UNSHAKABLE: Unshakable in a Shaking World
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Transcript
UNSHAKABLE
Unshakable in a Shaking World
Hebrews 12:28 (NKJV) 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
The world around us may be shaking, but God's Kingdom cannot be shaken. Because our hope is secure, we can stand firm, remain faithful, and keep serving until Jesus comes.
WHEN EVERYTHING IS SHAKING
Last week we talked about something that should encourage every believer:
Jesus is coming again!
We talked about the Rapture.
We talked about our Blessed Hope.
We talked about the fact that one day the trumpet will sound, the Lord will descend, and we will be caught up to meet Him in the air.
So today I want to take the next step.
What do we do until He comes?
We stand!
Because we are living in a world that is shaking.
Things we thought were stable aren't always stable anymore.
The economy shakes.
The culture shakes.
Families shake.
People shake.
Our plans shake.
Sometimes even our emotions shake.
You can be perfectly happy when you wake up in the morning, grab your phone, read the news for five minutes, and suddenly think:
“Maybe I should just go back to bed!”
That's the world we're living in.
But here's the good news:
The Kingdom of God isn't shaking.
Let’s look again at our foundation scripture:
Hebrews 12:28 (NKJV) 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Hebrews 12:28 doesn't say we're receiving a kingdom that is mostly stable.
It says: “a kingdom which cannot be shaken.”
Everything around us can move.
But God doesn't move.
Everything around us can change.
But God doesn't change.
Everything around us can become uncertain.
But God remains faithful. Can I get and AMEN!
1: WHEN EVERYTHING SHAKES, KNOW WHAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN
Hebrews 12:26–29 (NLT) 26 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.” 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. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.
The writer of Hebrews gives us a contrast.
There are things that can be shaken.
And there is something that cannot be shaken.
That's important because sometimes we build our peace on things God never promised would remain permanent.
Our job can change.
Our finances can change.
People can change.
The economy can change.
The culture can change.
Our plans can change.
But God doesn't change!
Malachi 3:6 (NKJV) 6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV) 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Yesterday He was Lord.
Today He's Lord.
Tomorrow He'll still be Lord!
God doesn't need the world to be stable in order for Him to be God.
THE LIGHTHOUSE
Imagine being on the shore during a tremendous storm.
The waves are moving.
The wind is blowing.
The rain is coming down.
Everything seems to be moving.
But out in the distance is a lighthouse.
The storm is moving.
But the lighthouse isn't.
That's a picture of God.
The circumstances may move.
But God doesn't.
The economy may move.
But God doesn't.
The culture may move.
But God doesn't.
Our emotions may move.
But God doesn't.
Psalm 46:1–3 (NKJV) 1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
Notice the word therefore.
God is our refuge—therefore we will not fear.
Our stability comes from knowing who God is.
We don't become unshakable by pretending there isn't a storm. We become unshakable by knowing that God is greater than the storm.
2: STAND ON THE ROCK, NOT ON THE SAND
Matthew 7:24–27 (NKJV) 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Jesus tells us about two houses.
One was built on the rock.
One was built on sand.
Then the storm came.
Rain, Floods, Winds.
And notice something:
The storm hit both houses.
Being a Christian doesn't mean storms don't come.
It means storms don't have to destroy you.
The difference wasn't the storm.
The difference was the foundation.
Luke 6:47–48 (NKJV) 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
Look how Jesus says the person who hears His Word and does it, is like a man who:
“dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.”
I love that phrase:
“Dug deep.”
Because nobody digs deep when the storm is already hitting.
You dig deep before the storm.
Church Family: That’s what prayer is.
That's what studying the Word is.
That's what worship is.
That's what obedience is.
That's what gathering together with God's people is.
We're digging deep.
ILLUSTRATION — THE SUPERMARKET
When I worked in the supermarket, customers saw the full shelves.
They saw the products.
They saw the clean floors.
But they didn't see everything happening behind the scenes.
There was receiving products.
Inventory.
Ordering.
Storage.
Management.
Employees.
Systems.
The customer didn't think much about the structure.
Until something went wrong. Were’s the Heavy Cream
Then everybody discovered how important the structure was!
It's the same spiritually.
People don't always see our private prayer life.
They don't see the time we spend in the Word.
They don't see us worshipping God when nobody is watching.
They don't see the decisions we make to obey God.
But when the storm comes...
What we’ve built privately becomes visible publicly.
You don't build a strong faith during the storm. You reveal the faith you built before the storm.
3: DON'T LET THE SHAKING AROUND YOU CREATE SHAKING WITHIN YOU
Again look at Psalm 46:1–3
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…”
Then the psalm gets extreme:
“Though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea…”
In other words:
Even if everything falls apart, God is still God.
The problem is that we often allow external circumstances to determine our internal peace.
If everything is going well:
“Praise God!”
Something goes wrong:
“Oh God!”
Our emotional life can become like the weather.
Sunny Monday.
Cloudy Tuesday.
Thunderstorms Wednesday.
Possible snow Thursday.
We can't live that way!
JESUS GIVES US HIS PEACE
John 14:27 (NKJV) 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus doesn't say:
“Nothing bad will ever happen.”
He says:
“My peace I give you. ”That's different.
THE ANCHOR
Think about a ship.
A ship doesn't drop its anchor because the water is calm.
It drops the anchor because the water is rough.
And here's the important thing:
The anchor doesn't stop the waves.
It keeps the ship from drifting.
There may be things in your life you cannot control.
You can't control what everybody else does.
You can't control the economy.
You can't control the culture.
You can't control tomorrow.
But you can determine where your soul is anchored.
Hebrews 6:19 (NKJV) 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
Our hope is an anchor.
And our hope isn't a feeling.
Our hope isn't wishful thinking.
Our hope is Jesus!
4: BE STILL, BUT DON'T STOP STANDING
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV) 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
We often use this verse as if God is saying:
"Everybody relax. Take a deep breath. Have a cup of coffee."
There's nothing wrong with coffee!
But the context is much stronger.
Psalm 46 is talking about nations raging, kingdoms moving, and the earth shaking.
And right in the middle of it God says:
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
In other words:
Stop striving.
Stop panicking.
Stop trying to control everything.
Remember who is God.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Sometimes we want God to explain everything before we'll trust Him.
But faith says:
“I don't understand everything, but I know the One who does.”
JOKE
Sometimes we pray:
"Lord, I give You my problems."
And five minutes later:
"Lord, I just wanted to check and see what You're doing with those problems."
We give God the burden...
Then we keep checking the tracking number!
“Lord, has my answer shipped yet?”
1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) 7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
God says:
Give it to Me.
Not because your problem isn't important.
But because you were never designed to carry what God asked you to cast on Him.
Being still doesn't mean doing nothing. It means trusting God while you continue doing what He has called you to do.
5: DON'T BE MOVED FROM WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE TRUE
Psalm 62:2 (NKJV) 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
David doesn't say:
“Nothing difficult will ever happen.” He says:
“I shall not be greatly moved.”
Why?
Because he knows what he's standing on.
Ephesians 6:13–14 (NKJV) 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
“...having done all, to stand.”
Then Paul says:
“Stand therefore…”
I love that.
God doesn't tell us:
Understand everything.
He doesn't tell us:
Predict everything.
He doesn't tell us:
Control everything.
He says: STAND.
WHAT DOES STANDING
LOOK LIKE?
Standing means:
When culture changes—
I stand.
When people disagree with God's Word—
I stand.
When I don't understand—
I stand.
When I'm discouraged—
I stand.
When I'm waiting—
I stand.
When I'm tired—
I stand.
When the enemy says quit—
I stand.
THE TREE
You can look at two trees and they may look almost identical.
Same size.
Same branches.
Same leaves.
But then a storm comes.
One tree bends.
The other tree breaks.
Why?
Because you can't see the roots.
Storms reveal roots.
The strength of the tree above ground is determined by what's happening underneath.
The same is true with us.
Your public strength is connected to your private roots.
Colossians 2:6–7 (NKJV) 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Rooted.
Built up.
Established.
That's UNSHAKABLE.
6: KEEP STANDING UNTIL THE END
Last week we talked about Jesus coming.
Today we're talking about how we live until He comes.
Matthew 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
That word endures means we DON’T QUIT
Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Notice:
Don't grow weary.
Don't lose heart.
Why?
Because there's a harvest coming.
Hebrews 10:35–36 (NKJV) 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
We need endurance.
Because sometimes the hardest part isn't the storm.
It's waiting for the storm to end.
It's easy to praise God when the answer comes.
Faith says:
I'll praise Him while I'm waiting.
It's easy to stand when everybody agrees with you.
Faith says:
I'll stand even when I'm standing alone.
It's easy to serve when you're excited.
Faith says:
I'll serve when I'm tired.
It's easy to believe when you see it.
Faith says:
I'll believe because God said it.
Habakkuk 3:17–18 (NLT) 17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
THE MARATHON
A marathon runner doesn't run 26 miles because every mile feels good.
There comes a point when the excitement is gone.
The crowd is smaller.
The legs are tired.
The body says: "Stop."
But the runner remembers:
"I didn't come this far to quit."
And spiritually, there are times when we may say: "I'm tired."
"I'm discouraged."
"I don't understand."
"I've been waiting a long time."
But God says:
Keep going. Keep standing.
Keep believing. Keep serving.
Keep your eyes on Jesus.
OUR HOPE CHANGES HOW WE LIVE
And Church Family, this connects to what we talked about last week.
Titus 2:13 (NKJV) 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
We know Jesus is coming.
So we don't sit around doing nothing. We get busy doing what He called us to do.
We preach the Gospel.
We reach people.
We serve.
We pray.
We worship.
We give.
We love.
We forgive.
We disciple.
We stand.
Church Family, we know how the story ends.
Jesus wins and we win.
The King is coming.
Our hope is secure.
Our future is secure.
Our Kingdom cannot be shaken.
So until He comes:
STAND!
When the world shakes—
STAND!
When fear comes—
STAND!
When circumstances change—
STAND!
When people disappoint you—
STAND!
When you're waiting—
STAND!
When you're tired—
STAND!
When the enemy tells you to quit, STAND!
When culture tells you to compromise—
STAND!
STAND ON THE WORD.
STAND ON THE PROMISES.
STAND ON CHRIST.
STAND UNTIL THE END!
Please Stand With Me And Let’s Make A Declaration:
I am unshakable!
My faith is in Christ.
My foundation is the Word of God.
My hope is secure.
My anchor holds.
My God is faithful.
His Kingdom cannot be shaken.
I will not quit.
I will not compromise.
I will not be moved.
I will keep praying.
I will keep believing.
I will keep serving.
I will keep loving.
I will keep standing.
I will stand on the Rock.
I will stand on the Word.
I will stand in faith.
And I will stand until Jesus comes!
In Jesus' name, Amen!
Church Family, I give you 1 word today to take home with you,
STAND!
