Have you ever noticed that when Jesus gathered twelve disciples, He didn’t go to the Yeshivas of Jerusalem or the Bible schools of that time? Instead, He gathered ordinary, uneducated people to Himself, just like many of us. After the Spirit was poured out, the apostles and the first 3,000 disciples gathered in large crowds of 3,000 to 5,000 people in the temple courts. One of the temple court gates is where Peter and John were going when God used them to heal the crippled beggar in Acts 3:1. They also gathered in home groups to share food and break bread, celebrating the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:46-47). Jude called these gatherings love feasts (Jude, verse 12). I don't believe an apostle or a full-time Christian leader ever led the Lord’s Supper in these gatherings. I picture believers enjoying communion in their homes, just as Jesus modeled. The host of the house group or the leader would break the bread, just as the head of the household did on the Sabbath (Shabbat) on Friday evening, proclaiming the blessing over the bread.
We tend to look at the New Testament and view the 12 apostles as supermen. That was not the view of the residents of Jerusalem in the early days after the resurrection of Jesus. When the Holy Spirit came 50 days after Jesus died and used Peter and John in the healing of the disabled beggar at the gate called Beautiful, the religious elite were baffled as they considered the healing of the man by the two fishermen:
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).
The leaders of Israel believed that spiritual power came from intellect and head knowledge, but in God's economy, those things are not as impressive to God as they are to us. The Lord is looking for faith. Please understand that I’m not criticizing seminary training and Bible school; we need well-trained people who can teach the Scriptures with clarity and understanding. Christ found His 12 disciples in fishing boats, toll booths, and other everyday jobs. When the leaders of Jerusalem heard of the miracle of healing the disabled man, they couldn't believe these things were happening at the hands of ordinary, uneducated men. They checked out the local seminaries of their day, and the 12 apostles weren’t listed among the "Who's Who" of the synagogue. The early disciples would have been considered the least likely to succeed by the religious authorities of their time. However, despite the disciples lacking pedigree and formal education, the Lord Jesus transformed them just by being with them. Their words and actions reminded the people of Christ. The people "took note that these men had been with Jesus" (v. 13).
Similarly, when we live our lives in a relationship with Christ, relying on His power and character within us, others will also see that we have been with Jesus. I love being around those who walk with the Lord; it shows on their faces and in their character. The Scriptures say these early believers “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6, King James Version). Such was the testimony of those filled, led, and empowered by the Spirit of God; even their enemies recognized that they were world changers. None of us has any reason to believe that God cannot use us. All that is needed is simple faith in God and knowledge of Christ and what He has done for us; these things help us stay in step with the Spirit of God. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Keith Thomas.
Shortened from the study, "God Uses Ordinary Believers" in the "On Fire with the Spirit" series.
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