Monday, November 21, 2022

Thanks Be To God - - For His Unshakable Kingdom


 Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 761
Unshakable: immovable
From the Greek word 'asaleutos' (pronounced as-al'-yoo-tos)
Used only twice in the New Testament: once in today's verse and again in Acts 27:41, when Paul and his fellow travelers were caught in a violent squall: "But having fallen into a place between two seas, they ran the vessel aground. And indeed the bow, having stuck fast, remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves."

Daniel 2:44
In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.

Not everyone will receive the Unshakable Kingdom: only the born again believers who live by their faith in the Word of God. For this Unshakable Kingdom has but one King and His Name is King of Kings. This King of Kings is an Unshakable King, for God has set Him on high to be worshiped and adored. 

Philippians 2:8-11
8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
9. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Daniel 7:14
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

This Unshakable Kingdom cannot be overthrown, nor will its King ever be defeated. Though the enemy came against Him and tried to take Him out, King Jesus fulfilled God's plan by becoming the sin offering which would take away the sins of the world once and for all. No more would animal sacrifice be needed: for the Lamb of God Which Takes Away the Sins of the World had indeed done just that. 
King Jesus allowed the angry mob who had come against Him to torture Him and nail Him to the cross. God laid our sins upon Him and "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 6:21)
Isaiah 53:11, 12
11. After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
12. Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Knowing we will inhabit this Unshakable Kingdom, we come to the realization that we must be Unshakable Inhabitants
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Colossians 1:22, 23
22. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— 
23. if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

We must continue to follow Christ now matter how rough the seas, how adverse the people; regardless of who comes against us and Christ in us, this battle for our souls is not ours to fight: it is God's. Like many a warrior before us, our job is to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). Our part is to trust God and obey His Word when He speaks to us.
 His Word is always a Now Word, for The Word of God is Alive through the Power of God. God's Word flows from God's mouth via God's Holy Spirit. It flows into the hearts of the people to whom God speaks, many upon many will receive this Word with joy and become God's people. Sadly, many will hear God call them to salvation and service and they will reject His Word and His Spirit. 

We are the Unshakable Inhabitants of an Unshakable Kingdom. As Peter writes to the church in 1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light." And we should be living accordingly. Otherwise, our service, our worship will not be acceptable to God. 

Unshakable Inhabitants are filled with grace, with gratitude, to the Holy God who has saved us from all our unrighteousness because He loves us. We live godly fear and reverence before Him, always aware of our shortcomings and His glory. 
We approach the throne of judgment with shame for how we have behaved and are awestruck by how He forgives us when we repent of our wicked ways. 
We kneel in His presence and confess that He is Lord. Lord of All. Lord of Us. Lord of me. 
Psalm 23:1a
The Lord is My Shepherd. 
John 1:12, 13
12. But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—13. children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

It's a personal thing. It's an intimate relationship thing. Though Christ died for all, salvation is received on an individual basis. Each one of us is called by God out of the darkness of this world. Each one of us must choose whether to obey the call of God and follow the Light of Christ or turn our faces from God. 
Should a person choose not to answer God's call, not to follow Christ, then God will have no other alternative but to turn His face from each one of them when they appear before Him. The end result of not receiving salvation through Jesus Christ is death: twice. 
The first death is to go to hell. The second death is when hell is thrown into the lake of fire which burns for all eternity. This is not a symbolic death: it is real, it is painfully painful and it is not where I plan on spending eternity. I don't want you there either. 

Revelation 20:12-15
12. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
13. The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.
14. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.
15. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Be one of the few, the humble, the meek, the pure, the righteous, the saved. Join the throng that serves God in heaven. Make music for God and King, filling the air with your worship. Choose Jesus, choose Life. 
Come, now is the time to give your hearts to the Lord. Now is the day to answer God's call and surrender your lives to His service. 

Dear God,
Thank You for saving me, for calling me out of the darkness of this world and into Your marvellous Light. Thank You for imbedding Your Holy Word into my heart and filling me with Your Holy Spirit. For You are a Holy God and Your very holiness demands that Your people be holy, too. I need You to make me holy. I am clay and You are my potter. Mold me into the vessel You require me to be. 
Even now I lift up each one reading this message, that they, too, would give their hearts to You and surrender their lives to Your service, to be filled with godly fear and reverence, obtaining Your mercy and Your lovingkindness that they may be filled to overflowing with the joy of their salvation in You. 
You are the God of my salvation and the joy of my life. Forgive me, Father, of any and all unrighteousness that is still within me. Prepare me, get me ready, to be with You and help me to help others. I want my papers in order, all the tees crossed and all the iiis dotted. Only You can do that. Help me, us, to lead extraordinary lives in Your grace that we may remain steadfast and unshakable for Your glory.
May I seek Your face, Father, all the days of my life that You may see mine. 
In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray,
Amen

O, Come To The Altar by Elevation Worship

The Well by Casting Crowns

I Shall Not Be Moved by The Easters (Gaither Music)