There's a Gold Mine Inside You: 10 Keys to Reaching Your Potential

Sermon outline

Every child of God carries God-given potential, so like Paul, keep leaning on God, get up every time you fall, and discover, dedicate and develop what He has put inside you.

1. A glimpse of Paul's life

   Before the Damascus road Paul persecuted Christians and had many martyred, yet God forgave him and he served the Lord, just as David, who committed adultery and murder, repented and was called a man after God's heart. Paul was lashed, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and in constant danger, yet he persevered because he leaned on God and not on his own strength; what drove him was his God-given potential and assignment.

   Illustration: He quotes the saying of a man who complained about his shoes until he met a man who had no legs. Soul-winning is not only the pastor's job: the apostles gave themselves to prayer and the Word, and every believer is God's evangelist.

   “We must constantly lean on the Lord.”

   • Acts 9:3-6
   • Acts 13:22
   • 2 Samuel 12:7
   • 2 Corinthians 11:24-33

2. There will be times when you fall

   Life is like a baby learning to walk: parents don't punish a stumbling child but cheer it on. The road to the top has potholes, days of distress and times of stumbling, but if God is for you, who can be against you? Every time you stumble, don't criticise yourself; use your faith to stand up and fight another day.

   Illustration: In boxing he has seen fighters who seem to be losing in the early rounds get up every time they fall and then win the fight with one punch.

   “I'll stand up. I'll fight another day. The going is tough, but I'll make it.”

   • Romans 8:31
   • Hebrews 12:2

3. The more we attempt, the more likely we are to fall

   Business people understand that success requires taking risks, calculated risks, and many fall along the way. Learn to control your emotions and actions when you fall, and get up again.

   Illustration: He tells of the Australian businessman Peter Daniels, who failed many times, could not speak English well and learned words from the dictionary, yet became a powerful speaker and very wealthy, and still owns only one pair of shoes at a time because he can only wear one pair.

   “So if he can make it, you can make it.”

4. The difference between success and failure is how we react to the fall

   When he was first saved he expected life to be smooth, but challenge followed challenge and he asked his wife what kind of God this was; as he matured he understood that the devil leaves his own alone and comes after Christians because they are a threat. God does not work with perfect people but with willing people, so be a player, not a spectator. Saul hardened his heart, but David repented and got up again.

   “God does not work with perfect people. He works with willing people.”

   • Colossians 1:13
   • 1 Samuel 31:4

5. Keep using your faith and ask big

   There is a fight in you, so keep using whatever faith you have and keep an expectation of your next miracle; when you sow a seed, write on the envelope exactly what you need. We have a big God who does exceedingly abundantly above all we ask, so ask big. Don't be discouraged when family members are unsaved or children go astray; they will come back, and you can plead the blood and a wall of fire around children who are travelling or living abroad.

   “We have a big God, so we must begin to ask for big things.”

   • Ephesians 3:20
   • Luke 16:8
   • Zechariah 2:5

6. Discover your potential

   The greatest energy shortage today is not electricity or fuel but unused potential in people's lives. Adam failed to become all God wanted him to be, but everyone has talent and is important in the economy of God, so don't write anyone off.

   Illustration: A boy put an eagle's egg into a chicken coop; the eagle grew up among the chickens, but when it was let out it spread its wings, knew it was different and flew. Don't stay in the chicken coop.

   “The greatest energy shortage today is unused potential within the lives of people.”

7. Dedicate your potential

   Give God all that you are and all that you have, because He created you for a purpose and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. God takes you up and over, not down. Abraham was very rich and tithed to Melchizedek, and he refused to let anyone say they had made him rich, because it is God who blesses you and gives you favour and potential.

   “It is God that's blessed you. It is God that has given you favor. It is God that's given you potential.”

   • Philippians 4:13
   • Genesis 13:2
   • Genesis 14:20-23
   • Genesis 23:3-16

8. Develop your potential with a healthy self-image

   If you think you have little to offer, you will contribute nothing. If you don't love yourself, you have no love to give, so whatever your gender or colour, don't apologise for who you are: you are made in God's image. As your self-image changes, your performance changes.

   “As you feel worthwhile, you'll become worthwhile.”

   • Genesis 1:27

9. You are responsible for your own self-image

   People may call you names, talk you down or slander you, but it should bounce off you because you know who you are. Walk unapologetically; with confidence in who you are in God, you will see signs, wonders and miracles, as he did in early campaigns in several African countries.

   “We must walk unapologetically.”

10. God is more interested in your potential than your mistakes

    Don't focus on your mistakes, because God is not focusing on them; He is looking at the potential deep inside you. Unearth it and let it come to the forefront.

    “There's a gold mine inside of you.”

11. Get acquainted with successful people

    If you join chickens, you will stay in the chicken coop, but if you join eagles, you will fly like an eagle. Don't ask an unsuccessful person about success; ask a successful person how they did it.

    “If you join eagles, then you'll fly like an eagle.”