“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). B. THE CHRISTIAN HAS A NEW DIRECTION (2 Corinthians 5:14-17). (2) Remember Christ's Love and Sacrifice for Us (gives our purpose) A. WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE (Titus 2:11-14). B. WE ARE LIVING FOR THE BLESSED SAVIOR (1 Peter 4:1-7). (3) Rely on Christ for our Direction and Provision (gives us perseverance] A. WE ARE RUNNING THE RACE WITH PATIENCE (Hebrews 12:1-2). B. WE ARE RUNNING THE RACE WITH PERSEVERANCE (1 Corinthians 9:24- 27).

Closing: You are someone special! Yes, that's true! Inside us all lies 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?