5 types of people God will use to break the rules

Joseph Lalonde June 16, 2018

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God is a God of order. He’s also a God who likes to break the rules, especially with leaders.

The rules God will break aren’t His rules. They’re the rules we’ve created. 

Why God breaks rules

The Bible tells us plainly why God will break the rules of humankind. We look at the outward appearance, the way a person acts or looks.

God, on the other hand, likes to look on the inside. He looks for humble hearts, servant attitudes and ready vessels.

Not exactly the kind of people the world will look for. These people are the ones God will use to change the world.

This is why He breaks the rules. The world’s approach to finding a leader is outward-based. God’s way is inward-based.

In his Catalyst Lab session, Pastor Sergio De La Mara shared the five characteristics of people God uses to break the rules. Here’s his list:

1. People who give God permission to break their rules.

Humans love to make up rules. We love to tell others the way things should be. God is looking for something more, something deeper. God is looking for people who are willing to set their preconceived ideas aside and let Him have His way in their lives.

We can’t break the rules for God if we’re not willing to let Him break our rules.

2. People who don’t qualify socially, but qualify spiritually.

We have so many ways of qualifying a person’s worth, whether it is by their net worth or by degrees they’ve obtained. We’re always looking for a way to qualify each other. God doesn’t care about degrees or pedigrees or wealth. God wants more.

God wants someone who is hungry for Him. A person who is spiritually fit and willing to do God’s bidding.

These people won’t be the smartest or the brightest. They are going to be hungry.

3. People who are chosen by God are not necessarily those chosen by humans.

God knows our vision is weak. We have a limited view of the future. He knows the big picture from the beginning to the end. He also knows when our decisions will fail.

We will choose the wrong leaders. We will choose the wrong organizations to work with. We will choose wrong. 

But God chooses right. He will break our rules by choosing men and women who are shunned by man. Be willing to accept His choice.

4. People who are soiled yet God is ready to sanctify.

I believe this one goes hand in hand with No. 3. We want to choose the best and the brightest. The man without spot or blemish. God doesn’t care about that. He cares about the heart and who He’s ready to make clean.

He’ll choose people who have been through the ringer to make whole. He will elevate these people to a status higher than we believe they could rise.

5. People who are ready for the Holy Spirit to change their lives.

It’s hard for God to use someone who isn’t ready. People have hardened their hearts to God and His ways. Yet, He knows there are people out there who anticipate an outpouring of His love and cleansing.

He’ll take the people who are ready to be cleaned before those who feel they’re righteous and clean.

God loves using broken people. And that’s how He breaks the rules. He takes the broken and raises them up.

We see this time and again in scripture.

God elevated Joseph, a man full of pride, to a position of leadership that saved a nation. God elevated David, a man who murdered another man to cover up an affair, to the position of king and to be known as a man after God’s heart. God elevated Saul/Paul, who persecuted Christians, to be a writer of almost a third of the New Testament.

God breaks the rules all the times. Are you willing to let Him break yours?

Photo source: istock 

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Joseph Lalonde is an award-winning leadership blogger and hosted the Answers From Leadership podcast. He desires to see 20-somethings step into their God-ordained roles as leaders. Previously, on the E3 staff and currently serving in the Catalyst youth ministry of Gateway Church, Joseph has mentored many students and has seen their lives changed through this teaching. His mission is to help equip leaders with the knowledge and information to boost their leadership to the next level. This article was first published on JMLalonde.com. Used with permission Learn More »

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