An Excellent Spirit

Introduction:

Common Pairs

Salt and Pepper

Bread and Butter

Brick and Mortar

Adam and Eve

Grace and

Prophecy and

Faith and

“Faith”

We are charged to be people of faith...

We need are charged to be people of faith...

Jesus declared that we are “8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” King James Version (KJV)

Jesus declared that we are “8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

King James Version (KJV)

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

So the requisite of faith is a given but we don’t always make the connection to our claim as people of faith and the spirit of excellence. We must add "excellence" to our faith, which means not settling for average or mediocrity.

Mediocrity and lack of excellence in our faith can lead to poor representation of the Kingdom and what it means to be a Christian. It can lead to stumbling and causing others to stumble in our walk with God; or even the falling away from the faith.

We should be striving to be the best, to demonstrate the best, you can be in the name of the Lord in order to keep from stumbling.

That means that we should maintain Dissatisfaction, or even disgust, with "average" or "lukewarm" character. Notice what God’s word shares with us about His posture toward the like:

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

So whenever we speak of Daniel we cannot speak of his excellent spirit and fail to mention or connect his faith with it. This is also true in the opposite direction - his faith demanded his excellence.

Key Point:

Faith without excellence is ungodly

It is like a fish without water - its threatening

Faith with excellence is distinguished

Excellence without faith is indistinct

fuzzy, hazy, misty, foggy, cloudy, shadowy, smoky, dim, nebulous;

The world enjoys excellence without faith all the time. We are called to Christian virtue and to grow in that virtue.

I. Growth in Christian Virtue

Read (emphasis on v.5, v.11)

II. Desire Excellence

When you are excellent you won’t be late (but early)

When you are excellent you won’t look for the easy way

When you are excellent you will study

Here is why! When you have excellence as your floor you are positioned to not suffer damage.

Verse 2:

2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

III. Search-out Excellence in Others

Access it (if possible)

Study it

we need to strive for excellence

1. But, what is the excellence of man?

2. If excellence of a knife is to cut, therefore it needs to be sharp...

3. What does it mean for us to be sharp in our faith?

IV. Establish a Standard of Excellence

We need to strive for excellence

1. But, what is the excellence of man?

2. If excellence of a knife is to cut, therefore it needs to be sharp...

3. What does it mean for us to be sharp in our faith?

V. Demonstrate Excellence on Your Level

120 Governors; 3 Presidents; 1 King

The Satraps Resented Daniel’s Promotion (Dan. 6:5

With Each Promotion - Promote Your Level of Excellence

V1. Fight Against the Mediocrity

The Denial of Excellence

The Deterioration of Excellence

This Demands All To Be “Agreed”