Power To Reach Your Full Potential

POWER TO REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

Hebrews 13:20-21

Christian worship services often end with a benediction. The word “BENEDICTION” is derived from a Latin term that means “a blessing.” That’s what a benediction is. Pastors have the wonderful privilege of prayerfully announcing divine blessings on the assembled congregation of the people of God as they depart the place of worship. The benediction is typically announced by simply quoting from a statement of blessing from the word of God. It is my custom to announce the benediction by using the words of Numbers 6:24-26, where the Lord commands Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons, the priests, to bless the people with these words: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lit up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

But there are many other passages of scripture that make great benedictions. Like 2 Corinthians 13:14: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Or Ephesians 3:20-21: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Or Jude 24-25: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, out Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.”

Hebrews 13:20-21 is another wonderful passage that is often used to announced the blessings of God on the people of God from the word of God. Without a doubt, many pastors will dismiss their people from worship today by lifting their hands over them and declaring, “Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” This deep, rich, full benediction proclaims there is divine power in Christ to reach your full potential. Contrary to popular belief, God does not help those who help themselves. But God does help those who trust in Jesus Christ.

It is time to retire your refrigerator. It his served you faithfully for years. But it is time for a new one. Since this new refrigerator will have to serve you for years to come, you buy the top of the line, with all the bells and whistles. It can do everything but turn out the lights, take out the trash, and walk the dog. You are so excited when it arrives that you go to the grocery store to stock it with food. But when you wake up the next morning and go to your new refrigerator, your food has spoiled and your frozen goods have all melted. It’s not working. So you call up customer support. The person on the other end listens patiently and tries to diagnose the problem. Nothing works. Finally, he gives one more set of instructions. Open the refrigerator and see if the light comes on. You do. It doesn’t. Put your ear up to it and see if you can hear the motor humming. You do. You can’t. Check behind the refrigerator and see if it is plugged up. You do. It isn’t. Embarrassed, you tell the worker that after all the money you spent on the refrigerator, it ought to work anyhow!

This is how many people live. There is potential but there is not power. G.K. CHESTERTON said it well: “Whatever else is said of man, this much is clear: He is not what he is capable of being.” But the good news is that the power to reach your full potential is available to those who trust in Jesus Christ. This great benediction in Hebrews 13:20-21 declares that God has done great things for us through Jesus Christ and God will do great things for us through Jesus Christ.

I. GOD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

This benediction begins with words of invocation. Verse 21 says, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant.” This verse gives three foundational reasons why you can trust God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself.

A. GOD IS THE GOD OF PEACE.