5/1/02
PURSUING EXCELLENCE IN YOUR WALK II
PREPARING WITH EXCELLENCE
GAL 1:13-24
BY PASTOR RUSS WITKOWSKI
“Excellent” - to throw beyond the usual mark, to surpass, a throwing beyond others, beyond (out of) measure; “Way” -journey, high-way.
Definition of Spiritual Excellence: To live the journey that requires you to go beyond the usual mark of your contemporaries.
Pr 22:29 - Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings…. NKJV
We must live with an inner drive to pursue excellence every day of our lives.
Gal 1:13-24 - For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles-only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they praised God because of me.
1 Ti 5:22 - Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,….
1 Ti 3:10 - They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
Theme: We must learn to allow the Lord to prepare for what He has planned for us with an attitude of excellence.
I. PREPARATION TAKES TIME:
A. Time is more valuable to us than it is to God –
1. He is much more interested in spiritual development – regardless of how much time it takes.
Example – Moses felt God’s direction early in life, but killed the Egyptian before God had fully developed him. The result, “Back side of the desert!”
Example – Jesus didn’t emerge until He was 30 years old!
a. Haste is one of the most dangerous attitudes in the kingdom. It says we KNOW what to do – We need to learn when to do it!
2. The process of development is “SIT” –
a. Sit under Biblical teaching given by a godly leader whose lifestyle is exemplary.
b. Sit under college or university training to gain opportunities.
c. Become a mentoree and seek God within the framework of sound Biblical relationships.
a. Not co-dependent hero worship.
b. Not shepherding movement
c. Not without the Bible in our hands and hearts.
B. Believers who pursue excellence are willing to make drastic changes.
1. We must be willing to make changes in our daily walk.
2 Corinthians 3:18 - And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
a. Repentance is a daily determination – means to change our direction.
b. We must choose to dismantle the unnecessary things in our lives that hinder our pursuit of an excellent walk n Jesus.
c. We must learn to let go of activities, commitments, relationships, and interests that aren’t producing fruit in our lives.
2. Remember your human nature will compete with your desire for excellence:
a. Flesh seeks short term pleasure.
b. Those excel learns to deny themselves of short term pleasures in order to enjoy long term benefits.
c. You may be focused entirely on the Lord, His work in your life and the Kingdom of God, but your flesh will still cry out –
It is important to conquer your carnal nature because the Devil is making every effort to cause you live beneath your God give potential and the Devil will use your human tendencies to keep you from growing victorious.
Galatians 5:16 - So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify (KJV – fulfill) the desires of the sinful nature.
3. Those who excel in their walk live by Biblical principles, not by emotion.
a. Sowing and reaping is a Biblical principle – if we obey the principle while rejecting the human tendency to have fear over finances, we are living by Biblical principles.
b. Reaching the lost – If we obey the Biblical principle while rejecting the human tendency toward fear, we are living by principle not emotions.
4. Understand the principle of testing:
1 Ti 3:10 - They must first be tested…
a. Every grade level we passed in school was measured by how we did during finals week.
b. The test is one of faithfulness – How faithful are we in the little things will determine how far we advance to the next - - - TEST!
Matthew 4:1 - Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
Heb 11:17 - By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.
II. TAKE THINGS ONE STEP AT A TIME:
A. Be careful not to attempt too much change at once:
1. This is not to say that we should procrastinate:
a. We do not have a lot of time to begin to become excellent in our walk.
b. We cannot afford to wait to deal with personal challenges in order to please ourselves.
c. We must become excellent in our walk so we can be effective in our reach for souls!
2. Develop a consistent lifestyle:
a. Move from living from miracle to miracle to living from faith to faith.
Summary: God is calling His church to a walk that reflects His touch and in order to walk in that manner, we must learn to prepare ourselves for what God will do in us. Preparation is imperative because God works more efficiently through the prepared servant than the one who is waiting for God to send them, while ignoring that there are changes called for in their walk.
It is more important that we are simply prepared, than that we know for what we are preparing.
1 Pe 3:15-16 - But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
