Living Up To Our Potential
Potential. One of the definitions given for potential on dictionary.com is latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed. Every human being has potential- those talents, gifts, and abilities God has given for them to do what he has destined for them to do. However, the born-again believer has so much more potential than he/she realizes. We have the potential of God inside us. What does that mean?
Based on scripture, we can say that God is all powerful and all knowing.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18 (KJV)
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Romans 11:33 (KJV)
The Spirit of God dwells inside each and every believer, meaning that the infinite power and knowledge of God is in us. It is simply latent, waiting to be developed and utilized. It may boggle the mind, but the potential to operate in all of God’s power and knowledge is in you and me. Imagine- we can tap into the same power that created the cosmos and that rose Jesus from the dead. We can walk in the same knowledge and wisdom that initiated the perfect solution for man’s fall long before it ever happened. We can tap into both the brain and the braun of Almighty God- even to the point of being as empowered and wise as Jesus. If this concept sounds blasphemous to you, bear with me as I explain.
God has come to live in the heart of every believer. Faith is the key to activating what God has placed in us. When we were born again, the measure, or amount, of faith is given to each person (Romans 12:3). It was planted in us in seed form, waiting to be grown and developed. A farmer can tell you that a seed is the best illustration of potential. Within a seed is the possibility of a great harvest. However, that seed must be planted, watered and tended in order for it to produce everything it has the potential to produce. Every grain of wheat has the same potential to produce a wonderful harvest, but it’s level of fruitfulness depends on the soil it is sown in, the amount of water and sunshine it receives, and the amount of loving care the farmer provides in removing weeds, insects, and pestilence.
As God’s children and joint-heirs with Jesus, we all have the potential to operate in the same power and knowledge that God has. Many, however, will not access even a minute fraction of it. Why? Because their faith has not been developed. It has not grown from the seed of faith that was planted. And the reason their faith has not grown is simple- they have not tended their faith consistently. Faith needs the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26) spoken over it, the revelation light of the Spirit to shine on it, and the guarding of it from the enemy that would seek to destroy it. We need to study the Word, speak the Word, pray in the Spirit, and bind the enemy from working in our lives. Such a lifestyle will allow the seed to grow. And faith works by love, so all these things must be done in love. If we will choose to walk in love towards all people, and do these other things with 100% consistency, our faith seed has the potential to grow to massive proportions, producing the same works that Jesus did, and even greater ones.
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. John 14:12 (New Living Translation, NLT)
Jesus said that we have the ability to do what He did- and even greater things. Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, rasied the dead, performed miracles, gave hope, and showed us the Father. If He did that, consider the amazing potential that is in us to do even greater things. It starts with the seed of faith, it works by love, it grows with diligent care, and it results in a harvest of everything that we have the potential to produce. Let’s all strive to live up to our potential.
