ACHIEVE YOUR POTENTIAL
John 15:1-1 1 (NIV)

In his book entitled Love, Leo Buscaglia writes, "Love abhors waste, especially waste of human potential." Parents who love their children abhor the thought that they might never reach their full potential. Their love inspires them to work hard to make sure that never happens.

The Bible says God feels the same way about us, His children. There's a big difference, however, between God's perspective and that of earthly parents when it comes to His children achieving their potential. Human parents cannot see their child's full potential. However, God can see the full potential of His children. (see Jeremiah 1:5) Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed.

Jesus told his disciples they could reach their full potential only by remaining in a vital, loving relationship with him. We cannot do anything as Jesus' disciples unless Jesus does it through us. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” (v. 5) As Jesus works through us, we can be more productive for him.

 We must gather our spiritual nutrition from one Source, and that is out LORD Jesus.

TO DO ANYTHING FOR GOD, WE MUST HAVE A VITAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS (15:1-6).

Being Jesus’ disciple begins with a personal relationship with Jesus. Once we enter that relationship, to do God’s will becomes our purpose in life.

This is far more than a spiritual principle. It’s also a practical truth. (see v. 3) As Jesus’ original disciples heard and obeyed God’s Word, God pruned and cleaned up their lives. As this process continues, we bear more fruit for God.

God called us into a relationship with Jesus so that our lives can be productive for Him. The process by which He does this is through His Word. As you look into God’s Word, you see more and more of God’s glory, reflect His righteousness, and come to know God’s will for every area of your life.

“Do not feed the bears” is a sign found all over Yellowstone National Park. Most tourists think the signs are there to protect humans. The thinking is that if you’re close enough to feed the bears you’ll be in real danger. But that’s not the reason for the signs. They’re to protect the bears. We’re told that each season, when the tourists have gone home, they have to haul off the dead bears who have become dependent on the tourists for their food. They no longer search for it themselves.

God isn’t going to spoon feed us from His Word. It’s our responsibility to stay in the Word so that the Word can fashion you into a fully-functioning, fruit-producing child of God.

If we are not bearing visible fruit in our lives, then God is not at work in us. Jesus warns us in verse 6 of the consequences of not nurturing our relationship with him. Stay in vital relationship with Jesus so this doesn’t happen to you.

TO DO ANYTHING FOR GOD, WE MUST RESPOND TO JESUS AND ALLOW HIM TO WORK IN US (15:7-8). In verses 7-8 Jesus makes it clear how we must respond to him in order to bear fruit. [READ] We respond to Jesus by allowing His Word to prune our lives of everything that may prevent us from bearing fruit (v. 7a).

Next, Jesus tells us, “. . . .ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” We also respond to Jesus by asking through prayer for whatever we need in order to bear fruit (v. 7b). As we respond to Jesus through prayer, we have his promise that he will give us whatever we need to bear fruit. I must want to do God’s will, and bear more fruit.

I heard about a missionary who prayed for a car, which he badly needed on the mission field. He prayed, “0 God, you know how badly I need a car. Please Lord, provide me with a car—any kind of car will do.” A fellow missionary who was praying with him interrupted his friend and said, “Stop praying like that. God isn't in the junk business.” If you need it, ask, and ask boldly.

We need to remember that Jesus’ disciples were ordinary men who, when they began to follow Jesus experienced radical changes in their thinking and in their abilities. As they clung to his every Word, their souls were cleansed. More and more they were able to do unbelievable things. They could speak in public, heals sicknesses, even cast out demons. Now I’m not saying you may become able to cast out demons, but what could God do through you if you let him? Remember, without him you can do nothing. With him, there’s nothing you can’t do.

To achieve our potential as disciples, we must actively respond to Jesus out of our loving relationship with Him.

TO DO ANYTHING FOR GOD, WE MUST REMAIN VITALLY RELATED TO JESUS AS JESUS WAS TO HIS FATHER (1 5:9-1 1). Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love.”

A little girl was hugging a doll in her pudgy little arms, when she looked at her mother and said, “Mother, I love her and love her and love her, but she never loves me back.” I hope we’re not like that, loved and loved and loved but never respond in love.

If this is the case with you, you can begin to show Jesus today how much you love him by obeying his Word. Let it do its pruning work in you.

In John 12:26, Jesus says, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if anyone served me, the Father will honor him.”

MR. ANONYMOUS HAS SAID............

I cannot say “our” if I only live for myself.

I cannot say “Father” if I do not endeavor each day to act like His

     child.

I cannot say “who art in heaven” if I am laying up no treasure there.

I cannot say “hallowed by thy name” if I am not striving for 

     holiness.

I cannot say “thy Kingdom come” if I am not doing all in my power

     to hasten that wonderful event.

I cannot say “thy will be done” if I am disobedient to His Word.

I cannot say “on earth as it is in heaven” if I’ll not serve Him here

     and now.

I cannot say “give us this day our daily bread” if I’m dishonest and

     am seeking things by subterfuge.

I cannot say “forgive us our debts” if I harbor a grudge against  

     anyone.

I cannot say “lead us not into temptation” if I deliberately place

     myself in its path.

I cannot say “deliver us from evil” if I do not put on the whole armor

     of God.

I cannot say “thine is the kingdom” if I do not give the Kin the

     loyalty due Him from a faithful subject.

I cannot attribute to him the “power” if I fear what men may do.

I cannot ascribe to him “the glory” if I’m seeking honor only for

     myself, and. . . .

I cannot say “forever” if the horizon of my life is bounded

     completely by time.

We know we are remaining in Christ's love when he shows us what he is doing, and he calls us to join him in doing it (vv. 14-17). This is also how we know Christ loves us.

The question is do we love Jesus enough to what he commands, us to do? We prove to Jesus how much we love him by obeying him and allowing his Word to prune us, so that we can be more fruitful.

Jesus also said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (v. 11) As we remain vitally related to Jesus as Jesus is to the Father, we experience true joy. You too can experience Jesus’ joy when you enter and remain in the same loving relationship with Jesus that he has with the Father.

Let us remain in Jesus as Jesus is in the Father. Joy will be ours.

We will fall short of our potential as disciples of Jesus by not remaining in vital relationship with Him. We will miss the wonder that only a loving relationship with Jesus can bring to life. We will miss the blessing of God asking us to work in His vineyard. Most of all, we will miss the very thing Jesus wants us to have most: joy.

We cannot do anything as Jesus’ disciples unless Jesus does it through us. Therefore we must remain connected to the vine. Jesus cannot do anything through us if we are not abiding in Him. Jesus wants us to remain vitally related to Him so that our lives can be more productive for God.

Let us make sure we achieve our potential as Jesus’ disciples.