Let It Go

This message by Ken Holsberry was presented on Sunday, February 25, 2024. This is the sixth message in the "How to Protect Your Family Against Spiritual Attacks" series.

 

Ken Holsberry preached about the story in John 11 where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. He focuses on Jesus' command at the end to "take off the grave clothes and let him go." Even though Lazarus was raised to life, he was still bound in the wrappings of death. In the same way, Christians can be made spiritually alive in Christ but still be wrapped up and bound by the grave clothes of their sin. This keeps them from fully walking with God, worshiping him freely, serving others effectively, hearing God's voice clearly, seeing God at work around them, speaking God's truth boldly, and understanding spiritual things.

Holsberry cautions that you can't take these grave clothes off by yourself - you need help from mature believers who have gone through this process. He then points to Colossians 3 which lists virtues like compassion, patience and love that believers should "put on", connecting them to the fruit of the Spirit. He notes we can't manufacture these qualities through our effort, so the habit we really need is abiding in Christ. As we stick close to Jesus, he will produce his character in us and we'll be clothed with him rather than sin.

In closing, Holsberry challenges listeners identify what "grave clothes" they need to let go of, who can help them in that process, and commits to clothing themselves in Christ through abiding in him in every area of life. He prays that God would empower believers by his Spirit to experience the depth of his love, be filled with his fullness, and accomplish great things for his glory.