TEXT: Jno 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

INTRO: “A long time ago and far, far away--”. So began many adventure stories. Little boys (of all ages) fantasize that life would have been much more exciting, if only they had been born in time to have been a pirate, or a knight, or a cowboy, or and explorer! Everyone knows that in olden times, every man was a hero and adventures awaited around every turn in the road, and just over every hill.

Even in the service of God, it is a well-known ‘fact’ that Daniel, David, Samson, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the first Disciples, Paul and even the frontier preachers of our land had exciting adventures and daring challenges. Now, we have nothing left but dull, boring, repetitious service. WRONG!!!

Proposition: Serving God is as adventuresome and exciting as ever, and getting more so as the time of his appearing draws nearer!

I. Heroes of the Bible are presented for our imitation and not merely for our admiration!
It is God’s intention that we should equal and even exceed their exploits.

Heb.11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

A. Daniel
1. He prayed even when they told him he couldn’t! So can you!

2. He survived one night in the lion’s den. You have to face the BIG lion daily!
I Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

B. David
1. He slew Goliath. We too, must face the giants of fear, challenge, etc.

2. He knew that if God could enable a lad with a sling to conquer a giant professional soldier, it would be no greater thing to empower a king with a sword and an army to conquer nations!

3. If God can give you freedom from a condemned soul, he can give you victory in your life. We have some mighty weapons.

II Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

4. David enjoyed many blessings and victories while waiting to become king; So can we have victory NOW as we wait for the resurrection!

C. The first Disciples - They had adventures because they had:

1. A message with POWER. So do we!
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

2. They had a territory to cover. So do we; all the world. They were limited at first to Judea and Samaria; We have the whole world before us!

3. They were wholly committed to the task. So? Are we?
Illustration: Imagine Magellan or Columbus on their ships of discovery and adventure. Crew, stores, weapons, charts and charter are on board. The tide is right and the wind is brisk, but it is still tied up to the dock while the crew complains of boredom. Solution? CAST OFF THE TIES AND MOVE OUT!

D. The excitement of Joshua and Israel as they went a ‘new way' with the Lord.

There are yet many new fields ready to harvest, and adventures galore to be had yet. Ask any Missionary!

E. Noah prepared an ark. Imagine the rejoicing and excitement on board as the ark rides the waves with all the household safe inside. The labor of all the previous years is worth it all!

Consider our happiness as we and all the family of God are secure in him as the flood of Judgment breaks over this old world.
Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

III Come thou with us!
A. Daniel’s enemies enjoyed public favor for a while, but in the end they couldn’t survive the lion’s den or the fiery furnace.

B. David’s enemies lived in style during Saul’s reign but had no place in HIS!

C. Peter and the others left all to follow Christ, but I wonder if history would remember them if they had labored to build a bigger fishing fleet?! How much do you know of the rich and powerful of their day? How will they fare in the judgment, respectively?

D. No doubt the contemporaries of Noah thought they were having a much better life than that crazy old man and his nutty boys, but then the flood came and took them all away.

Who had the better end of the final excitement?