Intro: We face some uncertain days earthly speaking. But there is no reason to panic for the child of God. Earthquakes give little or no warning. In 1972, December 23rd, an earthquake hit Managua, Nicaragua and thousands died. A city was completely changed, as well as a culture. Bro. Dayton tells of how buildings were moved, destroyed, etc.
But many other things, other than the earth, are being shaken during our days.
The Economy - you would not know it by the traffic on the roads, or the restaurants, but we are told that the economy is struggling. God is in control.
Peace - wars and rumors of wars. Nuclear threats, Iran, N. Korea, Venezuela
Our Country - Election, Morality and Freedom are at stake
Our Churches - Standing for little, meeting places with no solid teaching
The Bible is reduced to a mere book that is subjective in meaning.
Our Neighborhoods - crime, immorality, we need to pray for our city
Our Families - How can we even question the definition of marriage? Immorality, Integrity, Sometimes sicknesses or finances.
In Reality, there is nothing of this world that is unshakable.
And today, GOD CAN SHAKE YOUR FOUNDATIONS. If you have any foundation other than Christ, you have no foundation! But God is really in control. (Text)
I. The Shaking of the Earth - vs. 26 (this verse refers to vs. 18-25)
A. The Demand of the Law - Mt. Sinai (Ex. 19)
Here we see the very Pulpit of God as he declares to mankind His Law!!
1. It was a Frightening Place - vs. 18 Smoke & Fire
2. There was a Dreadful Voice - vs. 19
3. An Unapproachable Presence - vs. 20-21
Ex 19:12-13 "And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount." It was a mountain that could be touched! The Law is unapproachable without the shedding of blood.
B. The Delight of Grace - Mt. Zion (Heavenly dwelling - vs. 22)
1. A Sacred Place - Mt. Zion - vs. 22 (references to Zion)
Joel 2:32 "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."
2. Specific Residents
- The Living God, the Father, and Judge - vs. 22-23
- Countless Angels (Innumerable - same word as “ten thousand times ten thousand” in Revelation 5:11)
- The Church - General Assembly, Greek word that meant a celebrating crowd, (such as at the Olympics) WHY? - They have been redeemed
- O.T. Saints “spirits of just men made perfect” (Saints from chap 11)
- God the Son, Jesus LORD AND SAVIOR - vs. 24
C. The Determining Choice - vs. 25 Refuse not Him that spoke on the earth!
Verse 25 speaks of another Mountain between Sinai and Zion - It is Calvary! It is where on an old rugged cross, Jesus gave his life for you and me.
1. Redemption by Faith - You see, when we place our trust in the Christ of Calvary, we are no longer obligated to the Mountain of the Law, but can rest assured that the Mt. Of God will be our home. That is Grace!
2. Refusal means no Escape - If those in the wilderness that rebelled did not escape, how much more will those that reject Christ, the very Son of God, not escape.
II. The Security of Eternity - vs. 28 With our lives seemingly shaken at times, it is good to know that there are some things that are Unshakable.
A. An Unshakable Kingdom that is Never Ending - vs. 28 (3 things not shaken)
1. The Word of God - Mt 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
- Its Promises, never shaken - 1000’s - 2 Peter 1:3-4 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:"
- Its Power can never be shaken -
* Power to Convict (Acts 2:37)
* Power to Convert (Psalm 19:7)
* Power to Cleanse (Psalm 119:9)
* Power to Comfort (Psalm 119:49-50)
* Power to Counsel (Psalm 73:24)
- The Prophecies can never be shaken - vs. 26b Keep looking Up!
2. The Church of God - Matt 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
- Storms may blow
- Satan may Attack ( gates of hell - place at Caesaria Philippi, idol worship)
- The End May Come - BUT THE CHURCH WILL STAND!
As a child of God, I have an unshakable Kingdom of which I am a citizen!
No change in the administration, will be a holy, perfect God, forever!
3. The Throne of God - Psalm 45:6 "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever"
- It is a Throne of Grace - Heb. 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
- It is a Throne of Judgement
*Judgement Seat of Christ - Speaking to the saved - 2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
*Great White Throne - For those that Reject Christ - Rev. 20:11 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
B. An Unshakable Kinship that is Never Broken
1. Saved by a Gracious Love - Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
2. Secured on a Glorious Foundation - part of the unshakable Kingdom
My foundation is not that of my fallible efforts or feeble works!
- God is Holding Me - Not Me Holding Him John 10:27-29 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand."
- God is Responsible for the Outcome - 2Ti 1:12 "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
3. A Servant Because of Continuous Grace - vs. 28b Not saving grace, but sustaining grace! It means, “let us keep on having grace.” The world may shake all around, but we can keep on having grace! With this grace, we should serve HIM: Notice one word - Reverence -Bashfulness - shamefacedness in 1Ti 2:9 - We should be embarrassed not to serve the Lord!
III. The Seriousness of an Encounter - vs. 29 An Encounter with GOD!
A. My King is a Courier of Favor - vs. 24 better blood
1. His Blood is Excellent (not of mere man as Abel’s)
The first mention of blood in the Bible is Ge 4:10 "And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground."
2. His Blood is Expedient (cries Mercy instead of Judgment)
Blood of Christ declares Mercy - IT IS ENOUGH
The Blood of Jesus did not just run into the ground, but we find He paid it all!
Heb 9:24 "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:"
B. My King is a Compassionate Friend - The blood of sprinkling (It was HIS BLOOD, that HE SHED out of compassion for me.) - Rev 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." The Blood confirms Redemption and Safety! (Passover)
C. My King is a Consuming Fire - this is a quote from Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." This is a reference to the judgment of God toward His children! Used to deter Israel from idolatry, for that is a sin God will not tolerate. The same description of God is here applied by the apostle unto those lacking grace to worship Him with the humility and awe which He demands. If we are graceless in our persons, and worshiping the wrong things in our life - judgment lies at the door!
1. God is still a jealous God! Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isaiah 48:11 "For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another."
2. God will defend His honor, and will keep His Word!
This verse has to be couple with Hebrews 10:31 "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Dare not take this as a message of fear, but of love!
Love warns us of impending danger, and that is what Heb. 12 does for us all.!
Concl. A shakeup is coming, but those that know Christ can rest, Unshakable!
2Th 1:7 "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction (hell) from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" God has appointed a great earthquake to bring this world to a close. A final shaking of the earth and the heavens some day that will end this fallen creation as we know it and bring the kingdom of God to consummation.
Where will you be? Do you know for sure that your eternity is unshakable?
An Unshakable future is available to any that will trust in the Grace of God!
Just come to Jesus!
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
