Hebrews- Part 14- " Whole Lot Of Shakin Goin On" Series

Hebrews

Encouragement for a life of faith

Part 14

“ Whole lot of shakin goin on”

Hebrews 12:26-29

Play song- 45 seconds

Today we are continue our study of Hebrews

In the past few weeks

We have looked at God’s discipline

And

Last week we saw how we are to strive to live at peace with everyone

Our friends

Families

Church members

Believers

And unbelievers

Alike

We know that peace is not always possible

But it is our responsibility as believers to do what we can to maintain peace

As we move on in our study

Our writer today

Makes some references to the Old Testament

In Chapter 12

Verses

18-25

He writes about the differences between the relationship people had with God under the Old Covenant

And The New and improved relationship under the New Covenant

Jesus Christ

Through his sacrifice, death and resurrection

Made it possible for us to have direct access to God

He is our High Priest

No longer do we need anyone else to give us access to God

Let me read for you verses 18-25 first

Then we will dig into today’s message

Hebrews 12:18-25

You have not come to a physical mountain,[a] to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[b] 21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”[c]

22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!

In real simple terms

Under the Old Covenant

God was feared

The sound of his voice shook the earth

The people in their fear begged him to stop speaking

Even Moses himself said he was terrified and trembling when God spoke

But

Under the New Covenant

Jesus Christ

Gave us a new access

No longer was God to be feared in the same way

We still need to fear God

But this fear

Is reverence

Respect

Awe

And praise

Not terror and trembling

We have come to God

Who speaks forgiveness

Though Jesus

He goes onto to tell us

To be sure and listen to Jesus

Listen to his teaching

Feel his love

He says that if the nation of Israel did not listen to Moses

Or the other Prophets, Men of God

That it would be much worse for those who not listen to the one who speaks from Heaven

Jesus Christ

Fully Man

And Fully God

And our Savior

Let me read for you verses 26-28 for you

When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”[d] 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.

Our writer is quoting from Exodus 19 here in this verse

The Israelites had been delivered from Bondage

They had crossed the Red Sea

They had been fed and had their thirst quenched in the dessert by God

And no they were waiting on the Law at Mount Sinai

And Exodus says

When he spoke

The mountain shook

Thunder roared

Lightning flashed

And a dense cloud like smoke covered the mountain

God shook the world

And he promises he will shake it again

Many times we try and attribute this verse and many others that talk of the shaking of the heavens and the earth

In the end times context

And

Make no mistake

In the end

The Earth and the Heavens will be shaken