An Ordinary Disciple
Bob Yandian
Have you ever felt like a nobody standing next to a somebody? It may be somebody in your organization or your field, someone whose books you’ve read, whose teachings have shaped your understanding, and then, suddenly, you find yourself standing next to them. At that moment, words fail you because of the deep respect you hold for them.
This has happened to me often. Growing in the things of God, I met and heard about many well-known figures in the body of Christ. I remember working for Kenneth Hagin Ministries and teaching at Rhema Bible Training Center when one day a famous minister came to town. Brother Hagin was supposed to introduce him but got called out of town. He turned to me and said, "I want you to introduce him." I was overwhelmed! This was a man whose teachings I had studied, someone I deeply respected, and now I had to introduce him. I stammered, I stuttered, but I managed to get through it. Still, the entire time, I was sweating.
That experience taught me something: God doesn’t choose people based on their self-perceived importance. God looks for nobodies—people who don’t see themselves as something great—so that He can shape them into His image. He sweats the "somebody" out of them and then remakes them into a "somebody" He can use.
Moses is a prime example. Raised as a prince of Egypt, he was positioned to become Pharaoh. But before God could use him, He sent Moses to the wilderness for 40 years to become a nobody. Only then could God remake him into a somebody who depended entirely on Him. Moses became the great deliverer of Israel and the most famous prophet of the Old Testament. Similarly, Saul of Tarsus was a "somebody"—a Pharisee, a scholar, and a leader in persecuting Christians. God sent him into Arabia for 14 years to humble him before remaking him into the Apostle Paul.
Matthew 1 highlights six nobodies—people who, by human standards, should have been insignificant but were pivotal in God’s plan. Rahab, a former prostitute, married a Jewish spy, Solomon. Ruth, a Moabitess, married Boaz. Bathsheba, a Hittite, became David’s wife. These individuals were nobodies in the eyes of the world, but God wove them into the lineage of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ.
Looking back on my own journey, I see the same pattern. Raised in a Christian family, saved at five, filled with the Holy Spirit at seven, I was always in church. Despite holding good jobs, I remained largely unknown in ministry. Even after becoming a teacher at Rhema and later a pastor for 33 years, I never sought recognition. My focus was on being faithful to God, remaining open to His guidance. That openness allowed me to receive wisdom from anyone—whether a fellow pastor, a church member, or even an usher or greeter.
Some ministers only accept advice from peers they respect, dismissing input from congregation members. That’s a mistake. If God could use a donkey to correct a prophet, He can certainly speak through a church member! I once had a church member challenge me on faithfulness, asking if I planned to stay long-term. His question convicted me, leading me to publicly commit to pastoring the church until my final breath. Another church member shared an insight on Scripture that I initially questioned, but when I checked the Greek, I found he was right. He didn’t know Greek—he simply heard from the Holy Spirit!
Are you open to learning from ordinary believers? Would you dismiss wisdom from a greeter at the door simply because of their position? In Scripture, even Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice. Hebrews 13:2 warns that we may entertain angels unknowingly, reminding us not to judge who God chooses to speak through.
Acts 2:16-18 declares that in the last days, God pours out His Spirit on all flesh—sons, daughters, young men, old men, male and female servants. The New Testament removed barriers. Prophecy was no longer limited to prophets, and the Holy Spirit’s power was available to all believers. Even a lawn worker or house cleaner could be used mightily by God because He looks at the heart, not status.
One of the most profound examples of this is Ananias in Acts 9. When Saul of Tarsus encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was blinded. God didn’t send a famous apostle to heal him; He sent Ananias, an ordinary disciple. God told Ananias in a vision to go to Saul. Initially, Ananias hesitated, reminding God of Saul’s persecution of Christians. But when God confirmed His plan, Ananias obeyed. He laid hands on Saul, calling him "Brother Saul," and Saul received his sight and the Holy Spirit.
Ananias was not an apostle, prophet, pastor, or evangelist—he was simply a disciple. Yet, he played a crucial role in launching Paul’s ministry. This highlights a powerful truth: God uses those who are willing, not just those who hold positions of influence. Every believer is called to ministry in some capacity.
Ironically, Paul later struggled with the very lesson he learned from Ananias. Initially, he received direction from ordinary believers, but over time, he became less receptive. Before his final trip to Jerusalem, multiple believers warned him not to go. First, ordinary disciples in the streets. Then, Philip’s four daughters. Then, his own ministry team. Finally, the prophet Agabus gave a dramatic warning. Yet, Paul insisted on going, believing his martyrdom would glorify God. Though noble, it was unnecessary. God had warned him through multiple voices, but he ignored them.
This is a warning to us. We must remain teachable, regardless of how long we’ve been in the ministry or how much we know. Spiritual arrogance can lead us into unnecessary hardship. Paul’s imprisonment in Jerusalem could have been avoided had he heeded those warnings.
Victory can make us vulnerable to pride. After great success, we might think we’re beyond correction. But wisdom says we should always remain open to God’s voice, whether it comes through a renowned pastor or an unknown church member. God can use anyone to instruct and guide us if we are willing to listen.
So, I leave you with this challenge: Are you willing to be a nobody so that God can make you into a somebody He can use? Are you open to hearing God’s voice, no matter who He chooses to speak through? The greatest leaders in Scripture were those who humbled themselves before God, trusted His process, and remained teachable. May we all strive to do the same.
