DO YOU FEEL UNQUALIFIED TO LEAD?

Pastor Mike Knoll

The word “unqualified” means, “lacking proper qualifications”. In other words, you don’t measure up! How many people, even Christians feel utterly unqualified on a regular basis as they strive to achieve goals and dreams according to God’s great and individual plan for them? We need to understand that the world’s standard of being unqualified and God’s are two very different things! For example, you can be regarded as unqualified for a job simply because you are considered too old, even though you might be the perfect hire. You can be labelled unqualified for university because you’re considered not academically bright enough. You can be judged unqualified for ministry because you don’t have a proper Bible College degree. (This one, I’m very familiar with!) The no.#1 example of a man in the Bible who would be reckoned as “unqualified” for ministry is none other than David, a teenage shepherd boy. Being the youngest of eight brothers, David wasn’t even considered for the position of the new King of Israel when Samuel the prophet paid a surprise visit to the household of Jesse to anoint God’s next chosen leader. Samuel went through the whole line up of Jesse’s amazing sons, expecting one of them to be the winner. When all were rejected by the Lord, Samuel was puzzled and inquired if there was a son that somehow got missed. Jesse reluctantly divulged that there was one other out in the field, but surely he was unqualified for such a responsible and high position. Samuel answered, “Get him now!” David entered the house and “then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward” (1Samuel 16:13). The rest is history! The principal qualifier in God’s eyes is not your abilities, charisma, good looks or intelligence—He looks at your heart! David was a man after God’s own heart which qualified him for the job! I was unqualified to be a preacher right from the start, simply because I did not obtain formal Bible School training –but God qualified me when He called me into the ministry. He didn’t interview me—He asked me no questions—He didn’t even complete a background check—He just said “I want you!” God either made a huge mistake—or He saw my heart! Have you read Hebrews 11 lately? Discover again in the Hall of Faith a name among the heroes that somehow slipped in, being unqualified. A prostitute. And yet Rahab was the great, great grandmother of King David! Not bad for an “unqualified” promiscuous woman who had faith in the Hebrew God, resulting in the salvation of her entire family! Your past failures and sins have no bearing on God’s call and purpose in your life as you walk in faith, forgiven, regardless of those who would maliciously hold your former transgressions against you. “Listen to what the LORD says, you that fear him and obey him: "Because you are faithful to me, some of your own people hate you and will have nothing to do with you. They mock you and say, 'Let the LORD show his greatness and save you, so that we may see you rejoice.' But they themselves will be disgraced!” (Isaiah 66:5) So take heart when others would consider you unqualified for God to use in any great capacity in His Kingdom on earth. When men dishonour you, God honours you! When men put you down, God lifts you up! When men reject you, God receives you! No doubt, you’ve heard this worn-out phrase too many times, but it still holds true; “God doesn't call the qualified. God qualifies those He calls.” When the devil reminds you of your past, you remind him that that person is dead—you are now a new woman—a new man through Jesus Christ who tells us we can do all things through Him! You are justified—you are sanctified—you are qualified! Amen!