How You Say Yes to God (even when you feel unqualified) | Season 8 Ep 5

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SHOW NOTES:

Feeling overlooked or undervalued? Divine appointment doesn't depend on human recognition. This transformative episode unpacks the story of James the Lesser – a disciple whose very name implies insignificance yet who was personally selected by Jesus for extraordinary kingdom work.

Drawing from Mark 3:13-15, we witness Jesus intentionally selecting those "he himself wanted," reminding us that divine selection supersedes human qualification. When Jesus calls someone to leadership, he sees beyond what's visible to others. As 1 Samuel 16:7 affirms, "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

What makes this exploration particularly potent is how it challenges our contemporary obsession with platform, influence, and recognition. James stepped into his appointment regardless of his title or others' perceptions. The question becomes whether we'll do the same – listening to God's voice rather than our fears or insecurities about being "lesser than."

Transcript

Welcome to Grab the Faith

Speaker 1 0:00

Hey all , thank you for joining us here at Grab the Faith , where we try to grab the faith and run with it . Join us as we try to learn a little more , grow a little more and live a lot more . I'm your host , bobbi Gentry Goodwin . Stay tuned for this week's episode . Good evening , good evening , good evening , and thank you for joining us here at Grab the Faith , where we grab the faith and run with it .

Speaker 1 0:39

Honey , and we've been running , we've been running through these disciples , disciple after disciple . How are you doing ? Are you enjoying these disciple studies ? Listen , I am enjoying them and I'm learning more and more about the disciples and their journeys . You know , it's really nice to actually just dive into a specific person and I don't know , maybe we'll do that in our next studies is just dive into different people in the Bible and get to know them at a deeper level . Dive into different people in the Bible and get to know them at a deeper level . You know , we've done our Genesis study and you know just our book studies and our thematic studies and now the disciples . But it's just been surely nice to just dive into a person and get to know them a little bit better .

Introduction to James the Lesser

Speaker 1 1:19

And I want to tell you , tonight we in for a study . Tonight we are in for a study because this study not only helped me as I dived into the disciple , but , honey , this study dived into me . Okay , sometimes that's how the word of the Lord does , you know it just dives into you . And that's exactly what happened to me in this study . You know , as I studied this disciple , some things immediately grabbed me . So , if you have some notepapers and pens , we're going to be going through some scripture , we're going to be learning , because this word is a transformative word and I'm hoping that it will enter the world as such . And so , as we studied this disciple tonight , I just want you to keep an open mind and an open heart as we talk about none other than James the Lesser , james son of Alphaeus , james who was commonly known as James the Lesser , or some people call him Little James . And that's exactly what popped out to me , actually , as I was studying this , because while Jesus was walking around doing big things here in this circle of 12 , there was one called James the lesser . And you know not as known much about James . You know , as we've done this study , we found a couple of things right as we study in this 11th one . But we found some things in 9 and 8 and 7 that some of these disciples you know their names are just not mentioned much , but they're doing much .

Speaker 1 2:54

You know , sometimes , as we navigate our lives , there might not be things that are written about what you're doing . You know we are doing some things in secret , and listen , that encouraged me that sometimes , when we are doing things in secret , it's not written but it is known . And listen , it is known by none other than God himself . And you know , even the word of God says not all that is done was that Jesus did was even able to be written in this book . And I know that in reading this scripture tonight that it is important for us to grasp some important thematic things right that not only does God use us , not only does he have a plan for us , but sometimes sometimes it's an unlikely plan it's an unlikely thing and that's the brilliance of God that he uses unlikely people , unlikely situations and even unlikely circumstances to bring about the advancement of the kingdom of God . So grab your pens and your paper and your Bible as we get into this study , as we're talking about none other than James the Lesser , james the Lesser .

Speaker 1 4:22

Now , right off the bat , as I studied this and studied him , it actually grabbed me right away . What grabbed me , though , was not that he was listed in the list of the 12 . What grabbed me was what he was called . That name grabbed me , james the Lesser . That name grabbed me , james the Lesser , little James , as if some other disciple was named Big James , right , he's walking around known as Little James , james the Lesser , and I just grapple with this right , because you know , we don't know why

Finding Value in the Kingdom

Speaker 1 5:01

he was called James the Lesser . It is not stated in scripture that I read that he was called the Lesser because this , that and the thing , this , that and the third , okay , he was .

Speaker 1 5:12

Um , it could have been because there was another disciple named James , uh , and to distinguish the two , james right , because we learned in our studies that there's some multiple names , like some of these names repeat different people , but same name . It could be that he was short in stature , it could be . I don't know why he was called James the Lesser , but one of the things that really grabbed me was that he was called that , and I started to feel some kind of way about it . To be honest , can I be honest on this platform , I started to feel some kind of way about it . I actually got stuck here and I found , as I was just reviewing gosh , how much that had made him feel to be called , or a reference , as James the lesser , or little James .

Speaker 1 6:03

And I , just I , just as I sat with this , I just discovered that I was being triggered a little bit . You know I'm reading scripture and you know it's triggering me . Right , I was triggering me and I'm like why am I stuck on this name ? Why am I stuck on how he must've felt or how that must've been for him , or how the other disciples saw him ? But you know , one of the things I know about studying the Bible we see it from our own lens . Yes , the word of God is true . Yes , the word of God is accurate . There are no errors or inerrancies in the word of God . But we can interpret scripture and read scripture and digest scripture from our own lens . As a person of color , when I read slavery , I'm going to read it from my own lens . Or the enslaved right . As a woman , I'm going to read about Deborah , a little bit different right . Or Sarah or Naomi or Ruth I'm going to reinterpret , not interpret , but hold their experiences a little bit different .

Speaker 1 7:17

And so , being mindful of that , I was just thinking why am I so triggered by this name ? Why am I feeling some sort of way ? And as I just meditated on this , something started to pop up for me . You know , like popcorn , you put it over the heat . If you ever made popcorn , you put it on old school popcorn . I'm talking about you put it over the heat and you just shaking the pot , shaking the pot , and the more you shake the pot and the hotter it gets , the kernels start to pop . And that's what started to happen for me .

Speaker 1 7:48

As the Holy Spirit just started to shake me up a little bit about this triggering , some things started to pop up and I sat in a place meditating that I was so triggered by this name because I've been in circumstances , in situations where I felt lesser . I've been in churches where there was big eyes and little use . In my own life , there was rides I just couldn't ride because I was too short , that people didn't deem me worthy , that people didn't appreciate what I had to offer , that people saw me lesser than you . Feel what I'm saying , that personal experience of being called or being seen as or being labeled , something started to come up for me . I was triggered , but the more I couched in this word and the more that popcorn started to pop up in me , it started to overflow in me , not the triggering but the goodness of God .

Speaker 1 9:11

See , sometimes we can sit in such a place where we're triggered by a thing , where we're hurt by a thing , where we're wondering about a thing . But if you know God , where we're wondering about a thing , but if you know God , if you have a relationship with him , the more you meditate on those things , especially the word of God , the more that goodness comes out . You know , as in Psalms , you know , you read the Psalms that David wrote , and he starts off a certain way , and a lot of times he ended up in a praise position , and that started to happen to me . So go with me tonight , be patient with me tonight , Learn with me tonight what the Lord says in this Bible study . See , I started to pull up a seat and get cozy with this scripture and these texts and this disciple , and it was just revealed to me more and more that there is no big eyes and little use in the kingdom of God . True , there is structure . True , there is government . True , there was an inner circle of disciples . True , there was kings , there was priests , there was prophets , but there was never big I's and little U's . Everyone is valued in the kingdom of God . Did you hear me tonight ? Everyone is valued in the kingdom of God , no matter what you're seen as , no matter what you're labeled , no matter what society says . You are even your own group . The word of God shows us that everything and everyone is valued in his kingdom and everyone has a role to play , from the temple courts to the holies of holies . This disciple study reminded me of who I am in Christ . So go with me . If you have your Bibles , go ahead and grab them . Listen , time is already far spent , but Go ahead and grab them . Listen , time is already far spent , but go ahead and grab them .

Speaker 1 11:27

As we couch on the subject , unlikely leaders , unlikely leaders . We're going to be studying tonight Mark , chapter 3 , verses 13 through 15

Understanding Divine Appointment

Speaker 1 11:42

. That's our first scripture , but we got lots of scriptures tonight , so I'm going to try to hurry on through this Bible study . Verse 13 says this and he went up on the mountain . This is Jesus we're talking about . And he went up on the mountain and called to him those he himself wanted . And he , jesus , went up on the mountain and called to him , jesus , those he , jesus , himself wanted , and they came to him . Then he appointed 12, . He appointed 12 , that they might be with him and that he may send them out to preach and to have power to heal the sickness and to cast out demons . You getting this emphasis tonight , he did it . See , as I read this , it just encouraged me , because it encouraged me that it's not really about James the lesser , it's not really about the 12 . It's about him , it's about Jesus , it's about his glory , his plan , his purpose on our life . It's about him . He called them . He called them , he wanted them and he sent them out .

Speaker 1 13:21

Have you ever tried to follow somebody who didn't know where they were going ? Have you ever tried to follow them ? In a car that you guys set off somewhere and you trying to follow their direction and they don't ? And you realize , as you behind them , they don't know where they're going and you just say , oh my goodness , we going around in circles . This has happened to me so many times that I can recognize it when it's happening and I try to scoop my way in front of them , sometimes , like you don't know where you're going , let me get in front of you , only to figure out that I don't know where I'm going . I get that GPS . Listen , this reminded me that he knows where he's going , he knows who he's using and he knows what he wants them to do and where he wants them to be . He not taking us round and round in circles . When he calls them , when he appoints them , when he tells them what he wants them to do , he is doing it and he knows exactly what he's doing . Doing it all and he knows exactly what he's doing .

Speaker 1 14:36

See and this challenged me right from the start , because there has been times that I tried to get in front of him . I tried to get in front of him , I tried to direct him when I should have been letting him direct me . There has been leaders in my life or people that have been set in authority over me and I don't get it . I don't know where they're going and I'm like you know what I'm going to usurp what they're doing , and I think they should do it this way . That's when it becomes about me and it doesn't become about him . Are you hearing me ? Tonight ? This word challenged me that's when it becomes about me and it doesn't become about him . Are you hearing me ? Tonight , this word challenged me that he appoints whom he appoints . He chooses whom he chooses . He positions who he positions . He appoints who he appoints . God know where he's going .

Speaker 1 15:35

See , we find Jesus in this text , knowing exactly who he's choosing and knowing exactly what he wants them to do . He appointed them . That's what the word says in the text that we read . And we also see the disciples following his lead . Oh , ouch , ouch , ouch , ouch . Do that hurt ? I don't know if it hurt you , like it hurt me , but listen , we see them , disciples , following his lead . Jesus himself is leading the charge . The disciples ain't leading . They didn't say pick me . Jesus chose them because he wanted them . That's what the word says .

Speaker 1 16:18

See , jesus came and did what he was positioned to do to die in our place . That we are saved by the blood of the lamb , the blood that was shed on the cross . Jesus shed it . He was appointed to do that and he was appointed to resurrect . Listen , I ain't leaving him in the grave . He rose again and he um , and he ascended into heaven . But in that process he chose . In that process . He came to do what he came to do . But he some chose some other people who he wanted to do what he wanted them to do .

Speaker 1 17:03

See , we must , we must note that Jesus has his part . But listen , saints , we have ours . Listen , saints , we have ours . Revelations 12 , 10 and 11 says this get your pens . Revelation 12 , 10 through 11 . And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ . For the accuser of the brethren is cast down . Listen , as I think of accuser of the brethren , you know , I always think about Job . That accuser of the brethren is cast down , that enemy which accused them before our God , day and night . But check out verse 11 . And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb , see , that was Jesus's point and by the word of their testimony . Who part is that ? Saints ? And they love not their lives until the death . Listen , we all have a part , saints , not in our salvation . We couldn't save ourselves . That's why Jesus came . But we have a part in the kingdom of God , the kingdom agenda . We have a part . He chose people , he chose them , disciples , to do their part .

Speaker 1 18:31

See , we meet Jesus in our text , rising up , some leaders , unlikely leaders , calling out the 12 , the ones he wanted . Okay , that they might . Number one , take some notes , be with him , join him in the mission . He was in that garden against him and he said , hey , why don't you listen ? Why don't you wait up ? Can you , can you pray with me ? And they were falling asleep . But listen , he chose them to be with him , join him in the mission to send them out , to preach , to have power to heal and cast out demons . That's what it says in our chosen text . Cast out demons . That's what it says in our chosen text . He divinely appointed them that's the word that's used these 12 for his service .

Speaker 1 19:20

And guess who ? It includes James the lesser . It includes James the lesser , little James , as a part of the 12 , he appointed him too . You know what lesser means Not so great or important , or not so great or important as the other or the rest . That's what lesser means . I wonder if James felt not so important , not so important as the other , not so important as the rest , he not so great . I wonder if he felt that way because they called him that . I don't know , but I know I felt that , but it's important to note that , even with all of that , he was still appointed for service . See , it's not about us , it's about him . Did you hear me say that clearly tonight ?

Speaker 1 20:27

James , son of Ephes , your name may not be splashed all over the scripture and you may only appear in a laundry list of all the disciples , all the other disciples , but you still was appointed by God to do exactly what the 11 other disciples were appointed to do . He still chose you to advance the kingdom of God . He was an unlikely leader . Unlikely , but , truth be told , they all were . Let's be clear there was nothing

Everyone Has a Role to Play

Speaker 1 21:05

special about these disciples not James and not any other other 11 . Man could not point to the extraordinary art education . Man could not point to the extraordinary looks , their extraordinary speech . Some of these men was fishermen . Okay , these disciples were appointed not by what we could see , but only what God could see .

Speaker 1 21:36

Listen , saint of God , you are chosen of God . You are chosen of God and not of man . If God has appointed you to something and you feel lesser , this is your Bible study tonight . If God has whispered something in your ear and is raising you up to be a leader , this is your Bible study tonight . If God has appointed you to a great mission and you just want to sit in the background , this is your Bible study tonight . Only Jesus could see who he wants you to be , who you will be . Let's be clear If you accept him and accept the call on your life , first , samuel , 16 and seven . That's another scripture . Go on and write it down . But the Lord said to Samuel do not consider his appearance or his height , for I have rejected him . The Lord does not look at the things people look at . People look at the outward appearance , but the Lord looks at the heart . Surely there could be something about you that you don't know , something about your heart , that you don't know , something about your integrity , that you don't know , something about your gifts that has not been manifested . Surely the Lord knows more about you than you do .

Speaker 1 24:21

Jesus picked these 12 , james the lesser included because he wanted them and listen , he used them mightily , them mightily . We may sit in churches that have big eyes and little use , but not in the kingdom of God . We may look at church size . Oh , he got this . This mega congregation , and this person only has five members . That don't mean that the Lord didn't appoint him . He may have . This denomination is in his name and this denomination , or no denomination in that name at all , that doesn't mean the Lord didn't appoint they . May be seen as James the lesser , but Jesus saw him as my disciple . But Jesus saw him as my disciple . And listen , that may be intentional saints , unlikely leaders may be intentional . Yes , he may not know what somebody else knows , but he knows God . Let's be clear about that , saints , and listen , that may be the point , because James the Lesser was not James the Son of Thunder . Simon Peter was not Simon the Zealot . Judas Iscariot was not Judas Thaddeus . He was not Judas Thaddeus .

Speaker 1 25:50

God uses different people to do different things and he uses different type of people to do the same thing . It's all a part of his plan . Appointment is by Jesus and Jesus alone . And let's be clear , appointment is different from anointment . Because anointing , in my mind , you could be anointed to do a mighty work , a mighty act , but an appointment is different . See , priests was appointed . Kings were appointed . Prophets was appointed . Judges was appointed , the apostle was appointed . Prophets was appointed . Judges was appointed , the apostle was appointed . And surely they must have been anointed .

Speaker 1 26:40

But some people who are anointed is not appointed . I think that's the truth , that some people who are anointed is not anointed to be the is not appointed to be a pastor . Some people who are anointed is not chosen to be , not appointed to be a leader . And listen , I want to be clear about that , that we all have a role in the kingdom and we all have different assignments . The word of God says that we are given evangelists , we are given preachers , teachers . We are given different types of appointments and different type of anointings , different type of gifts .

Speaker 1 27:30

And listen , these appointments are not campaigned . You can't campaign for these appointments . Like Absalom David said , he tried to campaign to overthrow David's kingdom , but he wasn't appointed for that . Ok , let's be clear about that . These disciples didn't campaign for the position . They might have even thought they weren't worthy of the position . They might have thought they were lesser . They didn't submit a CV or a resume . There wasn't no special election to get them in office .

Speaker 1 28:10

God chose them . John 15 and 16 says you did not choose me , but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit , fruit that will last , and so that whatever you ask in my name , the father will give you . He chose , he appoints , he uses , he positions , he establishes , he raises up . That's his job , not ours . Appointed me , set in authority , set in a specific place or time , commissioned for a special service to the Lord or his people . What are you appointed to tonight ? What are you appointed to ? Because to be appointed is a blessing . Even Jesus himself was appointed Hebrews 1 and 2 . Because to be appointed is a blessing . Even Jesus himself was appointed Hebrews 1 and 2 .

Speaker 1 29:19

This where this lesson challenged me , saints , because sometimes I'm appointed to do something that I just don't feel like doing , that I don't want to do , or I don't think that I'm capable of doing it . Ooh , this is a lesson tonight . James the lesser stepped into his appointment , whether he felt lesser or not , whether they called him lesser or not . He stepped into that appointment , no matter what his name was or no matter what people called him or saw in him . Are we learning ? It's what God sees . It's his kingdom agenda , not ours . Are you scared to take on leadership roles ? Are you scared of cancer culture ? What people gonna say about you ?

Stepping Into Your Calling

Speaker 1 30:11

Do you feel like you're not equipped or you don't know how God could use someone like you as a leader ?

Speaker 1 30:23

Listen to God . Listen to what he's calling you to do . Listen to his voice and heart , not your heart . Lean into him , lean into whatever it is he's assigning you to . What if Jesus said not me ? God said go down there and say to people I'm appointing you to this and Jesus said not me .

Speaker 1 30:56

We learn in scripture back to that garden , not my will , but your will . Saints , we must face our fears and do what he's calling us to do . We can learn from Acts 4 , verses 16 through 20 . I'm not going to read it because I'm in late in time tonight . But Peter says Peter , and John says listen , I don't care what you're telling me , what I can say and what I can't say . You can tell me not to speak , but as for us , we can't help but speak about what we have seen and heard , what is right in God's eyes . Who are we going to listen to , you or him , or you or me , you being God himself ? If God has appointed you , saint , take the appointment . Lead , if you're unlikely , or not . John was given marching orders . James the Lesser was given marching orders . Thaddeus was given marching orders , and they looked different , but they all marched . Jesus sent them out to do the work of the ministry .