Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

What is an Excellent Spirit?

An excellent Spirit is simply someone who is godly.. Insomuch as that is what you are known for. TESTIMONY

How Do I get an Excellent Spirit?

1. Knowledge

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2. Divine Nature – Are You Saved – Are you a New Creature?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

If you are saved then you have a Divine Nature

3. The Example: Daniel

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.

Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4. The Fruits of the Spirit – What are the traits of a Christian?

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Do you have an Excellent Spirit?

Are you ready to take that divine nature for a spin?

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

1. What’s the difference?

If you going to make a difference then what difference are you going to make?

Salvation should be first…

If we truly have compassion, our heart should be to a world that simply does not know of what is coming down the road. We should be warning of a hell to come or a heaven to gain! Think of it this way…

If a car is driving down the road and the bridge is out…

Note: You cannot choose whether or not he keeps driving… but you can warn him.

Next if you are going to make a difference, be a mentor.

HELP someone be a better person, husband, wife, kid, employer, employee

It takes compassion… it takes TIME.

2. Sometimes making a difference requires ACTION

Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Fear what?    

There are those who have never been taught to fear the Lord.

Psalm 34:11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Psalm 9:16-17 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
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2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Sometimes to make a difference requires getting involved, getting in the car and hitting the brake.
Then walk them to the edge… Show.. Them.. What.. They.. Were.. Saved.. From..

Saving others with fear… still takes compassion.

Ephesians 4:14-15 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

This is a quick lesson done by Lance Brewer

Luke 15:11-32

The Story of the prodigal Son is a well known story.. And rightly so. It speaks of a young man who went to the world and lived a riotous life.. And when he hit rock bottom… he came home. Thus making it a great example of someone getting saved after they had lived a life of sin.

Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

So that begs the question —— Who Needs Repentance?

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Let me show you a comparison that sometimes gets overlooked in this powerful story.

Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

The other son was the “good son”

• He was the one in the fields making sure things got done
• He was the one who made sure the servants we out tending the sheep and cows
• He was the one who stayed faithful
• He didn’t take the family fortune and the family name and throw it all away
• He wasn’t the one who ended up eating the pigs leftovers!

HE WAS THE GOOD SON — Wasn’t He?

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Regardless of how you were raised you still need Christ.

• I was born into a Christian Home.
• I have Never tasted of Alcohol
• I have never cussed or heard my parents cussed
• I have never taken illegal drugs…

I AM THE OTHER SON!

Yet; I still needed a Saviour!

Proverbs 24:9a The thought of foolishness is sin:

JUST LIKE YOU…

• This Morning I ask the question… Which one of the sons are you?
• Are you the one who came home from the world?
• Or the “good son” who came in from the fields?
• Both need salvation.
• Have you trusted in Christ today?