ASK #020 - Ordinary to Extraordinary

 written:  February 21, 2022

Ordinary to Extraordinary:  God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  

The Story of Gideon

Gideon was known as a timid man, yet God used him and he was known as the greatest of the 15 judges.  We know Gideon is a timid man because when he is first introduced in the Bible he is hiding on the threshing floor from the enemies. I mentioned in a previous podcast entitled “Prayer Fleece” how Gideon's clan was the weakest of the whole tribe of Manasseh and he is the weakest in his ENTIRE family.  So you ask how God can use a timid and weak man like this to become a leader and “mighty warrior” (as he is referred to in Judges 6)?  God uses us and gives us just the right gifts and talents to be used for His glory.  As we look at Gideon we learn that it is important to obey and trust God to help us to do what He calls us to do.  Afterall, God never gives us more than we can handle. Gideon was a farmer during a time of turmoil and battle for the Israelites. In Judges 6, God came to him and called him a mighty warrior. God sees potential in us that sometimes our friends and families and even we do not see. Gideon became a great military leader once he got past his fear and doubt. God can use even weak faith.

 

The Fishers of Men

In Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus on two separate occasions calls out to two sets of  brothers to come and follow Him.  First, He is talking to Simon called Peter and Andrew.  They were simple fishermen out trying to make a living.  Jesus called to them to follow Him and that He would make them fishers of men.   Later down the road he saw James and John.  Jesus called them to leave their net and their father and come follow Him. Both sets of brothers left their nets and followed Jesus later becoming disciples of Christ. God used even simple fishermen to do big things for His kingdom.  

Nehemiah

We see a man who was nothing more than a slave who served wine to a king. Yet, because of his great faith, on an ordinary day, God ordained him to be part of a historic event to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The simple declaration by the king to rebuild the walls later served as a historical starting point in the prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. We learn that it does not matter who we are, our position in life, or our means, God uses ordinary people in ordinary positions. When our hearts are broken to serve God for the right reasons, He will work in the ordinary.

The biggest commonality between all these people is that they said YES.  They answered the call of the Lord and they followed Him.  That is what we are to do.  God calls us to different things in our lives and we need to be ready to accept that calling and follow Him.  There may be uncertainties, fear or even doubt, but none of that comes from the Lord.  Those come from the lord of lies…satan.  He wants us to believe we can’t do it.  Or that we aren’t the right person for the “job”.  But if God is calling us we need to TRUST that God knows what He is doing and  we need to KNOW that He will never leave us, or lead us astray.  

God can use people who are timid.

God can use people with weak faith.

God can use people struggling with their emotions.

 

So Keep asking, seeking and knocking and God will use us ordinary people to do extraordinary things for His kingdom.  He wants us to get to the point where we recognise that we are nothing without Him.  And wants us to ask Him to use us.  When God sees a heart like this He will do extraordinary things.