PATIENCE

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hat God gives you first is not His best. It is just a test to see if you will give thanks. So many people believe money is everything. Their words say “money is not everything” but their action portrays “money is everything”. The richest man on earth is not the man with billions of naira in his account and the poorest man on earth is not the man with no penny in his pocket. As a matter of fact, being poor is a mentality. The word “POOR” is an acronym which stands for Passing Over Opportunities Repeatedly. Your worth in life is measured by the number of lives you imparted and the number of opportunities you made maximum advantage of. A man who has billions of naira in his account will become poor overnight if he refuses to make use of the opportunities God has placed at his disposal.

People pass over opportunities when they lack focus. The pain of today cannot be compared with the gain of tomorrow. When you lack focus you miss opportunities. Opportunity does not come on a platter of gold. It dresses in overall and looks like work. If you refuse to work, you miss opportunity and you become poor.

However, there are things that God has in plan for us that we so much lose focus and begin to do something else. God says He has plans for us to give us a better future. We marvel at the most beautiful things we see. The money, the mansions, the gold, the beautiful girls and the likes. These are mere things compared to what God says He will give to us IF we wait. Isaiah 64:4, I Cor. 2:9.

The condition for us getting what we desire in life and meeting God’s plans for our lives is WAITING. We must patiently wait to see the manifestations of God. Jeremiah 29:11 [The Message] “…I know what I am doing, I have it all planned…”. God says He has us in His plan so why the haste?

I read of an old man who was travelling with a young champ. The old man, due to his age, was not walking as fast as the young man. “Walk fast or I will leave you” yelled the young man. “I cannot walk faster than this. You know I am old”; the old man responded. In anger, the young man left this old man and was going as fast as his legs could carry him. After miles of the journey, he came to a cross-road. He hasn’t passed that road before so he didn’t know the right route. The road was divided into three. He went through the first one. After miles of journey, he discovered the road was leading nowhere so he turned back. He came to where the road was divided and went through the second. After miles of journey again he was chased by a lion and he returned to the starting point. Thinking of what might be in the third route, he was scared and sat there waiting for the old man. He waited till the old man got to him and shew him the right route. He missed the stories and the wisdom the old man would have told him, he missed companionship and he loses strength. Never be too in a haste to miss the lessons of life.

WAKE UP NAIJA

This is a video of a very good friend, Gabriel Pascal, popularly known as G3. He was my course mate back then in Olabisi Onabanjo University. It is time for Nigeria youths to wake up to reality. We were called the Leaders of Tomorrow since the days of our forefathers and till today we are still referred to as the leaders of tomorrow. This is the time to wake to reality. Youths of Nigeria, wake up to reality. this is the time to call each other and cross the border. Wake up Naija! watch and get inspired. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=677910025605707&set=p.677910025605707&type=2&theater

HOW TO DISCOVER POTENTIAL FOR DESTINY RECOVERY

This is a lecture to show us what is expected of Leaders. We shall be concentrating on How to discover your potential for destiny recovery. These are things that you have heard before. You need to put them to work to get the desired result. Leadership is not the position you occupy. Leadership is you taking the lead. In everyman is a potential that is needed to be discovered. Leadership is therefore defined as taking the lead. In every occupation there are leaders. Leadership is who you are; it is not what you do. Leadership has nothing to do with your age. How you take the lead is basically on what you know. What you know determines how you lead. What you know gives you boldness. One of the greatest secret of the western world is that they don’t stop learning even when they have graduated from the university. If everyone will become leaders in their field this nation will not be where it is now. Leadership is not your position. Authority confide in you has nothing to do with leadership but just to occupy position. This lecture will help you know what is on your inside. You have to go in search of what you are made of that will transform this nation.

Matthew 19:26

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”.

What are you really made up of? For you to be alive means you were made up of some things inside and one of those things is a possibility mentality. There is something in you that can make you see what others can’t see and achieve what others can’t achieve. Potentials are those things you were made up of. Everybody has potential in them. Have you discovered what you were made up of? If you have not discovered it you will live life to chance. 

 HOW CAN I DISCOVER POTENTIAL?  

Ben Carson, at a very young age was known as the dummy of the class. One day after heeding to the advice of his mother he went for knowledge and started reading two books per week. A question was asked in the class one day that nobody knew but he had read about it. Ben lifted up his hand and answered the question correctly and immediately his mentality from that day changed. He discovered that he was not a dummy but he never took time to study. Ben of those days is the most successful neuro-surgeon in the world. This lecture will help you therefore to change your mentality. When you discover what you are made up of your entire mentality change. Your potentials determine your destiny. There is no one without potential but there are people who have not discovered theirs. People don’t look at your experience anymore but what you have to offer. This is the day where civil service no longer works but knowledge. “One thing I did when I entered into leadership is that I went around looking for those who have what I want and I just pick them up and put them in the right position” Joel Osteen. He was seeking for knowledge.

1.      Spirituality: the closer you are to God the more He will reveal to you about your position. Spirituality cannot be over emphasized. Spirituality gives you an edge in knowledge. Psalm 40:7. Everyone has something packaged in the Bible for him. The first place to begin your search is going through the manufacturer’s manual. The word of God is what made you. Your discovery of what the book says about you is the beginning of your discovering potential. Go deep into the word and the teachings in it. It is not pertained to those going into the ministry alone but in all areas of life. Even in your business spirituality is needed. Spirituality is praying, reading anointed materials that will blow you up spiritually. Lord reveal to me what I am made up of on the inside! There are things that looks like great opportunity but they are actually traps. Spirituality will help you discover this.

2.      Vision: If you cannot state your vision in one sentence you have not found it. For you to find a vision it means you have the potential to achieve it. Proverbs 29:18- Without vision the people perish. When you catch a vision it shows you something about yourself that others cannot see. Every man of great impact is a man with vision. If you must discover yourself you have to catch a vision. Every time you catch a vision, it shows you what you are made of and how to achieve it. So many people are looking for what to live for; visionaries are looking for what they are willing to die for. Vision is not what you slept and dreamt of. Vision is a lot of times caught from what you hear. When there is lack of information there is lack of vision. A man of vision does not question his potential. On the flip side of vision is your potential. If you want to blind the circumstances of life you’ve got to catch a vision. The only way to make a difference is to have a vision. Without vision the people perish and they perish because they don’t know what they are made up of. Who are you? What are you made up of? Nobody can have a vision for you. You’ve got to get it for yourself. If there is no vision there is nothing God can fulfill. Can you see who you are in the next ten years? If not you have not started. The world is in dare need of visionaries.

3.      John 2:17: What do you have a passion for? When all energy is lost in the physical, it is passion that keeps you going. The moment you lose your passion all your potentials have no value. If you truly want to know what you are made up find your passion. In the business world, passion makes the difference.

4.      Your quest for knowledge is a great way to show you what you are made up of on the inside. People with great potentials are in in Nigeria but they have refused to go for knowledge. All the staff in Fortune500 Company Read an average of five books per week. When last did you pick a book to read? Knowledge must be sought after. It is so easy to climb to the top if only you know what to do to get there. People don’t pay for certificate anymore but for your knowledge. You catch knowledge; you leave your class behind. Who you end up being is greatly determined by who you find out that you can be. No matter what field of life, you will further discover what you are made up of when you go for knowledge. It is not where you go that matters but what you catch from where you go. Catch something; learn something new that will help you discover you. It is not great places that make great people but great information. Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy time. The quest for knowledge must be carefully sought after because wrong information can destroy. Read books successful people read and write. Buy author and not titles. What makes an excellent man is doing the little things that everybody thinks are not necessary. It is the extra you put on the ordinary that makes you extra-ordinary. Whatever assignment you are given, go and look for materials to have an excellent work. Observation is one way you gain knowledge. Every time you talk, you release what you already know. It is therefore necessary to fill it back. True education is what you put into yourself via reading. To be relevant you’ve got to gather relevant information. Do not stick to only one thing. Instead of knowing all about one thing, know small about everything because you never know when you will be called. Build a library not for decoration but for impact. It is impossible to know everything about something but know something about everything. Validate the information you have before you speak because someone there may know more than you and may mock you to scorn. Proximity does not mean knowledge. Go and search for it. If you see a reader today you are seeing a potential leader tomorrow. Go and look for knowledge. People that will change this generation are men and women that will go seek for knowledge. God will not give you what it takes; it is already there. Only few have discovered it. Knowledge makes the difference in every sphere of life. It helps you discover what is in you that you would not have discovered on your own. Set your goal today on how many books you want to read!

5.      Your company: Amos 3:3- Your companies determines the potentials in you that you are able to discover. Are your companies visionaries? The right person in your life will help you discover what you would have not discovered on your own. The wrong person will cover what you have discovered. Your company will help open or close your eyes to what you have inside.  I would rather not have a friend than have a wrong one.

Leadership is not about occupying a seat, it is about making a feet. Great leaders are made from great leaders. In that field of life, realize you are not the first person to get there. Jesus needed just twelve people and the twelve people influenced the world. Every vision is like a skeleton; you’ve got to feed it and knowledge is what you need to feed it.

 The knowledge you carry will severally be tested. Nobody starts from the top but the top is available for you to get to when you start from where you are.

THE POWER OF VISION PT2

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our preparation determines your usefulness. You cannot be more useful than you are prepared. It is not God who determines your usefulness but your preparation. The level of your preparation determines the degree of your usefulness. It is a worthy prayer to thus pray “Lord prepare me to be a leader of influence”.

You cannot influence your world until you have been influenced by the word. God’s word is to release vision. Isaiah 2:1. God’s word is the fountain of vision. When the word comes unto you it release upon you vision. Vision is the product of God’s word. The more you hear the word, the more vision is born. The word of God is the arena for visions. The Holy Spirit is the mother of vision. Joel 2:28. Vision is meant for only spiritual people. When the Spirit moves visions are born especially among young men. It is only young men who enter into the realm of the spirit that sees visions. The older you go the dimmer your eyes become. It is therefore paramount to catch the vision in your young age.

Two vital forces that can create an environment to catch vision are:

·         Be a man of the word. When it is word time make it a business time.

·         Be a man of the spirit – Rev 1:10. Visions don’t come to you when you are outside the spirit

The two can be accessed by building a strong desire. A desire that is expressed in prayer. There are people who don’t look like they are going anywhere. Don’t walk with them. Don’t make a man your mentor because of material affluence but the value he stands for.

SIGN POSTS TO VISION

Practical signals that you can identify that will help you know the plan of God for your life. Signs to look out for to be sure you are on the right track to God’s purpose for your life. This will be looked at in three categories.

1.      Talent: Everyone has a talent given to him by God. Your vision may be so close to you and you don’t know. One of the reason some don’t discover that they have talent is that they are too carried away with what is happening in the life of others. That you are not somebody does not mean that you are nobody. You may not be somebody but you are not a nobody. Who are you? If you don’t know who you are people will impose on you who you are not. What God designs you for is what you are assigned to. Don’t try to carry the load you are no designed for. All the energy you are spending to be what you are not should be concentrated on what you are. The difference will be clear. There are things that it looks like you can do but you are not assigned to do. People don’t win because of what they can do but by what they are assigned to do. There are many things you can do but God didn’t assign you to do them. What is a talent? A talent is an innate ability. It is a natural endowment, born with you and what makes you you. God didn’t create an empty body. There is something in you that makes you different. If you are not different you are not needed. Talent is also described as something you have passion for. Something you do with ease and with profit. Something you excel in doing. Something you are naturally doing without stress. Something you don’t learn to do. There are people who don’t learn how to sing but sing well. Don’t spend your energy developing what you are not talented for. There are individual who naturally excels in doing any kind of business. The worst person to meet in life is a man who has no vision. Think about Jonah. People who lacks vision injures innocent people. To love is a mandate but to relate is a choice. Identify your talent. Some people can locate vision through their natural endowments.

2.      Gift: A gift is what results when you develop your talent. A gift can therefore be described as developed talent and development gives birth to skills. A gift is talent coupled with skill.

Talent + Relevant and qualitative education= Gift.

A gift is qualitative expertise. A gift is what you are trained to do. It is when you have gone through training that you can become a gifted man. Psalm 144:1. David had a flare for flings but he was taught the expertise. This is where education is necessary. Your talent is given form and shape through learning to turn it into a gift. Your vision may be loaded inside your gift.

3.      Calling (Romans 11:29): A call is the delivery of special assignment. This is not limited even though it centers more in ministry. There are things that God called you to do that is different from others. It is beyond talent, gift and expertise. A calling is not common. It is usually a selection of a few people. It comes to those who in one way or the other are faithful in using their gift. Peter had the talent of catching fish. Jesus called him to make him. A call does not come on lazy unfaithful people. God doesn’t call you base on your talents and gifts but He uses them to fulfill the call.

You locate vision either through Gift, talent or calling.

Each of these areas of vision can only be accessed when you are in the spirit. Being in the spirit helps you to avoid deception of the devil. When you are in the spirit you become accurate in receiving vision.

THE POWER OF VISION pt1

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eaders are to be raised. Any generation without leaders will be erased. The greatest need of all times is the need for leaders. The only thing God sought for was leader. Ezekiel 22:30. The way forward begins with locating leaders. Great nations emerged when leaders were born. The suffering of humanity continues until a leader emerges among them. There is no hope for any generation that lacks leaders. A leader is one who takes the lead, the one who steps out to command followership. A leader is one who influences people by the strange steps he takes, by the strange way he sees, by the strange thought he thinks, and by the strange decisions he takes. He is not afraid of whether a crowd is with him or not. He stands as a strong individual. He does not wait for the vote of others. He depends not on anybody but on God. He believes God is not just enough but more than enough. Leadership is not what you desire, wish or pray for; it is what you are called into and what you grow into. God doesn’t make leaders by the wishes of men. Ezekiel 22:30. God doesn’t have problem with the crowd but with leaders. God sees people through their leaders. Every time God looks down, He is looking for a leader and not the crowd. The crowd will remain in the grave until a leader is raised. A leader is a maker of the edge. God raises leaders to stand in the gap. A leader is one who stands in the gap. God looks at him to see the people. All the sufferings in the world today are as a result of absence of leaders. When leaders arise all sufferings are ended.

Leadership is a process. Just anyone who cares to follow the process can become a leader. There is no one that is exempted by God from opportunity to become a leader. It is the process that determine the product. It doesn’t matter where you were born or where you were raised. Anyone who cares to follow the process can become a leader. Leaders are raised among leaders. The process of leadership begins with VISION.

Vision plays a most fundamental and pivotal role in leadership. Take away vision from life and it becomes a mere life. Abraham was merely existing until he received a vision. Real life begins when vision is received. Definition of leadership is incomplete without the element of vision. Vision is the factor of leadership. Nothing kills the strength of a leader than taking away his vision.

The Necessity of vision

Vision has no substitute. Leadership thrives on the platform of vision. Show me a man with a vision then I will predict a leader. Vision will turn a dwarf into a giant. It was the vision that God gave to Moses that turned him from fugitive to a man with audacity. One man with vision is stronger than entire nation especially when the vision is God given. Vision is the birth canal of leaders. Every time the subject of vision is taught, leaders are born.

Visionaries don’t look for vote. That thing they carry inside is more than vote. Joseph had no qualification of being the prime minister. He was a slave, a stranger, and no even time for campaign. But he was made a prime minister within twenty four hours without votes. When you have a vision you don’t need a vote. Real leaders trade with vision. You don’t have to be a politician to be an influence. You need vision. For your vision, you may be persecuted but no matter who is standing on the way you will get to where God wants you to be. If you don’t have vision your leadership desire will soon be aborted. It is only vision that can stand the test of time.

WHY IS VISION IMPORTANT?

·         Vision is important because God is committed only to your vision. Vision commands divine backing. God is not committed to the look on your face or your cry. Because of your vision God will do all that He can do to bring it to pass. When God looks at you He is looking out for your vision not your dresses or your address.

o   Vision is capturing the future in the present. The ability to see through the eye of the future.

·         Vision gives you focus in life. Vision defines your scope and jurisdiction in life. Vision shows to you that you are not everything and cannot be everything but assigned to some specific area of life. Vision helps you to define life. Where there is no definition there will be deviation and life is too short to allow deviations. Some trees are not tall because they started growing branches too early (deviation). True visionaries are always in great height. It is your vision that determines your heart. Matthew 6:22. Life is too short to experiment with. Focus! You overcome distractions when vision is in place. One of the greatest enemies of vision is opportunity.  Not all jobs are take-able, not all offers are acceptable. Men with vision don’t jump over all opportunities.

·         Vision gives you speed of accomplishment. Whenever there is focus there will be speed. With focus in three years Jesus made a history that the world will never recover from. Everywhere vision goes, there is speed. You cannot truly have vision and maintain a slow lane. Visionaries don’t look for what to catch, visionaries command things to follow them

·         Vision commands divine supply. Visionaries don’t beg. They are not opportunists. Joseph was not looking for how to become a prime minister before he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. Daniel was not looking for reward before he interpreted the writing. When you carry vision people points at you for favour. If God gives you vision to go into politics you don’t need money to win. Vision doesn’t need reminders.

·         Vision guarantees safety. You are safe only within God’s purpose for your life. If you step out of God’s purpose for your life you become vulnerable. If you have vision to go into business no matter the economic situation, you are safe. Joel 2:7-8. It is vision that makes you escape all hurts in life.

·         Vision gives you continuous motivation. You can’t lose motivation when you have vision. Visionaries are self-motivated. Visionaries don’t feel shame. They don’t feel a sense of loss. Visionaries don’t have any feeling of regret. Jesus was in pursuit of vision and never regreted. When you are running a vision and people laugh at you you go back to them and tell them they have problem. Genesis 15:5. Vision keeps faith alive.

WHAT IS VISION?

Vision is capturing the future in the present. Vision is locating God’s plan and pattern for your life. Life remains plain until you locate plan and you will be battered unless you follow pattern. It is the pattern you follow that makes you escape being battered. Vision is discovering of purpose.

Beware of Opportunities and Expertise. They are the major competitors with vision.

DISCOVERING VISION

Vision is discovered in the place of prayer. Jeremiah 29:11-12, Jeremiah 33:3

Check part 2