MILESTONES FOR EXCELLENCE

By Pastor Peter Ali

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he   not defile himself” [DANIEL 1:8].

Good morning dearly beloved and welcome to the first midweek in October which once again we meet in the evening at 8:00pm to hold our first Bible study. This offers us the opportunity to dig deep into His word thereby giving us the opportunity for our spiritual growth in Him in Jesus name. Please, don’t miss it in Jesus name Amen.

The excellent believers of the Bible days were people of great virtues. A close look at their lives, reveal, some of these virtues and winning principles which they have in common. If we too must excel in any aspect of life, we would need to learn from them as stated in DANIEL 1:8 says from the above FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!

One thing we see in the life of Daniel is that he was a man of purpose. He knew what he wanted and how to prevent what he never desired.   He knew where he was going. He pre-empted the temptations and took decisive steps to contain them. The battle against sin is fought and decided ever before you get into that situation.

Whether you will yield or not to sin, will first be registered in your heart, purpose, and disposition [PROVERBS 4:23]. If you consider a particular sin not offensive, you are likely to become its victim. Any sin you cannot hate with a passion may end up defeating you. If you continue to keep company with evil doers, you will find yourself vulnerable to follow their wicked ways [EXODUS 23:2; 2 SAMUEL 13:1-14]. Excellence forbids you from following the wrong crowd. Child of God, you stand out!

Another trait in Daniel was his control over his stomach. He kept his appetite in check. Anyone who would excel must be ready to watch what he eats, and when he eats. If you lose control over your stomach, it will get you into trouble. The flesh craves to be filled. If your flesh is filled, your spirit will starve. If you cannot fast or do without food, God ceases to be yours: your flesh takes over. Hence to excel, you must be like the mature princes that eat only for strength and at the right time [ECCLESIATES 10:16 -17].

In DANIEL 6:4-10, when a decree prohibiting prayer was passed, Daniel opened his windows wide. Although there are times when public will be a show, there are times when it can also be a challenge like in the case of Daniel. You need to let people know you belong to the God of gods. If children of the devil who should be ashamed of their father and deeds are not, why should you be ashamed of the One whom you should be proud of?

Friend, if you want to excel you will not hide your identity as a Christian. Some believers work or school for a year or more without disclosing their identity. It shows how far they are from excellence, no matter how much they pray for it. If light is anywhere, it will show. If you are light of the world, it will show. Are you truly representing the Master?

Dearly beloved, I pray, ask God for the Spirit of Excellence to operate in every area of your life. Friend, list several things you can do to excel in Business, at work, ministry, academics, family etc and do them in Jesus Christ amazing and

 Victorious name Amen- Shalom.

Prayer Points For The Spirit Of Excellence:

1. Ask God for the Spirit of Excellence to operate in every area of your life.

2. Pray for purpose and clarity in your decisions and actions.

3. Request self-control and discipline to overcome temptations.

4. Seek courage to stand out as a Christian in all aspects of life.

5. Pray for wisdom to make choices that honour God through Christ Jesus.

6. Ask for strength to resist sin and its enticing influences.

7. Pray for boldness to share your faith and represent Christ Jesus everywhere you go.

8. Request guidance to prioritize spiritual growth and development in Christ Jesus.

Bible Verses For The Spirit Of Excellence:

1. Daniel 1:8 – But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

• Proverbs 4:23 – Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

• Exodus 23:2 – “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd,

• 2 Samuel 13:1-14 – “Do not follow the crowd to do evil.

• Ecclesiastes 10:16-17 – Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning. 17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

• Daniel 6:4-10 – “Daniel … prayed three times a day.

• Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world.

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 – And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

• Psalm 119:32 – “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

1. Philippians 3:14 – “I press on toward the goal to win the prize.

1. Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord.

1. 1 Corinthian 9:24-27 – “Run in such a way as to get the prize.

1. Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

May God bless you and guide you as you study and apply His Word. May the Spirit of Excellence operate in every area of your life through Jesus Christ Our Lord and Saviour! Amen

SALIENT POINT:

1. Pursuing Excellence: A Call to Purpose and Integrity
2. Daniel’s Secrets to Success: Purpose, Self-Control, and Courage
3. Excelling in Christ Jesus: Embracing Virtues for a Victorious Life
4. A Life of Excellence: Following Daniel’s Example

Thank You Jesus,

Salvation Prayers

If you don’t Know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour and would like to accept him into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, Please say this prayer:

Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from You. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward You. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your Will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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