THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
Pastor Joel Tejedo told me before that God wants me to be a better and bigger person-- an excellent person.
What is excellence means? Is it a bomb? Yes, excellence is a bomb which is going over with a bang- doing the very best to excel. If you play a computer game a shooting game. Being a gamer in that game you must need to shoot the goal of the game and immediately the computer machine will have a response with the marching sound EXCELLENT! Excellence is a goal to determine! Perhaps, this is what our pastor wants us to understand that we are this person of Ego. E + go = Ego – Self-Image – meaning we see ourselves as Excellent goers!!! Do we have this kind of self – image? If not be on it Now!
Excellence is not just a word; it is a go
Go-it takes timing, courage, skills and the leading of God and it also requires risk taking.
Excellence is not just a work; it is a gravity
Excellence is not just a will; it is a whole glory
Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:7 that he himself wants as to be an excellent goers in Knowledge, Speech, Faith, Complete Earnestness, Love and Giving.
Knowledge involves facts and understanding – We must excellent in the Bible knowledge as our divine facts and understanding. Knowledge without common sense is fool. We should sense the truth and not deficient. Knowledge is the head of wisdom while wisdom is the hand of knowledge meaning wisdom is the application of knowledge.
Speech involves Power Language – The Bible is our Power Language to speak accordingly to the Spirit. Paul said Romans 1:16
Faith involves faithfulness – the suffix of faithfulness is fullness meaning the capacity of being full in faith. This kind of faith as Paul said that the righteous shall live by faith and believing the things which is not unseen.
Complete Earnest involves sincere attitude and intention to excel – this is our attitude to welcome excellence in our lives.
Love involves passion to others – allow the others to be excellent as well. Paul was excellent in attitude to love the church of Christ for Christ died for His church and Christ will marry his church in the future.
And giving involves sacrifice - Paul wants us to know this, though we are lacking but rich in generosity 2 Cor. 8:1. We are excellent in giving the very best for God and giving makes us richer in heaven.
Paul was not excellent in speech but he has the demonstration of the Spirit Power. 1 Cor. 2:3-5 KJV And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with Excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
When we say that Excellency come through the Spirit Power just like Paul makes him excellent in preaching the word then we need something to fill our Excellency.
I. EXECELLENT GOERS EMBRACE EMPOWERMENT
Some says that they will become excellent when they are “Best Doers,” “Knowledgeable, well-trained and experienced,” and “hard working.” All of these are induce by human effort.
Our best is never enough – we constantly need God’s extra touch. We need His empowerment and demonstration like Paul.
We rely, not on our knowledge, training, experience, but on God’s transforming addition to our best. Transformed mind of mediocrity and poverty in life and character – Excellency need enlargement of life purpose and envision excellent things in the Lord. Life without excellent purpose is direct less. You are like barbarians living in the Island.
We are not satisfied to work hard. We look to God for His empowerment upon our earnest efforts. Then, when we’re filled with and anointed by His Spirit that experience makes us excellent and our service to be Spirit-guided, Spirit-empowered and used for the Glory of God.
Jesus desires each of us to be Spirit-filled Matthew 3:11 that our innermost nature is cleansed as by fire and the Shekinah glory of God. The Spirit Shekinah – glory, His Holy fire is for all of us believers in this dispensation of grace.
When people see the excellence of Jesus, Empowerment of Jesus in our lives people will have the earnestness to near and experience this extraordinary Spiritual function in us. Excellent and empowered Christian can produce another one for Jesus and humble them to give the glory for God.
We can be excellent without empowerment but little impact on the world. Jesus wants us to be extraordinary excellent-empowered Christian. Empowered Christian become more effective when experience take upon.
II. EXCELLENT GOERS EMBRACE EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE
The innermost change experience is opened to God’s way to transform our incapability. Innermost change is willing to burn the midnight candle meaning our best study in this college. An Innermost Change is willing to accept their weaknesses as a sign of humility and allowing God to strengthen our weaknesses. Let’s embrace this extraordinary experience of innermost change upon the impact of God’s presence to us. Innermost change is God’s deal to our heart and close to mind renewal and next to our will. The beginning of excellence is change and having the push to excel.
When I said excellent, this word are pertaining to 3D level or three dimensions:
a. Excellent before God – Excellent relationship, fellowship, and service to God.
b. Excellent before self – Excellent self-image and self Spiritual change or cultivation daily.
Christ has had this Excellency during His days and we are the result of His great sacrifice. For this reason we His people are PURSUERS OF HIS EXCELLENCY!
Arete (Greek: ἀρετή; pronounced /ˈærəteɪ/ in English), in its basic sense, means "goodness", "excellence" or "virtue" of any kind. In its earliest appearance in Greek, this notion of excellence was ultimately bound up with the notion of the fulfillment of purpose or function; the act of living up to one’s full potential.Wikipedia.com
The word Excellence – Synonyms – Perfect – in Hebrew – Shalem, God alone who lacks nothing in terms of goodness or excellence, is truly perfect. Everything He is, thinks, and does have the character of perfection. NIV Bible Dictionary (Matthew 5:48)
The other synonyms of Excellence are best, complete, brilliant, understanding, and superb
Tonight is the night of excellence. These two weeks theme of excellence does you have a serious decision to give your life as an excellent sacrifice and commit your life to do excellent things for Him. Jesus said to peter “Come,” and Peter got down of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Now do you want also to come in the presence of Jesus and experience His enabling Spirit? Tonight allow our self to experience Him. How we can lead people to Christ that even His touch we don’t embrace and experience His enabling Spirit. Knowledge and training are not enough but the Spirit empowerment makes us more excellent to God. Experience Him now! Come and grab this opportunity to make a step to Him with all your heart and desire to surrender everything within you to be an object of Christ excellence. I as well need to do this. Excellence is a calling from the Lord. I believe tonight God can make an excellent move in our midst. God will give His best to touch us tonight. With the presence of our faculty and staff and to my batch mates are willing to pray for you tonight. Come in front now and make an excellent decision.
