Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
EXCELLENCE IS NOT PERFECTION.
THE POWER FOR EXCELLENCE IS NOT THE POWER OF ACCELERATION – an excellent driver is not the one who has the skill with speed; but the one who have the skill in his attitude with speed.
“THERE ARE NO SPEED LIMITS ON THE ROAD TO EXCELLENCE.”
“EXCELLENCE IS NOT A SKILL. IT IS AN ATTITUDE.” RALPH MARSTON QUOTES
“IF YOU ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN BIG THINGS, YOU DEVELOP THE HABIT IN LITTLE MATTERS. EXCELLENCE IS NOT AN EXCEPTION, IT IS A PREVAILING ATTITUDE.” 
COLIN POWELL QUOTES (CHAIRMAN OF THE US JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF (1989-93). AT PRESENT, US SECRETARY OF STATE, 1937)
EXCELLENCE: IT IS AN ATTITUDE. Being of great virtue or worth; eminent or distinguished for what is amiable, valuable or laudable;
To experience EXCELLENCE, we need a paradigm shift, a renaissance and a reorientation.
The only distinguishing fine line between the 5 foolish virgins and the 5 wise virgins was the EXRA-OIL.
Excellence is only excellence when we go beyond the required limit and when we outspread our tentacles with outstretching wings beyond the standard.
LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE:
FIRST LEVEL: DEVELOP A NEW IDENTITY- DENIAL OF SELF:
Belteshazzar – two meanings – Daniel 1:7
Unto 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.
1. One who protect lives
2. One who lay up treasures in secret
A changed name signifies a “new identity”- A New identification is a mark of excellence. In order for us to make it unto the zenith and reach the acme of life, we must strive to have a new and a changed identity. A new identity is a denial of self from our GLORYS AND CROWNS – DEPRIVING OURSELVES FROM OUR COMFORT ZONES.
Names are labels which explain the rigidity and our being stereo typed with our location. To make it onto the apex of your destination, you need to breakthrough your location.
DANIEL is a name belonging to the distant past, to reach the future you must stripe yourself off the past and to have new identity attracting you to your future. Example: ESTHER AND JOSEPH.
ESTHER:
Esther is a Syro-Arabian modification of the Persian word Satarah, which means a star or secret and hidden. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, meaning myrtle which is a green shinning leaf and snow-white flowers bordered with purple, "which emit a perfume more exquisite than that of the rose."
Her CHANGED IDENTITY became her CHUM AND BUDDY for exploits.
JOSEPH:
Joseph’s name given to him in Egypt was zaphnath-Paaneah meaning, A REVEALER OF SECRETS and THE PRESERVER OF THE AGE. This name gave him a new identity which instilled in him the urgency to bring great deliverance for the Egyptians and his family (the whole lad of Canaan). Nevertheless, his former name Joseph, which means “increase or fruitfulness” gave him a character to be fruitful in all that he did.
The Hebrew names of Daniel and his friends reflected their RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND. Their new names established NEW IDENTITIES for these young men which in turn affected their scope and perception to life.
MEMORIES AND IMAGINATION:
Their old names were their past life (memories) they have to struggle with (whether to forget about them entirely or to live with them absolutely).
Their new names were their future greatness (imaginations) they have to struggle with (whether to reject it or to be in tuned with them).
Examples: Abraham, Jacob, Simon, and Saul.
New identification elevates one for a new vision in life.
A NEW IDENTITY BECOMES A CATALYST FOR GREATER VISIONS - ACHIEVEMENTS.
Your changed and transformed identity must equip you for the double impact unction:
- Leaving down a legacy for future generation by preserving their lives like Joseph – Gen. 45:7 and…
- Storing up treasures in secret which will be of a great help for tomorrow.
EXPERIENCE (building yourself up with your NOW or what you are going through) and learning from what you are going through.
The name of Daniel attracted him to a new vision. His first name called for a judgment on the children of Israel, but his second name, Belteshazzar (protector of life) fortified him for a preservation of life for his immediate milieu (life for the Babylonians) and that of the Israelites.
HIS PURPOSE IN LIFE:
SECOND LEVEL: NON-COMFORMITY TO THE STATUS QUO – Attitudes, behaviors, sayings, actions, and natural tendencies (That is how I am). Daniel 1: 8
But 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.
Though Daniel was encompassed with an odd environment but he was purposeful not to remove the ancient landmarks - Pro 22:28; Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
DETERMINED TO PRESERVE HIS GODLY HERITAGE —
- Daniel’s decision reflects his godly heritage
- These young men were committed to keeping God’s law even though the majority in Judah were already following after the false gods when they were taken captive – including the king (Jehoikim).
Daniel purposed that he might not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies –
Many bible scholars and theologians explain that, Daniel and his friends didn’t partake of the meat offered by the king because it was meats which were pronounced an abomination to the Lord by Moses. I beg to differ because the Jews were not to eschew themselves from every meat but some type of meats. No one knows the type of meat killed by Nebuchadnezzar, and in biblical times, the gentile world also followed the killing of lambs or sheep for their gods, so this reason rejects the findings of these scholars. The delicacies or meats of the king were first offered to his gods in view that those who eat them will partake of the blessings and protection of the gods by making them strong and well built. The eating of the food offered to them will give GLORY and HONOR to the gods of Babylon and so if Daniel and his friends become nourished and fully built, the ovation and the glory would be extended unto the Babylonian gods.
Daniel knew Nebuchadnezzar’s superstitions regarding the food and wine he offered to his pagan gods – and to the king, all who ate the food and drank the wine that had first been offered to the gods would prosper physically, intellectually and spiritually.
Daniel didn’t want any pagan gods – who were not gods at all to receive glory that belong to God and God alone.
Daniel refused to compromise with the world no matter what the cost might be – we are a “peculiar” people – the word “peculiar” comes from the Latin word “Peculium” meaning “Private Possession”.
We are the Private Possession of God.
HEART RESPONSE:
Daniel “placed his decision upon his heart”. In other words, he knew what was right and wrong – he made a deliberate decision that involved both his head and his heart – HIS MIND AND PASSION.
Identifying ourselves with our environs does not give us the leeway to be “perfect conformers of the trend of events”.
Though he had a new identity, but he was glued to the godly traditions and cultures established by the fathers (those who have gone before him). He was accustomed with his pure Israeli teachings. We must not be oblivious of our Christian tenets which has a great recompense of reward.
IN HIS QUEST TO STICK AND STAY WITH THE ANCIENT LANDMARKS, HE WAS NOT OBLIVIOUS OF A WELL KNOWN EXAMPLE ABOUT JOSEPH
EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS:
At this moment in Daniel’s life, he recalled another Israelite who faced similar predicament. It would be unusual indeed if e had not remembered Joseph’s experience when he was sold into Egypt. Every well taught Jewish boy would have heard this dynamic story, especially his experience in Potiphar’s house when he resisted temptation “of being conformed to the order of his day”.
Daniel certainly was aware of Joseph’s successes as well as his trials.
- Though “the Lord was with Joseph and he prospered him”, but this young man of seventeen was a FAITHFUL and DELIGENT SERVANT. He WORKED HARD TO EARN POTIPHAR’S TRUST.
- He took the same DELIGENT APPROACH when he was cast into prison – the keeper of the prison loved him.
- Joseph was a MODEL PRISONER and eventually was given authority over all the other prisoners (Gen. 39:20-23).
This is a wonderful Old Testament illustration of applying Paul’s words to the Colossian Christians who lived in the midst of pagan community.
“Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders” he writes… “Make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer anyone” (Col. 4:5-6).
- Daniel definitely and wisely made “the most of every opportunity”. Consequently, he developed a close friendship with Ashpenaz (the prince of the Eunochs).
- People will only show “favoritism” when there are emotional ties based on trust and Ashpenaz’s “sympathy” for Daniel definitely indicates a strong relationship with this young man.
THOUGH WE MUST FORGET THE PAST as Paul said in Philippians 3:13, BUT “we must not throw away our past scars which identifies us with our present situation”. Memories can be devastating if it’s applied and resorted negatively –
- Remembering the past to be stable and glued with it.
- Remember the past for it to catapult you onto your future.
Past victories must succor and motivate you to overcome your present difficulties and not to ignite in you the complacency to rest on our laurels; in the same way, your past difficulties must train and enlighten you to outwit and out beat the similar ones you would face, so that you can be an OVERCOMER and not a COMFORMER.
Some of our cultures are too dynamic to be rejected and trample under foot by us. We must not be befuddled and confused by Jesus’ statement “You have made the word of God of no effect by your traditions” – Mark 7:13a.
Traditions become of no effect when it leads us into bondage outside the will of God. Tradition short of this must be upheld in high esteem.
Non-conformity MUST NOT MEAN Total Rejection
We must make the best out of a bad deal.
My question here is that “If your boss in the work place is not a Christian, what kind of relationship do/must you have with that person?
Let’s observe Daniel’s life in a pagan environment….
- Daniel had no qualms regarding what he had to study. As long as he didn’t have to worship false gods, he didn’t resist learning everything he could study and know in Babylon.
- He used his inquiring young mind to turn his negative environs into a unique opportunity to expand his own insights so he could interact more intelligently with his secular counterparts.
Don’t give a perfumed rose flower to a friend after you have chopped off his nose!!
We must not insult and treat the world with contempt but rather, we must esteem them more highly in order to have the leeway to win them for Christ. As Christians, we MUST do all we can to win the respect and admiration of non-Christians without compromising our biblical convictions.
- Daniel demonstrated this principle again and again in his own life. He approached his superiors with respect
“WHAT WE RESPECT, WE WILL ULTIMATELY ATTRACT”
Ex. Zacchaeus – His respect for Jesus motivated him to climb the sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of the “rejected” Christ and Jesus brightened his house with His presence;
Mary Magdalene – Her respect for Jesus motivated her to take a glance at the “despised” Christ and Jesus consequently raised her brother Lazarus from the dead.
- He sought permission rather than demanding it – “PERMISSION FOR EXPLOITS IS EARNED NOT DEMANDED”.
- He identified with Ashpenaz’s delay in hesitating to grant his request and tried to avoid creating the same tension for his guard.
“DELAY IS NOT DENIAL”
PRINCIPLE TO LIVE BY:
When we are taking a public stand for our convictions vis-à-vis adopting the positive systems of our day, we should make sure we are prayerfully and circumspectively selecting our concerns based on scripture.
- Daniel illustrated this principle. He could have reacted negatively by refusing to be called Belteshazzar. He could have refused to study and learn about the evil and satanic practices of the Babylonians.
- Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, stating that he had “become all things to all men so that by all possible means”, he “might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22) – This does not mean that Paul compromised his convictions or his public testimony. He always stood firm on the values of scripture. However, he did not allow “personal offenses” to hinder his ability to be a positive witness for Christ.
- SADLY, MANY CHRISTIANS TRY TO “WIN LITTLE BATTLES AND LOSE THE WHOLE WAR” in terms of being a positive witness for Christ.
IS ALL TRUTH GOD’S TRUTH? – NO! ALL TRUTH BECOMES GOD’S TRUTH WHEN IT HAS NEXUS WITH BIBLICAL TENETS.
Daniel must have approached his own learning experience with a positive attitude, even though he would be exposed to ideas that definitely contradicted his own belief system
The SEARCH to excel is a QUEST FOR FAVOR
THE ABOVE TWO LEVELS WILL INSTILL IN US AN UPSWING TO ATTAIN UNTO THE REALM OF FAVOR BEFORE GOD AND MAN – Daniel 1:9.
Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
SAMUEL 1:26: And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the LORD, and also with men.
JESUS Luke 2:52: And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
To climb up on the ladder of excellence we need to…
THIRD LEVEL: IDENTIFY YOURSELVES WITH RISK – HARNESSING OUR FAITH – PUTTING OUR FAITH TO WORK – THROWING A STRONG CHALLENGE verse 11-13.
Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
Faith is identifying ourselves with the supernatural.
We are the children of the All-Powerful God and that identity must be seen in us.
Excellence is the ability to stand out among your fellows making the difference.
Availing ourselves to be the “Premius inter paris” – “first among equals”- LATIN. The only way we can be set apart is through the activation of our FAITH – 1 John 5:4.
Faith can be activated when we opt for the impossible.
Faith is when we act in defiance to the power of reasoning and wink at or overlook or better still we are unperturbed with the obloquy of being labeled “mad and wacko”.
A TEST OF FAITH:
To live in God’s will, one has to be willing to trust God for something unique and conspicuous.
The only way out of this quagmire was for Daniel to take a risk.
- Ashpenaz’s response demonstrates how RISKY Daniel’s request really was – though this high powered official cared about Daniel and respected his desire to want to please his own God, he made it clear to Daniel that he couldn’t do anything about Daniel’s request.
“I am afraid of my Lord the King, he responded. “Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you” (1:10).
- Though Ashpenaz cared about and trusted his friend, he didn’t believe his God would cause him “to prosper on a substandard diet”.
- Nebuchadnezzar was definitely not a respecter of persons. His word was law, and to violate his will – particularly in this regard – meant instant death.
SUPERNATURAL BENEFIT OF RISK:
- Daniel and his friends risked their lives to be au fait with the SUPERNATURAL – what happened next was definitely SUPERNATURAL. Though a ten-day diet involving water and vegetables would probably help all of us – particularly in terms of weight loss – it wouldn’t make the dramatic difference that happened to Daniel and his three friends.
The application of faith is the appellation (a tag) of foolishness.
Saying that you will never die is crass stupidity as ENOCH was.
Spending 120 years of your life building an ark to buffer a generation from being attacked by an illusion (flood – water coming from the heavens) is dementia as NOAH was.
Moving from your own family and kindred to a place you don’t know is an absolute hogwash as ABRAHAM was.
Rejecting your comfort zone to be subject to torture and being a fugitive is a complete insanity as MOSES was.
Relegating your spirituality and godly fragrance to be subject to servanthood and dying between malefactors is a ridiculous offence – a stumbling block as JESUS was.
These are the very act of faith without which excellence will become a mirage.
Risk is the brisk (the life) of livelihood.
Fear to risk is the fear to live. Life is a perilous journey. Failure to take a risk is risk itself. Risk is the dream-seed of winners. To live is to fight and overcome your worst fears.
Attempt a great height in life and you will soar over greater heights in your life. Failure is failure when you are afraid to fail.
We must not allow our logic and reason to dictate the pace of our soaring ability.
The eagle soars beyond its limits – the sun is my limit, says the eagle.
What about you?
The undaunted (fearless) spirit of the eagle to soar closer to the sun reveals its hidden ability and gift to behold the dazzling nature of the sun clearly.
Your ability to swim in the pool of faith will identify you with some unnoticed talents and potentials you have never dreamt of notching up.
The activation of Daniel’s faith to risk his life in order not to identify himself with the irregularities of his day attracted him to UNRAVEL THE NATURE OF GOD AS THE IMPOSSIBILITY POSSIBLE GOD – causing them to be fairer and fatter in flesh than those who enjoyed the king’s delicacies.
JOSHUA – Commanded the sun to stand still by faith and believe it or not it was.
ELIJAH commanded the heavens not to rain for three years and six months and it was.
He again commanded the waters to break forth and the heavens gave rain.
ELISHA commanded two she bears to tear up forty-two children who were mocking him and it was done.
Faith to risk produces an expansion of barns and an enlargement of coasts – BLESSINGS FROM GOD– Daniel 1:17.
As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Every worthwhile risk embarked in the name of God attracts the power and blessings of God. The fact is that God does bless us, even when we may not experience that reality immediately.
- God’s time table may be quite different from ours, but God will reward us in a special way. The Lord gave Daniel and his friends . . .
Knowledge, skill in all learning and wisdom, understanding in all visions and dreams.
KNOWLEDGE – It is the identification and the awareness of a necessity of life.
SKILL – It is the ability, the cleverness and the proficiency in utilizing what you have identified as a necessity in your life.
UNDERSTANDING – It is being accustomed with the basic necessities in your life familiarizing yourself with them – letting them being part of you.
The above potentials and talents didn’t come over night – they worked tirelessly towards it …
THERE IS NO ACTIVITY THAT IS DONE SOLELY BY MAN/GOD, BUT THE LORD OUR GOD RULES IN THE AFFAIRS OF MAN.
These gifts comes when we give our time to study and learn what is right beside us –
- As they deliberately studied, they learn faster than their peers. Not only did they stand out physically, but also intellectually.
- In addition, God gave Daniel a special spiritual gift – the ability to “understand and interpret visions and dreams of all kinds”.
- Ironically, God enabled Daniel to eventually use this exposure to these evil practices to demonstrate God’s true power through his own Supernatural gift to “understand visions and dreams”.
The QUEST to excel leads to the PINNACLE OF EXPANSION.
THEY GRADUATED WITH HONORS:
The time finally came when Daniel and his friends completed the three years of intensive training FOR THEIR MASTERS OF DIVINITY.
- Daniel and his friends “stood-out” and was “different” above al the others.
- No one measured up or even came close to their ability to answer questions and provide counsel regarding difficult matters.
- Whatever the area of knowledge and experience – whether science, language, government, agricultural, art, religion and of course psychology, philosophy, YOU NAME IT …these young men out distanced all their peers. In fact we read that the king found them TEN TIMES BETTER THAN ALL THE OTHERS (1:20).
Is this Hyperbole or an Exaggeration? In our language - YES. But in Hebrew language TEN TIMES may have “several” (Zechariah 8:23). The word translated TIMES in the Aramaic language literally means “HANDS”. If this is what the text means, then these FOUR YOUNG MEN WERE EQUAL TO “TEN HANDS” OR “TEN PEOPLE”.
The above THREE LEVELS open the gates for one to experience an economy of scale – mass production, enlargement of territories etc.
To upsurge gallantly onto the real of excellence the forth level needs to be applied….
FORTH LEVEL: THE WAITING SPIRIT: TIME TO WAIT UPON GOD - MOVING ABREAST WITH GOD – Daniel 2:16:
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
This is a time to turn your loneliness to solitude.
A time with God in prayers. An excellent life is a prayer life.
Isaiah 40:31 says, those who can run without weary and walk without fainting are those who can WAIT UPON THE LORD like the eagle.
- Abraham had a time off with God on the way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and prayed before he had the opportunity to dialogue with God about Sodom and Gomorrah.
- Jacob had a time off with God at bethel and prayed before he experienced a change of name after wrestling with an angel.
- Elijah had a time off with God and prayed before he heard the sound of an abundance of rain.
- Elisha had a time off with God and prayed before he annexed the double portion of Elijah’s anointing.
- Jesus had a time off with God in Gethsemane and prayed and angels came to strengthen Him for the battle ahead.
- The disciples had a time off with God and prayed before they experienced the out pouring of the Holy Spirit.
WAITING UPON GOD IS THE PAINTING OF GOD
It identifies us with the nature and spirit of Christ.
Jesus WAITED for the signal of the Father before launching into every activity in His earthly ministry. The steps of the righteous man is ordered by God so WE MUST BE IN WAIT FOR GOD BEFORE WE WASTE OUR BEING BY BEING IN HASTE.
THIS LEVEL MUST BE ESPOUSED BY THE FIFTH LEVEL BEFORE EXCELLENCE CAN BE PERFECTED…WITHOUT THIS LAST LEVEL, THERE CANNOT BE GREATNESS AND EXCELLENCE…..
FIFTH LEVEL: THE NEED FOR COMPANIONSHIP – Daniel 2: 17-19
Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
The enigmatic dream of Nebuchadnezzar came to light when the Daniel identified and understood the importance of companionship. He solicited the presence of worthwhile carriers of a divine agenda.
Daniel associated himself with people who were having the same spirit as himself. A carrier of a 50 by 50 vision must not associate him or herself with 5 by 10 personalities. Iron sharpens iron.
Pro 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
To be wise, you must seek for the presence of wise people; the same is true with the reverse. Proverbs 13:20
Lot had Abraham to deliver him from sudden death.
David had Jonathan who loved him like his own soul and this strengthened the hand of David to annex the throne with ease.
Elijah had Elisha to stand in his stead in fulfilling the will and purpose of God for Israel.
Jesus had the twelve in spreading the gospel.
Peter had John the Apostle, Mark and Silas.
Paul had Silas, Barnabas, Timothy, Titus and many others.
I have you to equip and strengthen my hands in time of need.
CONCLUSION:
Job 37:23 he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice:
Psalm 8:1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Psalm 148:13 for his name alone is excellent his glory is above the earth and heaven.
As Christians, we are ambassadors of Christ on the earth and as representatives of God, we are to reveal and declare the picture of God for others to know the reality of our God. Excellence is a process and we must thrive to begin this journey NOW!
