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RCCG The King’s Palace
Family Life Ministry
Focus of the Family
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
2012 Family Life Teaching Summary
OPENING PRAYER
1ST QUARTER
FOCUS/THEME: FAMILY VALUES &
QUALITY OF RELATIONSHIPS
January - Courageous Movie
IMPACT OF FAMILY VALUES ON THE
QUALITY OF RELATIONSHIPS
Key Movies Characters
• Mitchells
– Adam (father)
– Victoria (wife)
– Dylan (Son)
• Hayes
– Nathan (father)
– Kyla (wife)
• Shane Fuller (jailed
police)
• Martinez
– Javier (father)
– Carmen (wife)
• David Thomson (rookie
officer)
Value System
• A value system is a set of
consistent values and measures.
• Value denotes something's degree
of importance or relative worth
with the aim of determining what
action or life is best to do or live
Values or Value System?
• What are examples of things affected by
our value system?
– Relationships
– Education (type/level/quality)
–Choices/Decisions
– Attention/Focus/Priorities
– Friendships (choice of friends)
Pressures vs. Values
• Pressure at work will prevent you from
creating time for your teenager (e.g. to
run together as in the case of Adam &
Dylan in the movie courageous )
• Unless you have a value system that
causes you to evaluate the impact of
your action and decisions on your
relationships!
Circumstances vs. Values
• Negative circumstances and life’s challenges
can cloud your judgment and prevent you
from maintaining a positive outlook of faith
in God and His Word/Promises, unless you
have a value system that causes you to look
at your glass as half full rather than half
empty! …and ultimately reflect on your
relationships.
Opportunity Cost & Values
• In our day to day life, we always are
confronted with the need to make a
choice between two or more
alternatives
• Our values or value system is the key
tool for identifying the alternative to
forgo!
Values Systems & Movie
• Absent Fathers (e.g. Nathan Hayes Father)
– Kids 20x more likely to end up in prison
• Not necessarily physically absent fathers,
how about physically present fathers, but
emotionally absent (e.g. Adam Mitchell in
the beginning)
– Daughter’s dance request denied (not important)
– Son’s run request denied (too busy)
Reminder:
As We Close 2012 It Is Recommended to
Revisit Your Family Vision & Values
Worksheet
RCCG The King’s Palace
Family Life Ministry
Focus of the Family
Tuesday, February 28 - 2012
• MARRIAGE SEMINAR RECAP: KEY LEARNING POINTS
• THE IMPORTANCE & POWER OF PARENTAL BLESSINGS
Marriage Seminar Recap
Session 1: 4 Foundational Laws of Marriage
• You have 100% chance of success in marriage
if you do it God’s way!
• You may love each other but if you violate the
laws of marriage you set yourself up for failure
• #1: Law of priority – leave & cleave
– sacrifice, time, energy, attitude
• #2: Law of pursuit
– Don’t take each other for granted
Marriage Seminar Recap
Session 1: 4 Foundational Laws of Marriage
• #3: Law of possession
– Share everything, avoid dominance & selfishness
– Don’t make major decisions independent of your
spouse’s inputs
• #4: Law of purity
– Be careful about everything you do…
– Take responsibility for your mistakes
Marriage Seminar Recap
Session 2:
• Don’t ride your emotions in the marriage
relationship
• Romance is speaking love in your spouse’s
language
Session 3:
• We need relationship with God (individually &
as a couple) for a healthy marriage
Marriage Seminar Recap
Session 3:
• The worst marriages is made up of two
masters in love
• The greatest marriages is made up of two
servants in love
• Foster “win-win” situations and environment
Marriage Seminar Recap
Session 4:
• Parenting is more caught than taught
(regardless of what we say to our children,
the video is constantly playing through our
actions)
• In-Laws – Honor them, but maintain
emotional separation from them
• Children – Love them; don’t follow them
emotionally into their own marriage
Marriage Seminar Recap
Session 5/6:
• Deal with destructive behaviors =
criticism, control & dominance,
emotional check-out, cruelty & abuse,
defensiveness
• Don't be friends with individuals that do
not take their marriage covenant
seriously
RCCG The King’s Palace
Family Life Ministry
Focus of the Family
THE IMPORTANCE & POWER OF
PARENTAL BLESSINGS
What is Blessing?
• Blessing - positive pronouncement or
declaration over a person, situation, etc.
• Blessings is the opposite of cursing
(negative pronouncement / declaration)
• A blessing is not one until it is spoken…
Why is it important to bless your family?
• Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the
tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
– Death = Curse
– Life = Blessing
– They that love (understand and take advantage of its
value )
– shall eat (be blessed)
– with its fruit (produce/product)
• Proverbs 18:7 - A fool's mouth is his destruction, and
his lips are the snare of his soul. (KJV)
Family Values - Blessing
• Develop the value system of
blessing your family:
– Consistently positive pronouncement over
your spouse and children
– Parents should pronounce blessing on your
children daily as they step out of the house
Summary
• As parents we have an opportunity to shape or
influence the direction and destiny of our
children through bestowing of parental blessings
• We have the power through parental authority
and the power of the tongue
• Others might say the same thing over your
children and it will not “stick”, but when you say
it God honors your words!
• Value blessing your family members continually!
Focus on the Family
March: Improving the quality of our
Relationships
1 Peter 3:8-12
Relationship can be classified into
two groups, namely:
Healthy and Unhealthy relationship.
What is an unhealthy relationship?
An unhealthy relationship is a relationship that is
sick…
•It is an unhappy relationship.
•It is a relationship that is not sound.
•It is a weak relationship.
•It is an abnormal relationship
not in a state of good or normal health; in
an unsound, weak, or morbid condition.
What are the causes of unhealthy
relationships?
1 Never admitting wrong doing (Saul)
2 Taking the other person for granted
3 Not being responsive to the feelings of
the other person
4 Not spending time together
5 Always wanting to have your way
6 Always talking and not listening
7 Lack of trust
8 Lack of integrity
9 Lack of tolerance
10Pride
11Superiority complex
12Lack of Christ
What are the consequences of
unhealthy relationship?
1 Divorce
2 Bad behavior
3 Lack of communication
4 Repression of feelings and thoughts
5 Selfishness
6 Secrecy
7 Disobedience
8 Anger
9 Judgmental
10Hatred
11Abuse (verbal, emotional ,physical)
12Unanswered prayers 1 peter3:7
13Death
How do we improve our relationship?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Don’t be a mind reader
Say sorry
Don’t take the other person for granted
Be reasonable in the method of teaching (headship
is not making all the decisions)
Be responsive to the feelings of the other party
Spend time together (there is something more than
making a living, it is sharing lives)
Don’t be judgmental
Respect each other
How do we improve our relationship?
9
10
11
12
Give gifts (not necessarily expensive)
Love each other (1peter 1:22b)
Talk and allow the other to talk also
Putting our knowledge into action (we like to learn
new ways but refuse to put what we have learnt
into action).
13 Live peaceably (it is the duty of a Christian not only
to embrace peace when offered, but to seek and
pursue it when it is denied).
14 Putting on the grace of God ( the longer we wear
the grace of God, the brighter and better God’s
grace is on our lives.
What is a Healthy Relationship?
A relationship that is one minded,
compassionate, tenderhearted, courteous, full
of love, life, good days, no evil, no deceit, a
relationship that doeth good, is peaceful it is an
answer to prayers.
Is this kind of relationship possible?
Yes…1 Peter 3:8-12
How can we sustain a healthy
relationship?
1 Have respect for each other not fear
2 Talk about your goals, challenges, etc.
3 Discuss successes and failures easily
without fear or shame
4 Keep doing whatever works for your
home, don’t compare your home with
others
5 Pray together
2ND – 3RD QUARTER FOCUS/THEME:
EFFECTIVE FAMILY FINANCE MANAGEMENT
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN FAMILY
Financial Freedom
Financial Literacy: Knowing What You Need To Know To
Achieve Your Financial Goals.
Opportunity cost of a decision is the value of the next best alternative that must be forgone
Allows you to analyze the consequences of choices to decide which trade-offs to make
What is entailed in family finance?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Budget
Education
Health care
Child care
Managing risk, insurance
Create wills
Instill financial literacy
Budgeting
Savings
Planning
Basic Finance Management is required to move the “Upward Way”
Don’t get entangled in the “21st Century Slavery Syndrome”
CREDIT FACILTIES
The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Psalm 115:14
Causes of Financial Stress
WHAT ARE THE COMMON REASONS WHY PEOPLE
OVERSPEND?
– Individual financial behaviors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Emotions
Personality
Individual attitudes about money
Impulsive buying
Excessive materialism
Preoccupation with status or social image
– Lack of financial understanding
• No family budget
• Where there is a budget, actual expenses not tracked for followup
• Low understanding of investment options & strategy
• The “Other People’s Money” syndrome. (Credit mentality – The
ability to borrow, that allow you to buy things you can really
afford to buy. SATAN Antics – “Live now and pay later.” (Master Deception)
Consequences of financial stress
What are the consequences?
• Unnecessary stress/strain through debt
• Foreclosure
• Sickness and Depression - May lead to Suicide
• Premature death
• Imprisonment due to funding of expensive lifestyle
• Divorce
• Murder
• Stealing/Robbery
• Illicit sex
• Drugs (Usage and Trafficking)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
1 Peter 5:8
Planning
What is planning?
Definition: a drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of
a building, garment, or other object before it is made:
 To formulate a scheme or program for the accomplishment, enactment, or
attainment of: plan a campaign. ( plan of attack, course of action
 To have as a specific aim or purpose; intend: plan to buy a house, pension
plan
 To draw or make a graphic representation of a design, structure,
configurations etc.
 Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do
something about it now. (Lakein, Alan - American Time Management
Expert Author Trainer)
 You win not by chance, but by preparation. (Maris, Roger 1934-1985
American Baseball Player)
Budgeting
What is budgeting?
Your budget is the heart of your personal finance life. Effective budgeting
starts with understanding how you spend your money and evaluating
your current spending habits. (Goals and Objectives)
Having a written budget is essential to getting your finances under
control. If you do not have a written budget it is hard to know if you are
living within your means and saving enough money for your long term
goals.
Budgeting Tips
• Budgets are a necessary evil.
• Creating a budget generally requires three steps.
• Identify how you're spending money now.
• Evaluate your current spending and set goals that take into
account your long-term financial objectives.
• Track your spending to make sure it stays within those guidelines.
Saving
What is saving?
1. Preservation or redemption – The activity of protecting something
from loss or danger. Self-preservation - preservation of yourself
from harm; a natural or instinctive tendency
2. Conservation - Economy or avoidance of waste The preservation
and careful management of the environment and of natural
resources. Avoidance of excess expenditure; economy.
3. Reduction in cost or expenditure e.g. a saving of 20cent.
4. Anything saved (Plural) money saved for future use. Reservation the act of keeping back or setting aside for some future occasion
Quick Tips
• Have regular discussions about money
– communication about money is always a good
defense against cost and unforeseen expenses.
– Set up a regularly scheduled family financial
meeting with your spouse to plan, discuss spending
and review your goals.
– Having a healthy discussion about money and
working together will improve your marriage and
your saving account balance.
Quick Tips
• Control spending
– Very good defensive strategies – Every good budget will have common categories of
entertainment, food, transportation, etc. Your job? Go
download the spending guidelines from internet and
compare to what you’re spending. - See Typical Example
• Useful Links
http://www.mymoney.gov/myresources.html
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4268949529/ - Confessions of a Shopaholic Trailer
(Confessions of a Shopaholic: Trailer #1)
Topic
Teaching Children About Money Management
(Like Father, Like Son ;
Like Mother, Like Daughter)
Texts
Text #1 – Luke 15: 11 – 24
Text #2 – Proverbs 22:6
Text #2 – Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart
from it
(KJV)
What is the right age to teach
children about money?
• No specific timeline
• From the day they learn numbers and counting
For Children:
•Meet them where they are to get into their world
(goofing around in backyard…dressing baby dolls)
For Teens:
•By example – most effective
•Restraint with purchases
Tips about money
• It’s not more or little money; it’s about living
within one’s financial means
• Treat money as money should be treated, be
good to it and take care of it
• Always be aware of where your money is going
• Never buy what you can’t pay for
• No matter how much you make, put away a
percentage of it for an emergency
What happens when we don’t teach or
train about money?
According to our text:
• They will misemploy their thoughts and the power of
their souls
• They will misspend their fortune and time
• They will miss the opportunity to learn, understand
and know what money means
• They will be poor and be in want
• They will keep coming back to us
• They will always be full of envy and jealousy
Q3 Focus on The Family
Purpose & Potential
The Purpose Driven Family
Potential & Divine Purpose
1. Understanding Divine
Purpose
2. Finding God’s Purpose
for your Life & Family
3. Benefits & Keys to
Fulfilling God’s
Purpose
1. Understanding Your
God Given Potential
2. Releasing Your
Potential (Part 1)
3. Releasing Your
Potential (Part 2)
4. Maximizing your
Potential & Fulfilling
God’s Purpose
Focus on the Family
Topics: The Purpose Driven Family
Part 1 – Understanding Purpose
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Jeremiah 29:11
Psalm 139:13-16
Texts keywords summary
• Psalm 139:13-16: Your eyes saw my
substance, being yet unformed. And in Your
book they all were written, The days
fashioned for me, When as yet there were
none of them
• God has a written plan he wants you to
execute (walk in)
• There are things written concerning you & I
Texts keywords summary
• These point to specificity of our assignment(s)
• They point to pre-ordained/selected
assignment that the Lord wants you to
complete/fulfill (in another word, PURPOSE)
– Pen (Simple/Cheap) vs. Microphone (Complicated
Electronics/Expensive)!
– Your purpose may be simple, or seemingly lower in
value in your estimation than others’…but it is
unique and important; no one else can fulfill your
purpose…your purpose compliments others’
The role of the family in purpose?
• If God has a purpose for each person, then
ultimately there is an important role the
family setting is appointed to play to ensure
their accomplishment
• E.g. a lack of understanding of God’s purpose
for your child may cause you to align them
with your own purpose not God’s purpose for
them, or comparing them with others’
children!
What is purpose?
• From our text and discussions we see that
purpose is
– The original intention for creating a thing
– The end for which a means (capability, strength,
ability, skill set, drive, etc.) exists
– The need for which a manufacturer creates a
product
– The destination that prompts a journey
– The expectation of source or creator
What & How…
• There are two elements to the fulfillment of
your purpose or to facilitate that of your
family members
• WHAT: What are my meant/designed to
accomplish on earth?
• HOW: How can I get it done (know how)?
• Until purpose is discovered (what) and
pursued (how), existence has little meaning!
Why is purpose that important?
• In the absence of purpose, time has no meaning,
energy has no reason, and life has no precision!
• Without purpose, life is a trial and error game
• Without purpose life is ruled by environmental
influences and circumstances of the moment
• You and I are the product of purposeful creation,
i.e. God had something in mind when He created
you & I
• Awareness of purpose guides our decision
making process and drives our choices!
Design and purpose
• Your existence is a proof that this generation
needs something that your life contains
• God has imbued in you certain characteristics
to enable you to accomplish your purpose
• Your child’s generation needs something that
their life carries!
• …it is part of your responsibilities as a parent
to facilitate the realization/accomplishment
Focus on The Family
Topics: The Purpose Driven Family
Part 2
Discovering God’s purpose
for your life & family
To start with…
• Achieving/completing purpose is largely
dependent on you...it does not happen as a by
product of life...
• You are responsible for the intentional discovery
& pursuit of divine purpose,
• Discovery of purpose develops a heightened
sensitivity to the shortness of time…
• It will completely change your perspective of
things and time…
Text Review: Consciousness of Purpose
• This is what happens when you discover purpose,
you become conscious that you are short on time
to complete all that is in you heart…Jesus Said:
John 9:4
– I must work the works of Him who sent Me
while it is day; the night is coming when no one
can work.
• Consciousness of Purpose = Consciousness of Time
Discovering Divine Purpose
#1: Express Revelation
1. By an express revelation given by God on what
He will have you do (Abraham’s example)…
• Genesis 22:1-2:
– Now it came to pass after these things that God tested
Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said,
“Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your
only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of
Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on
one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Discovering Divine Purpose
#2: Seeking Insight & Revelation
2. By you being on a conscious/spirited search for
divine revelation of your purpose (Habakkuk’s
example)
• Habakkuk 2:1-3 KJV
– I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower,
and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what
I shall answer when I am reproved. And the Lord
answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it
plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the
vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall
speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it
will surely come, it will not tarry.
Discovering Divine Purpose
Trading of Your Gift(s)
3. By trading your gift(s)
(Example of Joseph & Daniel)
• The were gifted in understanding
and interpretation of dreams…and
they became leaders in their time
by trading that gift
BUT! Don’t Focus on the Gift…But the
Door it Opens to Make a Difference!
• Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV)
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings
him before great men.
– Your focus should not be the gift in itself… but on
the room (OPEN DOOR) that the gift provides…
– The intent is to bring you before (GRANT YOU
ACCESS TO A PLACE OR PERSON) you ordinarily
would not have had access to…
The ultimate purpose of Joseph’s gift
• Use of Gift
– Interpretation of dream in prison (where he
found himself!)
• Open Door
– Meet the king
– Interpret the king’s dream
• Ultimately Purpose
– Delivery & preservation of a whole nation & his
family from famine!
Discovering Divine Purpose
Pursuit of Passion
4. By pursuing your passion relentlessly
(Nehemiah’s Example)
• He did not receive a revelation
(expressly or by searching)
• Nor was he spoken of as being gifted in
any special way
• He just followed what made him weep
and desired to change...
Discovering Divine Purpose
Pursuit of Passion
• What would you rather see changed and
it hurts you to observe the way it is?
– What social condition engages your
concern/passion?
– What gets you burdened and moves you
possibly to the point of tears?
– It could be a clue to your assignment!
Discovering a Family’s Purpose
• Encourage your family members to seek the
face of God on His purpose for their lives
• Teach your children that:
– Achieving/completing your divine purpose
is largely dependent on them…
– It does not happen as a by product of life!
Discovering a Family’s Purpose
• Remind yourself & teach your children that:
– The discovery of your purpose and it's relation to
God's eternal purpose must be the basis from
which you live…
– You must strive to be who you were born to be!
– Knowing your purpose enables you to discover
and value the capabilities, strengths and
particular components that the creator has
imbued you with to enable you accomplish the
purpose
Topic: The Purpose Driven
Family
Part 3:
Benefits of the Pursuit of
Your Divine Purpose
Benefits of Pursuit of Purpose
1. Purpose empowers perseverance to go through
seemingly desperate or hopeless situations
• Gen 37:6-9 = Joseph’s dream produced purpose…he
was therefore able to maintain his sanity and
persevered through enslavement & imprisonment
(those are difficult situations!)
• He must have reminded himself of his dream on a
regular basis to stay hopeful
• Purpose allows you to maintain objectivity and creates
a hopeful attitude
• It enables a view of life that looks beyond the apparent
Benefits of Pursuit of Purpose
2. Purpose produces confidence in God
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
• 6 being confident of this, that he who began a
good work in you will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 (NCV)
• 6 God began doing a good work in you, and I am
sure he will continue it until it is finished when
Jesus Christ comes again.
Benefits of Pursuit of Purpose
3. Purpose enables contentment
• Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)
• 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I
have learned to be content whatever the
circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty. I have
learned the secret of being content in any and
every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all
this through him who gives me strength.
Benefits of Pursuit of Purpose
4. Purpose promotes joyfulness in the midst of
challenges associated with its pursuit
• Acts 16:25 (KJV)
• 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
• Many will gladly and excitedly praise God when
things are going their way…watch the same
people when they are faced with challenges…that
is when you know if they are living a life fired by
purpose or they are fair weather Christians
Benefits of Pursuit of Purpose
5. Purpose empowers the Holy Spirit’s intercession
• Romans 8:26-28 (KJV)
• 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for
we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered.
• 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is
the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession
for the saints according to the will of God.
• 28 And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.
Keys to Fulfillment of Divine
Purpose
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
1. Depend solely on the grace of God
• If it is God's assignment, it will take the grace of God to
accomplish it
• John 15:5 (KJV)
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me,
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for
without me ye can do nothing.
• Don’t focus/trust in your own strength/understanding as it
were…
– 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he
shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the
LORD, and depart from evil.
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
2. Work the vision out!
• Proverbs 6:6-11 (NKJV)
• Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be
wise, 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8
Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her
food in the harvest. 9 How long will you slumber, O
sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A
little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the
hands to sleep—11 So shall your poverty come on you
like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
• Don't be lazy/sluggard/slothful with it!...redouble
your effort...it will take all you've got and nothing less!
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
3. Go in search of relevant information (know
how)
• Ecclesiastes 10:15 (KJV)
• 15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them,
because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
• Proverbs 24:30-31 (KJV)
• 30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of
the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown
over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof,
and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
• Knowing how in many cases is a major missing link!
• Note that the man lacking relevant information has the
same result as the lazy man!
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
4. Be Disciplined!
• Joseph’s Example…Genesis 39:9 (KJV)
• 9 There is none greater in this house than I;
neither hath he kept back any thing from me but
thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I
do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
• No wonder he fulfilled his purpose!
• Don’t be disciplined because someone is
watching…be disciplined because God is always
watching!
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
5. Be Focused!
• Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
• Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected;
but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ
Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count
myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching forward to
those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
• …for this cause came I into the world (our Lord Jesus)
• Focus is necessary for success...
• Chasing Two Rats = 0!
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
6. Watch your character!
What is character?
• Character is who you are when nobody is watching
• Character is not what you want people to think you are, it is
who you are!
• Many have an enviable destiny, but lack character...
• Talent will take you up, but you need character to stay there!
• Watch your character, it will determine your destiny!
• The example of Samson...pride, disobedience to parents,
etc.
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
7.Don't compare yourself with
anyone else...run your own race!
• For we dare not class ourselves or
compare ourselves with those who
commend themselves. But they,
measuring themselves by themselves, and
comparing themselves among themselves,
are not wise. (2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV)
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
8. Don't commend yourself or rest
on your oars!
• Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but
I press on, that I may lay hold of that (PURPOSE) for which
Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count
myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching forward to those
things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize
of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14
NKJV)
• The question is - How far The Lord asked you to run?
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
9.Manage your company/association wisely
“friendship is not by force, it is by choice” – Pastor Badru
• Psalm 1: 1-6
– 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel
of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his
delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he
meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth
its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not
wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
10. Be open to correction
• Find a mentor (someone that has gone where
God has asked you to go successfully)
• If not, you will make a lot of preventable
mistakes, that could potentially derail you
• Or you will largely have the same result as the
lazy man, because you are void of
understanding (Proverbs 24:30)!
Keys to Fulfillment of Purpose
11. Make the most of your time
• Ecclesiastes 3 (KJV)
• To every thing there is a season, and a time to
every purpose under the heaven
• There is a window of time for the successful
pursuit of specific purposes…if you miss your
timing, you may as well have missed your
purpose!
• Recommended reading:
Summary & Next Teaching
• Purpose determines nature, potential
and capabilities!
"Purpose Produces Design, and Design Predicts Potential" Myles Munroe
•
If I’m going to create something that will fly, I must first decide that the
object’s purpose is to fly. Then I have to determine what function and
design will allow the object to accomplish that expectation. In other
words, I will put into the kite, the helicopter or the airplane the ability to
do what I am asking it to do. My design will include whatever is needed
for the object to fly. Because I intended for the object to fly and I built
into it the ability to fly, the object can fly.
Summary & Next Teaching
• Therefore, whatever you were born to do, whatever
God purposed for your life, you are equipped with all
the ability, talents, gifts, capacities and potential you
need to fulfill it.
• You can do all things (purpose) through Christ, who
supplies the ability (potential).
• We will begin a study on the subject of potential in
August:
– Part 1: Understanding Your God Given Potential (Next Week)
Part 2: Taking Advantage of the Power of Potential (August 21)
Part 3: Maximizing your Purpose & Potential (August 28)
Focus on The Family
Topic: Potential & Divine Purpose
Part 1
Understanding Your God Given
Potential
What is Potential?
• Potential is:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
dormant ability
reserved power
untapped/unused strength
hidden talents
capped capability
all you can be but have not yet become
all you can do but have not yet done
how far you can reach but have not yet reached
what you can accomplish but have not yet
accomplished
The Potential Principle
• Potential is unexposed ability and latent power!
• What I see when I look at you is not all you are. It
is only what you have become so far.
• Your potential is much greater than what you are
right now.
• What you can become is much more than we
could ever believe now.
• We have a high degree of potential because we
came out of God, and He leaked some of Himself
into you (He is Omnipotent).
The Potential Principle – Genesis 1!
• When God was going to make trees, he spoke
to the earth, so the potential of the tree is
defined by the capabilities of the soil/earth
– 11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass,
the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that
yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in
itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the
earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields
seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields
fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind.
The Potential Principle – Genesis 1!
• When God was going to make fish, he spoke
to the ocean, so the potential of the fish is
defined by the capabilities of the ocean
– 20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an
abundance of living creatures…21 So God created
great sea creatures and every living thing that
moves, with which the waters abounded,
according to their kind…22 And God blessed them,
saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the
waters in the seas...”
The Potential Principle – Genesis 1!
• When God was going to make man, he spoke to
Himself!, so the potential of man is defined by the
capabilities of the God.
–
26 Then
God said, “Let Us make man in Our image,
according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over
the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the
cattle, over all[b] the earth and over every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His
own image; in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them. 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.”
The Potential Principle – Genesis 1!
• The point here is that potential is tied to source.
• Our source (man/woman) is God Himself, so
there is a tremendous level of grace we have
that we are yet to tap into.
• No wonder scientist say only a very small % of
our brain/mind/ability is ever used!
• We must recognize this and tell ourselves (and
our children) that regardless of what you have
done, there is yet more you are capable of!
Potential
• Potential is therefore not what you have
done, but what you are yet able to do.
• Potential demands that you never settle for
what you have accomplished.
• Potential is not what you have done
compared to what others have done, but
what you have done compared to what you
were supposed to do!
Purpose vs. Potential
• It’s comforting to know that whenever God
gives me a task, He has already placed at my
disposal all the resources of heaven, because
I came from Him.
• I am not left to my own devices to
accomplish that task, I have in me part of
God as my source to enable me to accomplish
the task!
What is this?
What is this?
• If I held acorn in my hand and asked you,
“What do I have in my hand?” what would
you say?
• Perhaps you would answer what seems to be
the obvious…A SEED!
• However, if you understand the nature of a
seed, your answer would be a fact but not
the truth...it’s A FOREST I am holding!
Acorn = Oak Tree
Oak Tree = Forest
The Seed of Potential
• In essence, what you see is not all there is.
• Every human being as that seed has
tremendous potential beyond what meets
the eye…because of the seed of God in us!
• Potential is not what is, but what could be!
• No man can climb beyond the limitations of
his own belief!
• Don’t look at where you are or where your
child is…look at what is possible!
Unused Batteries!
• Majority never explore the gifts, abilities, and
successes that lay hidden within them.
• Their thoughts, ideas, and possibilities are
not used. They fail to realize the vast
potential that is stored within them.
• They are like batteries in a car that is never
driven – its potential is wasted!
• It ultimately dies for lack of use!
What do you see?
• Most of us have no idea how much “goods” /
talent / potential we possess!
• What others see or say is not important!
• who we are depends on what we see!
• Encourage your spouse and teach your
children to look beyond the visible (the
present)…like that see…and learn to envision
the forest!
Summary
• Understand that the key to your potential is that
Christ lives in you…
–
27 To
them God willed to make known what are the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which[a]
is Christ in you, the hope of glory.(Colossians 1:27).
• You will never know the wealth God planted in you
until you bring it up.
• There’s always something in you that we haven’t
yet seen because that’s the way God thinks.
Summary
• When man puts a limit on what he can be, he
has put a limit on what he will be!
• We are responsible for the potential stored
within us.
• We must learn to understand it and
effectively use it
• What have you done with your assigned
“goods” - talent, potential, grace, ability God
given strengths????
Summary
• The owner will one day ask you to give account!
• Remember that you are a steward!
• As parent, your children are under your
stewardship for a season…they don’t belong to
you…you will give account of what you did with
them!
• I pray we will not be like the “wicked” servant!
• Your potential is limited only by God, not by
others or what they think of you!
Focus on The Family
Topic: Potential & Divine Purpose
Part 2
Releasing Your God Given Potential
Part 1
Questions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Who am I?
Why am I here?
How much potential do I have?
What am I capable of doing?
By what criteria should I measure my ability?
Who sets the standards?
By what process can I maximize my ability?
What are my limitations?
Text: Genesis 13: 14-15 (NLT)
•
14 After
Lot had gone, the LORD said to
Abram, “Look as far as you can see in
every direction—north and south, east
and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as
far as you can see, to you and your
descendants[a] as a permanent
possession.
Lessons from our text…
• #1. Separate yourself to hear God clearly…
–
14 After
Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, “Look as far
as you can see in every direction—north and south, east
and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see,
to you and your descendants[a] as a permanent possession.
• From what do we need to separate ourselves?
– Sin…it clogs/blocks up your access to God
• Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any
people.
– The lies of the devil about who you are (John 10:10)
•
10 The
thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to
destroy…
Lessons from our text…
• #2. Understanding potential starts with a
vision of what is possible!
– 14 After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram,
“Look as far as you can see in every direction—
north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all
this land, as far as you can see, to you and your
descendants[a] as a permanent possession.
• You must go beyond looking to seeing!
• Envision (see) the future God has laid in your
heart with the eyes of your spirit man
Lessons from our text…
• #3. Don’t limit your vision!
– 14 After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram,
“Look as far as you can see in every direction—
north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all
this land, as far as you can see, to you and your
descendants[a] as a permanent possession.
• Look in every direction…
• Don’t limit to north & south…look at east and
west as well!
Lessons from our text…
#4a. Only the owner of something can give it out
–
14 After
Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, “Look as
far as you can see in every direction—north and
south, east and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far
as you can see, to you and your descendants[a] as a
permanent possession.
• God is the owner of the idea (Psalm 24:1)
– The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world
and those who dwell therein.
#4b. That vision in your heart (for good) was
planted by God!
Lessons from our text…
#5. The extent to which you can see, sets the limit
for your all (things/level you can be accomplish)
–
14 After
Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, “Look as
far as you can see in every direction—north and
south, east and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far
as you can see, to you and your descendants[a] as a
permanent possession.
• That is, how far you go/accomplish in life is
determined by how much you see…you must
continually stretch your vision!
Don’t limit yourself…stretch your
vision…dream big!
• Isaiah 54:2
“Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them
stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not
spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your
stakes.
• Do not spare (i.e. don’t be conservative)
• The reason you are being “humble” about that
idea is that you don’t believe you can reach as
far!
• Lengthen your cords = stretch your thought!
Lessons from our text…
#6. The blessing of God is generational
– 14 After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram,
“Look as far as you can see in every direction—
north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all
this land, as far as you can see, to you and your
descendants[a] as a permanent possession.
• When you look at institutions built on these
principles, they last for generations
• They are not temporal!
Principles for releasing your God
given potential
#1:Be conscious of who you are!
• If you could truly see (envision) through your
eyes of faith what/who you were created to
be, you’d change your life.
• I said, “You are gods, And all of you are
children of the Most High (Psalm 82:6)
• We have the DNA of almighty God and the
wisdom, capabilities, and creativity that
goes with it!
#1:Be conscious of who you are!
• Many people die without unveiling their wealth of
wisdom…without experiencing the richness of the
life that dwells within…what a pity!
• Many allow past experiences to limit their vision,
aspiration and the desire to reach beyond where
they are today…
• Always remind yourself of the mice & cheese
experiment…
• The glass barrier has been removed at new birth!
#2: Be a Thinker
•
Proverbs 16:9 (KJV)
– A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD
directeth his steps.
•
Proverbs 16:9 (Amplified)
– A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his
steps and makes them sure.
•
•
•
The purpose for which God gave you your mind
is to device your way
You device your way through creative thinking
While you are praying also be thinking!
#2: Be a Thinker
• Every thing you see physically today
was sometime in somebody's mind!
• The mind of man is the workshop for
creativity
• Your mind is the birthplace of wisdom!
• What you show on the outside is the
product of what is going on in your
inside!
#2: Be a Thinker
• It is your head that puts you ahead!
• Proverbs 11:29 (Amplified)
– He who troubles his own house shall inherit the
wind, and the foolish shall be servant to the
wise of heart (mind).
• The cheapest way to terminate servitude is
to put your mind to work!
• You cannot become a head until you put
your head to work!
#2: Be a Thinker
• Stop waiting and start thinking!
• As long as the prodigal son waited, his state did not
change, but when he started to think he was
transformed.
• If you wait you waist!
• Thinking connects you to three different spheres:
– Heaven
– Yourself
– People/situations around you
• Ideas, innovation, creativity comes to us via one or
more of these avenues…
#2: Be a Thinker
Heaven
• You’re looking for inspiration from above..
• Job 32:8
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty
giveth them understanding (discoveries).
• You have an advantage of the Holy Spirit's inspiration as a believer...
• Proverbs 25:2
• 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings
is to search out a matter
• You connect with inspiration through searching (thinking)
• Search = inspiration = discoveries = honor!
• Your honor in life is tied to the level & quality of your search!
• Search = ASK/SEEK/READ/STUDY…You must be a tireless reader!
#2: Be a Thinker
Yourself
• Deep thinking (not same as worrying!)
• David thought to himself…The God who delivered me from the
lion and the bear…He will deliver me from this Goliath…he
became so energized from the thought that he was able to
move towards the opposition/giant (threat of death)
• The prodigal son had resigned himself to being less than pigs
(because the pigs had to eat before him), he then thought to
himself…in my fathers house, even servants condition is better
than what I am in…he rose up and told his boss “I QUIT”
Luke 15:16-20 (NKJV)
•
16 And
he would gladly have filled his stomach with the
pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
• 17 “But when he came to himself, he said (thought), ‘How
many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and
to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to
my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer
worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your
hired servants.”’
• 20 “And he arose and came to his father…
• You may never arise and move in the direction of purpose
and victory if you are not a thinker!
#2: Be a Thinker
Your Surrounding (in people and things around you)
• Look at what is working around you, and ask
yourself thoughtful questions!
• There is nothing new under the sun!
• Ecclesiastes 1:9
– 9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and
that which is done is that which shall be done: and there
is no new thing under the sun.
• There are lots of lessons to learn around us by
making thoughtful observation
– Go to the ant…
Proverbs 6-6-8
• 6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways,
and be wise:
• 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
• 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and
gathereth her food in the harvest.
– Consider…think about…evaluate…
– The way of the ant (a creature you see around you
everyday…even trample under your feet…seemingly
insignificant)
• If you’ll learn from your surroundings (the ant)
you will receive wisdom to move forward in life!
#3: Develop the ability to recognize the
value of seemingly small resources
• Luke 16:10
•
10 He
that is faithful in that (resources) which
is least (small) is faithful also in much (big):
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also
in much.
– Don't wait for the big, make the most of
every resource & opportunity that God has
given you...tangible and intangible
• Question: What are some examples of
tangible & intangible resources?
Examples of Resources
Intangible
Tangible
–Money
–People
–Building
–Land
–Certificate
– Education
– Ideas
– Wisdom
– Knowledge
– Time
• What you place into your 24
golden cart every day, will
determine how fast you move
towards accomplishing the
purpose of God for your life
– Relationships
#3: Develop the ability to recognize the
value of seemingly small resources
• Look beyond the immediate...see the possible!
• God specializes in turning small to great!
– Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter
end should greatly increase. (Job 8:7 KJV)
– The glory of this latter house shall be greater
than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and
in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of
hosts. (Haggai 2:9 KJV)
• Remind yourself always as you look at that
small task, ability, assignment, etc, that the
potential of a seed is a forest
#4: Appreciate who/how God has
made you to be/look
• Ever since that day man fell in the garden of
Eden, we have become professional “cover-ups.”
• Most people don’t like themselves!
• E.g. They don’t like their physical bodies.
• Though they don’t say it aloud, many are
subconsciously saying
– I don’t like how skinny I am…how fat I am…how my
hair grows…how my eyes are…how my lips are…
– I don’t like my black, brown, red, yellow, or white
skin
• So they try to cover up what they don’t like!
#4: Appreciate who/how God has
made you to be/look
• It is strange how hard some people work on
being different from who they are!
– If their hair is curly, they straighten it!
– If their skin is pale, they get a tan!
– if their skin is dark they bleach it!
• They have become professional “cover-ups.”
• Question:
– What does the scripture say in this respect?
Answer!...we are marvelously made!
Psalm 139:14
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and
wonderfully made: marvellous are thy
works; and that my soul knoweth right
well.
• You can only praise (appreciate) God
for who you are if you understand how
wonderful and marvelous you are!
#4: Appreciate who/how God has
made you to be/look
• The attitude of self depreciation is from the
devil!
• We can’t just be ourselves because satan has
destroyed our appreciation of what God made.
• Many have accepted satan’s ploy to destroy
their esteem for the beautiful creation God
made them to be!
• Their potential has therefore been distorted by
the lies of satan!
#4: Appreciate who/how God has
made you to be/look
• We must resist every urge to be different from
the wonderful personality God had made us to
be.
• Satan came to distort and steal our self image;
Jesus came to bring us abundant, refreshing new
life.
• John 10:10
–
10 The
thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy: I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly.
#5: Lay hold of quality instruction
• You must accept responsibility for your life
and growth!
– You walk by common sense
– You run by principles
– You fly by instruction
• If your life must go in the direction of God’s
purpose, you must learn to be like pilots
• They don’t fly on common sense or
principles, they fly by instructions!
#5: Lay hold of quality instruction
• The greatest source of instruction is God’s word!
• Give attention to the word of God...
• It is the #1 source of instructions for a child of
God and reception of our inheritance…
• Acts 20:32 KJV
– And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to
the word of his grace, which is able to build you up,
and to give you an inheritance among all them which
are sanctified.
#5: Lay hold of quality instruction
• Identify and be a reader of inspired materials.
• You must be a tireless reader to lay hold on
quality instructions!
• Dedicated readership of inspired materials
results in a transference of the spirit of the
author to your spirit...
• You find that without effort you begin to think
and talk like the author...the spirit behind their
words on the page comes alive in you...that is
why you must be careful what you read!...there
is a spirit on those pages!
#5: Lay hold of quality instruction
• And He said to me, Son of man, stand on your feet,
and I will speak to you. Then the Spirit entered me
when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I
heard Him who spoke to me. (Ezekiel 2:1, 2 NKJV)
• The quality of your input determines the quality of
your outputs...Knowledge has rewards...
• Proverbs 24: 13-14
• 13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the
honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
• 14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul:
when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward,
and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
#6: Design your life and live
intentionally
• Don't just do things because they require doing…do
them with a goal in mind!
• Being clear in your mind why you do what you do
enables you to be calculating in your approach to life
& time management!
• Luke 14:28-30 KJV:
• For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth
not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have
sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the
foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it
begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build,
and was not able to finish.
#6: Design your life and live
intentionally
• The use of the word "tower" is not accidental,
Jesus could have said a house...tower is used to
indicate a structure of importance, significant
value and purpose!
• Don't just hope life will present you with
opportunities to do what you want to do!
• The point is that achieving a result of significant
value (a tower) requires intention!
• Being intentional = doing something on purpose
= being willful or deliberate
#6: Design your life and live
intentionally
• You don’t build towers without a design!
• You have to design your life!
• Can you truly say that where you are today is
where you designed/intended to be 10, 15
years ago?
• If not, I submit to you that your life is an
accident its not intentional!
• You are not designing your tower!
#6: Design your life and live
intentionally
• That is why I pity those who say all the time
“that individual was just lucky”
• What happened to your own luck?
• You are not going anywhere, just sitting
down and waiting for God to do everything
for you!
• You must be intentional and begin to put pen
to paper regarding the life you want to build!
#6: Design your life and live
intentionally
• The burden to make the choices on what we will
or will not do, rests squarely on our
shoulders...we cannot transfer the responsibility
to God!
• It is important that we make decisions that takes
us in the direction of God purpose...the decision
must be intentional...not haphazard!
• There must be deliberate/intentional choices
you're taking to arrive at your place in destiny!
#7: Don't bow down to fear!
• When taking a decision in the direction of releasing
your potential and fulfilling purpose, you may feel
fear, but don't bow down to fit!
• Fear is a spirit:
– For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)
• When you feel fear recognize that the enemy is out to
steal your blessing!
– For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and
that which I was afraid of is come unto me. (Job 3:25 KJV)
#7: Don't bow down to fear!
• Negate the feeling of fear with God's word
for the situation
• Be confident…
– Confident not in your own strength or ability, but
in who you are able to be by the grace of God
– You are the righteousness of God in Christ!
#8: Stir up the gift of God in you!
• Don’t neglect your gifts…
– Neglect not the gift that is in thee (1
Timothy 4:14 KJV)
– Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift
of God which is in you through the laying
on of my hands (2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV)
• The key to stirring up your gift is to use
it at every opportunity!
#8: Stir up the gift of God in you!
• Your ability needs responsibility to expose its
possibilities
• "Do what you can with what you have where
you are" - Theodore Roosevelt
• Miracles happen when we give our potential
some responsibility
• Don’t waste your gift, give it some responsibility
• DEMAND SOMETHING OF YOUR POTENTIAL!
#8: Stir up the gift of God in you!
• Potential must be exercised to be fulfilled!
• Demands must be made on potential if it is to be
released and fulfilled.
• God has given you potential. Unless you make
demands on it, you will die with it. Unless you
venture to try things you’ve never done before,
you’ll never experience the wealth that lives
within you!
• DON’T BE AFRAID TO TRY…Don't be paralyzed by
the potential of failure, that you fail to try!
#8: Stir up the gift of God in you!
• One good thing about failure is that it is
proof that at least you tried!
• The greatest mistake you can make is to
be afraid of making a mistake.
• People who do nothing in life are
usually people who do nothing!
#8: Stir up the gift of God in you!
• People who don’t make mistakes in life
are usually people who didn’t have a
chance to make any because they never
tried.
• Challenge your potential!
• It is better to attempt a thing and fail,
than to never try and not know if you
could have succeeded!
#9: Contend with every opposition in
faith!
• There is a contention against your possession...
• You can't afford to sit down and expect to win in
the race of life!
– And from the days of John the Baptist until now the
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the
violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12 KJV)
• Faith is confidence in God!
• “Faith is not cheap talk, it is hard work" - Bishop
Oyedepo
#9: Contend with every opposition in
faith!
• You must contend with the every opposition
in faith if you want to fulfill your divine
purpose and reach your destination!
– Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the
river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand
Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his
land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in
battle. (Deuteronomy 2:24 KJV)
• You must be resolute and not give up!
#10: Understand the law of cause &
effect
• Understand that things don't just
happen!
• To every effect there is a cause!
• You are not where you are today by
accident...
– something you did yesterday...some
decisions you took yesterday is the cause
of the results/effects you have today!
#10: Understand the law of cause &
effect
• The outcome (effect) you will have
tomorrow, you are already putting the
cause in place today...knowingly or
unknowingly!
• You will be the same person five years
from now but for the books you read,
the people you meet, and the decision
you make!
#11: Re-evaluate your time management
and realign your time applications
• Time as we have said is one of our most
valuable intangible resources
• You can't waste time and yet be able to
release your potential or fulfill your
purpose!
• God gave us all 24 golden cards to play every
day, how you play your card will determine
how fast you move towards your next city of
accomplishment!
#11: Re-evaluate your time management
and realign your time applications
• To start with you must plan each day...
• If you can plan a day, you can plan your life,
because that is all your life is...today!
• That is why today is very important, you can't
afford to waste it! Each day you waste sets you
back from the fulfillment of God’s purpose
• You should have a goal each day you wake
up…what you want to achieve…when during
that day you want to achieve each item.
• Time Management = Life Management!
#12: Develop an understanding of
subject of times & seasons
• Ecclesiastes 3:1
– To every thing there is a season, and a time to
every purpose under the heaven
• Pay attention to prophesies in the scriptures and watch
out for what God is saying to you personally per time!
• Consciousness of seasons will cause you to align
yourself with what God is gracing for the hour, and
you get the wind of His grace behind you to move
faster than you would have if the season was different
• Pay attention to biblical prophesies and indication of
your seasons!
Focus on The Family
Topic: Potential & Divine Purpose
Maximizing your Potential &
Fulfilling God’s Purpose
Principles for Maximizing your
Potential
(1) REMAIN ATTACHED TO YOUR
SOURCE (CREATOR)
• Nothing can live without being attached to
its source!
• Jesus is the true vine. You are a branch. If
you remain in Christ and Christ in you, you
will bear abundant fruit.
• If you do not remain in Christ, you are like a
branch that withers and is thrown away.
• No branch can bear fruit if it is not
attached. It starts going in the opposite
direction.
(1) REMAIN ATTACHED TO YOUR
SOURCE (CREATOR)
• No matter how talented or gifted you are,
you will never be truly fulfilled and successful
apart from a personal relationship with your
Creator-Source.
• God will provide from the depths of His
grace…freely, abundantly, victoriously.
• You don’t have to hustle!
(2) PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DIVINE
INSTRUCTION (GOD's WORD)
• If you remain in Me and My words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish and it will be given you
(John 15:7).
• This Book of the Law shall not depart from your
mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night,
that you may observe to do according to all that
is written in it. For then you will make your way
prosperous, and then you will have good
success. (Joshua 1:8 NKJV)
– Remember: we walk by common sense; we run by
principles; we fly by instruction
(2) PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DIVINE
INSTRUCTION (GOD's WORD)
• It's the spirit of God that reveals our capability
to us, and it's done primarily through God's
word!
• We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God, that we may
understand what God has freely given us (1
Corinthians 2:12).
(3) ACCEPT DISCIPLINE (PRUNING)
• I am the true vine, and My Father is the
vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not
bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that
bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
(John 15:1, 2 NKJV)
• God wants you to fulfill your potential, but in
addition to remaining attached to the Vine, you
must be submitted to the discipline (pruning) of
the Gardener (vinedresser) to know the fullness
of God’s blessings.
(3) ACCEPT DISCIPLINE (PRUNING)
• God comes into your life with pruning
shearers to free you from your disobedience
and rebellion.
• He comes to take out those things that are
stopping you from developing, growing and
obeying.
• Imagine how different your life might have
been if you had not wasted months or years
on a particular habit/attitude?
(3) ACCEPT DISCIPLINE (PRUNING)
• Anything that is contrary to the Word of God is
subject to God’s pruning.
• God comes into your life to help you clean up
your act!
• Bearing a pruning shear, God trims the useless
and dead wood from your life so you can draw
from Him the fresh fullness of your potential.
• Accept discipline and make necessary changes!
(4) COMMIT YOURSELF TO THE
IDEA/VISION/ASSIGNMENT!
• Jesus said in Mark 11: 24 Therefore I say unto
you, What things soever ye desire, when ye
pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye
shall have them.
• The word desire is the key!
• Being interested in or attracted to something
is not desiring it!
• To desire means “to crave for something at
the expense of losing everything.”
(4) COMMIT YOURSELF TO THE
IDEA/VISION/ASSIGNMENT!
• God isn’t impressed by your dreams. Most of us
never wake up long enough to do anything with
our dreams. You may have great dreams for your
life, but you prefer to stay asleep (dream state)
because when you wake up reality says, “Okay,
let’s get to work.”
• It’s easier to dream an idea than to work it out!
Everything is possible if you will abandon yourself
to an idea enough that you are willing to lose
your life for it.
(4) COMMIT YOURSELF TO THE
IDEA/VISION/ASSIGNMENT!
• Thinking is great. But all things are possible only
when we believe & commit ourselves to a vision!
• Too often we are not willing to believe God and
commit ourselves whole heartedly to an
idea/assignment!
• Things don’t become reality because we have an idea!
• We have to believe in the idea, and believe we can do
it under God’s grace.
• We show we believe by committing & abandoning
ourselves to the vision!
(5) TAKE THE WORD IMPOSSIBLE OUT
OF YOUR DICTIONARY
• THERE IS NOTHING NAMED CAN’T
• The people who change the world are people
who have taken impossible out of their
dictionaries!
• They are those who come against the odds
and tell the odds that it’s impossible for the
odds to stop them.
• IF YOU CAN THINK IT, YOU CAN DO IT!
(6) DESIRE IS PROOF ABILITY & GRACE
• A creator will not call forth from his creation
something he did not put into it.
• RECOGNIZE THAT GOD WILL NOT MAKE A
DEMAND OF YOU BY PUTTING THE DESIRE TO
ACCOMPLISH A TASK HE HAS NOT ALREADY
GIVEN YOU THE ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH
• Whenever God demands something of you,
don’t ask whether you can do it.
(7) DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS
CONTINUALLY
• Information is the fuel of every vision!
• The only substitute for information is
deformation!
• You need the appropriate level of skill to manage
your tasks efficiently…and it comes from being
adequately informed in your area of assignment.
• Psalm 78:72…So he fed them according to the
integrity of his heart; and guided them by the
skillfulness of his hands.
(7) DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS
CONTINUALLY
• There is no spiritual substitute for skill!
• There is no prayer or fasting substitute for
skill!
• Can you pray and get into the cockpit of an
airplane and expect to be able to fly it???
• Be willing to pay the price to develop your
skill set in the area of your assignment.
(8) GO THE EXTRA MILE
• It is the quality of your labor that determines the
quality of your future!
• A lazy man has no future…no matter the degree of his
dream!
• Go the extra mile if it so demands to fulfill your
purpose
• Make necessary sacrifice to accomplish the task
• Paul said he labors more than them all!...no wonder
he wrote more than half of the new testament!
• Ordinary effort produces ordinary results, extra
ordinary results can only be a result of extraordinary
inputs
(9) BE COURAGEOUS
• God gave a young man (Joshua) an assignment,
and he became scared because the assignment
was very big. He didn’t know if he could handle it.
• What did God say to him?
• Joshua 1:6…6 Be strong and of a good courage…
• Moses said the same thing! (Deut 31:7)
• Fear is necessary for courage to exist!
• So use fear to exercise your courage.
(10) GUARD YOUR HEART WITH ALL
DILIGENCE!
• Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it
spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23 NKJV)
• For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Eat and
drink! he says to you, But his heart is not with
you. (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV)
• It is your thoughts that gives value to your
works!
• Negative thoughts cancels all the effect of
your positive actions and efforts!
(10) GUARD YOUR HEART WITH ALL
DILIGENCE!
• And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NKJV)
• Your transformation is at the mercy of your mind
• Arrival at your place in destiny and accomplishing
God's will for your life is conditional to the level
of diligence you give to what is going on in your
mind!
• Give every effort to ensure that what is allowed
into your heart is inspired by the spirit of God.
October:
College Preparation & Awareness
Audience Q&A
• What questions do you have about
today’s teaching?
CLOSING PRAYER