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MEMORY VERSE

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  2 Corinthians 4:7, KJV

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“We now have this light shining in of the our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”   2 Corinthians 4:7, NLT 

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INTRODUCTION

God's Pattern Of Choosing

From Genesis to Revelation, we see a divine pattern: God consistently chooses the ordinary, the overlooked, and the unexpected to accomplish His greatest works. He called Abraham, an old man with no children, and made him the father of many nations. He chose Joseph, a despised little brother sold into slavery, and used him to preserve his family and an entire nation. He raised up shepherd boys like David, widows like the woman in Zarephath, uneducated fishermen like Peter and John, and even tax collectors and outcasts like Matthew and Mary Magdalene. 

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Why does He do this? Because when ordinary people are filled with an extraordinary God, He gets all the glory. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV), “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” The NLT puts it this way: “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” God intentionally uses fragile jars of clay—people with cracks, flaws, and weaknesses—so that no one can confuse where the power comes from. 

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This truth shatters one of the greatest lies of the enemy: “You're not good enough, smart enough, talented enough, holy enough, or educated enough for God to use.” The devil loves to whisper disqualifications into our ears, reminding us of our failures and inadequacies. But God is not looking for perfect vessels—He is looking for surrendered vessels. He is not impressed by human credentials; because the excellency of the power is His, not ours. 

Think about it: when Samuel went to Jesse's house to anoint a king, every brother who looked the part walked before him, but the Lord rejected them.

The KJV records God’s words in 1 Samuel 16:7: “For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” The NLT says: “People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” In the end, it was the overlooked shepherd boy—David—whom God chose. That’s His pattern. 

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Beloved, this should encourage us. You don’t have to fit the world’s mold to be used by God. You don’t need a long résumé, a famous name, or a flawless reputation. What He looks for is faith, humility, and obedience. The surrendered life in the hands of a sovereign God becomes unstoppable. God delights in proving that He can take what the world calls ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary for His glory. 
 

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DISCUSSION 

Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 1:26 that “not many mighty, not many noble are called.” God deliberately bypasses human standards of greatness. He is not impressed with titles, degrees, or wealth. Instead, He looks for surrendered hearts. Moses stuttered and felt unqualified to speak before Pharaoh, yet God chose him to deliver Israel. Gideon was fearful and hid in the winepress, yet God raised him to lead a victory. David was overlooked by his own father, yet God declared him a man after His own heart. Peter was impulsive and unstable, yet became the rock on which Christ built His church. These examples remind us that God is not limited by weakness. In fact, He often chooses those others dismiss, proving His strength is made perfect in weakness. 

When God uses ordinary people, it confuses the wisdom of the world. In Acts 4:13, the religious leaders looked at Peter and John and were astonished. The KJV calls them “unlearned and ignorant men,” while the NLT says “ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures.” Yet there was one undeniable difference—they had been with Jesus. Their boldness and power did not come from education or status, but from the anointing of the Holy Ghost. This is how God flips the script. He takes those written off by society and sets them on display as living testimonies of His glory. What the world calls ordinary, God calls chosen. 

Finally, Paul gives the reason in verse 29: “That no flesh should glory in his presence.” The NLT says, “As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.” If God only chose the strong and noble, they could claim the credit. But when He works through ordinary men and women, there is no mistaking who gets the glory. Everyone has to step back and say, “This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” God eliminates human pride by ensuring the excellence of the power is not of us, but of Him. He wants His people and the watching world to know—it had to be God. 
 

​APPLICATION ​

How This Truth Applies To Us 

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This truth should reshape how we see ourselves and how we respond to God's call. Too often, believers feel disqualified because of lack of education, wealth, talent, or influence. We tell ourselves, “I'm not smart enough, holy enough, or gifted enough for God to use me.” The reality is that God does not call the equipped—He equips the called. What we see as weakness, God sees as opportunity. 

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Moses tried to excuse himself by saying, “I can't speak well.” Gideon argued, “I'm from the weakest tribe.” Jeremiah cried, “I'm too young.” Yet God responded to each of them by saying, “I will be with you.” The same is true for us. Our ordinariness is not a barrier but an invitation. God wants to use us precisely because when His power flows through fragile clay jars, the glory belongs to Him alone. 

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The application is simple: stop making excuses and start making yourself available. Ordinary people in the hands of an extraordinary God can accomplish miracles. This week, step into your daily life with expectation. The conversation you have with a co-worker, the prayer you whisper for a neighbor, or the act of kindness you extend to a stranger can become the very moment God uses to display His glory. Ordinary people create extraordinary impact when they are yielded to Him. 
 

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CONCLUSION 

Ordinary But Chosen 

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The message of 1 Corinthians 1 is clear: God calls ordinary people. He has always done it, and He is still doing it today. He places His treasure in clay jars, not to magnify the jar, but to reveal the value of the treasure. When you look at yourself and see flaws, remember—God already saw them and called you anyway. When you see weakness, remember—His strength is made perfect in weakness. When you feel ordinary, remember—ordinary is the kind of person God delights to use. 

So take courage and be encouraged. You don't have to be extraordinary for God to use you. You just have to be chosen—and if you are in Christ, you already are. 
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​​​QUESTIONS

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1. Why do you think God often uses ordinary people rather than the mighty and noble? 
2. Which Bible character stands out to you as an “ordinary” person used by God in an extraordinary way? 
3. What personal excuses have you made that may have limited your availability to God? 
4. What is one practical step you can take this week to make yourself more available for God to use?

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