Sunday Rewind 6.28.09

I love stories of people reaching their maximum potential. Movies like "Rudy" remind us that the only way to achieve our maximum potential is to give maximum effort. A couple weeks ago, I was asked a question that has really been bothering me. "Are you fulfilling your maximum redemptive potential?" Before you answer, consider the following:

• The Church is God's primary redemptive tool. Before returning to heaven, Jesus gave really clear instructions (Acts 1:8). We are His witnesses. That means every event of our life is a new episode in the ongoing story of God’s grace.
• Our empowerment is complete. We don't have to do this on our own. God has given us the very same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-21). That means we have all the power we need to be His witnesses.
• Victory is guaranteed. Jesus describes the Church as a great expeditionary force attacking the gates of evil in this world (Matthew 16:18). When God’s people are fulfilling our task in the power of the Holy Spirit, there’s nothing this world can do to stop it.
• Timing is critical. – Nobody knows when the world will end, but make no mistake, the end is coming (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3). Either by death or by Christ’s return, all of our time is limited, and everyone separated from God is on a collision course with eternal damnation. There’s no time to waste.

Are you fulfilling your max. redemptive potential? It doesn't take much thinking for many of us to come to the same conclusion. No, I'm not.

So what are you going to do about that? Here are a few suggestions.

• Pray. Seeking God’s face in prayer is the most significant thing you can do. Ask God to help you see people as He sees them. Ask Him change you. Ask Him to bring people into your life who are far from God. Ask Him to act in peoples’ lives. Ask Him to use you as part of the process.
• Live. Living a life of holiness and devotion to God is essential. We can’t talk about grace and mercy while being judgmental and vindictive. We can’t talk about joy with a frown on our face and a growl in our voice. We must be living evidence of God's transforming grace.
• Build. Building intentional relationships with people who are far from God is the best way to reach people with the gospel. I'm not talking about developing a list of prospects. Far from it. Let's build real relationships based on love.
• Look. As we seek God’s face in prayer, live a holy life and build intentional relationships, we must always looking for opportunities to take the next step. You never know when God will create a chance for you to share your faith story. A special event might be the perfect opportunity to connect your friend with other disciples. A sermon series may speak specifically to a need in a friend’s life.

Do those things and you'l be moving toward fulfilling your maximum redemptive potential.