“I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you,” (John 15:5-7; KJ2000).

The Holy Spirit living in you is God living in you. Therefore, you are not a weakling. You are mighty in God’s estimation.

Joseph was 17 years old when he told his brothers and father that he dreamed he was destined for greatness, (Genesis 37:1-11). His brothers derided him. But 13 years later, after he was sold into slavery, falsely accused and imprisoned, God brought him out of prison and elevated him, (Genesis 41:39-46). God called Abraham when he was 75 years old (Genesis 12:1-4). Jesus began His ministry at 30, (Luke 3:21-23), and Moses had the vision that propelled him to his leadership role at 80, (Exodus 7:7). And, what’s more, some of the disciples of Jesus did not attain higher education, yet Jesus believed in them. And God used them mightily to confound the learned and popular people, (Acts 4:13-19).

We accept these accounts when we read them in the Bible. And we believe that they are true and possible because God is involved. Yet we find it difficult to believe and accept it when we are in similar situations and when they are happening to us or to people we know. Why can’t what happened in the Bible happen to us in our day? Is it not the same God that we serve?

Obstacles cannot break you. Obstacles or challenges should rather motivate you to go higher. Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world, (1 John 4:4).

But Jesus said, “He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing,” (John 15:5). We cannot do anything on our own. God’s Spirit gives us the power. Just as the milk transforms the water to become whitish, milky or creamy, so the Spirit of God in us transforms our spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit when God pours His Spirit into our spirit, (Joel 2:28-29; Romans 8:9-17), and we receive power because the Holy Spirit is in us, (Acts 1:8). Then we become one spirit with Him, (1 Corinthians 6:17).

However, as stated earlier, God does not leave all His powers into our hands to use as we want. His Spirit continues to regulate and supervise us in accordance with the Mind of God. So, we ask, and He performs according to His will, (Job 22:28; 1 John 5:14).

Jesus said, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give you,” (John 15:16). However, there is a warning in verse 6 that anyone who does not “abide in me, is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned,” (KJ2000).

God made you a partaker of the divine nature, (2 Peter 1:3-4). So, despite your educational background, your physical strength or age, you are destined for greatness. You are a champion! I speak from personal experience, not from theories.

You are a conqueror because God lives in you, (1 John 4:4). If you allow God to actuate His power in your spirit, He will make you the conqueror that He created you to be.

Do not worry when people fail to readily accept you. There are people ready to recognize your worth elsewhere. God will use you to bless people where people welcome and accept you. And those who did not believe in you will hear about your success story. Some may then invite you when they hear what God is doing with you.

God has made you His co-worker to proclaim Jesus to the world.