This is a review of the Messianic promise and fulfillment of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded by Luke. The review is summarized in the glorious truth that God is Lord over what is impossible for us- indeed, God seems to prefer to touch impossible situations with His healing power. Christian faith is built upon believing we are made righteous in Jesus Christ, conformed into His image, and while this is impossible in our strength, God has promised to complete this work in us.

The power of God is always exercised in keeping with the divine character. And this was wonderfully displayed in the healing virtue of Jesus. His power to heal and deliver was accompanied by divine virtue. For you and me, this means we know Jesus is not a reluctant healer, for it is in His very nature to heal. This also means, as disciples, that we too are display the healing virtue of Jesus in our daily lives and relationships.

With such divisions in the church today, how can one know if the -gospel- you believe is the apostolic gospel- The answer is simple- the apostolic gospel will produce in you the character of Christ. If this is not happening, if you are not realizing conformity to the character of Christ, then you must question what you believe. The apostolic gospel of Christ is that of rescue from sin by the finished work of Christ, and release from the power of sin into moral renewal after the character of Christ Himself.

Why is it so many professing Christians do not experience genuine transformation into Christlikeness- It is because such transformation involves discipleship and obedience, two words that been divorced from the modern understanding of what it means to be saved. The answer is to recognize the new life principle at work in the renewed mind and will that brings us into loving, intimacy with the living Christ as we learn to observe -all things He commanded us.-

The Spirit-anointed ministry of Jesus of Nazareth involved liberation from the deadly effect of toxic, man-made religion. This liberation is available today for those willing to step away from man-made systems of oppression and falsehood and declare, -Jesus is Lord.-

The Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of our relentless pursuit. He alone hold the authority and power to forgive sins and bring wholeness into broken lives. The popular faith in America is a casual faith- it pursues Jesus only when convenient, and consequently, knows little or nothing of the joy of the forgiveness and healing He alone provides.

The end-goal of the Christian life is Christlikeness. And this means, we need to follow His example as set forth in the Gospels. In this sermon, we discover Jesus exercised prayer as a discipline. And as His followers, so must we. This sermon also points out a few of the obstacles to disciplined prayer- resentment, compulsive activity, and intoxication.

Why is it we so little preaching with authority and power today- It is because the kingdom of God is a forgotten message in the modern church. This state exists, despite the fact the kingdom of God was the central theme of Jesus' preaching, and it came with authority and power to change lives. In this sermon, we hear a call to return to preaching the way Jesus defined it, and not as we have designed it.

When Jesus came into the world it was not to help us cope in our sin and misery, but to free us and heal us. He is the Spirit-anointed healer and deliverer. Still, many today prefer the status quo, even if it makes them miserable. Such a preference for the status quo represents a rejection of Jesus and His mission. This is serious.

In this, the third temptation in Luke's wilderness narrative, we learn the devil is the spiritual influence behind all superficial religion which places focus on the external rather than genuine internal transformation. We learn how to discern this counterfeit religion and overcome it by the embracing the glorious promises of the new covenant--the covenant of the Spirit in which the Spirit writes the law of God upon minds and hearts, and brings about a new nature that loves the truth and desires genuine holiness. In other words, a nature like that of Jesus Himself, who is our new covenant.