“You’re Destiny – God’s Will and Purpose”

Chapter 1: Called and Chosen

Our “last day” existence creates many concerns for mankind, such as: Where are we from? What are we here for? Where are we going? When relating to these questions concerning man’s beginning, most people with any type of Christian training will allow their minds to dwell upon the Garden of Eden. Some may be thinking of the time when God formed man from the dust of the earth and man’s fall, or they may be considering the error that God had to think up another plan because Satan moved in unawares to deceive man without God having any foreknowledge of such deception. Some may consider the truth of a need for Jesus, the son of God, to die on the cross for man’s sin. While some of this thinking has shades of the truth, God’s purpose is far greater than having to form up another plan because Satan crept in to foil His first plan.

Could it not have been, that God from eternity, planned for all these things beforehand, according to His own will and purpose? According to the Word of God, His purpose is to make man in the likeness of His image, which under God man might rule and have authority over God’s creation. We are shown in scripture that this creation, this man, this ruler, this authority was from before the visibility of all these things. “By faith we understood that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed – fashioned, put in order and equipped for their intended purpose – by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible”. (Heb. 11:3 Amp). Again we are shown in Heb. 1:2 Amp. “[But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son. Who He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time – [that is] He made, produced, built, operated and arranged them in order”. Therefore, God’s purpose was well established before all these things (worlds, ages, and orders) became visible. Hence, all things, (man, Satan, powers) have been equipped for their intended purpose. They were fashioned and put in order. They were arranged according to God’s eternal purpose. Rom. 8:20-21 states, “For the creature (creation) was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him Who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature (creation) itself also shall be delivered (set free) from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God”.

In this eternal purpose, mankind has taken his place in the process of being made perfect to become co-heir to God’s creation. Scripture tells us that all things, coming into Christ, shall be restored. “Whom the heaven must receive (Christ Jesus) until the time of restitution (re-establishment from a state of ruin) of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began”. (Acts 3:21). These ages, which were put into motion and ordered by God, are for the purpose of bringing forth perfection and restoration. In the learning and knowing of this purpose, each person shall come forth in their own order. God’s Son, the Christ, the firstborn, was brought forth in His season and began the finishing, the ending and the winding up of this restoring. Christ, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Mashiah” (the Messiah), has the meaning of “the anointed, to anoint”, one who is anointed to do God’s will and fulfill His purpose. Included in this truth, The Word reveals Christ, the Messiah, has a many member body. “For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, through many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. For by (means of the personal agency of) one (Holy) Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greek, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one (Holy) Spirit….Now you (collectively) are Christ’s body and (individually) you are members of it, each part severally and distinct – each with his own place and function”. (I Cor. 12:12-13 & 27 Amp.).

This means that the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed one is not just a single person. This Christ is a body, with Christ Jesus as (the head), while having many other members. The question then, when was the anointed Christ chosen as a many member body to become the Christ? Let us remember that Jesus was born of the virgin, Mary, to take on a flesh and blood body, to become like all those born of Adam, yet without sin. Heb. 2:14 says, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he (Jesus) also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”. Therefore, as He was chosen before coming forth into a flesh and blood body, His body (many members) were likewise chosen to come forth in their order, with each order to follow in its time, that God might complete His purpose through each age. I Cor. 15:22-24 Amp declares, “For just as [because of union of nature] in Adam all people die, so also [by virtue of their union of nature] shall all in Christ be made alive. But each in his own rank and turn: Christ, (the Messiah) [is] the first fruits (remember that Christ, the Messiah is that many member body that makes up and are chosen to be the first fruits), then those who are Christ’s [own will be resurrected] at His coming (this coming is the presence of the Christ, the many member body that makes its appearance as the many sons which have been perfected). After that comes the end (the completion). This is when He delivers over the kingdom of God to the Father after rendering inoperative and abolishing every [other] rule and every authority and power”. This is when all things have been restored and death has been destroyed off all God’s creation. This is when that last enemy has been abolished to be no more. “The last enemy to be subdued and abolished is death”. (I Cor. 15:26 Amp.)

Now is the time, for it has been trumpeted throughout the land, that the Messiah, (the Christ, the Anointed one) shall make His presence known. For this cause God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. “Blessed by the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ”. (Eph. 1:3). To be blessed, according to the dictionary means, “consecrated, enjoying the eternal happiness of heaven”. Therefore we can rejoice in that we have been consecrated to enjoy the eternal happiness of heaven. This speaks of the now, not just in the future, not just in the past, but NOW. Understand that eternity has no time. It always was and always shall be. If this be a truth, why then do most Christians seem to have the testimony of being a defeated people? Let’s consider just what the Word of God has to say. We have been blessed with ALL (every) spiritual blessing.

This word “spiritual” includes things that apply in the Divine sphere. It is put in contrast with that which is natural and can be expressed as supernatural. Therefore, for those thus blessed, there is a supernatural divine nature that manifests itself. But, we are shown that this divine nature only expresses itself from the heavenlies, which can only be found in the Christ. Now this small word “in” as used with “in Christ” has a strong meaning. It is a Greek word and preposition denoting, “being or remaining within, with the primary idea of rest and continuance. It has regard to place and space, or sphere of action”. Therefore, it can be said that we have truly been blessed, consecrated to manifest the things of the spiritual supernatural after coming into union in the Christ. This is a place in which we abide with rest, continuance and action. This is our dwelling place, because we have responded to the calling and purpose of God in our lives. We should recognize that these blessings abide only in the heavenly, spiritual sphere and do not manifest when walking after the carnal appetites of the flesh, a living unto worldliness.

Why is it that these blessings of the heavenlies are ours? Why is it said that we can walk in them, dwell in them and abide in them? They belong to us because grace and mercy, in accordance to God’s purpose from before the foundation of the world, is available and working in us. Eph. 1:4 declares, “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:” It seems as if when God chose us, He elected us out from Himself. Could this be that we were with Him, in the Spirit, in the invisible realm before the world was? Isn’t God declaring that He chose out from Himself an elect, corporate body, to send them forth from the invisible realm to the visible with a divine purpose? Remember this little word “in” of the “in Him” above? It is a people remaining within, a sphere of action with rest and continuance. When did the election, the choosing take place? It takes place “before the foundation of the world”. This word “before” is a Greek preposition which denotes the position as being in sight or before one in place.

Therefore, those chosen were positioned before the present world existed; they were in place, in God. This word “foundation” is a word that when correctly translated means “a casting down or overthrow, disruption or ruin”. When connected with the word “world” or “kosmos”, it should be rendered “the disruption or ruin of the world” This word “before” then refers to the mystery of God and is in connection with the purpose of God. It refers clearly to the condition indicated in Gen. 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep” Speaking about the beginning of a world as Gen. 1:1 declares it to be, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”. Then in verse 2 the word “was” should read “became”. Thus, the earth that was created became “without form and void”. It became a waste and a disruption took place, but God’s Spirit began to move and the earth at that time became the heavens and earth which we have now. This is telling us that a chosen, elect and corporate people were in Him and purposed to come out from Him. When? This choosing took place before this disruption, the ruin of the old world and the creation of the heavens and earth which we now dwell in. The reason for this choosing is spelled out for us in this scripture of Eph. 1:4, that we might be holy and blameless in His presence, in His spirit. In His coming, therefore, even though we came out of Him, we are not to be apart from Him.

Here we must consider a word used in scripture called predestinated, translated from a Greek word meaning “foreordained”. This word is used in Acts 4:28 when telling about the preparation of Jesus surrounding His crucifixion by saying, “For to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before (predestinate) to be done”. Again, when talking about a people that are to be conformed to the image of Christ, scripture says in Rom., 8:29, “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate (foreordained) to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren”. This scripture seems to be telling us that His Son was foreordained along with many other sons or brothers to manifest a life of Godliness in this world. In other words, God effectively exercises His will to bring to pass those things which before hand was determined by Him to be done. Eph. 1:5 shows us that we have been therefore predestinated for a purpose, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”. Predestined for adoption, a word which means “placing as a son”, becoming brothers to Jesus the elder. Unto this purpose we are the elect according to the foreknowledge of God and set aside for that purpose. “Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (I Peter 1:2-4).

We are birthed from our mother’s womb, according to God’s timing, to manifest the glory of God unto a world. This election is apart from human merit; it is that which proceeds from God’s choice, according to His purpose. When speaking of Isaac’s sons, the scripture says in Rom. 9:11, “For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth”. In agreement, Rom. 11:5, says, “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace”. Election proceeds from the divine act of willing, choosing and deciding. John 15:16 declares that “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he may give it you”. Election is therefore the sovereign act of God in grace whereby certain are chosen, from before the disruption of the world, to be manifested in this world, from among mankind, for Himself and His purpose. John 15:19, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you”. Remember, the word “world” here is “kosmos” meaning “the world as created, ordered, and arranged”. The world of today is controlled by a manmade system inspired by that which is the enemy of God. A worldly system of governments and laws established to control the people, to separate them from God.

With God predestinating us to become the adopted, the placing of us as sons, God provides the way wherein we are raised up to fulfill that foreordained will and purpose. “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father, Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth the Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons”. (Gal. 4:1-5). God birthed us, in His elected time, with the purpose of redeeming us from the law of sin and death, by arranging for tutors and governors to be placed in our path. These teachers and ministers of divine order impart unto us the words of God, truth, which instructs us in the ways of God. We, placed in the world, but not of the world, must learn to separate our ways from the ways of the world, unto God’s ways. We are to be caught up in the dealings of God, a hook placed in our jaw to keep us, until the appointed time of the Father, wherein we are brought unto our place of adoption, our time to be placed as a son. This place in God is one of present tense. We shall gain the experience in spirit and soul as well as body, as God finishes and anoints our place in Him. Gal. 4:6-7 declares, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Whereby thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ”. We are an heir and co-heir, knowing that we share in that which is ours in Him, a place of authority to rule and reign with Him in love.

To be redeemed then carries the weight of our experience and transformation into the heavenly, the invisible realm of the Spirit. Not just a going up or out somewhere, but that somewhere is coming to us and is in us. It becomes a part of our present day experience as we come fully into the redemption experience, unto the restoring and redeeming of our bodies. “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body”. (Rom.8:23). No longer under tutors, but becoming God’s heirs, a knowing of that authority we received in Christ from before the foundation of the world. A putting off of that which is earthly, corruptible and mortal, while putting on that which is heavenly, incorruptible and immortal. Unto this adoption, this redemption, we have been sealed. To be sealed implies possession or security, a finished transaction. Eph. 1:13-14 says, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory”.

In studying the 17th chapter of John, we have a prayer of intercession that Jesus prayed for concerning this people. In that which He prayed for, He asked in verse five, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was”. Then in verses twenty-two through twenty-three we find that we have equal rights to ask for and expect that same glory to be ours in this present world, a glory which fills the whole man in spirit, soul and body. “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me”. Let us remember these callings and choosing are ours by right. Not just because of this present day working of God, but because we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, thus releasing the workings of God in our lives. Therefore we can recognize that the hand of God which is upon us is for purpose. To prepare us for that which we were in Him before we came into this visible world. It is time now, for the expression of God in us, to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and to subdue it while having dominion. Also it should be noted that according to Eph. 1:5, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will”, these things have already been given according to the good pleasure of God’s will. Therefore, in Christ, we are God’s will and purpose having been called and chosen.