Chosen by God
The problem is never with God. He is loving, He is for you, and He is always ready...
March 9, 2025
God is always ready
The problem is never with God. He is loving, He is for you, and He is always ready. The real question is—are you ready to receive? Many times, we are not. But God is always on the move.
When the Israelites were in the wilderness, they were moving toward the Promised Land. God did everything for them: He provided manna, quail, water, and ensured their clothes and shoes did not wear out. He took care of them completely. But in the Promised Land, things changed. God no longer worked for them; He worked with them.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 – “If you hearken to the voice of God and do what He commands, then the blessings of the Lord will come upon you.”
The key to receiving God’s blessings is learning how to work with Him.
Partnering with God
When we first come to know the Lord, everything feels easy. We experience His favor, His presence, and see miracles happening all around us. But if we take that season as our permanent formula for how God works, we will be disappointed. God does not intend for us to stay in the wilderness—He wants us to step into the Promised Land.
In the Promised Land, there is a partnership. It is not a 50-50 effort where you do half, and God does half. Rather, God has already done His part, and as we align with Him, we step into what He has prepared for us.
Many Christians feel stuck in their faith journey. At first, they see favor and miracles, but then they feel disappointed when things do not go as expected. They think, Maybe I am not praying enough. Maybe I am not reading the Word enough. They try to manipulate God with tears and spiritual gymnastics, but nothing changes, because they are waiting for God to work for them rather than partnering with Him.
Spiritual Maturity
Think about a child. A baby does not worry about where its food comes from—it simply receives what is given. But as a child matures, they begin to work alongside their parents.
In the same way, as we grow spiritually, we learn to work with God. If you remain in a mindset where you expect God to do everything for you, you will remain stagnant. But when you step into partnership with Him, you will grow into the fullness of what He has called you to be.
Obedience unlocks Miracles
One day, a man named Martin was sick. God told me to go and pray for him. I prayed, and as I was praying, I saw a vision of him being healed.
I asked him, “Do you feel anything?” He said no. Maybe out of politeness, he said he felt something, but I could see in his expression that he did not.
Yet, I was not discouraged, because I knew I had obeyed God. Later, I received a testimony—he had been healed! It was God who healed him. My part was simply to obey.
When you see a sick person, pray for them. Not because you have the power to heal, but because Mark 16:18 says,
Mark 16:18 – “Lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Healing flows through obedience, not through our own power.
God’s Word is enough
Many times, we struggle because we want God to bring the vision to us. But God will not bring the vision to you—you must walk toward it. You cannot do this in your own strength; you need the power of the Holy Spirit. But as you take steps in faith, God will guide you.
Some people think their spouse, job, or circumstances will bring them happiness. But true security comes only from God.
John 13:3 – “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose and served.”
Jesus was secure in His identity because He knew where He came from and where He was going. You, too, can have this confidence.
God has chosen you
Ephesians 1:4 – “Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love.”
God has chosen you—not for your own purpose, but for His purpose. This is where we often struggle. We know we are chosen, but we try to insert our own agenda. However, God’s plans for you are far greater than anything you could imagine.
Looking back at my own life, I see prayers I once prayed that I am now grateful God did not answer. Because His plans were bigger than my dreams. Trust Him—He knows what He is doing!
Trusting God in the journey
One day, I took a ride in an auto-rickshaw. The driver was driving so recklessly that I feared for my life. But I made it home safely. Then the Holy Spirit asked me, “If you had known you would reach home safely, how would your attitude have been during the ride?”
I realized that if I had known the outcome, the journey would not have been torment—it would have been an adventure. In the same way, God has already secured your future. If you trust Him, you will enjoy the ride rather than living in fear.
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God’s plans for you are good. Even when the path seems uncertain, trust Him—He is leading you safely to your destination.
Letting Go of Pretension
Who I am in my private life is who I am in my public life. I have let go of pretension—of pretending to be someone I am not. If I am angry in private, I am angry in public as well. Why? Because I am not here because of my reputation. My reputation died 2,000 years ago. I am here because of Jesus. It is His credibility that matters.
Just because I preach about grace and you see a lack of grace in my life does not discredit the message. It simply means that I, too, need the same grace that I proclaim. The message is not dependent on the credibility of the messenger but on the One who sent it. This is not my message. This is not the gospel of Samuel Thomas. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am just a messenger.
When I embraced this truth, it freed me from the pressure to perform. Living under the pressure to perform creates two lives: one lived in front of the world and another hidden in the shadows. But here is the truth—your sin is not the real problem. The problem is what you do in darkness.
1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Expose yourself to the light. Even if you sin, the blood of Jesus has the power to cleanse you completely. Let go of your reputation and stop worrying about what people will think. Build your identity on Jesus. Declare:
I am chosen by God. I am called by God. I am a work in progress. I still have issues to deal with, but Jesus calls me righteous. Because He calls me righteous, I believe I am righteous.
Struggling with Your Own Message
Someone once asked me, “Do you struggle with your own message?” My answer: No, I don’t struggle when I preach. But I struggle on Monday morning.
Pastor Sam preaches under the anointing, speaking the Word of God. But on Monday, Brother Sam has to listen to Pastor Sam. And when Brother Sam listens, he gets blessed.
Many Christians experience church hurt. Why? Because they heard a message from a preacher and later realized that the messenger had issues. But the message does not come from the messenger—it comes from God.
So what if the messengers are imperfect? The message is still perfect.
Are you disappointed because a preacher failed you? Were you listening to Jesus, or were you listening to a man? Look beyond the human vessel.
When you hear God’s Word, you are not hearing a man—you are hearing God through a man. And just as much as you need grace, the messenger also needs grace.
Be confident that you are chosen by God. If you make mistakes, learn from them, apologize, and move on. Do not let the regrets of the past keep you from moving forward. How long will you stay stuck in the past? Move on. Know that you are chosen by God.
Overcoming Anxiety
Anxiety is also a sin. But unlike other sins, we don’t look down on people for being anxious. Yet, anxiety must be conquered just like any other sin—through the Word of God.
Ephesians 1:4 – Be confident in this: You are chosen by God. “For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love.”
The Foolproof Plan of God
At youth camps, people ask, “If God is so loving, why did He create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?” Instead of answering that question, let me tell you this: God’s foolproof plan was that He chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world.
Even if Adam fell, and you fell in Adam, you were still protected in Christ. Did you know that before Adam sinned, you were already chosen in Christ?
If you had no say in being chosen, what makes you think you can do something to be unchosen? The only thing that stops you from walking in your calling is if you keep rejecting God’s call on your life.
The devil cannot stop you. He cannot limit you. The only thing that can limit you is your own stubbornness in rejecting God. But even in your backsliding, the Holy Spirit pursues you. He will find a way to bring you back.
Trusting the Holy Spirit’s Guidance
Imagine you are driving to a distant city and using GPS for directions. You miss a turn. Does the GPS scold you? No. It recalculates the route and provides a new way.
Likewise, the Holy Spirit recalculates your path when you miss a turn.
Yes, it may take longer, but He will still guide you to your destination. Your hope is not lost. Say yes to Jesus today, and the Holy Spirit will recalibrate your journey.
Facing Challenges Head-On
Challenges are not signs that you should give up. They are invitations to rise up and overcome.
Think of David. He did not see Goliath and turn the other way. He saw beyond Goliath—he saw God’s purpose.
If God has chosen you, then your case is settled. Stop questioning whether you are called.
Romans 11:29 – “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Saying Yes to God’s Call
God has great plans for you, no matter where you are in life. He can recalibrate your journey right now. All it takes is for you to say yes.
When I said yes to Jesus, I had nothing. The only assurance I had was His calling. But once I said yes, God started preparing me for the challenges that came with my calling.
Some of you need this reminder today: You are chosen. You are set apart. You were chosen not because of who you are, but because of who God is.
Ephesians 2:4 – “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…”
Will you accept His invitation?
God is the One who makes you holy. He does not set you apart just to separate you from the world—He sets you apart for Himself. And in being set apart for Him, you automatically become distinct from the world.
Ephesians 1:4 – “Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before Him in love.”
Whatever disqualifies you, the love of God qualifies you.
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