Proverbs 17:27
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Being a Christian is an awesome privilege and with it comes many opportunities for blessing and favour and grace. We are saved by grace by faith – not of our own doing but by the Lord Jesus Christ. We as Christians have peace with God and have access to God’s throne. We know that when we pray, our prayers are heard because we have relationship with God.
We get to decide how close to God we want to be. It is our decision to press in to God’s presence or to casually seek Him. We can be saved and on our way to heaven and not have to do anything. We don’t have to read the Bible – but we get to. We don’t have to pray, but it is our honour.
How close do you want to be with God?
You might say, I want to be as close as possible. Is this really true? If it is then we will have to line up our lives with God’s word, His will and His ways.
Our zeal and passion for God should grow stronger day by day. Our love and excitement for Christ should grow each day. We should not be where we were a year ago in our relationship with God – or anyone else.
Daniel was a man that is recorded to have an excellent spirit.He was blessed with wisdom and knowledge and discernment but also an excellent spirit. This speaks of his character and his human will. By reading about the life of Daniel, we know certain things about his life.
Daniel 5:12
Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
1. Daniel chose to live for God and do the will of God.
Daniel 5:14
I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
2. He is known by those who were his captors to have fellowship with God and to have wisdom, understanding and revelation light.
3. His companions were people like him who refused to eat the king’s meat. They chose to obey God rather than have that which would defile them.
Daniel 1: 6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
4. God gave Daniel and his three friends favour in the land of their captivity. They were appointed prominent positions of authority by their enemies.
Daniel 6:3
Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because anexcellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
5. Daniel and his friends chose to serve God even though they were in prominent positions of authority and the authority forbid them from serving God.
Daniel 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den as judgement. His three friends were thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to an idol. They were all miraculously delivered from their enemies. God sovereignly protected them to the amazement of their captors.They were promoted by the very trials sent to destroy them.
By reading the book of Daniel, we can see the favour and blessing upon Daniel and his friends. They had an excellent spirit.
PRAYER
LORD let us pursue you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Give us a passion and zeal for you, and for your word.Make us quick to obey you and firm in our convictions. Holy Spirit lead us and guide us to be people of an excellent spirit.
Tags: Azariah, Daniel, excellent spirit, favour, grace, Hananiah, Mishael, passion, zeal
