My World Shaken Up

Hebrews 12-Part 7
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.    Hebrews 12:26

LET IT GLOW

Only a few months ago, we felt the after shock of the earthquake in Oklahoma, a five hour drive away. It was evening and my husband and I were watching television. All of a sudden, the floor and walls shook. I suggested it was an earthquake, but he was doubtful. We heard the next day that it was. It caused a helpless feeling inside of me as I just sat there, looking for things to fall into the floor. They didn't, of course. Since then, we have had other trimmers. It is an unusual thing to have earthquakes in our area of the state. Scripture tells us to expect it to happen. Our God will shake up things in our world.

God is shaking this world in which we live by earthquakes in diverse places. (Matt. 24:7 warns us.)
In verse 26, the author is quoting Haggai 2:6, where the Lord says He will not only shake earth, but heaven  again. It is referring to the time of Jesus' Second Coming.
When were there earthquakes?

• at the time of giving the Ten Commandments,
• when Jesus died on the cross,
• when Jesus rose from the dead.

He is shaking the economic systems of the world. He is shaking the very things men think are unshakable. He will shake the earth when Jesus' feet touch the Mt. of Olives.
There are some things which cannot be shaken:

• God's Throne
• God's Word
• God's Son
• God's Church
• God's Kingdom.

[Reference: Things Which Cannot Be Shaken, a sermon by Stan Coffey]

It is the things which are made, the physical things, that will be shaken. They will be removed. Those things that cannot be shaken will remain. (verse 27)
Is God shaking up things in your world? He is mine.


LET IT GROW

Verse 28 says, Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have greace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.

In Revelation 1:17b-18, Jesus said, Fear not; I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the key of hell and of death.

What are we exhorted to do?
*Let us have grace, (echomen charin in Greek), is translated better as "Let us be grateful."
An ingratitude lies at the very root of all sin and rebellion against God (Rom 1:21), so gratitude is the pulsating heartbeat of every positive response to the gospel. (Liberty Bible Commentary)
Grace, in Thayer's Concordance, as ussed in verse 28, means to be thankful to one.

*Serve God with reverence and godly fear, as well as love and gratitude.
We are encouaged to hold onto grace and thus be able to approach God and see Him fully revealed as awesome and consuming. We are prone to use grace as an excuse for not talking God seriously, for allowing our level of commitment to slide. Where do you fit into this scheme? How significant is God to you? If god suddenly and silently left the scene, how long wold it be before you missed Him in your life? Would you be aware that He was gone? (Swindoll)

I Thessalonians 4:18 says, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Philippians 4:6 states, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Am I continualy giving thanks, or is it only at mealtime? I have joined Ann Voskamp in having a Gratitude Journal in which I number things for which I am grateful. Will you join us? (She has a website for further assistance.)

LET IT GO

When my faith is shaken, hold onto Jesus.

Be ready for when He shakes up my world.

Give thanks for all things.

Thank God for His immovable and unshakable Kingdom.