February 14, 2025 • 28 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham. A
little later in the program, we'll tell you how you
can get a copy of doctor Graham's book, A Hope
and a Future. But first, here's the message chosen.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Take God's word and turn with me to Romans the
ninth chapter. We're going to be talking about themes such
as man's responsibility and view of God's sovereignty. We're going
to be talking about predestination and election, and we're certainly
not going to do anything but skim the surface. People
have been talking about these issues for two millennium and
(00:45):
we're not going to solve some of the questions that
I know you may have regarding this truth of both
divine sovereignty and man's responsibility, which is side by side
in the scripture. Both are true. But really this message is.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
About the nature and the character of God.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
It's all about him, who he is, and what he
does for his own.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Glory and for our salvation.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Beginning in verse fourteen of Romans nine, what shall we say, then,
is there injustice on God's part by no means? For
he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom
I will have mercy and I will have compassion on
whom I have compassion, so that it depends not on
(01:39):
human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, for this very purpose,
I've raised you up that I might show my power
in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in
all the earth, so that he has mercy on whoever
(02:01):
he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will
say to me, then, what does he find fault? Why
does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
But who are you, oh man, to answer back to God? Will?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
What is molded that is made say to its maker?
Why have you made me like this? Has the potter
no right over the clay to make out of the
same lump, one vessel to honorable use and another to
dishonorable use. What if God, desiring to show his wrath
and to make known his power, has endured with much
(02:42):
patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, Why in order
to make known the riches of his glory for vessels
of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory. Here's
the thing about life. It's not about you. It's all
(03:07):
about God and.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
His purpose for our lives, for your life.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
The fact is God wills to choose and to use
whom he pleases always, and at first he chooses the
Jewish nation, calling out Abraham, and through Abraham, Isaac and
then Jacob. As a matter of fact, earlier in this
same passage, if you're in Romans chapter nine, he speaks
(03:40):
of the privileges of the Jewish nation, the people of Israel.
And here's what he says regarding these privileges verse four.
There Israelites, and to them they belong to the adoption
that Israel is called the children of God, God's chosen people.
The glory, speaking of the Chicaina, glory and presence of
(04:01):
God in the wilderness, in the Temple, the covenants, the
Mosaic covenants, the covenants, the covenants, all the covenants of God.
In the Old Testament, the giving of the law came
through the Jewish people.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Moses, as the hand.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Of God gave him the law, the worship, and the promises.
So from the promises of the prophets, said the Patriarchs,
the great people of the Old Testament, to them belong
the patriarchs and their race. According to the flesh is
the Christ, who is God.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Overall, blessed forever. Amen.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
God made the Jewish people and chose them, and gave
them through the Law, through the part prophets, through the patriarchs,
through this people.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
The glory of His love.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
And the purpose of his call to Israel was to
be a light to the nations. And so God raised
up the Israeli people. And there is no explanation for
the people called Israel. There's no explanation for the survival
(05:14):
of the people of Israel except for.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
The plan and the purposes of God.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
And this is all fulfilled in Christ, because through the
Jewish people, through the Jewish nation, came the Messiah, Jesus,
the Savior of the world. So God chose the Jewish people,
He chose Abraham of the peoples of the world. Among Abraham,
in the family of Abraham, he chose Isaac. And from
(05:46):
Isaac's family he chose Jacob rather than Esau. And this
is God's prerogative always to choose, because ultimately it is
his plan and his purposes, his predetermined plan that fulfills
his desires.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
For all of the earth. This is what Romans is
all about.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
That God has saved himself for himself a people. The
theme of Roman is that we are not saved by
works or religious morality or race, not what we earn
or deserve, or man seeking God, but always God seeking man,
(06:33):
God seeking us.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
That this salvation.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Is not received through nationality, whether Israeli nationality or American nationality.
Christianity is not an American religion. The gospel of Jesus
Christ is for all the world. And the Jewish people
misunderstood and they rejected Christ. He came into his own
(07:02):
and his own received him, not but to as many
as received him. To them gave you the right to
be called the children of God. But God made us
for himself.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
And therefore I want.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
To speak to you briefly about God's pre determined, predestined rule,
because as we were reading this passage here we realize
that everything.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Is centered and controlled by Him.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
And always always Our focus in life, our focus in
our witness, our focus in preaching the Gospel, should never
be centered in ourselves.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
So often today in our generation.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
There's so much about us, how to have a happy family,
how to have a great marriage, how to have a
successful career, how to be fulfilled in your life. But
the Bible and the message of God reminds us that
we will never be fulfilled, will never be happy in
life until we discover God's purpose, God's.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Plan in our lives.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
That is not about us, that it is about who
He is and what He has done for us. And
knowing God is the purpose and the pursuit of a lifetime.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Who is this God?
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Let's remember that God is just, That God is righteous,
that God is holy, that he is pure, that he
is perfect, that He is mighty and almighty, and along
with that, he is absolutely kind and generous and loving
and forgiving. Now, to say that God is sovereign is
(08:38):
to say that he has atsolute authority.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
He is all knowing, all seeing, and all powerful.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
So he is free to do always as he chooses.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
That's sovereignty.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
And the Bible is full of this from cover to cover.
We may never fully comprehend it. Certainly, this side of eternity,
we won't fully understand it. How God is in control
(09:18):
of everything, everything in our lives.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
First Chronicle twenty nine eleven to.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Twelve says yours, Oh, God, is the greatness and the
power and the glory and the victory and the majesty
For All that is in the heavens and in the
earth is yours.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted
as head above all. You rule over all. Some deny him,
some defy him. And yet God is.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
In charge it and control of all things. His eternal
purposes will be fulfilled with you or without you. Before
time began. You are in heart and mind of God.
Now I know that blows my mind. I'm sure it
does yours as well, to think that God himself could
(10:09):
have a plan beforehand in your life. In the infinite
heart and mind of God, there was a plan to
save each one of us. The Bible says the Lamb
of God, Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
And God loved you and knew you.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Before you were born, and in your mother's womb you
were made, You were fashioned, You were formed by God himself.
God chose you to be his child. He elected you
and selected you. If you are a believer in Christ
(10:52):
as His chosen one, you are chosen.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
We are chosen in Christ.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
It is Christ that seals the deal, that chooses us
and then.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Controls us by his spirit. Jesus said, you did not.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Choose me, But I chose you that you would go
and bring forth much fruit. So you are God's child,
not because one day you decided to follow Jesus, but
because in the heart and love of God, he brought
(11:34):
you into his family. Now does that mean, as some suggest,
that Jesus died only for the elect There's a brand
of theology that moves through these issues with profound and
(11:54):
persuasive words regarding the election and the selection and the
predeterminations of God. The bottom line ultimately becomes who chooses?
Does God choose you or do you choose God? Well,
God chooses you, but you must also choose him.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message Chosen.
Sometimes answers to life's problems seem distant and hope seems
out of reach, But that's exactly where God's promises meet us.
We want to help you rest in God's promises even
in life's darkest moments by sending you doctor Jack Graham's book,
A Hope and a Future. It's our way of saying
(12:34):
thanks for your gift of ten dollars or more to
help proclaim the good.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
News around the world through PowerPoint.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Call now to request your copy of A Hope and
a Future call one eight hundred seven ninety five four
six two seven. That's one eight hundred seven ninety five
four six two seven. You can also text the word
hope to five nine seven eight nine. Don't let stress
rob you of peace. It is possible to break the
(13:00):
destructive grip of stress on your life and enjoy the
peace and abundance God desires for you. That's what doctor
Graham helps you do in his booklet Breaking Free from Stress.
We'll send you a digital download of Breaking Free from
Stress when you sign up for email updates from PowerPoint Today.
Just go to PowerPoint dot org slash stress and sign
up today. Now let's get back to today's message Chosen.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Let me just give you some verses that show us
that all of us are capable of responding to the
grace and the sovereign love of God.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Verse sixteen of John three. For God so loved the world.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
That he gave his only son, that whoever whoever believes
that means everyone can believe in him should not perish,
but have eternal life Isaiah fifty three and verse six.
All we like sheep have gone astray. We've all turned
every one unto his own way, and the Lord has
(14:03):
laid on him the iniquity of us.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
All Christ died for all.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Christ did not die only for the elect He died
for all.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
All can experience his love.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Romans eight thirty two. He who did not spare his
own son, but gave him up for us, who all,
how will he not also with him graciously give us
all fes.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
And then here's one from John first John chapter two.
He is the propitiation, that is.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
The satisfaction for our sins, and not for ours only,
but also for the sins of the whole world one
John four fourteen. And we have seen and testify that
the Father has sent the Son to be the savior
of the world. Revelation twenty two and verse seventeen. The
(15:04):
last invitation of the Bible, the Spirit and the bride
say come, and let the one who hears, say come,
and let the one who is thirsty come. Let the
one who desires take the water of life freely and
without PRIs. Whosoever will may come, God has a will,
(15:25):
His will will be done. But you also, God has
given you a will and the response.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Mechanism, which is faith to believe and to trust in God.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
But while God chooses, and in his predetermined plans, he
knows who will choose him and who will not choose him.
And yet all have the opportunity to respond to the gospel.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
This is why we must preach the gospel.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
This is why we pray for missionaries and send missionaries
and evangelize, because everyone needs leads Jesus Second Peter three nine.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promises. Some
count slowness, but is patient towards you, not willing or
wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
One Timothy two four.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Who desires God desires all people to be saved and
to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Tidus to eleven.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for
all people.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Now take a deep breath.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
God chooses, God calls us. God selects us, God elects us,
God brings us.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
We don't find God, He finds us. His spirit moves
in our hearts.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
This is all the work of God is for him
and by him, and unto him. It's all him, but
in God's planning, God's purposes. Because he wanted children to
love him and follow And he didn't make us puppets
on a strength predetermined robots. But he gave us a
(17:18):
part of the divine image, which is now shattered by sin,
but yet a part of the divine image of God.
He gave us the right, if you will, and the
responsibility to choose him. So God chose you, and he's
calling you, and he's choosing you today. He has elected you.
(17:39):
Do you want to know whether you are among the
elect or not, then come to Jesus today settle that issue.
I like what d al Moody, the great evangelist.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Used to say.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
He said, Oh, God, save the elect, and then elect
some more. And it is the heart of God more
and more to bring people to himself. There's no limits
to the grace of God, no boundaries to the power of.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
The blood of Jesus.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
He will save all who will come to him. But
we also know that some choose not to believe and
not to receive and reject him. And thus in our
passage we read we see God's perfect righteousness in judging
those who reject.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
His sovereign will and purpose.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
We do have a responsibility, we do have an accountability
to God.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
And so he talked about he talks about Pharaoh, the
Egyptian key.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
You know no doubt the story of Pharaoh, even if
you hadn't read the Bible, You've seen the movie No Doubt,
and Moses and the Ten Commandments, and the Pharaoh, the
powerful ruler of the world, and Jewish people were enslaved
in Egypt. And God sent his servant Moses to say,
(19:05):
let my people go, and Pharaoh began to refuse.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Ten times.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Moses went to him, and ten times he rejected God's
plan and God's purpose to let his people go. With
that ten rejections came ten plays judgments upon the people
of Egypt. None who survived unless they were under the
(19:40):
blood of the Passover. But Pharaoh's example of someone because
it speaks of Pharaoh hardening his heart against God, that
God hardened his heart, and that Pharaoh hardened o heart
(20:02):
twenty times. It says in that Exodus experience that Pharaoh
hardened his heart, or that God hardened his heart ten times.
Pharaoh hardened his heart ten times. It says God hardness heart.
So which is it? The answer is both. Pharaoh had
(20:27):
every opportunity to receive the mercy and the grace.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Of God by obeying God and letting the people of
God go. And yet he was recalcitrated.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
He was rebellious, and as he did, he would begin
hardening his heart, stronger and stronger, until it became like concrete.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
And so God hardened his heart.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Because Pharaoh was hardening his own heart, and God hardened
his heart. He said, all right, than your will be done.
And the question is will you respond to the will
of God? Because great judgment came upon Pharaoh and Egypt,
(21:11):
because they resisted the plan and the purposes of God.
They turned away from God's passover and weigh out. He
hardened his heart. He first hardened his own heart, and
then God hardened his heart. So that can happen to you.
(21:37):
The good news is that Jesus took your judgment and
your sin and your rebellion and satisfied the righteous demands
of a holy God. Jesus died for you, and he
will give you a new heart. He'll take that cold,
stony heart and give you a brand new heart. Romans
ten ninety says, if you confess with your mouth the
(21:58):
Lord Jesus and believe your heart that God has raised
him from the dead, you will be saved. So here
is the way I view it. On this side of heaven,
there is a door. Jesus said, I am the door.
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. And
(22:19):
so we stand on this side of eternity and we
see a door, this door to eternity, this door to heaven.
And on our side of the door, it says, whosoever
will may come, And if we walk through that door
by faith and trust in Christ, whosoever will means you,
(22:41):
whosoever will means me. And so we walk through that door,
and we get on the other side, and life is over.
The door closes behind us, and we turn around. And
you know what that door says on the other side.
You didn't choose me, but I chose you. It's a
(23:02):
matter of perspective. God is sovereign, He has a purpose,
he has a plan. You're accountable to God. You are
made by God. For God. He has a right to
do with you anything he chooses to do with you
or with me. But with that great sovereignt becomes great accountability.
Why the last verse that we read spoke of this
(23:23):
for the mercy and the grace, the redemptive promises.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Of God, so that you could be saved and the
light to the nation, the light to the world.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message chosen.
God's word is the source for timeless truths that answer
the big questions people are seeking. But so many people
around the world have never heard God's word proclaimed. That's
why the support of friends like you is so important,
because together we can carry the unchanging truth of God's
(23:58):
Word across the globe through the TV, radio and online
outreach of PowerPoint. We'll say thanks for your gift of
ten dollars or more to share God's truth with more
people by sending you a copy of doctor Jack Graham's book,
A Hope and a Future, So call now to request
your copy. When you give, call one eight hundred seven
ninety five four six two seven. That's one eight hundred
(24:21):
seven ninety five four six two seven. You can also
text the word hope to five nine seven eight nine
and thank you for helping take the hope of Jesus
to a world in need. And don't forget to visit
Jack Graham dot org where you can shop our easttore
give a gift online, or sign up for doctor Graham's
free daily email devotional. Our website again is Jack Graham
(24:45):
dot org. And also be sure to sign up for
doctor Graham's podcast Bible in a Year pastor what is
your PowerPoint for today?
Speaker 2 (24:56):
You know, the Book of Romans is definitely not for
the fegne of heart. It is often challenging to understand,
especially these great passages concerning deep theological biblical truth and
when it comes to know how we should live. Paul
sets the bar extremely high. God sets the bar extremely high.
(25:16):
He reminds us that God makes the ultimate choice in
all matters of life. God is God, He is sovereign.
So it is naive for any of us to think
that we ultimately control our own lives and destinies.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
We don't.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
God is in control of our lives. Our culture has
made things far more complicated than necessary. Over time, we
have added layer of layers to rituals and rights and religion.
But you know this religious tradition that so many people profess,
or our theological pedigree, does nothing to guarantee our position
(25:51):
as children of God. Let's remember what Paul said to
his brethren, the Jews, that we are not saved, that
we don't go to heaven because of our earthly birth
know is because we have a new birth in Jesus Christ,
we can be born again. So what does all of
this mean? How do we embrace these tremendous theological truths.
(26:14):
Let me suggest that you need to begin by letting
God be God in your life. Quit trying to unravel
or demystify His sovereignty. Some of the things concerning the
sovereignty of God will wait for eternity, filed for later.
He chose us before we were born. He offered his
grace and his love to us. All of this he
(26:35):
declared with power by his resurrection. That's enough truth to
save the whole world. And then one more thing, Let's
elevate our view of God's all knowing wisdom. Avoid the
temptation of bringing God's righteousness and omnipotence down to a
level where we can understand it, because the fact is
(26:56):
we will never understand some of the mysteries of God
this side of eternity. All in all, what I want
to encourage you to do is to rejoice in your
new birth and in the choice that God has made
you to call you His sons and daughters, and then
that you would tell.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
Others of the good news of Jesus Christ, and that
is today's PowerPoint. Remember when you give a gift of
ten dollars or more to PowerPoint, we'll send you doctor
Graham's book, A Hope and a Future.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
As a thanks for your support.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Today, call one eight hundred seven ninety five four six
two seven. That's one eight hundred seven ninety five four
six two seven.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
You can also text the word hope to five.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Nine seven eight nine and join us again next time
as doctor Graham brings a message about how you've been
called to share the greatest news in the world with others,
whatever the cost. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham.
PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministry.
Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham. A
little later in the program, we'll tell you how you
can get a copy of doctor Graham's book, A Hope
and a Future. But first, here's the message chosen.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Take God's word and turn with me to Romans the
ninth chapter. We're going to be talking about themes such
as man's responsibility and view of God's sovereignty. We're going
to be talking about predestination and election, and we're certainly
not going to do anything but skim the surface. People
have been talking about these issues for two millennium and
(00:45):
we're not going to solve some of the questions that
I know you may have regarding this truth of both
divine sovereignty and man's responsibility, which is side by side
in the scripture. Both are true. But really this message is.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
About the nature and the character of God.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
It's all about him, who he is, and what he
does for his own.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Glory and for our salvation.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Beginning in verse fourteen of Romans nine, what shall we say, then,
is there injustice on God's part by no means? For
he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom
I will have mercy and I will have compassion on
whom I have compassion, so that it depends not on
(01:39):
human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, for this very purpose,
I've raised you up that I might show my power
in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in
all the earth, so that he has mercy on whoever
(02:01):
he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will
say to me, then, what does he find fault? Why
does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
But who are you, oh man, to answer back to God? Will?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
What is molded that is made say to its maker?
Why have you made me like this? Has the potter
no right over the clay to make out of the
same lump, one vessel to honorable use and another to
dishonorable use. What if God, desiring to show his wrath
and to make known his power, has endured with much
(02:42):
patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, Why in order
to make known the riches of his glory for vessels
of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory. Here's
the thing about life. It's not about you. It's all
(03:07):
about God and.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
His purpose for our lives, for your life.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
The fact is God wills to choose and to use
whom he pleases always, and at first he chooses the
Jewish nation, calling out Abraham, and through Abraham, Isaac and
then Jacob. As a matter of fact, earlier in this
same passage, if you're in Romans chapter nine, he speaks
(03:40):
of the privileges of the Jewish nation, the people of Israel.
And here's what he says regarding these privileges verse four.
There Israelites, and to them they belong to the adoption
that Israel is called the children of God, God's chosen people.
The glory, speaking of the Chicaina, glory and presence of
(04:01):
God in the wilderness, in the Temple, the covenants, the
Mosaic covenants, the covenants, the covenants, all the covenants of God.
In the Old Testament, the giving of the law came
through the Jewish people.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Moses, as the hand.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Of God gave him the law, the worship, and the promises.
So from the promises of the prophets, said the Patriarchs,
the great people of the Old Testament, to them belong
the patriarchs and their race. According to the flesh is
the Christ, who is God.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Overall, blessed forever. Amen.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
God made the Jewish people and chose them, and gave
them through the Law, through the part prophets, through the patriarchs,
through this people.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
The glory of His love.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
And the purpose of his call to Israel was to
be a light to the nations. And so God raised
up the Israeli people. And there is no explanation for
the people called Israel. There's no explanation for the survival
(05:14):
of the people of Israel except for.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
The plan and the purposes of God.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
And this is all fulfilled in Christ, because through the
Jewish people, through the Jewish nation, came the Messiah, Jesus,
the Savior of the world. So God chose the Jewish people,
He chose Abraham of the peoples of the world. Among Abraham,
in the family of Abraham, he chose Isaac. And from
(05:46):
Isaac's family he chose Jacob rather than Esau. And this
is God's prerogative always to choose, because ultimately it is
his plan and his purposes, his predetermined plan that fulfills
his desires.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
For all of the earth. This is what Romans is
all about.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
That God has saved himself for himself a people. The
theme of Roman is that we are not saved by
works or religious morality or race, not what we earn
or deserve, or man seeking God, but always God seeking man,
(06:33):
God seeking us.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
That this salvation.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Is not received through nationality, whether Israeli nationality or American nationality.
Christianity is not an American religion. The gospel of Jesus
Christ is for all the world. And the Jewish people
misunderstood and they rejected Christ. He came into his own
(07:02):
and his own received him, not but to as many
as received him. To them gave you the right to
be called the children of God. But God made us
for himself.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
And therefore I want.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
To speak to you briefly about God's pre determined, predestined rule,
because as we were reading this passage here we realize
that everything.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Is centered and controlled by Him.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
And always always Our focus in life, our focus in
our witness, our focus in preaching the Gospel, should never
be centered in ourselves.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
So often today in our generation.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
There's so much about us, how to have a happy family,
how to have a great marriage, how to have a
successful career, how to be fulfilled in your life. But
the Bible and the message of God reminds us that
we will never be fulfilled, will never be happy in
life until we discover God's purpose, God's.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Plan in our lives.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
That is not about us, that it is about who
He is and what He has done for us. And
knowing God is the purpose and the pursuit of a lifetime.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Who is this God?
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Let's remember that God is just, That God is righteous,
that God is holy, that he is pure, that he
is perfect, that He is mighty and almighty, and along
with that, he is absolutely kind and generous and loving
and forgiving. Now, to say that God is sovereign is
(08:38):
to say that he has atsolute authority.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
He is all knowing, all seeing, and all powerful.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
So he is free to do always as he chooses.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
That's sovereignty.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
And the Bible is full of this from cover to cover.
We may never fully comprehend it. Certainly, this side of eternity,
we won't fully understand it. How God is in control
(09:18):
of everything, everything in our lives.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
First Chronicle twenty nine eleven to.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Twelve says yours, Oh, God, is the greatness and the
power and the glory and the victory and the majesty
For All that is in the heavens and in the
earth is yours.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted
as head above all. You rule over all. Some deny him,
some defy him. And yet God is.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
In charge it and control of all things. His eternal
purposes will be fulfilled with you or without you. Before
time began. You are in heart and mind of God.
Now I know that blows my mind. I'm sure it
does yours as well, to think that God himself could
(10:09):
have a plan beforehand in your life. In the infinite
heart and mind of God, there was a plan to
save each one of us. The Bible says the Lamb
of God, Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
And God loved you and knew you.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Before you were born, and in your mother's womb you
were made, You were fashioned, You were formed by God himself.
God chose you to be his child. He elected you
and selected you. If you are a believer in Christ
(10:52):
as His chosen one, you are chosen.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
We are chosen in Christ.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
It is Christ that seals the deal, that chooses us
and then.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Controls us by his spirit. Jesus said, you did not.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Choose me, But I chose you that you would go
and bring forth much fruit. So you are God's child,
not because one day you decided to follow Jesus, but
because in the heart and love of God, he brought
(11:34):
you into his family. Now does that mean, as some suggest,
that Jesus died only for the elect There's a brand
of theology that moves through these issues with profound and
(11:54):
persuasive words regarding the election and the selection and the
predeterminations of God. The bottom line ultimately becomes who chooses?
Does God choose you or do you choose God? Well,
God chooses you, but you must also choose him.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message Chosen.
Sometimes answers to life's problems seem distant and hope seems
out of reach, But that's exactly where God's promises meet us.
We want to help you rest in God's promises even
in life's darkest moments by sending you doctor Jack Graham's book,
A Hope and a Future. It's our way of saying
(12:34):
thanks for your gift of ten dollars or more to
help proclaim the good.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
News around the world through PowerPoint.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Call now to request your copy of A Hope and
a Future call one eight hundred seven ninety five four
six two seven. That's one eight hundred seven ninety five
four six two seven. You can also text the word
hope to five nine seven eight nine. Don't let stress
rob you of peace. It is possible to break the
(13:00):
destructive grip of stress on your life and enjoy the
peace and abundance God desires for you. That's what doctor
Graham helps you do in his booklet Breaking Free from Stress.
We'll send you a digital download of Breaking Free from
Stress when you sign up for email updates from PowerPoint Today.
Just go to PowerPoint dot org slash stress and sign
up today. Now let's get back to today's message Chosen.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Let me just give you some verses that show us
that all of us are capable of responding to the
grace and the sovereign love of God.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Verse sixteen of John three. For God so loved the world.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
That he gave his only son, that whoever whoever believes
that means everyone can believe in him should not perish,
but have eternal life Isaiah fifty three and verse six.
All we like sheep have gone astray. We've all turned
every one unto his own way, and the Lord has
(14:03):
laid on him the iniquity of us.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
All Christ died for all.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Christ did not die only for the elect He died
for all.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
All can experience his love.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Romans eight thirty two. He who did not spare his
own son, but gave him up for us, who all,
how will he not also with him graciously give us
all fes.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
And then here's one from John first John chapter two.
He is the propitiation, that is.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
The satisfaction for our sins, and not for ours only,
but also for the sins of the whole world one
John four fourteen. And we have seen and testify that
the Father has sent the Son to be the savior
of the world. Revelation twenty two and verse seventeen. The
(15:04):
last invitation of the Bible, the Spirit and the bride
say come, and let the one who hears, say come,
and let the one who is thirsty come. Let the
one who desires take the water of life freely and
without PRIs. Whosoever will may come, God has a will,
(15:25):
His will will be done. But you also, God has
given you a will and the response.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Mechanism, which is faith to believe and to trust in God.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
But while God chooses, and in his predetermined plans, he
knows who will choose him and who will not choose him.
And yet all have the opportunity to respond to the gospel.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
This is why we must preach the gospel.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
This is why we pray for missionaries and send missionaries
and evangelize, because everyone needs leads Jesus Second Peter three nine.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promises. Some
count slowness, but is patient towards you, not willing or
wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
One Timothy two four.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Who desires God desires all people to be saved and
to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Tidus to eleven.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for
all people.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Now take a deep breath.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
God chooses, God calls us. God selects us, God elects us,
God brings us.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
We don't find God, He finds us. His spirit moves
in our hearts.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
This is all the work of God is for him
and by him, and unto him. It's all him, but
in God's planning, God's purposes. Because he wanted children to
love him and follow And he didn't make us puppets
on a strength predetermined robots. But he gave us a
(17:18):
part of the divine image, which is now shattered by sin,
but yet a part of the divine image of God.
He gave us the right, if you will, and the
responsibility to choose him. So God chose you, and he's
calling you, and he's choosing you today. He has elected you.
(17:39):
Do you want to know whether you are among the
elect or not, then come to Jesus today settle that issue.
I like what d al Moody, the great evangelist.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Used to say.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
He said, Oh, God, save the elect, and then elect
some more. And it is the heart of God more
and more to bring people to himself. There's no limits
to the grace of God, no boundaries to the power of.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
The blood of Jesus.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
He will save all who will come to him. But
we also know that some choose not to believe and
not to receive and reject him. And thus in our
passage we read we see God's perfect righteousness in judging
those who reject.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
His sovereign will and purpose.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
We do have a responsibility, we do have an accountability
to God.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
And so he talked about he talks about Pharaoh, the
Egyptian key.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
You know no doubt the story of Pharaoh, even if
you hadn't read the Bible, You've seen the movie No Doubt,
and Moses and the Ten Commandments, and the Pharaoh, the
powerful ruler of the world, and Jewish people were enslaved
in Egypt. And God sent his servant Moses to say,
(19:05):
let my people go, and Pharaoh began to refuse.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Ten times.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Moses went to him, and ten times he rejected God's
plan and God's purpose to let his people go. With
that ten rejections came ten plays judgments upon the people
of Egypt. None who survived unless they were under the
(19:40):
blood of the Passover. But Pharaoh's example of someone because
it speaks of Pharaoh hardening his heart against God, that
God hardened his heart, and that Pharaoh hardened o heart
(20:02):
twenty times. It says in that Exodus experience that Pharaoh
hardened his heart, or that God hardened his heart ten times.
Pharaoh hardened his heart ten times. It says God hardness heart.
So which is it? The answer is both. Pharaoh had
(20:27):
every opportunity to receive the mercy and the grace.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Of God by obeying God and letting the people of
God go. And yet he was recalcitrated.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
He was rebellious, and as he did, he would begin
hardening his heart, stronger and stronger, until it became like concrete.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
And so God hardened his heart.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Because Pharaoh was hardening his own heart, and God hardened
his heart. He said, all right, than your will be done.
And the question is will you respond to the will
of God? Because great judgment came upon Pharaoh and Egypt,
(21:11):
because they resisted the plan and the purposes of God.
They turned away from God's passover and weigh out. He
hardened his heart. He first hardened his own heart, and
then God hardened his heart. So that can happen to you.
(21:37):
The good news is that Jesus took your judgment and
your sin and your rebellion and satisfied the righteous demands
of a holy God. Jesus died for you, and he
will give you a new heart. He'll take that cold,
stony heart and give you a brand new heart. Romans
ten ninety says, if you confess with your mouth the
(21:58):
Lord Jesus and believe your heart that God has raised
him from the dead, you will be saved. So here
is the way I view it. On this side of heaven,
there is a door. Jesus said, I am the door.
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. And
(22:19):
so we stand on this side of eternity and we
see a door, this door to eternity, this door to heaven.
And on our side of the door, it says, whosoever
will may come, And if we walk through that door
by faith and trust in Christ, whosoever will means you,
(22:41):
whosoever will means me. And so we walk through that door,
and we get on the other side, and life is over.
The door closes behind us, and we turn around. And
you know what that door says on the other side.
You didn't choose me, but I chose you. It's a
(23:02):
matter of perspective. God is sovereign, He has a purpose,
he has a plan. You're accountable to God. You are
made by God. For God. He has a right to
do with you anything he chooses to do with you
or with me. But with that great sovereignt becomes great accountability.
Why the last verse that we read spoke of this
(23:23):
for the mercy and the grace, the redemptive promises.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Of God, so that you could be saved and the
light to the nation, the light to the world.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message chosen.
God's word is the source for timeless truths that answer
the big questions people are seeking. But so many people
around the world have never heard God's word proclaimed. That's
why the support of friends like you is so important,
because together we can carry the unchanging truth of God's
(23:58):
Word across the globe through the TV, radio and online
outreach of PowerPoint. We'll say thanks for your gift of
ten dollars or more to share God's truth with more
people by sending you a copy of doctor Jack Graham's book,
A Hope and a Future, So call now to request
your copy. When you give, call one eight hundred seven
ninety five four six two seven. That's one eight hundred
(24:21):
seven ninety five four six two seven. You can also
text the word hope to five nine seven eight nine
and thank you for helping take the hope of Jesus
to a world in need. And don't forget to visit
Jack Graham dot org where you can shop our easttore
give a gift online, or sign up for doctor Graham's
free daily email devotional. Our website again is Jack Graham
(24:45):
dot org. And also be sure to sign up for
doctor Graham's podcast Bible in a Year pastor what is
your PowerPoint for today?
Speaker 2 (24:56):
You know, the Book of Romans is definitely not for
the fegne of heart. It is often challenging to understand,
especially these great passages concerning deep theological biblical truth and
when it comes to know how we should live. Paul
sets the bar extremely high. God sets the bar extremely high.
(25:16):
He reminds us that God makes the ultimate choice in
all matters of life. God is God, He is sovereign.
So it is naive for any of us to think
that we ultimately control our own lives and destinies.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
We don't.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
God is in control of our lives. Our culture has
made things far more complicated than necessary. Over time, we
have added layer of layers to rituals and rights and religion.
But you know this religious tradition that so many people profess,
or our theological pedigree, does nothing to guarantee our position
(25:51):
as children of God. Let's remember what Paul said to
his brethren, the Jews, that we are not saved, that
we don't go to heaven because of our earthly birth
know is because we have a new birth in Jesus Christ,
we can be born again. So what does all of
this mean? How do we embrace these tremendous theological truths.
(26:14):
Let me suggest that you need to begin by letting
God be God in your life. Quit trying to unravel
or demystify His sovereignty. Some of the things concerning the
sovereignty of God will wait for eternity, filed for later.
He chose us before we were born. He offered his
grace and his love to us. All of this he
(26:35):
declared with power by his resurrection. That's enough truth to
save the whole world. And then one more thing, Let's
elevate our view of God's all knowing wisdom. Avoid the
temptation of bringing God's righteousness and omnipotence down to a
level where we can understand it, because the fact is
(26:56):
we will never understand some of the mysteries of God
this side of eternity. All in all, what I want
to encourage you to do is to rejoice in your
new birth and in the choice that God has made
you to call you His sons and daughters, and then
that you would tell.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
Others of the good news of Jesus Christ, and that
is today's PowerPoint. Remember when you give a gift of
ten dollars or more to PowerPoint, we'll send you doctor
Graham's book, A Hope and a Future.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
As a thanks for your support.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Today, call one eight hundred seven ninety five four six
two seven. That's one eight hundred seven ninety five four
six two seven.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
You can also text the word hope to five.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Nine seven eight nine and join us again next time
as doctor Graham brings a message about how you've been
called to share the greatest news in the world with others,
whatever the cost. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham.
PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministry.
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