THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word
of knowledge by the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:8

One of the gems that made Joshua took over the mantle of leadership from his master was the excellent spirit he carried. Joshua excelled in all matters that most of his age mates and contemporaries. Those who remain in the crowd cannot become excellent in life, because excellence is a private matter, but with a public pronouncement. The spirit of excellence will never permit you to do things at a level which others are comfortable with. You cannot be flocking around the multitude and achieve greatness in life and ministry. This is why Jesus was always withdrawing His disciples to Himself at the point of every exploit. He did not want them to be carried away with the songs of the crowd. He knew the crowd well and he knew that those who were shouting “hail hail” be the ones to say “crucify Him” the next day. Excellence is necessary for anyone to become a useful vessel in the hands of the Almighty God. Excellence is what releases the gem in a man’s life and makes him the envy of his generation. The spirit of Excellence is a crucial requirement for being useful and relevant in the scheme of things. It is what puts you on edge in God’s programme and makes you a formidable force.

“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” Hebrews 1:9

Exploits in life have never been a function of a higher educational qualification or popularity; it is through the spirit of excellence. When you carry the presence of God, it releases the spirit of excellence in you which in turn gives you the wisdom to access the mysteries of life. The presence of God gives you deep insight and wisdom for every difficult situation of life and makes you become a master over situations and circumstances through His presence. You cannot have an excellent spirit and lack understanding. Your level of knowledge will begin to command the attention of all and sundry as we saw when the Queen of Sheba came visiting King Solomon.

Excellence is a goal, so you have to strive for it. Excellence is the attainment of the highest level of perfection in anything you do. It means operating in a class of your own. Those who do things the way others do them cannot become excellent. You have to be willing to go the extra mile. You have to identify your goal and begin to pursue it with vigour. Joseph understood this early and it worked continuously for him until he becomes a reference point in a strange land. Daniel understood this early and he focused on it and remained a formidable force in the reign of three kings. The kings were leaving him behind, but the grace of God upon his life made him relevant under different circumstances. The spirit of excellence will help you to concentrate on your assignment until you become a standard.

However, this spirit can only come from God. If you don’t know God, there is no way you can do exploits (Daniel 11:32). I pray that from this moment, as you surrender totally to God, you will begin to experience the miraculous in Jesus’ name.


Father, remove every hindrance on my way to greatness in Jesus name.
by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye

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Patience can manifest as perseverance and long-suffering. I'm grateful to the Almighty for granting me the strength to always remain patient, even in the midst of the storm. This resilience ultimately results in greatness.

A patient individual is often a grateful one. However, it's very important to be able to distinguish between being patience and being lackadaisical, as the latter can be disastrous.

May Wisdom not depart from you!

Ceah©

The Had I Known Clause: Sacrifice and the Future

Once, a wise man declared that the future belongs only to those who can foresee it and are willing to sacrifice present pleasures to attain it.

I love reading stories about people I admire and those I don’t. The former teaches me what to do and how to do it, while the latter shows me what to avoid and how not to do things. Today, I’ll share a story about Ronald Wayne, one of Apple’s co-founders, whose choices shaped his destiny.

In 1976, Ronald Wayne joined forces with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak to create Apple Computers (now Apple Inc.). Wayne contributed significantly—he designed the first Apple logo, drafted the original partnership agreement, and even wrote the Apple I Operations Manual. Remarkably, he held a 10% share in the company.

However, Wayne faced a pivotal decision: he sold his 10% stake back to Jobs and Wozniak for $800, just 12 days after Apple's official registration. A year later, he accepted an additional $1,500 to forfeit any future claims against the company. His reason? The financial demands were too much for him at the time.

Fast forward to today: Apple has become the first trillion-dollar company. If Wayne had held onto his 10% share, he would be worth over $100 billion—the richest or second-richest person globally. Instead, he received a mere $9,498 in 2017 for his initial investment.

Ronald Wayne's story teaches us that lasting value requires sacrifice. Greatness doesn't emerge from convenience; it begins with today's sacrifices. Whether it's living in a modest apartment to own an estate or riding a tricycle to pave the way for a Rolls Royce, the path to the future demands commitment.

Wayne's decision still echoes—a painful reminder of missed opportunities. Imagine if he had persisted. Today, he's worth around $300,000, while the agreement he drafted sells for millions. His story underscores the importance of foresight and determination.

So, my counsel to you:
- **Invest** where you see a future.
- **Sacrifice** when necessary.
- **Endure** hardships for lasting rewards.
- **Persist** in your pursuit of greatness.

Remember the "Had I Known Clause." The future belongs to those who foresee it and give their all to reach it. And always keep in mind: **"Greatness in life is not a product of convenience—it takes sacrifice."**

For more about Ronald Wayne, you can explore [this Wikipedia page](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Wayne).

I am Emmanuel Haastrup
Founder | Chief Conductor
Itakun | Cowrium | Xclusive Items

#ronaldwayne #apple #lostopportunity #cowrium #itakun #xclusiveitems #sacrifice #stevejobs #appleinc

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2024
DATE: SUNDAY AUGUST 18TH 2024

TOPIC: UNDER YOUR FEET

MEMORISE: “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” - (Ephesians 2:6)

READ: MARK 16:16-18, EPHESIANS 1:18-23 (KJV)

MARK 16:16-18 (KJV)
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

EPHESIANS 1:18-23 (KJV) 18
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

MESSAGE:
There was a man in my village called Kaka, who was the leader of the occultists. It was generally believed that he single-handedly protected the town from all forms of evil, and he was feared by all. When we wanted to open the RCCG parish in my village, the place we found suitable for a rally was close to Kaka’s house. Surprisingly, when an altar call was made during the rally, Kaka came out of his house to give his life to Christ - he had been listening to the worship session and sermon. Later that night, he came to my Father in the Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, and said, “The way you spoke about your God, He must be really powerful.” Papa said, “Very, very powerful.” Kaka said, “In that case, now that I have given my life to Jesus, I would need help with an idol in my house called shigidi. It is an effigy that has been in my family for generations and that we send out at night when we want to kill someone. It is so dangerous that we must not sleep until it returns, and we must kill a ram to welcome it. Upon its return, it will step on the ram’s blood and drink it. Thereafter, it will return to its position and become just like an ordinary effigy. I am afraid of the trouble that might follow if I throw shigidi away.”

Papa decided to send me over to remove the effigy. I went to Kaka’s house with the pastor of our parish in Ilesha and a church worker that I thought to be a strong prayer warrior. When Kaka saw me, he felt sorry for me, “Ahhh, Adeboye’s son, you are the one they sent?” When my colleagues saw shigidi, they ran out of the house, leaving me alone with the effigy. It was smeared with blood and adorned with all manner of charms. I said a prayer, broke the effigy into pieces, removed the shrine in front of the house, and threw everything into a river. After three weeks, I returned to my village and visited Kaka at home. When he saw me, he shouted, “You are still alive?!” That was 1975. I am still alive almost five decades after.

Beloved, the devil and his demons are under the feet of even the smallest child of God. You are a part of the body of Christ, and Ephesians 1:21 says that Christ is seated far above all principality and powers.

KEY POINT:
Never ever be afraid of demons that you can trample under your feet.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JEREMIAH 49

AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL 1 - ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS NAME

1 All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all!

2 O seed of Israel's chosen race
now ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all!

3 Let every tongue and every tribe
responsive to his call,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all!

4 Oh, that with all the sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2024
DATE: SATURDAY JULY 6TH 2024

TOPIC: DIVINE SETUP

MEMORISE: “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” - (Genesis 22:18)

READ: 1 KINGS 3:4-15 (KJV)
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

MESSAGE:
The first time I read (1 Kings 3:4-15) after being born again, I thought to myself, “How did Solomon think of offering God a thousand burnt offerings?” This made me carry out a background check, and I discovered a secret. In (2 Samuel 12:24-25), the Bible tells us that God loved Solomon as soon as he was born. His father named him Solomon, but God named him Jedidiah, meaning beloved of the Lord. Because God loved Solomon, He wanted an opportunity to bless him in a way that nobody would be able to query Him, so He set him up by putting it in his heart to do something nobody had ever done before. That way, He also could do for Solomon what He had never done for anyone before.

When I joined RCCG in 1973, when there was any need in the church, they would ask only the children of God to wait behind. In those days, children of God meant those that are truly born again and know it. One day, my wife and I waited behind, and the General Superintendent said, “We have an urgent need that must be met this week. Every one of you should go and close your bank accounts and bring whatever money you have there to the church.” On Monday, my wife and I closed our savings accounts and took the money to church. The following Sunday, the General Superintendent said again that the children of God should wait behind. We waited. He announced that the need had been met, and we all rejoiced. Then he asked the question, “How many of you closed your accounts as I instructed?” My wife and I raised our hands, and when we looked around, no other hand was raised. Immediately, I thought to myself, “I hope I am not going crazy with this Christianity of mine.” Then, God spoke to me, “Son, you are not mad. I am allowing you to do what others have not done so that when I take you to where I am taking you, nobody will be able to query me.” The rest is history; it was a divine setup.

When God places it in your heart to give Him something, He is only setting you up for greatness. If you obey, you will be rejoicing later in future, but if you disobey, you will have missed a miracle. Whether you give or not, God has numerous ways to meet His need. The one who is really in need is you.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me not to miss Your divine setup for my greatness, in Jesus' name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PROVERBS 24-26

AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL 28 - GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH

No greatness is achieved without inner thoughts. Inner thoughts birth greatness. The more refined your inner thoughts, the better the greatness that is achieved.

You just stepped into a new day of blessings as you will shine as bright as the Sun and be valued as precious as Diamonds. The heavens will protect your path and grant you your secret desires, May The Almighty God, who reverses the irreversible shall reverse every evil pronouncement ever spoken into Your Life and Household either by man or by spirit that has hindered your advancement in Jesus Name.
May The LORD release a word to break the back bone of every betrayal and conspirator hibernating in Your Life and Household.
May the Holy Spirit Calm every storm in Your Life and cause His Peace to Reign in your Household.
May The Almighty God Expose every secret of the devil in your Household and cause them to give up on you by fire. Today, May the Holy Spirit Announce the Greatness of Your Family to Your Generation in the Mighty Name of God. Good morning and happy Friday.

Happy birthday dear sister-inlaw, wishing you greatness in life. FATK ALVIN'S ❤️❤️ you