Thinking With Excellence

Thinking With Excellence

by Pastor Tan Ye Ping

2 Peter 1:5-7

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."

7 Stages of Spiritual Development

1. Virtue
2. Knowledge
3. Self-Control
4. Perseverance
5. Godliness
6. Brotherly Kindness
7. Love

Virtue in Greek (Gk. Arete) means excellence.

What is EXCELLENCE?

Definition: Excellence is to exceed a given standard that is ordinary, average, terrible or unworthy.

#1: Excellence is to be superior in quality.

• Have a purpose in our hearts to produce quality work
• Never to compromise
• The call of God is always a call to excellence and never a call to mediocracy
• When you compromise disorder, disorder invites MORE disorders!

Song of Solomon 2:15

"Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes."

#2: Excellence is to obtain greater in quantity.

• John 15:16 says:

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."

• Be willing to pay the price for success

Psalms 126:5-6 says:

"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

A) Demand on your HEART

Proverbs 4:23 says:

"Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."

• Having a large emotional reservoir keeps you going by overcoming the disappointments in life
• Overcomers are people with excellent attitude and positive thinking

Life is full of dirt shoveling on you, and the key is to shake off the dirt and learn to step on it and pull yourself higher to the next level.

B) Demand on your TIME

• Time management is equivalent to events management

C) Demand on your MONEY

• If God can give you vision, he will give you provision

Luke 16:11 says:

"Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?"

• Don't just live for the present, but for the future!

#3: Excellence is to transcend your job description.

Matthew 5:41

"If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

• 1st mile is the call of duty
• 2nd mile is to go beyond the call of duty
• Love only begins after the demands of duty have been met.

Romans 13:8

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."

#4: Excellence is to outdo yourself each time.

• Customer satisfaction => Exceeds expectations

Ephesians 6:5-8

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free."

• Setting high expectation -- Professionalism
• Going for perfectionism -- Extreminism

10 words to think with excellence

1. "Liberty" instead of "Laws". [Galatians 5:13-16]


2. "Service" instead of "Systems". [Matthew 20:25-28]


3. "Spirit-centred" instead of "Self-centred". [ Zechariah 4:6]


4. "Love" instead of "Legalism".


5. "Faith" instead of "Fear". [2 Timothy 1:6-7]


6. "Concern" instead of "Control".


7. "Devotion" instead of "Duty". [Exodus 17:2]


8. "Giving" instead of "Getting". [2 Corinthians 9:6-7]


9. "Example" instead of "Explanation". [John 13:13-15]


10. "Breakthrough" instead of "Bondage". [eg. Jesus turned water into wine]

I prayed for my friend today after I realised how much her life had been changed. I wished there were more things I could do for her.

Go girl for I know you can make it through your trials... :)