Matt Hagee - You Were Made For More

In order for your potential to develop, you need to know what potential is and how it works. The first thing that you need to understand is that potential starts with a mindset. You have to see it before you begin to act upon it. Your mindset builds an attitude. Your attitude shapes your actions. And your actions will decide whether or not you qualify for God to increase and multiply blessings to you. As this verse in 2 Corinthians says, if you have a bad attitude, you’ll take bad actions. Bad actions don’t lead to increase; they lead to decrease. God wants to increase the potential of generous people. Why? Because he is a generous God.

Now, the thing that I want you to understand about generosity is that it is not about you giving money or donating something to someone else. Generosity has nothing to do with what you give. Generosity, in God’s eyes, is how you give it. It’s the attitude with which you work. When you understand this principle, you gain the keys to unlocking the opportunity for your potential to begin to grow. It’s one of the most important truths we see in the Bible. Yet, so many people want to narrow it down to money. Narrowing this topic down to money is like looking through a keyhole when you have a panoramic view of opportunity in front of you.

Paul states the obvious in 2 Corinthians 9: 6, but sometimes the obvious can be overlooked and easily forgotten. He says very plainly, «He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly,» and then he adds, «And he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.» When you watch people let go of something, they let it go like it’s part of their lung. Yet, the Bible says if you do it sparingly, when harvest time comes, guess what’s going to come back to you. If you do it generously, if you do it bountifully, you’re going to receive generously; you’re going to receive bountifully. This is not just a theme in 2 Corinthians.

Go read Proverbs 11. It says, «The one who scatters increases will grow more, and the one who withholds will end up in poverty.» Verse 25 says, «A generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered.» When you have the right attitude about how you sow, you qualify to receive the increase that God has promised you. You are the one who decides how much you grow based on how much you sow. It’s not up to God; it’s up to you. If you give one seed, you receive one seed. But if you scatter it abroad, if everywhere you go you do it with the right heart, the right mindset, the right attitude, God looks at you and says, «Hey, we should turn the tap of generosity on for that person because they are doing our work.»

Now, verse 7 tells us very clearly in 2 Corinthians 9 that this is not about what you give; it’s about how you give. Because in verse 7 it says, «So let each one give as he proposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for the Lord loves"-say that with me -"the Lord loves a cheerful giver.» Why? Because God is a generous God. When you love what God loves, God is drawn to you. God is generous; he loves to give. Read the Bible. It’ll tell you over and over how much he loves to give. For God so loved the world that He did what? He gave. He didn’t just give something; He gave everything-his only begotten Son. That whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Now, you say that’s a salvation verse. No, it’s not! It’s a sowing and reaping verse. God sowed his son so that you could reap salvation. God is a generous God. If he’s a generous God, how can there be stingy Christians?

Psalms 145 and verse 16 says of the Lord, «You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.» This verse tells us that satisfaction comes from the open hand of God. If God’s hand is open, is yours? You can’t receive anything with closed hands. Not only can you not receive, but you can’t give with closed hands. When you have a stingy heart instead of a generous one, you close yourself off to a God who wants to give, and you close yourself off to the potential you have to grow because you don’t have the right attitude. The Bible says in Deuteronomy that those who have a generous heart will be blessed in all the works of their hands. How many of you want God to bless all the works of your hands? Then get a good attitude about what God has given you and live your life generously. Because when you live your life with generosity, you bring God into the equation of everything you do.

He says, «I’ll partner with you. I’m going to be generous to your family, I’m going to be generous to your household, I’m going to be generous to your children, I’m going to be generous to your business, I’m going to be generous to your relationships.» Wherever you go, I’m literally going to go with you. I’m going to bring goodness and mercy along with me. And whatever you need, whenever you need it, we’re going to be there for you. You see, you’re limited but when you partner with God, he’s limitless. You’re finite but when you partner with God, he’s infinite. You don’t have enough but when you partner with God, he is a God of more than enough. Child of God, open up your heart today and make God your partner for life because your potential connected to him is without measure.

So everything you have is a seed you could sow. Your attitude, opportunities, time, talents, skills, and gifts-it’s all there by God’s grace. Give it back to him. Why? Verse 8, where we started reading. Because God is able. Say that with me: God is able. When you’re generous, when you cheerfully and willingly open your hand to God, you access his unlimited ability to bless your life. You determine how much he pours into you. He’s able! And the verse continues. It says, «to make all grace.» That’s how you got what you have-through grace. Grace is what makes the impossible possible. Grace is what heals the sick. Grace is what changes a life. Grace is what opens up the doors of opportunity and makes a way where there seems to be no way. And God in his grace says, «I will make all of my sufficiency abundant to you if you have a cheerful heart and a generous spirit.» That’s why the Bible says the Lord loves a cheerful giver.

Not only does potential require the right process, but you need to know that potential takes time. Potential takes time. Verse 10 in 2 Corinthians 9 says, «Now may he who supplies seed to the sower» — that’s God. You’re the sower; he’s the supplier. It says, «May he supply and multiply.» How many of you see potential in that word, multiply? «May he supply and multiply the seed that you have sown and increase"-how many of you see potential in that word, increase? -"the fruits of your righteousness.» This verse brings it to a conclusion. It says, «When you sow it, God will grow it.» But not only will he grow it-he’ll increase it. And not only will he increase it-he’ll multiply it!

Why does it take time? Because when God multiplies and increases you, if you don’t grow the strength to carry what he’s going to bless you with, it could crush you. God knows how much you can take and he’s not going to load you down with more than you can bear. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, «God is faithful; he’ll not allow you to be tempted beyond what you’re able to bear.» Many times, people think that this temptation has to do with all of the lusts of the flesh. But sometimes, God’s goodness can be more than you can take. There are some people that the only time they call out to God or come to church is when they’re desperate. When things are good, they go to the coast. It’s only when things are bad that they come back to church.

Well, when you show God that that’s the only way you engage, guess where he keeps you? In desperate straits. He says, «The only time we talk is when you’re in trouble, so you just stay in trouble, and we’ll stay connected.» The reason that it takes time for potential to develop is because you have to grow strong enough to have the character to carry what God is going to hand you. Look at this principle in the Bible. It took time for Joseph. The Bible in Genesis 37:2 says that Joseph was 17 years old when God gives him a glimpse of his potential in a dream. He sees himself exalted and others bowing before him. But then there begins a process of Joseph being in a pit, sold into slavery, and then in prison. Genesis 41: 46 says that Joseph, being 30 years old, is seated next to Pharaoh. Fourteen years he suffered, but in that suffering, he developed the character that enabled him to lead.

It took years for David to go from being anointed to sitting on the throne. Why? Because it takes time. It took 40 years-four decades-for Moses to be on the back side of the desert before he was humble and meek enough to walk before Pharaoh and say, «Let my people go.» In Luke 2:40, it says of Jesus Christ, «The child grew and became strong in spirit, and the grace of God was upon him.» We don’t see him again until he’s 30, which means it took time. The point is, if it took time for God to use Joseph, Moses, David, and Jesus, don’t you think it’s going to take time for God to grow and develop you?

But the same way you grow is the same way you sow. You sow in grace because God gave it to you. And you grow in grace because God gives it to you. 2 Peter 3: 18 says, «Grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.» You grow in grace. You can increase your knowledge, but you don’t grow until God’s grace is poured upon it. How many of you have ever read something and you could repeat it, but you didn’t understand it? Like a marriage license-no, I’m kidding. We do it with the word of God all the time. We read something in the word of God, and we can quote the verse, but we don’t understand or have the ability to apply it. Why? Because God hasn’t poured out the grace to grow the truth in our life yet.

For some of you, this is the first time you’re engaging in this idea that a generous heart is what qualifies you for increase-not the gift you give, but the seed you sow and the attitude you sow it with. And it takes grace to grow in that. Whenever you experience God’s overwhelming abundance, if you’re going to be able to carry the increase, you have to realize that potential is not only a process but it takes time. The last thing I want to tell you about potential is that you don’t need to poison it.

We’re talking about seed and how it’s sown and how it grows. There are a lot of people in the world right now who are worried about the stuff they’re spraying on all of our fruits and vegetables. They say, «Oh, it’s bad for you.» That’s why I eat chicken-no, I’m kidding. And they’re not worried that what they’re spraying on is going to kill the fruit, but they’re worried that it’s going to poison it and be harmful to you. In like fashion, when you have potential, you need to know that you can poison your potential. You don’t kill it, but you can put things on it that will keep it from being all it could be. There are three things that I know for a fact will poison your potential. The first is crop comparison. When you compare what you have to what somebody else has, you kill your potential. Don’t poison your potential by comparing your life to other people’s.

2 Corinthians 10 says, «Comparing themselves among themselves, they are not wise.» This is a difficult thing to do because human beings have an innate ability and a desire to compare themselves. Go look at little kids at recess. What do they do? «How tall are you? How old are you? I’m seven. I’m seven and a half. I’m seven and three -quarters. How strong is your dad? My dad’s so strong he lifted a car.» It doesn’t matter; they just compare, compare, compare, compare. Why? Because they want to know how they measure up.

The funny thing about kids is that it doesn’t matter if they’re seven or 77; the game is always the same. The older they get, they just compare different things. «What kind of watch are you wearing? What kind of house do you live in? Where did you go for vacation? Who did you go with? How did you get there — first class, coach, or bus?» It’s not that they care; they just want to compare because they want to know if I’m better than you or if I’m less than you. The problem is that when you compare yourself to others, if you look at someone who’s less than you, you feel greater than them, and that’s not a fair measurement. When you look at someone who’s greater than you, you feel less than, and that’s not a fair measurement either.

The only measurement for your life should be the truth of God’s word. The only way that you can measure up to his truth is through his grace. Paul said, «We will not compare ourselves, nor will we boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere"-say that with me -"within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us.» 2 Corinthians 10:13. He said, «Within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us,» meaning the only place that we’re going to discuss any measure of grace or expertise is within the parameters of where God has gifted us and appointed us.

Now, what this says is that my potential can grow limitlessly within the sphere that God has appointed me. He’s appointed me to minister; he’s appointed me to this church. I have the potential to do great things as long as I’m doing that. But don’t let me fool myself and look at your life and say, «Well, I could do your job.» No, I can’t. That’s not the sphere that God appointed me to. And don’t look at my life and say, «Well, I could do that.» No, you can’t. That’s not the sphere that God appointed you to. When you are operating within the limit of the sphere, as Paul says, you have unlimited potential because that’s right where God wants you.

So don’t compare yourself to somebody else and think, «Well, I can do what they can do.» No, you do what God created you to do, and that’s where your potential will thrive. When you operate within your God-given potential, you have the opportunity to bless others. When you get outside of your God-given potential, you harm others. Go read John 21: 23. There, Jesus Christ is having a conversation with Peter. He’s just forgiven Peter. He’s asked Peter three times, «Do you love me?» Peter says, «I love you.» «Do you love me?» «I love you.» «Do you love me?» «I love you.» And then Jesus tells Peter, «I want you to follow me, and I’m going to use you to establish my kingdom. Where it takes you, you’re not going to like.»

Peter says, «They’re going to kill you for my sake, Peter.» Well, gee, thanks, Jesus! And while they’re having this conversation, Peter looks over his shoulder at John and says, «What about him?» Can we get him killed too? What’s he doing? He’s comparing. If you’re going to use me and it’s going to cost me that, then what are you going to do with him? I mean, he’s just had one of the most gracious conversations a human being has ever had. He denied Jesus three times and Jesus forgives him three times. And not two minutes later, he’s saying, «Well, what about John?»

Here’s something that you need to read in John 21: 23. This is what Jesus tells Peter: «If I will that he remains until I come, what is that to you?» Jesus didn’t say it like you see it on TV, «What is that to you!» He said it this way, «Pete, what I’m going to do with John is none of your business.» There are some of you that need to allow that truth to sink in. What God is doing with other people is none of your business.

The point is God has a plan for your life, and God has a plan for their lives. The only way that you can increase your potential is by living out God’s plan for you. The second thing that poisons your potential is bitterness. Bitterness. If you have a bitter root, you’re going to have bitter fruit. 2 Corinthians 9 says that God wants to increase the fruits of your righteousness, not your bitterness. Hebrews 12: 15 says, «Lest any root of bitterness spring up and cause trouble. By this, many become defiled.» If bitterness has a root, then bitterness starts with a seed. Bitter seed grows bitter fruit.

Bitterness gets in you by the things that other people say and the things that other people do. If you don’t let the Holy Spirit kill that bitter seed when it gets watered, it’s going to spring up. That word «spring up» doesn’t mean that it just gradually grows; it means that one day it wasn’t there, and the next day it was full-grown. When bitterness springs up, it takes the joy out of everything. I know that there are some of you in this room who struggle with this because of the pain of the past that other people have put on you. But you have got to trust God and his Holy Spirit to eradicate that bitter seed from your soul.

How does he do it? Grace. He gives to you in grace. You sow in grace. You grow in grace. You heal from bitterness by his grace. How many things in life don’t get enjoyed that have the potential to be enjoyed because of bitterness? Families don’t get enjoyed because of bitterness. Success and achievement don’t get enjoyed because of bitterness. Milestones and memories are spoiled because of the root of bitterness that has sprung up and defiled the love, joy, peace, kindness, and goodness that God wants you to have.

The last thing that poisons your potential is laziness. Your potential is real and God’s power to grow it is real, but without your effort, God can’t help you. James 2 says, «Faith without works is dead.» Before God can increase your potential, you have to give him something to work with. How many single people in this church are praying for that perfect person? Go ahead, raise your hand-identify yourselves! This might be the start of new things! Let me give you a good word from the Lord: stop praying; go on a date! I mean, you can pray and prayer is wonderful and I’ll pray with you, but when that guy walks up and says, «Would you like to have coffee with me in the new foyer after church?» Say yes!

Well, «I’ll have to check my schedule.» It’s 20 feet over there! Your schedule’s open for the next 50 yards. So many times we say we want God to… and God says, «I want you to.» You’ve got to go to work! Don’t be lazy about your potential. Diligently pursue it with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, with all of your strength, and do it with a generous heart. While you go to work, work with a smile on your face knowing that you have the potential to achieve great things because if God is for you, who can be against you?