3 Rules God’s Chosen Are Trained to Live By!

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In Matthew chapter 10, we read a case study of 12 chosen ones whom Jesus handpicked, trained, and commissioned for a spiritual assignment. Jesus didn’t send them out blindly; He gave them clear instructions, divine backing, and a spiritual constitution to govern their mission. In this powerful chapter, Jesus revealed strategies, tools, and principles that the disciples needed to overcome opposition, navigate persecution, and prevail over every enemy they faced.

Even today, these same principles still apply to every chosen one. Whether you are called into ministry, business, leadership, or service, if you are a child of God carrying a divine assignment, then Matthew 10 offers you timeless rules to live by. Let’s explore the three foundational rules that every chosen one must follow to succeed in their mission.

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Page Contents

Rule One: Boundaries

In Matthew 10:5-8, Jesus gave specific boundaries and forbidden zones concerning the mission. These boundaries defined three key aspects:

Their audience – Jesus told them, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:5-6)
Their message – They were to preach, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 10:7)
Their job – Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils (Matthew 10:8). Their assignment was spiritual warfare and liberation.

This shows us that effective chosen ones don’t just go where the harvest is; they go where they are assigned. Acts 1:2 says, “Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen.” This verse confirms that chosen ones are commanded ones – sent with specific orders and clear limitations.

Boundaries help protect chosen ones from:

Burnout – Ecclesiastes 9:11 shows us that even the fastest can lose the race without divine strength. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” When you step outside your boundary, you rely on your own strength – and it will fail you.
Trespassing – God’s cover is found within His will. If a chosen one enters a space they were not assigned to, they enter uncovered territory, vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.
Error – The Kingdom message is not ours to edit. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The word of our God shall stand forever.” When chosen ones stick to the message, the truth brings transformation, not confusion.

Here are three biblical examples of chosen ones who respected boundaries:

Joseph – In Genesis 39:9, Joseph understood that although he had access to all of Potiphar’s estate, his master’s wife was forbidden. To avoid crossing that line, he literally ran from temptation. His commitment to boundaries protected his destiny.
David – After failing in the matter of Bathsheba, David later learned restraint. In 1 Kings 1:1-4, though a young woman lay beside him to keep him warm in old age, he had no intimacy with her. He also refused to harm Saul, saying, “I will not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6).
Daniel – He refused to defile himself with the royal food and wine (Daniel 1:8). Though it would have been easier, he honored God’s dietary laws. As a result, he gained wisdom, favor, and influence.

However, there are also examples of chosen ones who violated boundaries and paid the price:

Samson – As a Nazarite, he had divine restrictions. But he flirted with Delilah and finally revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah (Judges 16:17-20). The result? The Spirit of God departed from him because he failed to live by these strategies of overcoming temptation.
King Saul – He lost patience and offered sacrifices, a duty reserved for priests (1 Samuel 13:8–14). This act of disobedience led to his rejection by God because he succumbed to these 3 pressures that make you go against God’s will.
King Uzziah – He attempted to burn incense in the temple, a role meant for priests. Despite warnings, he persisted and was struck with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:16–21).

Rule Two: Reverence

Reverence is more than religious behavior—it’s a lifestyle of honor, trust, and submission to God’s authority. In Matthew 10, Jesus embedded reverence into every instruction He gave His disciples.

Here are five powerful attitudes of reverence:

Trusting God for provision – Jesus said, “Take no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses… for the workman is worthy of his meat.” (Matthew 10:9-10). In other words, Heaven funds what Heaven sends. When you’re in divine alignment, provision will follow.
Reliance on the Holy Spirit – Jesus said, “For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” (Matthew 10:20). Chosen ones speak with supernatural power, not rehearsed scripts. For example, Peter, though he once denied Jesus, later boldly preached through the Spirit’s power (Acts 2, Acts 4).
Fear of God – Jesus taught, “Fear not them which kill the body… but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). The fear of God produces boldness, while fear of man produces compromise. Proverbs 8:13 states, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” This verse emphasizes that a key aspect of fearing the Lord is actively disliking and rejecting evil in all its forms.
Honoring spiritual authority – Jesus said, “He that receiveth you receiveth me… and him that sent me.” (Matthew 10:40). When a chosen one carries God’s authority, dishonoring them is dishonoring God. Judas failed in this area. Though chosen, he betrayed Jesus and ended in destruction.
Depending on God for reward – Jesus assured them, “Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones… shall not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42). Reverence trusts that no sacrifice goes unseen.

Examples of chosen ones who failed in reverence:

Judas Iscariot – Betrayed Jesus for silver, proving he feared men more than God and dishonored divine authority (Matthew 26:14-16).
Ananias and Sapphira – Lied to the Holy Spirit in Acts 5. They died instantly because they lacked reverence for God’s presence and authority.
Nadab and Abihu – They offered strange fire before God in Leviticus 10:1-2. Their irreverence led to immediate death.

Chosen ones who excelled in reverence:

Mary of Bethany – Poured expensive oil on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. She honored Him with deep love and costly worship (John 12:3).
Cornelius – A Roman centurion who feared God, gave generously, and prayed constantly (Acts 10:1-4). God honored his reverence with a divine visitation.
Stephen – Though falsely accused and stoned, he saw the heavens open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55-60). His reverence marked his death with glory.

Rule Three: Character

Jesus made it clear that power without the right character would ruin a mission. Character protects the anointing. Your assignment is only as secure as your inner world because character cushions your calling and makes your influence last beyond a lifetime. In Matthew 10, He emphasized several traits every chosen one should cultivate:

Wisdom – “Be wise as serpents…” (Matthew 10:16). Paul demonstrated this when he appealed to his Roman citizenship to avoid illegal punishment (Acts 22:25-29).
Innocence (Purity) – “…and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16). Stephen, full of grace, remained pure in motive even while being martyred (Acts 7:60).
Endurance – “He that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22). Peter and John were beaten but rejoiced in suffering for Christ (Acts 5:41).
Fearlessness – “Fear them not therefore…” (Matthew 10:26). James, the brother of John, preached boldly until Herod killed him (Acts 12:1-2).
Simplicity – Jesus told them to carry no extra supplies (Matthew 10:9-10). The disciples left everything to follow Jesus (Luke 5:27-28).

Examples of chosen ones who failed in character:

Demas (2 Timothy 4:10): He loved the world more than the mission because he deserted Paul and forfeited eternal impact.
Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20–27) He was Elisha’s servant who was full of Greed, lying, and misuse of spiritual access, and because of that he inherited Naaman’s leprosy and disqualified himself.

Chosen ones who excelled in character:

Nehemiah: In Nehemiah 6:10–13 we see that he refused bribes, overcame opposition, and prioritized God’s mission. This caused him to successfully rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall under divine favor.
Paul: He endured persecution, kept humility, and ran his race to the end (2 Timothy 4:7–8). The outcome of his faithfulness was that he became one of the most fruitful apostles in church history.

Conclusion

Being a chosen one is a sacred responsibility. It requires boundaries, reverence, and godly character. Jesus didn’t just empower His disciples; He shaped their lifestyles. These three rules still apply today to everyone carrying a divine assignment. If you honor boundaries, walk in reverence, and build godly character, you will prevail over every enemy and finish your mission well. Remember, chosen ones are not just called—they are trained, disciplined, and sent.

What is the action you should take then?

Guard your motives like Joseph. Is your action rooted in purity or personal gain?
Stay unshakable like Daniel. Will you bow when the pressure rises?
Forgive deeply like Stephen. Can you love those who oppose you?
Finish strong like Paul. Are you living for eternal reward or temporary applause?
Walk in obedience, and you will walk in victory.

Ready to go deeper? Watch the full teaching on my YouTube channel now! 👉 Click here to watch:

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