Thank you for joining us today. If you have ever wondered whether the Lord could use you to influence the world around you, this will be a good post for you to read. Have a blessed day. Eric
I believe all of us have wondered at times whether God can use us to make a difference in this huge world around us. We can seem so small and insignificant in our own eyes as well as in the eyes of others. The enemy of our faith, satan would like us to remain under that shadow of doubt.
There are numerous catastrophes recorded because of a failure of a small seemingly insignificant part i.e. the O-ring seal failure in cold weather which caused the space shuttle Challenger to explode shortly after launch; "an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually worldwide because of an incorrect dosage administration of medication." (inthewarroom.com).
The smallest part affects how any plan works. It is important for us to realize that what can seem insignificant to us can be vitally important to someone else.
Just as important for us, is that we be aware of how God views us. We need to call to mind that He opens and closes the womb. Your existence is not a mistake or an accident. (Jeremiah 1:5; Genesis 30:2; Genesis 3:22; Isaiah 66:9). Also, very significantly, He knit each of us together in our mother's womb for His purpose. (Psalm 139:13-16). We are His creation! Is it reasonable for us to see ourselves as small and insignificant? Apart from God, that would be a good description of us. However, let's examine through His Word how God views His children.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NIV) reveals, "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him." 'Chose' eklegomai means: “properly, to select, to (choose) out of, by a highly deliberate choice (i.e. real heart-preference.” (HELPS Word-studies).
Who does God choose according to these verses?
God chooses:
'The Foolish' - moros in the Greek in verse 27 means: dull, heedless, absurd and without learning, (an act or appointment of God deemed foolish by men). However, we read in 1 Corinthians 3:18 and 19 (NKJV), "Let no one deceive (miss true reality, be thoroughly deceived by an illusion) himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." All true wisdom is in God. "If we think we are wise, we have intellectual arrogance and are being self-reliant" (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). "Self deception blinds people to their dependence of God and makes pride appear to be wisdom." (Bible Hub Study Bible). The human heart is deceitful. (Jeremiah 17:9).
'The Weak' - (1 Corinthians 1:27). 'Weak' asthenes means helpless or unimpressive, "without strength or insufficient." (HELPS Word-studies) Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: "unable to achieve any thing great." However, look at this amazing truth the Lord spoke to the apostle Paul when he pleaded with God to remove a 'thorn in his flesh.' 2 Corinthians 12:9 and 10 (NIV), " But He said to me, "My grace (freely extended favor) is sufficient (enough) for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." “Classical Greek writers used 'thorn language' to depict chronic trouble, opposition or peril.” (Bible Hub Study Bible). We are not told the exact nature of Paul's chronic trouble however, we know it was "something pointed, painful and persistent which was allowed by God but instrumented by the adversary, to restrain pride and foster Paul's dependence on divine grace." (Topical Lexicon, Bible Hub). Verse 9 reveals, "My grace is sufficient for you for My power is perfected (full strength, capacity effective (HELPS Word-studies) in weakness. " Divine grace sustains us through every trial. His grace strengthens believers for suffering, service and perseverance. His provision is never exhausted. We don't celebrate the pain or weakness but we know when we are weak - His grace is sufficient. When we go through all the hard things - we must depend on His power. When our strength is exhausted, we know we can trust His power.
‘The Lowly’ - (1 Corinthians 1:28a) Agenes, the Greek for lowly indicates: the base, those who are ignored or treated with contempt, or regarded as nothing. " In the Greece--Roman world ancestry, education wealth or civic standing were 'honorable'." (Topical Lexicon Bible Hub) Why did the Lord choose the lowly? So no one could rightfully boast.
Consider this, 'Christ crucified' was offensive in regard to the Jewish expectation - they were expecting an earthly king! David, a ruddy young shepherd boy defeated Goliath! Unlearned fishermen became Jesus’ disciples! Gideon's army of 300 defeated approximately 135,000 Midianites! (Judges7). The Lord directed Gideon to reduce his army to 300 because otherwise, the Israelites would boast that their own strength had saved them.
God displays His strength through human weakness. He turns 'worldly values' upside down. He elevates the lowly and humbles the proud. Then, rightly so - Only He gets and is worthy of all the honor and praise!
'The Despised' - (1 Corinthians 1:28). 'Despised' conveys those who are cast out as nothing, to treat with utter contempt as zero or to regard as something that lacks any value. Isaiah 53:3 prophetically described the Messiah as "despised and rejected” by the ones He came to save. God's redemptive plan was fulfilled by Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection. And yet, He was the one the world considered weak and foolish.
There is a huge divide between human judgment and divine purpose!
When Paul used these terms - ‘foolish,' 'weak,' 'lowly' and 'despised to describe those God chooses - He gave us tremendous revelation into our understanding that God does not look at what the world looks at in regard to what qualifications make us acceptable. He looks at the heart! (1 Samuel 16:7). "God desires that man have genuine devotion rather than an 'appearance of righteousness.' No outward success can conceal the true condition of the heart." (Bible Hub Study Bible).
Hebrews 13:20a and 21a (BSB) reads, " Now may the God of peace, 21 equip you with every good thing to do his will." He does just that!
Acts 4:13 reveals, "When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
Praise God! He uses the Foolish, Weak, Lowly and Despised for His glory!
I am excited to be able to share some recorded testimonies of some whom many might call foolish, weak, lowly, despised or insignificant.
Remember, God looks at the heart. There are many people the Lord has used to fulfill His plans and purposes who would not have been chosen by the world. In fact, I am sure many would not have chosen themselves to do something significant in the eyes of the Lord! We're going to look at a number of individuals who believed they were inadequate. But look what God has done!
David was a shepherd when he was anointed to be Israel's king. He had even been overlooked by his own father, but God had other plans.
When the Lord called Jeremiah to be a prophet, he responded with, "I do not know how to speak.” The Lord encouraged, touched his mouth and put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth! God equipped Jeremiah to do what He asked him to do.
Rahab was a prostitute who chose to hide Israeli spies and became part of the lineage of Christ.
Saul persecuted the church - he became Paul the great apostle.
Mary (Jesus's mother) was from a small insignificant farming village. Joseph was a carpenter, a working class laborer, who became the Messiah's earthly parents.
Throughout the history of the church, there have been many whom the world would not have chosen. The 12 disciples fit in that category. Fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot....
John Newton was a captain of slave ships and an investor in the slave trade. He authored, "Amazing Grace."
D.L. Moody was one of nine children. His father died when he was four years old. He never went beyond the 5th grade in school. D.L. became an evangelist and social worker . He is best known for starting Moody Press and Moody Church. He is quoted as saying, " He who kneels the most, stands the best."
Smith Wigglesworth came from an impoverished family, was a common laborer, and couldn't read or write until he was 23 years old. During his ministry, 14 were raised from the dead and thousands were saved and healed.
C.S. Lewis lived as an atheist until he was through his 20's. He wrote "Mere Christianity" and "The Chronicles of Narnia."
Nicky Cruz was raised in an environment of witchcraft and abuse. He was a gang leader in New York City and threatened to cut David Wilkerson into little pieces. He became an evangelist.
Chuck Colson went from the Watergate Scandal to doing prison ministry.
Nick Vujicic, an Australian American, was born with no arms or legs. Today he is an evangelist and motivational speaker.
Over the years when I begin to question my own qualifications to be used by God, He reminds me of 1 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV), "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting [me] into the ministry" and Philippians 4:13 (NKJV), "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
We must remember that apart from Him, we are nothing and can do nothing. We have no reason to entertain pride. However…
Never count yourself out!
God has chosen each one of us to fulfill a part of His plan. 2 Timothy 1:9 (NKJV) reads, "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began."
We need only be like Isaiah when he replied to God's question in Isaiah 6:8, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I, send me." Then, we depend on Him and the Holy Spirit to sanctify, equip and work with us to accomplish whatever He calls or asks us to do according to His purpose and will.
To God be the glory! He can and will use even us!
Unless noted otherwise Scriptures used were from the New International Version.
BSB Berean Standard Bible
NKJV New King James Version