THEME: CHRISTIAN YOUTH VS PRESENT DAY CHALLENGES

TOPIC: HARNESSING YOUR POTENTIALS ON THE THREE MAJOR F’s. (FAITH, FAMILY AND FUTURE)

TEXT: MATT. 7:24-27; EPHESIANS 2:10; MATT.25:14-15

Introduction:

Every human being was created or born with potential, which if discovered, developed and released, will not only enable him or her find his or her place in society, but also make meaningful contributions to the church, society and eventually leave a legacy for posterity. A man or woman eventual exit from the earth scene should not imply the obliteration of his or her influence on earth. We owe it to posterity to leave something of a lasting value behind. But how do we achieve that? The answer to the question is what this teaching is about.

 HARNESSING YOUR POTENTIALS

To Harness your potentials is to recognizing and maximize your unique abilities, skills, and talents to achieve personal and professional growth and success. It involves self-awareness, goal setting, and taking deliberate actions to unlock your full potential

DEFINITION OF POTENTIAL

Potential on the hand are divinely designed qualities embedded or concealed in a person, in their raw, unrefined state, intended as equipment for the fulfillment of his or her assignment on earth, if discovered, developed and released. In other words, your potential is what you actually have, as far as your relevance to society is concerned.
  Each and every member of the human race possesses potential. To prove this, you simply need to look closely at what the bible says in Genesis: 1:28:

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill
 the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

(Gen 11:5 ISV)  However, the LORD descended to look over the city and the tower that the humans were building.

(Gen 11:6 ISV)  The LORD said, “Look! They are one people with the same language for all of them, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. Nothing that they have a mind to do will be impossible for them!

 
The verses of scripture above address the generality of the human race. Therefore, just as God placed potential in the first man and woman for fruitfulness and multiplication, He did the same in all their offspring. No human being can correctly claim a personal lack of potential. 

AIM OF THIS LECTURE:

• To help us come out of our comfort zone and start working for the master, the filed is vast but the laborers are few.
• To provoke us unto good work
• Also to decongest the pulpit. There is so much in the church that we can do, not necessary until we climb the pulpit.

THE IMPORTANCE OF POTENTIAL

Potential is important for the following reasons:
Firstly, potential is important because it is God’s investment in a man or woman. It is the seed which God has deposited in every human being for productivity. Like the master of the servants who were given talents to trade with (Matt 25:14-30), God expects returns on His investment of latent resources (potential) in man.

Secondly, your potential is the means by which you express the best version of your individuality and personality. As you put your potential to use, your true and unique self surfaces

Thirdly, according to the amplified version rendition of Genesis 1:28 man is to subdue the earth, using all its vast resources in the service of God and man. Your qualification for participation in that mandate is your potential. In other words, it is by putting your potential to work that you can harness the treasures of the earth.

    Fourthly, just as a city set on a hill cannot be hidden(Matt 5:14), so also will your potential, if discovered, developed and released, make you a light to  your generation, a beacon of hope and a point of reference for generations to come.
    Lastly, your potential provides you with the means of experiencing genuine fulfillment and fruitfulness in life.
   Based on the importance of potential given above, it is imperative for you to do everything necessary to discover, develop and release your potential.

THE THREE MAJOR F’s. (FAITH, FAMILY AND FUTURE)

 There are lots of potentials out there including some of us in the church; some of these potentials are needed to promote the cause of the kingdom.

1. David was able to harness is potentials as a shepherd boy. 1Sam.16:11-12;17:21-30
2. Moses harnesses his potential before he was called by God as caring and compassionate leader. Exd.2:11-14
3. Joseph use his dreaming potential predicts the future and God promote him and use him to save his father house from famine. Gen.37:5-11;41:25-41
4. Paul harnesses his potentials as a lawyer, tent maker and his speaking ability to preach the gospel. . Acts.22:3; Acts. 18:3; Acts.20:34.

Everyone has potentials until you use the right tools to harness the potentials in you.

1. HARNESSING YOUR POTENTIALS IN THE AREA OF FAITH

The apostles are our perfect example, the apostle were able to harness there potentials that was why they were able to preach the gospel perfectly. Acts 4:13

Going through the training under Jesus they were able to harness there potentials though they had not been to the four walls of class rooms, they were just fisher men but they were able to preach the gospel and write letters.

Paul the apostle was learned, harnessing his potential in faith made him stand out among other apostles. The skills he acquired were of great help to him and they help him in no great measure in area of his faith. Acts.22:3; Acts. 18:3; Acys.20:34; 2Cor.11:9.

Harnessing your potential in faith is to make use of whatever potentials that God has giving you to serve Him.

• HARNESSING YOUR POTENTIALS IN THE AREA OF FAMILY

Every boy is a potential husband and every girl is a potential wife, until you harness that aspect of you and put it to use you cannot become a husband or a wife.

Whatever you are doing have in mind that you will have family,

While using our potential, most of us do forget about the plan of having family especially our sister

In any area of your life think of what you are molding yourself into; can these sustain me and family? How far can this sustain me?  You cannot be a boy (guy) or girl (babe) forever. Can I grow these potentials, talent, and ability in me? Most people today take decision based on what they see that might be trending not necessary because they have passion for it or the capacity to sustain it.

Harness your potentials today in planning your family

There are basic areas in family you need to invest and harness your potentials for.

• Providing for the family 2cor.  12:14
• Training prov. 22:6; duet. 6:7
• Nurture. Eph.6:4; colos.3:21

• HARNESSING YOUR POTENTIALS FOR YOUR FUTURE

Same time we are relax into believing that God time is the best and that the bible says we should not think of tomorrow, but Jesus has this to say. Luke 14:28-33.

• Dream like joseph sees the future and prepare for it. Gen 41:1

Harness your potentials for the future in these two ways:

• Your life.
• Eternity. 

1. Harness your potentials today for your FUTURE life.
2. You cannot be champion forever you cannot be strong forever plan your retirement, take full advantage of what you can do now
3. Harness these potentials use them or develop them for future use in God’s Kingdome. Whatever potentials you have now and you are using it to serve God do not say because am married that ends it No! Develop it and prepare yourself to become a minister, elder, deacon etc.

Whatever God giving potentials or talent that God gave to you, will not be to send you to hell but to glorify his name. Eccl.12:1&13-14.

• There are lots of things that we are doing right now or we can do but always remember that you will give account of how you spent your life here on earth. 2cor 5:10
• Whatever you find yourself doing today, ask yourself “How can I use this to glorify God?”  As a youth you may be into music, ITC, an artisan etc., think of how you will use these to the glory of God both now and future.
• Harness your potentials today for ETERNITY.

Harness your potentials here on earth and use them to prepare yourself for eternity. Paul said for him to live is Christ. Phil.1:20-21

 Majority of us today devote our potentials for money, firm, and power. There by making us ready to do anything just for these things I have mention.

In everything we do, let’s remember that we have a creator whom we shall all account to Heb.8:27; 2Cor.5:10; Rom.14:12.

Whatever we do in harnessing our potentials we should be heaven conscious and heaven bound. 1Cor.10:31; Colos.3:17

The whole duty of man is to fear god and keep his commandment.  Eccl.12:13, 14

Conclusion:

Harnessing your potentials is an ongoing journey. It requires commitment, self-reflection, and a willingness to adapt and grow. By consistently working on these aspects of personal development, you can harness your full potential and achieve your desired level of success and fulfillment.

You should release your potential on God’s terms. In other words, use it”… in the service of God and man…” (Gen 1:28), and only in that order. This necessitates humility. Only as we humble ourselves before God, can He use us effectively for His glory. We would do well to remember that, we are stewards of His manifold grace, and such, required us to be faithful (1Cor 4:2; 1Peter 4:10). In summary, our overall attitude towards harnessing and releasing our potential should be:”… that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever…” (1Peter4:11).

Evang. Thomas Musa Kakaya

C.O.C, Rumueme Mile 4 PH

08164775702