SERMON NOTES from Mar 22, 2026 John Smay, ‘Don’t Go Back’
Let’s talk about people in the Bible who went back. The Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt. Why would they want to go back to hard work, death and plagues. Read Exodus 32.
People were not happy. They sinned. They went back to making idols. 3000 were killed for not following God. God tried to bring them back but they didn’t listen to Him. They replaced God with a golden calf. Are we replacing God with something?
Ephesians 5:1-18 tells believers to imitate God through love, holiness, wisdom and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Do not be deceived. Learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Expose people who do and say wrong. Be wise not foolish. Understand the Lord’s will. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Do not go back!
Hebrews 8:1-6 tells who Jesus is and how He is different. He is Holy and a mediator for better promises.
Hebrews 9-14 tells us there is a new covenant and to not go back to the old laws. Stay with God. He is the new temple. Do you see the change or do you want to go back to the old life?
It is better to be judged by God than the devil.
Hebrews 10:10 tells us it is a permanent thing to be in God. It is God’s grace that sets us free. We still make mistakes but should NOT stay in them. Free yourself from that old conscious. God promises are for the faithful. Continue your good deeds. Keep coming together. Encourage one another.
If we keep sinning like the Messianic Jews, there is no turning back. Go forward and grow. Anyone who rejects the new law of Moses is unholy and insults God. Do we mistake the truth of God with pagan things in life? For example, there are people who have rituals, sacrifices, use demonic things, astrology to see the future, sage for cleansing and yoga for purification.
1 Corinthians 10:24 states “no one should seek their own good, but the good of others”. Psalms 1:2 states “blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers”.
Feelings are not facts. Rely on the creator. We are not to go back or we will suffer. Follow Jesus! Do not turn back to your old ways! Stand up for Jesus! Stand on His promises for God’s promises are real!