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Be Encouraged, You Are Chosen Of God
by Bro. Peter Rahme
 So often, when life’s situations don’t work out the way we anticipated or expected, we consider ourselves failures. However, there’s One who loves us no matter what. At times such as these, we must focus on what the Word says – we must look to the One who has chosen us and will keep us until He returns to take us into His glory.
“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you. 17 This is what I command you: that you love one another.” John 15:16-17 (AMP)
God knows your failures but chose you anyway. He knows your shortcomings and your weaknesses but He loves you and chose you anyway.
He also says, "I knew you before you were formed within your mother's womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world." Jeremiah 1:5 (TLB)
He was with you when you took your first breath, when your first step was taken, when your first word was uttered. He was with you when you first sinned. when you first felt emotions, He wrapped His arms around you and with His tender mercies, wiped away the tears and steadied your footsteps.
He was there when you first felt peer pressure or when the bully first went after you and when you first got an F on your report card. He was there in your despair and kept on encouraging you by drawing you to  Himself. He was always with you.
God handpicked you as the farmer picks his precious fruit - the fruit that He has carefully watched and watered. He selected you for such a time as this to reveal His precious fruit on the earth for all to see.
“[No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. 28 And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (AMP)
In our text, Jesus is saying to every believer, “You did not choose me, but I chose, selected, appointed and anointed you, so that you will go out and bear much fruit and be effective in my kingdom.” In doing this you are pleasing our heavenly Father. His will is that you bear much fruit and that your fruit remains. Jesus also said, the Father as the vine dresser or the husbandman, nurtures, trims and prunes us as the branches of the vine. Hallelujah!
So be encouraged - you have been handpicked by Jesus Christ because He loves you and wants you to bear  fruit. When we obey the Word of the Lord, we grow in the fruit of the Spirit, thereby allowing the blessings of God to flow to us and through us as we remain in the Vine.
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James 5:7-8
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Bro. Peter Rahme
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