EXCELLENCE:

• the quality or state of being excellent
• the quality or state of being outstanding or extremely good
• Conquering Dissonance

Anchor Scripture: Genesis 49:1-4 NKJV

[1] And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may  tell you what shall befall you in the last days: [2] “Gather together  and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father. [3]  “Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my  strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. [4]  Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it— He went up to my couch.

Key thought:

“Never in the history of Christianity has there been so great a spiritual awakening as there is in our day to today with at the same time such a little impact on the culture it Is manifesting itself”

Perpetuators:

• The heresy of quietism
  • the working out of my salvation is strictly and simply the work of God, I contribute nothing! I do not have to labour, I do not have to sweat, I do not have to seek to achieve a certain level 
    of working, but I let go and let God.
  • I allow God to work through me while I quietly wait upon the lord to work, God has no expectations of me for producing  good works other than those He is producing through me.
  • A license for sloppiness where am totally removed from a 
    serious call for excellence 
• Ruthless spirit of competition of excellence on our society.
  • The competitive mentality is in conflict with Christian values and virtues.
  • Society has no room for who finishes number 2, our society idolizes and exalt only those who win the prize, winner.
  • A society that is highly success oriented regardless of values, performance excuses morality
  • Society honors winners, honors success regardless of values and it’s puts a Christian off to compete in excellence

A Better You:

…..the Road (to pursuing excellence) to Becoming a Better You:

1. Deal with Sin absolutely 
   • Romans 6:12
     • "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you 
       obey its passions".
   • Matthew 19:16-22
      16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked,  “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
     17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus  replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to  enter life, keep the commandments.”
     18 “Which ones?” he inquired.Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false  testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[a] and ‘love  your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
     20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
     21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell  your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have  treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
     22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad,  because he had great wealth
2. Give Jesus your throne
   • Matthew 6:33
     But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
3. Deal with the Heresy of Quietism
   • Demand the change you want to see and pay a full price
4. Deal with Pachaz
   • James 1:6b - 8:
     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​6 For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with  the wind and tossed.
     7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
     8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
   • Romans 8:13b
     • ​​​​​​​​​​but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the  body, you will live"

Conclusion:

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.