SEPTEMBER 13

LOVE SPEAKS: EXCELLENCE

Notes By: Esther Melody Smith

Love Speaks is actually the title of a book I’m writing at the moment. I got the title between rides while driving for Lyft, I was praying and dwelling on the many conversations and I pulled over and I prayed outlaid and wrote this: “Father, help me be a person who helps others realize how near and available you are, that you can speak to THEM and reveal mysteries. Help me to be a person who empowers others to know that you ARE LOVE and love speaks, that Jesus you are God AND Jesus you are THE WORD and that word is love, spoken and written, a love letter from the living God, that we are all called to speak your love, that knowing how love speaks to and through us is crucial to developing great relationships, and help me to be an example of what that truly means.” God responded and said “That’s the title of your book - Love Speaks”. That was in 2016, LOL, I’ve got a lot of content, but I need to get it happening, so PLEASE, one of the ways you can be love speaking to me is to ask me how my book is going! I gotta get it DONE! 

I actually also recently asked on Facebook what God had been saying to people at the moment and was blown away by the response, here’s a few of the responses:

  • My needs will be answered in His time

  • Patience

  • Seek wisdom. Work Hard

  • Keep going in the middle of the crisis

  • Follow me

  • Forgiveness

  • Create more than you consume

  • I AM - I am the same yesterday, today and forever

  • Trust in the Lord w/ all your heart and lean not understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path

  • Don’t wear a mask 

  • REST in me - LOVE your conservative and liberal neighbors - look past the politics, fear and judgment 

  • He is coming soon

  • What I see with my natural eyes, doesn’t have to be my final destination or reality 

  • Trust me I see your pain

  • The apostolic call to the church remains top priority 

  • I AM YOUR FREEDOM. Rest in that. 

  • My story could help someone someday 

  • Don’t pay attention to noise, focus on what I”M doing and live your life

  • He is enough, He is our portion

  • Peace, be still

  • Be still and know that I am God

  • I am “The church: and anything I would criticize “the church” for is something that I should seek to change in my own heart rather than sitting in judgment 

  • Guard your heart

  • He’s been telling me to chill and God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and sound mind

  • You can trust me 

  • He never slumbers and is always at work no matter what things look like 

  • Remain and abide 

  • Speak less, pray more

  • Honor your wife and I’ll honor you

  • You are a child of the king. A royal priesthood. Walk boldly in your calling, do not doubt the value of your gifting. I am with you to do great things 

  • Never give up 

  • Get out of bed

  • Don’t step out without stepping into my presence as I lead you deeper

  • That you’re never too far away from God to give your life back to him. 

GOD IS SPEAKING

So when Dad (Phil) came to us and let us know the theme for this month would be “Love Speaks”, I was honored and excited. He asked us all what topic we would like to speak on and I knew right away that I needed to choose Excellence. 

You might ask: What does Excellence have to do with the topic “Love Speaks”?

Well let’s first define some terms:

LOVE; I already stated that GOD is love, thus God defines love, and His word says that “No greater love has any man than this: that He lay his life down…” 

At the core, love is creating space sacrificially so that others can have the BEST and thrive eternally (might already be detecting some excellence there) 

Speaks: at the core this is what we call the phenomenon that happens when we open our mouths and intelligible sound that others can interact with comes out. What we mean by the topic is basically that Love communicates…and uses various communication to make it’s point known

Excellence: I asked a question online this week “what is your definition of excellence”, I got a few private messages and a couple of comments and the main feedback was basically as Paul Scanlon says in one of the references that was sent me,  “Excellence is: Doing the best that you can with what you have” 

God, Love Himself only does things well. Everything He created was good, and when He came to something that was not good (man being alone) He created a good solution (He who finds a wife finds a GOOD thing and receives favor from the Lord) 

Psalm 19 declares wonderfully 
The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork. 
Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard. 
Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

Romans 1:20 says
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. 

God creates excellent, good things, and they speak to us.  If God’s lovingly excellent creation exists to declare His glory and draw our hearts to Him and His desire for eternal relationship, then so should ours. And as I read, it became apparent to me that it is ONLY by the Holy Spirit active in our lives that we can follow in God’s excellent, loving footsteps.

What is EPIC is that God created us as the PINNACLE of His creation and we likewise were created to proclaim His glory so that all would know!!! Daniel 12:3 says “And the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever” - God is saying that He wants to be part of the heavenly declaration of the glory of God that is described in Psalm 19 - he is saying that when we apply wisdom (which in Proverbs 11:30 we find wisdom says “he who wins souls is wise”) and bring many to righteousness, we are stars WE TOO SHINE HIS GLORY! Well COME ON SOMEBODY!!!

On top of this, we have the 1 Corinthians 12/13 statement. Go with me to 1 Corinthians 12:31 and then we’ll continue into 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 12:31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

1 Corinthians 13: LOVE

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I hope you are catching the driftwood I am sharing with you.  I’m not gonna be like Rose and keep it to myself!!! (Titanic Reference) 

I believe that Love is an expression of excellence and excellence is an expression of Love

I included some references below under “additional resources” that you can check out, you’ll find links to all the times certain words are used, if you don’t know how to navigate BLB let us know because you can also check out root words, meanings etc - when you do, you’ll find that the words translated to excellence and skillful ALL related directly to the spirit of wisdom and understanding…which only comes from God.  All of what I just shared is background and setup that I trust has painted a clear picture for you. I had a bunch of points I was going to share as to how to practically apply and grow in loving excellence, but as I studied and read and dug in and prayed this week, it became apparent to me that the precious Holy Spirit was guiding me to a core truth that without HIM, without the Holy Spirit’s presence, power, baptism, glory, and sovereignty in our lives we actually can’t achieve our role, our purpose, we hinder our relationship with God, we blind ourselves to truth without Him. HE RELEASES THE POWER OF GOD. 

This week a couple of things happened as I was preparing to preach. On Tuesdays, a friend of mine and I have been going live on Facebook for what we call #TestimonyTuesday and our guest for the one on Tuesday was a local pastor from my friend’s church. Before we started filming he was sharing with us about Tongues and mentioned a revivalist from a long time ago saying something along the lines that there is a direct correlation between the power, depth, and impact of someone’s ministry and the amount that they speak in tongues. He went on to share that when he worked in the oil fields, he made the determination that he would try to spend as much of the week on the field as possible speaking in tongues, he did this for a long time and now is one of the people I know who has consistent accurate prophetic words. 

This passing comment moved me deeply and I have been challenged all week because of it to take on Paul’s lifestyle of “I thank God that I pray in tongues more than all of you”. Paul’s not trying to say He’s better, He’s trying to say “look at the potency of my ministry, it’s ONLY by the Holy Spirit and He is available to ALL, in fact, Paul is saying it in the context that he wants everyone to speak in tongues. 

The other thing is that I’ve been digging into Exodus, the section where God speaks to Moses on the mountain, makes His covenant with the people of Israel, gives His law, and establishes plans for His dwelling place among the people. Highly recommend digging in and studying this portion of scripture for a deeper understanding of God’s heart for His people, for covenant, and for excellence. On Wednesday I sent out the question I mentioned asking about excellence and I was really excited when one of my friends responded to my question and said:

What the first thing that comes to mind for me from scripture is how all of the best artisans were the ones who use their gifts to build the temple. If that was true then, then we should 1. bring our best to the house of God like they did and 2. give our best offering of worship in whatever areas we’re gifted in.

It all came together for me as I read Exodus 33 on Wednesday- let’s all go there, reading from verse 1
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. I could come up into your midst in one moment and consume you. Now therefore, take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do to you.’ ”So the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by Mount Horeb.
Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

In chapter 34, Moses comes down the mountain after being with God and because he had been in the presence of God HIS FACE REFLECTED IT, he was literally glowing. 

Our church keynote scripture is 2 Corinthians 3:18, you become what you behold - the scripture says “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS WHAT WE NEED 

Today for our decision time, we call it a BID a Biblically Informed Decision, if you’re reading, watching, or here in the room and you’re not sure if you’re in right standing with God - NOW is good. Let’s all pray together out loud right now:

Thank you Father for sending your Son, Jesus, for His sacrifice on the cross, for resurrection life, and for sending your Holy Spirit to be with us In Jesus’ place when he ascended to be with you in heaven. I repent, I turn from my sin, and I accept you as Lord. Help me to become more like you. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Awesome, our second part of the BID is for everyone out there, if you’re anything like me, all of this stuff has made you hungrier than ever to engage with Holy Spirit, here, now and in every moment, to see Him move in our lives and transform us. We are going to sing a song called BEHOLD, God’s presence IS Here, He is with us right now whether you’re streaming, standing, sitting, kneeling, here in the room, at home, or in your car even! I pray for an impartation of His goodness that leads to repentance. I pray for eyes to see and ears to hear and perceive that we can join right now with the throne room and sing the eternal song that is going on in Heaven, I speak the incredible REST of God, the peace that passes all understanding. I speak strongholds broken, breakthrough of mindsets, over fear, over anxiety, I speak healing and resurrection life. And I pray that right now as we BEHOLD HIM, we will all be changed, we will reflect HIS glory, in Jesus name. 

Additional resources 

Blue Letter Bible links:

Excellence: https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=excellence&t=NKJV#s=s_primary_0_1

Excellency: https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=excellency&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1

Excellent: https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=excellent&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1

Skillful: https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=skillful&t=NKJV#s=s_primary_0_1

Skilled: https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=skilled&t=NKJV#s=s_primary_0_1

Megamorphic Church