1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 5 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you, 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: and thanks for letting us come into your homes. We 7 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: love you, and if you're ever in our area, please 8 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: stop by and be a part of one of our services. 9 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,240 Speaker 1: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 10 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: But thanks so much for tuning in and thank you 11 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: again for coming out. I'd like to start with something 12 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: funny and heard about these two little boys, ages four 13 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: and six. They were brothers. They were spending the night 14 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: at their grandmothers and she told them before they went 15 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: to bed to make sure they said their prayers. They 16 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: went to their room, got down on their knees. The 17 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: youngest boy started praying at the top of his lungs. God, 18 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: I pray for a new bicycle. I pray for a 19 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: new PlayStation. I pray for a new DVD. His brother 20 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: punched him and said, why are you screaming? God is 21 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: in death? He said, I know that, but grandmother is 22 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: hold up your Bible, say it like you mean it. 23 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 1: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 24 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. I can do 25 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: what it says I can do. Today I will be 26 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind 27 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 28 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 29 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: to talk to you today about having an excellent spirit. 30 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: We live in a society where mediocrity is the norm. 31 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,320 Speaker 1: Many people do as little as they can to get by. 32 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: They don't take pride in their work and pride in 33 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: who they are. If somebody is watching, they'll perform one way. 34 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: But when nobody is watching, they'll cut corners and take 35 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: the easy way out. And if we're not careful, we'll 36 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 1: get pulled into this same mentality, thinking that it's okay 37 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: to show up late to work, not look our best, 38 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: not give it our all. But I've learned God doesn't 39 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 1: bless mediocrity. God blesses excellence. When you have an excellent spirit, 40 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: you do the right thing, whether anyone is watching or not. 41 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: You go the extra mile. You do more than you 42 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 1: have to other people may complain, they may go out 43 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: looking sloppy cutting corners, but don't sink down to that level. Well, Joel, 44 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: everybody's doing it. Everybody slacks off when the boss is 45 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: gone at my company, everybody compromises at my school. Everybody 46 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,359 Speaker 1: doesn't take care of their yards in my neighborhood. Now 47 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: here's the key. You're not everybody. You're a cut above. 48 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: You are called to be excellent. God wants you to 49 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 1: set the highest standard. You should be the example your 50 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: company uses as the model employee. Your boss should be 51 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: able to say to the new hires, watch this person 52 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: develop their skills, learn their habits. They are the cream 53 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: of the crop. They're always on time, they always have 54 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: a good attitude. They do more than they have to. 55 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: When you have an excellent spirit like that, you're not 56 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 1: only going to see promotion, but you are honoring God. 57 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: A lot of times we think, let me go to 58 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: church to honor God, let me read my Bible and 59 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: pray to honor God. And yes, that's true, But do 60 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: you know it honors God to get to work on time. 61 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: It honors God to be productive each day. It honors 62 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: God to go out looking your best when you are excellent. 63 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: Your life is giving praise to God. That's one of 64 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: the best witnesses we could ever have. Because some people 65 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: will never come to church, they'll never listen to a minister. 66 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: They're not reading their Bible. They're reading your life. They're 67 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: watching how you live. Now, don't be sloppy when you 68 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: leave the house where you're wearing a suit or a 69 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: pair of shorts, make sure you look the best that 70 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: you possibly can. You are representing Almighty God. When you 71 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: have a spirit of excellence, you do more than you 72 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: have to. You don't just do the minimum amount required. 73 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: You go the extra mile. In fact, this phrase comes 74 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: from the scripture. Jesus said it in Matthew five, p. 75 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,799 Speaker 1: Forty one. If someone asked you to walk a mile 76 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 1: with them, do more, go two miles. Back in those days, 77 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: a Roman soldier, when they were traveling through the city, 78 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: they could require by law a person to carry their 79 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: armor for one mile. After that mile, they would have 80 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: to find somebody else. Jesus said, if they ask you 81 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: to carry it for a mile, go beyond the call 82 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: of duty. Do more than is expected, carry it two miles. 83 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: That's the attitude we should have, Not I'm going to 84 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: go to work and do his little as I can 85 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: to try to keep this job. Now i'm a person 86 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: of excellence, I'm gonna go beyond the call of duty. 87 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: I'm gonna do more than is expected in me. That means, 88 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: if you're supposed to be at work at eight, you 89 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: show up ten minutes early. You do more than you 90 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: have to. You don't start shutting down thirty minutes before 91 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 1: the day's over. No, you go the extra mile. Some 92 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 1: people go to work fifteen minutes late, walk around the office, 93 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: get a cup of coffee, get to their desk about 94 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: eight thirty, spend the next half hour surfing the internet 95 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: making personal phone calls. They wonder why they don't get promoted. 96 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: Here's why God doesn't reward slopping. This. God rewards excellence. 97 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: One time in the scripture, Abraham told his assistant to 98 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 1: go to a foreign country and find a wife for 99 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: his son Isaac. He said, the way you know you 100 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: will find the right girl is when you go to 101 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: the well. She'll not only offer you so to drink, 102 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: but she'll offer to get your camel's water as well. 103 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: This assistant got to the foreign land. He was at 104 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 1: the well about sunset. Here comes this beautiful young lady 105 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 1: named Rebecca. He said, ma'am, I've been traveling all day. 106 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: I'm so thirsty. Would you mind lowering your bucket and 107 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: getting me some water to drink? She said, sure, I will, 108 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: but let me get your camels something to drink as well. 109 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: Here's what's interesting. A camel after a long day's walk 110 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,799 Speaker 1: can drink thirty gallons of water. This man had ten 111 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: camels with them. If she had a one gallon bucket, 112 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: she was saying, yes, I'll dip down once and get 113 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: you something to drink. Plus I'll dip down three hundred 114 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 1: more times to get your camel's water as well. That's 115 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: going way beyond the call of duty. Now, notice what happens. 116 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: She is chosen to marry Isaac, who comes from the 117 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: wealthiest family of that day. I doubt she had to 118 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,679 Speaker 1: draw three hundred gallons of water. Ever again, friends, God 119 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: rewards excellence. When you do more than what's required of you, 120 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: you'll see God's goodness in a new way. Well, you say, Joel, 121 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: I'm declaring God's favor. I'm declaring promotion and increases coming. 122 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: That's great, that's one part of it. But the second 123 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: part is are you getting to work on time? Are 124 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: you doing more than you have to? Are you better 125 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: this year than you were last year? Your company shouldn't 126 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: get along nearly as well without you. You should be 127 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: so skilled, so productive, so valuable, so needed they can't 128 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: afford to lose you. See, we live in a very 129 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: competitive marketplace. If you're not growing, improving, learning new skills, 130 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: you're falling behind. If you're at the same skill level 131 00:07:55,920 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: today that you were five years ago, you're at a disadvantage. 132 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: You need to take steps to grow whatever you do, 133 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: get better at it. If you're a carpenter, an architect, 134 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: a computer programmer, take classes, find a mentor study ways 135 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: that you can be more productive, more efficient. Don't get stagnant. 136 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:25,239 Speaker 1: An excellent person keeps growing. Sunday, afternoons, after our final service, 137 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: I'll sit with an editor and I still edit my 138 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: sermons for the television broadcast. I've done five hundred and 139 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 1: sixty messages, thirteen years worth. You'd think, surely I don't 140 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 1: need to watch another one. If I haven't learned how 141 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: to do it by now, I'm never going to get 142 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: it right. No. I study each one of them to 143 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: see what's good and what could be better. This point 144 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,199 Speaker 1: was a little long. That section was really great. I'm 145 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: talking too fast there. I'm constantly evaluating, analyzing not only 146 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: my part, but the production, the lighting, the camera angles. 147 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:07,679 Speaker 1: My attitude is there's always room for improvement. We can 148 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 1: always get better. People that watch on television say, Joel, 149 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: we never hear you make a mistake, You never stumble, 150 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 1: you never stutter, nothing at all. I always tell them 151 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: the truth. It's because I know how to edit. That's 152 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 1: what I did for seventeen years behind the scenes for 153 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,079 Speaker 1: my father. I know how to cut out the stutters, 154 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: the mistakes, the stumbles. The truth is I don't have 155 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: to It's fine the way it goes out live. Nobody 156 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: has ever complained about it. But I want it to 157 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: be the best that it can possibly be. I don't 158 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: want to be at this same level next year as 159 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 1: I am right now. I want to be more effective, 160 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: more annointed, more skill making a greater difference. When you're 161 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: a person of excellence, you don't get stagnant. You're always 162 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 1: taking steps to improve and looking for way that you 163 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: can be better. Here's what I found. Favor and excellence 164 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:10,319 Speaker 1: go hand in hand. Increase promotion, reaching your highest potential. 165 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 1: It is all tied to a spirit of excellence. I 166 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: say this respectfully, but some people are driving a car 167 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: that hasn't been washed in six months. Used to be 168 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: a two tone, now it's a four tone. Well, Joel, 169 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: it's an old piece of junk. I'll do it when 170 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: I get something better. Now, if you don't take care 171 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: of what God's given you, how can God bless you 172 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: with more. I've been in mud huts in Africa, no 173 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: running water, a dirt floor, yet the place is spotless, 174 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: everything is clean, organized perfectly in place. Why is that 175 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: they have a spirit of excellence. Whether you have a 176 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: lot or a little, whether it's new or old, take 177 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: pride in what God has given you. To the service. 178 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: I walk up to the visitors area and if I 179 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: ever see a piece of paper on the floor, a 180 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: gum wrapper, a bulletin, I automatically pick it up. I 181 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: don't have to, somebody will eventually get it. But when 182 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: you have a spirit of excellence, it's ingrained in you. 183 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:23,119 Speaker 1: Sometimes in between services on Sunday in the nursery hallways, 184 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: there'll be a cracker on the floor that's all crumpled up. 185 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 1: I'll always ask Johnny if he'll call the cleaning crew, 186 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: because I want to get it cleaned up before that 187 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 1: next group comes in. See. I realize this building represents 188 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: Almighty God. That's why we do our best to take 189 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: care of it in a first class way. We make 190 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 1: sure it's painted, the lawn is perfect, the hallways are spotless, 191 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: the equipment works, the cameras are state of the art. 192 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: Why we represent God and God is not sloppy. God 193 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: is not run down. God is not second class. He 194 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: is an excellent God. And that doesn't mean that you 195 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: have to have the best to represent God. It simply 196 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: means whatever God has given you, take care of it 197 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: the best you possibly can. Sometimes a can of paint 198 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 1: can make a world a difference, pulling some weeds, cleaning 199 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: the carpet, being more organized, do what you can to 200 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: represent God in an excellent way. When our children were younger, 201 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 1: we used to take them to Disneyland. That place is 202 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: always spotless. I have never once seen a piece of 203 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: gum stuck to the floor. Hundreds of thousands of people 204 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: go through every year and it still looks brand new. 205 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: I thought, how do they do this? One day I 206 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: was there and I saw these men going around with 207 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: tools to scrape up gum. That's all they do all 208 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: day long. If Disney can keep their parks that first class, 209 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 1: that clean, how much more should we keep God's house 210 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: clean and first class. Now take this to your own life, 211 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: your house, your car, your close, your cubicle, your office. 212 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: I'm not asking you to spend a lot of money. 213 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: It's all in how you choose to take care of 214 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: what God has given you. I'm asking you to do 215 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: it with excellence, knowing that you represent Almighty God. Years ago, 216 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: I was driving to church when it was at the 217 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: other location, and when I got close, for some reason 218 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: that day, I noticed how many people didn't take care 219 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 1: of their homes. The yards weren't mode, weeds were everywhere, 220 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: things were stored all over the place. I'm not being critical. 221 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: I'm sure they're fine people, but I couldn't help but 222 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: notice it just one house after another, as sloppy as 223 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: could be. As I continued driving in the midst of 224 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:59,319 Speaker 1: all those houses, one home stood out. The yard was immaculate, 225 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: the house was clean and painted, beautiful flowers out front, 226 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 1: everything perfectly in place. When I got to church, I 227 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: commented to someone about that house. They said, oh yeah, Joel, 228 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: that's so and So's house. They're some of our most 229 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 1: faithful members. I thought, that doesn't surprise me. Liaquid people 230 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: are people of excellence. They were a cut above. They 231 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: stood out in the crowd. Now they could have had 232 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: the attitude. Nobody takes care of their loans in our neighborhood. 233 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: Why should we know they have a spirit of excellence. 234 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: You may be in a situation where everybody around you 235 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: it's a little lazy, indifferent, undisciplined. Don't let that rub 236 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: off on you. You be the one to have an 237 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: excellent spirit like this family. You be the one to 238 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: stand out in the crowd. Well, you said, Joel, you 239 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: mean I drove all the way here today. I tuned 240 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: in to hear you tell me to clean up my house. No, 241 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: not just that, mow your lawn too. But seriously, what 242 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: kind of witness is it to our friends, our neighbors, 243 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: our co workers. If our yard is sloppy, our car 244 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: is never washed, we're always running late everywhere we go. 245 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: That's not a good representation. And the truth is that's 246 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: not who you really are. God made you as a 247 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: person of excellence. Maybe all you've seen modeled is mediocrity. 248 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: But God is calling you to a higher standard. He's 249 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: going to take you places you've never dreamed of. But 250 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: you've got to do your part and stir up the 251 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: excellence that's on the inside. Don't make excuses or this 252 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: is a way I've always been, you know, take this 253 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: challenge to come up to a higher level of excellence. 254 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: Even in our personal appearance, how we dress, how we 255 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: present ourselves. They're all different styles. We have different taste. 256 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: One is not right and the other is wrong. You 257 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: may not like to wear a suit, that's fine. The 258 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: main thing is make sure you present yourself in a 259 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 1: way that you're proud of. Don't leave the house feeling sloppy, 260 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: feeling less than your best, knowing that you didn't take 261 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: time to look as good as you could have. You 262 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: are a temple of the most high God, God lives 263 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: in you. Take time to take care of yourself. Some 264 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: of you, ladies, you're very good at taking care of others. 265 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: You put the children first. You're a great wife, You're 266 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: running the household, but you need to start taking time 267 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: to take care of yourself. Go get your nails done, 268 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: get your hair done, get a massage, Go work out. 269 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: Go to the mall, go have some fun with some 270 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: of your friends. It's scriptural to take care of yourself 271 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: in an excellent way. Some of you men haven't bought 272 00:16:55,400 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: yourself any new clothes in twenty seven years. That shirt 273 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: you wear has been in and out of style already 274 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:07,159 Speaker 1: three different times. You're an excellent worker. You're a great 275 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: provider for your family. I'm simply saying, make sure you 276 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 1: take care of yourself. One time, Victoria asked me to 277 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: run up to the grocery store to pick up something 278 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: so she could finish making dinner. I just worked out, 279 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: and I was very hot and sweaty, and it's wearing 280 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 1: an old T shirt and run down jim shorts that 281 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 1: I used to wear around the house. I didn't look 282 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: good at all, but I didn't feel like cleaning up, 283 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: so I decided to just run up to the grocery 284 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 1: store and hopefully nobody would see me. When I pulled 285 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 1: in the parking lot, I heard God speak to me, 286 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: not out loud, but you know, just an impression down 287 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 1: in here. He said, Joel, don't you dare go in 288 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 1: there looking like that. Don't you know you represent me? 289 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: I am the King of Kings. The creator of the universe. 290 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: I deserve respect and honor. I turned around, went back home, 291 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:06,400 Speaker 1: took a shower, comb my hair, put on clean clothes. 292 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: I went back up to the grocery store and picked 293 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: up those TV dinners at Victoria. Warning, but understand, I'm 294 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: not gonna look that way. We represent Almighty God, and 295 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: God does not like sloppiness, even around the house. Of course, 296 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: we all like to be super casual. But make sure 297 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: you still look good for your children, still look good 298 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 1: for your spouse. Ladies, you may need to get rid 299 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 1: of that bathrobe that was passed down to you by 300 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: your great great grandmother and get you something new. Oh, Joel, 301 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,679 Speaker 1: it is so comfortable, it's so sentimental. I've had it 302 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:50,919 Speaker 1: for so many years. Let me tell you what nobody 303 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: will tell you. It's ugly. The truth is you're too 304 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: beautiful to wear that thing. Get your husband's at a card. 305 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: Go up to the mall. There's a certain store. I 306 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 1: don't want to give away any free advertisement, but it 307 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:17,400 Speaker 1: starts with my wife's first name, Victoria. I can't tell 308 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: you the rest. It'd be a secret. Find something that 309 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: makes you look like the masterpiece God made you to be. 310 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 1: Now you men can thank me later. When you're at 311 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: the store shopping and something accidentally falls off the rack, 312 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: don't act like you don't see it and just leave 313 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: it there. A person of excellence picks it up and 314 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 1: puts it back. When you're shopping for groceries and you 315 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: decide you don't want the cereal anymore, don't just stick 316 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: it over by the detergents. A person of excellence takes 317 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: it where it belongs. Somebody that has a spirit of 318 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 1: excellence doesn't park in a handicapped spot because they don't 319 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 1: feel like walking. Bottom line is this, when you have 320 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: this spirit of excellence, you do the right thing, not 321 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: because somebody's watching you, not because they're making you do it. 322 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: You do it to honor God. At our house, we 323 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: used to have these five gallon containers of water. They 324 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: come in big glass barrels and they have a neck 325 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: on the top, and you have to flip it over 326 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: and put it on a dispenser, and that's how the 327 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:28,679 Speaker 1: water comes out. Well. Victoria lights everything super clean. And 328 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: even though the place where the water comes out is sealed, 329 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: the receptor goes way up into the neck. There's no 330 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: way germs could get up in there didn't matter. Victoria 331 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:42,360 Speaker 1: lights to wipe down the whole bottle with soap and water. Well, 332 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 1: even after you dry it off, it's very slippery, which 333 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: makes it extremely difficult to get up there. I had 334 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: debated with her several times about why we do not 335 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: need to wipe down the whole bottle, just maybe the end, 336 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: but couldn't convince her. I gave her my word that 337 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: I would do it, But there were plenty of times 338 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 1: I was in the pantry all by myself, nobody could 339 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 1: see me. I'm tired, I don't feel like struggling with 340 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:14,119 Speaker 1: this bottle of water. I get it almost up, and 341 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: I hear that still small voice said Joel, be a 342 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,160 Speaker 1: person of excellence, do the right thing. You gave your word. 343 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 1: I'd have to put it down, go get the soap 344 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: and water. What am I saying? A person of excellence 345 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:30,360 Speaker 1: does the right thing, even when nobody's watching, even when 346 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: you don't agree, even when you don't think it's necessary. 347 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: Sometimes you have to say, God, I don't feel like 348 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 1: doing this, but I'm gonna do it under you God. 349 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: What my boss is asking me to do is not right, 350 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:45,639 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna do it under you God. I didn't 351 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 1: make the mess. I shouldn't have to clean it up, 352 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna do it. Under you. Some people are 353 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 1: not seeing God's favor like they should because they're not 354 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:59,399 Speaker 1: passing the small test. Being more excellent. May not be 355 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: some huge adjustment you need to make. May just be 356 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: something small, like getting to work ten minutes earlier, not 357 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: complaining when you have to clean up, doing the right 358 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 1: thing even though you don't feel like it. The scripture says, 359 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,920 Speaker 1: it's the little foxes that spoil the vines. If I 360 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 1: were to put that water on the dispenser week after 361 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: week without washing it, nobody would have known except me 362 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 1: and God. I could have gotten away with it. But 363 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: here's the key. I don't want something small to keep 364 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: God from releasing something big into my life. Are there 365 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 1: areas where you know God's dealing with you about coming 366 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: up higher? Anytime God asked you to do something, if 367 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 1: you will obey a reward, we'll follow. One time I 368 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 1: was in a parking lot and it was very windy outside, 369 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,200 Speaker 1: and when I opened my car door, several pieces of 370 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: newspaper flew out, and as I reached down to pick 371 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: them up, the wind caught them and they blew fifteen 372 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: or twenty feet in different directions. I didn't feel like 373 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 1: going picking that up. I looked in the parking lot. 374 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 1: There was already a whole lot of other trash there. 375 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 1: I was in a hurry. I was tired. I came 376 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: up with all these excuses as to why I didn't 377 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 1: need to pick up my trash. Almost convinced myself the 378 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 1: last moment I decided to be a person of excellence. 379 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: I ended up running around that whole parking lot. My 380 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 1: mind was saying, Joel, what are you doing out here? 381 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter, just let it go. Finally got it 382 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,639 Speaker 1: picked up, came back to my car. What I didn't 383 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 1: realize is there was a couple sitting in the car 384 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 1: next to me watching all this take place. They rolled 385 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 1: down their window and said, Joel, we watch you on 386 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: television every week. I'll never forget what the lady said. 387 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:51,360 Speaker 1: We were watching to see what you were going to do. Thought, Oh, 388 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: thank you Jesus. Whether you realize it or not, people 389 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: are watching you, even in small areas. Make sure you're 390 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 1: representing God in a great way. In the Book of Daniel, 391 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: it talks about how he had an excellent spirit as 392 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 1: a teenager, he was brought out of Judah into Babylon. 393 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:19,399 Speaker 1: The king was training all these young men, and the 394 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: best ones, the smartest, the strongest, the most talented, would 395 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: become the next leaders. They had a certain diet to eat, 396 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: certain program to follow. But Daniel had made a vow 397 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: to God that he would always honor him. The Babylonians 398 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:39,720 Speaker 1: were worshiping idols. Daniel was respectful, but he wouldn't eat 399 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 1: the king's fancy food. He didn't just follow along and 400 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 1: do what everyone else was doing. He made more excellent choices. 401 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 1: In Daniel chapter six, it says Daniel so distinguished himself 402 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:58,159 Speaker 1: by his exceptional qualities that the king planned on putting 403 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 1: him in charge of the whole kingdom. Notice it doesn't 404 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: say that God distinguished Daniel and he got promoted. It 405 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: says he distinguished himself. The message translation says he totally 406 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: outclassed those around him. That's what happens when number one, 407 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: you honor God with your life, and number two, you 408 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: have a spirit of excellence. You don't compromise, You don't 409 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: just go with the flow do what everybody else is doing. 410 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: Like Daniel, you make the more excellent decisions. It goes 411 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 1: on to tell how Daniel was ten times smarter than 412 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:41,120 Speaker 1: the other young men. When you have an excellent spirit, 413 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 1: God will give you unprecedented favor, creativity, ideas that will 414 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 1: cause you to stand out. You will outclass in humility 415 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: those around you that are not honoring God. My question today, 416 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: are you distinguishing yourself? Are you going the extra mile, 417 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,880 Speaker 1: doing more than you have to, making the more excellent choices. 418 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 1: God is always dealing with us about some area to 419 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 1: come up higher in. Maybe it's to be more excellent 420 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: in how you treat people more excellent and how you 421 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,920 Speaker 1: present yourself more excellent. When it comes to your career 422 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: and improving your skills. Don't let something small keep God 423 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:27,120 Speaker 1: from releasing something big into your life. You are called 424 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 1: to be a cut above. You have excellence on the inside. 425 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: Now stir it up and bring it to the outside. 426 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 1: Now believe and declare today because I'm looking at people 427 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: of excellence. God is going to give you more wisdom, 428 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 1: more ideas, more strength, more creativity. Like Daniel, You're going 429 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: to outclass, outperform, outshine. God is going to promote you, 430 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: put you in a place of honor, and you will 431 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:56,679 Speaker 1: fulfill your God given destiny in Jesus' name. If you 432 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: receive it, can you say amen? Like to close our 433 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the 434 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: lord of your life? Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 435 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 1: I repent of my sins, Come into my heart. I 436 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 1: make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 437 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 438 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: in a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. 439 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: He's going to take you places that you've never dreamed of. 440 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 441 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:34,639 Speaker 1: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 442 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. Help 443 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:39,720 Speaker 1: us to continue to share the message of hope with 444 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com or 445 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:46,399 Speaker 1: click the link in the description to partner with us today. 446 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:49,119 Speaker 1: We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 447 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 448 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:55,160 Speaker 1: for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 449 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: see you next time.