Series: Jesus Is Better- The Practice Of Faith [#3]
AN UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM
Hebrews 12:18-29
Introduction:
I was looking at a map that shows earthquakes and noticed that there were 2 in Oklahoma yesterday. In fact, I discovered that there is an average of 50 earthquakes worldwide every day. Some of those are considered very small while there are a couple per year that do great damage. There are many things that are shakable on this earth including people.
This morning, I want to look at something that is unshakable.
Luke 1:26-33 (NIV)
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
Jesus’ Kingdom will never end. There is nothing or nobody that can shake up the Kingdom of God.
Hebrews 12:18-21 (NIV)
“You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."
The mountain that is…
1. Shakable.
In our text, the writer uses 2 well known mountain ranges to explain what is shakable and what is unshakable. Mount Sinai was the mountain that the Israelites, led by Moses, walked around for 40 years. Mount Sinai represents the Law. The Law condemns us. The Law shows us where we have failed. The only person that has ever followed the Law perfectly is Jesus. When Jesus came to this earth, He fulfilled the Law.
Our text shows us what we will find at Mount Sinai.
At Mount Sinai you will find…
? Death.
If a person or animal touched Mount Sinai, they would die. The Law condemns us to death.
At Mount Sinai you will find…
? Fire.
Fire is a means of punishment. Fire is used to destroy that which is useless.
At Mount Sinai you will find…
? Darkness.
Sin is dark. The Law shows how sinful you are.
At Mount Sinai you will find…
? Gloom.
There is no joy in failure- Only gloom and despair.
At Mount Sinai you will find…
? Storms.
Things are always a mess. It seems like there is no relief in sight. No matter how hard you work at it, you can never seem to find any peace or joy.
At Mount Sinai you will find…
? War.
One of the purposes of a trumpet blast was to signal a battle attack.
At Mount Sinai you will find…
? An unbearable command.
It is disheartening when you realize that you are worthless on your own. On your best day, you are no good. We just can’t obey God all the time. Because of that, we deserve eternal death.
Hebrews 12:22-24 (NIV)
“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
The mountain that is…
2. Unshakeable.
Mount Zion is the city of God. Mount Zion represents salvation through grace. Our text shows us what we will find at Mount Zion.
At Mount Zion you will find…
? The city of the living God- Heavenly Jerusalem.
At Mount Zion you will find…
? Thousands of joyful angels.
At Mount Zion you will find…
? The church of the firstborn.
At Mount Zion you will find…
? God- The judge of all.
At Mount Zion you will find…
? The spirits of righteous men made perfect.
These are those under the Old Covenant who were made perfect through faith.
At Mount Zion you will find…
? The mediator of the New Covenant- Jesus.
At Mount Zion you will find…
? The perfect blood of Jesus.
Conclusion:
Hebrews 12:25-29
“See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 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."
You can’t refuse Jesus. If you do, your life will be shaken and destroyed. Christians, you are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Because of that, you should be thankful and worship God.
