cast us not away....You can make us into vessels of honor! Please don't give up. Some of us ARE hearing You and drawing nigh unto Your altar. Deliver us from Babylon, both inwardly and outwardly. Bless Michael for his obedience. May the rewards for faithfulness outweigh the burden of being earthbound for still a little while longer! For the sake of the King and the Kingdom. Amen.

Anonymous said...

To be able to communicate with God, and He communicate with me. To be able to have fellowship with God. For God to fill the empty space in my heart with His Holy Spirit and manifest commune with me.

There are no words that can accurately descibe this blessing.


I've read that this calling is the "burden of the Lord"

Whats the burden?

Is it God speaking to me, giving me visions, and me telling others about it even if they hate me and try to kill me?

Or when God doesnt speak to me, always silent unto me. Left to the wolves to push hersey in my face, Walking through the valley of shadow and death alone, and without thy rod or thy staff. Fate hangging in the balances.

I tell you brothers and sisters the prophets life is a good life, though it may seem like a bad life to the outside world and possibley within Christendom and maybe even to the prophets themselves, it is a.....good....life.

Oh Father God baptise me with your Holy Spirit and bless me with what others have called the "burden of the Lord" For I know the heaviness of your silence unto me, may you unload this burden of silence on me and lift me with with your communication with me, In Jesus name, Amen.

kprz1337@aol.com

Elm Street Chapel said...

Michael,

What you have written is true.

When the whole earth shakes at sound of God's voice against the nations, only those who have put on humility and have made themselves the servants of others will God give strength to stand.

I must admit, knowing that the Lord has called us to such a higher standard than living in this world, His word burns within my heart and I am always ready to let it out. But the truth is God must open the doors and close them, for if we try to do anything in our own strength (the flesh), no good thing can come of it.

God have your way in us that we may never disappoint you, and always speak what you have written upon our hearts.

In Him,
Ryan

ryancfrench@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Thank you Michael, for your passion and your concern about the false prophets and corruption we see in some church leaders today. It is very important, for all of us Christians, even those of us not in ministry, to rest and trust in the Lord and always keep in mind that we do nothing apart from His power and the blood of Jesus that gives us the grace to access that. In and of ourselves we are nothing but dust and ashes. Able to accomplish nothing good, zero, zip, nada.

Too many people, some with genuine motives to want to serve God, but who don't have a full understanding of that truth, try to do what they think best, and do it in their own power. Many are deceived by false teachings, which they then pass on. This is where the danger lies.

Many people then make the mistake of trying to force "results", as defined by our current worldly church system, which has been influenced by our materialistic cultural values, using their own power to try to obtain results that are not what God is asking in the first place. This is when weariness and discouragement can set in. Yes, we are all called to walk to the beat of a different drummer, and a live of service and blessing is often a life of sacrifice and saying goodbye to worldy things. It also means enduring criticism, judgement and attacks from the enemy. But in this knowledge of what God asks from us, we are never asked to do it in our own power. I offer a friendly reminder of

Matthew 11:30 where Jesus says

"Come to me all you who are weary and burderend, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

May we all pray daily for the strength that only God can give, for the heart of David, the wisdom of Solomon, and to learn more and more how to lean on Him in every circumstance and in every challenge that we face, whether in ministry or just in our daily walk with the Lord. May we all come to know our Sheperd's voice so very well, and find comfort and release for our weary hearts there in the comfort of His arms. And may the burdens that we carry be lightened as we feel His power reaching down to help and strengthen us.

Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord. May everyone reading this be challenged and blessed today to take up their crosses with gentleness and humility of heart, and thankfulness to our ever loving and most gracious Savior Jesus that He gives us the strength to do so. Praise Him and thank Him for all He has done for us.

May you each find the meaning of Matt 11:30 in your own walk today, and may you have the wisdom and courage to let go of what is not of God, in order to embrace what is.

Tahnk you again Michael for your passion and your love for our Lord. May you be given an extra measure of rest and renewal today.

Elm Street Chapel said...

Michael,
The total lack of the "Fear of the Lord" is beyond my understanding.

Luke 16:10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Matthew 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Revelation 19:3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

L,J,P&HG
Dave

Anonymous said...

Kevin P -

Thank you for sharing your heart with us. I have some thoughts to share with you which I hope and pray will encourage you in your faith.

God's presence is not in a "feeling." Our acute awareness of His presence may or may not be accompanied by or produce feelings, but we walk by faith. Our human feelings change, but His fact does not. He wants us believe what He says about Himself in His Word and agree with Him despite "evidence" to the contrary. Often He "hides" Himself and is silent, but He is always there. We do not need to strive to find Him.

Have you ever thanked Him for giving you the Holy Spirit even though you don't "feel" anything yet? The Father wants you to want HIM, not His gifts, not good feelings, nothing else. Sometimes the increased desire for intimacy with the Lord and increased hunger for His Word are the evidence that you HAVE received the Holy Spirit, but you may be looking for Him outside of where He says He abides. He abides in us!

As for the burden of the Lord - it is the heart of a Father concerning His wayward beloved children, even all His creation. It is His desire and longing for them. It is how the Lord feels and what He is concerned about and wants to express to them. Like, that He would die for them, which He did. But He doesn't change, He still feels that way about us - that He would do it again if it were necessary. The "burden" that Jeremiah felt about the words of horrible judgment coming to God's chosen people made him weep and wail and roll on the ground gripped with agony in his gut - this was an expression of God's heart about it, not Jeremiah's. That is why when they beat him and threw him in an empty well, Jeremiah's personal despair and pain could not outweigh "the burden of the Lord" - the heart of God - and Jeremiah was unable to "bear" it, or hold it in and keep it to himself. He had to express it no matter what they did to him. Jesus lived this burden out for us, but if we want to know Him, we will feel it too, as part of the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.

I daresay you don't really "want" a prophet's life. If you think you are burdened and lonely now... Paul says we should desire the gift of prophecy, but being a prophet and having the gift of prophecy to speak prophetic words are not the same thing. Anyone who calls themselves a prophet - well, for one thing, if they were they wouldn't need to tell anyone.

I hope something I have said strengthens your heart and helps you understand. I apologize for not quoting all the Scriptures I base these things upon. I am not good at remembering chapter and verse numbers by heart. You should ALWAYS check what people tell you with the Word of God. I will try to come up later today or tomorrow with a list of Scriptures you can look up - I do not have the ability to look them up on the computer and copy and paste digitally, I'll have to do it by hand from my Bible later. But I thought if I waited until then to say anything, I might never get to it.

Anonymous said...

Dear Amy,

Thank you for your words and taken time out of your schedule to write them. I thought the baptism of the Holy Spirit is when I recieve the Holy Spirit, and that I would feel an electic type feeling when it happend, and the gifts are the by products of that baptism. And the feeling thing I wrote before, was a quote in Dumitru Dudman's book Life in Christ.
The part you wrote about the burdern of the Lord was inspiring, thank you. Also its ok Amy, you dont have to post the bible verses

kprz1337@aol.com