Perseverance, Faith, and the New Covenant in Christ
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of perseverance and prayer in the face of challenges and uncertainties. He encourages the congregation to trust in God's plan and highlights the need for Jesus in the midst of the world's turmoil. The pastor discusses the significance of Jesus establishing a New Covenant through his blood, which offers forgiveness and a better message than Abel's blood that cries for justice. He urges the congregation to align themselves with Jesus and his message from heaven.
The pastor then discusses the power of God's voice, which promises to shake the systems of this world and the unseen powers in the heavenly realm. He encourages the congregation to be thankful for receiving their rights to an unshakable Kingdom and to offer God the purest worship that delights God's heart. The pastor emphasizes the importance of living from the right place, aligning the mind and heart with God's will. He uses the current situation in Israel to illustrate the need to seek God's perspective amidst horrific events.
The pastor also focuses on the theme of faith and how it motivated various biblical figures to obey God's call and trust in His promises. He highlights Noah, Abraham, and Sarah as examples of individuals who received God's gift of righteousness through faith. The pastor encourages those who may have lost hope in their own promises, reminding them of the faithfulness of God and the importance of holding onto their faith.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of embracing God's corrections as part of our training. He compares God's correction to that of a loving father who corrects his children. The pastor encourages the congregation to be made strong even in their weaknesses by lifting up their tired hands in prayer and worship. He also emphasizes the importance of choosing peace in every relationship and encourages a culture of healthy confrontation.
The sermon concludes with the pastor challenging the congregation to examine their true hope and reliance. He acknowledges that while legislation can play a role in promoting morality, it is not the ultimate solution. The pastor emphasizes the need for the church to be healthy and to represent the true Jesus and the good news of the gospel. He believes that there is a coming wave of revival and a new way of evangelism that the Lord has been preparing the church for.
Key Takeaways:
- Perseverance and prayer are essential in the face of challenges and uncertainties. Trusting in God's plan and recognizing the need for Jesus in the midst of the world's turmoil can provide comfort and guidance during difficult times. [01:15:00]
- Jesus established a New Covenant through his blood, offering forgiveness and a better message than Abel's blood that cries for justice. This highlights the transformative power of Jesus' sacrifice and the importance of aligning ourselves with His message of forgiveness and love. [01:30:00]
- Living from the right place involves aligning the mind and heart with God's will. The current situation in Israel illustrates the need to seek God's perspective amidst horrific events, reminding us to always seek God's guidance and wisdom in our actions and decisions. [01:45:00]
- Faith motivated various biblical figures to obey God's call and trust in His promises. Noah, Abraham, and Sarah are examples of individuals who received God's gift of righteousness through faith. This underscores the power of faith in shaping our lives and the importance of trusting in God's promises. [02:00:00]
- The congregation is challenged to examine their true hope and reliance. While legislation can promote morality, it is not the ultimate solution. The church needs to be healthy and represent the true Jesus and the good news of the gospel, serving as a beacon of hope and truth in the world. [02:15:00]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
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1. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV): "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
2. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV): "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
3. Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIV): "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Hebrews 11:1 tell us about the nature of faith?
2. According to Hebrews 11:6, what are the prerequisites to pleasing God?
3. What are the implications of receiving an unshakeable kingdom as stated in Hebrews 12:28-29?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the confidence and assurance mentioned in Hebrews 11:1 relate to the concept of trusting in God's plan amidst world's turmoil?
2. How does the idea of God rewarding those who earnestly seek Him, as stated in Hebrews 11:6, align with the examples of Noah, Abraham, and Sarah?
3. How does the concept of an unshakeable kingdom in Hebrews 12:28-29 connect to the idea of living from the right place and aligning the mind and heart with God's will?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge or uncertainty you faced. How can you apply the concept of faith as confidence and assurance in that situation?
2. Can you identify a specific instance in the coming week where you can earnestly seek God, believing in His existence and His reward, as mentioned in Hebrews 11:6?
3. How can you express your thankfulness for receiving an unshakeable kingdom in your daily worship and reverence to God, as suggested in Hebrews 12:28-29?
4. Think of a relationship where you struggle to choose peace. How can you apply the concept of God's unshakeable kingdom to foster peace in that relationship?
5. Reflect on your current perspective towards God's corrections. How can you embrace them as part of your training, similar to a loving father correcting his children?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Perseverance and Prayer
In the face of challenges and uncertainties, perseverance and prayer are our lifelines. Trusting in God's plan and recognizing the need for Jesus in the midst of the world's turmoil can provide comfort and guidance during difficult times. [01:15:00]
James 1:12 - "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing? How can you actively trust in God's plan and seek His guidance through prayer?
Day 2: Aligning with the New Covenant
Jesus established a New Covenant through his blood, offering forgiveness and a better message than Abel's blood that cries for justice. This highlights the transformative power of Jesus' sacrifice and the importance of aligning ourselves with His message of forgiveness and love. [01:30:00]
Hebrews 12:24 - "And to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."
Reflection: How can you better align yourself with Jesus' message of forgiveness and love in your daily interactions with others?
Day 3: Seeking God's Perspective
Living from the right place involves aligning the mind and heart with God's will. The current situation in Israel illustrates the need to seek God's perspective amidst horrific events, reminding us to always seek God's guidance and wisdom in our actions and decisions. [01:45:00]
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: What is one situation in your life where you need to seek God's perspective? How can you actively seek His guidance in this situation?
Day 4: Trusting in God's Promises
Faith motivated various biblical figures to obey God's call and trust in His promises. Noah, Abraham, and Sarah are examples of individuals who received God's gift of righteousness through faith. This underscores the power of faith in shaping our lives and the importance of trusting in God's promises. [02:00:00]
Hebrews 11:11 - "And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise."
Reflection: What is one promise from God that you need to trust in more fully? How can you actively demonstrate your faith in this promise?
Day 5: Representing Jesus and the Gospel
The congregation is challenged to examine their true hope and reliance. While legislation can promote morality, it is not the ultimate solution. The church needs to be healthy and represent the true Jesus and the good news of the gospel, serving as a beacon of hope and truth in the world. [02:15:00]
Matthew 5:14 - "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."
Reflection: How can you better represent Jesus and the good news of the gospel in your daily life? What is one specific action you can take today to be a beacon of hope and truth in your community?
Quotes
"There's a lot of work to do and there's incredible opportunity. I think if nothing else everything continues to happen and is unraveling and is shaking all it does is reveal more and more the need for Jesus." [02:06:57]
"Whether you're talking about a democracy, a republic, or a free market society, those only work when there is morality...it only works when everyone is operating under the premise of God because otherwise it becomes self-greed." [01:50:49]
"I think the Lord's been preparing his church like whether you know it or not there's good news there are revivals breaking out in places still and even in America." #!!02:04:38!!#
"I think what he's had to do is get the church healthy again and you've seen the prophetic come back in a healthy way to where people are starting to hear the voice of God and what he's saying over people's lives and over situations." #!!02:05:12!!#
"Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality. There's something about fastening your faith and pulling the promises into reality. That means you're not letting go." #!!01:29:39!!#
"It's going to be so critical now and in the days to come that you are seeing accurately, you're seeing clearly, you're seeing in the spirit and not just relying on your natural eyes and ears." (#!!01:19:19!!#)
"What is your voice crying for right now? Are you agreeing with Jesus and his blood from heaven and from the seated position in heaven, or do you agree more with Abel and his blood crying up from the earth?" #!!01:43:31!!#
"Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakable Kingdom, we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender filled with awe, for our God is a holy devouring fire." #!!01:44:37!!#
"Abraham's Faith made it logical to him that God could raise Isaac from the dead and symbolically that's exactly what happened." #!!01:25:10!!#
"There's some people here where you've had promises and because you haven't seen it you've lost hope maybe it seems too big too impossible maybe there's words spoken over your family over your children maybe there's dreams maybe there's things with this country and you've lost hope." #!!01:22:27!!#
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