Sermon: God’s Instructions For Fulfilling Our Potential

Sermon: God’s Instructions For Fulfilling Our Potential

Scripture Lesson: Hebrews 10:22-25, “let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

Introduction: We live in a noisy, conflict driven world. With so much danger in the world, one would think that truth, and official information would be accurate. But with social media comes a flood of half-truth and misinformation disseminated that raises the level of public anxiety. In the past, people relied on radio and television broadcasts to reduce uncertainty. Today social media channels are frequently the source of updates, and users are exposed to a greater amount of conflicting speculation and unverified reports. Furthermore, this exposure is associated with greater distress. Politic, society, schools, organizations and even the church has felt the impact. Yet God has clear instructions for his church in confusing times.

Believers are admonished to draw near to Christ. Many believers live in defeat and discouragement because they walk too far from the Lord and His way. We cannot expect to be productive for the Lord or fully appreciate all we have in Him if we are not walking with Him on a consistent basis. The writer now stresses the importance of Christian community and perseverance. We can stand firm in our faith because God is faithful, but we also need one another as Christians. God does not intend for us to go it alone.

Life was difficult for the believer in that day, and the writer knew it was only going to get worse. As we draw nigh to the coming of the Lord, we know that things will only wax worse and worse. We know there will be a great falling away. We know that men will be lovers of their own selves more than lovers of God. As these perilous times come, we need the support and encouragement of one another. The world isn’t going to provide biblical instruction or spiritual guidance. You will not find the help you need in the world. As our society continues to deteriorate, we need one another. We need all God’s biblical instruction to fulfil our potential for Christ.

The book of Hebrews compares Jesus to key historical people and events proving that Jesus is superior. He is greater than the angels, the Law, Moses, the promised land, earthly priests, sacrifices, and the covenant. Jesus alone has brought the believer into right relationship with God. Believers are complete in Christ Jesus with unlimited potential. How do we fulfil our potential in a world full of distractions and confusion. In a day when many are calling right wrong and calling wrong right. Our text today gives believers a powerful exhortation. To fulfil our potential as Christian Disciples of Jesus Christ, we must holdfast the confession of our hope.

1. Let Us Holdfast the Confession of Our Hope. “let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Your confession is what you say. You should persistently continue speaking in faith, agreeing with what God has said, regardless of circumstances. Our sins have been washed away, our conscience is clear and our faith in Christ is secure. While we may be accustomed to defining the essence of our Christian faith in other ways, Christianity involves not only a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but also holding on to an entirely different outlook on life that is grounded in the hope we have for all that God has promised. That outlook on life is so contrary to the world that believers need to give careful attention to ensure their anchor is well grounded. In the Song, On Christ the Solid Rock, Robert Critchley said:

“My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus' blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame; But wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, his covenant, his blood, Supports me in the 'whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.”