A Spirit of Excellence

The season for church as usual is over. The fact of the matter is that God never ordained such a season to start with. It is mankind that has in so many instances, taken the mission, the goal, the purpose of the church and transformed it into an institution of lazy, hypocritical, self-seeking individuals. This is not, nor was it ever God’s intent for His church. The scripture declares that in the last days, God is going to pour out his spirit on all flesh.  Consequently, we are going to begin to see a shaking and a shifting of the spiritual climate of the church at large.  More people are going to come to the waters of baptism.  More people are going to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Whether you realize it or not, God has already begun and is going to continue to give you ideas and visions regarding ministry opportunities that will align with the vision he has for his church. He’s preparing us, He’s equipping us. He’s empowering us. He’s energizing us. He’s unifying us to receive what he is about to release in our world. Jesus said, the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. It is imperative that we understand that no matter how challenging times may get, the condition of this nation’s economy has no effect on the economy of God.  For in the economy of God, you will never have to worry about job satisfaction for there is no more satisfying or fulfilling place for an individual to be than in the will of God.  In the economy of God, you will never have to worry about earning a living wage for Jesus said seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you. If you take care of God’s business, he will see to it that everything you need is within your reach.  In the economy of God, you will never have to worry about job security.  For as long as there are souls to be saved, there will always be work that needs to be done. No matter who you are, there is something for everybody to do and everybody’s assignment is significant. Now the scripture tells us, whatsoever you do in word or in deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. In considering this scripture, I inquired of the Lord what does it mean to do something in your name?  He directed me to the words of David in the eighth chapter of the book of Psalm where he says, “O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth.”  So when you put it together, if the work we are called of God to do should done in his name and since his name is excellent, then whatever we do should be done in a spirit of excellence.  So what does a spirit of excellence look like?  Our approach will be to examine three components that characterize a spirit of excellence.

Communion

A spirit of excellence is a spirit of communion or worship unto God. When communion is part of your spiritual design, you don’t mind spending quality time in the presence of God.  The reason why you don’t mind spending time in his presence is because you realize the value of his presence. And it is only when you realize the value of his presence that you can have the right spiritual disposition when entering into his presence.  It is not a place that you enter out of entitlement or because you feel like you deserve to be there by virtue of who you are or what you have done.  His presence is not a place that you enter because you are expecting him to act as Santa Clause on your behalf. But the reason why you spend time in his presence is because not only do you love to worship him, but you live to worship him.  When you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, God regenerates your spiritual DNA to the point that worship becomes your life-support system.  Paul said it like this, “it is in Him that I live, move, and have my being.”  It is only when you are in constant communion with God, that you can obtain the proper perspective of who God is; that his authority and superiority supersedes any situation that life can throw at me. He’s bigger than any health condition, He’s bigger than any financial condition. He’s bigger than any relationship challenge. It is when you are in communion with God, that you can be empowered to be victorious in any and all areas of life.  He has raised you to sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus so if it is under his feet, it is under your feet.  A spirit of excellence is a spirit of communion.

Compliance

Number two not only is a spirit of excellence is a spirit of communion, but it is also a spirit of compliance or obedience to God. Not a reluctant, hesitant, or unwilling obedience, but rather an obedience that says “Lord I love you so much, that whatever it costs me, it is not my will, but thy will be done.” It is only when compliance is a part of your spiritual design that you are able to walk in the covenantal blessings of the Lord. That’s right. To enter into relationship with God, is to enter into a covenant with Him signed with his own name. This has been a consistent principle throughout the word of the Lord; that if ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land.  So it is the intent of God for his people to be blessed.  However, in order to live in the blessing plan of God for your life, you must be willing to live in compliance to his divine will for your life.  Now this is an impossible task for anyone to do by themselves. The scripture says it is God that worketh in you both to will and do of his good pleasure. So in other words, through the born again experience, the Holy Spirit empowers your spirit to carryout the will of God.  After empowering us, we are then charged by God to bring our bodies and our minds into alignment and obedience to God’s will.  The supporting evidence for this can be found in at least two passages of scripture

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

So to be a child of God, means you have the power of God residing within you and you are expected to utilize that power to keep yourself in check.  This being the case, if you are struggling with a weakness or a challenge in your flesh that you are trying to overcome, it is an improper approach to ask God to remove the challenge when he has already empowered you to be victorious over anything the enemy can throw your way. Let’s say, I am sitting in my living room chair and I ask my wife to pass me the remote control.  Now after she hands me the remote, what sense does it make for me to then ask her to turn on the television when all I need to do is push the power button.   Is that where you are today?  Do you realize, that as a child of God, you have been given the keys to the kingdom. This means that everything you need is within your reach.  Don’t allow the enemy to treat you as if you have no power when all you need to do is push the power button.   When the enemy attacks your health, push the power button that says with his stripes I am healed.  When he attacks you with fear, push the power button that says God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love power and a sound mind. When it seems like everything is being thrown your way at once, push the power button that says no weapon formed against me shall prosper. When the enemy tries to take up residence in your house and starts messing with your wife or your husband or your kids, push the power button that says as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.  I have been empowered to live in communion with God.  I have been empowered to live in compliance to God.

Consistency

Not only is a spirit of excellence one of communion and compliance, but it is also a spirit of consistency or faithfulness.  When consistency is a part of your spiritual design you realize that there is no revolving door to the presence of God.  His presence is not a place that you visit on Sunday morning for a pick-me-up or a quick fix.  But you have come to embrace the fact that in the presence of the Lord there is the fullness of joy. That as the deer panteth for the water brooke, so panteth my soul for thee O God. Consistency in the life of the child of God means that individual has proven that amidst the emotional rollercoaster’s of life that he that begun the work in you is able to perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. This means that as children of God, what we receive from Him is able to stand the test of time. It is because of this that you are able to remain in communion with God.  It is because of this that you are able to live in compliance to his will for your life.  It is because of this that in everything that you do, you are able to maintain a spirit of excellence.