Youth: Follow Your Dream, Be All You Can Be.

INTRO: Recently I was asked to do a Youth service on a Wed night at our Church.

Since I am 74 years old, it was a little intimidating

But the end results: 20 youth responded to the Altar Call for salvation.

Our Text for this service:

POWER POINT 2 EPH 3:20

"Now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you can ask or think according to the power that works within you." (Ephesians 3:20)

Introduction

The subject for this service tonight is for You to reach your full potential, be all you can be, and follow your Dreams.

Someone once said.

Your skin is not paper, don’t cut it.

Your face isn’t a mask, don’t cover it.

Your size isn’t a book, don’t judge it.

Your life isn’t a film, don’t end it! (Author Unknown)

Every day we face an enemy whose sole purpose in life is to keep you tied down with the pleasures the World has to offer. His goal is to separate you from the Church, your faith, your walk with Christ.

I came here tonight to tell you if you will reach out to God and make him a major player in your life, he will help you reach your potential and follow your dreams"

If we are to reach our full potential, The first thing we need to do is to examine our self:

Are you satisfied w/ your Christian life the way it is today?

POWER POINT 3 Facing the Giants

 Have you faced the giants in your life?

We all have giants we have to face in our Lives. As God was with David when he faced the giant in 1 Samuel 17, he will be with you today as you face your Goliath’s.

Note: (The following Illustration was taken from a sermon by Duran Johnson here on Sermon Central).



Several years ago a team of marine biologists did a study on the life and behavior and a great white shark.

In their research, the marine biologists reported that great whites, in their natural habitat, have the potential of reaching 3500 pounds and 20 feet in length (now, that’s the biggest one they’ve seen).

Now, here is the interesting thing they discovered during their study. They discovered what happened when a great white shark was raised from a baby in a small aquarium. What they discovered was mind -blowing.

They discovered that even though a great white shark has the God-given capacity to grow up to 20 ft in length and weigh up to 3500 lbs. - when confined to a small aquarium, it would only reach 12 to 15 inches in length and only weigh 15-20 lbs. They discovered even though it would have reached full chronological maturity (as far as age is concerned), it would be well short of reaching its full potential otherwise.

The shark was a prisoner of his Mind and his perception.

Tonight my question to you Young people,

 Who are you?

 Where are you going in Life?

 And how are you going to get there.

 Do you have a plan for your life?

POWER POINT 5 Mice

The choice is yours, you can just follow the crowd and be one of the Pack like the laboratory mice in this slide or you can break out of the mold and follow your dreams.

Philippians 4:13 Puts it this way

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Conclusion

So, don’t be afraid to follow your goals, your Dreams, your aspirations. But include God in your plans.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Finally be aware of who is in your support system. Don’t hang with people who try to pull you away from your Faith, your walk with God, and your beliefs to lure you into the pleasures of the world.

ILL: Youth Pastor on stage.

In this Illustration, I have the Youth Pastor stand on the edge of the platform with his toes extended past the edge. He represents the Christian.

I stand on the floor representing the fast crowd.

My point: It’s easier for me to pull him down to my level than for him to pull me up to his level.

My final word to you young people tonight is simply this;

• IIf you want to reach Your full potential and be all you can be, and follow your dreams.

• 1. Put down the XBOX,