SPIRITUAL POTENTIAL by BILL BURNS
We find ourselves in a time of spiritual growth – accelerated time in which a lot is going on!
It seems good to the Holy Spirit and to me to talk about our “spiritual potential.” Hopefully, this will help us move into this multifaceted season and receive all that the Lord has for us in this time of transition.
Scripture clearly tells us that we have a part and duty in this spiritual dynamic that positions us to receive that which has been promised.
2 Peter 1:
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self–control, to self–control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Spiritual potential is established by the Word of God and by our interaction with it through our:
1. Faith – in God and His Word.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Faith received the substance of the promises.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith comes by hearing and believing God’s Word.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 4:1-2 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Faith is heaven’s currency, but it only works if you are in love with Jesus and your love produces.
2. Obedience
John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
Obedience to God’s word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit establishes one in a position of righteousness (right standing). This qualifies one to receive from God. The Holy Spirit convicts us and leads us (directs us).
John 16:
7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
8 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 "of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;
11 "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
15 "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
He will guide us (lead us) in the path of righteousness (truth). Disobedience to His leading will disqualify us from receiving the promises.
Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
3. Free Will Choices
God has given us a free will – freedom to choose as we desire. Our choices either activate the blessings or remove them.
Galatians 6:
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Satan’s temptations are for the purpose of influencing our free-will choices. Our part in this war of wills is established in God’s Word.
2 Corinthians 10:
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
We get to choose how we live – in victory or defeat. The power of free will cannot be overstated. Do we choose as directed by God’s word or by our carnal nature?
Romans 8:
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors––not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Joshua 24:15 Choose this day whom you will serve. (Choose every day!)
We are living in a spiritual season of new opportunities – potential (possibilities). An opportunity has been given to us to move to a higher spiritual level (New Plateau). If we do so, greater spiritual authority will be ours. Greater revelation will establish a new spiritual position that gives us the capacity to receive from God in greater measures than ever before.
Ephesians 3:
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height––
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.