Releasing your spiritual potential as a man

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  What is Potential in General?
  
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  What is Spiritual potential?
  
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  Understanding your spiritual potential as a man
  
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  The Purpose of Spiritual Potential
  
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  Developing and Releasing your Spiritual potential
  

Potential is God-given gifts, talents, skills, energy, ideas, dreams and abilities yet to be developed and released for the benefit of mankind and for the glory of God.

“The potential of a person or a product is the purpose for which he or it was created or exist. Until one releases and maximizes his potential, one has not fulfilled his divine assignment on earth”. J.O.

“They are untapped supernatural abilities, power, strength, ministry and gifts in a man, that are awaiting to be released and used for the benefit of others and for the glory of God”. J.O.

The Anointing of God (1 John 2:20,27), the Power of God Dominion/Treasure of God (2 Cor. 7:14, Eph. 3:20), the Glory of God, spiritual gifts, fruit of the Spirit or the Character of God, Divine Wisdom and Intelligence in you. Note: man is a spiritual being in a body.

Man occupies a strategic position in the divine order of things. In the divine order: God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of Man, and Man is the head of Woman (1 Cor.11:3). Man was strategically placed on earth to represent God and to manifest His invisible kingdom. This purpose is accomplished when a man discovers and releases his spiritual potential. It is important to remember that, ‘when you grow men you grow the church’. Something that Satan does not want to see happening.

Unfortunately many men are not aware or living below their spiritual potential like Gideon. Gideon was a spiritual giant, man of valor, warrior, fighter and conqueror but was hiding, he was a champion but was behaving as a coward, he was somebody but he thought he was nobody, destined for greatness yet hiding, blessed yet was poor, designed to be successful yet was acting as a failure, a winner yet was living as a loser. Gideon attitude is typical of many men of toady.

1. Fear 2. Ignorant of whom he was (v.12) 3. Personal Weakness. 4. Family History (v.15) 5. Lack of Self Confidence and Low Self Esteem (v.15). 6. Unwillingness to leave his Comfort Zone 7. The challenges of his environment. 8. Lack of Faith in God (v.13).

1. 
   To manifest the good works in us, Ephesians. 2:10
   
2. 
   To fulfill divine assignment and purpose on earth
   
3. 
   To be a blessing to others and future generations (Gen 12:1-4)
   
4. 
   To manifest the power and the glory of God
   
5. 
   To positively influence our spiritual and physical environment
   
6. 
   To champion a spiritual course on behalf of the people of God (1 Sam 17: 26, 29 )
   

Having a potential is of no use if it cannot be released to fulfill its intended purpose. For example having a brand new Mercedes Benz full of gas sitting in a garage and the owner does not know how to operate and utilize the vehicle.

God has deposited some powers, treasure, gift, anointing and glory in you. To release your spiritual potential requires that you live and operate in the ideal spiritual environment provided by God and a willingness to make the necessary changes to conform your life to God’s specifications. In other words you cannot release the treasure, anointing and the gifts in you unless you learn the conditions of your ideal spiritual environment as indicated in the word of God and make the effort to keep your spiritual environment in line with those conditions.
WHAT HINDERS THE RELEASE OF SPIRITUAL POTENTIAL

Sin, disobedience, ignorance, lack of faith and unbelief, fear, failure, neglect, discouragement, inaction, timidity, complacency, pressure, stresses and the demands of everyday life can impede the release of your potential.

1. 
   God must be the center of your life. Abide in Him. Have and maintain a right relationship and fellowship with Him. Live in obedience to Him. Live in a holy and righteous life. Seek God continually as you try to understand His purpose for your life.
   
2. 
   Understanding and total obedience to the word of God will help release your potential. Note: the bible contains all the necessary instructions to develop, function and release your spiritual potential, 2 Tim. 3:16-17
   
3. 
   You must acquaint yourself with everything God built into you if you will be able to function at your maximum potential. Ex: God designed you to be filled with the Holy Spirit and live in the Spirit in order to release the anointing and the Spiritual gifts in you, Eph. 5:18, Gal. 5:16, Rom. 8:1-4, Judges 6:34; 1 Sam. 10:6-7.
   
4. 
   In order to release your spiritual potential, you need to learn how to function by faith according to God’s directives, Heb. 11:6. Spiritual resources are received and operated by faith.
   
5. 
   By responding to the demands on your potential. God places demands on your potential by giving you opportunity and responsibility. Ex: acting on the problems and needs of your environment will cause your potential to be released. Ex: needs in the church such as youth, singles, marital issues, sickness, teaching, follow-up etc.
   
6. 
   Self Discipline. Set aside time to pray and read the word of God daily
   
7. 
   Seek the baptism and infilling of the Holy Spirit daily.
   
8. 
   Desire, determine and develop your spiritual potential by using what gift and skills God has given. God will not entrust you with more resources until you use wisely and profitably what He has already given you.
   
9. 
   Step out of your comfort zone, Gen 41:51. Be up and doing.
   
10. 
    Fan into flame the gift of God in you, 2 Tim. 1:6
    
11. 
    Build a personal altar of prayer, Judges 6:24
    

As a man created in the image of God and loaded with untapped spiritual abilities and gifts, you must make a firm commitment from today going that you will do everything with help of the Holy Spirit to develop and release your spiritual potential for the benefit of others and to the glory of God.

Pastor John Ofori

Atlanta District