BRAD POWELL ONLINE

God uses people…very different kinds of people. Sadly, many believe that God uses only certain kinds of people from certain kinds of backgrounds who only do things in certain kinds of ways. Of course, this isn’t true. Never has been true. God doesn’t fit into that small of a box.

Of course, a simple reading of the Bible reveals this reality. Many of the great men in the Bible were extremely different from one another. They were from different places, backgrounds, cultures, and times. They had very different educations, vocations, economic circumstances, personalities, and abilities.

He even used men who disagreed and fought with one another to do great works. One of the great examples of this is Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15:39. They disagreed so vehemently with each other that they couldn’t work together. Yet, God continued to use them both to do great things. In fact, God turned it into good by creating two teams impacting the world rather than one. Only God…

Well, though times, cultures, languages, and technologies have changed, the fact that God uses very different kinds of people hasn’t changed. My time in Nigeria has made this truth leap off the pages of the Bible and into my life with HD clarity.

Let me give you an example.

This picture, in both the foreground and background, shows people who are obviously very different but genuinely serving and making an impact for God.

(Note: The three of us with ties on in the foreground (Yes, I’m wearing a tie) are all pastors and privileged to be teaching 1000′s of leaders here in Nigeria. Directly to my left is Jimmie Davidson. He is the Pastor of Highlands Fellowship in Abingdom,VA. It’s a church of over 3000 in a town of 8000. Amazing. Or, as he would say, “Amazen.” To his left is Sam Adeyemi. He is the pastor of Daystar Christian Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. It’s a church of over 20,000 people and growing.)

Of course, there are the obvious differences in the people pictured above. They come from different Christian traditions and ethnicities. They are different sizes. (Notice that I’m one of the taller ones in this picture. Ha.)

But, there are many other differences that are more difficult to see. We come from different nations, speak different languages (especially Jimmie the southerner and me the yankee), have differing theological views, personalities, styles, passions, experiences, etc.

And yet, God is using us all.

You see, God doesn’t use people because they wear certain kinds of clothes, have certain kinds of personalities, educations, backgrounds, or experiences. God uses people because they’re AVAILABLE!

With God…Availability is the greatest ability!

Here’s my question: are you making yourself available to God today? If so, hold on. You’re in for one “amazen” ride…ya’ll.