Extraordinary—ordinary People.

Extraordinary—Ordinary People.

James 5:17-18TPT.

Can you picture the prophet Elijah driving on Red Bud Road or Hwy. 53? Can you see him in line at McDonald's, ordering a Big Mac and french fries? Rather hard to imagine, isn't it? Yet, James says that "Elijah was a man just like us—passion and emotions, the whole kit and caboodle,

Elijah did some very extraordinary things. But James’ message is that Elijah was just an ordinary person, and that God can take ordinary people and accomplish extraordinary things.

Elijah was one of the greatest prophets of the O.T! And yet, there is this amazing statement

Just listen to, James 5:17-18TPT Elijah was a man with human frailties, just like all of us, but he prayed and received supernatural answers. He actually shut the heavens over the land so there would be no rain for three and a half years! 18 Then he prayed again and the skies opened up over the land so that the rain came again and produced the harvest.

What does James mean when he says, "Elijah was a man just like us?" To be honest with you, I'm having a little trouble with that.

Elijah’s mission statement was similar to John the Baptist’s mission. It was to prepare the way, make straight the path. Prepare for the greatness of Jesus’ return!

Again, God loves to take the ordinary, and turn it into signs and wonders, mixed with fruit to help and heal others.

When that occurs, the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

Before we go any farther I want to give you—5 traits of extraordinary—ordinary people.

A focus on the things that matter.

Elijah was a man of fervent prayer—Such is the power of definite, specific, fervent prayer.

Do you have a prayer list? Who are you praying for on a regular basis?

There is an old poem that says: Lord, lay some soul upon my heart and love that soul through me, And may I nobly do my part to win that soul for Thee!

R. G. Lee told of a little boy playing with toys in the front yard while his mother sat on the porch engaged in handwork. Occasionally, and casually, the little boy would mumble a request for something to eat without ever looking up from his preoccupation with his playthings. To these requests, the mother seemed to pay no attention. After a while, the son laid his toys aside and made his way hurriedly to the side of his mother, clutched her with both hands to get her attention, and, looking pleadingly into her eyes, cried out fervently, "Mother, I want something to eat." Of course, the mother went immediately to grant his earnest appeal.

Let’s look at the scripture right above today’s text—James chapter 5, verse 17.

James 5:16AMP Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

Once more, James 5:16TPT Confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another and then pray for one another to be instantly healed, for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

Energized prayer, a prayer within a prayer. One translation calls Elijah’s prayers—Red hot—that gets the job done.

The extraordinary person knows it’s the intrinsic qualities that bring true satisfaction—those that satisfy our needs for emotional intimacy and personal growth.

Elijah knew that God’s will being accomplished would bring great satisfaction to his creator, himself, as well as others.

This I know, “If you will ask God for wisdom, continue to seek Him, God will come alive in every situation!” P.H

Focusing on extrinsic goals, by contrast—things such as physical attractiveness, wealth and fame—not only doesn’t satisfy us, it can damage our well-being by setting us up to feel that what we have is never enough. Again, focus on what really matters.

The second trait of extraordinary—ordinary people.

Kindness.

It’s lovely to be on the receiving end of kindness, but multiple studies confirm it feels even nicer to do kind things for others.

Jesus teaches—Luke 6:38TPT Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top! The measurement of your generosity becomes the measurement of your return.”

The Third trait of extraordinary—ordinary people.

A willingness to be seen as imperfect.

A willingness to be vulnerable gives us the freedom to pursue our dreams and tap into our creative powers.

Criticism and rejection come, but if you’re willing to be comfortable in your own skin, God will bless, and anoint.