God and mankind are fully reconciled in Jesus Christ by not having their trespasses imputed to them. The completed work of Jesus on the cross offers to everyone who will believe in Him forgiveness and righteousness. This finished work releases to every believer the blessing of Abraham whom God called a friend. The gospel gets better still.
In this week's message, Elder Edward Langgie notes that believers lose spiritual authority when they forget their identity in Christ, allowing fear, anxiety, bondage, and weakness to replace confidence in God. Jesus overcame temptation through Scripture because He knew who He was, and believers today must also rely on the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who is greater than the powers of the world.
The message emphasizes that the Holy Spirit and the Word of God work together, bringing Scripture to life and making the Bible relevant for believers today instead of remaining only historical stories about Jesus in Galilee. The sermon also highlights several reasons Spirit-filled believers can remain powerless: backsliding, unforgiveness, neglect of prayer, and spiritual complacency. A bitter or unforgiving heart blocks the flow of the Holy Spirit, while prayerlessness weakens spiritual fire, discernment, faith, and power.
