Embracing an Excellent Spirit for Divine Purpose
Summary
As we embark on this new year, I am excited to share a series of four biblical principles that I believe will shape our journey as disciples of Christ and as a church family. These principles are intended to enhance the quality of our discipleship and serve as foundational pillars for our ministry. Today, we begin with a lesson from the book of Daniel, focusing on the concept of having an "excellent spirit."
Daniel, an outsider in Babylon, rose to prominence not because of his background or education but because he possessed an excellent spirit. This spirit distinguished him and allowed him to excel in a foreign land. An excellent spirit is not about having extraordinary gifts or talents; it's about the attitude and mindset with which we approach life. It is about expecting more from ourselves than others require, bringing our best to every endeavor, and refusing to settle for mediocrity.
In life, we often face the temptation to remain in "second gear," never fully realizing the potential God has placed within us. We are created for greatness, and God provides opportunities for us to achieve His divine purpose. However, many of us hold back, fearing the unknown or becoming complacent with what is comfortable. The challenge is to step on the gas, to push beyond our fears and limitations, and to live out the fullness of what God has destined for us.
Three enemies threaten our pursuit of excellence: a sense of entitlement, a lack of vision, and complacency with mediocrity. Entitlement leads us to believe we deserve success without effort, while a lack of vision prevents us from seeing the potential in our current circumstances. Complacency with mediocrity keeps us from striving for more, content with just enough to get by. To overcome these, we must cultivate an excellent spirit, one that is committed to giving our best in all things, regardless of recognition or reward.
As we move forward, let us prioritize our commitments, focusing on those that allow us to bring glory to God through our excellence. Let us be known for our excellent spirit, a spirit that reflects the greatness of our Creator and inspires others to do the same.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of an Excellent Spirit: An excellent spirit distinguishes us and opens doors that talent alone cannot. It is about expecting more from ourselves and bringing our best to every situation, regardless of recognition. This spirit is what allows us to maximize our God-given potential and achieve greatness. [18:11]
2. Overcoming the Enemies of Excellence: Entitlement, lack of vision, and complacency with mediocrity are barriers to excellence. We must reject the notion that we deserve success without effort, cultivate a vision for what is possible, and refuse to settle for just enough. [23:06]
3. Living Beyond Regret: At the end of life, we will regret missed opportunities more than mistakes made. God offers grace for our errors, but we must seize the opportunities He provides to fulfill our divine purpose and avoid the pain of unfulfilled potential. [09:22]
4. Excellence as a Lifestyle: Excellence is not an on-off switch; it is a way of life. It is about consistently bringing our best to everything we commit to, understanding that excellence is its own reward and can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. [35:53]
5. Glorifying God Through Our Work: Our work should reflect the excellence of God and bring Him glory. We must prioritize our commitments, focusing on those that allow us to operate in excellence and demonstrate the superior quality of our efforts. [44:44]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:44] - Introduction to the Series
[04:10] - The Concept of an Excellent Spirit
[05:11] - Personal Anecdote: Adrenaline and Potential
[07:51] - Living Beyond Regret
[09:22] - God's Grace for Mistakes
[11:04] - Created for Greatness
[12:41] - The Distinction of an Excellent Spirit
[13:37] - Daniel's Story and Rise
[15:00] - The Power of an Excellent Spirit
[18:11] - Enemies of Excellence: Entitlement
[23:06] - Enemies of Excellence: Lack of Vision
[31:35] - Enemies of Excellence: Complacency
[35:53] - Excellence as a Lifestyle
[44:44] - Glorifying God Through Our Work
[46:31] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Daniel 6:1-5
- Zechariah 4:10
- Matthew 5:16
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Observation Questions:
1. What distinguished Daniel from the other governors and satraps in Babylon according to Daniel 6:3? [18:11]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of an "excellent spirit"? [19:56]
3. What are the three enemies of excellence mentioned in the sermon, and how do they affect our pursuit of excellence? [23:06]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the importance of having a vision for what is possible in our current circumstances? [32:21]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Daniel's story in Babylon illustrate the power of an excellent spirit in overcoming obstacles and achieving success? [18:11]
2. In what ways does a sense of entitlement hinder the development of an excellent spirit, according to the sermon? [23:06]
3. How can a lack of vision prevent individuals from bringing their best to their commitments, as discussed in the sermon? [32:21]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between excellence and glorifying God through our work? [44:44]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt tempted to settle for mediocrity. What steps can you take to cultivate an excellent spirit in similar situations? [39:18]
2. Identify an area in your life where you may have a sense of entitlement. How can you shift your mindset to one of gratitude and effort? [23:06]
3. Consider a commitment or project you are currently involved in. How can you bring a spirit of excellence to it, regardless of its size or recognition? [34:10]
4. Think about a missed opportunity in your life. What can you learn from it, and how can you ensure you seize future opportunities to fulfill your potential? [09:22]
5. How can you prioritize your commitments to ensure you are bringing excellence to the areas that matter most? [45:28]
6. Reflect on your daily work or activities. In what ways can you ensure that your efforts glorify God and reflect His excellence? [44:44]
7. Identify one specific fear or limitation that holds you back from achieving your God-given potential. What practical steps can you take to overcome it and step on the gas of your life? [07:51]
Devotional
Day 1: Cultivating an Excellent Spirit
An excellent spirit is not about extraordinary talents but the attitude and mindset with which we approach life. Daniel, despite being an outsider in Babylon, rose to prominence because he possessed an excellent spirit. This spirit distinguished him and allowed him to excel in a foreign land. It is about expecting more from ourselves than others require, bringing our best to every endeavor, and refusing to settle for mediocrity. In our own lives, we are often tempted to remain in "second gear," never fully realizing the potential God has placed within us. We are created for greatness, and God provides opportunities for us to achieve His divine purpose. However, many of us hold back, fearing the unknown or becoming complacent with what is comfortable. The challenge is to step on the gas, to push beyond our fears and limitations, and to live out the fullness of what God has destined for us. [18:11]
Daniel 6:3 (ESV): "Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you settling for mediocrity, and how can you cultivate an excellent spirit to bring your best to these areas today?
Day 2: Overcoming Barriers to Excellence
Three enemies threaten our pursuit of excellence: a sense of entitlement, a lack of vision, and complacency with mediocrity. Entitlement leads us to believe we deserve success without effort, while a lack of vision prevents us from seeing the potential in our current circumstances. Complacency with mediocrity keeps us from striving for more, content with just enough to get by. To overcome these, we must reject the notion that we deserve success without effort, cultivate a vision for what is possible, and refuse to settle for just enough. By doing so, we can cultivate an excellent spirit, one that is committed to giving our best in all things, regardless of recognition or reward. [23:06]
Proverbs 21:5 (ESV): "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty."
Reflection: Identify one area where you feel entitled to success without effort. How can you shift your mindset to embrace diligence and vision in this area?
Day 3: Seizing Opportunities to Avoid Regret
At the end of life, we will regret missed opportunities more than mistakes made. God offers grace for our errors, but we must seize the opportunities He provides to fulfill our divine purpose and avoid the pain of unfulfilled potential. Living beyond regret means recognizing the moments God places before us and acting on them with courage and faith. It involves stepping out of our comfort zones and trusting that God will guide us as we pursue His plans for our lives. By doing so, we can live a life that is full of purpose and free from the burden of what could have been. [09:22]
Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
Reflection: What is one opportunity you have been hesitant to pursue? How can you take a step of faith today to seize it and live beyond regret?
Day 4: Embracing Excellence as a Lifestyle
Excellence is not an on-off switch; it is a way of life. It is about consistently bringing our best to everything we commit to, understanding that excellence is its own reward and can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. By embracing excellence as a lifestyle, we reflect the greatness of our Creator and inspire others to do the same. This commitment to excellence should permeate every aspect of our lives, from our work to our relationships, and even in our personal growth. It is a continuous journey of striving to be better and to glorify God through our actions and attitudes. [35:53]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Reflection: How can you incorporate excellence into your daily routine, ensuring that it becomes a consistent part of your lifestyle rather than a sporadic effort?
Day 5: Glorifying God Through Our Work
Our work should reflect the excellence of God and bring Him glory. We must prioritize our commitments, focusing on those that allow us to operate in excellence and demonstrate the superior quality of our efforts. By doing so, we not only fulfill our responsibilities but also serve as a testament to God's greatness. This means being intentional about the tasks we undertake and ensuring that our work is done with integrity, dedication, and a spirit of excellence. In doing so, we honor God and inspire others to pursue excellence in their own lives. [44:44]
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV): "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Reflection: What specific actions can you take in your work or daily tasks to ensure that you are glorifying God through excellence?
Quotes
1) "For I believe that God, like that Corvette, has created us to do much more than many of us ever achieve and accomplish in life. Hear me when I tell you that I believe God has not only created us with the capacity for greatness, but along our journey of life, God ushers in opportunities for greatness, for us to achieve and fulfill his divine destiny and purpose and assignment on our lives. But so many people in life can't get out of second gear, and have never stepped on the gas of the possibility and the potential of who God has created and called us to be, and never achieved the full possibilities that await us in this thing called life." [07:51] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "May I suggest to you, my brothers and my sisters, early on in this sermon, that God did not... God did not create us to simply exist. God did not shape you in your mother's womb to simply let life happen to you. God did not breathe life into you and wake you up this morning for you to sit idly by and watch other people pursue progress and achieve the greatness in their lives. That it is not your divine destiny to be idle. God did not anoint you to be a bystander in life." [11:04] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "And you ought to have a feeling in your spirit that great things are in store for you. Somebody, you just ought to believe that you're destined for greatness. That you're destined to live at a level more than this, better than this, achieving more than you have. That it's time. It's time in this season to step on the gas of your life. Get out of second gear and find out what God has created you to achieve, to accomplish, and to get done in the days of your life." [12:41] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "An excellent spirit will cause you to be distinguished in a crowd. An excellent spirit allows you to rise above and be noticed. An excellent spirit can cause you to be successful in in a situation. In a hostile environment. A successful spirit will open doors for you that degrees couldn't and money won't. A successful spirit will allow you to find favor with those who make decisions. An excellent spirit will make you indispensable in any organization or any job that you're committed to. You will be the last one laid off if you've got a chance. An excellent spirit will create opportunities for you that will pass other people by." [18:11] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "What is an excellent spirit? It's when you expect more of yourself than is required by others. An excellent spirit is when you bring 110% of yourself to everything you connect and commit yourself to do. An excellent spirit is when you set a standard to say that there's some things that are not acceptable to anything that has your name on it. An excellent spirit is something within you that says that when you fall to meet the standard that you've set, you don't excuse it. You don't blame other people for its failure, but you learn from the lesson and you do better the second time than you did the first time." [19:56] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Excellence doesn't require recognition. Excellence is its own reward. And a spirit of excellence says this, that I'm going to give my best to something, not because I need it to recognize me, not because I need my name to be called, not because I need them to give me an annual day, but I'm going to give my best to it because I know the impact of my excellence. And if I give it my best, it won't be small for long. If I give it my best, it's going to grow. If I give it my best, it's going to be successful." [34:10] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "You ought to blow the curve and make people angry by your spirit of excellence. Why? Because mediocrity is not in God's vocabulary. Just enough is not how God does things. You've never known God to halfway anything. God didn't halfway wake you up. God didn't halfway answer your prayers. God didn't halfway bless you. As a matter of fact, if you pause right now and think about what God has done in your life, somebody ought to testify that he goes exceedingly and abundantly above all that we could ask or think. He is not a mediocre God." [43:46] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "Jesus says in Matthew 5, 16, let your light so shine in the presence of men and women that they may see your good works glorify your Father in heaven. Here's what Jesus says. There is a connection between the work you do and the glory God receives. And God cannot be glorified in mediocrity. Jesus says that we ought to do our work in such a way that people look at how superior it is, how excellent it is, declare that only God could have allowed them to do that." [44:44] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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