The Exodus: Part 3 - Keep the Covenant | Pastor Boniface
THE EXODUS - Part 3:
“KEEP THE COVENANT” - Pastor Boniface Mgonja
Bethel Pentecostal Church, Barrhead, AB - Sunday, March 5, 2023
Key verse:
Genesis 17:9 (ESV) And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my
covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
Scripture:
Hebrews 3:12-14 (NIV)
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart
that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as
it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction
firmly to the very end.
CONTEXT:
• The book of Hebrews was written to a small group of Jewish converts
(church) that was:
Getting weary and was settling into the world and losing its edge and
starting to drift through life without focus, without vigilance, and
without energy.
Facing persecution and suffering because of their faith…they were
obedient to the faith but tempted to revert to Judaism.
Their hands were growing weak, their knees were feeble.
• The theme of Hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of the
“new covenant” through Christ as mediator of God’s grace.
• The author wrote to exhort (13:22) this small group of believers to “keep
the covenant” and believe in God’ unchanging nature (13:8).
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KEY POINTS:
1. Stay focused in the purpose God called you for. (3:12 See to it, brothers
and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away
from the living God...)
Everyone is called for a purpose and with a purpose - it all started with
Adam:
Realize/understand your purpose in life –
Apostle Paul: “And for this purpose I was appointed a preacher
and an apostle…and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles”.
(1 Timothy 2:7)
2. Focus on who you are, what you were made to be and to do (3:13 But
encourage[exhort] one another daily, as long as it is called “today”…)
You are what God said you are:
No one can override the Lord’s governing authority over your life
Lamentations 3:37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass,
Unless the Lord has authorized and commanded it?
Inspire people by how you live your life (in and out of the church)
The legacy you will leave is the life you live and lead now.
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out
eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)
3. Focus on what is important, aim to achieve it, and never allow distractions
(3:13 ...that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin)
Define what is important in life and never waste time with what is not
important…..Set your personal goals in life
Strain toward the goal (aim to achieve it)
Apostle Paul - Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained
this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own,
because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not
consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting
what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press
on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus.
Never allow distractions.
Keeping or fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher
of our faith – Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:17 “From now on let no
one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”
4. Stand FIRM with God - Don’t quit the race, success is in YOU! (3:14 we
have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction
FIRMLY to the very end.)
Keep fighting the good fight, God is not done with you good things are still
on their way.
Be ready to die for it/stand for it/suffer for it – “For we have come to
share in Christ” (3:14) – “take up your cross and follow me”
(Matthew 16:24-26 NLT)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my
follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and
follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you
give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit
if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth
more than your soul?
Remember, it is not about going fast but finishing the race and
finishing it well…FINISH WELL
Finishing – is very important point of achievement in every aspect
No certificate until you finish…
No recognition until you finish…
When Jesus got into the finish line, he said “It is Finished”
Never wait to use the word “I WISH…”
You never lay in your death bed and say “I WISH..” fight the good fight
and finish well.
*Next, click here to watch the full replay of this sermon: "The Exodus - Part 3: Keep the Covenant".