Excellence that causes your gifts to shine (talents, gifts inside)

Corinthians – Paul is writing to believers in church of Corinth. They had many spiritual gifts flowing in the church, but they still needed to be taught about excellence. Even if you are covered in anointing, and the gifts of the Spirit flow through you, they still needed to be taught about excellence… We all need to grow in excellence – it is a journey, and we will never arrive. This is a journey that only we can control. Nobody can cause us to flow in excellence, because excellence is caught, not taught.

1 Cor 10:31
So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.

* What is “whatever”? Example of “whatever”?
* What is “all”? Example of “all”?

Why am I doing this? For the honor and glory of God.
I’m doing it for something. I “work” for a “paycheck”.
What is the return on what I am doing?
You would not go to work if there was no paycheck.
We do something FOR something. Whatever we are doing produces something that goes to God.
What should it produce – honor and glory.

What if it is done with mediocrity, or in a mediocre manner? Does it produce honor and glory for God? No.

There is an exchange happening – everything we are doing is being exchanged for honor and glory. I’m not working for a paycheck, I’m doing this for honor and glory.

How much honor and glory goes to God for what I just did? The amount is in proportion to the excellence that it is done with.

If you did it totally mediocre, it’s fair to say that DIShonor is going to God – not honor.

This is an exchange going on here – whatever we are doing. The exchange is the excellence that we do this with determining the amount of honor and glory that goes to God.

God, I do this so YOU can get that.

There are times that we do things where God gets absolutely no honor and no glory.

We as children of God MUST be DIFFERENT than the world in the workplace. This does not mean you wear a button, or listen to Christian radio, or have a Bible on your desk… this is about the manner in which we function at work – must be different than the world. This is one reason that our light isn’t shining, why we aren’t the salt… when the world sees us, they don’t see anything different.

Everything that we do is done for honor and glory to God.

Now, the world cannot see God. Since they cannot see God, the only God they will see is in you and I. We are the example of God to them. The measure that they see God in us is directly proportionate to the excellence that we operate in.

Honor and glory to God – I don’t do something for Heather, and then Heather turns around and gives honor and glory to God. The world does not even know God. This covers everything we do for everybody. If they can’t see God, they can only see us – the world has to measure the amount of honor ad glory against something. What is that? Our performance. The world looks at our performance and gives honor and glory.

When we operate in excellence, the world will notice, and will try to give the honor and glory to us. That’s not bad – actually good for them to give. It’s not good for us to do the taking. We have to ask ourselves, “When was the last time the world was giving honor and glory to me?”

Honor and Glory = compliments

There is an exchange in everything that we do. We are exchanging what we do for something for God. When we operate in excellence, we receive honor and glory from the world. That honor and glory is passed on to God. We can’t give to God something that we don’t have.

Can’t show up on time for two days and expect the floodgates of praise and compliments to open. Have to stick with it and make this a lifestyle.

We also cannot operate in excellence just for recognition. We are to do things as “unto the Lord”, and whether we are recognized or not, God sees what we do, and He will reward and recognize us. The Bible tells us that if we seek the honor of men, we’ve received all of the reward we will get.

We have two functions:
1.) To do what we do with in a manner that gives honor and glory to God
2.) To give the honor and glory that is received from what we did to God

In EVERYTHING we do, there should be honor and glory coming to us.
Excellence = Honor & Glory

If we are ambassadors of Christ, then Christ should be seen in everything that we do!

Excellence is NOT perfection – Excellence is doing all you can do. All you can do is all you can do, and all you can do is enough. The problem in many cases is that people are not doing All You Can Do.

1 Cor 10:32
Do not let yourselves be [hindrances by giving] an offense to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God [do not lead others into sin by your mode of life];

Back then, there were Jews, Greeks, and the church of God = that was everybody

If you are offending people, if you are creating an offense, there is no honor and glory being given to God.

We have to be balanced – the Bible has absolutes. We do not compromise the Bible.

When we offend others, there is no exchange of honor and glory.

…[do not lead others into sin by your mode of life]…

This is your lifestyle. The way we act, talk, behave, do anything – this is now an example for others to follow.

World is quick to point out a hypocrite. When we life our life like the world, but then speak of Jesus, the world is not seeing the light of God in us. If our lifestyle is that of the world, but we are telling them about Jesus, they are not getting saved.

What you do speaks louder than what you say.

As a Christian, we are always being watched. Everything that we do is looked at, is evaluated against what we should stand for.

Example: telling off-color jokes at the water cooler; gossiping about people

We are to live the example of Christ. We are to be calm, cool, and collected – at all times. When we are, our lifestyle shows the Prince of Peace who lives inside of us.

Does that mean I have to be good all the time? Yes.
Can’t ever get angry and lose my temper? Yes.
Be worried or fretful, screaming and shouting? Yes.
Can’t ever be screaming and shouting at my staff? Yes.
Can’t ever be screaming or shouting at my wife, my kids? Yes.

We are being watched, not only for how we act, but how we REACT. That is part of excellence, and flowing with the Spirit of Excellence. When we realize this, have this revelation – we are much more careful of what we do, how we act, how we speak, and how we react.

We have to remember that God is the source of our joy – so when did He leave us? If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and He lives inside of us, and He said He will never leave us or forsake us – when did He leave us?

If we have the revelation that the Spirit of God has not left us, why are we acting different? Is there any pressure too big for God? Is there any problem too big for God? If it isn’t too big for God, and God is with us, then it is not too big for us.

The Bible tells us that we will never be tested and tried beyond what we can handle.

So – do not lead others into sin by our mode of life…

1 Cor 10:33
Just as I myself strive to please [to accommodate myself to the opinions, desires, and interests of others, adapting myself to] all men in everything I do, not aiming at or considering my own profit and advantage, but that of the many in order that they may be saved.

Just as I myself…

Paul is doing this too, not asking us to do something he’s not working on.

Was 1 Corinthians intended just for the Pastor of the Corinthian church, or for the church as a whole? Timothy / Titus – examples written to church leadership.

… strive to please…

We need to be flexible – we won’t be broken. When things don’t go your way – be flexible. When plans change – be flexible.

Strive means that it will not come easy. Our flesh does not want to please others, just please itself. The flesh is not you – it is an it. It is a possession of you. You are created as a spirit. God is a spirit, and you are created in His image. We are spirits and we can control our body and mind.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:27 – But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it,

We control our flesh. We can tell IT what to do. When it wants to get angry, we can tell it to stop. To stop worrying, wallowing…

… all men in everything I do…

Who do we strive to please?
What does “all” mean?
What is “everything” we do?

Paul was not a respecter of men. He did not put on a Spirit of Excellence for a select few. We have to operate and flow in a Spirit of Excellence at all times, for everyone. Not just our boss that can give us a raise. Not just the pastor or leader…

… not aiming at or considering my own profit and advantage …

We don’t look for the WIIFM. Paul was not thinking of himself.

We strive to please others because that’s the image of Christ and the Spirit of Excellence.
Do our functions to the best of our ability, without thinking of ourself.
Do everything to the best of our ability, not looking for how it will benefit you.
If we do anything as unto men, then we have already received our reward.
Do we want our reward from men or God?

We must keep our motives right and pure. What we sow, so shall we reap. If we have wrong motives, we’ll be reaping a bad harvest. It all depends on us. All of God’s promises depend on us. We have to act first, then God. But God does not look just at actions, but He seeks out the heart, the motives.

… but that of the many in order that they may be saved. …

Operating in the Spirit of Excellence, the Spirit of Excellence flowing in us can directly influence the salvation of lives. Salvation of people is what it is all about…

When we flow in mediocrity, we actually stop people from coming to Christ.

1 Cor 11:1
Pattern yourselves after me, as I imitate and follow Christ.

Everything he just finished teaching on was how Jesus operated and flowed. And that’s how we are to operate, in the image of Christ.

Paul isn’t saying do what I say, he’s saying do what I do, which is what Jesus did also.

2 Cor 3:18 (AMP)
And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

For us to be transfigured, from one degree of glory to another, we have to recognize what took us there, what took us from this one degree to another.

… all of us continued to behold…

behold = 1.) to perceive through sight or apprehension, 2.) to gaze upon

“All of us” “continued to behold” or continued to look in the Word of God, as in a mirror. When we look in the Word of God, we are looking in a mirror. We see ourselves in the Word, and we see ourselves conforming to the image of God in the Word of God. The Word of God is a mirror of ourselves, showing us how God sees us. God sees His children as victorious, as redeemed, as saved, as healed, as overcoming, and as conquerors. Regardless of where we are, what valley we may be walking through, the Word of God shows us how God sees us in His eyes.

The Word of God tells us that “by His stripes, I am healed”. When I am in need of healing, I read the Word of God, and begin to see myself, as in a mirror through the Word, being healed.

For us to continue to see this image of what we look like in the word, we have to continue to look in the word. We cannot just take a quick peek, then walk away, and expect to continue to know how we look according to the word. James tells us (v. 1:22) to be “doers of the Word [obeying the message], and merely listeners only”.

… constantly being transfigured into His very own image…

transfigured = to give a new and typically exalted or spiritual appearance to; transform outwardly and usually for the better

The more we get into the Word, the more we study the Word, the more we meditate on the Word, the more we let the Word soak into our hearts, our spirits, and really get inside of us – the more we are transformed into the image of Christ. We are changed into His image.

What is the image of Christ? The image of Christ is “excellence”, it is the Spirit of Excellence. The Father did nothing that was mediocre. As He made the Earth, and the stars, and the planets, and the solar system, and the billions of galaxies, there was nothing that was mediocre. There was nothing that the Father did that He did not complete. The Father not only created, and completed what He created, but He also took time to examine His creation. What was He looking for? Excellence. How do we know that? When He examined His work, His creation, He stepped back, looked it over, and said “this is good…”. He was pleased with what He saw. Would the Father have been pleased if He had done a mediocre job? No, I don’t think so. Everything that He created was in excellence.

Ps. 8:1
How excellent is thy name.

His very name is excellent, and the very nature of God is hidden in the names of God, and His very nature is Excellence. Looking through the Word of God, everything that He created was Excellent. He made us excellent, and we are conforming to His image.

There is an example in the Bible of a man of excellence. His name was Daniel.

Daniel 5:12
Because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, clarify riddles, and solve knotty problems were found in this same Daniel…

What was found in Daniel? An excellent spirit – the Spirit of Excellence…

One of the results of having the Spirit of Excellence can be found in Daniel 1:20

Daniel 1:17-20
17 As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all [kinds of] visions and dreams.

18 Now at the end of the time which the king had set for bringing [all the young men in], the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king conversed with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were assigned to stand before the king.

20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king asked them, he found them ten times better than all the [learned] magicians and enchanters who were in his whole realm.

When you have the Spirit of Excellence, it is not hidden. The world can see it. It is seen by the world.

Look at Daniel 1:20 – In ALL matters, they were found 10 times better.

Now, what made these men 10 times better than all the other learned scholars and magicians? They were flowing in the Spirit of Excellence. When you catch the Spirit of Excellence, you stand out from the crowd!

The world says “if they want me to do more, they better pay me more, and until they pay me more, I’m not doing any more…”. The Spirit of Excellence says to do more now. And when you do more now, you will end up making more.

So what is the Spirit of Excellence?

1.) Excellence is the image of God: God is NOT mediocre.

mediocre = of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance

God is the very top, the very definition of excellence. Any area of our lives, anything that we do, if it is done mediocre, we are not conforming to the image of Christ. Whether it is our job, an area that we volunteer to help the church, any area. If this is mediocre, we are not conforming to the Spirit of Excellence.

If you make a commitment to be somewhere or do something, and you don’t do it, you are not conforming to the Spirit of Excellence. We should do things as “unto the Lord”. As we do things “unto the Lord”, we should do those things with excellence. Defining “unto the Lord” could be “Spirit of Excellence”.

If you had an appointment with the Lord, would you show up? Would you be on time? How would you dress? If you were going to be late, and it was unavoidable, would you call Him?

We can’t say that we are doing something “unto the Lord”, unless we are really doing it “unto the Lord”. If Jesus was sitting here, would we still be doing it the same way?

God is not mediocre, He is not half way.

2.) Excellence is a Spirit (a characteristic, or an attitude, not another spirit like the Holy Spirit)

It is not taught, it is caught. You have to want to catch the Spirit of Excellence. You have to predetermine in your heart that you want to catch it, or you won’t. The Spirit of Excellence can be applied to your work, to your ministry, to anything that you put your hand to do.

If we are not doing it with the Spirit of Excellence – God is not in it.

God is in what you do in the same measure as the excellence you do it with… If you want more of His glory in your life, this is one way to see His glory. Do it with excellence. God doesn’t do anything, unless it is with excellence. Nothing in creation was created without excellence, and He doesn’t associate with anything below excellence.

3.) Excellence always stands out in a crowd, because people are not accustomed to seeing it. It is a rarity in today’s world.

4.) Excellence is a destination and a direction, not a state of being. It is where we are heading. Nobody, short of God, has arrived at excellence. We are to continually strive for more excellence in what we do.

5.) Excellence does not work from the outside-in, but from the inside-out. It starts at the core, at the heart, and works out.

6.) Excellence is a battle between your flesh and your spirit. Your flesh will keep you in mediocrity every time, but your Spirit was created by the Lord, and is already an excellent Spirit. The problem is that it does not have dominance. If you are mediocre in what you do, your flesh is ruling – not your Spirit-man.

7.) Excellence makes us judge ourselves. We have to judge ourselves to determine if we are operating in Excellence. The Bible tells us that we don’t have the right to judge anyone else, but we do have the right to judge ourselves. The flesh will tell you “I want to judge others and not me…” The spirit will tell you “I’m only allowed to judge me, and I won’t say anything about anybody else…”.

8.) Excellence is a habit. We have to strive for excellence. It is not the achieving of excellence that becomes a habit, but the continual act of striving for it. Until we habitually strive for excellence, we will not be able to catch the Spirit of Excellence.

9.) Excellence is a reputation, and so is mediocrity.

For us to begin to flow and operate in excellence, we must begin by judging ourselves. We must examine ourselves and determine the areas that we can and should improve upon. We don’t want to go our entire lives living a mediocre life, when we could have had the fullness of God and His glory by operating in excellence. We must compare the way we are doing what we are doing to the way that it could be done. If we are greeting, or ushering, we should compare how we perform the service with how it CAN be done. We must compare our present standard with the potential that God has uniquely and lovingly placed within each one of us.

Striving for excellence helps us fulfill the potential that God already has on the inside. God already has a plan for us, but most of the time, we don’t fulfill the plan because we never reach the true potential that we have inside.