(Much of the content for this series has come from the book How to Pursue and Excellent Spirit by Andrew Wommack.)
God created each of us for success! Each of us were made for more!
(Daniel 6:3 NKJV) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
- An excellent spirit will promote you in business, in ministry, or at home with your family.
We see this same thing in Joseph, Moses, David, and others. Because they had a spirit of excellence, they were all promoted.
Excellence (Online Definition) – consistent in good character, attitude, quality, and standards.
- A spirit of excellence is found in our identity.
- A spirit of excellence does not compromise!
- The opposite of compromise is conviction.
- A conviction is what we hold to based on the Word of God when everyone around us is compromising.
- A person with a spirit of excellence is not concerned with what other people think about them. A person with a spirit of excellence is only concerned with what God thinks about them.
- A spirit of excellence is a spirit of humility.
Many believers operate under a misunderstanding of what true, biblical humility is.
(Romans 12:3 NKJV) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
(Romans 12:3 TPT) God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.
- God will not share His glory with another. Neither will He tolerate us “polluting” His name through a false sense of humility.
We need to think of ourselves soberly, yet righteously. If you are taking credit for a God-given talent or ability, you aren’t being humble and you’re limiting how God can promote you.
Similarly, if you’re constantly brushing aside God’s protection and blessing as coincidence or nothing special, you are not operating in humility.
- True humility recognizes God.
Brothers and sisters, you can’t walk in excellence without humility. This may be hard to hear, especially for those who have worked their whole lives to become self-sufficient, but humility is not self-sufficiency. It is not self-confidence.
- Humility is being God-confident. It’s being God-dependent.
Humility says, “There is a God, and I’m not Him!”
Self-confidence or self-sufficiency is pride. Independence from God is pride. And God does not promote pride.
- God hates pride and will resist it.
(Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV) These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: (17) A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, (18) A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, (19) A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
(James 4:6-7 AMPC) But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). [Pro 3:34] (7) So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
- Jesus never promoted Himself. But neither did He deny who He was.
He told people, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), but He also said that He could do nothing of Himself but only what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19). Jesus wasn’t inflated with pride; He spoke the truth while giving credit to His Father. That’s God-dependence. That’s humility.
People can get very proud of their “humility.” But true humility is not this idea of I am nothing; I can do nothing. True humility doesn’t exalt self. True humility doesn’t debase self. True humility isn’t about self at all. Self is pride. Highlighting your accomplishments is pride. The need to share your opinion is pride. Slandering or gossiping about someone to improve your reputation is pride. Avoiding criticism is pride. Worrying about what other people think is pride.
- True humility is saying about yourself what God says about you. True humility agrees with God.
If God says you are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21), then you are. To say otherwise would be exalting your own opinion above God’s opinion.
- Humility knows that every good thing is a result of the grace of God.
Without the grace of God—without His supernatural ability and empowerment—we can do nothing. The grace of God gave us Christ.
Perfectionism (American Heritage Dictionary) a tendency to set extremely high standards and to be dissatisfied with anything less. Perfectionism is proud and arrogant. It is critical and judgmental of people, ideas, and work that doesn’t meet its standard. (It is associated with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental health problems.)
- Excellence still has high standards, but it recognizes the roles that others—especially God—play in meeting those standards.
True humility doesn’t deny what God has done. True humility just denies that “self” had anything to do with it!
- Promotion will always follow true humility!
(Proverbs 15:33 NKJV) The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility. (Kabod – honor, glory, majesty, wealth)
(Proverbs 18:12 NKJV) Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. (Kabod – honor, glory, majesty, wealth)
(Proverbs 22:4 NLT) True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life. (Kabod – honor, glory, majesty, wealth)
(1 Peter 5:5-7 NKJV) Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” (6) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, (7) casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Exalt (GREEK) – Generally to raise to a condition of prosperity, dignity, honor.