PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT: Increasing Your Capacity For Kingdom Greatness

It is often said—and rightly so—that everyone carries within them the divine potential for greatness. However, potential alone does not guarantee manifestation. It is your capacity, or how much you can carry, handle, or steward, that determines whether or not you will fulfill that God-given destiny. Great nations and successful institutions never joke with their capacity—they continually develop it. As ministers and servants of God, we must not do less.

If you have a dream, a God-given vision, or a burning desire to do great things for the Kingdom, that dream will remain only a vision unless you are deliberate about developing your capacity. One pastor once went on a long fast, asking the Lord to increase the number of people in his congregation. But the Lord responded, “Go and grow your capacity first, then I will send the people.” Whether you are leading a church, a fellowship, a para-church organization, or simply walking in obedience to your ministry calling, you cannot afford to remain stagnant. Your capacity must grow, expand, and increase.

Increasing Your Capacity For Kingdom Greatness

A. UNDERSTANDING CAPACITY OR CAPABILITY

(Matthew 13:8; John 15:2; Matthew 25:14–30; Isaiah 40:3–5)

Capacity refers to your ability, space, or strength to carry and manifest what God has deposited in you. It includes a large spiritual heart, broad-mindedness, godly wisdom, spiritual skill, and competence to function effectively in ministry. It may be seen as a mix of divine enablement and personal development through learning, exposure, discipline, and growth.

The good news is that capacity is not fixed. It can either increase or decrease. But more importantly, it can be developed, sharpened, and perfected for Kingdom use.

Key Facts About Capacity:

Every individual has a God-ordained capacity within them.
Your capacity can either be your limiter or your lifter.
You cannot separate your capacity from your assignment.
Your capacity can become your greatest asset or your biggest liability.
Your level of fruitfulness in ministry is directly tied to your capacity.
God will not entrust you with more than your current capacity can handle.
You can never produce beyond your capacity.
You can never soar higher than your installed capacity.
The limitations of a ministry are often the limitations of its leadership.

Great organizations invest heavily in capacity building because they want to grow and remain relevant. You too must do the same. If you are currently at the 30-fold or 60-fold level, and desire to reach the 100-fold dimension of fruitfulness, then you must improve and increase your capacity.

B. KINGDOM SYSTEMS THAT AFFECT CAPACITY

The ongoing stagnation, crisis, and ineffectiveness in many ministries can often be traced back to the systems in place. Systems are the structures, patterns, or processes by which things are done. The fruit you see (or don’t see) is a direct result of the system in operation. Change the system, and you’ll change the results.

Examples of Systems that Can Hinder the Church:

Some systems create stagnation, dryness, and even backwardness.
Some systems have become deeply compromised by carnal practices.
Some systems no longer match the capacity required for today’s ministry demands.
Some systems are outdated and irrelevant to the present move of God.
Some systems encourage murmuring, confusion, and injustices.
Some systems are too secular, having lost their spiritual edge.
Extreme or unbalanced systems bring doctrinal imbalance and confusion to the church.

Your ministry’s systems—how you pray, worship, train leaders, handle church discipline, manage services, etc.—can either help you build a strong spiritual house or hinder your capacity to fulfill God’s purpose.

C. CAPACITIES EVERY MINISTRY LEADER MUST DEVELOP

If you desire to see growth, transformation, and lasting impact in your church or ministry, then you must develop in the following areas:

Mental Capacity – Renew your mind (Romans 12:2). Grow in wisdom, understanding, and godly insight.
Physical Capacity – Take care of your body. You need strength, energy, and good health to do ministry effectively.
Spiritual Capacity – Deepen your relationship with God. Grow in character, intimacy, and spiritual maturity.
Leadership Capacity – Learn how to influence, guide, and manage different kinds of people with godly wisdom.
Financial Capacity – Learn to make, manage, and multiply finances with integrity for Kingdom expansion.
Social Capacity – Be equipped to manage relationships and resolve interpersonal issues with grace and wisdom.
Conflict Resolution Capacity – Learn how to resolve conflicts peacefully and restore unity and order.
Management Capacity – Plan, organize, and administer ministry projects and resources for sustainable growth.
Production Capacity – Evaluate and adjust ministry systems that hinder excellence and impactful output.

When leaders fail to grow in these areas, the entire ministry suffers. No church can rise above the capacity of its leadership. Fasting, prayer, and anointing are not substitutes for developed capacity. If your prayers, study, and experience don’t lead to personal enlargement, then the church will keep declining rather than progressing.

D. HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY FOR KINGDOM IMPACT

Two major keys to capacity enlargement in ministry are:
Change and continuous learning.

1. Personal Training (Proverbs 1:20–22)

Train and re-train yourself. Seek out courses, mentorship, conferences, and books that will stretch and sharpen you. Invest in your spiritual growth, leadership, and practical skills. Be willing to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Remain teachable and humble enough to grow. Attend church growth and leadership development programs—you will return with more capacity than you went with.

2. Training for Associates

Put structured training systems in place in your ministry. Don’t place people in leadership just because of loyalty or longevity—train them first. Require all leaders and associate ministers to go through continuous equipping. A trained associate will serve with excellence and reduce rebellion and disloyalty.

3. Training for Church Workers

Organize quarterly or half-yearly refresher courses for all workers. This includes general trainings, department-specific trainings, and specialized courses. You can invite experienced trainers, even from outside, to help uplift the quality of your workforce.

4. Training for the General Congregation

The people in the pews also need training! Teach and disciple them in the Word, in spiritual disciplines, and in Christian service. A well-taught and discipled congregation will not only be strong but will also multiply the ministry.

5. Mentoring

Find spiritual fathers and mentors who will pour into you. Godly mentoring challenges you to rise higher, corrects your blind spots, and imparts grace and wisdom for lasting impact.

6. Consultants and External Counsel

Bring in mature, Spirit-led consultants or seasoned ministers to evaluate your ministry structure. An outside eye can help you see what you’ve become too familiar with and reignite your fire.

CONCLUSION

Greatness is not just a divine prophecy—it is also a personal responsibility. God desires to make you a vessel unto honor, fit for His use (2 Timothy 2:21). But you must build capacity to carry the weight of that greatness. May your ministry grow from glory to glory as you increase your capacity in Jesus’ Name!