We’ve discovered that Jesus has demonstrated what He stated in Matthew’s gospel when He said, ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14
Those who are called will not be able to reign and rule with Jesus Christ for 1000 years, but they are saved. But there are some that are “chosen”.
And on the Mount of Transfiguration, there are 3 up on the mountain, which are Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, and the other 9 stays down in the valley.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:28, there are some standing here that will not taste of death until you see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. That was spoken on the Sabbath, so when they went to the Mount of Transfiguration, that was on Sabbath-eve.
Remember that Mark’s gospel has the complete narrative.
Jesus said that a lot of people are called but few are chosen.
So, Jesus speaks of 3 groups:
1. The first group is the Elect, which is found in Matthew 24:22.
2. Then in Matthew 16:13, Peter receives the keys to the kingdom. This is the Key keepers group.
3. And then there is the group that is “chosen” to be a part of the highest work on earth. Peter, James, and John were able to meet Moses and Elijah, and hear God speak. And when they were coming off of the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anybody, thereby creating a secret society of the chosen.
I (pastor Manning) am a member of all 3 and it is possible that most people listening to me is a member of at least 2 of the groups, which is, the Elect and the Chosen. These people will understand the mysteries of God according to Matthew 13:15.
In other words, you have been chosen and are in a group that is more significant than the group that is “called”, because many are called but few are chosen.
Many people think that all Christians are equal. No they are not.
We may be all made in the image of God, but we are not all equal in our mental and spiritual abilities.
And God calls some of us to be higher.
Think about it…can you say that every Christian is on the same level as Moses? No, we cannot say that. Or David.
So, I am a part of all 3 groups and many of my listeners and followers and supporters are a part of at least 2 of the groups.
Group number 2 is the key keepers. That is a powerful position to be able to have the last say-so about who is going to enter into heaven and who isn’t.
That’s the position God gave to Peter when He gave him the keys and said, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18)
That is very significant.
And then some of the elect are chosen to live and reign and rule with Christ for 1000 years. We are going to be thousand-year disciples. Revelation 20:4: “And I saw thrones, and they say upon them, and judgment was given unto them, and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” VS. 5: “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” Vs. 6: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
If you are a member of the elect, you may end up being a judge of your contemporaries. This means that you, as a member of the elect, will be a ruler in the kingdom of God when it comes. Right now, we are in the kingdom of Satan. Jesus said this is not His kingdom. (John 18:36)
So of the 3 groups, you have the elect, and many of us will be judges.
Of the chosen, we will reign and rule as the elect. The elect shall be administrators in God’s kingdom. That means that you will be given a job when God starts His kingdom on planet earth. You will reign and rule in the new kingdom.
Right now, I (pastor Manning) do not operate this church according to Satan’s kingdom that we are presently living in. No sir. You can put ATLAH in the kingdom of 1000 years and you won’t see any difference.
Can you say that about your life right now?
So I am going to make a 4th category, which is the First Resurrection because the Bible says “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.” Revelation 20:6
1. Elect
2. Key Keepers
3. Chosen
4. First Resurrection
Many of you perhaps will be judges and I think being chosen to reign with Christ for a thousand years is a pretty good deal.
I have to make an insert right now about the LGBTQ and Old Testament haters that are trying to make Jesus more liberal than Santa Claus. I am not saying that I believe in Santa Claus, but if you’ve been naughty, that’s it, you will not receive any gifts, however, the LGBTQ and the Old Testament haters say that everybody is going to get gifts, including the naughty LGBTQ freaks.
These Old Testament haters are demons that go around saying, “Well, the Lord loves everybody.”
We have to look very carefully at what is going on in the world today.
We need to come to terms with the fact that not all Christians are equal. There are some that are chosen to be the elect and there are some that are chosen to suffer for the word of God and His law, which is righteousness.
If you follow the thesis that God loves everybody, there is no need for hell. What is the point of having the Law or hell or even Jesus if everybody goes to heaven? And if you follow Joel Osteen’s and others theology, then there is no need for hell or even Jesus.
I heard Franklin Graham the other day on television, and he stood there looking talking about being sorry for your sins and you’ll be saved. He said, “We have prayer warriors, just call me.”
It’s not that simple, but Billy Graham ran that for years, and the charismatics as well.
This theology has been very successful in moving people away from the word of God and away from the Old Testament.
They say that Jesus can’t help but love everybody, but watch this:
Revelation 20:11,12: “And I saw a great white throne and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened, which is the Book of Life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
The Book of Life is the Old Testament.
God is going to open that Old Testament on you and He is going to judge you according to it. God will judge the LGBTQ freaks according to the book of Leviticus. God is going to show you in the books and will throw the book at you.
So don’t go around talking about how God loves everybody and that the Old Testament is irrelevant.
Revelation 20:13: “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them and they were judged every man according to their works.”
We are going to be judged out of every word of the Old Testament, including stoning your son.
Revelation 20:14-15: “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
So if you were not found married to the Old Testament, you will be cast into the lake of fire.
By the way, I have a sermon coming up titled, “Why I Preach the Law.”
The lake of fire is real and that is why I preach the Law.
So, the LGBTQ and BLM and your children who follow them have made Jesus more liberal than Santa Claus.
I want to try to express something to you. First of all Jesus took James and Peter and John up onto the Mountain, but he left the 9 down in the valley. This means that not all Christians, not all followers of Christ, are equal. And then He said some of the Elect will be judges and rulers.
Remember He gave one man five talents, and another man two and another one…not everybody is equal. (Matthew 25:15)
So don’t try to make some other preacher equal with me. I am the Lord’s servant. There is not another man on planet earth right now that is equal with me. How many pastors do you know that actually had a visit from Jesus? How many pastors do you know that actually had a visit from Elijah? How many pastors do you know that have ever been in jail for a crime they did not commit but survived? How many do you know that have actually survived in Harlem for 40 years? How many do you know that have actually lectured at Oxford University? How many?
You might know someone that has done some of those things, but not all of them.
I am up on the mountain with Jesus and Elijah and the rest are down in the valley.
Mark 9:1-2: “And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you there will be some (not everybody, not every church, not every preacher) that stand here which shall not taste of death until they have seen the kingdom of God coming with power. And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, James and John and leadeth them up into the high mountain apart by themselves, and He was transfigured before them.”
You do not know anybody that has been as high on the mountain as I have been, and I am still there.
There are people that are not on the same level as you are.
They argue with you because they are not on your level. The way you are living now and your character now you qualify for the kingdom of God and not everybody qualifies.
The Bible says that when Jesus came he went out into the desert and prayed and fasted for forty days and forty nights and the devil told Jesus that this is his kingdom and if you bow down and worship me I will give you the presidency of the United States of America. Right?
You want to be Joel Osteen or Lebron James or Mohammed Ali? Satan will give you the prize if you will worship him because that is his kingdom. How about Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, or Jimi Hendrix? But you have to worship Satan. Jesus said, No, get behind me Satan. (Matthew 4)
Then Satan said turn these stones into bread and Jesus said “Man don’t live on bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
If you want to run around like these fools, these charismatics, and pentecostals and throw out the Old Testament, just know that you are going to be judged out of it. The Old Testament is going to be your judge and if your name is not found written in the book you are going to be thrown into the lake of fire.
I don’t owe nobody anything. I haven’t borrowed any money from anybody. What I have, I got on my own. I haven’t taken anything from the bank or the mafia. I almost took money one time and the Lord threw me on my face, but no, your pastor is clean and doesn’t owe anybody anything. This church is as clean as a whistle and we don’t owe anything to anybody.
So be careful because the devil will offer you a deal just like he offered Jesus a deal.
Dr. Manning I just heard your sermon on discrimination. I thank you for your precious words.
I am 78 years old and have never had any problems with race relations because I never saw someone’s skin color as the character of the man and raised my children the same.
May the LORD continue to give you the right words to say and to share your sermons with others.