From the nobodies to the notorious

The rapid and extensive expansion of the Church in the early centuries was due to the spontaneous activity of individuals. The first teachers of the majority of the Christians were basically unknown- nobodies.

The pattern in the early church is God uses “everyone, everywhere, every day in every way” to fulfill His Acts 1:8 promise? “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8  

Those who spread the Gospel and established the Church are not known as men of great learning or ability. Most of them are not known by name at all- nobodies. “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 Unknown, unlearned, ignorant people – nobodies, “who had been with Jesus”. That’s the reality of the early church- that’s the pattern in God’s Kingdom.

 

God not only uses nobodies and He can and will use the notorious; 1^st century terrorist, named Saul, public enemy #1 for the new Jesus community. “Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.” Acts 8:3

Here’s the big idea- from the nobodies to the notorious no one is outside God’s grace, no one is beyond His touch, no one is unreachable, unusable, or unsuitable. No one is disqualified because of their past.

Friends, God doesn’t need your ability just your availability; because He does His work by His Spirit; God moves His story forward  through the lives of ordinary everyday followers led and empowered by His Spirit

Followers who God uses, who participate with what God is doing are filled with His Spirit- Pentecost, the apostle, Peter, the Seven who waited tables were men full of the HS, Stephen, Phillip and now Saul all full of the Holy Spirit.  Each and every person used by God was full of His Spirit. Always was and always will be; God moves His story forward, establishes His church and expands His kingdom through ordinary everyday people led and empowered by His Spirit. That’s the only way the Acts 1:8 promise is fulfilled.

Through the lives of the nobodies and the notorious God’s message goes forward, His church is established and His Kingdom is expanded.