Getting Past Our Past and Being OK with Ordinary // Justin Graves

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1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (CEV)
My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. You are God's children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord.


I. Your past isn’t stopping God, so don’t let it stop you.
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James 3:2 (ESV)
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

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1 John 1: 8 (NLT)
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

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Romans 8:1-2 (AMP)
Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

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2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.


1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (NLT)
But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him.

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Mary Magdalene had seven demons, and still got to witness the empty tomb first. Your past can’t cancel your purpose.

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II.  It’s not about your perfection and talent, but it’s all about His presence.

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“It’s not my ability, but my response to God’s ability that counts.” - Corrie Ten Boom
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Psalms 127: 1-2 (NLT)
Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

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Ecclesiastes 11:4 (TLB)
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.
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Acts 4:13 (NIV)
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

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Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

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III.  It’s about anointing over talent, and a surrendered life not a perfect one.
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“Great people don’t do great things; God does great things through surrendered people.” - Jennie Allen

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1 Samuel 16:13 (NLT)
So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.

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1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (NLT)
But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him.
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We want to follow up on this week’s message with a few questions that help you respond personally to what God is saying through His Word. Let this be a time of honest evaluation and spiritual reset.
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What past mistake or season do I still allow to shape how I see myself today?
— Why am I giving it power that Jesus has already taken away?Where in my life am I waiting for “perfect conditions” before obeying God?
— What is one step of obedience I can take this week, even if I don’t feel ready?Do I truly believe God can use someone ordinary like me, or am I still striving to prove my worth through talent, image, or perfection?
— What would change if I really embraced that His presence is the difference-maker?Am I living as a new creation or still identifying with my old story?
— What do I need to surrender so I can walk fully in who God says I am, not who I was?

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