Unshakeable

Intro

Text - Hebrews 12.25-29

Hebrews 12:25–29 NKJV

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 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. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Title - Unshakeable

Background

Paul was making a comparison between the Old Testament and the New Testament

the New Testament is better than the Old Testament

the O.T. believers came to God through Mount Sinai - Hebrews 12.18-21

it burned with fire

the voice of God was so dreadful even Moses trembled

the N.T. believers came to God through Mount Zion - Hebrews 12.22-24

the Mediator is Jesus Christ himself

the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things

Paul was encouraging his readers to receive the gospel

this is the same God speaking through Jesus Christ

Hebrews 1.1-2

the same voice of God, but the judgment is greater

God is speaking from heaven (not on earth) - Hebrews 12.25

God’s word is “more inescapable” - Hebrews 12.25

God’s voice will shake the heaven and the earth! - Hebrews 12.26

The Main Point

We are living in a time of “shaking”

the current situation in the world is causing panic to most people of all religious background

But today’s “shaking” is mild compared to what is coming!

the “big one” is still to come!

Are we ready for THE shaking that God will do? Is our faith ready at that time?

Sermon Points

Point no. 1 - No one escapes the Word of God - not then, and certainly not now

Notice: people think that God is “lenient” or “tolerant” in the N.T. because of grace.

Grace made it possible for God to reach out to as many generations, and nations and places as possible

Human accountability is actually greater under the Grace Covenant!

No one escaped the Word of God in the O.T.

Hebrews 10:28 NKJV

28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

No one escapes the Word of God today

Hebrews 10:29 NKJV

29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

God has determined the time of His judgment, so that no one can escape

wrath of God - in the day of the Lord, for the nations - 2 Peter 3.10-13

judgment of the nations - at beginning of Millennium, Matthew 25.31-33

white throne judgment - Revelation 20.11-12

John 5.45 - Moses will accuse the Jews before God

John 12.48 - Jesus’ word will judge in the last day

Point no. 2 - God is going to shake all things in the end time!

Hebrews 12:26 NKJV

26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

Haggai’s prophecy involves the heaven and the earth, and the nations

Haggai 2:6–7 NKJV

6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.

preparatory to the coming of Christ

the desire of all nations - Christ - Malachi 3.1-3

the temple will be filled with glory - Matthew 24.30; Matthew 25.31;

Paul anticipates a greater, more intense shaking in the last days

Note: how and why God allows “shaking”

Luke 6.46-49 - by “flood” of trials

2 Thessalonians 2.1-2 - shaken “in mind” by “fake news”

Luke 21.25-26 - natural calamaties

God’s “shaking finale” is by His own voice!

Note: when God spoke on Mount Sinai…

Moses said it was to test them, but the people stood afar off

Exodus 20.19-21

God’s voice will separate the real believers from the make believers today

Matthew 13.40-44 - parable of the wheat and the tares

Matthew 13.47-50 - parable of the dragnet

Revelation 10.1-4 - the Mighty Angel, Christ, cries with a loud voice as a lion roaring

1 Thessalonians 4.16-17 - events preceding Christ’s descension

Point no. 3 - When God shakes heaven and earth, only the “unshakeable’ ones will remain

Hebrews 12:27 NKJV

27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

The “shakeables” are “things that are made”

man-made

belonging to the old creation

The “unshakeables” are therefore “not made”

not part of the old creation

certainly not man-made

Hebrews 12.27 - we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken - the heavenly Jerusalem

THE SECRET TO BECOMING UNSHAKEABLE IN THE LAST DAYS

Hebrews 12.25

Do not refuse God when He is speaking to you!

Do not harden your heart…

Receive God’s instructions and corrections

1 John 2.15-17 - he who does the will of God will abide forever!

1 Peter 5.10 - the God of all grace will perfect, establieh, strengthen, settle you!

Conclusion

How long will you “refuse” the word of God? (backslider; non-believer)

now is the day of salvation

How long will you doubt the message of God for our day?

Is your faith settled in the Word of God, and not in another man’s word?

NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO CHECK OUR ROOTS, OUR FOUNDATION.

am I founded on the rock of Jesus Christ?

are my roots firmly anchored and deep?