Prepare To Maximize Your Potential In 2024

Text: Matt 25:14-30 Date: 31/12/23
Preacher: Pastor (Dr) Otive Igbuzor
Introduction
Every human being is born with potentials. Your potential is your talents, abilities, gifts, abilities and strength. Potential is not what you have done but what you can do.
The reality of life is that there are many people who have not utilized their potentials fully. Research show that only a small percentage of the 8 billion people on planet earth will achieve a significant portion of their potential. The truth of the matter is that every human being has a wealth of potential largely unfulfilled.
As the year 2023 ends today and we plan to enter 2024 gloriously by the grace of God, we need to plan to maximize our potential in 2024.Lessons from the parable of the Talents Matt 25:14-30: Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.
15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.
17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!
’ 22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.
29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Success is product of work. He who does not work should not eat 2 Thes 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat (KJV)
God has deposited in us all we need to do what he wants us to do. Eph 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (NIV)
God has given to each according to his ability Matt 25:15 ….to everyman according to his several ability (KJV)We work for the Master, not our own selfish purposes. Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, (KJV)
We will be held accountable for what God has deposited in us and called us to do. How are you reigning as a Priest? Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests: and we shall reign on earth (KJV)
Principles for Maximising your Potential Faithfulness in little: resources, assignment, ministry, career.
Luke 16:10 whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much (NIV)Be diligent in your gift: Plan, organize and obey. Build yourself Jude 20-But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit. Prov 12:24 Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labour (NIV)
Overcome your failures: damaging relationships, debilitating fears, conquer obstacles. Prov 24:16 For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes(NIV); Ps 145: 14 The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that are bowed down.Avoid procrastination: Whatever you can do today, do not postpone it to tomorrow. Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil (KJV) making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil (NIV)
Seek encouraging surroundings: Family, workplace, home, church, house fellowship, P& K Connect Group. I Cor 15:33-Do not be misled, bad company corrupts good character (NIV); Prov 13:20 Walk the wise and become wise, for a company of fools suffer harm (NIV)
Your aims and result of your gift must glorify God first: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Matt 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven (NIV)
Grace: suspends all laws and protocols; connection to destiny helpers Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. (KJV)
Tips for Maximising your Potential in 2024
(1) Never think or speak negatively about yourself; that puts you in disagreement with God.
(2) Meditate on your God-given strengths and learn to encourage yourself, for much of the time nobody else will.
(3) Don’t compare yourself to anybody else. You’re unique, one of a kind, an original. So don’t settle for being a copy.(4) Focus on your potential, not your limitations. Remember, God lives in you!
(5) Find what you like to do, do well, and strive to do it with excellence.
(6) Have the courage to be different. Be a God pleaser, not a people pleaser.
(7) Learn to handle criticism. Let it develop you instead of discouraging you.
(8) Determine your own worth instead of letting others do it for you. They’ll short-change you!
(9) Keep your shortcomings in perspective – you’re still a work in progress.
(10) Focus daily on your greatest source of confidence – GOD, Challenge 2024 will happen to you based on the way you prepare for it. God has prepared you. Prepare to maximize your potentials.
ConclusionYou can improve on your performance. There is room for improvement. Maximize your life. Minimize your load. Overloaded people fail at marriage, work and ministry. Trim the excess. Unlock your potentials. You are positioned for greatness in 2024. Looking forward to our anchor in 2024.
Father, prepare me to maximize my potential in 2024.