“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV)

Many deceivers are in the world, and they are disguised as good stuff! They show up as religious books and literature disguised as godly materials, but they are not biblically accurate. I’ve noticed a lot of new age thinking, liberal wokeness, and progressive thought has crept in. It is also present in modern “gospel” music now sung frequently in churches, but it’s void of Bible truth. It is touchy-feely stuff, self-centered, and doesn’t promote worship of God. It also shows up in the messages of public speakers, with fantastic stories and ideas without sound doctrinal truth. 

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world,” (2 John 1:7a)

Test everything by the Word of God

The Bible is where you must go to check out everything that comes along to discover if it is true or not.

What the Berean Jews did

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true..” (Acts 17:11 NIV)

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Col. 1:16 ESV)

“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3 ESV) 

The above passages are perfectly clear that God created everything that exists and why. It was by Him and for Him. Not only did He create everything, He has the perfect right to do anything He wants with everything.

He is worthy in all respects

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Rev. 4:11 ESV)

Therefore

“The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.” (Prov. 16:4 ESV)

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Rom. 11:36 ESV)

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Eph. 2:10)

What’s your excuse?

We all have some kind of failure we can use to hold us back. Too old, too weak, too poor, not talented, not good-looking, shy, awkward, clumsy, uneducated—throw all excuses for failure away because God judges us by our faith and heart attitude. He created us, and we are His treasure, His masterpiece!

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor. 12:9 ESV)

Therefore

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” (2 Cor. 5:20)

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8) 

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Prov. 16:9)

Therefore

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24 ESV) 

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6 ESV)

“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10 ESV)

God uses weak people in the most extraordinary ways! And God wants to use you, too. If you will let Him.

God turns weakness into strength

Hebrews 11:32-34 says, “I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength.”

Therefore

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:15-16 ESV)

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.” (Psalm 34:17-23)

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)

It amazes me to see the flawed people God used in the Bible.  From cover to cover the Bible has ordinary men and women perceived as flawed, failures, weak and lowly.

From an outside perspective, we can see that it didn’t matter where people were from, what they had done, or who they use to be; God used all people for the good of His will.

Here are some examples of people that were used for the greatness of His glory. 

• Abraham -Was old.

• Elijah – Was suicidal.

• Joseph – Was abused.

• Job – Went bankrupt.

• Moses – Had a speech problem.

• Gideon – Was afraid.

• Samson – Was a womanizer.

• Rahab – Was a prostitute.

• Samaritan Woman – Divorced.

• Noah – Was a Drunk.

• Jeremiah – Was young.

• Jacob – Was a cheater.

• David – Was a murderer.

• Jonah – Ran from God.

• Naomi – Was a widow.

• Peter – Denied Christ three times

• Martha – Worried about everything.

• Zacchaeus – Was small and money hungry.

• The Disciples – Fell asleep while praying.

• Paul – A Pharisee who persecuted Christians before becoming one.

If you ever feel like you aren’t worthy enough, remember that God used a bunch of flawed people to share hope to a flawed world. In Him we find renewal and mending. Jesus didn’t call the equipped, He equipped the called. And no matter what you’ve been through in life, remember that the same power that conquered the grave lives within you.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  (Rom. 8:28)

“Now when the Jewish leaders saw the boldness of Peter and John and found out that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and realized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13-14)

Jesus chose “ordinary” people to be His disciples

The disciples were simple men with a weak and basic faith. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen. Mathew was a tax collector. Simon was a zealot (a political activist). We aren’t told what the occupations of the others were. Jesus transformed the disciples through teaching, admonishing, transforming, and empowering them. He can work through and use the same ordinary people today.

The Apostle Paul said…

“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. 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. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:26-31 NIV)

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Phil 2:13 ESV)

The Fear of the Lord is a profound reverence and awe towards God 

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!” (Psalm 112:1 ESV)

Look what the Bible says will happen “if” you fear the Lord and obey His commandments.

“If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.” (Deut. 30:16)

“God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!” (Psalm 67:7 ESV)

Like a tree planted by the water

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jer. 17:7-8 ESV)

Watch out!

“Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” (Prov. 28:14 ESV)

Therefore

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8 ESV)

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Num. 6:24-26 ESV)

The Fear of the Lord is a profound reverence and awe towards God 

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.” (Prov. 15:16 ESV)

The “trouble” riches bring

Many believe having a lot of money would solve their problems and make them happy. But they don’t understand the problems that come along with wealth. Studies of people who suddenly come into wealth show the opposite: it causes more problems than it solves. Most who have won the lottery say it ruined their lives as well as those of their families, and they wish they never had won. The Bible has a lot to say about the trouble that comes along with it.

“But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Tim. 6:9-10)

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matt. 19:23-24)

This is better

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” (Prov. 22:1 ESV)

“The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” (Prov. 10:22 NLT)

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8)

Therefore

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21 emESV)

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 ESV)

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;” (Prov. 3:9)