GIVE HIM POWER

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Depending on the Holy Spirit
2. A Ministry Focused on Grace, Not Condemnation
3. God's Goodness Leads People to Repentance
4. The Gospel Is the Power of God
5. Living in the Kingdom Now
6. Personal Testimonies of God's Faithfulness
7. The Meaning of Salvation Power
8. Righteousness Revealed Through Faith
9. Titus 3: Our Past and God's Mercy
10. The Holy Spirit Has Been Generously Poured Out
11. Walking Daily With the Holy Spirit
12. The Watch That Runs on Light
13. Living in the Light Produces Power
14. Remaining Conscious of Christ
15. Closing Prayer and Encouragement

Introduction: Depending on the Holy Spirit

Pastor Leonard begins by explaining that he never prepares a message independently of the Lord. Every week he asks God what He wants His people to hear. Although he believed he had already prepared the message, the Holy Spirit began to redirect and combine it with another message, creating what would become the foundation for this teaching. He encourages everyone to continue listening to the upcoming Tuesday and Thursday teachings, as they build on what is introduced here. He also takes a few moments to thank those who faithfully support the ministry. He expresses appreciation for both those attending in person and those watching online, acknowledging that summer vacations often affect giving, yet many continue to faithfully support the work God has entrusted to them.

Pastor Leonard shares how deeply encouraged he was by receiving a heartfelt letter from California describing how the ministry had transformed someone's life. The accompanying offering was appreciated, but even more meaningful was hearing how the Gospel of Grace had impacted another believer. He explains that encouragement such as this reminds him why God called him into ministry—not to condemn people, but to reveal Jesus Christ.

A Ministry Focused on Grace, Not Condemnation

Pastor Leonard makes an important distinction regarding his calling. He says God has never called him—or Pastor Lori—to be ministers who constantly point out people's sins, failures, weaknesses, or character flaws. Neither has God called them to preach a message centered on commands, rules, and demands. Instead, he explains that this style of ministry belonged to the Old Covenant.

According to Pastor Leonard, the Law demonstrated humanity's inability to achieve righteousness through self-effort. Since the Law could never accomplish God's ultimate purpose, it was replaced by something infinitely greater: grace. He emphasizes that the transforming power of Christianity is not found in repeatedly telling people what they are doing wrong. Rather, transformation occurs when believers discover who they already are because of Jesus Christ.
He then introduces one of the central Scriptures of the message.

Romans 2:4- "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"

Pastor Leonard explains that repentance is fundamentally a change of mind—a change in direction—not something produced by fear or condemnation. God changes people through His goodness.
He stresses several important truths:

• God is not angry with believers.
• Jesus completely dealt with the sin issue through His finished work.
• God's method is to reveal believers' true identity.
• Christians are righteous.
• Christians are holy.
• Christians are sanctified.
• Christians are one with Jesus Christ.

He explains that people naturally live according to what they believe. If someone believes they are sinful, broken, and constantly disappointing God, they will struggle to live victoriously. However, when they genuinely believe they are righteous because of Christ, their outward behavior begins to reflect that inward reality.

Pastor Leonard summarizes this principle simply: "If you believe right, you'll live right." Instead of concentrating on behavior modification, believers should continually learn who they have become through Christ.
He teaches that this identity-centered Gospel changes every area of life:

• Marriage
• Family
• Work
• Personal relationships
• Daily decisions

When believers truly understand their God-given nature, living contrary to that nature becomes increasingly difficult. He concludes this section by saying the true assignment of Grace ministry is not character development through human effort but revealing the believer's new character already created by Jesus Christ. This, he says, is the true power of the Gospel.

God's Goodness Leads People to Repentance

Pastor Leonard continues by emphasizing that the Gospel itself is the source of God's transforming power. Rather than attempting to improve people through continual correction, the Gospel reveals who Jesus is and who believers have become because of Him.

He explains that the apostles did not spend their time trying to develop people's character through self-effort. Instead, they preached Jesus Christ.
They preached:

• His coming.
• His crucifixion.
• His death.
• His burial.
• His resurrection.
• The new life now available through faith.

As people heard this message, miracles naturally followed. Pastor Leonard explains that many believers today spend much of their attention pursuing healing, financial breakthroughs, or supernatural experiences. While these are wonderful gifts of God, they are not where Scripture says the power originates. The power is in the Gospel itself. As people continually hear the Gospel, faith grows. As faith grows, God's power begins operating in every area of life. Returning to one of the foundational Scriptures, he reminds the congregation:

Romans 2:4- "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"

He explains that God's goodness changes minds. His kindness changes hearts. His love produces lasting transformation. Fear may temporarily change behavior, but grace changes identity. That identity then changes behavior naturally. Pastor Leonard contrasts the ministry of the Law with the ministry of Grace. The Law continually pointed out failures. Grace continually points believers to Jesus. The Law focused on what man must do. Grace focuses on what Christ has already done. Because Jesus dealt completely with sin at the Cross, believers no longer live under God's wrath but under His favor. Therefore, ministry today should reveal the believer's new identity rather than continually reminding them of their failures.
He says the greatest ministry someone can have is helping another believer discover:

• "This is who you really are."
• "This is your true nature."
• "This is your true character."
• "You are one with Christ."

Once someone genuinely believes these truths, living consistently with them becomes increasingly natural. This is why Grace teaching produces lasting change. It transforms the mind before it transforms the life.

The Gospel Is the Power of God

Pastor Leonard now shifts into what he describes as the central truth of the message. The Gospel itself is God's power. He explains that throughout the book of Acts, the apostles did not preach techniques, formulas, or methods for experiencing miracles. They preached Jesus Christ. When Jesus was preached…

…people were healed.
…miracles occurred.
…the supernatural manifested.
…lives were transformed.

The sequence was always the same. Preach Christ first. Power follows.
Pastor Leonard explains that he personally desires to see the miraculous become an everyday reality rather than occasional experiences. Although he has witnessed God's power repeatedly throughout his life, he believes there is still greater fullness available to believers who continually remain conscious of the Gospel. He reminds everyone that Christians are no longer merely earthly people trying to reach Heaven. They already belong to another kingdom. He then quotes Paul's words from Colossians.

Colossians 1:12-13- "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."

Pastor Leonard explains that this is not a future promise. This has already happened.

–Believers have already been delivered.
-Believers have already been transferred.
-Believers already belong to Christ's Kingdom.

Although Christians continue living physically on earth, spiritually they are citizens of Heaven. That reality changes how they approach every circumstance. He then connects this to Jesus' own teaching.

Matthew 6:10- "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

Pastor Leonard explains that Jesus was revealing God's desire for believers to experience Heaven's realities while living on earth.
–God's peace.
-God's provision.
-God's healing.
-God's joy.
-God's righteousness.
-God's Kingdom operating now.

He shares several personal examples of God's faithfulness. Financially, God has never failed him. Whenever difficulties arose, they were never because God had withheld provision but because of human decisions. Likewise, he recounts numerous physical healings throughout his life.

Beginning at his head and working downward, he says he could identify approximately twelve different body parts that God has healed. One of the most significant examples involved cancer. Doctors expected one outcome. God declared another. Although the Lord directed him through medical treatment in that particular situation, Pastor Leonard declares that God was ultimately the One who healed him. Now he faces another challenge involving his right knee. Medical imaging shows severe deterioration.

-Bone-on-bone contact.
-Destroyed cartilage.
-Advanced arthritis.

Doctors have advised complete knee replacement surgery. However, Pastor Leonard explains that he is presently waiting upon the Holy Spirit's direction because he believes Christ has already provided healing through His finished work. He invites the congregation to believe with him. He makes it clear that challenges themselves are not evidence of failure. Storms still arise. Circumstances still happen. But Kingdom-minded believers respond differently because they understand where they truly live.
To illustrate this, he references Jesus calming the storm. When the disciples panicked, Jesus remained asleep. Why? Because His confidence rested completely in the Father's Kingdom. When He finally stood, He did not scream. He did not panic. He simply spoke.

Mark 4:39- "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

Pastor Leonard observes that genuine faith does not require shouting. Faith does not become more powerful because someone's voice becomes louder. Real faith simply speaks with quiet confidence because it already knows the outcome. He then arrives at what he considers one of Paul's greatest declarations.

Romans 1:16-17- "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

He explains that this verse contains the answer many believers have been searching for. If they desire God's power… They must continually hear the Gospel. Not condemnation. Not legalism. Not fear. The  Gospel. Because the Gospel itself is God's power at work within every believer. Paul is not merely describing entrance into Christianity. He is describing the continual operation of God's power throughout the believer's life. Pastor Leonard says that everything believers seek—healing, provision, restoration, protection, victory—is found within the continual hearing and believing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

After reading Romans 1:16-17, Pastor Leonard explains that many believers have a very limited understanding of the word "salvation." Often, Christians think salvation refers only to going to Heaven after death. While eternal life is certainly included, Paul intended a much broader meaning. He explains that the Greek word translated "salvation" encompasses God's complete provision for His people.
Returning once again to Paul's foundational declaration:

Romans 1:16-17- "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

Pastor Leonard explains that the Gospel is God's power working in every area that salvation includes.
Salvation means:

• Rescue
• Deliverance
• Safety
• Healing
• Protection
• Redemption
• Restoration
• Preservation
• Wholeness

He reminds the congregation that Paul has already explained where believers have been transferred.
Colossians 1:12-13- "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."

Because believers have already been delivered from the kingdom of darkness, they no longer have to live under its authority.

–Healing belongs to them.
-Peace belongs to them.
-Provision belongs to them.
-Victory belongs to them.

These blessings are not earned through performance. They flow naturally from the finished work of Christ. Pastor Leonard explains that God's power operates wherever the Gospel is continually believed. That is why believers should intentionally place themselves under Gospel-centered teaching. He then points to another familiar passage.

Romans 10:17- "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

He emphasizes that faith is not manufactured through emotional effort. Faith grows naturally by continually hearing Christ. The more believers hear the Gospel… …the stronger faith becomes. The stronger faith becomes… …the more consciously they begin living in everything Christ has already provided.

Pastor Leonard says this is why the early church experienced such extraordinary demonstrations of God's power. They constantly preached Christ. Not self-improvement. Not legalism. Not religious performance. Wherever Christ was preached, God's power followed. The Gospel itself remains God's power today exactly as it was in the first century. Nothing has changed except that many believers have unintentionally shifted their attention away from Christ and toward themselves. His encouragement is simple:
Continue hearing the Gospel.
Continue believing the Gospel.
Allow God's power to continually operate in every area of life.

The Meaning of Salvation Power

Righteousness Revealed Through Faith

Pastor Leonard now focuses on the second half of Romans 1:16-17. He explains that when believers hear the Gospel, something remarkable is revealed. God reveals righteousness. Once again, he reads the passage.

Romans 1:16-17- "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

He spends time explaining what righteousness means. According to Pastor Leonard, righteousness is not primarily about moral performance. Instead, it describes who God has already made the believer to be. He describes righteousness as including ideas such as:

• Innocent.
• Holy.
• Accepted.
• Right before God.
• Equitable in character.
• Completely justified.

He especially highlights the idea of innocence. He remarks that Pastor Lori often teaches on this truth. God genuinely looks upon believers and sees them as innocent. Not partially forgiven. Not conditionally accepted. Not tolerated.
Completely righteous. This righteousness is not something believers gradually achieve. It is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. Pastor Leonard also emphasizes another beautiful aspect of righteousness. There is absolutely no favoritism. No believer receives a higher level of righteousness because of greater performance. No believer becomes more accepted because of greater discipline. God has no "favorite Christians." Everyone who believes receives the same righteousness. Everyone stands equally accepted before the Father. He encourages the congregation to thank God continually for this truth.
Their acceptance is never based upon:

• Good behavior.
• Religious performance.
• Personal effort.
• Spiritual achievement.

Instead, it rests entirely upon Jesus Christ. This naturally leads Pastor Leonard into one of Paul's clearest explanations of salvation by grace found in Titus chapter three. He explains that Titus beautifully contrasts humanity's former condition with God's incredible mercy. The emphasis shifts away from human failure and toward God's initiative. God acted first. God provided the sacrifice. God provided the Savior. God accomplished everything necessary for redemption. Believers simply receive it through faith. That realization, he says, produces freedom rather than fear and confidence rather than condemnation. The Gospel continually points believers away from themselves and back toward Christ—the One who has already made them righteous forever.

Titus 3: Our Past and God's Mercy

Pastor Leonard now turns to what he considers one of Paul's clearest explanations of the Gospel in the entire New Testament. He invites the congregation to follow along in Titus chapter three, explaining that this passage perfectly illustrates the contrast between who believers once were and who they have become because of Jesus Christ.
He begins with Paul's description of humanity before Christ.

Titus 3:3-7- "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Pastor Leonard immediately points out something he believes is extremely important. Notice Paul's language. He does not say believers "are" foolish. He does not say believers "are" slaves to sin. He does not say believers "are" hateful. He says they were. The tense matters. Paul always speaks of the believer's sinful identity as something belonging to the past.

According to Pastor Leonard, this is one of the distinguishing characteristics of Paul's Gospel. Paul never continually reminds Christians of what they supposedly still are. Instead, Paul continually reminds believers of who they have become. He stresses this repeatedly.

"You were."
"You were."
"You were."
Never:
"You still are."

Pastor Leonard encourages the congregation to recognize how often many Christians continue identifying themselves by their former life instead of their new creation identity.

Someone may say,
"I'm still struggling."
"I'm still that old person."
"I'm just a sinner."

Pastor Leonard believes Paul would disagree with those statements. Instead, Paul would remind them: That was who you were. Now you are in Christ. He explains that when believers continue acting contrary to their true identity, the problem is not that God failed to transform them. Rather, the mind simply has not yet been renewed to agree with what God has already accomplished. Behavior follows belief. If someone still believes they are the old person, they naturally continue acting like the old person. But when someone begins believing they truly are righteous… …holy… …accepted… …one with Christ… …their outward life gradually begins reflecting that inward reality. This is why renewing the mind is so important. The Christian life is not about trying to become something. It is about learning who God has already made us to be through Jesus Christ. Pastor Leonard repeatedly emphasizes that identity always produces behavior. Behavior never produces identity. That distinction is central to Grace teaching.

God's Kindness Changed Everything

After describing humanity's former condition, Pastor Leonard draws attention to what he believes may be the most beautiful word in the passage.

"But…" Everything changes at that word. Humanity was lost. But God intervened. Humanity was deceived. But God acted. Humanity deserved nothing. But God demonstrated His love. He again reads the heart of the passage.

Titus 3:3-7- "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Pastor Leonard carefully walks through each phrase. "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared…" He explains that salvation begins with God. Not man.

-God loved first.
-God initiated first.
-God planned redemption.
-God provided redemption.
-God carried out redemption.

Then Paul says:
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done…" Pastor Leonard pauses to emphasize these words.
Nothing believers have ever done…
Nothing they are currently doing…
Nothing they will ever do… …earned salvation.
The Cross was entirely God's work. He reminds the congregation that every aspect of redemption originated with the Father.
-God planned it.
-God sent His Son.
-God provided the sacrifice.
-God accepted the sacrifice.
-God declared believers righteous.

Everything points back to His mercy. Pastor Leonard says this truth removes all boasting. No Christian can claim personal credit. Instead, believers simply respond with gratitude. Paul continues: "…according to his mercy he saved us…" Pastor Leonard stresses that mercy—not merit—is the foundation of the Christian life. Then Paul explains how God accomplished this salvation. "…by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost…"

Pastor Leonard explains that believers were not merely cleaned up. They were completely recreated. A brand-new life replaced the old one. God did not simply improve the old creation. He created an entirely new one. This naturally reminds him of another passage.

2 Corinthians 5:17- "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

According to Pastor Leonard, this verse perfectly summarizes the believer's identity. The old life is gone. The new creation has arrived. The Christian life is therefore not an attempt to repair the old person. It is the joyful discovery of the entirely new person Christ has already created. He says that once believers truly embrace this reality, fear begins disappearing. Condemnation begins disappearing. Religious striving begins disappearing. Confidence grows because confidence is no longer placed in personal performance but in Christ's finished work. That confidence becomes the foundation for everything the Holy Spirit desires to accomplish through the believer's life.

The Holy Spirit Has Been Generously Poured Out

Pastor Leonard now focuses on what he considers one of the most overlooked truths in the Christian life. After explaining God's mercy and salvation, Paul shifts attention to the gift every believer has already received—the Holy Spirit. He returns to the passage in Titus.

Titus 3:3-7- "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Pastor Leonard pauses specifically at verses five and six. "…renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour." He explains that many believers acknowledge the Holy Spirit intellectually, yet rarely live with an ongoing awareness that God's own Spirit has been generously poured into their lives.
He asks the congregation to think about that phrase.
-"Generously poured."
-Not partially given.
-Not occasionally present.
-Not reluctantly provided.
-Generously poured out.

Pastor Leonard explains that this language reveals God's heart. The Father did not give believers a small measure of His Spirit. He lavishly poured Him out. He then expands on the meaning of the word "abundantly."
According to Pastor Leonard, the word conveys ideas such as:

• To pour forth.
• To bestow lavishly.
• To gush out.
• To overflow.
• To spill over.
• To shed abroad.

He even remarks that one definition could almost be described as God "greedily giving" His Spirit—not because greed is good in itself, but because it paints the picture of a God who withheld absolutely nothing. God gave everything. He held nothing back. The Holy Spirit now permanently dwells within every believer. Pastor Leonard says many Christians fail to experience the fullness of God's power simply because they are not continually conscious of this reality. The Holy Spirit is not occasionally present.

-He is continually present.
-He has been poured out.
-He has taken up residence.
-He lives within every believer.

Because of this, Christians never face any circumstance alone. The Holy Spirit accompanies them into every situation.

-Every conversation.
-Every challenge.
-Every decision.
-Every difficulty.
-God Himself is present.

Pastor Leonard encourages believers to begin each day with this awareness rather than waiting until a crisis forces them to pray. Instead of living independently and occasionally asking God for help, Christians can live every moment conscious of His constant presence. That awareness changes everything.

Pastor Leonard continues by applying this truth practically. If the Holy Spirit truly lives within believers, then He should become part of every area of daily life. He encourages Christians never to exclude Him from ordinary moments. Instead, they should deliberately include Him in everything they do. He explains that the Christian life is not meant to be lived independently with occasional moments of spirituality. Rather, every activity becomes an opportunity to walk together with the Holy Spirit. He describes this relationship almost conversationally. When challenges arise… The believer can simply say, "All right, Lord." "Holy Spirit, let's go." "We'll walk through this together."

Pastor Leonard says this continual awareness transforms how believers respond to life's difficulties. Problems still come. Trials still appear. Unexpected situations still arise. But the Christian no longer faces them alone. The Holy Spirit walks beside them.

-Within them.
-Leading them.
-Guiding them.
-Strengthening them.

The more conscious believers become of His presence, the more they begin experiencing His power. He explains that this awareness grows over time. As believers continually remind themselves that the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon them, their confidence increases. Their peace increases. Their faith increases. Their dependence shifts away from themselves and toward Christ living within them. Pastor Leonard says victory is not produced through greater effort. Victory grows naturally from greater awareness. He encourages believers to continually meditate upon this truth.

-The Holy Spirit is in me.
-The Holy Spirit is with me.|
-The Holy Spirit is leading me.
-The Holy Spirit is empowering me.

He explains that renewing the mind means continually agreeing with what God has already declared true. The Christian's primary "work" is not striving to become accepted. Rather, it is walking in the truth that God has already made them accepted through Christ. He references an illustration shared during communion, explaining that believers should imagine these truths, visualize them, meditate upon them, and continually see themselves living in this reality. The more these truths become real internally, the more they naturally appear externally. Pastor Leonard summarizes this section by saying there is no area of life where believers cannot experience God's power.

-Marriage.
-Health.
-Finances.
-Relationships.
-Work.
Every area can be influenced by the Holy Spirit because He has already been generously poured into the believer's life. The Christian simply grows in the awareness of what is already true. Rather than asking God to become present… They begin recognizing that He already is.

Walking Daily With the Holy Spirit

The Watch That Runs on Light

At this point in the sermon, Pastor Leonard explains that while he was preaching, the Holy Spirit impressed upon him to change part of the message. What had originally been planned suddenly shifted as God used an everyday object to illustrate a profound spiritual truth. He tells the congregation that he intentionally wore a particular watch that morning.

Holding it up for everyone to see, he explains that it is not an expensive watch. It is not flashy or luxurious. In fact, he jokes that it is nothing like some of the nice watches his son owns. Instead, he says, he wears it because it is comfortable. Then he asks the congregation a question. "What makes this watch special?" He answers by saying that he has owned the watch for approximately twenty years.

Twenty years. He then asks another question. "How many batteries do you think I've replaced?" After allowing everyone to think about it, he answers. None. Not one. Twenty years without replacing a single battery. The reason? The watch does not operate on batteries. It operates by light. It doesn't need winding. It doesn't require a battery replacement. It simply needs light.

Pastor Leonard immediately connects this physical reality to the believer's spiritual life. Just as the watch functions only when exposed to light, Christians function properly only as they remain conscious of living in Christ—the Light. He explains that there were seasons when he took the watch off and placed it back into its original box. Then he put the box into a dresser drawer. There, the watch sat in complete darkness. Eventually he rediscovered it. He opened the box. The watch had stopped working. He couldn't wind it. He couldn't replace a battery. There was nothing mechanically wrong with it. It simply had not been exposed to light. The solution was simple. Place it back into the light. As soon as it was exposed again, it began functioning exactly as it had been designed.

Pastor Leonard says believers often experience something similar. Nothing is actually wrong with what Christ accomplished. Nothing is wrong with God's promises. Nothing is wrong with the Holy Spirit.

Instead, believers sometimes lose their awareness of where they truly live. They begin focusing on darkness rather than light. They become occupied with fear. Failure. Condemnation. Worry. Instead of remaining conscious of Christ. He says the answer is not striving harder. The answer is returning to the light. Returning to Christ. Returning to the Gospel. Returning to the awareness of who believers already are because of Jesus. The illustration of the watch becomes one of the central pictures of the entire sermon. Just as the watch naturally functions when exposed to light… The believer naturally experiences God's power while remaining conscious of living in Christ.

Living in the Light Produces God's Power

Pastor Leonard now begins connecting the watch illustration directly to Scripture. He explains that Christians are not merely trying to reach the light. They already live in the light because they are in Christ. He first references Paul's description of the new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17- "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Pastor Leonard emphasizes the phrase: "In Christ." Everything changes because of that position. Believers are not trying to become new. They already are. They are already living in Christ. He then turns to John's teaching about walking in the light.

1 John 1:7- "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Pastor Leonard places special emphasis on one word. "Cleanseth." He explains that the verb describes continual action. The blood of Jesus continually cleanses. Not occasionally. Not only at salvation. Continually. He says this changes how believers view themselves. Many Christians constantly struggle with guilt. Shame. Condemnation. Fear. A continual sense that God is disappointed with them.

Pastor Leonard believes these struggles often result from losing awareness of living in the light. When believers remain conscious of Christ, they remember that His blood continually cleanses them. They remember they have already been made righteous. They remember they have already been accepted. They remember they have already been forgiven. The issue is therefore not convincing God to forgive them again. The issue is renewing their minds to what He has already accomplished.

Pastor Leonard explains that remaining in the light means remaining continually conscious of:
-Christ.
-The Gospel.
-Grace.
-Identity.
-Righteousness.
-Union with Jesus.

As believers remain focused there, they naturally begin walking in the fullness of everything Christ has already provided.
-Healing.
-Provision.
-Peace.
-Supernatural guidance.
-Victory.
The miraculous. None of these blessings originate in human effort. They all flow from remaining aware of the believer's position in Christ. Pastor Leonard then references another passage from Paul's writings.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22- "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

He explains that at the very moment someone places faith in Jesus Christ, God performs several remarkable acts. He plants the believer into Christ. He establishes them there. He declares them righteous. He seals them with the Holy Spirit. Every promise now belongs to them because every promise is "Yes" in Christ.

Pastor Leonard says this should completely reshape how believers think about themselves each day. They are already positioned in the light.

-Already accepted.
-Already sealed.
-Already righteous.
-Already indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
-Already recipients of every promise made available through Christ.

The Christian life therefore becomes a continual awareness of what is already true rather than an endless attempt to earn what has already been freely given.

Remaining Conscious of Christ

Pastor Leonard now brings the watch illustration to its practical conclusion. He explains that the greatest danger for believers is not that Christ leaves them. The greatest danger is that they forget where they already are. The watch never stopped being designed to run by light. It simply stopped functioning because it was placed in darkness. Likewise, Christians never stop being children of God. They never stop being righteous. They never stop possessing the Holy Spirit. But when their attention shifts away from Christ, they begin living as though those realities are no longer true.

Pastor Leonard explains that believers often allow their minds to drift into places God never intended them to remain. They begin dwelling on:

• Fear.
• Anxiety.
• Worry.
• Condemnation.
• Unbelief.
• Self-effort.

When this happens, they are not losing their salvation. Rather, they are losing their awareness of the light. He reminds the congregation once again that every promise of God has already been secured in Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22- "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

Pastor Leonard points out several truths contained in these verses. God establishes believers in Christ. God anoints believers. God seals believers. God gives the Holy Spirit as His guarantee. None of these blessings fluctuate with human emotions. They are permanent realities because they were accomplished by God Himself. He then returns to Paul's great declaration.

Romans 1:16-17- "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

Pastor Leonard asks the congregation a reflective question. How often do believers mentally leave the place where God has positioned them? Physically, they remain in Christ. Spiritually, they remain in Christ. But mentally, they sometimes wander into worry.
-Into fear.
-Into discouragement.
-Into self-condemnation.
-Into doubt.
He says this is where the battle takes place. Not over whether God still loves His children. Not over whether salvation has been lost. But over where the believer chooses to place his or her attention. The mind determines awareness. Awareness affects experience. When believers continually remember:
"I am in Christ."
"He is in me."
"I belong to Him."
"He belongs to me."
"I have been made righteous."
"The Holy Spirit lives in me."
…their daily experience begins aligning with those truths. Pastor Leonard explains that God's miraculous power has never stopped being available. What often changes is the believer's awareness of the One who already lives within them. The answer is therefore not striving harder. The answer is returning to the light.
-Returning to Christ.
-Returning to the Gospel.
-Returning to the finished work.

He encourages everyone to deliberately keep their minds centered upon Jesus rather than upon circumstances. As awareness of Christ increases, fear naturally decreases. Peace naturally increases. Confidence naturally increases. Faith naturally grows. The believer begins experiencing God's provision not because God suddenly became willing to act, but because the believer is once again consciously walking in the light Christ has already provided.

As Pastor Leonard concludes the message, he reflects on how unexpectedly the sermon developed. He tells the congregation that the Holy Spirit combined two different messages into one and that the illustration of the watch came to him during the teaching itself. Looking back, he realizes why he wore that particular watch that morning. It perfectly illustrated the message God wanted His people to receive. The watch has worked faithfully for twenty years—not because of batteries or human effort—but simply because it remained exposed to light. In the same way, believers are called to remain continually aware of Christ.

Pastor Leonard expresses his hope that this simple illustration will stay with everyone long after the sermon ends. He notes that although he owns many watches, this is the only one powered by light. That unique characteristic beautifully pictures the Christian life. Believers were designed to function in the Light. They were never designed to thrive in fear, worry, guilt, or condemnation. He closes with a prayer of thanksgiving. He thanks the Father that salvation comes entirely through faith in Jesus Christ. He praises God that His power not only saves but also continues working in every area of the believer's life. He thanks God that through Jesus Christ believers have been made righteous.
He declares that God's saving power continues to:

• Rescue.
• Redeem.
• Restore.
• Heal.
• Provide.
• Protect.

He gives thanks for the Holy Spirit, who now permanently dwells within every believer. The Holy Spirit continually:

• Speaks.
• Reminds.
• Leads.
• Guides.
• Illuminates.

Pastor Leonard prays that every believer would remain conscious of living in the light. As they do, they will increasingly experience every blessing, promise, and provision already made available through Jesus Christ. He closes by thanking the Father for His grace, His love, His finished work, and His continual presence. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Remaining Conscious of Christ

Thank you for taking the time to read this teaching, "GIVE HIM POWER." We pray that this message has encouraged you to place your confidence fully in the finished work of Jesus Christ and to continually remain conscious of your identity in Him. As you keep your focus on the Gospel, may you experience God's power, His peace, His provision, and the daily leading of the Holy Spirit in every area of your life.

We hope this article blessed you. Please consider sharing this teaching with your family, friends, church, and anyone who would be encouraged by the life-changing message of God's amazing grace. May the Lord richly bless you as you continue walking in the light of Jesus Christ.