Potential
Everyone has potential and everyone is born with potential. Potential is God- given. What we do with our God-given potential is what will define our life.
It is so sad when we see how so many people live far below their potential because everyone has potential.
Throughout your life, you can maximize your potential because opportunities only end when we are no longer here. So while you are alive and breathing, there is potential for anything.
With the potential that we have, God expects us to go beyond what is normal and achieve the impossible. It means we may have to take risks and move out of our comfort zone and trust God to work with us.
There are so many Spirit-filled believers who are too afraid to make bold moves and changes so that they can live more positive lives.
No one is as blind as a person who cannot see their potential.
The Bible is full of stories of people who were anointed and positioned by God to achieve great things, but they did not believe in themselves.
Potential relates to your purpose and God’s will for your life. Your potential has to be activated just as your purpose has to be discovered. There are a number of points to be considered to encourage you to go beyond where you are at the moment.
1. Do not be deceived
2 Corinthians 11:3 - But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
The greatest enemy of your potential is deception. If the enemy succeeds in convincing you that you cannot do it, then you will not be able to do it.
Deception will keep you from fulfilling your purpose and you will stay stuck in the same place and will not be able to move forward with your life.
It was deception that made Gideon believe that he was a slave when God saw him as a champion with the potential to save a nation from poverty.
It was deception that kept Jonah from winning the entire city of Nineveh to God.
It was deception that kept an entire generation of Israel from enjoying the Promised Land because of the giants.
It is deception that will minimise your potential and keep you weak.
2. It is God’s power
1 Corinthians1:26-29 - not many wise, mighty or noble men are called, but god chooses the foolish and despised things of the world to confound the wise, because he will not allow flesh to take any glory.
God-given possibilities match your potential. God does not call you on the basis of your ability but on your potential. This means that you do not have to prove yourself first. This is a common mistake made by ministries because many times they become an obstacle to someone’s potential by placing too many demands and restrictions.
Jesus did not know the disciples buy yet He appointed them. They were not educated and could probably not read or write. But he knew that each one had the potential to succeed.
Jesus did not wait for the disciples to emerge as potential leaders. He knew everyone has potential. He was more interested to see whether they would have the faith to follow Him. The rest was up to them to activate and release their potential. Not everyone heeded His call to follow Him. The Bible records quite a few individuals who rejected the call. God is looking for those who will follow Him and submit under a mentor.
The fact that Judas failed does not prove that Jesus made a mistake in calling Him. Judas had the opportunity to be successful, but made bad choices during his mentorship process. Remember, every choice has a consequence.
3. Move from potential to productivity
Philippians 4:17 - Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
2 Timothy 4:5 - But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
We have to be doers of the Word and that means we must be productive. We have to activate our purpose and it must show fruit. Never tell God that you are unable to do something and never tell him that you are too busy. The worst thing you can do is to ask God to use somebody else when He has made it clear what He wants us to do.
We have to show fruit because our performance will be judged by it. God has called us to action.
4. Know what you can achieve
Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
We can achieve the following with our God-given potential:
• Exceedingly
• Abundantly
• Above all
• If we think it, we can do it
Our potential is only limited by what we believe we cannot do!
5. Your past cannot kill your potential
Hebrews 10:17 - Then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
So many people are trapped because they feel they are worthless because of their past mistakes and bad choices. This is the main trump card that the devil uses and we can so easily live a life of guilt.
God does not use us on the basis of our past history, but knows the potential we have to make a difference in the future. It is never too late to be what you might have become.
I visited the home of Elvis in Graceland, Tennessee. After so many years after his death, I was amazed at the crowds of people that take the tour every day and listen to his life’s story. The sad thing is, the story will never change, because he has lived his life and what he has achieved, whether good or bad, will be told over and over again for all eternity. What will your legacy be? What story will be told about your life after you have lived and died? Will it be something that God will be proud of? If your answer is “no” and you are still alive, you can change your future. However, you must make the choice to change the outcome which will mean making a decision to live totally dedicated to God.
Your life has meaning. Dedicate it to God and you will never be sorry.
6. Overcome fear
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Fear is the greatest enemy of potential. Many people live within the confines of walls that have been put up around them that box them in and kill their potential. Only you can break out of that box. Take a risk and step over the boundaries others have placed on you. It is better to try and fail rather than not to try at all.
God is with you and you will not fail. God has called you to do the impossible, not the possible. If you can do it, you do not need God’s help and you do not have to pray about it. Just do it. If you are unable to do it, it is probably what God wants you to do, because He will help you by His power and not your own ability. God is looking for fearless men and women who will believe all things and step out and perform supernatural things for the Kingdom.
Do not be intimated by other people and do not listen to their opinions especially if they tell you things like:
• You are not able to do this
• You do not have the skill for this
• This is not you
• You do not have the right education
• So many more talented people have tried this and failed
• No one has done this before
• You will make a fool of yourself and people will laugh at you
• Etc.
7. God created you like that
Jeremiah 1:5-6 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
No person can reach their full potential without embracing God’s will. God has created you uniquely different with all your characteristics so that you can perform something special for His Kingdom. That is why He created you like that and that is why you are different and perhaps that is why people do not understand you and try and avoid you.
There are so many people who do not like who they are because they do not fit in. They go to great lengths so that they can be like other people especially so that they can fit in with others and be socially accepted. This causes huge amounts of stress and social pressure and that is why many resort to alcohol and drugs.
Just be yourself. Be comfortable with the way God made you because you are His design. Do not make any excuses or justify yourself to others. Use your God-given potential to fulfil God’s mandate for your life then you can say that you have lived life to the full.
8. Do not miss opportunities
1 Corinthians 16:9 - For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
How many doors have been opened for you? Never pause at an open door because that is where most people miss opportunities.
I heard the story of a pastor who had quite a few issues with his church. While he was preaching one Sunday, he stopped and stared at the congregation. He then said “I cannot do this anymore. I know I haven’t finished the service, but I am walking out the door this very minute and I am never coming back.”
He stepped off the stage and walked out the door. The church was stunned and sat in absolute silence. The drummer was a young man who was on fire for God and without any hesitation, stepped up to the pulpit and started preaching! He saw an opportunity. Today, he is still pastoring that church.
9. Be a good disciple
Luke 14:33 - So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
To maximise your potential:
• Realize that true potential is Godly potential meant to perform impossible assignments for God’s Kingdom.
• Make sure you are part of a local church.
• Submit under earthly leaders.
• Be in it for the long haul. Find a church and become stable.
• Make sure you are being equipped in the Word.
• Never give up and do not let be easily offended by other people.
• Do not allow other voices to mess with your mentorship.
• Be ready for the supernatural and believe all things
10. Start today
Hebrews 3:7-8 – Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your heart.
Make choices today. These may be radical or marginal, but make changes in your life if you want a different outcome. Break out of your comfort zone and present yourself to God and make yourself available to His earthly leaders and you will see how your God-given potential will be ignited and fully realized.
You have been waiting for God. However, God is waiting for you.
