REACHING YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

Successful People Are: Disciplined, Dedicated, Self Motivated and Enthusiastic.

In order to reach your full potential you must HEAR, IGNORE, REMEMBER and not be INTIMIDATED.

1) HEAR THE OPPORTUNITY

1 SAMUEL 17:20-23 So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battle field with shouts and battle cries. Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army. David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers. As he was walking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David HEARD him shout his usual taunt to the army of Isreal.
(David HEARD his opportunity.) Are you hearing yours?

2) IGNORE THE VIBRATIONS OF DISCOURAGEMENT

1 Samuel 17:28-30; 33 But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around hear anyway?” he demands. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!” “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!” He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer. “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s NO WAY you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth”.
(I don’t think his brother was paying him a compliment when he asked about those few sheep he was supposed to be taking care of.) David IGNORED the vibrations of discouragement.

3) REMEMBER THE FAMILIAR SOUNDS OF SUCCESS

SAMUEL 17: 34-37 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from it’s mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I HAVE DONE THIS TO BOTH LIONS AND BEARS, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
(David is remembering and drawing strength from his past life’s successes. Are YOU doing the same?)

4) TURN DOWN THE VOLUME OF INTIMIDATION

SAMUEL 17: 41-44 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “COME OVER HEAR, AND I'LL GIVE YOUR FLESH TO THE BIRDS AND WILD ANIMALS!” Goliath yelled.
(David did not listen to the INTIMIDATION.)

When you hear the call of opportunity ACT upon it and ignore the nay sayers.

Success is not achieved by not encountering obstacles, it is achieved by HOW you handle those obstacles you encounter.

This lesson was taught by Pastor Troy Gramling of Flamingo Road church a few years ago. The point of the message is that we all have had successes in the past, look back and draw from those experiences when you find yourself behind on the scorecard.

Related Links: http://www.flamingoroadchurch.org/