2. Ordinary – “Commonly encountered; usual; of no exceptional ability; average.” Extraordinary “Beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly exceptional or remarkable.”

3. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy — wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:32-40 ESV)

5. Church of Christ at Medina April 6 th, 2014

6. Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the LORD said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—“that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”(Exodus 4:1-5 ESV)

7. In the hand of Moses, it was just a wooden stick. When backed by the power of God, it could do so much more! It changed the Nile to blood! It brought water from the rock! It parted the Red Sea!

8. We still need God’s power today if we are going to accomplish His work. The greatest work we have to do is to spread His word! Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV) Romans 1:16-17 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (ESV)

10. It wasn’t prayer that caused Daniel to be thrown into the lion’s den, but it certainly helped deliver him! Prayer is an important part of the lives of Christians who are making a difference in this world and serving God acceptably. It has always been one of the most powerful forces available to God’s people. James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (ESV)

11. Before we can reap the benefit of the power of prayer, we must first ask.

12. Another attribute of people living extraordinary lives is that they believe in the power of purification.

13. We cannot expect to accomplish great things in this life for God if we don’t first purify ourselves from the sins of this world. 2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord,and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you…(ESV) It may take drastic measures, but it is better than the alternative.

15. “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

16. We also must be committed or devoted to God in order to accomplish great things. Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV) Revelation 2:8-11

17. Finally, we must be willing to work for Him. There are no better examples of men who accomplished extraordinary things in this life than the apostles. 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

18. He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32, ESV

19. All images taken from Google. Images from Bible Fun for Kids Lesson by Doug Seaton given at Sunset View in March 2014.