Open Heaven 22 August 2018: Performing Below Potential? by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Topic: Performing Below Potential?
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Memorise: I have seen servants upon horses, and Princes walking as servants upon the earth. Ecclesiastes 10:7
Read: Proverbs 6:4-11 (KJV)
4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Bible in one year: Psalm 45-50, Matthew 24:15-35, Hymnal: Sing hymn 4
Message: Open Heaven 22 August 2018
The Preacher’s observation in today’s memory verse is worthy of our reflection. It is indeed an interesting sight to see servants promoted to the level of riding on horses; of course, God is more than able to do this for those who love Him.
Open Heaven 22 August 2018: Performing Below Potential? by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
However, it is an evil thing when princes are relegated to the position of walking on foot as servants. For those who profess to be God’s special people, such a situation is an anomaly and must be avoided. It is practically the same as performing below potential. The pertinent question we should consider is, how come those who should be served are now in servitude? Thankfully, our Bible reading does not only reveal the cause, it also reveals the cure.
Laziness is the root cause of performing below potential. Any prince caught in the web of laziness will not amount to anything in life. Instead, his or her inheritance will go to other hands that are diligent, because God’s principles set out in Proverbs 12:24 says:
“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”
Poverty sends people to the field of servitude, and this is inevitable for the indolent. There is the story of two friends who went to an oracle to know their future. The seer turned to one of them and said, “Hail, the future king!” On hearing these words, he went away and began to celebrate himself as the future king, even though he was still in rags.
Open Heaven 22 August 2018: Performing Below Potential? by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
The seer turned to the other man and said, “You will die in abject poverty.” He was dejected, but determined in his heart that he would fight to be successful, and so he went into the jungle and began to farm. After many years, he became prosperous, having plenty goods with male and female servants. A famine came to the town where his friend was living, still waiting for his “kingdom” to come. While searching for food, citizens of this town discovered the hardworking man and his abundance of supplies. They begged him to become their king, promising to serve him in exchange for food to survive the famine. That was how a man who was supposed to die in penury became a king, while an expectant “future king” remained poor for the rest of his life.
Open Heaven 22 August 2018: Performing Below Potential? by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
In conclusion, please note that diligence itself is time-bound. There is time for everything under heaven. When some things are done belatedly, their purpose ends up being defected. Our Bible text teaches about the ant, which provides food in the summer and gathers what it needs in harvest. What you do today determines what becomes of you in future. The cure for poor performance is proper preparation. For example, if you’re ambition is to become just a messenger, you don’t need a university education for that. However, if you desire to become a captain of industry, more often than not, you will need more than elementary education to achieve this. A word is enough for the wise.
Open Heaven 22 August 2018 Prayer Point
Father, lift me up above mediocrity, and grant me grace to pay the price of good success.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.
HYMN NO: 4 FOR OPEN HEAVENS 22 AUGUST 2018
TRUST AND OBEY
1. When we walk with the Lord in
the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our
way!
While we do His good will, He
abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and
obey.
Chorus
Trust and obey, for there’s no other
Way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust
and obey.
2. Not a shadow can rise, not a
cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it
away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh
or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and
obey.
3. Not a burden we bear, not a
sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly
repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown
or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and
obey.
4. But we never can prove the
delights of His love
Until all on the alter we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the
Joy He bestows,
Are from them who will trust and
obey.
5. Then in fellowship sweet we
will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the
way;
What He says we will do, where
He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
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