APPROVED OF GOD  

Raphael Oye Taiwo

Unity Christ Evangelical Ministry (UCEM)

www.ucevam.com

Lesson Eight

The joy of being chosen and approved by God

1.1.          Special proximity and relationship to the Lord. Rev 17:14. Those who are chosen and approved of God, by proving their love for Him, faith in Him and faithfulness to Him, will enjoy a special closeness to the Lord in eternity that many Christians will desire but will not be able to. When He was in the world, He had many who believed in Him. Many of them did not enjoy close relationship with Him because He did not fully approve of them (John 2:23-24). From among these, He chose seventy disciples who were closer to Him - Luke 10:1. He chose twelve disciples who were closer to Him than the other disciples in the ‘Club Seventy’ - Matt 20:17. And among the twelve He chose three disciples who were the group of disciples closest to Him -Matt 17:1-3; Matt 26:37. This is what it will be like in eternity. Whether we will be close to Him or not in eternity depends on how much of His approval we qualify for in this world.

1.2.          Special positions in eternity. There are special positions in eternity to be occupied by those who strive, in this world, to be approved of God. Rev 3:12: ‘Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God…’ A person referred to as pillar of a place is a very important, chief support of the place. What Jesus is saying here is that those who prove themselves worthy of God’s approval - by achieving God’s purpose for their lives, by faithfully fulfilling their God-given ministries, by pleasing the Lord with the way they live their lives and by distinguishing themselves in the Lord’s battles - will occupy a special position that many who make heaven will not be able to occupy. For example, Jesus says, ‘To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.’ Rev 3:21. In Matt 20:20-23, the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and ask the Lord to grant that one of her two sons might sit at the Lord’s right and the other at His left on His throne in the kingdom of heaven. Without mincing words, Jesus told her He could not grant her request because the position was for those the Father had prepared it, those chosen and approved by Him.

1.3.           Special eternal reward. There are many special rewards prepared for only those who deserve them. Crowns, for example:

1.3.1.   The victor’s crown -1 Cor 9:24-25. For those who run successfully the race God sets before them – not for the lazy and half-hearted runners.

1.3.2.   The crown of righteousness - 2 Tim. 4:8. For those who are careful to live their lives in holiness and godliness – not for the baby Christians and carnal Christians.

1.3.3.   The Martyr’s crown - James 1:12; Rev 2:10. For those who endure suffering and great trial for Jesus’ sake.

1.3.4.   The Shepherd’s crown - 1 Peter 5:2-4. For faithful, non-covetous shepherds and caretakers of the Lord’s flock.