Daniel 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.
PROPOSITION: When you are predictably excellent, you are predictably promoted!
1. What is the Place for Excellence?
- Pro 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
- *Note: Excellence STARTS in the HEAD and HEART (or SPIRIT)!
2. What Produces a Spirit of Excellence?
- Dan 5:12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
- *Question: From Whom and from Where did Daniel gain his knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, explaining hard sayings, dissolving doubts, etc?
- *Answer: The Spirit of God and the Word of God!
- Dan 5:14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. 15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:
3. How Can We Maintain Predictable Excellence?
- *Note: The King Predicted Daniel’s future excellence based on his past and present track record.
- *Note: God PREDICTED that Job would pass his test, in essence, with a spirit of excellence!
- A. STICK TO THE SCRIPT (Like Jesus in the Wilderness)
- B. BE COURAGEOUS IN CONFLICT (Like Daniel who prayed 3 times a day) Daniel was STRONG in his STORM!
- C. BE CONSISTENT IN OUR RESOLVE AND EXPECTATIONS (Like the 3 Hebrew Boys). “We are not careful to answer thee…Our God WILL…but even if He don’t…” They were STEADY in the STORM!
CONCLUSION:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine [instruction, learning, teaching], by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
*Devils have doctrines too!
1Ti_4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
The word WIND in Eph. 4 is also used in the following passages to illustrate that it is a CONTRARY wind meant to CAUSE you to get OFF COURSE or DEPART FROM THE FAITH!!!
Mat 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
Mat 14:30 But when he [Peter] saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? [How did you end up in the place of doubt] *Don’t let the storm around you rob you of the faith within you!
Mat 14:32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
PROPOSITION: When you are predictably excellent, you are predictably promoted!
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
*Turned out Good for Daniel, 3 Hebrew Boys, Job, Joseph, etc.
*Devils have doctrines too!
1Ti_4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
The word WIND in Eph. 4 is also used in the following passages to illustrate that it is a CONTRARY wind meant to CAUSE you to get OFF COURSE or DEPART FROM THE FAITH!!!
Mat 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
Mat 14:30 But when he [Peter] saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? [How did you end up in the place of doubt] *Don’t let the storm around you rob you of the faith within you!
Mat 14:32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
PROPOSITION: When you are predictably excellent, you are predictably promoted!
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
*Turned out Good for Daniel, 3 Hebrew Boys, Job, Joseph, etc.
