Potential pt. 2

Turn to Matthew 19

We’re in a series called Artios. The other day a friend asked me, “What is artua?” thinking it was a French word. Artios is not French, it's a Greek word found in

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The idea here is that as we pursue a relationship with Christ, and as we're transformed by His Word and His Spirit, He makes us capable or proficient, He empowers us through His Word to do or be whatever God asks (Spoon). Artios - reaching our potential. We find this same principle in

Joshua 1:8 NIV

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

The word

Prosperity literally means “to cut through.”

God through His Word will empower you to cut through the enemy, cut through the obstacles, cut through the chains. And by the way what is the word of God? It's a sword. Example – fasting – quote Scripture. (Ever use the wrong tool for a job?).

The Word of God can make you artios – capable. This is all connected to this idea of reaching our potential in Christ. When I talk about reaching our potential, what I’m really mean is

Reaching our potential = Christ empowering us to reach our potential through His Word, His Spirit, and our obedience.

So,

Our vision is to become a church that helps people reach their potential in Christ: physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

If we’re going to be that kind of a church, then we as individuals and corporately need to pursue our potential. I said this last week, says,

“Potential is God's gift to us. What we do with it is our gift to God” Mark Batterson.

This is the parable of the talents. God has given us His Spirit, His Word, spiritual gifts, talents skills and so on. And so the question God asks is, “I've given you all this, so what are you going to do with it?”

Too many don’t know what God has given them – that’s why were doing this series. Because when we're done, I want you to

Know your identity. Discover your strengths. Serve your world.

Remember -

1) Reaching our potential is Biblical

2) Reaching our potential is Relational

Because it’s relational …

a. Reaching our potential is about the Great Commandment

And alongside that great commandment is the mandate to go make disciples of all nations. And so,

As we to strive toward our potential, we become potential-makers.

Let’s continue. Reaching one’s potential is not only Biblical and Relational …

3) Reaching one’s potential is Holistic

We are physical, spiritual, and emotional beings (body, mind & soul, spirit).

1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a trichotomy approach to the human being – that we are more than just flesh and bones – we are physical, spiritual, emotional. See this in Matthew 22 (Love God with heart, soul, mind). We see this in Hebrews 4:12 (Word of God divides soul, spirit, joint, marrow – soul, spirit, flesh).

True or false - according to Thessalonians 5:23, God is concerned about sanctifying only our souls? What is it that God wants to sanctify? What is it that God wants to purify? What is it that we are to offer God? Are we to love God with only our minds?

Reaching our potential must be holistic. We are to offer the entire package to God – our minds, our bodies, our spirits, our souls, our wills, our purposes, our everything.

Describe someone who pursues spiritual things but neglects the physical or emotional. Or they pursue the physical and emotional but neglect the spiritual. They’re like a two-legged stool. They’re off balance. When we’re off balance, it does affect our witness for Christ. I'll give you an easy one. The majority of Christians dishonor God because they withhold His tithe – they fail to give God what belongs to God - 10% of our income. Their lives are unbalanced. And we could go a hundred different directions on that one. The point is that “All to Jesus, I surrender, All to Thee I freely give. I will ever love and trust You, In Your presence daily live. All to Jesus, I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee. Fill me with Your love and power, Let Your blessing fall on me. I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”

Matthew 19:16–22 ESV

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

What is the man asking? How to have eternal life. What did Jesus omit in His response? He doesn’t say anything eternal life. We could argue that eternal life is implied, and I’m certain it is. However, I think Jesus is stretching this. How? Let’s see.

This encounter is not about Jesus condemning the rich. This passage is about surrender - total surrender.

How often are we more preoccupied with living in a future Kingdom than we are about living in the Kingdom now?

The Kingdom that …! Jesus doesn’t say, “Do these things to have eternal life later,” but rather, “do these things to have life now!” And to put my spin on it, if you want to reach your potential, do it now by surrendering all to Jesus, the King of kings.

If you want to reach your potential in Christ, it must be holistic - it must be all.

Luke 9:23–25 ESV

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

Reaching your potential is only through surrender, through dying to self, through crucifying the sinful nature. Paul said I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ who loved me and died for me lives in me. Never reach potential without surrender.

Leviticus 20:7–8 ESV

Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

What does consecrate mean?

Listen to the Spirit …