A King Chosen by Men Comes Without the Grace

Sermon outline

God's people were never designed to fit into the world's culture, so stop measuring yourself by man's qualification and take your place in the vision by showing up, helping and learning, starting with your own household.

1. Called by God or called by man

   Israel asked for a king like the other nations because being ruled through a priest and a prophet was too demanding and held them accountable, and God gave them the king they chose. A king voted in by men does not come equipped with the skill, power or authority to lead with the grace of God; he may succeed for a while, and then his efforts lead him into trouble, just like Saul. God's calling is without repentance, so be relentless in it and lean on the Lord.

   “Be relentless in your calling and lean on the Lord.”

   • 1 Samuel 9:15-16
   • Romans 11:29

2. God's qualification is not man's qualification

   When you are called by God, nobody is going to be happy and everyone will have their say. Do not judge yourself by people's opinions, your past mistakes, where you come from or the colour of your skin. It is God who brings promotion, and the fact that you are alive today means He is not done with you; what you have gone through has been educating you for an appointed time.

   Illustration: Everyone knows how to coach a soccer team and tell the coach to get off, until the team wins the Champions League or the World Cup.

   “I don't care if they say you're unqualified. You are qualified by God.”

   • Psalm 75:6-7

3. The culture of a blessed life

   Moses was educated in all the wisdom and culture of Egypt, yet the call of God urged him out of that culture to embrace God's. The eloquent prince suddenly said he could not speak, because he had to learn a whole new language. We are new creations, reset to the original factory setting, learning the culture of the kingdom, a whole new way of living.

   “We have been reset to an original factory setting.”

   • Acts 7:22
   • Exodus 4:10
   • 2 Corinthians 5:17

4. You were never designed to fit in

   Moses was looked down on in Pharaoh's court and then not accepted by his own people, whose prejudice followed them into the desert, even in his own family. He had to learn how to be an Israelite without conforming. If you do not fit in, that is because God did not make you for that. We are meant to be trendsetters and legacy builders, and even stubbornness, in God's purpose, is necessary.

   “The reason why we don't fit in is because God never designed us to fit in.”

   • Numbers 12:1-10

5. Number one: show up and participate

   To the member who asks what to do with the vision, his answer is to look at God's capacity, not your own, and then attend the services, where the vision is opened in digestible pieces. Participate actively in sermons, workshops, cells, the men's and ladies' meetings and the youth, and bring your sons and daughters. It is not good enough to say it is hard to get them out of the house.

   Illustration: You get your children out of the house for school, for university and for a family event, so get them out of the house to the house of the Lord.

   “Don't look in your capacity, look in God's capacity.”

   • Joshua 24:15

6. Number two: assist wherever the church needs it

   He thanks everyone who made the anniversary Sunday happen without being asked. People were setting out chairs and tables at half past six in the morning, never phoning to ask whether there was anything they could do. That is the active role of partnership, because this is your Father's house.

   Illustration: Arriving at 6:30 on Sunday morning, he found members already pulling out the chairs and tables, saying "I'll sort it out" without waiting to be thanked.

   “You just get involved because this is your father's house.”

7. Number three: learn the foundations, beginning at home

   The men's and ladies' meetings bring healing and restoration to the family unit. A church that prays together carries power, so come to the prayer meetings. Open your home for a cell or attend one, because the change it brings fixes your life, not the pastor's. God called the whole household, and families need both a daily devotion and a family cell where issues are talked through honestly, down to the games children play.

   Illustration: In a family cell his own wife might tell him he is a very angry man, and he has to resist answering that he is the man of the house. He also warns that some video games bring necromancy and ritual spells into the home.

   “A church that's not praying is a church that's dying.”

   • Proverbs 11:1

8. A vision for our lifetime

   This is not a forty or fifty year vision but a five and ten year vision, and God is going to do something strange and significant that will change how church is known. It is not about preaching; even Moses said he could not speak. Every person has a puzzle piece that fits, and is made for this appointed time.

   “Guys, we are going to see this in our lifetime.”

9. The mind stayed on God is kept in perfect peace

   From the July partnership letter: the challenges have not overcome us, troubles are temporary, and impatience produces emotional, irrational decisions with quick but not lasting solutions. Isaiah 26:3 promises perfect peace to the mind fixed on God, and he teaches that peace is where creativity and productivity come from, so choose peace in the middle of chaos. Where we walk together in unity, God commands the blessing.

   “Chaos will be all around you, but I urge you, choose peace.”

   • Isaiah 26:3-4
   • Psalm 133:1-3

In this message