Wednesday March 10, 2010 (24 Adar 5770)

"Ambitious Excellence!"

    1 Corinthians 14:12 (Amplified Bible) So it is with yourselves; since you are so eager and ambitious to possess spiritual endowments and manifestations of the [Holy] Spirit, [concentrate on] striving to excel and to abound [in them] in ways that will build up the church.

Holy Spirit is given to Believers by God as an endowment, a downpayment of our Inheritance which signifies that we are Kingdom possessions. Paul writes these WORDs to us with the expressed intent of defining the physical manifestation of God's Spirit, where the POWER and Glory within the heart and life of a Believer is clearly recognized for and visibly manifests HIS Purpose of building, supporting and completing a WORK within the Body of Christ.

Seen as unwavering in his instruction, Paul places great emphasis upon our conscious effort to Honor and Glorify Christ Jesus, rather than promoting one's personal ambition, we must strive towards nurturing others within the Kingdom of God. Even as Jesus had confronted HIS Disciples concerning their obvious enthusiasm about their abilities to heal the sick and command demons to retreat, it was with WORDs of gentle direction that HE brought the focus of God's Purpose for the WORK of Holy Spirit to their attention,  Luke 10:19-20 (Amplified Bible) Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven.

Declaring God's Will that SOULs be brought into the Kingdom, Christ Jesus clearly emphasizes the role of importance that our EAGERness plays in the Body. Choosing to please God by our Obedience to HIS Will, we must realize what Kingdom Truth is, and then duplicate that in our everyday life. Whereas Paul writes of the manifestations of God's Spirit of POWER and Authority within the lives of Believers, he instructs us to strive with excellence to seek the GIVER of Gifts, then those gifts of the GIVER will be of greater value to the Body of Christ in such a WAY that builds, encourages and strengthens the church, therefore being an acceptable and pleasing Testimony to our heavenly Father.

     O'LORD, guide me daily by YOUR Spirit of Widsom, that TRUTH prevails over the enemy's deception. Direct me as I follow YOU by Faith, abounding in the excellence of YOUR Love. For others must see YOUR Provision of Life, bringing increase into YOUR Eternal Kingdom. For YOU will be Glorified in the earth, and YOUR POWER made known through me as a Believers. All Honor and Praise belong to YOU, O'LORD, manifest YOUR Dominion with POWER in me, Amen