And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying"......7 As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
This passage of scripture teaches us that God can and does use people coming from different walks of life, once they are willing to be used in His service. In this instance it was the twelve disciples whom Jesus sent forth to preach, empowering them with His spirit to heal the sick, raise the dead, and set the captives free. It's also worthy of note that no distinction between them, or preferential treatment was manifested by Christ, for He gave the same power and opportunities to Judas, who later betrayed Him.
Christ did not see fit to choose His inner circle from the renowned theological institutions of the day, for their supposed learning, and pride of distinction might have stood in the way of His plain and simple commands. Now, it is a fact that a person who has been well educated in different lines can be used by God, if they be willing to submit to Him and to learn at His feet, for we have shining examples of this in the scriptures in the likes of Paul and Luke.
However, the instructions and knowledge of God often conflict with commonly accepted stereotypes, and whenever serious questions arise as to His methods and teachings, the highly educated often put up resistance to what they consider unconventional wisdom. Hence the reason why Christ chose the ordinary people represented by the twelve apostles, to do the work of evangelism. This ongoing method of choosing His servants still exists today, and is referred to by the apostle Paul. Let's read:
1st Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
The disposition to question, to analyze, and to test through a series of scientific methods, often puts people at odds with the great facts of creation, simply because they cannot be accounted for, using known scientific methods or research. But the ordinary mind that is not trammeled by the teachings of evolution and flawed forms of science, is often better disposed to accept by faith the instructions and teachings of God's word in a humble teachable spirit. Thus Christ sent forth His disciples to do the most important work ever entrusted to mortals.
What God is most interested in when looking for servants He can use in His vineyard, is the willingness to be used and sent by Him. Whoever manifests this disposition, whether highly educated or not, can have a part in God's service, and sacred history teaches us that all such individuals are empowered by God to bring many sons and daughters into the fold. One of the more striking examples given in the Bible is the experience of the woman of Samaria, who encountered Christ at Jacob's well. After receiving the water of life from Jesus, she promptly left her water pots, returned to her city, and invited everyone she met to come, taste and see that The lord is good, and according to the record the entire town came out to see Christ, and as a result very many people believed on Him. Let's read:
John 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word.
Question: Did this woman of Samaria understand the twenty seven fundamental doctrines of the church? Did she learn the Hebrew and Greek that is required in theological seminary? And was she even baptized when she went on her first evangelistic journey? The answer to all these questions is a resounding no, yet God was able to use her to launch one of the most significant crusades of Christ's day. God must be saying something to us in our day, who at times may feel that we have to do extensive studies and research, before we can be sent on our God-given evangelistic missions, for although research and Bible studies are important, yet we can begin with what we now know and have, for God takes the little we have and turns it into very much, since this method is His specialty.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to take up the mantle of service in our corner of the vineyard, for the harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few. Let us then begin with what we have, and the God we serve who specializes in multiplying fish and loaves of bread, will also multiply the little we bring to the table, for in the final analysis, it is God who gives the increase. Let's read:
14st Corinthians 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God"....
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!