Believe It or Not
By Tomeco N. Woods

Do you think you are not worthy enough to be used by God? Think again.

The popular television program from the past, Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, has been resurrected and revived for today’s audiences. Viewers are invited to watch as daredevils attempt life-threatening feats, animals perform amazing tricks, or the world’s tallest, skinniest, hairiest, most flexible, or most tattooed person displays his or her claim to fame. The idea is that even if the viewer initially believes the task to be impossible, through the power of videotape it can be proven to be not only possible, but also a reality.

We as Christians have our own "Believe It or Not" series. We call it the Holy Bible.

Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we read of the miraculous works God accomplished through ordinary men and women, who, upon receiving initial instructions from God, imagined the tasks set before them to be impossible.

We hear from Moses, "Lord, I don’t speak well." We hear from Sarah, "Lord, I’m too old." Esther said, "Lord, I don’t see an open door of opportunity." Jeremiah cried, "Lord, I’m too young." Gideon whimpered, "Lord, I’m undeserving." And today we hear each other say the very same things. Perhaps you have used one of these excuses yourself upon receiving the revelation of God’s will for your life.

Maybe you think of the promises of God (a greater anointing, a powerful ministry, a pastoral position, work in foreign missions—whatever He has purposed for your life) as impossible dreams (or nightmares to some of you). Well, believe it or not, there is no shortcoming or fault within you that is so great God cannot use you.

Do you, like Moses, think you don’t speak well enough to be God’s spokesperson? God will speak for you if you only open your mouth.

Do you, like Sarah and Jeremiah, feel you are too old or too young to be used by God? Please be reminded of that same Sarah who was in her nineties when Isaac, the son of promise, was born, and of David, Solomon, and Samuel, all of whom were called, anointed, and appointed in their youth.

Are you, like Esther, afraid to move when God says move because you don’t hear opportunity knocking? Step out onto the water the way that Peter did when called by Jesus.

If, like Gideon, you feel you are a failure in life and are unworthy of God’s call, think back to the prostitute Rahab. Because of her faith and in spite of her past failures, she was counted worthy enough to be included in the faith "Hall of Fame" (Hebrews 11) and more importantly in the lineage of Christ.

God has a plan for each one of us. Those plans have nothing to do with our capabilities, and everything to do with His.

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me" (Jeremiah 32: 27, KJV)?

If we look at the situation in regard to what we are able to accomplish in our own strength, then yes, the task is too difficult. God does not, however, use us because of our ability, but rather our availability. The men and women who were included in the Bible are not there because they were great leaders, great orators, or great soldiers. They were included in God’s holy record because they made themselves available to be used by God.

My church choir sings a song that says, "Little becomes much when you place it in this Man’s hands." It is based upon the account of the 5,000 men (plus women and children) gathered to hear Christ teach who were fed with two fish and five loaves of bread (Matthew 14:15-21). When evening had come, the disciples were ready to send them home to eat, but Jesus had another plan. Rather than send them away, He would feed them from the disciples’ own personal supply—five loaves and two fish. The disciples questioned how it could be done. I’m sure that some of them, like many of us, thought to themselves, "How in the world are all of these people going to eat? There’s not even enough to sustain the thirteen of us." What they had, though, they made available to Christ, and the need was met. In fact, not only was it met, God did exceedingly and abundantly above all that they imagined could be done. Twelve baskets of leftovers were collected.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…" (Ephesians 3:20, KJV).

God is able, not according to your personal abilities, but according to the power that is within you. That power, if you are a believer, is the power of the Holy Spirit.

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9, KJV).

Of course there are always skeptics who say, "It cannot be done." I am sure there were doubters in the crowd of 5, 000 plus awaiting their portion of the meal. One of the good things about God, however, is that His power is not limited by your unbelief, or by the unbelief of others.

"If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." (2 Timothy 2:13, KJV).

Believe it or not, you have the power to do all that God has destined for you to do. Believe it or not, God called a murderer (Moses), a drunk (Noah), a prostitute (Rahab), a liar (Abraham), a thief (Jacob), an adulterer (David), an idolater (Solomon), and a backstabber (Peter), so why couldn’t He have called you?

You can achieve all that He has predestined for your life. You can obtain His promises of prosperity, wholeness of body, spiritual gifts, and abundant life. God can take your weaknesses and make them your strengths.

Believe it or not.

cbn