Happy Caldwell - No more limits! : unleashing your potential in God

Acknowledgements

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Contents

Foreword

Prior to May 1954, most of the sports world thought that running a mile in less than four minutes was impossible. Runners had failed for decades to break the four-minute mile barrier. It was seen as an obstacle, both physical and psychological, that exceeded human limits.

However, on May 6, 1954, a medical student at Oxford University named Roger Bannister broke the four-minute-mile barrier, proving that limits can be broken.

The first thing that Bannister did was wonder whether the biggest obstacle runners faced might not be their own beliefs or fears. After all, with better running conditions and better training, someone could possibly run a mile in less than four minutes.

Roger Bannister became fascinated by the challenge of proving the limits were self-imposed. In his book, The Four-Minute Mile, he said, "It was like an Everest, a barrier that seemed to defy attempts to break it."

Sound familiar? What about the limits in your life, do they scream back at you and defy your attempt to push them out of your way?

Bannister studied the problem as you would any scientific experiment. That increased his understanding of the common sense of it. He read up on the physiology of breaking the barrier and confirmed in himself that it was possible.

When we renew our minds with the Word of God and hear what the Word says...faith comes. When faith comes... fear goes. Fear knocks on the door; faith answers and there is no one there. When we identify our limits, we can confront them and overcome them by acting on God's Word.

The man who besought Jesus to deliver his son said, "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." The man responded with tears and said, "I believe, help thou my unbelief." Unbelief sets limits. When we realize it was our own unbelief that set the limit, we can remove the limit with our faith.

Roger Bannister began building endurance to break the four-minute-mile barrier that had challenged runners for years.

He trained to exhaustion in 30-minute workouts. He crosstrained to build endurance. To strengthen the muscle in the back of his legs, he ran up hill and downhill on grass. One month before the race, he went hiking to clear his head and focus his concentration. Five days before the race, he rested.

The day of the race the weather was less than perfect. In fact, he considered not running. However, "I had prepared and trained; I was at my peak physically and mentally ... therefore I made a decision.

Bannister said he refused to give in to crushing fatigue as well as oxygen debt. "My body had long since exhausted all it's energy ... but I went on running just the same."

As Bannister lunged forward into the finish line tape, he fell exhausted into outstretched arms and awaited confirmation that he had broken the limit and run a mile in 3:59:04.

By the end of 1955, one year later, four other runners had broken the limit of the four-minute mile.

In this book, you will learn there are no more limits for the child of God. Just as Roger Bannister broke a limit in the natural realm, God has called us to break limits in the spiritual realm.

As we step into a new millennium, God has said, "No More Limits!"

CHAPTER 1

CONQUERING YOUR LIMITS

You are a Nike Person

* * *

Victory, Conquest and Success

Millions of people are wearing shoes, shirts and hats with a biblical message imprinted on them and they do not even know it. I am talking about people who have bought shoes and clothes with the Nike logo.

"Nike" is a biblical word. The original Greek word translated as "victory" in 1 John 5:4 is " nike ," pronounced "nee' kay ." This word also means conquest and success.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory ( nike ) that overcometh the world, even our faith.

(1 John 5:4).

When I discovered the word " nike " in the Bible meant conquest, victory and success, I became excited and went out and bought myself three hats, a pair of tennis shoes and two shirts with the Nike logo on it. If you are looking at me, you are looking at "Nike Man."

If you own sporting apparel from the Nike Corporation, such as a pair of Nike tennis shoes or a Nike hat, you are wearing a symbol of victory. You are wearing something that symbolizes overcoming and being victorious. I am not endorsing the Nike Corporation or their sporting apparel. I am just pointing out what the word " nike " means.

You can tell people the word " nike " is in the Bible and means victory, conquest and success. You can tell them about the real " nike Man," Jesus Christ. Jesus died so we can be victorious in this life and the life to come. Tell them they can be a " nike person" in Jesus.

The Devil Has Been Swooshed

Nike shoes and clothes carry a logo that looks like a checkmark. This mark is called a "swoosh." The meaning of the "swoosh" is basically leave them in the dust.

The serpent is symbolic for the devil. In Genesis God cursed the devil:

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

(Genesis 3:14).

The serpent in the Garden of Eden was used by the devil. God told the serpent he was going to eat dust. Did you know that the devil has been " swooshed " by God?

1 John 5:4 says, Whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world. Jesus overcame the world. He overcame death, hell and everything. He overcame the god of this world, the prince and power of the air. Jesus has overcome it all.

When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord, you became an overcomer by becoming part of His family. When you became born again, you were born of God. You have a share in the spoils of Jesus victory over the devil. It is not because of anything you did. In yourself you could not overcome the devil, but through Jesus you share in His victory.

Nike people are victors over the devil through Jesus. Nike people leave the devil in the dust.

Just Do It

The Nike Corporation used to have an advertising slogan, "Just Do It!" The Nike Corporation is not just selling sporting apparel; they are selling an image of success and victory. The Nike Corporation does this by associating their products with winners. When you buy Nike shoes and sporting apparel, the company wants you to feel like you are a winner too. The next time you are out somewhere, look around. You will see that Nike has been very successful in marketing their products. Almost everywhere you go people are wearing Nike tennis shoes, Nike hats and Nike shirts.

Image is important today. People wear all kinds of things to project a successful image. People wear designer clothing and name brand shoes to make a statement. People try to say they have arrived because they are wearing a particular garment or a particular brand of shoes.

People are willing to pay a price to wear the right clothes and shoes. A pair of fancy tennis shoes is expensive. There are also many more styles to choose from than ever before. Stores sell shoes to walk in, shoes to run in, shoes to jog in, shoes to play sports in, and shoes that do not even look like shoes. When you wear the Nike brand, you are identifying with the logo and the image that says, "I am a victor. I am a conqueror. I have arrived."

Identify With Jesus