Champions are ordinary people in extraordinary times

Everyone is born to be a champion.

You may never pose for a picture on a box of Wheaties or have your face chiselled next to Washington and Lincoln on Mount Rushmore. You may never become a nuclear scientist or fly to the moon.  Your picture may never appear in the local newspaper.

Nevertheless, everyone is destined to be a champion, people who triumph over obstacles and overcome difficulties. People who make a difference, who seize the moment. People who have the times of their lives living life and living it abundantly.

Daniel prophesied that “the people who do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32).

Champions are ordinary people for extraordinary times.

The days in which we live are, indeed, extraordinary, but God is not searching for the extraordinary person.  Rather, He is pursuing those whose heart is pure so that He can turn them into champions.

Ananias was a faithful servant, an ordinary man whom God used in an extraordinary time in history.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 9:10-17).

Ananias was not mentioned before this incident, nor after. Yet, he is a champion in the Bible–a simple, ordinary “certain disciple” for an extraordinary time.

Notice, he was prepared and available (“I am here, Lord”) and obedient (“Ananias went”).

Simon of Cyrene is another ordinary person for an extraordinary time. “And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross (Mark 15:21).

Who knows the circumstances leading to Simon being pulled from the crowd of obscurity to carry the cross for Jesus. His selection was no accident; neither was it a coincidence.

Simon of Cyrene was an ordinary person who came forward in extraordinary times.

The Bible is replete with examples of ordinary people. Who were the disciples before Jesus chose them? Fishermen? Tax collectors? Pretty ordinary people.

Jesus lived His life and carried out His ministry among ordinary people. Today more than ever, God still uses ordinary people in extraordinary times. How about you? Feel pretty ordinary? Plain? Obscure? Haven’t had your picture in the newspaper lately?

Perfect! You’re exactly the person for whom God is looking. Perhaps you are like Esther, “who knoweth whether thou are come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

Done any exploits lately? Carry any crosses? Seen scales drop from eyes?

Get ready! God is birthing the champion spirit for these extraordinary times.

God didn’t create average, mediocre Christianity. Average and mediocre are the antithesis of the foundation of Christianity.

• God created you to be a champion.
• God created you to be a conqueror.
• God created you to be a king.
• God created you to wear a crown.
• God created you to be the head and not the tail, to be above and not beneath.
• God created you to live in the blessing, not the curse.
• God created you to be a champion. Anything less is second-best.

Are you ordinary? Maybe you seem to be to yourself, your family or even your friends.

But, little is much if God is in it, as Ananias and Simon of Cyrene proved. Who were these men before their experiences? Certainly, these experiences changed their lives.

When we allow God to use us, He moves us out of the ordinary realm into His ordinary dimensions.

We are destined to become champions–ordinary people for extraordinary times!

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