A recent news story on a pastor from Pennsylvania named Jim Moats lying about his service in the Navy SEALS is indeed another black eye to the reputation of professing believers in Jesus Christ and we should pray for his repentance. But that story has also brought to mind the ongoing nonsense that many times we as believers involve ourselves in because we get caught up in the things that the world holds dear.

In no way would I ever discourage anyone from studying the Bible and becoming more versed in the scriptures. But we have carried on an unbiblical legacy of considering people to be more able to carry out God’s will because of their educational level, financial status and other worldly considerations that God Himself could care less about.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
(1 Corinthians 1:26-29 – KJV)

How many times do we think that somebody of the faith is legit because of how wise, mighty or noble they may seem to our flesh and to the world? How many of us will accept every word that comes out of a preacher’s mouth as truth because of his title, degree, clothes, car, speaking ability or worldly status? What we must understand that is many of these so-called preachers are simply dressing the part and playing the role so that we are fooled into giving our loyalty to them and helping them build their earthly religious empires. They will present themselves to you in whatever fashion you desire in order to snatch you up into their own wickedness.

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
(2 Timothy 4:3-4 – KJV)

We must understand that there are two types of professing believers. One type seeks to glory Jesus Christ in all that they do and they are the true believers that pick up their crosses to carry day after day. The other has recreated a false Jesus in their own image and they will flock to people who will tell them lies in order to be able to continue serving their own desires. This is happening on a grand scale and these types of ministries are also spreading around the globe and spreading more of their poison. I pray that they would repent.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
(Acts 4:8-13 – KJV)

So we come to the point of this article and that is that in order to serve Jesus Christ, you do not need a seminary degree, you do not need to be an eloquent speaker and you do not need to have a certain status in the world. We simply need to be called by the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in us. In essence as the verse above says, we simply need to be with Jesus.

Let’s pay attention to the portions that I have underlined from Acts 4. First, Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost, which is literally the only requirement we need to have in order to do God’s will. No other requirements are needed which means that one does not have to be fully educated, rich or a great orator to be able to serve the Lord. All He needs is our hearts and just like the case of Peter and John, He will give us the words to speak and work boldness through us. Remember Jesus’ words:

But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
(Matthew 10:19-20 – KJV)

I’ve heard a lot of preachers express many times that the things they say are the result of the Spirit speaking through them. But we must test them with the Bible to see if they really are preaching the truth.

Now consider that the Jewish religious leaders that rejected Christ found Peter and John to be “unlearned” and “ignorant.” Translation—they didn’t believe that Peter and John were qualified to speak on behalf of Jesus or anybody else because they didn’t have the formal training that they did. But what’s the catch? The catch is that the “unlearned” and “ignorant” men were actually the true followers of God while the “learned” and “wise” men were terribly missing the mark. This attitude still carries on in many instances today when somebody that a pastor didn’t deem to be their spiritual equal approaches him with a question about what they are preaching. I personally went through that experience myself.

But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.
(Galatians 1:15-24 – KJV)

Brothers and sisters, I want to encourage you that if God has put something in your heart to accomplish for Him in this life, do it. Don’t wait for people to validate you and don’t wait someone to give you their approval. When Paul received God’s call, he did not go to Jerusalem for three years but started immediately with the work that the Lord would have him do. I’m sure there were people who dismissed what he was doing but he didn’t care. He received the call from God and was commissioned by God and any validation of man would have been merely confirming what already was.

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