They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common. Acts 2:42-44

You may look in the mirror and feel like you aren’t all that. Good news: When you look at the great men and women of old, you’ll see that it’s not by might or power that they accomplished great things but by God’s Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).

Gideon was hiding from the Midianites when the angel of the Lord called him a “valiant warrior” (Judges 6:11). Daniel was kidnapped during war and relocated to a foreign land as a slave, but he became the prophet who interpreted the king’s dreams (Daniel 1:3). David was the youngest brother and inexperienced, but God looked at his heart and called him to be king (1 Samuel 16). Peter used to always say the wrong thing at the wrong time, but God sent His Holy Spirit and Peter told crowds of thousands about Jesus. If you feel like the odd man or woman out—you are in good company!

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

When you see this amazing model of the early church, know that God is not interested in a bunch of fancy pants people with hidden agendas. God uses regular people who are humble of heart.

This is our hour. Jesus’ name is above every name. So stand on the Word of God. It will produce results, and signs and wonders will follow!

Press On!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2011 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior . . . Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you? Judges 6:12, 14

God’s perspective is different from our perspective. When God sent an angel to call Gideon to save Israel from oppression, Gideon saw only his own weakness. Like Gideon, we often see ourselves through our limited viewpoint. Instead, we should look into the mirror of the Word to see ourselves as God sees us.

Gideon responded the way we are often tempted to respond when in the midst of a protracted battle. “If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about . . . But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian” (Judges 6:13). Gideon was basing everything on what he saw in the moment, while God’s amazing overriding perspective called Gideon to faith. God downloaded the deliverance of Israel to a man who, in the natural, did not look like a worthy candidate. That means there’s hope for all of us!

“Remember, God didn’t give us His Word so we could gather enough info to become theologians. He gave us His Word so we could undergo transformation and to overcome anything we face in this world with our faith.” Pastor Bill Anzevino

Even when our misery is self-inflicted, we can call on the Lord. His mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13). “Fools, because of their rebellious way, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted . . . Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalm 107:17-20).

God can take a thimbleful of faith and stretch it as far as the universe. Even when we don’t have everything figured out, we have this figured out: God is faithful! He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). So take courage in Jesus’ words, which ring true through time: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).

God is faithful!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.