Unleashing God-Given Potential Through Surrender and Faith
Summary
In today's gathering, we focused on the profound truth that God sees and speaks to the potential within each of us. We began by inviting the presence of God into our midst, acknowledging that in His presence, there is victory, healing, and hope. As we shifted our gaze from our personal struggles to Jesus, we were reminded of the torn veil, symbolizing the removal of barriers between us and God. This is a call to run into His presence, leaving behind the veils of past disappointments and distractions.
We explored the theme of potential through the lens of the movie "CODA," which tells the story of Ruby, a child of deaf adults, who struggles to embrace her singing talent due to fear and anxiety. This narrative served as a backdrop to discuss how we often bury our God-given potential. We identified three main reasons for this: wounds from the past, listening to the crowd, and hiding the truth. Each of these can hinder us from stepping into the fullness of what God has placed within us.
God's call is not based on our past or our qualifications but on His purpose and power. Like Ruby, who needed someone to call out her potential, we too need to recognize that God sees beyond our limitations. He calls us to surrender our lives, allowing His Spirit to nurture and grow the seed of potential within us. This requires a shift from self-reliance to dependence on God, trusting Him to bring forth His plans for our lives.
As we concluded, we were encouraged to respond to God's call by offering our lives as a living sacrifice, allowing Him to lead us into His purposes. This is not about self-promotion but about surrendering to God's will and allowing Him to work through us. We were invited to take practical steps, such as participating in the church community and inviting others to experience God's presence.
Key Takeaways:
1. Presence of God: In God's presence, we find victory, healing, and hope. By shifting our focus from our struggles to Jesus, we can experience the peace and stillness that only He can provide. This requires us to let go of distractions and run into His presence, trusting that He is the one who can deliver us. [27:20]
2. God-Given Potential: God sees and calls out the potential within us, regardless of our past or qualifications. Like Ruby, we may bury our gifts due to fear or past wounds, but God invites us to trust Him and allow His Spirit to nurture and grow the seed of potential within us. [44:56]
3. Listening to the Crowd: The voices of the crowd can often discourage us from pursuing our God-given potential. We must learn to tune out negativity and focus on God's voice, which calls us to step into His purposes with courage and faith. [49:03]
4. Truth and Vulnerability: Hiding the truth can hinder our potential. By being honest and vulnerable, we open the door for healing and growth. Jesus meets us at our point of need, inviting us to confront the truth and choose His way over the wells that never satisfy. [56:58]
5. Surrender and Growth: True potential is realized through surrender to God. It's not about self-promotion but about allowing God to work through us. By offering our lives as a living sacrifice, we invite His Spirit to lead us into His plans, trusting that He knows the best path for our lives. [01:07:14]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [27:20] - Inviting God's Presence
- [31:22] - Overcoming Barriers
- [33:05] - At the Movies Series Introduction
- [35:39] - Invitation to Church
- [38:58] - CODA Movie Introduction
- [44:56] - Burying Potential: Past Wounds
- [46:16] - Teacher's Encouragement
- [49:03] - Burying Potential: Listening to the Crowd
- [50:43] - Cultural Voices and God's Call
- [52:54] - Inviting Others to Church
- [55:00] - Burying Potential: Hiding the Truth
- [56:58] - Family Healing and Truth
- [01:03:23] - Choosing the Right Well
- [01:07:14] - Surrendering Potential to God
- [01:10:46] - Offering Our Lives to God
- [01:16:53] - Invitation to Faith in Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 27:50-51 - "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split."
2. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 - "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."
3. John 4:7-10 - "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Will you give me a drink?' (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?' (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What does the torn veil in Matthew 27:50-51 symbolize in terms of our relationship with God? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about barriers being removed? [27:20]
2. In 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, what criteria does God use to call people, and how does this contrast with worldly standards? [44:56]
3. How does Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman in John 4:7-10 illustrate the concept of confronting truth for healing and growth? [56:58]
4. What are the three reasons mentioned in the sermon that can cause us to bury our God-given potential? [38:58]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the torn veil encourage believers to approach God with confidence, and what practical steps can be taken to "run into His presence"? [27:20]
2. In what ways does God’s choice of the "foolish" and "weak" challenge our understanding of potential and qualifications? How can this perspective change the way we view ourselves and others? [44:56]
3. What does the story of the Samaritan woman teach us about the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths in our lives? How can this lead to spiritual growth and healing? [56:58]
4. How can the voices of the crowd impact our pursuit of God’s calling, and what strategies can be employed to focus on God’s voice instead? [49:03]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt a barrier between you and God. What steps can you take this week to "run into His presence" and experience His victory, healing, and hope? [27:20]
2. Identify a past wound that might be hindering your potential. How can you begin to address this wound with God’s help and the support of your church community? [38:58]
3. Consider the voices in your life that may be discouraging you from pursuing your God-given potential. What practical steps can you take to tune out these negative influences and focus on God’s voice? [49:03]
4. Think about a truth you might be hiding from yourself or others. How can you bring this truth to light in a way that fosters healing and growth? [56:58]
5. In what areas of your life are you relying on self-reliance rather than dependence on God? How can you shift towards greater trust in God’s plans for you? [44:56]
6. How can you offer your life as a living sacrifice to God this week? What specific actions can you take to surrender your plans and allow God to work through you? [01:07:14]
7. Identify one person you can invite to experience God’s presence at church. What steps will you take to extend this invitation and share the hope you have found? [35:39]
Devotional
Day 1: Experiencing God's Presence in Our Struggles
In the midst of life's challenges, it is easy to become consumed by our struggles and lose sight of the peace and victory found in God's presence. By intentionally shifting our focus from our personal battles to Jesus, we open ourselves to the healing and hope that only He can provide. The torn veil symbolizes the removal of barriers between us and God, inviting us to run into His presence and leave behind the distractions and disappointments of the past. In His presence, we find the strength to overcome and the stillness to hear His voice. [27:20]
"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!" (1 Chronicles 16:11, ESV)
Reflection: What distractions or past disappointments are keeping you from fully entering into God's presence today? How can you intentionally shift your focus to Jesus in the midst of your struggles?
Day 2: Uncovering God-Given Potential
God sees beyond our limitations and calls out the potential within us, regardless of our past or qualifications. Like Ruby in the movie "CODA," we may bury our gifts due to fear or past wounds. However, God invites us to trust Him and allow His Spirit to nurture and grow the seed of potential within us. This requires a shift from self-reliance to dependence on God, trusting Him to bring forth His plans for our lives. By surrendering our lives to Him, we allow His Spirit to lead us into His purposes. [44:56]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What potential has God placed within you that you have been hesitant to embrace? How can you begin to trust God to nurture and grow this potential today?
Day 3: Tuning Out the Crowd
The voices of the crowd can often discourage us from pursuing our God-given potential. These voices may come from society, culture, or even those close to us, leading us to doubt our abilities and calling. However, it is crucial to tune out negativity and focus on God's voice, which calls us to step into His purposes with courage and faith. By listening to God and not the crowd, we can confidently pursue the path He has set before us. [49:03]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: Whose voices are you allowing to influence your decisions and sense of potential? How can you better discern and focus on God's voice in your life today?
Day 4: Embracing Truth and Vulnerability
Hiding the truth can hinder our potential and prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God's plans for our lives. By being honest and vulnerable, we open the door for healing and growth. Jesus meets us at our point of need, inviting us to confront the truth and choose His way over the wells that never satisfy. Embracing vulnerability allows us to experience the transformative power of God's truth in our lives. [56:58]
"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." (Ephesians 4:25, ESV)
Reflection: What truth have you been hiding that is hindering your potential? How can you embrace vulnerability and allow God's truth to bring healing and growth in your life today?
Day 5: Surrendering to God's Plans
True potential is realized through surrender to God. It is not about self-promotion but about allowing God to work through us. By offering our lives as a living sacrifice, we invite His Spirit to lead us into His plans, trusting that He knows the best path for our lives. Surrendering to God requires humility and faith, acknowledging that His ways are higher than ours and that His plans are for our ultimate good. [01:07:14]
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:5, ESV)
Reflection: What area of your life are you holding back from surrendering to God? What practical steps can you take today to offer this area to Him and trust in His plans?
Quotes
1. "This week as I was reading through my one-year Bible reading plan, I came to the end of Matthew's Gospel. Read about Jesus going to the cross. Jesus paying the ultimate price, the ultimate sacrifice. That at the moment he gave his life, said it is finished. That the veil in the temple was torn in two. And what God wanted you to understand today resonates in church all the way 2,000 years later in 2024 is that the veil between you and God, he wants to separate that veil today. Whatever that veil is in your mind, whether that's the veil of what you've been through, whether that's the veil of what your week looked like, whether that's the veil of all the rain you had to drive through to get to church today, whether that's the veil of some of you were getting your apartments unflooded yesterday, whether that was the veil of disappointment in a relationship, come on, just begin to ask the Lord. Lord, say, God, I actually, by faith, I remind myself that the veil is torn, and today I come running to your presence." [31:22] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "But more than that, that you will have your eyes open to something about God that you had not seen, believed, or experienced yet. And we're excited for these next three weeks together. If I've not met you, my name is Shane, along with my wife, Rachel. We have the great honor of serving as lead pastors here at Resonate Church. We got to start Resonate Church just over seven years ago, and look at what the Lord has done and got us doing miracles in this place. We have so much that we are excited to share with you, but we're holding on for a couple of weeks. We've got some big stuff coming that we're excited to share with you." [33:05] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When Jesus looks to your future, he does not consult your past. He called you. He sees and speaks to your potential. He looked at Moses, who stuttered and said, I want you to lead a nation. David was just a shepherd, and God said, I see a king. Peter was going to deny Jesus three times. Jesus still looked at him and said, You're a rock. And on you, I'm going to build. Oh, come on, somebody. You're not responding like I'm preaching today. We serve a God who sees your blind spots and still speaks to your potential. Because he put a seed inside of you, and it's not who you were yesterday." [44:56] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "There's always going to be people who try to stand in between you and the thing that God has called you to do, want you to stay small. The voice in our culture is much this way. There's a voice that wants to keep you from the surrender of your life wholeheartedly to God. There's a voice in our culture. It echoes. It reverberates. We hear it in our advertisements. We hear it. We hear it in our schools. We hear it in our universities. We hear it every single place you turn. And the voice of culture that's standing between you and your God-given potential is this. You know what's best for you." [50:43] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God is saying, I know that your past is busted up and your life is in exile. But if you'll stop going back to this well and you'll come over here and say, God, I surrender the seed of the potential of my life to you. God says, I got some plans for you. And I don't care if you're a young person or an old person. There's still something inside of you that I've yet to bring out of you. If there's still breath in your lungs, I've got something to bring out of you. Come on, God is looking at you today and say, come on, resonate church. I put so much in you." [01:08:23] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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