Throughout history words and their meaning evolved and develop.  One that has changed meanings is the word excellent.  The root word is “excel” today means to go beyond, to project, surpass, outdo, to be chosen, prime, and admirable.  It is where we get the word “excelsior” which means to go still higher and ever upward. However, during the times of the writing of the Word of God it had an entirely different translation.  During that time it had such a profound and deep definition that it could scarcely be used in its proper context.  During that age when referring to a person as excellent what you were actually saying is, “You are many things.”  With this in mind, I want to use this paper to define, sketch, and make clear the meaning of the Excellency of Jesus Christ.  His Excellency would be how in His uniqueness He brings many extremes to Himself.  His Lordship takes Him to both ends of the spectrum and even to a few ends that we cannot even see.

     First, we will take the one thing about Jesus the Bible attributes the word and title “excellent” to on four different occasions.  And that is His Name.  His Name brings many extremes to the moment and it transcends time and space.

     A name is restricting in that it explains you to people.  It tells them not only who you are but where you are.  My name explains that I am here and not there.  In Exodus the third chapter we find a nervous Moses asking God for His name.  In the Old Testament, nobody knew the name of God.  They gave Him titles that coincided with experiences they had with Him, thus there are sixteen Jehovah titles.  So, when Moses asked God to get specific about His name so he could give it to Pharoh to bring some credibility to his request of turning the Israelites lose Moses was actually asking God to bring into one word that transcends time and space.  Moses was asking God to bring to the moment one name that would tell people where He was.  How do you give a name (that explains that you are here and not there) to the One that is everywhere?  Excellency comes to the moment when Moses asks God, “Can You bring into one word everything there is to know about You?”  We know that God responded, “I AM that I AM.”  Thus God creates a brand new tense.  He did not say “I was,” or “I will be,” rather I AM.  Not necessarily past, present, or future but eternally present.  The utmost extremes in the concept of time brought to one word and moment that is the excellency of His name.

     Next, we have the excellency of the God-man.  Two features about Him that cannot possibly get any further apart suddenly thrust together in Jesus Christ, the God-man.  That is excellent.  There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).  He calmed the storm, raised the dead, healed and cleansed the leper, cursed the fig tree, and multiplied loaves and fishes.  All were attributed of God.  He also slept in the back of the boat and wept over the death of His friend Lazarus.  All were marks of a man.  Although asleep in the back of the boat like a man, He spoke to the storm saying, “Peace, be still.” like God.  He wept at the funeral of Lazarus like a man, but said with loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” like God.  He hung on a cross and was thirsty, was in pain, bled to death and died like a man, but three days later He got up from the grave like God.  

He is The God-Man

The two natures of Jesus Christ form what theologians call the “hypostatic union.” Put simply, it means that Jesus is fully man and fully God at the same time.

He is God-perfect in all His ways. He was made flesh and came to earth to solve the problem of human sin. He was unjustly

Wound – an injury that involves breaking, a cut or breach, an opening created

Wounds can come from anywhere…and the Bible has a lot to say about woundedness with verses like…

Psalm 109:22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

 Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?          Message version “what do you do when your spirit is crushed?

Zechariah 13:6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

Wounds cause openings that are too often filled with hate, anger, hurt, warped ideas, wrong attitudes, annoyance, confrontation, layer after layer of numbness. There are three things about the ministry of woundedness that I have learned through the years…I would like to give those to you through these biblical examples.

Psalm 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

·         Notice here it doesn’t say he heals the wounds, rather He binds them…the wounds don’t leave…sometimes you walk with them for the rest of your life…so, please don’t mistake the lingering pain as God’s way of telling you, He doesn’t care about your wound.  Sometimes the pain doesn’t leave

1.  Some wounds you’re not supposed to conquer only survive and learn to live with.
Some of the greatest anointing and experiences that you will ever walk-in will come out of your broken places…You see when a person has a permanent  limp, things change…because of my wounds my songs have changed, my testimony has changed, my attitude has changed, 

In order for there to be an impartation, there must first be an opening and the opening God uses to impart into your life is none other than wounds. Since the beginning of creation God has used wounds.

2. God uses pain and wounds for the purpose of releasing gifts and potential.
When God created Adam he took a look at him and pronounced for the very first time in history…

Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

When God needed something to make man more complete He knew that what needed was already in him, but there needed to be an opening (wound)……………..so through the wound of Adam came a gift to Adam; His wife.

All through the first wound!  I wonder what my wounds have the potential of releasing to the world.  

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes, we are healed.

3. The world needs your wounds
The English word (wound) in this scripture is plural (more than one) but the greek word (Gr. mooloopi-mwlwpi) is SINGULAR!  The Greek language requires so much accuracy that if two wounds had been visible the plural would be necessary. But, Christ was beaten so ruthlessly that only one wound was visible and it covered His entire body.   One big open wound!

  This is one of the reasons we have communion service to keep this fresh in our minds and to not forget about his wound.  I can say this….the world needs what you have gone through.

Some of us are waiting...you are waiting for your moment of greatness to appear, your opportunity to arrive, your season to materialize.  Some are waiting for someone to love...or for someone to fall in love with us...for the one that God has for us.  Perhaps there is a Ruth listening that is waiting for Boaz to look your way...or maybe you are an Esther waiting for an appointment with the King.

One of the reasons we keep waiting is the joy we expect to receive when the thing you are anticipating arrives……but you can have joy today.

 Galatians 6:9 “Let us not be weary in well doing…in due season we shall reap, if we faint not…”

 There are things you can do to keep from fainting as you wait…

  John 5 tells of the lame man who sat at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years…Jesus same by and the man tells Him his story…everytime I go to get in the water someone steps in front of me…then Jesus says in John 5:8 “…arise, take up your bed and walk…”

 In other words, “what you are wanting is not in the pool, what you are wanting is where you are!”   So, WHERE ARE YOU?

The bible tells the story of Ruth…her husband dies and her mother-in-law is very bitter because she also lost her husband and 2 sons.  So, all that’s left is Naomi and the 2 daugthers-in-law.  One named Ruth and the other named Orpah.  Naomi tells them to go back home and Orpah left but Ruth wouldn’t go.  Ruth knows something good is coming her way and Ruth begins to look within her inner circle for someone that needs her. And she sees her mother-in-law and says, “Wherever you go I’m going…”

…so, here’s the first thing you do while you’re waiting…

1.   Inventory what and who you have
Something in your present is the key to something in your future…Moses what’s in your hand? Ex. 4

"Jesus the people are hungry and if we send them away they will faint…Jesus said , What do you have?  Well there is a lad here with 2 fish and five loaves of bread.  Bring it to me.” John 6

 Ruth made a decision to sow into her present while she waited for her future…next thing you know Ruth is married to Boaz and they produce Obed, who produces David, that leads to the lineage of Jesus…and if you read the book of Ruth closely will see that Ruth came into her blessing and promotion because of her connection to Naomi…

 In Genesis 39 we read the familiar story of Joseph who had a dream of everything opposite of what he was presently experiencing…his home life was awful, his brothers hated him and was jealous of the relationship he had with their dad…but he had a dream that he was a ruler and everyone loved him and bowed down to him…He was sold by his brothers for around $13 to a traveling band of Ishmaelites and now he is a slave.

 I believe that Joseph began to carry himself like a ruler…here’s why I believe that because Gen. 39 says that a general pf Pharoh’s army named Potiphar saw something on Joseph.  He saw that Joseph was different, he carried himself different, he saw God’s favor on his life

2. Joseph began to act like the future he saw
A young preach friend of mine left Bible school and came to me and said, “Mike, what should I do…no body wants to have me to preach for them…I’m not getting any bookings.”  I said…Print you some business cards, put on your best suit and sharpest tie, comb your hair and shine your shoes, go into conferences and hand out your business cards to every pastor you can find and tell them, “I’m an evangelist”. Start acting like the person you want to be.

 Start developing the aura, the charisma, the standard, the posture, and even the vocabulary for the future you are wanting to enter…Even though Joseph was accused and lied on by Potiphar’s wife he didn’t feed into that accusation…while he was waiting for his f

Thousands of people have misunderstood success and prosperity. Somewhere they have gotten the idea that it is wrong to want to be successful. In fact, some even feel that prosperity is of the devil. Nothing could be further from the truth! Do not be misled. God does want you successful! 

 His Word does say: “...thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success,” (Joshua 1:8).

  The successful person may enjoy things, but even things are not, in themselves, the foundation stones of success.

Real Success

 If success is not measured in terms of possessions, popularity and performance, how then can it be defined? Perhaps the simplest definition of success for the believer is knowing and attaining God's goals for your life. A successful life is one that is happy. Becoming what God wants you to become. Doing what God wants you to do. Possessing what God wants you to own.

As you achieve the goals God has set for your life, then you become successful. 

 Real success is not a destination, it is a journey. It is movement. It is the joy created by progress. Success is not a city where you will arrive tomorrow, it is the enjoyment of today, the now.

That is why I say true success is achieving the goals God presently has for you.  Remember, success is different things to different people at different times.

Success is the achievement of the goals God has for you!!  But, there are some things that will get in your way...

 Obstacle 1: An Unteachable Spirit
An unteachable spirit is an unwillingness to change. Millions refuse to implement new and vital information as it becomes available.

 Growing means change. It is a part of prospering. If you are unhappy with yourself, dare to reach for new information, new teaching and new truths that will elevate you and build your relationship with God. 

Obstacle 2: Unforgiven Offenses
Forgiveness is not a suggestion. It is a requirement. 

Pray for those who have wronged you. Find a way to communicate a personal care and interest. Is it hard to do? Oh, very much so. But the personal peace it sets in motion is beyond description.

Obstacle 3: Unwise Associations
Unwise friendships and associations have destroyed the potential and the abilities of multiplied thousands of could-be winners.

Re-evaluate your life and friendships. Do you allow your dreams to be eroded and your goals limited because of relationships with those who laugh at your pursuit of accomplishment?

Disconnect.

Obstacle 4: Unbridled Tongue
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof,” (Proverbs 18:21).

Words are tools God gave you to build up your own spirit and mind. Your body responds to sounds. Your spirit responds to words. Words provide you mind-pictures that your entire life reacts to. You hear a story. You smile or cry. You feel.

Obstacle 5: Undeveloped Gifts And Abilities
Winners are people who have discovered their special talents, abilities and special God-given gifts. And, seeing their Seeds of Greatness, they have taken the time and energy to grow those Seeds into great benefits and advantages.

Obstacle 6: Uncommitted Heart
A committed heart is a decided heart. It is the result of a made-up mind.

Make a commitment to God. He made one to you in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Calvary was commitment. The blood and cross of Jesus was commitment. Gethsemane was commitment.

Nobody experienced any more stress than Jesus Christ...He was criticized constantly, He was misunderstood, there were constant demands on His life, He had very little privacy...and there were people who were constantly trying to kill Him!  Yet, in spite of all of that He walked and lived with an amazing peacefulness ...mo matter how difficult the situation Jesus modeled a calmness and resilience...(I think there is something to learn here)

This is why the writer of Hebrews tells us…”keep your eyes on Jesus…” it only makes sense.

Look at the life of someone that dealt with the most unbelievable level of stress one can imagine and still walked through it...JESUS CHRIST!

1. Remember How Much God Loves Me

Jesus CHrist had no doubt in His mind that God, the Father loved Him.   Knowing and understanding that God loves you unconditionally, continually, and extravagantly can give you the strength to to bounce back when life tries to stress you out!

2.      Remember Who I Am
If you are not sure who you really are the Devil will be happy to tell you...your friends will...the world will...culture will!

-Your problems will...your habits will...your hang-ups will.  Everything in your life is lining up to convince you of your identity...let Jesus!
When you are convinced of who you are then you DO NOT need the opinions of others for validation and that makes you unstoppable!

 Matt. 3 gives the account of Jesus being baptized, the Spirit descending like a dove and God the Father, says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased…” It may have made more sense if the voice of the Father would have said something like, “Listen Jesus...in just a few chapters you are going to go through the most painful death any human could possibly experience...you will experience the cross.”

3.             Know Who You Are Trying to Please
Another way of putting that would be, “know who you are living for.”

I love the word ‘motivation’ it’s root word is moto...where we get the word motor.  A motor is what empowers the car to move...it’s what drives the car...it gives the car boost, incitement, momentum.

4.             Know Your Calling
Your calling is God’s invitation for your participation in the reason for your creation…

You must know exactly what God wants you to do with your life...what is your calling?

Here’s why that is so important...when you know what God has called you to do, you also learn what He is called you NOT to do.

·       When you know what’s your business...you should also know what is none of your business!

5.             Focus on What Matters Most
When you know where you are headed and you are focused then you are not distracted by less important things.  You know what matters most and you focus on that...that is a key to resilience!  Jesus refused to be distracted…

Luke 9:51 Living Bible “As his time drew near to His return to heaven, he moved steadily on toward Jerusalem with an iron will.”

-Jesus knew the plan...He was persistent, consistent, and insistent...at one point he even told Peter, “...get behind me, satan…” Matt. 16   In other words...unless you want to be run over, you probably should get out of my way…

-There were a couple of people in the Bible that gave that same excuse to Jesus...Lord, let me first go do these other things, and then I’ll follow you….Matt. 8
Unfortunately the word LORD and phrase ME FIRST...can never go in the same sentence.

Luke 9:62 Living Bible “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I have planned for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

It seems that people are engaging a mass exodus from organized religion…according to the gallupgroup in 1999 70% of all Americans claimed church membership, now less than 50% do.  Out of the 50% they only attend 1-2 times a month…

These trends are also manifesting themselves generationally…62% of Generation Xers attend while only 40% of millennials do…if we really love the local church like we say we do…we need to pause and ask ourselves, “WHY, is this happening?”  Now, there are a myriad of reasons and explanations for this…there is a rise in peoples access to online church via the internet where people don’t have to attend a literal location…but, as a church leader I would be re-miss if I didn’t say to us, are we one of the reasons.

 Many Christians—especially in the United States—are giving up on church because they were hurt by pastors or wounded by other Christians, or because they simply decided to “go it alone.” They are known as “dones”—people who are “done” with church.    “Dones” might watch an occasional church service on television or meet with a few Christian friends over coffee for a casual Starbucks version of “church” They still consider themselves serious Christians, but they want nothing more of pastors, tithing, scheduled meetings or church drama.    I’ve even heard people say that attending a local church is nothing but religious-ritual!

If you or someone you love has given up on church, I’m not here to condemn you.

But I want to offer six reasons why you shouldn’t let a bad experience end your connection to God’s people.

1.    The church is Christ’s body on earth. With all its flaws, the church is still God’s Plan A.
Jesus announced before He went to the cross: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). 

Jesus intended to use the church—even in its weakness—as His primary tool to reach the world with the gospel. Heaven does not have a Plan B. Jesus is the head of his church (see Col. 1:18) and we are His hands and feet. To reject the church is to reject God’s ultimate strategy to bring heaven’s kingdom on earth.

 2.    The Holy Spirit has called us to work and flow together. 
When we were born again the Bible says we were mystically unified with all other born-again believers and connected to each other by the Holy Spirit. The Lord also connects people in local congregations. This connection is holy and we should never make light of it or damage it. Paul told the Ephesians to “preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” by being in close fellowship with each other (Eph. 4:3). To reject this union of believers is to dishonor the work of the Spirit.

3.    God accomplishes more through His corporate people than through isolated individuals. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit worked primarily through the nation of Israel, and through individuals who had special callings and remarkable courage. But in the age of the New Covenant, the Spirit dwells in every Christian believer, and the corporate church makes a much bigger impact. This is why Jesus told His disciples after He went to the cross that we would do “greater works” than He did on earth (see John 14:12). 

4.    God’s authority flows through His church, not through “lone ranger” Christians.
Some people who’ve been hurt by church leaders feel they can never submit to another pastor again, nor will they honor a person who is called by God to carry the authority of a minister. Yet God has delegated to certain people the task of building up the church (see Eph. 4:11-12). It’s totally acceptable for you to leave an unhealthy church with poor leadership, but you should quickly find a new church where you can be equipped to fulfill your ministry. It was never int

What is your "one thing"?

 You have been born to make a lasting and eternal mark on the world with your "just one thing." Don't miss your moment, but walk confidently toward the Father while you are changing the world around you with His character. Listen for His voice as He eagerly explains to you why He made you for such a time as this.

 What is your "one thing"? You may be thinking, “Mike, I’m not sure…”.  WELL, let’s talk about that.

1.    What grieves and even angers you can be a path to your assignment
Tears Talk. What you cry about is a clue to something you were created and ordained by God to heal. Compassion is a signpost.

 What grieves you? What makes you angry?  Anger Is Energy, Power, And Ability.  However, it requires proper focus. Have you ever wondered why others were not angry about situations that infuriated you? Of course, you have. This is a clue to your Assignment.

 Unfocused anger destroys and ruins. Focused properly, it creates miraculous change. Anger merely requires proper focus. Develop it. 

 See your anger as an instruction from God to stay in The Secret Place to find the solution for the problem, obtain the weapons to destroy the enemy, and develop a daily agenda designed by The Holy Spirit...to create change.

2.    Perhaps Your ‘ONE THING’ is a problem that simply needs to be fixed.
You may or may not feel passionate about but it’s there and someone needs to take care of it.

You Were Created To Solve A Problem.

So when you open your eyes every morning and head out into the world you are looking into an entire world filled with problems that need YOU! Everything created is a solution...to somebody, somewhere, at some time.

You are a walking solution to somebody.  You were created for a specific and very special purpose...to solve a specific problem on earth. I call this, The Assignment.

3.    What You Love Could be a path to your assignment
Passion Is Magnetic.

 What do you love to discuss? What do you love to hear about? What excites you? These are clues to your Assignment. These are clues to your abilities. You will always have  Wisdom toward whatever you love.

Love births persistence. When you love something, you give birth to a tenacity, determination, and persistence that is extraordinary, and could very well be YOUR ONE THING!

 That’s because He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. So wait on God, and when the time is right He will call you.

You have heard it said throughout your life as I have…timing is everything.  It affects everything we do in life;
Eccl. 3:1 “There is an APPOINTED TIME for everything and a RIGHT TIME for every activity under heaven.”

Acts 13:36 “…David served God’s purpose in his generation, then he died…”

·      To me… this statement is the perfect definition of a successful life.

 Eccl. 8:5 (New Century Version) “A wise person does the right thing at the right time…”
So, it is not only important to do the right thing, but it must be done at the right time.  And that is a mark of true wisdom. But, how do you know what is the right time??  Knowing the right time is not always easy.  Why is that? Because of the next verse…
Eccl. 8:6-7 “There is a right time and a right way to do everything, but we know so little!  None of us knows what is going to happen, and there is no one to tell us.”  You can do the RIGHT thing too soon and it becomes the WRONG thing…So, here are 6 Steps of Faith that you are going to need to take to discern the best time to make a major change………………………………….

 1.    Enlist the Prayers of Other People
You are never going to know the right time for anything unless you learn to talk to God about it…but on major decisions get people that know how to pray to help you pray about it…Paul talks about this in Romans 15:30 “Brothers and sisters, I beg you to help me in my work by praying to God for me…”

 2.    Seek the Counsel of Wise Friends
Not just any of your friends but your wise friends…don’t just depend on your own perspective alone…Proverbs 11:14 (Amplified Bible) “Where there is no wise guidance people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” If you want to be safe and not sorry…seek the advice of the wisest people you can find and get all the counsel you can.

3.    Be Quiet and Listen to God In his Word
A million voices are demanding our attention. The chatter is unstoppable. Self-proclaimed experts are dusted with makeup, wired with a microphone, and propped up at desks where cameras are aimed at them like canons. Out of fear of cancellation, they try their best to persuade us they’re right, even if they have to scream to do it.

-I had a person say to me one time, “Mike, God never speaks to me…” there are two possible reasons a person feels that way…

1. You’re never quiet
We are always looking at our phones…earbuds in…listening to the media, scrolling through Instagram, etc…Here’s something I learned a long time ago. God doesn’t shout…He does not compete with every other voice in your life.  He is not interested in being in line in your life…I’ve got this going on..I’ve got that going on…I have to go here and then go there…check emails and then, THEN, finally next in line is time with God…our relationship with Him is, “God, don’t call me, I’ll call you.”

 2 You may not be spending enough time reading God’s Word
Isaiah said, “If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18, NIV).

 4.    Take a Look At Your Life Up To This Point
While we are not prisoners of our past we are often shaped by it…so, another way to help you with the timing of major changes is look closely at the rhythmic ups and downs that your life has taken up to this point and then compare them to the Bible…

Psalms 119:59 (New Living Translation) “I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your instruction.”  His instruction is in the Bible…

5.    Take The Time to Make The Right Decision
God is never in hurry…why are we?

A GOOD decision is always better than a