Luke 24:5-6
“Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 He is not here, but He has risen.”
Jesus is alive and He cannot be found among the dead. We find Jesus where there is resurrection life, among that which have eternal value.
Hebrews 12:26 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.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
“At that time” refers to Exodus 19:16-19, when God’s presence came down on Mt. Sinai. There was thunder, lightning, Mt. Sinai was covered with smoke and the whole mountain trembled violently. According to this verse God promised another shaking. This is a certainty because God is a Promise Keeper, and we see confirmation of this in 2 Peter 3:10.
2 Peter 3:1 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Although we know the shaking described in Hebrews 12:26-27 and 2 Peter 3:10 will happen during tribulation, because heaven itself will also be shaken, some pastors are calling the Covid pandemic a shaking. Our economic and commercial life are being shaken as never before. We see the truth in Hebrews 12:26-27 that created things are being shaken– stock market, tourism industry, airline industry in free fall, China’s economy contracted for the first time since 1976, oil prices plunge to 22-year low, cancellation of sports events, concerts, even Disneyland closed.
If created things will be shaken, we are to focus on things which cannot be shaken, and these are:
A. The Throne of God Can Never Be Shaken.
Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
Lamentations 5:19 You, Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
What are the reasons the throne of God cannot be shaken?
I. THE THRONE REPRESENTS GOD’S KINGSHIP.
It means His rule. His rule will last forever and ever. Lam 5:19 THE THRONE ALSO REPRESENTS GOD HIMSELF.
The One seated on the throne is eternal and unchangeable – nothing can shake or change Him.
Hebrews 1:10-12 says this, ” 10 In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
II. IN GOD’S KINGLY RULE THE THRONE ALSO REPRESENTS BOTH GRACE AND JUDGMENT
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
As those who have placed our trust in Jesus Christ, we may freely come to the throne of grace and into the presence of God. But if we are not His children – if we have rejected or neglected the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will one day stand before the judgment throne of God. This is a certainty because God’s throne can never be shaken. B. The Word of God Can Never Be Shaken
Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever
God’s Word is unchangeable and will remain forever.
Each time we read the Bible we may be sure of 3 unshakable things:
A. Its Promises Cannot Be Shaken
Joshua 21:43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.44 The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
2 Corinthians 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so
through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
B. Its Prophecies Cannot be Shaken
Bible Prophecies fulfilled by Christ
Micah 5:2 (Micah lived over 700 years before Christ)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod,Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
The Old Testament, written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, contains over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through His life, death and resurrection. If these prophecies are all fulfilled, then ALL other prophecies that await fulfilment will also be fulfilled.3. Its Power Cannot Be Shaken
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.C. The Church of God Can Never Be Shaken
C. The visible church may be shaken but the mystical church cannot be shaken.
The mystical church is the church which is the body and bride of Christ. That church which is made up of those who have truly given their lives to Jesus, cannot and will not be shaken. The true church is secure, permanent and abiding.
Mystical church is the body of believers.
We are witnessing today the truth that the church cannot be shaken. Because of this shaking more people are seeking the Lord, there is revival, soul harvest. Just like Dr.
David Jeremiah, pastors may be preaching in empty church buildings but the mystical church or the body of Christ is very much alive and thriving.
Reasons Why The Church Cannot Be Shaken:
1. Its Foundation Is Jesus
1Cor 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:20 Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.
Jesus conquered the grave, He has the resurrection life, He is alive forever. Thus anything that is built with Him as foundation cannot be shaken.2. Jesus Said Nothing Will Overcome It
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.3. The Church Is The Bride of Christ
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
III. The Child of God Can Never Be Shaken
a. Who are the children of God? How do you become children of God?
John 1:12Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Children of God are those who received Jesus Christ and put their trust/faith in Him.
b. What do children of God have through Christ?
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Jesus is alive and He has resurrection life. Because we received Jesus and placed our faith in Him, through Him we have eternal life. That’s the reason why Children of God cannot be shaken is because we have eternal life.
c. Children of God Have The In-Dwelling of the Holy Spirit
Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
1Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Although we are created beings, when we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are given eternal life and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we have the Divine in us; thus, when all that can be shaken is removed, we will remain. For this we have to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for His substitutionary death on the cross.
Through this pandemic or shaking, God has given us a preview of what will happen in the future. What is God’s purpose for this shaking? Knowing what are the things that will remain, how should we respond?
