Transcription
How to realize the potential of a child with a great destiny. Matthew chapter 2, verse 1 to 2. I read from the New Living Translation.
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It says, Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of King Herod. About that time, some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him."
Some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? Where is the newborn king of the Jews?"
We begin by throwing a light on the word "potential."
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Potential has to do with something that could happen, but has not yet happened. Something that is capable of happening. Potential talks about someone who could do something, but has not yet done it. Someone that is capable of doing a particular thing. If you say that someone or something has potential for doing a particular thing, you mean that it is possible they may do it.
And then, of course, potential also has to do with things that may happen. If there is potential for something, then it means that thing may happen. Potential has to do with the possibility of becoming something. Possibility of becoming something. Capable of being or becoming something that can, but has not yet come into being. But it can. Someone that is capable of being, but has not yet, but is not yet in that, in that realm.
And potential also has to do with having or showing the capacity. Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future. Having the capacity, showing the capacity to develop into something in the future. So you use some potential, the word potential, to say that someone is capable of developing into something afterwards. Something that is likely to develop into a particular thing in the future, positively or negatively. A potential problem, a potential conflict, potential risk, potential threat, potential danger. And of course, potential benefits, potential achievements.
So when we are talking specifically now about the potential of something in particular, we are talking about what something could, a particular thing could cause to happen. What something could influence to happen. This has to do with a realm of potential. Something, what something is capable of becoming. What something is capable of growing into, developing into. Potential speaks of what something is capable of increasing into, like a good seed or a seed in a very fertile land, feta soil. Potential talks of what something is capable of increasing into, expanding to, or spreading to. What something is also capable of escalating into. All of this has to do, uh, different illustrations of the potential of a thing, then of an individual. And sometimes you can also apply this to a machine. In these times of artificial intelligence, of a robot, the potential of an end, of someone, a machine, or robot. It speaks about what someone is capable of doing. What that child, your son, is capable of doing. The potential of your son. The potential of your daughter. It's talking about what your son, your daughter, is capable of doing. What your child is capable of becoming. What your child, a child, is capable of achieving, developing into, growing into. What your son or daughter is capable of excelling, mastering.
Now, now there are some factors that can create potential. The factors that can create potential. There are factors that also can enhance potential, or enhance the fulfillment of existing potential. And there are also factors that optimize potential. In the secular world and in the general cycle of the impartation of knowledge, we are familiar, familiar with some of these factors. But I focus on the spiritual dimension of those factors that can cause, enhance, optimize your potentials and the potentials of your child.
Number one is your destiny. Your destiny. You carry a potential from the day you were born. And that potential in you was created and put in place by the Almighty God.
Number two is your star. Your star. The star of your son. The star of your only daughter. That's a word for someone that has just a daughter.
And number three, the destiny and star of your spouse, relatives, and close associates. It will enhance your potentials in life. It will optimize your potentials in life. Yes, not only your star, not only the star of a person, but the star of your spouse, the destiny of your spouse can take you to another level far beyond your own potential in life. The potential of the star and destiny of your close relatives, as we saw in the experience of Joseph and members of his family. The destiny and star of this young boy became a big boost to the destiny, the potentials in life for fulfilling life for members of his family and his entire race in his own time.
And fourthly, for knowledge of your potential achievements in your lifetime. Very, very important for knowledge of your potential achievements in your lifestyle.
So, in talking about potential, the big challenge we have is that many times, by the time we see that curtains are drawn, it's often observed that a, a child that was born with great potential eventually did not experience the manifestation of that great destiny that was even seen repeatedly, confirmed repeatedly in some cases at their back when they were still very young, or sometimes later on afterwards. And this is often due to different dimensions of limitation.
A limitation is something that stops you from growing, increasing. Something that stops a child or a man or woman from, or something from spreading. A limitation is something that restricts you. It confines you to certain boundaries. It confines you to a particular size. You just observe that you are not able to break through a particular size or number. It's a limitation. It is something that confines you within a certain reach.
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Some limitations are imposed on us by other people. Some limitations are imposed on us by external forces, including the spiritual realm. However, some limitations are self-imposed limitations. Self-imposed limitations. And what are the primary causes of personal or self-imposed limitations?
One is wrong belief or a wrong mindset. Wrong beliefs or a wrong mindset. Your thoughts, your beliefs, your convictions. When they fall short of what God actually has in mind for you, then not much can happen.
Fear of failure is another reason behind self-imposed limitations. Fear of failure. Low self-esteem, low self-esteem, inferiority complex is another reason behind self-imposed limitations. Then overestimation of your opponent. Overestimation of your opponents. Overestimation of your opponents. You must recognize that you know, the human race is powered by by different. There is, there is real momentum and there is fake momentum. And most of the time, what sounds even louder is the fake momentum. Hike, just hype without content, without substance. So most of the time, you know, you see people cannot even go into a battle. Why? You overestimate your opponent. Sometimes you are looking at your opponents, "Oh, they have 100 tanks, battle tanks." Unknown to you, like we, I don't need to mention the nations in particular. We have nations who have battle tanks, but those battle tanks are not functional. I don't need to mention any name. The battle tanks. So they know on paper they have 100, and so you have 10. So, but you are intimidated because how can you face a nation with battle tanks with your tank? But unknown to you, that only five out of 100 are functional. Five can move. And even those five that can move, they don't have life. They don't have live ammunition. The live ammunition has been sold in black market to terrorist organizations. May you never run from a battle God was waiting to give you victory over. Let the Lord hear your amen.
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Another reason for limitation has to do with when circumstances you are, when you are faced with great odds. These will come, not even once in your life. There will be times in your life you'll be faced with great odds. But must you always give up? Must you always give up? Must you always give up? Because many things that look impossible at the beginning will eventually be achieved if only you will give it a try and persist.
Rejection, opposition, restrictions by people is another factor behind limitations. Then the language barrier. The language barrier. Thank God for the innovations coming out through artificial intelligence, because we are getting to a point now, very soon, some very, very short time from now, where through using artificial intelligence, we'll be able to translate instantly to all the major languages in the world and use it every time for the even personal actions and transactions.
So the way forward for you in realizing the potential for that son, for that daughter, is that one, there must be the right mindset. So at the beginning, see, when we are talking about the potentials of a child, and that means we have to deal with the mindset of the parents, because the mindset of the parents can frustrate the potentials of a child. The mindset of the parents. So there has to be a change of mindset. In Proverbs 23 verse 7, he says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." So please believe it is possible. Believe your son carries a glorious star and destiny. Can I hear that mother say amen? Believe it is possible. Believe it's possible. The greatest achievers in life, we are not all excelling at the beginning. That's a beauty of life. When you look at the greatest achievers over time, not all of them excelled at the very beginning. So don't be too quick to write off your son. Don't be too quick to write off your daughter.
Like the father of David, Jesse. The man of God came, the prophet of the nation came to him and said, "God has chosen one of your sons to be the next president of this nation. Please bring out your sons." The man had eight sons. And then the last one, the eighth son, was David. He was the one that the father, was the one that sent him on an errand to take care of the sheep. Take note, on at least two occasions while tending the sheep of his father, a lion came and attempted to, you know, take the sheep. And David was exposed to that tread of a lion. He took on the lion and killed the lion. Now, most fathers will withdraw their son, especially the youngest son, from that assignment because of that incident. Your son, at the tender age, was face to face with the lion. Thank God that God intervened and the son was able to kill the lion. Most fathers would not allow that young son to go out there again. But the father continued to send David. Then some of the time it was a bear. And through the grace of God upon him, he killed the bear. The father continued to send him. While in obedience to his father, tending the sheep, there was a big opportunity that God brought to the family. And the Lord, the man of God said, "Parade your sons." And can you imagine a father ignoring his an obedient son who would have been home doing nothing at home, like the other seven, possibly if not for the fact that the father sent him out? And the man of God, if he was one that acts, you know, without being very sure of what he's hearing in the spirit, he would have in error anointed the wrong person. He went towards the first son. The spirit of God said, "No." Second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth. So the seventh son, you know, most of us, when it gets to that point, we, we are inclined to look at the seven a second time because we believe that it must be disciple. But thank God that the prophet was more mature, and he had to ask the father, Jesse, "Is there any other apart from these seven?" And the father, I'm sure he must have been scratching himself, and there is still one. "In fact, he's the youngest son, and he's tending my sheep, not playing on his own, tending my sheep." And the man of God said, "We will all stand until he comes." And they had to send for David. They brought in David. The moment David showed up, as the man of God looked at David, a voice of the Lord spoke, "This is the one I have chosen as my king."
Any attempt to sideline you in your race in life, may the Lord move quickly on your behalf. May your position of honor and assignment not be diverted to another person.
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As you go out every day doing the right things, may the Lord always protect your interest.
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When there is no one to speak out on your behalf, may the voice of the Lord speak out for you in the name of Jesus.
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You will not miss your throne in destiny. Your crown will not be given to another person in the name of Jesus. Praise you the Lord.
So, believe it is possible. Can I hear some parents say, "I believe"? Say it confidently, "My son, my daughter will fulfill their great destiny in the name of Jesus." Believe it's possible.
And to exercise great faith. "If thou can believe, all things are possible to them that believe."
Three, aspire for outstanding things. Aspire for outstanding things. So that means as a child begins to grow, you'll begin to apply this in your plans for that child. Dream big. Desire the very best that is much higher than your best so far.
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Don't ever misunderstand the concept of contentment. Aim for abundance and not survival. Aspire for excellent results. Have a world-class spirit because that is where we are now. That is where we are now. Conceive the ultimate. Conceive the ultimate.
And number four, don't bow to people's underestimation of your ability and potential. Don't bow to people's underestimation. Numbers 13, verse 31 to 33, easy to read version. It said, "But the men who had gone with him said, 'We cannot fight those people. They are much stronger than we are.'" Referring to the spies that we are sent out to check the promised land. He said, "We cannot fight those people." Don't bow to people's underestimation of your ability, of your potential. If God has said it, if God has promised it, then the potential is already upon you. The potential is already upon that son, upon that daughter.
So verse 12, 32 says, "So those men gave a report that discouraged the people." May the Lord deliver you from discouraging voices. There are voices that kill potential. They are voices that kill potential. "It can never be done." You hear that in offices every day. You hear that in different cycles. "If it cannot be done, it has never happened." It will happen sometime. Anything that eventually started happening started at a time, and before that time, it had never happened. So what has never happened before will be achieved someday. It will be achieved. Have an optimistic spirit.
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"The land we saw is full of strong people." Can you, can you hear these men? "They are strong enough to easily defeat anyone who goes there." Who, when did they watch these men in battle? They have not even seen them in battle, and look at the way they are talking about it as if, you know, they have watched them in battle many times. Verse 33, he said, "We, we saw the giant Nephilim people there, the descendants of Anak, come from the Nephilim. He said, 'We felt like little grasshoppers.'" He says, "Yes, we are like grasshoppers to them." Stop listening to the wrong voices.
Listen to these. Some things that parents could not achieve, God has destined one of the children, some of the children, to achieve those things. In fact, it is the prayer of every parent that your children will be greater than you and do greater things than you have done. Have a good self-esteem. Be confident. Be courageous. Joshua chapter 1, verse 5 to 8. Before Joshua could begin to fulfill that potential of taking the promised land, God had to mention just one word: "Courageous." Be courageous. Courage, very key, very key to realizing your full potential.
And five, invest in sound education. Invest in sound education for your children. Quality basic education is a master key to breaking personal limitation. I have seen this happen very sadly. I have seen this happen very sadly. How lack of basic education has limited the potential of many, many children. Many children. In these times we are going into, I, I also observe that there are some courses that are very critical. Courses like mathematics, physics, chemistry, very critical. Some, some fields are becoming more relevant, especially with the potentials of the manifestation of super artificial intelligence, which is the next phase of artificial intelligence that is about to come. And in that new era, some years away from us, only some fields, you know, centering around information technology, healthcare and medicine, and a few others, they are not really more than five or six that will be very, very relevant. A lot of things that we do today as jobs will be done 10 times better by robots and softwares powered by artificial intelligence in a few years from now. Do you know that some nations of the world already have robots? They have robots that will fight on the war front. And a lot of this information is concealed because a smart nation, the moment you reveal what you have even invented and you give details of the futures of those inventions, a smart nation will use that information. The first thing is that they will realize that it is possible, so they will start walking towards replicating what you have invented. So most of the time, I can tell you this, some of the best weapons and inventions for warfare by the top nations in warfare are not usually revealed. It is always better for you also to be underestimated. Your full strength must never be recognized by the enemy. It's a major advantage in battle. Lack of basic education has limited creativity of many children, the intelligence of many children, the reasoning of many potentially great children, youths, and adults.
And number six, be open to sound opinion and expect advice. There are people who have gone your own in the part of your own destiny. Listen to them. Listen to them. There is no need reinventing the wheel. Don't make the mistakes that your parents made. Don't make the mistakes that others in your same part of destiny have made. There is no time now for trial and error when we have information of the right way to go. Listen to sound opinions and expert advice. A journey that would have taken you 10 years will take you two years or a year if you have an expert mentoring you and showing you the right things to do. There is no more time to waste.
And lastly, be ready to sometimes take a big risk as an adult for yourself or for your children. There will come a time where that for that great thing to come to pass in your destiny, or the destiny of that son, the destiny of that daughter, you may need to take a great risk. I've seen parents sell a house that took them so long to build in order to sponsor the education of a child or two or three children. And I can attest to these that in many of those instances today, 10 years after, 15 years after, 20 years after, the parents are thanking God that they had the courage to make that, take that great risk at that time. In most instances, the parents will not regret it thereafter. And I pray that any major step you will need to take as a parent in order for your child to get the best and fulfill that great destiny, may the Lord strengthen your heart. May the spirit of God stay you up to make that move. Can I hear a father that truly loves the children say, "I will make that move"? Can I hear a mother that truly loves her children, blessed with a great destiny, say, "I will make that move"?
Stand on your feet and let's appreciate God for His word.
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You.