Faith

6 Bible Characters Who Didn’t Feel Qualified For Their Calling

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash

Here are four simple truths. ONE: God uses people. TWO: You are people. THREE: God desires to use you. FOUR: Most people feel unqualified to be used by God.

MOSES

Most of us are familiar with the story of Moses and the burning bush. It was at this dramatic event that he was commissioned by God to be the deliverer of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. We don’t always talk about Moses’ reluctance to tackle his God-given calling, however.

Like most of us, Moses had legit excuses to justify his hesitancy, the first being, “Who am I?” The second, “They won’t believe me.” And the third, “I’ve got this stuttering problem.”

“Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10)

“And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)

I can sure relate to this one. Like Moses, I wasn’t raised in the Israelites’ faith. I’ve often said, “The world raised me.” This doesn’t negate the love and provision that was granted me as a child, only the culture of the world that surrounded me.

I know what it is to feel unqualified to teach, write and speak what God has called me to when surrounded by saints who were born and raised in the Church. Who am I, indeed? Yet, just like Moses, God has given me a promise that He will be with me every step if I simply continue to be faithful.

12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.” 

GIDEON

What are the words most associated with Gideon? Mighty Man of Valor! To be clear, he didn’t start out feeling or being a mighty man of valor. His first excuse was that his family was poor, and he was the least in his family. Boy, oh boy! I know what this feels like. Being adopted, and never knowing my birth parents, let’s just say I know what it is to feel insignificant.

“And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

“And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Judges 6:14-15)

Still, God gave Gideon a promise to be with him every step of the way to victory over the Midianites. Even when Gideon tested God with back to back fleeces, God answered by the supernatural, and affirmed his calling.

And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.” (Judges 6:16)

SAUL

Ahhh…King Saul, the first king of Israel. Surely, he had a confident start to his calling. Actually, not so much. He had previously been anointed to be king, but when the Prophet Samuel came to make him king publicly, he was hiding among the “stuff.” I’ve always thought this word referred to junk or clutter. The Strong’s Concordance number H3627 clarifies its meaning as any apparatus such as implements, utensils, weapons, armor, artillery, instrument, tools, etc. Saul wasn’t just hiding in the clutter. He was staying busy with needful things while avoiding the most important thing.

That sounds like someone I know. Me. I’m someone. I can find endless important things to tackle physically and mentally while I purposely push THE THING to the fringes of my consciousness.

“And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.” (1 Samuel 10:20-21)

“Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff.” (1 Samuel 10:22)

ESTHER

When the wicked Haman came against the Jewish people to have them slaughtered, Mordecai appealed to his niece, Queen Esther, to intercede before the King for their protection. Understandably, she was more than a little hesitant to do so because of the law stating that anyone who approached the King without a personal invitation could be killed. When he pressed her, she made a decision to push past her fear, and trust God.

There have been plenty of times in my walk with God that I’ve been terrified to do the thing He called me to do. Some times, I allowed my fear to win. Other times, I trusted God, and pressed through.

“All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.” (Esther 4:11)

”Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:15-16)


PAUL

The great Apostle Paul. Previously Saul of Tarsus, persecutor of Christians. (Not to be confused with Saul, the first king of Israel.) I love this guy! Paul only met Jesus once that we know of, and that was after His death, burial, resurrection and ascension into Heaven. It was on the road to Damascus. Saul/Paul was on his way to wrangle up yet more Christians to be thrown in prison, tortured and likely even killed. He was on a mission, for the Lord no less. But when the resurrected Jesus called to him on the road that day by a great light and voice of all authority, he was never the same. It was a Divine Intervention. From that day until his death, he labored tirelessly for the One who changed the course of his life, always acknowledging that he wasn’t worthy.

Even though Paul knew he was unworthy to be called an apostle, he allowed his thankfulness to keep him focused on ministry. I’m ever so thankful for the Divine Intervention in my own life, and agree with Paul that I am the least of these.

“And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:8-10)

MARY

She was just a girl. Betrothed, but not yet officially married. She is approached by the angel Gabriel who tells her she has been chosen to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah. The Savior of the world. No pressure. Talk about feeling unqualified. She wasn’t exactly doubtful. She simply wanted to know HOW??? When Gabriel explained that it would be a supernatural act by God’s Holy Spirit overshadowing her, she still didn’t fully understand. How could she? Yet she placed herself in the path of scandal, and in the hollow of God’s Hands, and responded by saying, “Be it unto me according to thy word.”

I can’t count the times I’ve asked God, “HOW???” When it makes no sense in my head. How? When I can’t see all the pieces in place. How? When others won’t cooperate with the plan. How? When I’m fearful of what others will think. How?

“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be,…” (Luke 1:34)

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.“ (Luke 1:38)

 

IN SUMMARY

We all have plenty of reasons to push back against God’s plan for our lives. Perhaps like Moses, we weren’t raised in the Church. Or like Gideon, we feel insignificant compared to others who are more qualified. Maybe like (King) Saul, we are too focused on being busy for God that we can’t say yes to the thing He’s calling us to. It could be that we are like Esther, afraid to follow through with God’s calling because of repercussions for not following the established rules. Maybe like Paul, we remember where we came from, and everything we took part in before Jesus found us, and granted us a Divine Intervention. Or perhaps we are most like Mary, and love God with all our hearts. Like everyone around us, we’ve waited in anticipation for God’s plan to unfold, and then we realize what that unfolding will cost…us. Perhaps it seems like the most outlandish and impossible plan. More extreme than anything we could have ever dared to dream. I pray we can find enough faith to say, “Be it unto me according to thy word.”

Warm Regards In Jesus’ Name!

~Pat~

 

Are You A Believer?

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Andy Montes de Oca on Unsplash

Who or what do you believe in? I mean truly believe in? The world has many belief systems. Believing in self is a popular one. We’re told over and over that if we simply believe in ourselves, anything is possible. Never mind checking to see how God feels about it. Just put your mind to it, believe in yourself, and go for it.

Many people raise their children to believe in mythical figures like the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy or the BIG one, Santa Claus. It breaks my heart. You might ask with shock, So your kids never believed in Santa??? Nope. It’s a lie, and I chose to teach them to believe God’s Word.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.“ (James 1:17)

So, back to my question. Who or what do you believe in? I’ve been reading about Abram. Before he became Abraham, he was called by God to leave his family and home on nothing but a promise.

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

How did Abram respond? Genesis 12:4 gives us the answer.  “So Abram departed…” 

This is how we know he believed God. He responded with action.

When Abram questioned God concerning how the promise would come to pass because, as of yet, he had no children, God reassured him once again that his descendants would be as the stars in the heavens if they could be numbered.  I love what is recorded about Abram after this.

”And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

We know that both God and Abram followed through with action because there is a NATION of Israel today.

So, once again back to my question.Who or what do you believe in? I hope your belief system is founded on God’s Word. Many say they believe, but put no action behind their so-called belief.

If a person is a believer in God’s Word, there will be signs. Those signs will most definitely include more than words only. The old saying is “Talk is cheap,” and this is true. It’s easy to wear the t-shirt or sport the What Would Jesus Do bumper sticker. But the truth is revealed by our actions.

If we truly believe in God’s Word, we’ll make life changes accordingly. People will see and feel a distinct difference. Our actions will undoubtedly speak louder than our words.

SELF ANALYSIS

Let’s take a deep and honest look into ourselves. Is God calling us to do make a course correction in our lives? Are we saying we’re a believer, but refusing to obey? What are we holding out on God? Abram followed through, and because of this, he was called righteous, is known as the Father of the faithful and is listed in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

Are you a Believer? Be a Believer like Abram. (Abraham)

Warm Regards,

-Pat-

Let’s Move Some Mountains!

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

Have you been dealing with the same spiritual strongholds for years?

Do you need more faith to get the victory?

If you have been asking God again and again for more faith, with little or no results, it’s a good time to figure out where faith comes from. We can go to a familiar scripture to find the answer.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Is this all there is to acquiring faith, and more of it? If so, it seems simple enough. Go to church. Listen to the preaching. Apply it to our lives. Enter, FAITH…

Yet, there are people who sit in church services three times a week plus prayer meetings, read the Bible daily, and pray faithfully, who, apparently, do not have the faith to get victory over the situations in their lives. Maybe you are one of them.

There must be more. What are we missing?

In Matthew 17, a man brings his devil-possessed son to Jesus, only after he had taken him to the disciples, and they could not cure him. Jesus responded with frustration at what He called a “FAITHLESS and perverse generation.” He then rebuked the devil, which immediately left the young man. What did Jesus know that the disciples did not? What had He been doing that they had not?

Afterward in private, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why could not we cast him out?”

“And Jesus said unto them, BECAUSE OF YOUR UNBELIEF: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE to you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out BUT BY PRAYER AND FASTING.” (Matthew 17:20-21)

From Jesus’ words, we understand that there are deeply entrenched spirits that cannot be overcome without prayer and fasting.

[bctt tweet=”We have thrown a lot of PRAYER at our situations, which is needful, but FASTING is the missing element.” username=”patvickdotcom”]

Our Oneness, Apostolic, Pentecostal, Holiness Churches are filled with faithful saints, loving pastors, great orators, anointed teachers, generous givers, and even powerful prayer warriors. Those same churches, however, have very few people who FAST with any degree of depth or consistency.

It is understandable, then, that our church families continue to be weighed down and oppressed by deeply entrenched generational spirits such as:

-Depression
-Anxiety
-Confusion
-Bitterness
-Rage
-Unforgiveness
-Abuse
-Addictions

-Poverty
-Disease
-Promiscuity
-Pornography
-Occult
-Suicide

On and on the list could go. What spirits continue to oppress your family even after years of consistent Word and prayer?

[bctt tweet=”If we want New Testament RESULTS, we must practice Early Church DISCIPLINES.” username=”patvickdotcom”]

A discipline must be practiced consistently to be effective.

Of all the spiritual disciplines, fasting is by far the most challenging. Yet, as we have already learned, it must be implemented if we are to be overcomers, as God’s Word assures us that we can be.

Flesh must be crucified. It’s the only way.

How much longer will we allow the same strongholds to keep us oppressed that oppressed our parents’ and grandparents’ generations?

MAKE A FASTING PLAN.

If you have never fasted, start small. One meal this week is a start. Two meals next week is progress. Three meals the next week is one whole day.

Here is a simple, long-term fasting goal to work toward:
1 day a week
3 days a quarter
7 days bi-yearly
21 days a year

Let’s move some mountains!

FASTING IS THE ANSWER.

*Please consult with your doctor before you begin any fasting regimen.
*Let him/her know of your plans to fast.
*Do not stop taking prescription medications without counseling with your doctor.
*Remember to drink plenty of water while fasting.

 

INVITATION TO LEAVE FEEDBACK
Do you have a testimony from a fasting experience?

I’d love for you to share it in the comments.
Do you have questions on fasting?

Leave them in the comments, and we’ll discuss them.

The Depths of Despair Are No Place For a Christian

~ Pat Vick ~ 4 Comments
Photo by Daniel Jensen on Unsplash

Just this week when things in my world were going splendidly (which should always give us pause), there was a glitch. A wrench in the gears. A leak in the boat…You get the idea. Something unexpected and potentially catastrophic occurred. In a moment, I went from being emotionally on top of the world to the backside of the desert. I received news that made my heart turn to lead in my chest.

My first reaction was disbelief. Immediately after I realized this new turn of events was really happening, I was engulfed by a wave of negative thoughts:

I should have known it was too good to be true. I was foolish to think it would go smoothly. We’ll probably never be truly peaceful. I’ll never let myself hope like that again.

Wait. What?

Those weren’t even my thoughts. An enemy had done this. Planted tares of negativity and hopelessness into my mind, and disguised them as my own thoughts. The Holy Ghost immediately rose up in me and helped me to think Truth. He helped me to remember how the Lord had recently turned this same horrible situation into a masterpiece. He had just given us beauty for ashes, and it only took one bump in the road for us to forget. I had gone from the pinnacle of glory to the depths of despair that easily.

In the beloved children’s book, Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Anne asks Marilla, “Can’t you even IMAGINE you are in the depths of despair?”  To which Marilla abruptly replies, “No. I cannot. To despair is to turn your back on God.”

According to God’s Word, I must agree with Marilla.

 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6)

If we allow ourselves to sink into despair, we definitely are not manifesting faith. Instead, we are letting negative emotions take over our thinking. When people are consumed with doubt, fear and unbelief, they cannot pray in faith. They cannot say to this mountain, be removed and cast into the sea.

This is the woeful condition that satan wants to trap us in. He knows that for every second he can get us to think negatively, it is  more probable that we will speak negatively. Once we speak negatively, we set an alternate set of circumstances in motion. What blessing the Lord wanted to bring, is derailed by our careless words.

[bctt tweet=”Once we speak negatively, we set an alternate set of circumstances in motion. What blessing the Lord wanted to bring, is derailed by our careless words.” username=”patvickdotcom”]

How do we stop this landslide of negative consequences?

RECOGNIZE
First, we must recognize the attack for what it is. A trap of the enemy. We must know enough of God’s Word to recognize the devil’s work.

REMEMBER
Second, we must remember how God has worked on our behalf in the past. When was the last prayer that God answered for us? When did we feel defeated, and yet He intervened?

REMIND
Third, we must remind ourselves of all the wonders that God has specifically done for us. We must remind ourselves that we are children of the Great King.

RESIST
Fourth, we must resist the devil, submit ourselves to God, and he will flee from us. We must resist his influence in our lives and his impression in our minds.

RETURN
Fifth, we must return to the path of faith in God. We must begin to pray with power. Begging is not mountain-moving prayer. We must pray with the spiritual authority that Jesus name permits us.

REFUSE
Sixth, we must be aware of how the enemy works, and refuse to be deceived again. We must refuse to be emotionally corralled into a trap of despair.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;”(2 Cor. 4:7-8)

Within just a few minutes of giving in to the feelings of despair, I remembered the goodness of God toward me. I stopped feeling sorry for myself, and started praying. I spoke faith-filled words in Jesus’ name until I felt them. I repented to the Lord of losing faith so quickly, and asked Him to forgive me. I committed to trust Him. After all, He has proven time and again to me that He is able to turn any situation around in a moment of time for His glory.

In case you doubted, He did it again, and He’ll do it for you! Praise God!

Warm Regards, -Pat

INVITATION TO SHARE

-Have you ever found yourself in the depths of despair even when you know God has been so good to you?

-What steps did you take to get out of that negative frame of mind?

-What scriptures would you share with someone who is struggling with despair?

As always, feel free to leave a comment, subscribe to my newsletter, and email me: Pat@PATVICK.COM.

 

A Lesson On Living (Not Dying)

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”
(Psalm 118:17)

Death is inevitable. This reality strikes fear into most people’s hearts, but when you learn the lesson of this thing called life, it will bring you comfort. The truth is you cannot live to the fullest until you acknowledge your mortality. Then, and only then, can you start truly living.

God’s Word instructs us to number our days. When you consider the brevity of twenty-four hours, then you can begin to appreciate a week, a year, a decade and a generation. You must then ask yourself, what can I do with this allotment of time that God has granted me?

I visited in the hospital today with a friend who is on a heart transplant waiting list. Even though his body is weakened and frail, he is possibly more alive than he has ever been. His senses were heightened. Every word was chosen meticulously for the meaning he wanted to convey. No trivial conversation polluted his speech.

He’s living for today. This minute. This hour. This breath. And it’s enough, because he knows it’s all he’s promised. He doesn’t feel cheated, as it’s all any of us are promised. Right now. He has simply learned to appreciate the gift of now.

How can I make now worthwhile? What can I talk about that will bring value to this moment? What can I think about that will proliferate goodness into the gift of now? What eye contact can I make that will infuse depth into this conversation? Will they feel the gratitude that I am willing my flesh to convey in this embrace? These are the questions he is asking himself, and we should ask ourselves, while we are living.

His eyes follow his wife around the small hospital room with admiration as she organizes their lives. Forty years of til death do us part, and all they know for sure is they have this moment. They’ve said all the things, and tied up all the loose ends. All that’s left to do is love deeply and hope, “and hope maketh not ashamed…” (Romans 5:5)

My friend was surrounded with lines, and probes, and beeping things. He was also surrounded with books. Two stacks within touching distance, and one under his hand. Lifelines. Why does a man who isn’t promised tomorrow read books? Why does he give himself to learning and growing? Because he isn’t dying. He’s living.

Also within reach were prayer cloths. A multicolored stack, as varied as the people who sent them. Flimsy little scraps of material that shouted, “YOU ARE NOT ALONE! WE AGREE TOGETHER IN JESUS’ NAME THAT YOU ARE VICTORIOUS! YOU ARE NOT DYING! YOU ARE LIVING!” I could tell by the way he pulled them close and gave them a squeeze that he believes their message.

I knew he had figured it out, this thing called living, as he spoke about people. Family members, grandchildren, Church family, visiting ministers. This one called. That one said. Lord Jesus, bless them. The law of kindness was in his mouth, and thankfulness was in his eyes, as he spoke about the people. He’s learned that stuff and flesh are temporal, but souls are eternal.

The final way I knew he had decided to live, wasn’t in what I saw, but what I felt and heard. The witness of God’s Holy Spirit declared to everyone in the room, and spilled into the corridor with utterances assuring,

“LIFE is here!”

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.“ (Ezekiel 36:26)