Embracing an Excellent Spirit for Transformative Influence
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound call to cultivate an excellent spirit, a journey that transcends mere religious duty and invites us into a transformative relationship with God. We began by acknowledging the importance of recognizing the spiritual significance of where God has placed us, emphasizing that our influence extends beyond the church walls into the broader community. This recognition is crucial because it is in the place where God plants us that we can truly flourish and be of influence.
We delved into the concept of having a strong and excellent spirit, which involves going beyond the norm and embracing the possibilities that God offers. This requires a deep belief in God's ability to perform miracles and to work through us, even in challenging circumstances. We reflected on the story of Daniel, who exemplified an excellent spirit by purposing in his heart not to defile himself, surrounding himself with the right companions, and being motivated by love.
The sermon also highlighted the importance of being proactive in our faith, not waiting passively for God to act but actively pursuing His promises. This involves a commitment to prayer, fasting, and seeking God with all our hearts. We were reminded that excellence is not about perfection or competition but about doing our best in service to God, allowing His power to shine through us.
As we strive for excellence, we must also be mindful of our motivations, ensuring that love is at the core of our actions. This love should drive us to reach out to others, to be a light in the darkness, and to bring the message of salvation to those around us. In doing so, we fulfill our calling to be a people of influence, impacting our communities and the nation for God's glory.
Key Takeaways:
- Recognize the spiritual significance of where God has placed you. Flourishing and influence come from being planted in the right place, where God intends for you to grow and impact the world around you. [59:23]
- Cultivating an excellent spirit involves going beyond the norm and believing in God's ability to perform miracles through you. This requires a deep, unwavering faith that extends beyond the church setting into everyday challenges. [01:02:09]
- Excellence is not about perfection or competition but about doing your best in service to God. It involves incorporating God into every aspect of your life and allowing His power to shine through you. [01:17:22]
- Surround yourself with the right companions who will support and challenge you in your spiritual journey. These friends should be able to pray for you, correct you, and encourage you to live a life of excellence. [01:33:45]
- Be proactive in your faith by committing to prayer, fasting, and seeking God. This active pursuit of God will lead to a deeper relationship with Him and empower you to excel in all areas of life. [01:38:25]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:01:00] - Opening Prayer and Worship
- [00:03:30] - Recognizing Spiritual Placement
- [00:07:45] - The Call to Influence
- [00:12:00] - Building a Strong Spirit
- [00:17:00] - Embracing Excellence
- [00:22:30] - The Story of Daniel
- [00:28:00] - Proactive Faith
- [00:33:00] - Motivated by Love
- [00:38:00] - The Power of Prayer and Fasting
- [00:43:00] - Surrounding Yourself with the Right People
- [00:48:00] - Living a Life of Influence
- [00:53:00] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
- [00:58:00] - Altar Call and Ministry Time
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 22:17
2. Matthew 16:18
3. Daniel 6:3
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Genesis 22:17 promise about the descendants of Abraham, and how does this relate to the concept of possessing the gates of their enemies? [01:02:09]
2. In Matthew 16:18, what assurance does Jesus give about the church's power against the gates of hell? How does this relate to the idea of being proactive in faith? [01:05:40]
3. According to Daniel 6:3, what distinguished Daniel from others, and how did this affect his standing with the king? [01:28:31]
4. How does the sermon describe the importance of recognizing the spiritual significance of where God has placed you? [59:23]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the promise in Genesis 22:17 about possessing the gates of enemies reflect God's intention for believers to live victoriously? What does this mean for us today? [01:02:09]
2. In what ways does the assurance in Matthew 16:18 that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church encourage believers to be proactive in their faith? [01:05:40]
3. What does Daniel's excellent spirit in Daniel 6:3 teach us about the qualities that God values in His people? How can these qualities be cultivated in our lives? [01:28:31]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with the right companions. How does this principle relate to the story of Daniel and his friends? [01:33:45]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current environment. How can you recognize and embrace the spiritual significance of where God has placed you to influence your community? [59:23]
2. Consider a challenging situation you are facing. How can you actively pursue God's promises in this situation, rather than waiting passively for change? [01:14:11]
3. Identify one area in your life where you can strive for excellence, not perfection. What practical steps can you take to incorporate God into this area? [01:17:22]
4. Think about your circle of friends. Are there individuals who support and challenge you in your spiritual journey? How can you strengthen these relationships? [01:33:45]
5. Evaluate your prayer and fasting habits. What changes can you make to be more proactive in seeking God and deepening your relationship with Him? [01:38:25]
6. Reflect on your motivations for serving others. How can you ensure that love is at the core of your actions, especially when reaching out to those who may not know Christ? [01:31:47]
7. Consider the influence you have in your workplace or community. How can you be a light in the darkness and bring the message of salvation to those around you? [01:10:16]
Devotional
Day 1: Flourishing Where You Are Planted
Recognizing the spiritual significance of where God has placed you is essential for personal growth and influence. It is in the specific environment where God has planted you that you can truly flourish and make a meaningful impact. This involves understanding that your influence extends beyond the church walls into the broader community. By embracing the place where God has positioned you, you can grow and impact the world around you, fulfilling your divine purpose. [59:23]
"Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 'Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.'" (Jeremiah 29:4-6, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively engage with and influence your community this week, recognizing it as the place where God has planted you?
Day 2: Embracing the Possibility of Miracles
Cultivating an excellent spirit involves going beyond the norm and believing in God's ability to perform miracles through you. This requires a deep, unwavering faith that extends beyond the church setting into everyday challenges. By embracing the possibilities that God offers, you open yourself to His miraculous work in your life, even in the most challenging circumstances. This mindset allows you to live with a sense of purpose and expectation, knowing that God can work through you in extraordinary ways. [01:02:09]
"And Jesus said to him, 'If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.'" (Mark 9:23, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to trust God for a miracle? How can you actively demonstrate your faith in His power this week?
Day 3: Excellence Through Service
Excellence is not about perfection or competition but about doing your best in service to God. It involves incorporating God into every aspect of your life and allowing His power to shine through you. By striving for excellence, you honor God and reflect His glory in all that you do. This pursuit of excellence is a journey of growth and transformation, where you continually seek to align your actions with God's will and purpose. [01:17:22]
"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." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you can strive for greater excellence in service to God. What practical steps can you take to improve in this area?
Day 4: The Power of Community
Surrounding yourself with the right companions is crucial for spiritual growth and living a life of excellence. These friends should be able to pray for you, correct you, and encourage you to live a life of excellence. By building a supportive community, you create an environment where you can grow and thrive in your faith journey. This community becomes a source of strength and encouragement, helping you to stay focused on your spiritual goals and aspirations. [01:33:45]
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Who are the people in your life that support and challenge you in your spiritual journey? How can you invest in these relationships to strengthen your community?
Day 5: Active Pursuit of God
Being proactive in your faith involves committing to prayer, fasting, and seeking God with all your heart. This active pursuit of God leads to a deeper relationship with Him and empowers you to excel in all areas of life. By dedicating time and effort to spiritual disciplines, you open yourself to God's guidance and transformation. This proactive approach to faith is a testament to your commitment to grow and mature in your relationship with God. [01:38:25]
"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!" (1 Chronicles 16:11, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to actively pursue a deeper relationship with God through prayer, fasting, or other spiritual disciplines?
Quotes
1. "You need to recognize where God placed you. Because only in the place where God plants you, you can flourish but also that's where you are changed to be of influence in the area and the area where you need to be of influence right you there's many places where you can be of blessing but there's only one place that God intended for you to be as a local family so this is very important to recognize and you need to recognize who God placed in your midst right so your pastors but even your connect group leaders right you need to recognize who God placed in your life to speak into your life." ([00:58:13] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "Do you believe that though? Do you really believe that? Not just now in the church, but do you believe that tomorrow when you're being surrounded by challenges? Because that's when it matters, right? Now it's easy to agree with and shout amen. But when you are in a challenge and you're by yourself, do you believe it then that God can do anything, but that he always involves you, right?" ([01:01:21] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "The reason why we seem to be losing the culture war in this nation is because we have not sent out anointed men and women in their world. Right? So, yeah, we have a good time in church. Now. Now, it's hard for me to say this because I love this church and I believe that this church is very different. When I spoke this morning, people have a different spirit. I can already see that there's so many people in this church that have that different spirit. But still, we need to learn that whatever we receive here, we on purpose have to bring out." ([01:08:21] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "We are called to be victorious. We are called to be strong. We are called to live holy. And the work that we do should always be done in excellence. Always. I'm not talking about the outside. I'm not talking about our dress, et cetera, even though that should be a result of who you are on the inside. You can't look like a bum. You can't look like a homeless person if God did something in your heart." ([01:19:34] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "When you are excellent in spirit, it will show in the way you walk. It will show in the way you talk. It will show in the way you walk, in the way you work, in the way you dress, just in the way that you live your life because you represent the king. The outward life is a result of the inward life. You will be able to see it. God deserves the best. And his people do too." ([01:21:49] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "We need to decide to live and do business with different standards. Don't be like other Christian businessmen. Did you know? No. Have different standards. Have different standards as a teacher. Have different standards, whatever you do. Be different. Be excellent." ([01:31:42] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "He had the right companion. Last time I think I was here, I spoke from Acts chapter 4. You need to have the right company of people to go to. When you need prayer, you have the right kind of people. You need to have those friends around you that say, no, no, don't do this. No, no. You need to have the friends that are not only there for you to barbecue or to watch sports with, but when you're in trouble, they know what to do. They know what to say. They know how to correct you, how to rebuke you, and still be your friends." ([01:33:45] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "We want to be people of an excellent spirit. We have to pray. We have to fast. We have to seek God. Right. All these ways, by the way, it's not just, oh, I'm good in praying and I'm good in fasting and I'm good in worshiping. Or. No, no, no. We need to have all of this in our lives. He was a man of prayer. He was a man of fasting. He was a man of intercession." ([01:39:30] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "We need to seek that we may excel, the Bible says. So seeking God to excel. I don't want to take too much of your time. So I want to end this, but we need to do these things so that we can excel. Not just expect God to do like a miraculous work on the inside of us. He has already done that. He has provided everything for us so that we can excel more, right? So we can go an extra step and again, extra step." ([01:43:01] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "Daniel was able to make a difference in his nation and you are called to make a difference in this area. You are called to build the church. Amen. Okay. Let's all stand up. Let's pray. Hallelujah. Father. Hallelujah. Father. We thank you, Lord. We give you praise. We honor you, Lord. We pray that you turn us into people. We thank you, Father. Lord, we give you praise. Lord, we reach out to you." ([01:44:51] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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