Excellence is resisted

Day 12

Success Marathon Series

Scripture Reading:

“Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”

Daniel 6:3, ESV

So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

Zechariah 4: 6. NIV 

Let’s us resume our previous discussion, excellence is a spirit as we read it in our theme scripture, “an excellent spirit was in him…” On this matter we would like to quote the prophet Zechariah who says, “It is not by might not by power but it is by My Spirit…” This opens up very interesting dimensions to excellence. Furthermore, the the apostle Paul says that we do not wrestle flesh and blood (See Ephesians 4:12). One should overcome or pay the price in order to receive an excellent spirit. In Zechariah, the Bible speaks of a great mountain, an obstacle to which the solution that God provides is His Spirit. Simply put, everyone who ventures on the path of excellence will encounter obstacles. There are physical and spiritual obstacles. Overcoming physical obstacles is not synonymous of victory over spiritual obstacles . However, the victories of the spiritual realm will impact the physical, as it is written, “Let you will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” (See Matthew 6:10), and not the opposite. We invite you to wage the spiritual battle for excellence.

We are reminded of the advice of Jesus to his disciples when they were challenged by the lack of material things, He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all theses things will be added unto you…” (See Matthew 6:33). Furthermore, later as Jesus was interrogated, He said, “My kingdom is not of this world…” (See John 18:36) Simply put, Jesus wanted His disciples to discover the spiritual substance of material things. At this point, we would like to point that the spiritual substance of physical things is opposed by the powers of darkness. In support of this, we would like to paraphrase the apostle Peter who speaks of God who called us out of DARKNESS (See 1 Peter 2:9), that we may PROCLAIM His EXCELLENCIES , or His praises. God had to deal with the darkness which are spiritual powers of evil who are led by Satan, the prince of darkness. This only emphasizes the importance of waging war in the spirit for excellence. In this regard, the apostle James  advises us to resist the devil and he will flee (See James 4:7). How does one resist the devil in this context? It is by believing the truths about excellence that we are sharing, not giving in or returning to our previous mediocre ways or mindset and praying fervently all kinds of prayer by the Spirit to dispel the darkness. Above all, We are reminded of what Jesus said moments before He was crucified, ‘this is your hour, and the power of darkness’ (See Luke 22:53) meaning that the cross not only washes our sins away but also destroys the power of darkness that oppose the spirit of excellence.

The blood of the Lamb is the ultimate price, where it is shed, deliverance will spring out irrespective of the power that stands in opposition. May all your activity be initiated, sustained and completed in an attitude of pray coupled with words of faith.

Prayer and Meditation:

Lord,

May you allow me to stand in the face of opposition to my spirit of excellence.

May the powers of darkness never prevail.

Amen