“Living Up To Our Potential"

Galatians 2:20

 

INTRO: Someone has said that lying within all of us is the potential for greatness.  The statement can be realized by all of us today, but to grasp it we must first have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We must know Him as Lord and Sav­ior. Then we must listen to His voice and then do His will for our lives.

 

The apostle John said in John 15:5 speaking of Christ, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Jesus says without Him we can do nothing!

 

Our lives without Christ as our guide are a mess, but With Christ ALL THINGS are possible! Paul in Philippians 4:13, says, “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ which strengtheneth me."  Nothing is impossible to a child of God, if they will only rely on our awesome God!

 

God can take the weak and make them strong, He can take the shy and make them bold and He can take you make you into something wonderful. Are you living up to your full potential?

 

To Live Up To Our Potential, We Must:

 

(1)  Realize we are a New Creation (gives us our position)

 

A.      THE CHRISTIAN HAS A NEW DESIRE (Romans 6:1-6).

We are dead to sin; we should stay that way & strive to be like Jesus through our resurrection.

B.      THE CHRISTIAN HAS A NEW DIRECTION (2 Corinthians 5:14-17).

God has a plan for us that plan includes seeking His will for our life. We must be willing to follow regardless f the sacrifice.

 

(2)  Remember Christ's Love and Sacrifice for Us (gives our purpose)

 

A.     WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE (Titus 2:11-14).

We are living a life worthy of the lord’s return

B.     WE ARE LIVING FOR THE BLESSED SAVIOR (1 Peter 4:1-7).

We need to live for Jesus not in the life of our past. We can’t live for the lord and run with the devils crowd. We should live and be sober (make godly decisions) pray.

 

(3)  Rely on Christ for our Direction and Provision (gives us perseverance]

 

A.     WE ARE RUNNING THE RACE WITH PATIENCE (Hebrews 12:1-2).

The same patience Christ showed as he moved toward the cross. We should show as we move toward our potential.

B.     WE ARE RUNNING THE RACE WITH PERSEVERANCE (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

There is a crown to earn; we should practice what we preach. Strive to finish the race keeping ourselves the way God wants us pure, not corrupt.

 

Conc.: You are someone special! Yes, that's true! Inside us, all lays the potential for greatness. But that greatness can never be achieved apart from a personal relationship with Jesus     Christ! Friend, how great we can be for God depends on us, what are you going to do with Christ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 9, 2004