X: Multiply Your God-Given Potential

by John Bevere

Do you ever feel like a spectator in God’s kingdom? Perhaps you know there’s something you should be doing, but you just can’t pinpoint it. Most of us want to make a big impact with our lives, but struggle with questions.

• How can I be sure I’m not missing God’s will for me?
• What role do my unique gifts play in building God’s kingdom?
• How do I make sure I live up to my God-given potential?
• Is my calling less significant if I’m not in “ministry”?
• How do I balance resting in God’s grace with meaningful actions for His kingdom?
• How do I break fear and move forward even when it feels uncertain and risky?

In this profound audio book, best-selling author John Bevere relies on a careful exploration of Scripture and uses powerful stories to help you think differently about your calling and why it’s so important to God. As you hear these words, you’ll be empowered to multiply your God-given gifts and step into your potential.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Spirituality, Christian Living, Self Help, Audiobook

Audio CD

Published November 17, 2020

About the author

Marked by boldness and passion, John Bevere delivers uncompromising truth through his award-winning curriculums and bestselling books, now in more than 60 languages, including "The Bait of Satan," "Drawing Near" and "Driven by Eternity." He is an international speaker and co-host of "The Messenger" TV program broadcast worldwide.

John enjoys living in Colorado Springs with his wife, Lisa, also a best-selling author and speaker, and their four sons.

Reviews

[Christopher Lewis Kozoriz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is fairly easy way to determine your calling: Your true gifting will actually energize you, even though you may become mentally or physically tired during long stints. For those who have discovered their true gifting, hours of practice, competing, or working can seem like minutes. So ask yourself, "What is it that energizes me and periodically causes me to lose track of time?
Your answer is a good indication of where your gifting lies." (John Bevere, X: Multiply Your God-Given Potential)

My favourite chapter in this book was Chapter 5: Faithfulness. There's great insight in this chapter on what it means to multiply. Did you know that faithfulness equates to multiplication? It sounds absurd, but even Jesus attributed faithfulness to multiplication. Paul the apostle even listed only one trait required in a steward:

"Let a man so consider us, as servants
of Christ and stewards of the
mysteries of God. Moreover it is
required in stewards that one be
found faithful.
—1 Corinthians 4:1–2 NKJV, emphasis mine

Still don't believe that faithfulness is the required attribute to multiply? Then we can go to Jesus's parable of the talents (See Matthew 25:14-30). You'll notice in this story that it was the persons who multiplied what they were given who were the ones who were rewarded by their Master. And not only that, the Master called faithful those who multiplied what they had been given. Therefore, when you take what you've been given by God, and you multiply it, God will also call you faithful. The author says, "what is important is the fact that we have been entrusted with gifts and we are expected to use them to multiply. If you love God, you will passionately desire to use your gifts for His glory....You have the capability to multiply what you've been given for the glory of our King."

[John Weisgerber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I heard John Bevere speak his message on this book. It was a great message. However, I am disappointed by the book. I also read the Bait of Satan. One of the things that just turned my stomach and that I just can't read anymore of John Bevere books is because of his own self praises. If he is not praising himself, he has someone else who is praising him. He repeats the same stories and does not have enough content to fill a 25X page book.

There is truth in this book to be certain. The parable of the talents has become more revealed to me. For that I am thankful.

However, I can't help but think about all the people who are getting his free materials. An abundance of materials doesn't mean an abundant of fruit. I am starting to become a little concerned by all the multimillionaire Christian gurus who produce a lot of materials and sell a lot of materials but what of the eternal fruit?

This book makes me feel like in the kingdom there are stage roles, leadership roles, or giving to support the previous two roles.

And then there's his exact numbers like, he generally spends 400 hours on writing a book.

250, 000 free resources. $750,000 checks...

I just think your left hand should not know what your right hand is doing and there is a lot of John Bevere patting his own back.

[Stephanie Weisgerber · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband and son recently went to a men’s conference with our church where they heard John Bevere speak. They were both astounded with the mighty anointing and conviction that was evident in his life. Subsequently they bought several copies of his new book “X” to bring home and hopefully give to some friends and start a bible study around this topic.

I admit I was skeptical as I always am of ministers who write a book a year to fill their pockets so they can claim they take no money from their ministries- only their book sales. So I decided to read this book and see where it led.

Key takeaways:

-The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 is about multiplication of what God entrusts to us. It’s also about understanding the character of God as good and not a harsh taskmaster.
-Generosity in ministry is the point! Those who have means whether financial or spiritual or physical should share with those who could use it. I was pleased to hear of his earnest desire to give away his books and ministry material to pastors outside the US for free.
-The anointing is essential for power in ministry. Gifting can take you only so far but the anointing refreshes and equips you daily while moving things in the spirit realm.

Critiques:

-Too long. This topic seems like it would make a wonderful sermon but it’s a stretch to make it a 250 page book
-Lots of annoying stories of his sports background and fancy trips around the world. He was a tennis champ in high school. He frequently golfs at five star resorts...Speaking engagements in Hawaii...blah blah blah.
-He comes across very whiny throughout the book as he’s obsessed from the outset with growing his ministry bigger and better; all while comparing his faults with others.

Overall I just can’t get past the insincerity of these millionaire “ministers” and their elite lifestyles as they try so hard to weave in the gospel in yet another best selling book. Stick to preaching and leave the book writing to those who actually have talent and something to say. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Brandon Foster · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this one all the way through, but it was pretty terrible. Bevere denigrated grace by stating that God's judgment on our lives will be based on how we didn't live according to His plan for our lives. 1) this is the law that makes us feel shame 2) that is not how Jesus ministered to people. The book continues with self-aggrandizing stories about Bevere being a bit bull-headed and easily angered (mind you, he also never mentions apologizing). He also places an immense amount of weight in hearing the Spirit in a way that portrays him as gnostic. And when he finally gets to the subtitle, its in the second to last chapter, and it comes across as simply lip-sercive to the rich teachings in Scripture. Speaking of Scripture, Bevere has a tendency of making Scripture say what he wants it to say, or extending the meaning beyond it's normal exegetical scope.

Please spare yourself from reading this.

[Paige Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve never read any of John’s books before I Highly encourage you to. And this one is a great place to start! It will completely change your thinking on what it looks like to live as a “good and faithful servant” and give you tools and mindsets to identify, grow and thrive in the gifts and talents God has given you.

Favorite Quote: “In serving God, there is always a testing period. We are tested in obedience before we appointed or anointed.”

[Gabriella Aspuru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was walking through the bookstore and I pulled this book out... tears filled my eyes as I tear the title. I had just spent the night before praying and lamenting. Feeling like I haven’t met my potential and I wasn’t where I wanted to be in life... let me tell you this book was a God send... John tells his story and gives tough love on how to buck up and truly dive into the potential and gifts God has equipped us with. If you’re feeling lost about where you are in life, make sure to pick up a copy.

[Amanda Sicher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book has been a tremendous encouragement. If you are struggling to find your place, purpose and gifts...this is the resource for you! Not only will you be able to identify your purpose, place and gifts, but have increased confidence and joy. As I have yielded to the Holy Spirit when reading, my life has been transformed in the area this book focuses on.

[Pamy Lazatin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faithfulness leads to multiplication. But also, to be faithful IS to multiply. Here's to the second half of 2021.

[Madison Fenzl · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has good advice, but it's not really my style of writing💖

[Natalya Riaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of book you want to read at least once a year. Loved it.

[Tsvetomira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book! I heard God talking to me through it many times and I certainly will be rereading some chapters! God bless! 🤍

[Rehanna Neace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Bait of Satan and wanted to read more from John Bevere. I found this as an audiobook through a library app, and was highly impacted by the thoughts here. We need to multiply what God gives us. Faithfulness = Multiplication. Here are my quotes/notes from the book:

What we do strengthens us.
Doing the will of God strengthens us.

He prearranged our works but it’s up to us to walk in them.

Why do we put such a premium on platform gifts?

Can we misuse the gift of God on our life? Can it be used for self seeking motives?

Your gift wherever it operates (healthcare, finance, the arts) has a connection to building the kingdom.

Faithfulness is multiplication. The faithful servants multiplied what they were given.

God’s first commandment is to be fruitful and multiply. Whatever he puts in our care, we are to multiply.

When we multiply with integrity, God entrusts us with more responsibility. He promotes us.

Do I have a multiplying outlook or do I carry more of a maintenance mentality?

Do I multiply what others put in my charge? Ex: Do I multiply what my pastor is over?

Discontentment can be a catalyst for more.

A true servant doesn’t wait to be asked. They see a need and respond immediately. Those who are always first to a task are the ones who increase.

When Rebekah volunteered to water the camels, she didn’t do so knowing there would be a blessing for her in it. She didn’t know they bore gifts for her. She didn’t know she’d be the mother to the nation of Israel. She just faithfully served.

You may have gifts your leader doesn’t have. Are you multiplying your gifts in line with his heart?

If you haven’t multiplied what is another man’s, who will give you your own?

An organization must be United in order to multiply. Ex: Babel

[Amanda Gathright · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with how to write a review for this book. I haven’t read anything else by the author or listened to any of his speaking. I believe that the book as a whole has a good message and several good points. However, I would’ve enjoyed less anecdotal biography, and more evidence being presented. It also often felt like the traditional hellfire preaching that I grew up with. I did listen to this book on audio instead of reading it and would be curious to see if reading it physically would hit differently than listening to it. I don’t think it was a waste of my time to read, but I’m definitely conflicted in whether or not to recommend it to anyone else. Unfortunately, there were a lot of red flags for me having grown up in a church and school that both attempted to make sure students never looked deeper or did their own research or read the Bible for themselves. So I guess I would say take the book with a grain of salt along with anything else by this author and always do your own reading of the Bible and your own study and your own research.

[Chris Moates · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dynamic and gifted author John Bevere calls for the reader to be obedient to God's call, that they are uniquely gifted, that they are empowered to multiply, that they multiply through investing that they're catalyst is serving, that they should desire the anointing, and they must have faith. If this had been at the beginning of the book, I would have said, "yeah yeah yeah, I'm there," but the author takes you through his personal experiences and makes the reader really dig into where they are in their relationship with God, with their passions and the direction and commitment to multiply their God-given potential. And I had to laugh because in the end, the author says you should re-read the book, and re-read it again; I put it down at the half-way point two years ago as I wasn't feeling the commitment, but this time was different. And I plan on re-reading this as a checkpoint on my commitment.

[Samantha Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

John bevere's books have wrecked me several times in the past and yet again this book made me look inwardly and question what I'd been doing with the gifts God has given me. It's helped me make life altering decisions through personal introspection and most of all through prayer and seeking the Lords direction. It broke the deception of ungodly advice that sometimes shows up as sound and logical reasoning. But when has faith ever been reasonable. This book has made me question certain life choices and my reason for holding on to them. I can't wait to walk in freedom with a new enthusiasm and a burning desire to hone and multiply my God given potential. I can't thank John Bevere enough for being obedient to the Lord and persevering in writing books Christians so desperatly need. Highly recommend!

[Kimberly Hedrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this one because it was about how to take the gifts God gave you and what His call is for you to build the kingdom, however, there was minimal teaching and practical application and mainly the author telling his story. It felt more like an autobiography. The reflection questions at the end of the chapters were good, and there was some good things but overall, I don’t feel like it gave me anything new or changed my perspective on what I’m doing in my life. I should point out that I did audible this book, the author was also the narrator, and maybe another narrator would have been better idk. It was also very distracting because he used at least 10 different versions when referencing scripture. I can’t say I wouldn’t recommend it because everyone learns differently, but this book wasn’t for me.

[Brittany M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. At times, I found it a little difficult to stay fully focused—some of the scripts and longer passages felt a bit dense—but overall, it was incredibly impactful.

One of my favorite parts was the practical examples the author included, along with the reflection questions at the end of each chapter. They really made me pause and think, and I came away with a much deeper understanding of myself.

I also appreciated how much the book emphasized trusting God, using both biblical examples of those who did and didn’t trust Him, and how differently their lives turned out. It helped me better understand parts of the Bible while also giving me clarity on how I can grow—leaning into my strengths while surrendering the rest to Him.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is trying to discover their purpose or figure out their direction in life.

[Glynis Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his 2020 book, X: Multiply Your God-Given Potential, Christian author John Bevere unravels the topic of purposeful living aligned with the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. John skillfully combines personal stories with scripture in simple language to explain the stewardship of spiritual gifts and creative talents. It offers fresh insight into the responsibilities and consequences of stewardship of these gifts. The book also focused on the vast ministry platforms beyond the church to impact the world, including education, healthcare, the corporate world, marketplace, media, government, athletics, recreational clubs, and the arts. This detailed book is recommended for anyone keen to understand better what living in spiritually meaningful ways in everyday life means.

[Jimmy Nzioki · Rating 4 out of 5]

For any believer out there, have you ever thought of multiplication as another expectation that God has for any gift(s) He's graciously endowed upon you? Even if you're not in the conventional "ministry" so to speak?
John Bevere goes all out in a bid to convince the reader how and why multiplication is paramount and why settling for less is unacceptable.
With countless personal stories and encouraging testimonies, the reader gets an almost biographical feel of the founder of Messenger International.
From an engineer with IBM to ministry, from poor writing to becoming an internationally acclaimed best-selling author; there's definitely something to gain in investing your time reading this book.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like John Bevere's style, and this book fits into the larger commentary of books he has written. Sometimes I feel that Bevere's books are a bit too similar to one another. They tend to rely on some of the same Bible teachings, and you will notice anecdotes that reoccur when you read all his books. This one has a clear focus on developing your talents and gifts to glorify God, and it teaches some solid lessons. Of the Bevere books that I have read, I think this is topically most like Driven By Eternity. It is different enough though, in its analysis of the subject, to warrant reading.

[Chad Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more inspiring you to multiply what God has given you rather than teaching you how to discover and develop those things. His content was solid, but I wish there was more on the discovery process. There was on chapter on it at the very end. very good chapter! just wanted more of that.

I will say Bevere does a tremendous job of helping the reader realize there are more gifts and callings than those just celebrated on sunday.... mainly speaking and singing. This book is empowering for those who attend our churches every week.

[Ben Throckmorton]

What is your Did given gift?

This book made me take a look deep in myself and ask if I was using the gift that God has blessed me with. It also made me realize that many times I was just going through the motions with my gifts. I wasn't trying to sharpen them to honor God and all the Grace he has shown me. I know that this is a book I will read again, and that is something I very seldom do. I think there is so much good stuff that John Bevere laid out that I need a second read to take it all in. This book is a Blessing!

[Carrie J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has many gems of wisdom, but enough bad apples to make me put my guard up -- to name a couple of them: misinterpretations of scripture (pg.13, 2nd paragraph); and the veracity of the account on pgs 196-198 is doubtful, because he tells a very different story of that same account in his Messenger X app course "Hearing God" (lesson 7, at about 15:00).

There is some good stuff, but check everything he says against scripture in its proper context, and take his anecdotes with a major grain of salt.

[Nikki Garrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I lost interest when he compared Whitney Houston and Freddie Mercury to Hitler. He was trying to say none of them used their gifts to grow the kingdom. But it just seemed like a very unnecessary and disrespectful thought.

I kept reading though, thinking he’d bring it around…then he got into the abundance gospel and started talking about how God is a capitalist, but you know, not really. Care for the poor, but you know, don’t enable laziness.

Just another rich, white guy yammering on about all the cool stuff he’s done and trying to call it a ministry. Sorry. Not sorry. Just lacked depth.

[Shawna Gonzales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always like John Bevere’s only God moments. His books are rich with moments of the testing of his faith and I always feel encouraged by them. Multiply your God given potential is a lot of testimonies of John’s life where he has trusted God to multiply and provide for what He asked John to do in His name.

“God intentionally made your calling beyond your natural abilities so that you would have to depend on His grace to fulfill it.”

A great reminder that what God calls you to do, He will help provide in a way that you have to trust Him for what you need.

[Christina Pike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy read - to some extent too easy. I did a lot of skimming. I wish there would be a bit more of advice on finding your specific gifting, though this may just be one of those things that takes time.

A favourite line: "settle it now - that you'll die empty, holding nothing back. You will have poured out everything in you so you're empty. The world needs what you have - your God-given gift" Been thinking a lot about what it means to give God my everything and pour myself out as a drink offering so this hit hard.

That's kind of all that hit hard for me though.

[David Pugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A life-changing read

An amazing way to start the year in 2021. I have read many of John's books and loved all of them, but this one has motivated and inspired me in so many ways. A fanatic read, backed with lots of scripture and real life stories. It re-affirms what God wants for us in our lives and the life we are truly missing out on if we are not living in the gifts and plans that he has set out for us. Loved every page!

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very encouraging and challenging and I was deeply changed by it. I was challenged to be a “minister where I am at”. No matter if I’m working at Starbucks, an engineer, a stay at home dad, or missionary I need to use my gifts and talents to honor to the Lord and be a conduit to multiply His Kingdom.

I strongly suggest you go to MessengerX.com or download the MessengerX app. The app and the resources that come with it have blessed my family and I tremendously!

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

After hearing John speak on a podcast I really enjoy (The Christy Wright Show), I bought this book. On the one hand, it helped me to focus on what God has called me to do with my life as well as to work harder at it. But, on the other hand, I was a bit disturbed that so many of the examples were about John and his wife. I’m sure he wasn’t bragging, but it often felt like he was. I was not familiar with this author before and am not sure I’d read another book by him.

[Marla D. Bowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Focus on Being Intentional

I’m a huge fan of John Bevere’s writing. This book was so eye opening and I read it at the time that I was asking God to show me more of who I am in Him. I was in a space where I personally wanted to gain financially for my own self and this book reminded me that God wants more of me so that I can give not just keep to myself. This was a great read with amazing probing questions.