Expected, Exceptional, Extraordinary

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture: Matthew 17:5-10

I. Two kinds of people (Two attitudes)

A. Those who do the expected

1. I will only do what is expected of me

2. I am doing enough as it is

3. I go to the regular services and that is all

4. I give my tithe but that is all

5. I will attend a cell group but that is all

6. I will pray one hour but that is all

7. I will stay until 12:00 but that is all

8. I will do what I am told to do but that is all

9. I will take care of my four and no more

10. I’ve done my quota of service. Don’t even ask me to do something else!

11. Those who do the expected live like the world.

12. Problem: They expect to be promoted for doing the expected.

B. Those who do the exceptional

1. They do what they are told to do and more

2. They are looking for ways to be a blessing

3. They go the extra mile

4. They are involved in every service they can

5. They are looking for ways to help others

6. They are not satisfied getting their own needs met, but in helping others become victorious in Christ.

7. They aren’t satisfied with being a disciple, they want to grow up and disciple others

8. They not only tithe, but they give over and beyond the expected

9. They don’t worry about what time it is. If God is moving or if He says He wants more of their time at the altar or in prayer, then everything else stops in order to do the will of God.

10. Those who are exceptional choose to live a higher life for Jesus.

F. Promotion in God’s kingdom doesn’t come when we do the expected, but when we do the exceptional.

II. Examples

A. Cain and Abel

B. Noah vs. the public

C. Abraham and Lot

D. Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac

E. Rebekah: Giving Eliezar a drink was expected. Giving the camels a drink was exceptional. Exceptional activated the extraordinary work of God in her marriage to Isaac.

F. Joseph could have given into bitterness. But he did not do what was expected, but he did what was exceptional. God did the extraordinary in Joseph’s life.

G. Joshua and Caleb did not do what was expected. They believed God with exceptional faith. God did extraordinary things through them because of this.

H. Ruth: Orphah did what was expected when she stayed in Moab. Ruth did the exceptional when she chose to leave Moab and go with Naomi. God honored her with an extraordinary marriage to Boaz.

I. Boaz: He could have rejected the marriage to Ruth since the children would bear her former husband’s name. That would have been expected. However, Boaz is listed in Matthew’s account as one of the lineage of Jesus.

J. David: David’s brother did what was expected by hiding from Goliath. David did the exceptional when he stood to challenge Goliath. God brought an extraordinary victory to David.

K. Jonathan: When challenged by the Philistine army, the Israelites under Saul hid in the caves, rocks, and defected to the Philistines. Jonathan did the exceptional when he and his armorbearer challenged the Philistine garrision. God brought an extraordinary victory.

L. Widow Woman: Widow woman could have done the expected by feeding herself and son with her last cake of bread. But she did the exceptional by giving it first to the prophet. God did an extraordinary miracle of supply.

M. Boy with the five loaves and two fishes. The expected was to keep it to himself. The exceptional was to give it to Jesus. God did an extraordinary miracle of supply.

N. Syrophonecian Woman: When turned down by Jesus she could have done the expected to get mad, bitter, and leave. She did the exceptional with a persistence in faith. She received a supernatural deliverance for her child.

O. Good Samaritan: The priest and Levite did what was expected. The Good Samaritan did the exceptional.

III. Do you do what is expected or what is exceptional? It make the difference between receiving nothing or receiving the extraordinary blessing of God.

A. I Corinthians 9:16-17 “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for of necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.”

B. Isaiah 1:19 “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword.”

Three options according to this verse:

1 You can refuse and rebel and be destroyed.

2. You can be obedient without being willing and receive nothing.

3. You can be willing and obedient and receive the good of the land.

IV. Stop doing the expected and start doing the exceptional.

A. We will never have great marriages and children by doing the expected. If we will do the exceptional then we can get extraordinary results

B. We will never win the lost by doing the expected. Our witness is revealed in being exceptional. Then God will do the extraordinary.

C. We will never experience fruitfulness in our lives by doing the expected but when we do the exceptional. Then God grants extraordinary results.

D. Churches that do the expected will never experience revival. Those who are willing to do the exceptional will experience the extraordinary intervention of God. (Prayer, repentance, returning to their first love, doing the first works)