The Desire To Be Average

Pastor praise the Lord it was uh very interesting that this past Sunday we had an mit meeting where pastor was giving forth on how to. Do the right the proper sermon and his method Monday morning I get a text hey would? You mind teaching on Wednesday I was like oh boy. So mit just so you know I am I'm not up to his method yet. But uh I do want to emulate him in his concise way of finishing. And getting you out of here at eight o'clock everybody said. Amen amen give them honor for all they do we have a great staff here very excited about what. God is doing here at center point praise the Lord. Well a little different you'll learn as as we go along that I've I have a little different delivery than pastor. But uh I was thinking this week that you know sports are back in sec in action for those who care uh some of. You are excited others of you are revolting and you know either or it's happening whether.

We like it or not and so this past week the fedex saint Jude happened in Memphis. And as I was reading the news I noticed that justin thomas he uh. He made 1.8 million because he won he beat us dustin johnson phil mickelson ricky fowler sean norris. And c.t pan amongst others you probably recognize most of those names how about sean norris anybody anybody follow sean norris is. He your favorite golfer no oh brother scott's over shaking his head no and he's a golfer the atlanta braves. And darby swanson or dansby swanson are playing craig smith and the preds were playing. Today against the arizona coyotes and then as I mentioned a lot of other teams have been active. And I must admit that I have no idea as you notice I stumbled over their names who dansby swanson is or craig smith or ct. Pan are they're pros obviously because they made the roster because they were on that list. But they're not really the superstars they're not really the ones that we follow the ones that.

We look at the ones that we are concerned that we open the Bible or Bible open the newspaper. And follow tell us a little nerves here but those guys aren't listed there these guys that. We don't recognize they're what we call average they're they're just the guys that show up. And make the others look good and truthfully they may never reach their respective hall of fames. And bringing it a little closer as I've already mentioned lyle spann scott smith golfers george newman hacker. I don't even know if I'd be considered an average golfer I like to golf people just don't like to golf with me. So but average is it seems to be the thing that people don't like or don't like to admit being. We always like to to say that we're better than than average and at this time in America never have. So many want it to be different yet they don't want the attention brought to their differences. But that goes against our grain because the individuality of America and the spirit of America has always been the self-made man.

We love the stories of sam walton we love the story of warren buffett. We follow him and bill gates henry ford and general electric countless books line the bookshelves of the stores with the lessons that have been gleaned. From these lives and the way you can take those plans and make it your own. But the truth of the matter is most of us have a better understanding of the obstacles that. They overcame and we understand that they got there by hard work and a little bit of. Maybe luck and the truth of the matter is we might not get there. Because we are average there's also our desire in this world today to to blend in. Because we all know that the one that sticks up is the one that gets hammered people like to even though. We like our individuality we like we say we we express ourself and some of. You do so well with your clothes others of us we wear black and brown.

But we're average we're average and as I began to. Look and the Lord was talking to me and I'm not really chasing rabbits here I'm getting to a point here. If you've got your bibles I want to read the text tonight from first Samuel 8.. I want to bring it home and apply it to a biblical process here. And you don't have to stand because this is the whole chapter. So it's 22 verses but I will do my best to speed speak because there's a couple of points that. I need to get but it needs to cover the whole chapter. So you understand the story it says as Samuel grew old he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel Joel. And baija his oldest sons held court in beersheba but they were not like their father for. They were greedy for money they accepted bribes and they perverted justice. Finally all the elders of Israel met in rhema to discuss the matter with Samuel.

Look they said you're old now your sons are not like you give us a king to judge us like all other nations have Samuel was. Displeased with their request and he went to the Lord for guidance do everything. They say unto you the Lord replied for they are rejecting me and not. You they don't want me to be their king any longer ever since I brought them out from Egypt. They have continually abandoned me and followed other gods they are giving you Samuel the same treatment do as. They ask but solemnly warn them about a way about the way a king will reign over them. And so Samuel passed on the Lord's warning to the people who were asking him for a king this is how a king will reign over. You Samuel said the king will draft your sons and he'll assign them to his chariots into his chair of tears he'll make them run before. His chariots some will be generals and captains in his army some will be forced to plow his fields.

And to harvest his crops and some will make his weapons and his chariot equipment the king will take your daughters from. You and force them to cook and to bake and to make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields your vineyards and olive groves. And he'll give them to his own officials he will take a tenth of your grain. And your grape harvest and distribute it amongst his officers and attendants he will take your male. And female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flock and you will be his slaves. And when that day comes you will beg for relief from the king this king that. You are demanding but then the Lord will not help you. But the people refuse to listen to Samuel's warning even. So we still want a king they said we want to be like the nations around us our king will judge us.

And he'll lead us into battle and so Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said. And the Lord replied do as they say and give them a king then Samuel agreed. And he sent the people home the israelites for lack of a better word desired to be average. And I just want to teach about the desire to be average for just a little while I've always wanted to be a millionaire growing up. I read about aladdin and scrooge mcduck richie rich and wondered what it would be like to sit in that room surrounded by all that wealth. And throw those coins on those dollar bills up into the air the opportunity to use dollar bills as a napkin to wipe my mouth on. I didn't want to be average you see average is for the guy next door. I wanted to be more than I than I was I was going to be the guy that hit the home run or solve the mystery.

Of co cold fusion I was going to have the prettiest wife the best Job in the world. And make lots of money at this point in my life two out of three is not bad I've got the prettiest wife. I got the best Job working for the Lord and once maybe twice I've hit a home run. So it turns out I'm just an average american I'm just normal if I were to list my possessions in all my debt the number of. Children that I have you would see that I'm not much different than you most of. You here we've got two cars and 2.5 kids that half a kid is something else what about. You are you average are you average there may be some of you here that aren't average you're above you're the exception to the rule. And I applaud you for that and the efforts and the things you've gained. And truthfully if you'll see me after service scott I need to talk to.

You about golf some of the others out here brother allen where are you. I need to talk to you your successes I need some input into my life about how to be like y'all. We could use a couple of more dollars in the bank account if we're all honest a bigger house might be nice actually. I was hoping this last house is going to be the one where we have the smaller house. And the bigger garage so far we've got the house the truth is there aren't a lot of people who aren't average turn around to the. One beside you and say you know what you're probably average now if it's your spouse that probably was the one thing. You shouldn't have said so now you need to say I'm sorry you're exceptional in all your ways. You see when we discover that average means it's the greatest group of people averages is just being normal consider the baseball prospect is a great. Hitter if he can hit the ball three out of ten times a great three-point shooter is one that can hit that four out of times.

I have ten times the average nfl player said last 3.5 years in the nfl ladies five foot five is the average height of the american. Woman five foot nine is the average height of the american male pant size is 36 by 32 for males. So you usually find that you can't find them at least I do the average act score in the nation is 21 out of 36. the. Average household as of 2017 makes 61 372 dollars and you owe a hundred. And thirty seven thousand sixty three dollars I find I am just about there in all those categories. And I don't know about you but it can be scary to be average it can be scary to realize just what's going on in my. Life but I'm not alone I'm not alone here's some good news about me being average though I'll probably finish this message about the normal time. You get done here and I can expect the normal response from you that.

I usually get but is it really the best thing for us to be normal or average have. You considered what it means to be above average to be above the norm to be spectacular. I think the truth of the matter is we can. Look and see that God wants us to be spectacular he didn't he didn't call us. He didn't bring us from where we were just for us to be average. He didn't desire us to be normal he wanted things to happen things to change. He wanted us to be people that made a difference to come into situations to be a light that's on a hill to shine there. And bring other people attract people to us because we are different we are not the average. We are not willing to be normal and so we've got to we've got to focus on that there's a book titled that. I that I've got somewhere on my shelf and it's called carnal Christians think about that for a moment carnal Christians those two words should not.

Go together it shouldn't be the thing but we find in our church world that's very much the norm. We have a lot of carnality we have a lot of that that base nature that that's bled over. We find that at least my observation that people that tell me often that. They are Christians haven't really changed much they're pretty well the same thing they were before they're still average they're still normal. They haven't come out and been separate as the Lord said they're they're just there. And God didn't come and die on a cross for that he didn't come. So that so that we would be average his reason for coming was because. He wanted us to be above average and so as we notice in our text. Today Israel decided they wanted to be like other nations now make us a king to judge us like all the other nations Israel decided. They wanted to be average and if you really want if you think about it Israel was anything.

But average there was nothing about Israel that was average you can't describe them as your typical nation even. Today they are not the run-of-the-mill nation they're different but for some reason they want it to be the same as everybody else who was Israel. You have to go back and you look at Genesis 12 when God called abram. And he said the Lord has said unto abram leave your native country your relatives your fam your father's family. And go to the land that I will show you I will make you a great nation that's not average. I will bless you and make you famous that's not average you will be a blessing to others that's not average. I will bless them that bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. And all the families on the earth will be blessed through you that's not average. And yet we're reading make us a king so we can be like other nations Israel was a great nation Israel was had was a a.

Place of promise Israel was not like other nations Exodus 1 5 Israel went down to Egypt numbering 70 people. When they came out 400 years later they were numbering between three and four million people. They were not average when they came out they didn't come out as a beaten poor group of people of vagabonds that that were leaving Egypt. Just to get out but they left as conquerors they pillaged Egypt and Egypt was glad to give them all that. They asked for consider how it must have been that day right after the passover has happened the death angel has come by. And they're ex they're pushing the israelites out they're saying go and the israelites are walking in. And say you know what that's a nice sofa here take it hey I like those. I like this chest of of jewels take it whatever they asked for they got all the is all the egyptians wanted was Israel to leave. They wanted them out away in fact there was so much gold and treasure taken out of Egypt that.

When God and Moses asked for donations to build the tabernacle and the people begin to give up their abundance. They had to say okay it's time to stop it's time to stop we can't put it all in one place you've given us too much. That's how much they got out of Egypt they were not average they were not the same as everybody else this is Israel we're talking about. The ones that came and they crossed the red sea on dry land then. They did it 40 years later when they crossed Jordan then they walked around jericho 14 times. And the walls fell down they walked in and they pillaged the city it was the place where people just heard about them. And got scared this is Israel Israel was not average and it blows my mind that somehow. We would read in the scripture that they would want to be like everybody else that. They would be willing to accept being like everybody else it's Israel that saw.

God deliver them so many times in so many ways it's Israel that saw the saw the sun back up. And then they saw it stand still and just in Joshua 10 12 14 it says on the day that the. Lord gave the israelites victory over the amorites Joshua prayed to the Lord in the front of all the people of Israel. And he said let the sun stand still over gibeon and the moon over the valley of ashalon. And so the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemy is this event not recorded. In the book of Jesus jashar the sun stayed in the middle of the sky. And it did not set as on a normal day there has never been a day like this one before or since. When the Lord answered such a prayer surely the Lord fought for Israel that day Israel should have understood that. They weren't average Israel should have understood that this was not that this was not something that.

They should go about and do willingly this is Israel who was led by a pillar of fire. And a cloud by day this is the people that were standing in front of Samuel this day that we've read about. They should have known they should have they should have recognized it they should have. They should have understood that this was not what they were supposed to do. And Samuel warned them Samuel told them hey you're going to be put in bondage you're going to be basically his servants no longer will. You be following me but you will be following a king your king is going to take your land he's going to take your your daughters. And your sons he's going to conscript them into the army they're going to have to serve him they're going to have to do meaningful meaningless. Jobs if you will they're going to be here and they're going to be there you're not going to have control over your life with all.

That said even hitting them in their pocketbook taking a tenth of their grain taking a tenth of their their olive oil oil. And all the stuff that they would come and get their flocks still they said. We want to be like everybody else we want to be like everybody else I've come to tell. You today that we find ourselves many times in those places where we could accept being average. We could accept going with the norm but the truth of the matter is. We are not normal you should not consider yourself to be normal God did not call. You from sin he did not save you he did not bring you to this place for. You to allow yourself to be normal if you there's not there's not the ability in our minds. If we really think about it for us to just say we're going to coast we're just going to to just get on by. And let everything slide because God has done too much just as he did for Israel just as.

He did for them we have to understand that though they want to be like other nations. We cannot be like other people we there there's no way that we can put into our mindset that hey. You know what I'm just normal you're not normal that should that should bring a smile to your face it should lift your heart to understand. That you know what I feel called to do more I feel God's wants to do more in my life it's not I'm not supposed to. Be just used to coming going home rick warren said it this way many people come to church to sit soak. And sour it's one of my favorite statements it should not be that way. We should not be the dead sea but we should be the sea of Galilee giving out. We should be blessing others it shouldn't be that we come in only to receive. Because we are not normal he didn't call us to be normal he didn't desire us to be normal.

You see when when you get to that mindset that Israel had you find that there's three things that happen the first is. You want to be like everybody else we find that abram's called out he's separated he's given all that his his sons go through that same. Process the Lord speaks to to uh Isaac and then to Jacob and tells them about all the promises. And all through the old testament you find the Lord giving them the promises I'm going to be there I'm going to take care of. You I am honoring my promise to to Abraham Isaac and Jacob I'm I'm going to do that for. You Israel for some reason got in their mind they wanted to be like everybody else yet the Bible says come out from among them. And be separate the Bible says that we we shouldn't be as the world. But Israel they wanted to be like everybody else have you ever heard the story of mike mike wanted to be like ted.

So he did everything ted did he walk like ted he dressed like ted. He mimicked ted ted did all these great things and. So mike wanted to be like ted what mike didn't know was ted wanted to be like sam sam sam was the coolest sam was. You know had everything so mike was now got my loss ted. So ted was doing everything that sam was doing he was walking and talking like like sam doing everything not knowing that mike who likes doing. Everything ted's they're just kind of mimicking each other and what none of them realized was sam. He really liked jim he thought jim was the coolest. So he was doing everything jim did he dress like jim combed his hair like jim talked like him ate the same foods as jim that. That progression continued on until we got all the way around and we got to fred. And you're never going to believe this fred he wanted to be like mike.

And so the guy that they thought was starting and all he was everybody was actually copying him that's kind of the way it is. When you're like everybody else you're copying somebody else and you're comfortable because I'm just like them that can't happen in our lives that's not the. Purpose God called us to that's not the reason he came and died he desired more for us. He did not want us to be like everyone else. But when you want to be like everyone else you find that you give up being spectacular. You give up being famous you give up making a difference because if you go back. And you look at the people that have made a difference you find that. They didn't do like everybody else they acted weird elon musk is weird. But he's rich he just sent people to a space station and back he's got an electric car an electric truck he's got electric batteries he's. Got the the boring company he's making tunnels I mean who wouldn't want to be like elon musk.

But he's different he's weird but hey I'm glad he's around I'm glad he's there gives me something to. Look to well you know what the same thing happens when we live as we're supposed to live. When we walk as we're supposed to walk as we talk as we're supposed to talk as. We live a Christian life people begin to notice a difference people begin to reach out to. You and say hey what makes you different I want to know more about. You and it gives us an opportunity for Bible studies to reach out and witness to share what God's done in our life how many of. You have had a miracle in your life take a moment and. Look around all the hands that are raised in this place you are not normal. God has done something magnificent in your life and you should. Let people know about it you shouldn't just go ahead and walk silently by. Because God made a difference in your life he did a miracle that you experienced personally no one can take that from.

You you don't have to be like everybody else the second thing we find is. When when people are are willing they want to be like everybody around them. They want to be judged like everybody else what that means is they want somebody else to make their decisions to decide what's right. And what's wrong they don't want to bump against the flow they won't allow others to do it for them. But the truth of the matter is we can't operate like everybody else we have a rule book it's pretty it's black. And white red in a couple places but in this book we find the keys to all our tomorrows. We find our keys to to hope we find the keys to success you read through Proverbs every day you'll find all those keys of success. You read through those very interesting stories through there and you learn and you pick up things. We have that we understand that we are different and. So even though we would like somebody to make all our decisions we'd like somebody to decide what's right.

And wrong God put his spirit inside of us and allowed us to figure out what's right. And wrong according to his word according to the to the law as he said it was a school master it was that thing. We aligned ourselves to we saw when we understood what right and wrong was people have tried to throw out this Bible they've tried to throw. Out morality and all those things but we keep circling back to it we keep coming back to it. And as people that are called by his name people that have got his spirit inside of us. We cannot walk like they do talk like do they do we've got to be different. We have to understand that God is our judge in fact pastor preached just a little while ago in his series. He just got first lesson judge not it's not in our place to be in that that position we've got a rule book we've got something. That we can follow and so we need to to.

Look to that the third thing we find that Israel was giving up and the thing. They wanted somebody else to do for them was they wanted somebody else to fight their battles. They wanted they wanted a king to lead them to decide what was going to happen somehow. They forgot who had led them into battle before in fact I thought it was interesting that the first the. Lord said when he was talking to Samuel they chose that they wanted some. They didn't want me to be their king why wouldn't we want the Lord to fight our battles why wouldn't. We want him to be at the forefront why wouldn't he we want him going before us. We want him to be there and what they quickly found out we. See it in the life of David Kings when they go into battle they often send everybody else while. They observe they don't lead they just observe and they send you for it. And so basically what Israel did was they gave up their victories they gave up their chance of success.

Because when the Lord led them when the Lord said go in and fight I'll give. You victory things happened they didn't lose people on their journey from Egypt to the Jordan. Because they were in battle and things were going wrong because God was with them there were times. When they disobeyed that they lost people but when God when God was leading them. God was their king when he was in front of them things happened and folks. God wants to be there for us because we aren't normal I was in this current day. If you're like me you you kind of get those tweets and you you open up your facebook. And it seems like there's a prayer that has to be prayed for somebody in our current covet situation imagine. If you were a normal person imagine if you didn't have somebody to call on imagine. If you couldn't go and say Jesus I need you to step into this situation. Jesus we need you to be a healer right now or we go to the Job.

And we it's difficult and we're dealing with struggle and we're struggling with how to get through this situation this person that's there what a blessing. It is to be able to say you know what Jesus I can't do it on my own I've got to have. You Lord would you mind may stepping in here and making a difference and he'll do it he's done it he's been there time. And time again he has come in on our behalf and he's taking care of us he's moved through our lives. And he's protected us he's helped us in so many different ways because the. Lord said he would come and he would fight our battles he would be there for us. God is going to be that one so when you come and you become like Israel. And you say you know what I desire to be average means you're going to try. And be like you're satisfied with being like everybody else you're satisfied with looking.

And having other people judge you and you usually take a back seat and hope somebody else will fight your battles. But God didn't mean for us to be normal or average he calls us to be different. He calls us to be exceptional the Lord talked earlier to Moses and into the israelites earlier in Exodus about a king. He said in verse 14 you are about to enter the land the Lord your. God is giving you when you take it over and settle there you may think. We should select the king to rule over us like other nations around us. If this happens be sure to select as a king the man the Lord your. God chooses you must appoint a fellow israelites he may not be a foreigner. And this king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses for the. Lord has told you you must never return to Egypt you. See Israel gotten prob and problems when they returned to Egypt we read through throughout the history of of the israelites.

We find that they when they first started out we find Abraham and Isaac going into Egypt. They lost their wives for a little while till the Lord stepped in things happen. When you go to Egypt you're not supposed to be in Egypt and. So the Lord at the very beginning with Moses as he's there talking about where they're about to enter promise. He says when you get a king make sure that he doesn't go back to Egypt. If you read a little further you find in that same passage there that as there as Moses is giving the instruction. He says you know what the king that you choose should write the law. So that he understands and knows the law you see that that that's a principle. I I I was thinking about it today in fact I may have I may have missed the boat for making my kids write the five. Books of the Bible the first five books cherie you need to start that.

And get that done for me um I may work on the grandkids and have them write the first five. But the thing about it is when you read through the through history of Israel. You find that they come one of those Kings I believe it was which one Hosea Hosea's son one of those as. He took came into power the priest had been protecting him we find that. He begins to open the word and the Bible actually says that he writes it. Again and he reads it to all of Israel and a great revival happens. Because they read the word of God because they apply the law to their heart. God wanted us to be exceptional and so I'm encouraging you to be exceptional don't be con be uh willing to settle for just average christianity. Just because they're doing it does not mean you have to do it just. Because they act that way and they allow that doesn't mean you have to allow it in your life.

Because God wants you to be exceptional he wants you to step out and above everybody else it's why Peter wrote ye. Also in first Peter two and five he also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices. Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ and a little further down in 8 and 10. He says a stone of stumbling a rock of a fence even to them that stumble in the word being disobedience where until. They were appointed but this is the verse verse 9. But ye are chosen generation a royal priesthood a holy nation a peculiar people that doesn't sound like average that. You should show forth the praises of him who have called you out of darkness into his marvelous light that's who our. God called us to be he called us to be royal he called us to be peculiar that means odd that means different that does not. Mean normal it does not mean average he doesn't want you to be average.

He wants you to be his and to be peculiar he wants you to understand that you're chosen. He wants you to be more than you ever thought you could be God has got promises for each. And every one of us he wants to do things in our lives that. We can't even begin to imagine but when we begin to just give him a little bit just a little bit of commitment. I find that he begins to move in my life in ways I've never experienced. He does things that I never even planned for and I. Look back and I said wow what a journey he's been there time and time. Again as we stand now I get ready to close you have to understand that. God calls us to be different he said we would have a Mark we don't go our own way. We choose gods Joshua remember said is for me and my house we will serve the. Lord he put it down he made it emphatic that's got to be the way that.

You look at things we have got to be exceptional we are following our example is. Jesus and there was nothing average about Jesus there was nothing when he stepped into places things changed situations changed. We have that power he said that he would be with us be in us that. We are his temple there's no reason for us to expect anything less than. God moving in our life and doing something strong in us. Praise God because we are different we are different when my mother-in-law years ago. She had flown in from out of town and as she was making her way from the airport to through the shuttle. And getting in her car it was one of those days in Memphis that's. You know those it's actually cold wet and rainy uh you know that it's just about icy. And all those things that you don't want to go and and be out in. And so she was telling us about it later she says I was in my mind all.

I wanted to do was get in my car she said I the shuttle was late my bag was late I'm frustrated. And she says I'm going through the motions I'm getting on the shuttle and. She said I'm just saying just let me get to my car and please. Lord let it start she said as she is walking going going through that process. And she's getting off the shuttle she steps out of the way a lady got off behind her. And said ma'am ma'am and she said I thought I forgot something I turned back. And she said yeah wait what can I do for you she said she said. I I think you're a Christian there's something different about you I was watching. You as we got on the shuttle as we were waiting and would you mind praying for my family in the midst of all the hustle. And bustle and what she may have thought was a bad day what she may have considered just an aggravation somehow.

God shone through her life and she and somebody sitting there in need recognize that this lady's not average. And reached out to her and said can you pray that's you and that's me. We are not average God didn't call us to be average we cannot be satisfied with being average would. You join me in praying that God would help us to not be average. Lord I pray for this precious church God the saints the members of this congregation that your presence would be on them. Lord this week God as we accept the challenge to not be average I ask that. You would open doors of opportunity that you put people in our way God that. We can make it different Lord allow us to be witnesses allow us to be a light that shines on top of a hill. Lord allow us to walk dear God differently in this world. So that we attract people to you God that they want to know more about.

You and what makes us different because you did not call us Jesus just to sid soak. And sour but you wanted us to make a difference in this world and. I thank you Lord for your power and your might your precious name. Thank you God amen. Thank you all for being here.