05/04/2008,CHC SG,Ps Tan Ye Ping

~2 Peter 1:5-7

~7 Stages of spiritual development:
1) Virtue
2) Knowledge
3) Self control
4) Perseverance
5) Godliness
6) brotherly kindness
7) Love

~Virtue = GK.Arete means excellence

~Excellence means to excel a given standard that is ordinary,average,terrible or unworthy

1) Excellence is to be superior in Quality
- The call of God is always a call to excellence-never a call to mediocrity

2) Excellence is to obtain greater in Quantity
- John 15:16,Ps 126:5-6
a) Demand on your Heart (Prov 4:23)
- Never give up
b) Demand on your Time
c) Demand on your Money (Luke 16:11)

3) Excellence is to Transcend your job description
- Matt 5:41
- 1st mile = duty,2nd mile = love
- Love only begins after the demands of duty have been met (Romans 13:8)

4) Excellence is to Outdo yourself each time
- Eph 6:5-8
- Right thinking --> Right behavior,right methods
- Thinking with excellence
(a) Laws -------------> Liberty (Gal 5:13)
(b) Systems ---------> Service (Matt 20:25-28)
(c) Self-centered ----> Spirit-centered (Zec 4:6)
(d) Legalism --------> Love
(e) Fear ------------> Faith (2 Tim 1:6)
(f) Control ----------> Concern/Care
(g) Duty ------------> Devotion/Love (Ex 17:12)
(h) Getting ---------> Giving (2 Cor 9:6-7)
(i) Explanation -----> Example (John 13:13-15)
(j) Bondage --------> Breakthrough

~If you not love God,your loyalty will not last

~ Is not about what we can gain when we serve,is what we ca give when we serve