Unrealized Potential

Introduction

Here we are, already halfway through the month of January in 2023 and God is up to some things!

I hope you came expecting to hear a word from God today because I’ve been feeling it coming all week. It’s been leaking out a little bit on Facebook here and there.

Hey, I figure if some people can use that platform for evil they shouldn’t mind too much if I throw a little light of Jesus out to scatter some demons every once in a while.

Can I make a little announcement to you here this morning? I’m done tiptoe-ing through the tulips; its time to crank it up and charge ahead with the Gospel of Christ.

I have to tell you, if Christianity is boring to you today its because you’re doing it wrong. Its because Satan has been trying to deceive you and get you to compromise so that you won’t grow into the type of Christian that will tear down every stronghold God shows you.

Last week we spoke about being ready to grow. But when you begin to talk about growth, it begs the question; grow into what? For what purpose?

You mean to tell me I’m not just here waiting for Jesus to come pick me up in the Rapture? God is expecting me to do more than show up a couple times a week and try to behave myself the rest of the week?

A million times YES!!!!

Types of Believer

It really comes down to what type of believer you are this morning. Don’t worry, if you get pegged today in a category that doesn’t sound all that great or gets your hackles raised up, there is always time to get things straightened out before we leave here today.

I’ve been in literally hundreds of churches and one of the things I’ve noticed is there are always people trying to figure you out. But I’m going to tell you right now the only one you need to worry about figuring you out has already had you figured out long before you got here.

You aren’t here by accident and you aren’t here for any other reason at the moment than to bear witness to the truth.

Why do I say that? Because I prayed that the Holy Ghost would shine the spotlight on every heart here this morning and I know He will. You have likely heard these verses before, yet God will use them today to define you.

Luke 8:4–15 (ESV)

And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable,

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.

And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.

And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant,

he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

3 Types of Believer

1. Preacher-Made

2. Self-Made

3. God-Made

The Preacher-Made and Self-Made Believers never become servants and usually need to get “saved” several times before they actually catch on if they make it that far.

If you fit into one of those two categories this morning, don’t get all twisted up about it, just make sure you get it right with the Lord right here and now. Don’t let the devil have one more minute of your time. Serve him his eviction notice today!

If you are God-Made here this morning, now the real work begins!

Types Of Servant

Contrary to what many might think, there are actually various types of servants within the Kingdom of God.

So, to be clear this morning. You MUST discover what type of believer you are before you can ever find out what type of servant you will be.

Running around doing religious stuff, attending church, etc., does not necessarily qualify you to be a servant.

See the following for questions:

Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matthew 25:14–30 (ESV)

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’

But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

3 Types Servant

Anointed- working in the HG/ growing the Kingdom of God

Worldly- doing the minimum/maintaining but not profiting

Slothful- does nothing for fear of failure/ is more beneficial to Satan than to God.

The most egregious thing about the slothful servant is that he had the same potential as the other two servants.

Because of a spirit of fear and an oppressed mindset he is frozen and Jesus eventually labels him wicked for not believing in the work God had done in him.

Realizing Your Potential

The first thing you must never ever do is doubt the work that God has done in you!

James 1:5–8 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

I remember being so unsure that things were settled and I was the walking illustration of these verses. I had no identity in Christ because I was only hoping He liked me, I wasn’t really sure. Once I settled it in the core of my soul, Jesus made me stronger than I had ever thought possible.

The potential you have is directly related to your faith in the work Christ is doing in you.

2 Timothy 1:8–12 ESV

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Conclusion

Believe me when I tell you that if you are a God Made believer and want to be a profitable servant, if you want to realize your full potential in Christ; you have to know that you have been given everything you need to not only accomplish God’s plan for your life, but excel in Jesus’ Name!

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.