Joseph and Mary were just two kids engaged to be married. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. our extraordinary God and the ordinary people He uses. Acts 2:16-18No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: [17] In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. 3:5; Acts 14:1; 2:41,42). He defines a World Changer in the introduction of the book: "A world changer is simply an individualman, woman, or even a childwho makes the daily choice to allow God to use him or her in whatever way He sees fit. Learn how to build an intimate relationship with God. There is nothing special about me by societys standards. Not many of you were considered the elite when you answered Gods call. When we humble ourselves, we are then positioned to worship God with reverence, awe, with thanksgiving, because he has done it, not us. Do you awaken Gods purpose every morning when you spend time with God. God puts His Holy Spirit into our lives in order to sustain us, empower us, and encourage us as we seek to live out His will and accomplish His mission. Show chart. No! Have you ever sensed God leading you to do something , but hesitated because it would interrupt your everyday life, change your schedule, or cause you to have to do something you dont want to do? Over time God molded him into the man he is now and look where our church is, weve gone from 50 to over 500. I have seen the misery of my people. he was working, tending sheep. The Lord uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things; then people give credit to the Lord rather than to human beings. Please stay on topic. Have personal agendas, ambitions, and desire for comfort hijacked your willingness to live for Gods plans? Do you feel like a nobody compared to people like David, Mary, or any number of other amazing people we read about in the Bible? Whenever you. And while this zip code is a part of Gods world domination, He has even bigger plans. I am appointing you to serve Me. Learn how the journal can help your confirmation students go deepe. Debra. The phrase "ordinary means of grace" can be interpreted as suggesting that God's work is dull and unspectacular. Moses, Abraham, King David, Peter and Saul, were just ordinary people who God used in extraordinary ways. Why? What areas do you need more spiritual input so you can grow? Now, Hillsong has churches in city centers in 28 countries around the world. I have heard their cry for help. We must unleash them faithfully with all the passion and energy God gives us, trusting he will use them to perform his miraculous work of transforming sinners into saints. Sure your job will be different from theirs. Spurgeons impact for Christs kingdom defies imagination. Ezekiel. Lets make that commitment today, to get up off of our comfortable lives and be used by God to accomplish the extraordinary things He wants to accomplish in His mission to dominate the world. I love it when ordinary people do unexpected things. David was just a boy who was put in charge of his fathers sheep. God is saving His people and redeeming them from the hands of their enemies so that this nation He has chosen will continue in its posterity, ultimately leading to the birth of Jesus the Messiah. What is yur vision? And believe me on this, that sort of . As you can see, there is literally nothing we can do to disqualify ourselves from being a candidate who God chooses to work through. You really want to see God at work, you want to watch Him bring dead people back to life, you really want to be a part of watching Him restore marriages, reconcile relationships, free people from addictions, bring justice to the oppressed. That is what David did. That is, worship, ministry, and all the things that go with it (including the architecture of a church) should be simplelashed to Scripture. You grant us license to post your comments. A deep sense of purpose Note: This devotional is part of a series entitled " How Ordinary People Become Extraordinary: Lessons from the Book of Acts ." I will never forget when I first saw the video of Dave Wottle winning the 800m in the 1972 Munich Olympics. We look backward in faith in Jesus. We know that we must release control of out lives to God so that his vision is worked out through our lives. I noticed several years ago that I not only look but also behave like my father. God wants us to realize and acknowledge our sin, selfishness and rebellion. Part 2: Be Teachable: How a Heart for God Should Make You a Learner, Part 3: How Devotion to God Makes You a Loyal Friend, Part 4: How to Make Turning to God a Lifestyle and Not An Event, Part 6: Unstoppable Faith: The Power of Knowing Gods Purpose for Me, Part 7: 5 Practical Ways Everyone Can Be a Spiritual Leader. ALL the Scriptures are breathed out by God and teach us about His Son Jesus. Acts 5:15-16As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peters shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. They found that the Jews of Berea were of more noble character and much more open-minded than those of Thessalonica. Deborah was Judge over Israel and a prophetess. God is still in the business of transforming his followers into world changers . We know that when God gives a vision, he will be with us and sustain us. God Uses The Ordinary To Do The Extraordinary Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on May 2, 2008 (message contributor) based on 11 ratings (rate this sermon) | 24,463 views Scripture: Exodus 3:1-17 Denomination: Nazarene Summary: God can use Moses, God can use abraham, and God can use you. We certainly desire to grow in both grace and number, but we dont have to wait until we have bricks and mortar or a top-notch sound system to be a valid church doing valid, Word-centered ministry. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! How sad. The Lord uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things; then people give credit to the Lord rather than to human beings. I cant sing. When I choose to walk with the Holy Spirit guiding me, I get to do those extraordinary things. God can use Moses, God can use abraham, and God can use you. If you've ever visited the great cathedrals in Europe, you might assume that the apostles were larger-than-life stained-glass saints with shining halos who represented an exalted degree of spirituality. But deep down, you want to make a difference, deep down you want to be used by God. In World Changers: How God Uses Ordinary People to Do Extraordinary Things, pastor and author Greg Laurie shares inspiring stories of ordinary people throughout history, and how God has used them in extraordinary and supernatural ways to change the world and extend His Kingdom. 34 Bible Verses about Using Ordinary People Romans 12:2ESV / 13 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. What can we learn from Moses and the text. Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times ( Matthew 26:34 ). From Genesis to Revelation . The cycles of family dysfunction will be broken, relationships will be restored and reconciled. The result? In this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, host Elizabeth Pittman is joined by Pastor Chris Kennedy. Because he knows the job will get done. When you do, He will lift you up, so you can achieve all God created you to be. Do you have a hunger to learn? God is in full domination mode. The Bible is filled with stories of God using ordinary people in extraordinary ways to change the world. Would it be better, worse, or the same? Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Who is God: El Roy is the God who sees You, What Does Living a Life of True Humility Look Like, Ancient Jewish Weddings and the Christian Life. God wants us to see Him as our true Father. The answer to question 95 of the Baptist Catechism defines them this way: The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are His ordinances, especially the Word, Baptism, the Lords Supper and Prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation. Your mother assures you that continued misbehavior will result in punishment. I give a my tithe. You Can Be a World Changer! Focusing on God and his power and love calms my emotions and fears and I am able to think clearly again. Do you understand what Gods mission is? You are to tell My story and how you have now seen Me, and you are to continue to tell the story in the future. All of them started in the same place you and I started, at the birth canal. Maybe nobody but you and God knows what that special job is. WATCH MORE ON-DEMAND: HillsongChannelNOW.com REQUEST PRAYER: https://bit.ly/2X5XJZg GIVE: Support Hillsong Channel: http://bit.ly/2E0RNr5 GET THE AP. She Was Worshipful. Let me close with this. We are talking about world domination. He uses a rebellious prophet to reach Ninevah with the good news. At one point Andrew was in a middle-school knucklehead class. Too often I let fear and intimidation silence me. When it says, the people offered themselves willingly they are talking about the 10,000 soldiers. I was too young to watch the actual race when it happened but saw the video when I was in middle school. Im about as ordinary as society can describe. There is nothing new under the sun that we have not used as excuses. He wants us to see Him as our Creator. While most of us are not facing what these early disciples were dealing with (imprisonment, beatings, and possible death), we can still be silenced by our fear of criticism, conflict, and responsibility. Elizabeth. God Uses Spiritually Focused People. The ordinary means of grace are the divinely-appointed, Spirit-driven carpenter of Gods church. But there is nothing ordinary about Gods grace. Some of you are thinking, not me, I can barely get out of bed in the morning. 4. He is co-author with Michael A. G. Haykin of To the Ends of the Earth: Calvins Missional Vision and Legacy (Crossway, 2014) and co-editor with D. A. Carson of Coming Home: Essays on the New Heaven and New Earth (Crossway) and 15 Things Seminary Couldnt Teach Me with Collin Hansen. As I grew into being an upperclassman, my desire to win also grew, and I knew I needed my coachs help to improve. Nazarene, God uses ordinary people to extraordinary things. She Was Trusting. God brings us into this world, He starts to shape and mold us, He endows us with certain gifts, and talents, special abilities. Copyright 2023 Gospel ChangeAll rights reserved. Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player - too good, it turns out because Jericho is a pitcher with a 40-mile-an-hour fastball. As a young boy, Davids primary responsibility was to watch and insure the safety of sheep. Let the Bible speak into your relationships! When I was on the track team, our coaches would often refer to me and my teammates as either being coachable or uncoachable. The duo discuss his new book, Jesus Said What? Acts 22:12-13A man named Ananias came to see me. Is there anyone here who taught Sunday School for Andrew May? Our critics picked six films that you can catch up with over the long holiday. God Uses Ordinary People to do Extraordinary Things by Cherise Best | Apr 22, 2022 | Christian Living Do you ever read the Bible and think, It would be so awesome to be used by God like David or Mary or any of the other Bible heroes? @jcrobby I need, like the Christians in this passage, to pray for God to give me courageous confidence. What are the ordinary means of grace? It took time for David to be ready for those roles. The final ingredient of people God can use to do extraordinary things is a deep sense of purpose. Why not stick to the gospels where we see Jesus and listen to his words of wisdom? Dave Wottle was 6 feet tall and weighed 146 pounds. You see, whenever God wants to do something extraordinary in Gods good creation, God turns to ordinary people. Lets just think about how this church was started and who God used. Regardless, it will be no less valuable, no less important than the jobs God calls someone whom society calls amazing and important. God doesnt want bench warmers, God wants people willing to take risks, people willing to get off the couch and away from the tv and computer to go and BE with people. Sometimes I wish I could hear how the real song went. They went out and spoke Gods message with courageous confidence. Clara, Molly and Lindsay are now at JMU volunteering for Young Life, reaching out to unchurched teenagers who desperately need to hear and see the gospel. Cal Ripken Junior became an extraordinary baseball player by doing an ordinary thing: he showed up for work. Im not going to spoil it for you, but this battle was won by God and its another crazy story in the history of Israel. It helps me to believe that no matter how unremarkable I may feel, God can do something extraordinary with me. To influence them, to love them, to be a blessing to them. God uses the public proclamation of a book that's at least 6,000 years old in places and his Spirit to cause a gargantuan army of his enemies to love him and desire to join his family. Not only does He want our best, He deserves our best! It was in Davids everyday life, he learned he could do extraordinary things when he relied on the Lord. Part 1, Digging Deeper into Scripture: John 14:114, Guiding Students through Confirmation | CPH Podcast with Rev. God used a donkey after all to deliver a message. by John MacArthur. The book of Acts is filled with stories of how God uses ordinary people to do unexpected things. Ordinary people have ordinary trials. He had a life mission. Every day, you must surrender completely to Him, giving your best in who you are, what you have and what you do. Look at the Apostle Peter. Those words can only come from the Holy Spirit, as I am not that wise and good on my own. Try, What Small Groups Do Bestand What They Don't, The Power Of Choosing To Be A Touchable Leader. [28] He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him. Luke 10:21, King James VersionIn that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. God doesnt make unimportant jobs. Maybe it feels benign like David may have felt as a shepherd. Holding this little baby, knowing how fragile he is, how dependent he is, made me realize that at one point we were all in his situation. In this study, Rev. Note how Isaac was an ordinary man with ordinary problems: A. Their enthusiasm and willingness to be used by God to accomplish his purpose led them to grow (Acts 5:12-16), sacrifice (Acts 5:32-37), take risks (Acts 11:19-21), and reach out (Acts 18:1-26). Did Mary think she was someone special because she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus? (800) 821-3300. However, the goal of courage is not just to be calm, but to take action. He was willing, flexible, and ready to meet whatever need God showed him. But seriously, what you really want is to know what it feels like to experience the transforming power of God in your life. We live in our own little worlds, our own little kingdoms, we live in our own little Midlotopia. The Bible is filled with these examples. Gods selection of David as Israels king can help us identify some principles about the man or woman God wants to use. December 4, 2018 As With Elijah, God Uses Ordinary People to Do Extraordinary Things: An Interview with R.T. Kendall Jonathan Petersen Who was the prophet Elijah and how is his ancient life exemplary for us in the 21st century? Courage was the quality for which the first century Christians prayed. 12:10; Eph. Sometimes small churches look at themselves and say, Oh, we cant do this and we cant do that because we are too small. To help you get started, we would love to send you a free Bible and other resources to help you grow in your faith. In The Love Stories of the Bible Speak, author Shannon Bream examines the lessons that can be gleaned from the worlds most profound love storiesnot just romantic love, but friend, family, and faith connections as well. 1. Scriptures: The king watched as he finished and said, is that all you want? Just what is in the circle? Acts 4:13-14When 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. Just as surely as God plucked David, an ordinary shepherd boy, from obscurity, He is looking for someone He can show His strength through today. A mannequin can act better than me. But God works this way. The man took his staff and traced a line in the dirt around himself. God often uses simple, ordinary objects to accomplish his tasks in the world. Jabez looked beyond where he was and what he could do to where God was and what God could do. Moses, Abraham, King David, Peter and Saul, were just ordinary people who God used in extraordinary ways. Joseph. Well, maybe for you getting out of bed is an extraordinary thing God is doing in your life. You are God's activity in the world. You may think God cant use you in any special ways. He was someone God uniquely described as being a man after His own heart. There was a time when David and Mary were also just ordinary people, doing ordinary things. December 23, 2021. A few months ago, a man from my hometown told me he had planted a new church. 12It was revealed to them thatthey were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to youby the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,things into which angels long to look.. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. I have found that the older I get, the stronger the pull becomes to settle, and shape Christianity after my desires instead of Gods desires. Ive heard from many of you telling me what Ive written on this blog has touched you. But as we grow, God want us to participate in what He is doing in our lives. Learn more in the book: https://www.cph.org/p-33514-callings-for-life-gods-plan-your-purpose.aspx. He is author of Taming the Tongue: How the Gospel Transforms Our Talk (TGC, forthcoming). Barak was the top military leader for Israel. As long as you are willing to be faithful in what God has set before you and willing to be content in whatever God asks from you, God will use you. The Orcutts, the Morins, the McCloys, the Germains, the Kozlowskis, the Mays, the Huffs, the Braughtons, the Thomans and more that Im sure I have left out. Dr. Gibbs perspective helps us understand A quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin regarding taxes is In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. I have yet to encounter anyone who is pleased to pay Pastor Lee Hopf shares why the Guided by Truth: Enduring Faith Confirmation Journal is unique compared to other confirmation formats. Verse 1 tells us that "there was a famine in the land." Intro: Why are we studying the book of Judges? Focusing on God and his power and love calms my emotions and fears and I am able to think clearly again. The Book of Jonah applies the theme of repentance both to the prophet and to the people of Nineveh. We Have to Be Responsive. Mary. When we deploy his means, we are saying, "You are God, and I am not. The entire Old Testament points forward to the coming of a Redeemer who will save us from our sins. The book of Obadiah, although the shortest of the twelve minor prophets, has much to teach us today about spiritual arrogance and unfaithfulness. Articles. He learned to use his time alone to talk with God. to do His bidding and to be empowered with supernatural gifts and abilities to do the extraordinary. The Bible is filled with stories of God using ordinary people in extraordinary ways to change the world. His life was colorful. Oryou can post the link on your socialmedia (Facebook, Twitter, etc. It was grace sleepily on display, cozy and reassuring as a bedtime story under a warm handmade quilt. | CPH Podcast with Rev. How have you started to shape Christianity around your desires instead of Gods desires? How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! I pastor a church of approximately 60 people. Of course, Im speaking of David. God calls each of us out of our comfort zones. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. Always exercise Christian charity (Col. 4:6; Rom. God Uses Ordinary People. In fact just about anyone can beat me at any and every sport. But God gives him his I account. He wants our best in all we do. When we as Christians lose our sense of purpose and vision, our internal engine stalls. For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. Persecution ran Philip out of Jerusalem to Samaria 3. Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, and others were just regular, imperfect people who chose to obey God's call--and what a difference that made! Get up now, and stand upright on your feet. And then God wants to use us to accomplish and carry out His will. Deborah had to step in and make him go and fight, but even then he said he would go only if Deborah came with him. When we deploy his means, we are saying, You are God, and I am not, and you have revealed yourself in Scripture and I joyfully, willingly, submit to your wisdom. Thats humility. In his eyes all the things he asks his children to do are important. When we believe that the Bible is truly the Word of God and live it out, we will live lives of impact. I get focused on myself, on people, or on my circumstances anything but focusing on God. Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak " (Exodus 4:11-12). He likely knew he was only able to write such beautiful songs through the power of God. David & Jonathan, Mary & Joseph, Samson & Delilah, and dozens more biblical personas give us the dos and donts for cultivating long-lasting and God-glorifying relationships. That's humility. 10,000 soldiers from Napthali and Zebulun. These Are the Days of Elijah: How God Uses Ordinary People to Do Extraordinary Things - Kindle edition by Kendall, R. T., Jackson, John. This Redeemer is revealed as Jesus, God in the flesh, in the New Testament. Like David, we are all ordinary people. One of the often under-discussed principles of the Reformation was that of simplicity. He gets to the bush and the Lord speaks through the bush, calls him by his name Moses Do not come any closer, take off your shoes, you are on Holy ground. There are three ordinary people in this passage that God uses to do extraordinary tasks. 2023 Deep Spirituality / Privacy Policy. In wisdom and ruling, he was without peer. Finds home in Median, finds a wife, gets a job tending the sheep of his father in law and thinks that life could not get any better. That night, I tried (as all moms do) to take it all in because we know how fleeting it is, even while parenting is as hard as it gets. God is molding you into the extraordinary person he created you to be through these everyday, mundane activities. From left, Grace Edwards, Scarlett Johansson and Damien Bonnard in "Asteroid City . We dont wake up with the same sense of destiny and enthusiasm, but rather can turn Christianity into an uninspiring set of rules we must follow. God does extraordinary work through ordinary means, To the Ends of the Earth: Calvins Missional Vision and Legacy, Coming Home: Essays on the New Heaven and New Earth. That is just what he did. God uses ordinary people for His glory. Alcoholism, Divorce, Abuse (you can read my personal testimony if you are not familiar with my story) Anyway, as you can imagine I spent many years after getting clean and sober . (Rom. Our daily interactions with God need to invigorate and renew that vision so that we can awaken and live with a deep sense of purpose. They will love and lead people to Jesus, they will plant more churches, they will serve the poor, they will reach out to the lost and lonely, they will fight for justice, they will stand up for the oppressed, they will lead people in worship, they will start neighborhood Bible studies, they will be the next Sunday School teachers, the next pastors and youth workers, they will train their children to follow Christ, they will continue in Gods endeavor to DOMINATE THE WORLD. To do the extraordinary. We reserve the right to delete comments that we, at our discretion, find snarky, slanderous, trollish, or off-topic. Acts 2:42 tells us that the whole church devoted itself to the ordinary means of grace: And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers., In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel boldly to the Gentiles and God brought awakening: And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus. To David writing songs probably seemed like an extraordinary accomplishment. God is not settling on just being another god to worship in a world of many gods. The nation of Israel needed leaders that would actually lead and not sit around and do nothing or allow the nation to continue to be oppressed. The New Testament Christians were energized by the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves. But it began with the bare reading of Scripture. We see a clear picture of how ordinary Mary felt even after being chosen as the mother of her (and our) Savior. Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs explores what it means to make disciples. Please be mindful of your words (Eph. Having trouble logging into your account? Known for his in-depth yet accessible teaching, beloved author R. T. Kendall delves into the life of one of the most famous and most relatable persons in the Old Testament: Elijah. The people who lived in Berea are described as being hungry to learn as they were open-minded and eagerly received Gods Word. "I desire to do your will, oh my God" Psalm 40:8. Giving God your best is a decision you must make on a daily basis. Moses was not perfect- he was ordinary, God shows up and wants him to do something extraordinary. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. Everyone has a past, everyone if you dig deep enough has skeletons in their closet. He turns a weak, halting, thrice-denying disciple into one of the most courageous preachers the world has seen. Comments that are too long or contain many links may be held in moderation until an administrator approves. Brian Bill. Jeff Robinson (M.Div. One Quick Thought: The Secret to a Life of Impact. What is your favorite food? God vaporized them in his wrath. God gets his attention in a unique way, off in the distance, he sees a bush burning and not getting burned up or being destroyed . Hillsong Church was founded by Brian and Bobbie Houston in 1983 in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. First, you may be reading this article and thinking you can never be used by God. What does your dream home look like? Or maybe you are the one who goes over to the house of the person who cant get out of bed and helps them get out of bed, then you take them for a walk and you encourage them with the unceasing love of Christ, the love of Christ that has filled you to overflowing and you have to pour it out on those around you. . Fortunately, God uses. David had confidence God would work through him to kill this enemy of Gods people because he had seen how Gods power worked through him to kill a lion and a bear when he was tending the sheep. This inspires me because I can so often feel like I have sinned too much, or missed my opportunity for God to work through me. He wants to be our first love. There are many reasons to build our churches around a ministry of Gods so-called ordinary means of grace. Here are five: Gods Word is eternal truth. Understand that in any situation, you can always choose to make a difference for the better by acting for the good of something or someone beyond yourself. This is telling us that some of the Israelites sat on the bench, they stayed home instead of fighting. 1 Peter 3:15ESV / 9 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful How about Clara Conrad, Molly Fletcher, Lindsay Kozlowski? No matter what he faced, Paul obeyed the vision he internalized from God. And if you would like to get a weekly newsletter with amazing resources just sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/bf41ce7f0408/dont-miss-out. God Uses The Ordinary To Do The Extraordinary. The church has an average global attendance of 150,000 weekly. All Rights Reserved Harvest Ministries 2023. But David said to Saul, Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. This insightful and discerning book by Fox News journalist Shannon Bream is our gift to you for your generous donation to Harvest Ministries today. Part 1: Need Emotional Strength? Thus, the bar for success in ministry is persevering faithfulness. He did it again and again and againa record 2,632 consecutive times. I have appeared to you for a reason. Theyre Gods means of transforming sinners. He loves you and thinks you are to die for! Scott Colvin works in ministry and community service in the San Francisco Bay Area. God Sees the Heart God looked past all these men's shortcomings, sins, and faults and saw great faith and trust in their hearts.
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