Extra-ordinary People

God loves you. God cares for you. God favors you. God loved you so much that “he gave his only begotten son that.....” God cares for you so much that he listens to your prayers and then answers them. You are so favored by God that you have been blessed time and time again. God loves you. God cares for you. And, God favors you. But. You are not better than anyone else. You are one in a 7 Billion. (Preach)

As we continue on in the month of Black History we acknowledge men and women who did extraordinary things but were ordinary people. The did great things for our people, for the world, for our community, and for this country, but make no mistake about it. They were people, and what makes them great was not their ability but their availability. That they allowed themselves to be put in positions to make change and be used by God is what elevated them.

(Bring up to story)

1. Called by Christ

The first thing that these ordinary men have in common is that they are called by Jesus. And let us note that this calling into doing great work does not precede conversion. The twelve were already disciples, but it is here when they become Apostles. Don’t miss this please. Being used by Jesus to build his kingdom requires that you know Jesus and are apart of his kingdom. (Preach)

In addition to the calling being by Christ it should be noted also that the calling is greater than the person being called. In other-words Jesus calls us to do things that we otherwise would not be able to do without him powering us to do. The bible says that he gave them “power” exousia. And I like this because he didn’t give the apostles “ability” he gave them “authority.”

The kids don’t have power over the dogs, but authority.

Pharaoh had the power…but Moses had the authority.

Lyndon B. Johnson power....but MLK had the authority.

(Run) This power comes from Jesus and answering the call go out and preach the gospel and serve his people

2. Imperfect but Impactful

Peter-Hot head

James and John (Sons of Thunder)

Andrew (1st)

Phillip (Come see)-

Bartholomew/Nathaniel (prejudice)

Matthew (nobody liked Matthew)

Thomas (doubt)-

James son of Alphaeus-played the background

Thaddaeus/Judas (heart-child)-why reveal yourself to us and not the world?

Simon the Zealot (revolutionary)

Mary of Magdala (reputation)

Joanna, wife of Chuza (married)

3. Remain until their Reward

The task of the ordinary to become extraordinary is in the remaining until you receive your reward. You want to be be great in the kingdom. Good. You want to do great things for God. Great. But slow down, because the cost is high. There is no easy way to say it but following Jesus costs. It may cost you friends, jobs, money, time, and even your life. But that is all ok because what treasure God is storing up for you is better than what you lose out on here. And the reward of knowing that you did all that you were required to do.

Peter and Paul

Both martyred in Rome about 66 AD, during the persecution under Emperor Nero. Paul was beheaded. Peter was crucified, upside down at his request, since he did not feel he was worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

Andrew

He also preached in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, and in Greece, where he is said to have been crucified.

Thomas

India, they claim that he died there when pierced through with the spears of four soldiers.

Philip

possibly had a powerful ministry in Carthage in North Africa and then in Asia Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. In retaliation the proconsul had Philip arrested and cruelly put to death.

Matthew

the tax collector and writer of a Gospel, ministered in Persia and Ethiopia. Some of the oldest reports say he was not martyred, while others say he was stabbed to death in Ethiopia.

Bartholomew/Nathaniel

Ethiopia and Southern Arabia. There are various accounts of how he met his death as a martyr for the gospel. whipped to death

James

the son of Alpheus, is one of at least three James referred to in the New Testament. There is some confusion as to which is which, but this James is reckoned to have ministered in Syria. The Jewish historian Josephus reported that he was stoned and then clubbed to death.

Simon the Zealot

so the story goes, ministered in Persia and was killed after refusing to sacrifice to the sun god.

Matthais

was the apostle chosen to replace Judas. Tradition sends him to Syria with Andrew and to death by burning.

John

is the only one of the company generally thought to have died a natural death from old age. He was the leader of the church in the Ephesus area and is said to have taken care of Mary the mother of Jesus in his home. During Domitian's persecution in the middle 90's, he was exiled to the island of Patmos. There he is credited with writing the last book of the New Testament--the Revelation. An early Latin tradition has him escaping unhurt after being cast into boiling oil at Rome.