I feel strongly in my spirit that the theme 'An Excellent Spirit' for this gathering is timely. I see it as what the youth of this generation need to keep rising in God, in career and every sphere of life. The youth in the days of Daniel could not do much because they lacked an essential ingredient for rising and to keep rising. If there is anything we need in this generation, it is the spirit of knowledge, understanding and wisdom to do extraordinarily. The challenges of this age are so enormous that only those with an Excellent Spirit can really keep going. The world today, like the days of Daniel, is looking for men and women with understanding of vision. Men and women that can translate the vision into strategies and converting these into goals and objectives which will in turn produce tangible outputs. These are people that can read in between the lines; that can interpret corporate vision, simplify it and produce result. These are men with the Excellent Spirit.
Look around you; in your office, school, neighbourhood, government and even the church, those that are really rising and doing exploit for God are not really 'strong men' physically. Most times, they have no qualification yet God is lifting them. Look closely at these people, there is something in their life showing them the way. They are people with perfect understanding of their time and they know what can make them grow in the wave of time, I call this Excellent Spirit,( I Chro.12:32)
Let's look at the life of Daniel again and see what he was able to achieve with the Excellent Spirit and I am persuaded you too can achieve greater things if endowed with this Spirit.
• First and foremost, Daniel advanced in knowledge, understanding and wisdom that made him stand before the King. When he was to be examined, he performed excellently and the king made him to stand always before him (Dan 1:17).
• Secondly, the Bible recorded that Daniel continued to stand (he was in the scheme of things in the kingdom) while kings were falling. The Bible recorded that Daniel stood till the reign of Cyrus (Dan 1:21) and prospered (Dan 6:28). People with Excellent Spirit are always relevant irrespective of time. How many people are living today and are no more relevant to their system. That is why corporate organizations and government yearly review their staff to know those that are no more relevant and that could be retrenched. Why should you be made irrelevant when you can ask from God an Excellent Spirit that will make you relevant in all seasons. Daniel was relevant to all the governments that reigned during his lifetime; you too can be relevant to many generations.
• Thirdly, Daniel was a solution-giver; he had the grace to know the solution to every problem. He was a panacea to every difficult situation; he was a ground breaker. Remember, God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, of love and of sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). That is what God has made you to be: a salt of the earth, a light to the world (Matt 5:13-14). One attribute that made Daniel a light to his generation which I feel is useful for today's youth is insight. He had insight into the mind of the king and even insight into future occurrences. Despite the fact that the Bible says that the heart of a king is unsearchable (Ps 25:3), Daniel, through the Excellent spirit was able to search the heart of the king and reveal all his thoughts. He understood times and season and could interpret it to save his generation just like the children of Issachar-men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do (1 Chron 12:32). This made him relevant to the system and to stand forever as a counselor and adviser to kings. It was the Excellent Spirit that gave him this edge. He had the Spirit that can search, even the deep things of God (1 Cor 2:10). You too can have this Spirit if you desire. It will make you rise and keep you rising.
• Lastly, Daniel was a man of vision, a man of purpose. He started humbly as a captive but ended up as a President. It was his vision and purposeful living that made him. Right from his childhood age, Daniel had vision for a beautiful life and he pursued it with everything he had. You can not go far without a vision for your life. Don't forget the Bible says my people perish because of lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Vision brings knowledge and knowledge leads to understanding. The ability to understand vision is needed to translate the vision into reality. That is what the Excellent Spirit is able to do. You need to have a vision, understand the vision and translate it to Pounds, Naira, and Dollars. You need the Excellent Spirit. Ask for it today and God will give it to you.
Meanwhile, we are better placed in this generation than Daniel. Why? We have the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit who will guide you into all truth (John 16:13). God has given us His Holy Spirit to reveal to us what the world can not see (I Cor 2:6-14). By this Spirit, you will have the opportunity to see the mind of God and take treasures for your life. The Bible says in Psalm 25:2 "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Treasures of this world are hidden in the deep which requires serious efforts to explore. That is why those treasures of the world are very precious and expensive. If you can search out the mind of God concerning a matter in this generation, you will become a relevant factor to many people around you. In this world, information is key to wealth, why don't you desire this Spirit today and God will grant your request.
Finally, let me say that Daniel did not rise to this position over night. He went through a process of self denial, study, prayers and service towards God. Right from his childhood age, Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself (Dan 1:8). He knew that his body is the temple of the Living God (1 Cor 3:16) and he presented his body a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1). He did not only stopped there, he set his heart to understand and he chasten himself before God (Dan 10:12). He remained steadfast and was able to overcome all opposition against him (Daniel 6:20).
You too can have the Excellent Spirit. It only takes some efforts and sacrifice on your part; self denial, consistency with God, fervent prayer life and separation from sin. By separating yourself for God in your office, school and neighbourhood, you have enlisted yourself as a candidate for the Excellent Spirit. I prophesy into your life, you will not be a nobody in your generation. The grace for Excellence, I release upon you today and I declare you shall rise and keep rising in your career and pursuits in life in Jesus name. The God heaven will enrich you with the Spirit of Excellence and you shall have understanding to achieve your goals and vision in life in the mighty name of Jesus. God bless you.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Such an awesome article. I've also written on Daniel had an excellent spirit on my blog.
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