Text: 1 Samuel 17:26-37
Memory verse:
“Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” I Samuel 17:32 NKJV
It was Les Brown who said, “The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is there that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.”
God didn’t create anyone without a potential. The parable of the talents attests to this (Matt 25:15 ). Although, we all have different abilities but no one was created empty. We were created to add value to ourselves and to the world. Unfortunately, many, either don’t draw from what has been given or draw far below what is given. This is one of the goals of the waster. He works by keeping its victims ignorant of God’s ability within them or by sowing the fear of the unknown.Ignorance and fear produce lazy attitude. Laziness will incapacitate potentials and dreams.
Do you know that David would have died, at best, as the greatest shepherd in the wilderness, if he hadn’t confronted the intimidation of Goliath and the negative words of his brother, Eliab and king Saul? The prophecy concerning him and the anointing poured on him would have been received in vain. He would have gone to his grave unfulfilled.
“Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find” (Prov 12:27 NLT). Did you notice the problem? Why will a person go hunting, catch a game and return home to watch it decay without cooking? He never fully fulfills his dream of seeking for a game.
God daily brings great opportunities our ways and wants us to maximize them (Eph 5:16; Col 4:5). The people of Nazareth could not maximize the opportunity of having the Saviour of the world as their kinsman in the flesh but despised Him and so could only have Jesus do few miracles in their midst! “And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.” (Matt 3:58 NLT). Unbelief kept them from fully utilizing that uncommon opportunity.
Mark Twain once told a story about a man who scoured the planet looking for the greatest general who ever lived. When the man was informed that the person he sought had already died and gone to heaven, he made a trip to the Pearly Gates to look for him. Saint Peter pointed at a regular-looking Joe. “That isn’t the greatest of all generals,” protested the man. “I knew that person when he lived on Earth, and he was only a cobbler.” “I know that,” said Saint Peter, “but if he had been a general, he would have been the greatest of them all.
Friends, don’t underutilize the potential, grace and opportunities that God has given you. Don’t allow the waster to make you live an unfulfilled life through fear, ignorance, laziness and unbelief. Challenge these habits today and say NO, to the wasters.
Prayer points
1. I come against the spirit of fear, ignorance, unbelief and I stand against the wasters in my life in Jesus name.
2. I receive God’s grace to maximize my potential and my God-given opportunities and I refuse to live and end my life unfulfilled in Jesus name.
Today’s declarations
1. God’s revelation knowledge in me does not allow the waster to waste my opportunities through ignorance.
2. I confront daily fear and unbelief lest the waster should take advantage of me.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng