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The following blog is a summary of a message preached by Pastor Eddie Lawrence.

Watch the Sermon HERE!

Have you ever felt unqualified or been told you're not good enough for God to use? Tonight's message reveals an encouraging truth: God has a divine preference for showing His strength through those the world considers weak or unworthy.

Why Does God Choose the Unlikely?

God's strategy isn't random—it's intentional. As Paul explains in First Corinthians 1:18-31, God deliberately chooses "the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise" and "the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty."

The reason is clear: "that no flesh should glory in His presence." When God uses someone the world overlooks, it becomes obvious that the power comes from Him, not from human ability or credentials.

What Can We Learn from Our Failures?

Failure, while painful, can be an excellent teacher if we let it. Consider the IBM story where an employee lost $10 million on a risky venture. When he offered his resignation, the president replied, "Are you serious? We just spent $10 million educating you."

We fail when we:

  • Do what God says we shouldn't do
  • Don't do what God says we should do
  • Act in our own strength instead of God's grace
  • Work independently instead of depending on the Lord
  • Move in our timing instead of God's timing

 

The wise approach is to do what God wants, how He wants it, when He wants it, in the strength He provides.

How Are God's Ways Different from Man's Ways?

Isaiah 55:6-9 reminds us that God's ways are not our ways. This doesn't mean we abandon common sense, but it does mean we must remain humble and open to doing things God's way—even when it requires dying to ourselves.

God's character never changes. The merciful, forgiving God of the Old Testament is the same God revealed in Jesus Christ. He "will abundantly pardon" and show mercy to those who return to Him.

Who Does God Choose to Use?

Throughout Scripture, God consistently chooses unlikely candidates:

Biblical Examples:

  • John the Baptist: A wild-looking man who ate locusts and honey, yet had such a powerful anointing that people traveled from Jerusalem to hear him
  • Matthew: A despised tax collector chosen to be a disciple
  • Peter, Andrew, Philip: Simple fishermen who smelled of fish, yet became powerful apostles
  • The women at the tomb: The first to proclaim Christ's resurrection

 

More Biblical "Misfits" God Used:

  • Noah got drunk
  • Abraham was too old and told lies
  • Moses was a murderer who couldn't speak well
  • David was a murderer and adulterer
  • Peter denied Christ
  • Paul persecuted the church
  • Mary Magdalene had seven demons
  • Zacchaeus was too small and a tax collector

 

What About Women in Ministry?

God chooses whom He uses, regardless of gender. While respecting biblical order and the headship principle in marriage, we cannot ignore that:

 

  • Women were the first to proclaim Christ's resurrection
  • On Pentecost, both men and women spoke in tongues
  • Philip had four daughters who prophesied
  • Deborah was a prophetess in the Old Testament

 

The ground is level at the cross—there is neither male nor female in our standing before God.

What Makes the Real Difference?

It's not about your degrees, background, or qualifications. It's about:

  • The anointing of the Holy Spirit
  • Knowing you've been saved and born again
  • Understanding you've been called by God
  • Recognizing that God's hand is on your life

 

When you got saved, it was like entering a "Jesus phone booth"—you came out powerful because the Spirit of God now lives inside you.

How Should This Change Your Perspective?

D.L. Moody observed that we spend the first 40 years trying to prove we're somebody, the second 40 years believing we're nobody, and the last 40 years realizing God can use anybody.

You are now somebody because of what God has done in your life. You don't need to brag about it, but you should shift from believing you're a nobody to understanding you're powerful because of Christ in you.

Remember:

  • You are royalty
  • You are powerful
  • You have been made worthy by the blood of Jesus
  • You are righteous
  • You have been given the wisdom of God

 

Life Application

This week, stop listening to voices that tell you you're unqualified or that God can't use you. Instead, embrace the truth that God specializes in using unlikely people to accomplish His purposes.

Whether you're at work, in your neighborhood, or anywhere else, remember that you carry the power of the Holy Spirit. You don't need a platform or pulpit—God wants to use you right where you are, among the people who need to see His love and power demonstrated.

Questions for Reflection:

  • What voices in your life have told you that you're not qualified for God to use you?
  • How might your past failures actually be part of God's education process for your future?
  • In what specific area of your life do you need to shift from doing things your way to doing them God's way?
  • Where is God calling you to step out in faith this week, trusting that His strength is made perfect in your weakness?