Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO The scandal of particularity Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA September 21, 2003 Main Scripture text: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. The doctrine of "election" is central to the gospel. At least one theologian has referred to election as "the scandal of particularity" -- that God has chosen or "elected" particular people or groups at particular places and particular times to effect His will in the earth. The scandal of it is that often the choices God makes are not the one we would make. Indeed, God's choices tend to offend our sense of what is right and proper: Why Abraham, a simple nomadic herdsman? There were wise, wealthy, important people available in the world at that time. Why Canaan, a seemingly unimportant piece of real estate, when the fertile Nile valley was just down the road? Why a Jewish peasant girl to give birth to the Messiah? I can't explain all of God's choices, but I do know that from 1 Samuel 16:7 and other Scriptures that God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. If our heart is right before God, if we are humble and obedient, God can use us to accomplish His will in the earth. A few days ago, during our revival services, Dr. Doug Beacham asked his wife Susan to share something that was on her heart. Here is what she said: We have, in traveling, the opportunity to go to a number of different churches and see what God is doing all throughout the land.... I have been in places where I could see that there were apostolic anointings on individuals.... To my knowledge, this is first church I have been to [about which] I would say, "There is an apostolic anointing on the church."... During the prayer time today, I felt God saying over and over again: "In the coming weeks, there will be divine connections and don't second-guess them." There's a level and a place He is taking this. Basically, He has given you Athens. I asked Susan what she meant by the term "apostolic anointing." She had it had to do with authority. In the spirit, she saw principalities and powers rising up against what the Lord wants to do in Athens. God, she said, had given us authority over them. A godly woman who really has no earthly interest in this matter has declared something about us that she believes she heard from God. What do we do with it? Let me suggest four things for a start: 1) We should take it seriously and soberly. If God has so chosen us, He chose us for purpose not privilege. Receiving such a word from the Lord involves a great deal of responsibility. 2) We should pray specifically over this word, asking God to expand our understanding of His calling on our lives. 3) We must remember that humility is the key factor in God's choosing. The Proverb says, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." 4) We should take reasonable action. We must respond by doing something that reflects our willingness to be and do what God has chosen for us. Supporting texts: 1 Samuel 16:7 | Proverbs 16:18 A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here. (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of this sermon is available free of charge (U.S. requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 030921a: The Scandal of Particularity. © 2003 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us