Are You Living Up to Your Potential in God?
by Victor Vera
First Apostolic Church of Maryville (Maryville, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Ecclesiastes 8:4, Philippians 3:13-14, Philippians 3:15-16, Philippians 1:6, Revelation 3:15-16, Philippians 3:16

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/victor-vera--are-you-living-up-to-your-potential-in-god
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
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Praise the Lord, everyone. Just remain standing with me if you would. So great to be back in the house of the Lord. How many's been blessed by being here? My goodness, the Lord has blessed us in a great way. And I have so enjoyed myself, but I'll have to be honest with you. I'll be glad when this is over. Be told my wife, I said, I'll be glad when I'm heading north on 75, coming back home to you. Uh but God is just so good to us and I'm so thankful for all of his blessings. And I just want to say uh to Pastor James Chester, thank you so much for the invitation uh to come and speak at this men's conference. Also, I want to give thanks to his awesome team, Pastor Nathan Batson, Pastor Wley Reinhardt, Pastor Paul McGee, and also Pastor Wes Comr. What a dream team this these men are. But I also want to give honor to Bishop and Sister Carpenter. What what a great what a great leader and uh what a great friend that he's been to me. I love you, brother Carpenter. Also want to give honor and respect to Pastor and Sister Ericson, Pastor and Sister Hammond, and Pastor Nolan and Flannry Carpenter. But also want to give all of you men honor. Thank you so much for sticking around on this Saturday and uh giving this old retired UPS driver and this struggling pastor who's wondering what in the world am I doing up here? I I just thank you for sticking around. When uh Brother Chester called me, I got to thinking on the way home when brother Chester called me to preach on a Tuesday evening, believe it or not, I wondered, did you dial the wrong number? I was sitting at the on the altar. It was our Tuesday night church prayer. I was sitting on the altar and he called me and I thought, "Man, did you dial the wrong number? Were you meaning to call so and so?" But here I am. Here I am. So, uh, I'm thankful to be here. And as my son-in-law, Pastor Nathan Batson, I want to give him honor. and Donnie, my other son-in-law. I appreciate them so much. And my daughters and my six grandchildren, my two grandsons are here. And uh but more than all of that, I want to give my wife honors. 43 years of marriage. And uh I wouldn't be here if it had not been for her. But I love my family with all of my heart. Finally, I want to say I want to say thank you to these awesome AXC brothers who are sitting on this couple of front rows here. Uh they are some of the greatest men and the Lord has just given me the opportunity to be their pastor. Some of these men, this is the very first conference they've ever been to. Very first men's conference. And uh Jeremy received the Holy Ghost last night. Jeremy received the Holy Ghost. That makes me so happy. And I am so proud of all of you. And of course, Pastor Chester's message last night and Brother Hammond, you're not going to hear that tonight or today from me. These these two men just they just outdid themselves. And I'm so thankful to be associated with great men like this. I have so many friends in this in this room. And uh thank you so much for being my friend. It's been a It's been a long road to get me to where I'm at right now. Uh but before I let you be seated, I want us to pray. And I want us to pray that the word of God the next few moments that I have, I I want to pray that the word of God would change somebody's heart, somebody's life. See, the word of God, one message changed my life over 40 years ago. One message changed my life. And I'm going to pray that God would change a man's life in this building with just one message. Would you lift your hands and would you pray with us? >> Oh Jesus, help me Lord. Help me Jesus. Help me Jesus. Help me Jesus. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Oh Lord, we need you Jesus. We need you, Jesus. We need you, Lord. I need you, Jesus. God, bless me, Lord. Anoint me, God. Let me say something to some of these men here today, God, that would change their life. I need you, God. I need your anointing, God. I love you, Lord, and I thank you. Praise God. Praise God. You can be seated. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of sunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and the marvels, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intent of the heart." Now, because I know where some of you men are today, I know that some of you men have said to yourselves, I know what you're thinking here this morning. God could never use me. God cannot change me. God could never love me, forgive me, or ever work through me. But I've come to tell you that God has given me a mandate to speak to every man in this church today. And I'm just going to tell you, if you will humble yourself, >> and if you will allow yourself to get out of the way and not seek your own will, >> but his will, I just believe that God is going to do something this morning that many of you have been praying for the Lord to do for a long time in your life. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastics 8:4, "Where the word of a king is, there is power." And we surely have heard the word of God the last few hours at being here at this men's conference. I believe that the word of the Lord is going to change a life today. Now, I might sound like I'm repeating myself a little bit, but I want you to stay with me. Philippians 3:13-14 says, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended." Other translations says it like this. I have not reached that place yet. I'm not saying that I have all this all together that I haven't made. No, dear brothers. I'm still not all that I should be. I have not achieved yet. I do not considered myself to have arrived yet, >> but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, >> and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Amen. The message Bible interprets these few verses like this. I am not saying that I have it all together, that I have it made, but I am well on my way reaching out for Christ who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong. By no means do I count myself as a as an expert in all of this. But I've got my eye on the goal where God is becking us onward. I am off and running and I am not turning back. >> Then verses 15 and 16 says, "So let's keep focused on the goal." Those of us who want everything God has for us, if any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision. You'll see it. Now that we're on the right track, let's stay with it. I need every man in this church today to get a mental picture in your mind of reaching forward, >> pressing toward a goal, >> pressing toward a mark. >> Amen. Pressing toward a prize. >> Paul said, "Forget those things which are behind, >> and reach forth unto those things which are before." I press toward the mark. Several weeks ago or several months ago, I was listening to a man preach as I was driving down the highway. And what he was saying sparked a message in me that I had heard maybe 40 years ago, over 40 years ago, a message that changed my life forever. You see, back in my early 20s, I I'm a Puerto Rican and and we were born in a Spanish family, and my mom poured it into us all the time. She said, "You're a Puerto Rican. You were born with a temper. You're going to have a temper all of your life. You might as well just accept it." But I want you to know something. And back in my early 20s, I was acting all big and bad, thinking I was all that and a bag of chips. Well, to my surprise, my father-in-law was nearby. He saw me and he heard me in my big and bad self. And can I tell you, he was a little bit bigger and a little bit batter than me. And he walked up to me. He looked me in the eye. And then all of a sudden, he grabbed me around the neck real tight. It was like a 250 lb anaconda got a hold of me. I knew he was extremely serious. He meant business. He wasn't joking around. He pulled me in real tight. I think he was wanting to do that for a long time and now this is the perfect opportunity. And I said to him in my anger and in my ignorance, I said, "I don't care what people think about me." He put his finger in my chest and said, "If you're ever going to be anything for God, you better start caring what people think about you." And that hit me like a lightning bolt. I came to church the next day and when he got up to preach, it sounded like he was preaching right at me. That one single message changed my life forever. I don't have any of his notes. I don't have any of the scripture that he used. But I do remember the title that he used and that's what I'm going to preach to you. He preached a message to me. Are you living up to your potential in God? That's what I feel to preach at this men's conference. All right. I'm beginning to feel all right now. I know you know this. I know you know this. But Google says that if you properly store milk in a refrigerator, it will last 5 to seven days past its sell by date. But on the other hand, if milk is left out on the co out on the counter at normal room temperature, it begins to spoil with bacterial growth after just 2 hours. Now, we all know that milk for the most part is pretty healthy for you. But I need to ask you a question. How many of you want to drink a glass of milk after it is set out on the corner or counter for three or 4 hours or for a day, two days or for a week? If you do, you're probably going to get sick because of the bacterial growth that begins to spoil in that milk after just two or just after a couple of hours. Can I tell some man here today that the reason you feel frustrated? And the reason you feel unfulfilled and miserable is because you have unlived potential inside of you. Some of you are saying to yourself just about every day, I can't work that job. I can't build that house. I can't walk that mile. I can't preach. I can't sing. I can't testify. I can't work for God. I can't work for the church. I can't save a soul. I can't invite a guest. I can't pray at the altar. I can't lay my hands on the sick. I can't teach a Bible study. I can't work with a recovering community. I can't drive a van. I can't pick up souls. I can't mow a yard. I can't trim bushes. I can't even open a door. You know why you have drank a spoiled glass of unlived potential and it is making you sick? Because it is a poisonous lie from the devil. You say to yourself almost on a continual basis, "I'm afraid to fail, so I won't even try." And now your God-given potential has become a poisonous, toxic, unattainable goal in your life. It has spoiled in your spirit. And that's the reason you feel frustrated and miserable and unfulfilled because you're living you're not living up to your potential. You can be seated. The thing that could make you healthy has now become toxic to you. You have settled for ordinary. Are you hearing me? You have settled for ordinary. You have settled for status quo. You have settled for average. You have settled. You're okay with somebody else doing what God has called you to do. There's been time after time God has put his hand on your shoulder. But because of unlived potential, because you think you can't do it, I'll let somebody else do it. Listen, if we were honest with ourselves, we would have to admit, I'm not living up to my potential in God. Listen, people who live their lives with a mindset, to reach a goal or to accomplish something good or to push towards something greater in themsel push past all of the noise that their mind is telling them. I don't know if I could ever achieve uh what my heart is telling me that I can do. The enemy wants you to believe that you're not strong enough. The enemy wants some man in this building to believe that I'm not capable enough. That guy can't speak well enough or I have what it takes for God to use me. But can I tell some man that the enemy's greatest fear is not what you are today but who you can become in God through your unused potential. Hallelujah. You see there's something there's something about an attitude that is never satisfied with settling for something less. So you keep on reaching and you keep on pressing toward forward and you keep on keeping on. The Apostle Paul said, "Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to forget those things which are behind and I'm going to reach forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Somebody needs to know that your God-given potential is not in your past. Neither can it be stopped by your past. I said neither can it be stopped by your past. You need to let go of your yesterday and you need to focus on the Lord today. Your potential in God is today. >> Amen. You need to understand that your confidence in God or your confidence comes from God. And it's time to seize your God-given moment in your life right now. Paul said, "I am convinced. I am confident of this very thing that he hath he that hath begun a good work in you will continue to perfect it. He will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. I love this translation of Philippians 3:15 that says, "Therefore, let those of us who are mature, let us embrace this point of view." You might ask, "What point of view is that?" The point of view that says, "I have not arrived yet." Can I just let us in on a little secret here this morning? Nobody in this house has made it yet. Amen. Nobody in this house, nobody's feet has walked on gold yet. Nobody in this church has heard those or those words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Yet, we are all still in the race. We are all still in the fight. We are all on a journey to make heaven our home. And my Bible tells me in the book of Revelation, I would that thou are cold nor hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Where did we get this idea, that average is okay? Average is easy, but greatness takes a lot of work. I want the devil to hear me. You can call me a lot of things if you want to. Go ahead and call me ugly. Go ahead and call me short. Go ahead and call me fat. You can even call me old. But there is one thing I don't want anyone to ever be able to say about me. And that is I gave up and I settled for less. I'm allergic to average. I said, "I'm allergic to average. I'm allergic to ordinary. I'm allergic to lukewarmness. I want to surround myself with men who want more from God." That's what I'm doing here at this conference this week. Amen. Iron sharpenth iron. And I'm praying that I'm with some men here that are not satisfied with what we've done thus far. I believe I'm here with some men who are not satisfied, but we're continuing to press toward the prize. I feel in my spirit this morning that there are some men who have gathered at this men's conference and you have come to this conference because you want a transformation in your life. You want a transformation to happen in your spirit. Amen. As brother Hammond said, "Your wife is called and she wants you to come home as a transformed man. She wants a different marriage than what she's had thus far. Your church is needing you." Amen. Not to be satisfied with what you have done this far. There is a hunger and there is a thirst way down deep in my soul for something more. Something bigger. I need something bigger. I need something better than what I've done this far. You realize there's some men in this building right now. You realize I'm not living up to my potential. >> You're saying to yourself right now, I know I could be doing more. >> Maybe you even said, "I I want to do more. I know that there's something more in me. I'm tired of settling for less than what God has put in me." Your potential is proof that God sees more in you >> than what you can see in yourself. >> Paul wants us to mature and realize there's no free ticket to heaven. Nobody's going to accidentally fall through the gate. If you make it to heaven, you're going to have to press your way into heaven. You're going to have to reach forth. We are on a battlefield. We are not on a playground. You're going to have to press toward. Likewise, if you're going to realize the greatness that God has put in you, you're going to have to work for it. You're going to have to pray for it. You're going to have to pray and you're going to have to fast. You're going to have to study. And you're going to have to give up some things. You're going to have to give of your time and your treasure and your talent. There is going to be a sacrifice if you're going to experience the greatness of God in your life. >> It's going to be inconvenient. >> It's going to be hard sometimes. But if you really want what God has for you, it's going to cost you something. You're going to have to press your way into your potential. You're going to have to forget everything that is behind you. It's time for some of you to break loose from yesterday's mistakes and yesterday's failures because potential doesn't have time to look behind me. I said potential doesn't have time to look back. Potential is looking forward. I can't do anything about yesterday. Today is all that matters. And what you do today will bring in a great harvest. Your potential is not in what you've already done. >> It's what you're still capable of doing. >> Oh, I may not be there yet, but I am on my way. I said I may not be there yet, but I am on my way. I don't care what you think about me. I am on my way. I submit that what's in front of us is so much greater than what's behind us. You know what I'm going to ask God for in this message today? I pray that this happens. I'm feeling a stirring in the Holy Ghost. I pray that some common I pray that some ordinary you got some dirt underneath your fingernails. Amen. Maybe you've come in here wearing some boots. Maybe you just come in here with a t-shirt and jeans. But I'm praying that one of those types of men, amen, that has come into this house, you realize, I'm not living up to my potential. But I'm not going to wait on my wife anymore. No more waiting for another men's conference. No more waiting for another conference. No more waiting for my pastor to tap me on the shoulder. Amen. I already know there's potential in me. I know already know I can feel it in my heart. Every time I walk into the presence of God, I am being challenged by the Holy Ghost. But because of my inabilities and because of my backwardness and because of my shyness, I sit back. >> Amen. You see, the world may see us as ordinary, but God sees us as extraordinary. So, man of God, I've got a few questions for you. Do you have potential? I want to hear a loud yes. Man of God, man of God, are you living in it or are you just talking about it? Shout, "I'm living in it." Amen. Man of God. Amen. Man of God, if God put it in me, then shout, "I can do it." >> I can do it. >> Man of God, I press toward the mark. Shout for the prize. Amen. You may not realize it today, but I'm trying to help some man here today. I'm trying to help somebody just like me, just a common, ordinary, amen, run-of-the-mill kind of men who want to do something for God, but have sat back for too long. It's time to rise up. Let go of your bashfulness. Come on you. Some of you men over here, some of you men back there, let go of your bashfulness. Let go of your shyness. Let go of the nervousness. I'm trying to help somebody. You're better than average. God is calling your name right now. Touch somebody. Tell them God's calling your name right now. God is tapping you on the shoulder and he's asking you a simple question. God is asking you a simple question right now. Are you living up to your potential in God? Come on. It's a simple question. All you got to do is answer it honestly. I'm not doing all that I can. Hallelujah. Listen, you can be seated. When I was sitting on my pew almost 40 years ago, I knew down deep in my heart, God, I know I could be doing something better. I was so I was so unsatisfied. I was at a bad place in my life. I was so angry because I was told you're going to have a temper all of your life. You might as well just you might as well just accept it. So there was so much anger inside of me. And at 20 years old, I didn't run from a fight. I ran to a fight. I was so frustrated in my life. I was ready. You think about this. I have the perfect family. I got a beautiful wife and I've got beautiful daughters. But I was ready to walk out on my marriage. I was ready to say goodbye to my children. I was even ready to put a gun to my head and take my own life. I didn't know how to get out of that situation. And that's where some of you men are here today. Nobody ever said to me one time, "I believe in you." No one ever encouraged me, pushed me, or challenged me. So years ago, I said years ago, I was full of potential. I was full of life. There was all kinds of possibility in me and the Holy Ghost stopped by my pew one night and challenged me through the preach word of God and asked me the question, are you living up to your potential? Now listen to me. I had to answer that question honestly. That's where we're at sometimes. We're not honest with ourselves. We push it off and said, "Well, let's just get through this conference. Nobody will recognize me. Nobody will pull me out of my seat." But I want you to know something. Why don't you just get honest with yourself? Why don't you just get honest and understand that God wants to transform your life? I found myself at an older brother carpenter. I found myself after at an altar. I already had the Holy Ghost, but I wasn't doing everything I could for God. But when my father-in-law preached that message, something stirred in me. I ran down to the altar. I lifted up my hands and I began to confess unto the God, I'm not living up to my potential. And God begin to speak through me and renew me in the Holy Ghost. And I've no longer been the same. I have no longer been the same. I finally surrendered everything to God. I told God, "I'm tired of running. I'm tired of living with this frustration. I'm tired of the struggle in my life." Amen. I finally surrendered. And when I surrendered, that eliminated eliminated every excuse, which is far more detrimental to my potential than failure ever could be. And look what happened when I surrendered to God. Years later, God called me into the ministry. And now I'm pastoring a church in Zeno, Ohio. I give all the glory to God. Amen. Now I baptized countless people. I prayed countless people through to the Holy Ghost. I cast a vision in Zeno, Ohio. And we're going to build a church and God gave us 14 acres right on the highway. We have built three times. I preached a few conferences. I preached a few camp meetings. I preached a few anniversary service and maybe one or two revival. I've conducted numerous weddings and funerals. I've taught Bible studies. I prayed for the sick. I've counseledled many marriage. We baptized this year alone. We have already baptized 88 people this year alone. A lot of my boys are with me right here. These are my boys. Amen. These are one that come up under my ministry. And now today I am mentoring them. I am texting them. I am teaching them. I am praying for them. And I'm pouring into them every time I can put my arm around them. And I'm telling them there's potential in you because your potential is not in your past. I don't care where you've been, what you've done. All that matters is today. today. That's all that matters. But you know what? I've al I've also swept floors. I've also trimmed bushes. I've also mowed the lawn. I'll be on the lawnmower Monday morning. Amen. I've cut down weeds. I've painted. I've changed the light bulbs. I've shoveled snow. I've cleaned the church. I've done whatever needs to be done. Why? Because I have not reached my potential yet. And I'm still waiting to hear. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. So keep reaching, men. Keep reaching, men. Amen. Keep pressing, men. Keep working, men. Keep on keeping on. >> Oh, hallelujah. Hallelujah. You can be seated. >> My goodness. 64 years old. I can't preach like this. Help me, brother Carpenter. I just signed up for Medicare. Hasn't kicked in yet. 1st of November. Notice what the NIV says about Philip. Philippians 3:16. Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained. Live up means I'm not there yet. The word attain means I've arrived. So that what this verse is telling me that what this verse is telling me is that my potential has potential. My first pastor, some of you may know him, my first pastor, Bishop Dean Livingston, told me years ago when I was struggling as a young man to find my purpose. He said, "God has called you to do more than just work at UPS." He said, "There's God-given potential inside of you, Brother Vic." He said, "I want you to come next Sunday, and I want you to preach for me." I swallowed real hard. I said, "You want me to do what?" He said, "I want you to come and preach for me next Sunday." He said, "You're more than just a brown package car driver for UPS. Here's what I want us all to understand. My hands have never built a church. My hands have never saved a soul. My hands have never influenced a city. My hands have never saved a marriage. My hands have never pulled a person out of a crack house. My hands have never changed a person's life. But I find myself so many times like I did this morning at 4:15 a.m. in my motel room. I got on my knees and I prayed and I acknowledged unto God my inabilities, my limitations, and my weaknesses. I pick up the Bible and I begin to study and God anoints me. And it's not very long that I realize my unfulfilled potential is God's potential in me. Because my potential has potential. Listen, if we use what we've got, God will be what we're not. So, I want you, every man in this building, I want you to work your gift. I want you to work your calling. I want you to take that talent God has given you and I want you to realize I'm going to sharpen it up a little bit. I'm going to work my abilities. I mean, give it to God and God will God will give you what you need him to be. >> I believe there's some men here today. >> You believe what I'm preaching to you? >> There is so much potential in here. I tell you what, we're sitting on a keg of dynamite that's just about ready to go off. I'm going to get out of the way here a little bit cuz I'm going to give brother Balls some time. But I want you to know we are sitting on a keg of dynamite right now. And if one or two, Amen, three or four would reach out and grab hold of what God wants to do in your life. Come on, you've been standoffish long enough. Come on, you've been obscure long enough. You have been bashful long enough. You have been backward long enough. Come on, you've been reserved long enough. It's time to go home. Different than when you came. Hallelujah. Turn to a brother sitting next to you and I want you to look them square in the eye and I want you to ask them, "Are you living up to your potential in God? How does this microphone How does this microphone that I have in my hand? How does this microphone in the hand of a willing man? How does it build a church? It's the power of potential. How did a recovering addict start a recovery class and is now pulling feet out of hell? It's the power of potential. How did a Bible study change a dysfunctional family and make them pillars in the church? It's the power of potential because potential has potential. If you will take your hidden potential and you will use it for God, God will take your potential and mix it with his potential and you'll look back one day and you'll say, "Look what the Lord Look what the Lord has done. Look what the Lord has done." Hallelujah. How did a rod part the Red Sea? It's the power of potential. How was Samson able to kill a thousand Philistines with a jawbone of a donkey? It's the power of potential. How was a little boy's lunch with just five loaves and two fishes able to feel or feed 5,000? It's the power of potential. >> Paul said, "I haven't reached my goal yet. I haven't reached my goal yet." That's what I'm here at conference for. I haven't heard those words, well done until Jesus comes. I'm going to keep on coming to conferences and I'm going to keep surrounding myself with men who will make me a better man. I'm going to get involved. I'm going to run to the altar. I'm not going to sit back when the altar calls given. I'm going to run to the altar. When the preacher is preaching, I'm going to lift up my hands and say amen because I've not reached my potential yet. I don't ever want to say I don't want to ever say I've reached my potential. The greatest day for the church. Do you realize you you know I know there's a lot going on in our world today and we all know that. We can all recognize it. >> But but all of that is in the plan of God. >> When I saw those videos, I leaned over to brother Ball and I said to him, "This world is hungry. This world is looking for something. This world is looking for someone that will be bold enough to go to your job after what you received on a Sunday and say, "I'm going to be a witness. I'm going to teach a Bible study. I want you to know I come every night. I'm not trying to brag on myself. Please understand that. But I got a I got a Ford F-150. It'll seat six people. And every time I come to church, these are the men that I am picking up. My my wife has got her car. She's got four or five ladies coming to church in her car. How do you think we're able to baptize 88? You're going to have to go into the highways and you're going to have to go into the byways and you're going to have to compel them. I'm doing things I've never done before, but I want God to grow me. Amen. I want God to use me. I want to lift my hands and say, "God, use me." There's more for us to do. I'll be finished in just a little while. Be seated one more time. >> My potential is what gets me up every morning. >> Tells me that I can do better today than what I did yesterday. >> Now, I know everybody has thought a time or two. I just can't do it anymore. I'm tired. There's nothing left in me. Three years ago, we went through one of the hardest trials. This is not in my notes. I'm just going to preach in my heart. >> Three years ago, we went through one of the hardest trials we've ever had to go through. And I questioned my ministry. I questioned my calling. 33 years retired at UPS. 25 years pastoring a church. I was ready to drive off in the sunset. I got my social security. I've got my pension. I'm going to have my Medicare here in just a little while. I'm ready to get in my car, pack the car, and say, "Sister Gina, let's go somewhere. Let's enjoy the rest of our life." But God had something else in mind. We went through one of the hardest trials. I called my pastor, Bishop Osborne. I said, "Brother Osborne, what do I do? I don't even I don't even have anything. I don't even want to go forward. I don't even want to go back to church. So much has happened." I walked into that church on Thursday morning after that Wednesday. I I was in there all by myself and I said, "God, you you know better than I know. If this is all I got left, I'm going to love these people with everything in my heart. I'm going to preach the best I can preach. I'm going to put my arms around them every time they walk in the door. I'm going to let them know that I appreciate them. The best, highest paying tithe members walked out on us." But I told Brother Osborne, "I don't know what I'm going to do." Brother Osborne said, "That's happened to me three times." He said, "The last time it happened to me, I went home. I put my arms around Sister Osborne and we hugged one another and we cried with one another. Then we went off to bed and we went about our business that the rest of the week." He said, "We got up on Sunday morning and we got ready for church." And he said, "I realized after a few weeks, hey, there's some new people walking in. There's some new people walking in. And those people that left us, Amen. And now God filled their seats. And now he said, "After a while, you realize you you realize all of that was necessary for God to bring you where you are today." God gave us 14 acres. 14 acres on the corner of 35 and 42. We are in a prime position for great revival. Amen. And I'm just wondering if God allowed that to happen for a reason. because we're having the greatest revival we have had in 27 years. But if that had not happened, I would have given up. But my potential tells me I can't give up now. These are the best days. Now I don't even feel like retiring. I don't even feel like driving off in the sunset. >> But my mind tells me, you better start thinking about it. I pray that these words that I have spoken today, >> those words that were spoken to me 40 years ago would cause somebody to get up off your seat and realize I'm not living up to my potential because from this day forward, my life is going to change. I'm not leaving men's conference 2025 the same way. Pastor, you're going to see a difference in me. I'm not going to sit in the back. I'm going to move up to the front. Some of our brand new men right here. Some of our brand new men are laying hands on other men. You think you can't do it? Let me just tell you, if you won't do it, God will bring somebody out of the recovering community, out of the prisons. Amen. If we don't want to do it, there's a people out there that will do it. Quit saying, "I'm not good enough. Quit using that as excuse." So this may be a simple concept, but this is the kind of preaching that says, "Put a shovel in my hand. >> Put a broom in my hand. >> Put a Bible study under my arm. Give me a Sunday school class to teach. Give me a job to do." Would somebody in this church right now shout, "There is potential in me." >> Amen. because it's in you. >> I said let let me let me just close with this. Okay. In prepare, you can just remain standing. The singers can come. In preparing for this message, I realized something very sobering. And if I have to be careful, I'll break down and start crying right now. It was very sobering to me as I sat down and put this message together. I realized I never did go to my father-in-law and thank him for preaching that message when I had a gun to my head. Literally, not literally, but you know, I thought about it. When I thought about running away, here comes here comes my father-in-law. He cared enough about me to grab me around the neck and point his finger in my chest. He wasn't afraid. But I never did thank him. He died a few years ago. And I never did thank him for saving my life. >> I never did thank him for grabbing me and having h having enough courage to face me head on. When I look back at it, if I had not responded to that one message, I realized I wouldn't be preaching here today. >> Thank you, pastor. Thank you for preaching that message to me with such conviction and with such compassion because that message changed my life. If I had not gotten up out of my complacency, if I had not pulled myself out of the rut of selfishness, I would probably be where all my other brothers are today. You see, there were seven of us when God saved us. My mom's mother, and I don't mean to take too much time, my mother, my mom's mother died. She flew to Houston, Texas for the funeral. And while she was there for the funeral, little little did she know that my grandmother, I guess, I don't know if she knew it or not, but she was apostolic. And so the the funeral was in an apostolic church. And my mom went to the funeral and she decided to go to church the next day and God filled her with the Holy Ghost. And she called me or she didn't call me. I was just this big. But she called my dad and that was when you still had landlines. So dad pulled the phone off the wall and all of us five little kids was standing around him. We could hear my mom say and mom said when when I get home we're all going to church. She said I got filled with the Holy Ghost and we're all going to church. I thought she got filled with Casper the friendly ghost. I had never heard of the Holy Ghost. We got up for church the next day. We went to church the next night. my dad, my mom, all of my brothers, four boys, and my sister. We were all baptized the same night. >> We were all baptized in a horse tank in the basement. >> We all got filled with the Holy Ghost. >> We all went to the same church. We were all around the same age. We had the same mother and the same father. The same potential that was in me was in my brothers. >> The only thing that saved me >> was an anointed man of God >> that preached the word of God to me with such conviction. >> Are you living >> up to your potential? I've got more that I could preach, but I feel like stopping there and challenging every man in this building right now. I want you to answer that. Lift up your hands right now. I want you to answer that question honestly. Come on. Some of you may have been in church all of your life, but you're still not living up to your potential. I don't care what you did yesterday. Come on. I don't care what kind of mistakes and failures. It's time to let loose of that in this atmosphere that we are in. Let's seize the moment right now. Maybe for just 5 minutes, you can come right now and say, "God, maybe I'm the only one who got that message, but it was preached to me with such conviction and such feeling that God, I'm going to answer the call and from this day forward, my life is never going to be the same again." Come on, can we sing it? Come on, men. Can we cry out? Some of you that are in the back, would you make your way to the front? I just feel like God is going to do something right now. The Holy Ghost is sweeping over this building right now. Come on, men of God. Come on, men of God. Let's get refilled with the Holy Ghost again. Come on. Let's try once again. Let's reach a little farther. Let's press a little harder. Come on. Let God use you in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Come on. This is about you. I said this is about you right now. This is your question that you have to answer. Are you living? Are you living? Are you living up to your potential in the name of Jesus? Caught up in your presence. I just want to sit here at your feet. I'm caught up in this holy moment. I never want to leave. >> Let the Lord renew you. Come on. Let the Lord renew you. >> Get a hold of that passion. Get a hold of that desire. >> God, I want to be the best I can be in you, Lord. >> Come on, men. That's what this men's conference is all about. >> We need a change. >> We need a change. >> We need God to move upon us. Come on. I know that I'm talking to a man just like me. Come on. You're struggling in your marriage. You're struggling within yourself. >> You're struggling with pornography. >> Come on. You're struggling on your job. Come on. That's not your potential. >> That's not what God has called you to do. >> God has called you to work for him. God has called you to work for him. >> Oh, hallelujah. >> Come on. >> Come on. >> Nobody can do it like you can do it. >> Nobody has your calling. >> You're the one. You're the one in your presence. >> Come on. The Holy Ghost is falling right now. I said the Holy Ghost is falling right now. Come on. There are some men that are recommitting their lives right now. This is where the road meets. This is the crossroad. This is where we're going to make a change. It will no longer ever be the same any longer. Come on, lay your hands on somebody. Lay your hands on somebody. Let the Holy Ghost speak through you right now. I feel it. I feel it. I feel it. Come on. I feel it. I feel a stirring right now. Come on, young men. Come on. Don't wait any longer. Come on. Some of you young men, don't wait any longer. >> Don't wait any longer. >> Step out right now. >> And I'm just saying another song. >> Take me back. to where we start. >> Here I am, God. >> I open up my heart to you. >> Oh, I'm not going back. I'm moving forward in you, Jesus. And I'm sorry. I've come my not for God. Not for God. >> Take me where we start. Every sing I'm caught up in your presence. Sing your presence. Oh, I just want to stay right here. Want to see you're working on me right now. Oh Jesus, I know only I'm not here for blessings. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, you don't know me. It's not about all your blessings. >> It's about your presence in my life. I just want I just want you. Oh, I just want you. Nothing else. Nothing else. Nothing else will do. I just want you. Nothing else. Nothing else. Jesus. Nothing else will do. We sing. I just want nothing else. Nothing else. Nothing else. Nothing else. I just want you, Jesus. in you, God. Everything changes around. My circumstance starts to change when I call your name. So I just want you in my family, you in my city, you in my whole life. Oh, I just want you. Part of my every part of my every word, nothing else. Oh, nothing else. Oh, take this world. Just give me Jesus. I can have all the riches, all the fame, all the honor. It's nothing compared to your presence. See, I'm caught up. I'm caught up in your presence. Oh, I just want to sit here. caught up in this mind. Stay right here cuz there's potential in this room. You're doing a work right now. I'm not here for blessings. >> I want to be changed in your presence. You know me more than anything. I just want you. If that's your heart's cry, why don't you worship him right now? Oh, why don't you lift up a shout of praise? >> Hallelujah. Hallelujah. >> Jesus Christ. >> Come on. Would you lift up a praise right now? just for you. >> Come on, would you lift up a praise right now? Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Come on. Would you lift up a praise right now? Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.