UNCOMMON EXCELLENCE

TEXT: DANIEL 1:8-20, PSALMS 1:1-4

Introduction

The Lord is still in the business of giving uncommon excellence to have many that would walk in his ways. Daniel and his friends resolved to keep their identity in God in a strange land and because of that, they became exceptional.

A.    Are you save?

v  Until the issue of salvation is settled in a life, we cannot proceed to talk about uncommon excellence

a)      What is salvation?

b)      How can a man be saved?  Roman 10:9-13.

B.     Read Daniel 1:8 ‘’can a man be defiled? If yes, How?

v  If you had the opportunity Daniel had what would have been your response. Discuss?

Daniel knew the consequences of his resolution and he was ready to face it instead of compromising his faith. If truly you are born again, you must be ready to hold on to your faith and not give up when faced with life treating situations, knowing that God will provide a way of escape like did for Daniel.

C.     HOW CAN YOU STAND OUT IN LAUTECH?

v  Have a relationship with God. Mark 3:13-14. There must be a constant and consistent interaction between you and God.

Mediums through which we can interact with God are!

ü  Word of God

ü  Prayers

ü  Worship

v  How can i communicate with God?

ü  Talking

ü  Hearing

ü  Listening

A man that is always in tune with God will never miss it and such a man will be exceptional in what he does because he constantly hears from God.

Conclusion

Daniel knew who he was and never give up on his identity even though he was in a strange land (He was a Jew and must not eat foods sacrifice to idols), will you do the same even in a strange land 

What you need for this month

*JOHN 10: 10 GOSPEL*
*God's Grace*

*I wonder how many people will delete this without reading it because of the title. It is a shame but this message is very true. Hope you are all as blessed as I was by this story.*

*There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak....*

*"I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What do you have there, son?"*

*"Just some old birds," came the reply.*

*"What are you going to do with them?" I asked.*

*"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time."*

*"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?"*

*"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."*

*The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?"*
*"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want the birds, mister.*

*They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"*

*"How much?" the pastor asked again.*

*The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?".*

*The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story:*

*One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just comefrom the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught a world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"*

*"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.*

*Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun!  I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"*

*"And what will you do when you are done with them" Jesus asked?*
*"Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.*
*"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.*
*"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good.* *Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you.*
*They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"*

*"How much? He asked again.*
*Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."*

*Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.*

*The pastor picked up the cage and walked from the pulpit..*

*I pray, for everyone who sends this on, whether to their entire address book or just a few, that God will bless them in a special way.*