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 Download Devotional Bible @ https://devb.page.link/get-app Amazon @ amzn://apps/android?p=apps.syst.com.devbib

Ps.5.12 - For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor). [AMP] You are famous, GOD, for welcoming God--seekers, for decking us out in delight. [MSB] For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. [NIV] For you bless the godly, O LORD, surrounding them with your shield of love. [NLT] For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. [NKJV] [ALL] Download Devotional Bible @ https://devb.page.link/get-app Amazon @ amzn://apps/android?p=apps.syst.com.devbib

Phil.4.8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. [KJV] Download Devotional Bible @ https://devb.page.link/get-app Amazon @ amzn://apps/android?p=apps.syst.com.devbib

Cleansed by the Blood ... unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Revelation 1:5 Blood is mentioned 460 times in the Bible. Fourteen times in the New Testament Jesus spoke of His own blood. Why? Because by the shedding of His blood, He accomplished the possibility of our salvation. He paid the penalty for our sin and redeemed us. The penalty for our sin and rebellion is death; Jesus stepped out and said, “I’ll take that death.” He voluntarily laid down His life and took the penalty we deserve. That’s what the cross is all about. The blood of Jesus Christ not only redeems us, it justifies us. Being justified means more than being forgiven. I can say, “I forgive you,” but I can’t justify you. But God not only forgives the past, He clothes you in righteousness as though you had never committed a sin. Yet it cost the blood of His Son on the cross. Lord Jesus, with a deeply grateful heart I thank You for Your sacrifice upon the cross. Your blood has cleansed my sin and made me worthy of forgiveness. by: Evang. Billy Graham Download Devotional Bible @ https://devb.page.link/get-app Amazon @ amzn://apps/android?p=apps.syst.com.devbib

Cleansed by the Blood ... unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Revelation 1:5 Blood is mentioned 460 times in the Bible. Fourteen times in the New Testament Jesus spoke of His own blood. Why? Because by the shedding of His blood, He accomplished the possibility of our salvation. He paid the penalty for our sin and redeemed us. The penalty for our sin and rebellion is death; Jesus stepped out and said, “I’ll take that death.” He voluntarily laid down His life and took the penalty we deserve. That’s what the cross is all about. The blood of Jesus Christ not only redeems us, it justifies us. Being justified means more than being forgiven. I can say, “I forgive you,” but I can’t justify you. But God not only forgives the past, He clothes you in righteousness as though you had never committed a sin. Yet it cost the blood of His Son on the cross. Lord Jesus, with a deeply grateful heart I thank You for Your sacrifice upon the cross. Your blood has cleansed my sin and made me worthy of forgiveness. by: Evang. Billy Graham Download Devotional Bible @ https://devb.page.link/get-app Amazon @ amzn://apps/android?p=apps.syst.com.devbib

Heb.1.9 You have loved righteousness [You have delighted in integrity, virtue, and uprightness in purpose, thought, and action] and You have hated lawlessness (injustice and iniquity). Therefore God, [even] Your God (Godhead), has anointed You with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond Your companions. [AMP] You love it when things are right; you hate it when things are wrong. That is why God, your God, poured fragrant oil on your head, Marking you out as king, far above your dear companions. [MSB] You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." [NIV] You love what is right and hate what is wrong. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else." [NLT] You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." [NKJV] (ALL)

Gospel Hymn Book 1. To God be the glory, great things He hath done, So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, And open'd the Life Gate that all may go in. Chorus: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son; And give Him the glory! Great things, He hath done! 2. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood To every believer the promise of God; The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives. 3. Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done, And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; But purer, and higher, and greater will be Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see. Amen. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adediranife.cachymn

Be Sensitive If a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know Godfor God is love. 1 John 4:8 (TLB) Jesus wept tears of compassion at the graveside of a friend. He mourned over Jerusalem because as a city it had lost its appreciation of the things of the Spirit. His great heart was sensitive to the needs of others. To emphasize the importance of man’s love for men, He revised an old commandment to make it read, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart . . . and thy neighbor as thyself.” This generation is rough and tough. I heard a little boy boasting one day about how tough he was. He said, “On the street I live on, the farther out you go the tougher they get, and I live in the last house.” Until you have learned the value of compassionately sharing others’ sorrow, distress, and misfortune, you cannot know real happiness. Lord Jesus, sensitize my heart with Your compassion so that I may truly love. by: Evang. Billy Graham Download Devotional Bible @ https://devb.page.link/get-app Amazon @ amzn://apps/android?p=apps.syst.com.devbib

THE KINGDOM IN FOCUS For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (ROMANS 14:17) Have you got faith? "...Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemns not himself in that thing which he allows" (Romans 14:22). Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Never, never be afraid to do what is right especially if the wellbeing of a person or animal is at stake; society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our souls when we look the other way". The Christian church is uncompromising in its stand against all kind of conduct opposed to scriptural standards.  Our text deals with issues that bother on the believer's understanding of true Christlikeness, holiness, fruitfulness, doctrine and morals. This involves a sincere rebuking, correcting and evaluation of one another where necessary, in love and humility and the exercise of church discipline on erring members and leaders. Believers should refrain from judging one another. Christ our Lord is the One who has the right to judge. We must avoid anything that constitutes a stumbling block to fellow believers especially the weak ones. As believers, whether we are strong or weak, we must realise that true liberty does not lie in the exercise of that liberty if it will disrupt the peace of the body of Christ, knowing that the highest good is only attained in its use to edify the church.  Use not your liberty as a cloak of maliciousness by: Pastor W.F. Kumuyi Download Devotional Bible @ https://devb.page.link/get-app Amazon @ amzn://apps/android?p=apps.syst.com.devbib

Gospel Hymn Book 1. There shall be showers of blessing," This is the promise of love; There shall be seasons refreshing, Sent from the Saviour above Showers of blessing Showers of blessing we need; Mercy drops round us are falling But for the showers we plead. 2. "There shall be showers of blessing:" Precious reviving again; Over the hills and the valleys Sound of abundance of rain. 3. "There shall be showers of blessinig." Sent them upon us, O Lord! Grant to us now a refreshing; Come, and now honour Thy word. 4. "There shall be showers of blessing:" Oh that today they might fall, Now as to God we're confessing, Now as on Jesus we call. Amen. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adediranife.cachymn