Have an Excellent Spirit

Have an Excellent Spirit

Dan 6:2-5

 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

Dan 6:3

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

KJV

1. God put an excellent Spirit inside of you to cause you to have an excellent human spirit.
   1. Early elementary school: Grades E, S and U. Excellent, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory.
   2. Excellent: extremely good, outstanding. Above others. No, get better. Improve in….
      1. How we treat people
      2. How we present ourselves to others
      3. How we develop our skills
      4. How we represent the Lord.

and neither corrupt nor negligent.

1. John Mason, An Enemy called Average.
2. He was NEITHER corrupt nor negligent.
3. Holiness is more than not being corrupt….it is also not being negligent.
4. Negligent: failing to take proper care in doing something.
5. El Paso has lacked the excellent spirit.
   1. Paul Foster, Baylor graduate. Chihuahuas and The Fountains.
6. This is what we want to do. Building, music, children’s ministry, charity, Newcomers Hospitality.
7. Volunteers know my demands.

Dan 6:5

Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

Dan 1:8

8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

1. Love God first, even before people.
   1. My application at Sbarros. Commitment to a charity, to getting off on Sundays and Bible Studies. Promoted to Shift Leader then asked to be manager.
   2. Temptation to put money before God.
   3. Critics can disagree with my biblical interpretation, political views or my way to guide a church, but they will never say I am not Excellent.
   4. Because of Daniel’s commitment to be excellent toward God, he became excellent toward his government. God gave him talents.

Luke 16:11

11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

Luke 16:12

 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

Luke 19:17

‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

1. Faithful with MONEY, with OTHER People’s property and with VERY SMALL matters.
2. Money: best credit, cutting back, taking cuts in salary. Church A + rating from BBB
3. Small matters: shopping, put the cart back. Put the cereal back. Don’t park in the handicap. Wash

Song 2:15

15 Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes

that ruin the vineyards…

1 Kings 14:26-27

He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. 27 So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace.

• Israel compromised and did not bring out to God their very best. Bronze looks similar to gold, but it is inferior.
  1. New Covenant is better.

Isa 60:17

17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,

and silver in place of iron.

Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,

and iron in place of stones.

1. Israel brought bad offerings. Blind and crippled sheep.

Gen 24:19-20

19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.”

1. Rebekah got a break when she went the extra mile.
   1. Jesus encourages us to go the extra mile.

Matt 5:41

41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

 

1. When you have an excellent spirit, God will bring you promotion, favor and creativity.
   1. Is there anything that you can do right now to improve your…
      1. Walk with God
      2. House
      3. Career
      4. School
      5. Church
   2. Some things take money, other things simply are free but just takes a little work. Read your Bible everyday and pray, Pull the weeds, mop, show up 10 minutes early at work, turn in your homework early, volunteer at church.

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

1. The Motto for the Christian.
   1. We are ambassadors for Christ.

2 Cor 5:20

20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,

1. We represent Christ:
   1. Dress
   2. Attitude
   3. Treat others
   4. Character
2. Model employee. Model citizen, Model spouse, Model child. Model Christian.
3. Sonia model housewife.

Be Positive

Be Positive

Rom 8:28-38

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

1. Christian basis of hope:

32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

1. Jesus paid for everything at the cross…Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
2. Jesus is at the throne praying for us.

1. False hope. Non-Christian, but not us believers.
   1. Masada. Picture of Masada.
   2. In 73 CE, the Roman governor of Judaea Lucius Flavius Silva headed the Roman legion X Fretensis, laid siege to Masada
   3. According to Josephus, when Roman troops entered the fortress, they discovered that its 960 inhabitants had set all the buildings but the food storerooms ablaze and committed mass suicide or killed each other. Only two women and five children were found alive.
   4. Tour guide asked what we thought? Waco?
   5. Lie, Euthanasia. Extradorinary means to end life.

Rom 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

KJV

• Work means to co-operate.
  1. Everything, including your suffering, is cooperating with God for your good.
  2. Tapestry: picture of tapestry.
     1. Red, blue, green, white, yellow, purple
     2. Divorce, bankruptcy, illness, prodigals, lawsuits, accidents, unfair treatment, persecutions–God weaves them together.
  3. Jobs require cooperation from others. Ex. Painter, buys the paint and brushes, buys the khakis, buys the van.
  4. Problems can bury you or plant you. Grow where you are at.

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

1. We choose our attitudes. We are moving forward.
   1. Attitude. Determines the altitude.
   2. We are progressing, not de-gressing.

Eph 4:23

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

1. Just like God uses even suffering to advance you, He needs your cooperation. “Love God.”
2. Negative attitude will limit your life.

1 Thess 5:8

 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

1. Head injuries are the worst.
   1. Hope of Salvation. We are already saved in the sense of forgiven, but saved here speaks of all God’s redemptive work in your behalf, including this life.

1 Thess 5:16-18

16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1. Always, continually, all circumstances.
   2. Deliverance
   3. Give thanks. Circumstance. circum–surrounded.

Matt 14:19

 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.

1. When Jesus gave thanks for what was not enough, then it became enough.

Job 13:15-16

15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

I will surely defend my ways to his face.

16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,

for no godless man would dare come before him!

• Job affirmed the sovereignty of God, but also recognized that hope was the right thing to have in his mind. He believed he would be delivered.
  1. Airplane goes faster with the jet stream. You will get faster to your destination being positive, thankful, joyful and prayerful.
  2. Woman who went to doctor to doctor, but was negative. Doctor told her, “I’m getting better and better everyday in every way.” page 84

Expect Good Things

Expect Good Things

Heb 3:16-4:3

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 

1. Our expectations set the limits of our lives.
   1. Story of the Israelite spies who came back with a negative report. They doubted.
   2. God is a faith God. He will do what you believe him to do.

Num 14:28-29

28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say:

1. Hometown of Nazareth. Picture of Tom in the synagogue.

Matt 13:58

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

1. “Nothing good ever happens to me.” “God never answers my prayers.” “I am getting worse.”

Matt 9:28

28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

Matt 9:29

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”;

1. Not “According to my power” but “According to your faith.”
   1. Why is faith necessary? It is proof of the Lordship of Christ over our lives.
   2. Original sin was doubt.

Rom 5:19

19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners,

1. Disobedience caused by doubt.
2. Reason some do not tithe is not because they are intentionally trying to be rebellious, but they are doubtful of God’s faithfulness. It is rebellion nevertheless.

Rom 14:23

everything that does not come from faith is sin.

1. It is natural and normal to doubt. Doubt is our nature.
2. Studies have shown that we remember negative things more than positive things. Brain, negative things take up more space in the brain than positive things.
3. When you have been through hurts, disappointments and failure, you have to guard your mind.
4. Story of Rachel Smith, 2007, won Miss USA. Later she completed for Miss Universe. Fell down. Question: “If you could relive andn redo any moment of your life over again, what moment would that be?” Answer, “Like to relive the trip to Africa helping orphans.” page 59-60
5. Switch channels. Remote control.

Rom 15:4

4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

• God gave feasts to help people remember the victories.
  1. Remember the time God saved you, healed you, blessed you, answered your prayers.
  2. Read the stories in the Bible to give you hope: David killing Goliath, Hannah getting pregnant, Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes and Empty tomb (picture of resurrection Tom and Sonia at tomb)
  3. When Cowboys win I watch the NFL network

 

Ps 5:12

For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

1. Believe for Favor.
   1. Quit saying, “People do not like me.” “I never get any breaks.” “People always discriminate against me.”
   2. Start saying, “The Lord surrounds me with the shield of favor. People go out of their way to help me.”

1 Sam 17:40

 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.  

1. David and Goliath.
   1. You have to beat your problems with faith before you beat them with natural weapons.
   2. Staff is your scriptures to remind you of what God has done.

Ps 77:11

11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

1. Remember the miracles of the Bible.
   1. Israelites failed because they forgot the miracles of old.

Ps 78:42

42 They did not remember his power —

the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,

Run Your Race

Run Your Race

1 Cor 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Heb 12:1-2

2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

1. God has marked out your race. We look for God’s eternal crown.
   1. Athletes have coaches. Coaches decide what event and competition you will engage in.
      1. No athlete completes in all events. No one is that good.
      2. What are you good at?
      3. Imagine an owl wanting to hunt during the day.

Eccelesiasticus 4:20-21

²⁰ Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil,  and do not be ashamed to be yourself. ²¹ For there is a shame that leads to sin,   and there is a shame that is glory and favour.

1. “do not be ashamed to be yourself.” Be yourself.
2. Shame that leads to sin, is to be embarrassed of who you are in God. Embarrass going to a Spirit-filled Church, embarrass of your background, embarrass of your education, embarrass of lack of money or Embarrass of your looks.
3. Shame that is glory and favour. Shame of sin.
4. Run the race that God “Marked” out for you. Don’t try to be someone you are not. Don’t let others and the world squeeze you into their mold.
5. Joke of pleasing others: Grandfather who took his grandson to town on a donkey (Look at that selfish boy). Grandfather rode. (Look at that boy little). They both rode (poor donkey). Finally they carried the donkey. page 30
6. Race: Agon. Has the root word “Ago”, translated to be led.
7. Your race you run must be Spirit led.

Rom 8:14

14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

1. You can never be a winner doing your own thing.
   1. Led is Greek word Ago. It is the root word for agony.
   2. When people go into “strict training” it is agonizing.
   3. Example: Biggest Loser. Picture of Biggest loser and picture of biggest loser man
   4. Led can be the word “Drive” as a coach and trainer driving the athlete.

John 18:28

28 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor.

Matt 4:1-2

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

• You need the Holy Spirit to lead you because you will not naturally go His direction.
  1. Leaders who struggled to go where God led them.
     1. Moses ran for 40 years.
     2. Gideon, I am the least
     3. Jeremiah, I am too young.
     4. Saul, hid in the baggage
  2. My desire verses God’s desire. I wanted to go into broadcasting.
     

Gal 5:16

16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Gal 5:18

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

1. There is a misunderstanding of being led by the Spirit. Some think it is to do what you have a desire to do.
   1. World helps create desires by magnifying certain things:
      1. World glorifies athletes, entertainers, musicians, attractive people, rich, famous.
   2. Make sure that you are not allowing the world to influence the direction of your life. Don’t be stuck in a worldly fantasy.
   3. There is a difference between God opening doors of favor versus Him leading you. God leads you where you do not want to go.

Acts 16:6-10

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

1. Paul led to go to Macedonia. Terrible province from a human standpoint. Open door for Europe.
   1. God says, If you will be led by the Spirit, I will open doors of favor and blessings in your life.
   2. Example: Sonia always wanted a Lexus RX SUV. How we found it. We were NOT led to the Store, instead God opened the door to bring her a blessing.

Isa 29:16

16 You turn things upside down,

as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!

Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,

“He did not make me”?

Can the pot say of the potter,

“He knows nothing”?

1. Upside down living: Three people to please:
   1. Living to please others will bring frustration.
   2. Living to please yourself will bring emptiness.
   3. Living to please God will bring fulfillment.

2 Cor 5:9

9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

• God led me to be a minister: Pentecostal, Word of Faith, Evangelical, Anglican. I am my own person.
  1. Not ashamed of speaking in tongues and miracles.
  2. Not ashamed in preaching the Word of Faith.
  3. Not ashamed in believing in the Bible.
  4. Not ashamed in being an Anglican bishop.
  5. NOTE: I respect others in that God uses them to mold me, but I never see them as my God.