Todd Bailey Ministries

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Potential - Part 1

Todd Bailey

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Dormant ability, reserved power, untapped strength, unused success, hidden talents and capability.

Several months ago, a friend sent me this definition of the word potential, “Dormant ability, reserved power, untapped strength, unused success, hidden talents and capability.”  When I received it, I became intrigued by this word. As I began to mediate on its definition, I became more aware of how we all have potential in us. No matter what a person's gender, skin color, level of education, age or financial status may be we all have potential.

The word “potential” in the dictionary is defined as:

(1)     Possible but not yet realized; capable of being but not yet in existence.

(2)     Denoting possibility, capability, or power.

(3)     The inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or coming into being."

I would like to take the individual descriptions of potential that I received from my friend, and see what God's Word says in relation to each of these descriptions.

DORMANT ABILITY

The dictionary meaning of ability is: “The quality of being able to do something; physical, mental, financial, or legal power to perform. A natural or acquired skill or talent.”   

Thomas Edison had the quality of being a genius.  We know he invented the light bulb, but did you know it took him thousands of tries until he got it right?  The ability to do it was on the inside of him, but he was so determined to get it on the outside of him. He once said, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.”

In the Book of Numbers we can see where Caleb could see the potential (dormant ability) that the people had in them to take the Promise Land . They just had acted upon God’s Promise.

Numbers 13:30

30         And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

David, a young Shepherd boy, one day who would become a King increased his potential by awaking his dormant ability by starting out watching sheep, because one day he would entrusted to watch over a kingdom.  He killed a lion and then a bear, but he would have never killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17) if he had allowed his ability (potential) stay dormant.

RESERVED POWER

The dictionary meaning of power is: “The ability or capacity to act or perform effectively. A specific, capacity, faculty, or aptitude. Strength or force exerted or capable of being exerted; might. The ability or official capacity to exercise control; authority. A person, group, or nation having great influence or control over others.  Forcefulness; effectiveness.”

We have power in us that is from God to do things we never thought could be possible.

Brian Tracy said this, “Learn something new. Try something different. Convince yourself that you have no limits.”

William Morrow stated, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

Just recently, I heard an amazing story.  Three young boys were fishing along a stream when one of the boys fell in and got caught in the under current. One of the boys stayed by the bank where his friend fell in and the other boy ran to the bridge crossing the stream. The one boy on the bridge waved down a car passing by and the man in the car pulled over and jumped in the stream looking for the young man who was no where to be found. Another man was on the stream fishing in his boat, seeing where the boy fell in, began to direct the man in the water where to dive in the water. Finally, the man pulled the unconscious boy out of the water and took him up to the road next to the bridge where another car had just to pull over to offer help (which was the only other car to do so). When the boy was placed on the ground. Someone asked, “Does anyone know CPR!?”  Well, the lady who happen to pull over was a nurse and knew CPR. After successfully reviving the young boy, that young man today is back living a normal life. Shortly after the incident, the family of the boy had everyone involved in the saving of their son’s life come to their home for a cookout.

Sometimes, we think “what do I have to offer or help” do you know that everyone of these individuals in this story had a lot to offer!  You have the “The ability or capacity to act or perform effectively.”

Just release that reserved power inside of you……the bible tells us in  1 John 4:4, “… because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

2 Corinthians 4:7

7            But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

2 Samuel 22:33-36

33         God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

Ephesians 3:20

20         Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

UNTAPPED STRENGTH

The dictionary meaning of strength is: “The state, quality, or property of being strong; physical power; muscularity. The power of resisting force, attack, strain, or stress; durability; solidity; impregnability. Power in general, such as that deriving from the intellect, the law, or the possession of resources.  A source of power or force; that which makes strong.”

One of the best examples in the bible of someone with “untapped strength” is Gideon.  Here is a man…

Judges 6:11, 12

11       And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

 12       And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

Ps 29:11

11                 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Prov 24:5

5                     A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.