HELEN SANDERS
7-1-2026
A SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE

Paul said in Ephesians 5:26-27 speaking of Jesus’ church, his bride, “26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Jesus wants us to be without spot or blemish, not even a wrinkle. Now for someone that has a few “wrinkles” that may seem like a challenge, but it is not just about the physical. The wrinkles are those things that put “dents in your armor.” It is those little “bites” in the flesh that come from spiritual mosquitoes. You know, those people that “irritate” you, the ones that “rub against the grain.” The ones that cause us to be offended because we walk in the flesh and not the spirit.

We are told in Galatians 5:24, “that those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections (passions) and lusts.” A person that chooses to do this, walks in a “spirit of excellence.”

Is it easy to let your little wrinkles and offenses go? No, but that is what we must do. We must be crucified. Crucifixion is the most painful death because it does not happen instantly. There has been much research on crucifixion, and the way death comes is through smothering. There is no breath left. That is the point Jesus was at when he gave up the ghost. So, with us, we must let the smothering of sin work in our lives so that the only thing left is the breath of God.

We are told in Galatians 5:16, “This I say then, walk in the Spirit (led by Holy Spirit) and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” This must be done moment by moment. When an occasion comes that the “flesh” wants to rise up with its ungodly fruit, then we must choose to say “no” to it. We discipline ourselves. We make the choice to have our spirit control our flesh and soul.

In time it becomes second nature to walk in a spirit of excellence because we choose to do what is right and be controlled by Holy Spirit. This must happen to be that bride that Jesus is coming back for without spot or blemish.