There is a Shaking Coming: Part 2

What remains after the shaking inherits the blessing

Hebrews 11:5 KJV

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he  pleased God.

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:10

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Moses refused to enjoy the pleasures of sin just to be called Pharaoh’s son but instead suffered the reproach of Christ.

V 5 My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

The reason He chastens in love is because He wants us to receive the promises.

Hebrews 12:18-24 ESV

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and  to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Psalms 48:1-2 KJV

1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Psalms 2:6

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Lets explain Zion: literally, it is one mountain amongst 7 in Jerusalem but spiritually, it’s so much more

This holy hill, this mountain of God, the city of the King… these are terms used to describe Jerusalem, which is where God has chosen to put His presence in the OT. This is the place that He declared war against the forces of evil as He takes this earth back one step at a time. The Lord is looking for property, a base of operations from which He mounts His attacks against evil and takes back what the devil stole. He is looking for you and me to not just show up but to worship Him because He is worthy. To pray because He moves through our prayers. To study His word, so that we can understand, put faith in and walk in the victory that this New Covenant He gave us with His blood offers. In all this, He wants us to understand that we are privileged to be able to serve Him.

He is working His way from the temporary and the physical. He is working His way towards the spiritual and eternal. This heavenly Zion that He speaks of is the city that Abraham was looking for. It’s the place that Enoch was brought to because he separated from the wickedness of the pre flood world. It’s the place that Noah was looking forward to when he built the arc in order to give the human race an opportunity to make it there.

The writer to the Hebrews is pleading with these believers not to quit. They’re being tempted to go back to their old lives of temple worship and animal sacrifices because of the persecution from their families and friends. Their choices to serve Jesus have affected their finances. The writer is saying, “Don’t give up. Without faith, it is impossible to please God!”

What about you? What old life does the enemy tempt you with?

Hebrews 12:25-29 ESV

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom  that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Esau didn’t worship/ serve

Hebrews 12:14-17

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any  man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Matthew 27:3

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.