Normal Redefined

July 24, 2016

July 24, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“Normal-Redefined”
Greet People
I love the church. God’s amazing plan and purpose for
the world generation after generation. I love this church.
Amazing Life Church has been given a huge
responsibility in His Kingdom. The call and anointing to
pray is paramount, “chief in importance or impact” to
changing the world we live in and enjoying the
supernatural presence of God. Moving us beyond our
perceived limitations and believing for what appears
impossible.
For several weeks I have felt challenged by the Holy
Spirit to move beyond our limitations and begin, at least
prayerfully, to challenge the status quo. Beginning to get
our thoughts and our prayers aligned with His will and
His greatness. I may not be speaking to everyone, and
that’s ok. It has always been a call for the few yet even
the few need the prayers and support of all.
Preach
I want to share some thoughts today titled,
Normal-Redefined.Page 2
I need to share this before I begin. As I was preparing
this message I asked Betty what her favorite Biblical
story was. She replied with 3 names. Betty being a
romantic all 3 fit that bill. Yet they are also the very
essence of redefining normal. Let me quickly share a
thumbnail of these 3 incredible women of God.
Abigail-husband Nabal “1 Samuel 25”
Esther-saved her people
Ruth-Great Grandmother of David
Today normal is defined as, “conforming to a standard,
usual, typical, or expected”
2 antonym’s of normal are exceptional and
extraordinary.
Preach-moving from the normal to the exceptional,
the extraordinary
The word normal is only mentioned twice in the NASB.
So I will be using relevant examples of instances where
people moved beyond normal into the extraordinary, the
exceptional. First JesusPage 3
Matthew 12:9-14 NASB
9 Departing from there, He went into their synagogue.
10 And a man was there whose hand was withered. And
they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on
the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him.
11 And He said to them, “What man is there among you
who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath,
will he not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much more valuable then is a man than a
sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!”
He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like
the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against
Him, as to how they might destroy Him.
The word translated normal in verse 13 has an
interesting meaning from the Greek word, “hoog-ee-
ace” Initially it means, “to make one whole,to make one
sound in body.” That would seem to fit this event. The
same Greek word is used metaphorically this way,
“teaching which does not deviate from the truth.”
Taking it a little further, and I love this. It is translated
from the Greek root word, owx-an’-o.Page 4
It means, “to increase, become greater, to grow or
increase of a multitude, or of inward Christian
growth.”
Let me read verse 14 again.
“But the Pharisees went out and conspired against
Him, as to how they might destroy Him.”
Religion doesn’t like deviating from normal. Religion
will contain you in a box and discourage you from
having an exceptional, or extraordinary, relationship
with Christ.
Preach Preach
Luke 7:36-39 NASB
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to
dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and
reclined at the table.
37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner;
and when she learned that He was reclining at the table
in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of
perfume,Page 5
38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she
began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping
them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and
anointing them with the perfume.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw
this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He
would know who and what sort of person this woman is
who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”
You know this story. Jesus told the story of the two
debtors and forgave this woman. This was not a normal
response. Her humility was exceptional and her faith
extraordinary.
Preach-“Religion has no room for sinners.”
I love the story of the Syrophoenician Woman found in
Matthew 15 and Mark 7. You know it well, I have
mentioned it often. Jesus had a plan, a commission, a
time line and this woman was interrupting it.
Matthew’s version records this after her passionate pleas
for her daughter.Page 6
Matthew 15:25-28 NASB
25 But she came and began to bow down before Him,
saying, “Lord, help me!”
26 And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the
children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on
the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is
great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her
daughter was healed at once.
Her passion ignored the rejection. It would have been
normal to walk away. She ignored the normal protocols
and gave an extraordinary response to Jesus and His
refusal to help.
Mark 14:3-9 the story of the woman and the alabaster
vial of very costly perfume.
Preach
You know my love for John the 4 th chapter and the
woman at the well.
Preach Preach-Exceptional and extraordinary