God Uses Ordinary People

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for reminding me that You do not call the qualified, but You qualify those You call. I am an ordinary person—weak, imperfect, and often afraid—but I know that You delight in using ordinary people to accomplish Your extraordinary plans.

Lord, just as You used fishermen, tax collectors, and simple men to change the world, I ask that You use me, too. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that my life will reflect Your power, not mine. Let my words and actions point others to Jesus, not to myself.

Help me to be faithful where I am—to begin in my “Jerusalem,” among my family, friends, and community. Give me courage to step out of my comfort zone, to reach those who are different, and to go wherever You send me.

When I feel small or unworthy, remind me that Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Lord, use my life as a vessel of Your love, grace, and truth. Let others see Jesus in me.

I offer You my heart, my hands, and my voice. Use me, Lord—an ordinary person—for Your extraordinary purpose.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.

ACTS 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

This is not human power—it is divine power, the dynamic and living power of the Holy Spirit that enables ordinary people to fulfill an extraordinary mission. It aligns with the authority of Jesus, who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Under this same authority and power, we are called to go and make disciples.

The Spirit does not come merely to comfort or bless us, but to empower us for witness—to testify to the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done. We are not left unequipped or unsupported; we are fully enabled by God Himself. Therefore, the expectation of Jesus that we be His witnesses is not only justified—it is achievable through His Spirit working in us.

When we rely on the Holy Spirit, our lives become instruments of His power. We speak boldly, love deeply, serve faithfully, and go wherever He sends. The mission of God continues through His people today, empowered by His Spirit and carried by His authority.

ACTS 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

EPHESIANS 1: 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

This verse provides a clear theological explanation of how and when the Holy Spirit comes into the life of a believer. The Holy Spirit is not received through emotion or ritual, but through faith in Jesus Christ. The moment someone hears the message of truth—the gospel—and believes, that person is sealed by the Holy Spirit.

This means that every true believer belongs to God, is protected by Him, and bears His mark. The Holy Spirit is also called the “pledge” or guarantee of our inheritance — like a down payment assuring us that God will complete our redemption when Christ returns.

The ongoing personal experience of salvation for every believer is marked by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Today, the Spirit’s coming is inward, spiritual, and permanent—a divine presence that assures us we belong to God. The evidence of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life is seen in transformation and mission.

Through transformation, the Holy Spirit works from the inside out, changing our hearts and minds to reflect the character of Christ. He produces in us the fruit of the Spirit and continually conforms us to the image of Jesus.

Through disciple-making, the Holy Spirit empowers us to continue the mission of Christ—to reach the lost, share the gospel, and build His Church. God uses ordinary people, filled with His Spirit, to accomplish His extraordinary purposes in the world.

2 TIMOTHY 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. The Holy Spirit enables us to overcome fear and share the gospel with courage and compassion. Evangelism is not about personality; it’s about obedience and love. God uses both the quiet and the bold—anyone willing to depend on His Spirit—to proclaim the message of salvation.

ACTS 2:14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

Here, we witness a remarkable transformation. The same Peter who once denied Jesus now stands boldly before the crowds, proclaiming the risen Christ. What changed? The Holy Spirit had come. The Spirit took a fearful fisherman and made him a fearless preacher of the gospel. This is what the Holy Spirit does—He empowers ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things for the glory of God.

When Peter preached, he quoted the prophet Joel, showing that what was happening was the fulfillment of God’s promise. His Spirit-filled message cut through language barriers, cultural divides, and—most importantly—the barriers of the human heart.

This passage reminds us that the Holy Spirit can break through any barrier to the gospel—whether external, like language and culture, or internal, like fear, pride, or unbelief. Only the Spirit can pierce hearts, open minds, and bring true repentance and transformation. Our role is to proclaim Christ faithfully; His role is to convict, convert, and change lives.

Every follower of Jesus is also called to be a discipler for Jesus. Evangelism and discipleship are not reserved for pastors, missionaries, or extroverts—they are the joyful responsibility of every believer. The Great Commission is not a special calling; it is the natural overflow of a Spirit-filled life.

When we share the gospel, walk alongside others in their faith, and teach them to obey Christ, we are participating in the very mission of God. What a privilege it is to be used by the King of kings to touch lives for eternity! The same Spirit who empowered Peter lives in us today. He turns our fear into courage, our weakness into strength, and our silence into bold witness—so that through us, the world may know that Jesus is both Lord and Christ.

The passage is descriptive, not prescriptive. It describes a historical event — the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost — which marked the birth of the Church and the beginning of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling ministry in believers.

It passage recounts a unique and foundational moment in redemptive history. The coming of the Holy Spirit fulfilled Jesus’ promise and empowered the disciples to begin their mission as His witnesses. The “violent rushing wind” and “tongues as of fire” were visible and audible signs signifying the presence and power of God. The disciples’ speaking in other tongues was a miraculous confirmation that the gospel message was meant for all nations, transcending language barriers.

ACTS 4:13 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.

The transformation of Peter and John is one of the clearest evidences of the Holy Spirit’s power. 

When people look at us, may they not see human strength, but divine presence. May they recognize in us the unmistakable mark of those who walk closely with Christ. God delights in using ordinary people filled with His extraordinary Spirit to reveal His glory to a watching world.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers me to live and speak as Your witness. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I have kept silent or stayed within the safety of my comfort zone. Help me to remember that the purpose of Your Spirit in me is not for my own gain or recognition, but for Your mission—to make Jesus known.

Lord, start with my Jerusalem—my family, my friends, and those closest to me. May they see the change You have made in my life and be drawn to Your love. Then move me toward my Judea and Samaria, to reach those who are different from me, even those who may be difficult to love. Give me courage to cross boundaries for the sake of the Gospel. And, Lord, give me a heart for the ends of the earth, that I may pray, give, and go wherever You send me.

If You must disturb my comfort to move me, do so, Lord. Let my life, words, and actions bear witness to the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Fill me daily with Your Spirit, that others may see not me, but Christ living in me.

Use me, Lord, to be Your witness—here and to the ends of the earth.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.