What Cannot Be Shaken

If I'm being honest, I almost have to admit that I've been trying to talk the Lord out of what I've had in my heart, but I guess I can't do it, so that's all right. You know, sometimes we feel our weakness to the point that we just want to say, "No, Lord, you just do something else." But I had a scripture come to me as a result of reading something in somebody's article, whatever, I guess you'd call it that online, and it was an encouragement and a word to Christians, and really it touched on the end of the world, at the end of the age, and the coming of the Lord. And here we are, mid-night crime ministries, and we don't talk about it that often, but there's a time to do it. And there was a verse that the man referred to that just jumped off the page at me, and it was from Revelation, I'm not sorry, it was from Hebrews chapter 12. And I have, from time to time, felt like it was in order to not just grab a phrase out of a passage like is often the case, because the Christian life and ministry is not about catchphrases, it's about the truth. And I believe many times it's important to look at the context, and even though you could make messages out of many places in this passage, I do want to go through it. Because you know when different writers' apostles would write letters to the churches, what would they do? Would they sit there and pick up little phrases, or would they read them? And I think there's a time to go through and see things in their context, and so I just want to go ahead and begin in the beginning of chapter 12, because what I thought I had was toward the end. But as you know, and as we've said many times, there's a theme in the book of Hebrews. The writer was himself Jewish, obviously, well educated in the Jews' religion and history, and their scriptures, and he was well acquainted with the fact that a new creation, a new covenant had been brought to life through Christ and his ministry. And he knew that many people were becoming aware of it, and what his concern was twofold. It was to encourage those who had truly embraced it, truly entered in. But it was a word of warning to those who had stopped short. The book of Hebrews is not about getting it and losing it, the book of Hebrews is about

never really entering all the way in. And so you see those two themes throughout this passage, and he begins with a word of encouragement that we've referred to many times to believers, and he has just talked about the principle of faith that we've seen through history, where God's people have been put in all kinds of circumstances, and yet they have believed God, their faith has not been shaken, and they've stood fast, and the message is they're waiting for us, they're shouting down encouragement, they're saying it's worth whatever. Isaiah the prophet, think of him, standing before the throne, and saying, "Look at all the things the Lord gave to me, but look at how my life and earth ended. I was stretched out, tied down, and sawed in half." Was it worth it? Absolutely. It was worth whatever it took to be where I'm at right now, and I want to encourage you because you're still running your race. Of course, that's what he gets into. Therefore, that's the reason for the therefore. Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. So clearly, well, I'll go ahead and finish what he says, "Let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us." So life is, as often we've said in the past, this is not the focus of my thoughts this morning, but life is a race that's marked out. God has a plan for your life. The question is, is that the one we're running? Is that where we're at? Do we understand that God has set us on a pathway that leads to an end? And it's obviously things to contend with, things to overcome, things to deal with difficulties, and that's part of the journey. And don't be surprised by that. One thing that was interesting, I just looked up some of the Greek words that were behind

these scriptures, and one of them kind of jumped out at me because it said, "Let us run with perseverance." Now last week, we spoke about how often to grumble and complain and not to be so happy about it, certainly not thank God for this. But the Lord wants us to bring us to a place of victory where we can see God's loving hand in everything that happens in our lives, and we are able, by His grace alone, to say thank you Lord, I get this. I know where this is leading, and I'm thankful for it. But I was interested as I looked up the definition that was given for the word perseverance, and it included two words that I thought are unsurprising. It's not just endured, grit, grit and barret kind of thing. It was a cheerful, hopeful, then you get into the okay, now we've got stuff to stand in the face of. But isn't that interesting how it connected, not just the keep on going, but also be cheerful and hopeful. And it's very obvious that that fits the context because then He points to Jesus. And He says the reason for all of this, and the reason we can do this, fixing our eyes on Jesus. And there are two reasons that are given why we're to fix our eyes on Jesus because He's the source of our faith, and He's the one who's promised to finish it. So those who truly give their lives into the hands of Jesus for the purpose for which He came and died, He has set us on a course, and He gave us what it took to start with. You and I didn't have it. If you have faith in your heart today that's real, that's from heaven, God gave it to you. Don't you say, hey, look at me, I believe and you don't. What's the matter with you? God is the author. Jesus is the author of any faith that you and I possess this day. Thank God. But that's not the end. See we're running a race that He's promised not just to start, but to finish. Thank God. So I'm looking to Him as the very source by which I can run this race, but then look at Him not just as the source of our help to do it, but as the example of running it because everything you and I ever would ever go through and more, He endured. And He did it on our behalf. And He did it for the joy that was set before Him. He endured the cross scorning its shame and sat down. That wasn't what He's looking at. Boy, this is a shameful thing I'm going through right now. This is terrible. Boy, don't we get our eyes on ourselves when we're feeling those things? But He was able to look past all of that and see, father, this is worth it. I know where this is going. We're going to stand. I'm going to, there's

a whole family that's going to come into being because of what I'm doing today. Praise God. God wants us to have that same sense that there's purpose, there's reason in everything that He does. All right, these are all things that we've talked about many times, but I want to just, you know, just kind of go through and set the stage in what the writer is setting forth because it's all part of it, okay? Because we were talking, we were doing a lot of singing this morning about where we're going and the end of the age and the Lord coming. And that's certainly part of it. Thank God. So now He says, "Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, consider Him why? So that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Interesting how often we see this connection between what we do and what's going on on the inside. Anybody here get weary? Anybody here not get weary? I want to ask you how you're doing it. We all experience the feelings of weariness. But giving into that and focusing on that and beginning to feel sorry for ourselves is where Lord doesn't want us to go. He wants us to keep our eyes on the goal and realize where we're going and not lose heart. So then He says, "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." Well, that's a better perspective, isn't it? Anybody here who has been killed for? Obviously not, but you get what He's saying. We have brothers and sisters around the globe who have. We have it easy outwardly. Now inwardly, yes, the devil is doing everything he can to hold us back and bring us down and pull on every string that he can find, every hold that he can find in our lives. And God is helping us with that. But that's what it's about, is what He's saying. You have not yet resisted. this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son. Now, this doesn't sound much like encouragement, what he's about to say, but it is if we see it in God's light. My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline and do not lose heart when he rebukes you. Lord, have we rebuked anybody here? Yeah, we need rebuking. We need correcting, basically. Thank God it's not like many human fathers. This is a loving Heavenly Father who loves us enough to tell us when we're going the wrong way and doing things wrong in a way that's going to be hurtful. Do not lose heart when he rebukes you. Oh, I thought I was doing so good. Oh, poor me. Well, thank God he loves me enough to get my attention to whatever it takes to do that. He doesn't leave me and just let me run and mess up because the Lord disciplines the one he loves. Discipline, I think we pointed out many times, is child training. This is divine education.

This is God teaching his sons and his daughters how to live as part of his kingdom. And boy, we need an education, don't we? Everything about us is going the wrong way if we just follow it. The Lord loves disciplines, the one he loves, and he chases everyone he accepts as his son. Now, what's the connection between the things against which we struggle in all of this business about the Lord teaching us and do our hardship as discipline? If there's something that in your life that's hard, think about this from God's point of view. He's using that to teach you. I wish in many ways from a natural standpoint that divine education was just sitting in seminars and learning it all in our heads and then we got it, we got it. We know it doesn't work that way, does it? We are people who can only learn most of the things we need to know the hard way in the school of hard knocks. And the Lord knows exactly what to bring our way when we need it. Oh, I just want to see it like Jesus did though. I know where this is going. I know there's a father who loves me enough to keep me on the track and teach me his ways in the process. Everything is purposeful, loving, lovingly purposeful. Nothing new here is there, but this is part of the context. This is God's word to his people in this and we're going to get to some other things here. All right. Then do our hardship as discipline, God is treating you as his children. Then he uses the earthly example for what children are not disciplined by their father. If you are not disciplined and everyone undergoes discipline, then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. I hope you did. How much more should we submit to the father of spirits and live? They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good. Why? In order that we may share in his holiness. Now, holiness, again, as we probably said many times, it's not a list of rules to live by. It gets farther far deeper than that. It's a heart that is separated from the world and serves God. And God is wanting to implant in us something that is detached more and more detached from the spirit of the world and attached to him and like him. And it will be reflected in many outward things, but that's not the heart. You can do all the outward things and not have that. This is a heart matter. Okay? All right. Where was I? For a little God disciplines that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, you think? But painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. You know, one thing I didn't, I don't recall that I emphasized last week that the more we are, our insides agree with the outside and the things we know that God wants,

you think there just might be more peace? Talk about having peace with God. How can I have peace peace with God if I disagree with him. best for me. I love the way where you're taking me and even how you're doing it. I don't enjoy it but I know where it's going and it's worth it. It's worth everything. So there's a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees, make level paths for your feet so that the lame may not be disabled but rather healed. Praise God. It wouldn't be wonderful if we could learn how to see things from God's point of view. See what's going on and not just react to what we see and interact with in the natural. So now He says, "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy without holiness, no one will see the Lord." And God that's the scripture that's been badly misused by legalists. But again, this is the quality of heart that God seeks where we are attached to Him and not the world. And I'll tell you if there is a compromise in here and that's what He's about to get to, something's wrong. I just pray that God will touch every heart because I'll guarantee that people here and there are people who may hear this who fit into both categories. There are God's people who need to be encouraged. There are others, some who think they're God's people and need to be awakened. All right. And here is where you begin to see the other theme come into play. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God. This is not getting it losing it. This is God's working with a heart and there's an influence for a time but yet there's never quite a letting go. There's never a true heart surrender. You never see the need of a Savior and you never truly enter in and just embrace His heart of love and grace. You never see it. And I'll tell you, the more a heart resists that, the harder it gets. And so that was the burden on the heart of the writer. He saw people that were professing to about Jesus and they knew about Him and all of that but He didn't see the fruit in their lives. He just, something's missing here. And I just want to warn you about it. All right. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and to file many. Now, we've often heard that referred to as a root of bitterness and how we ought to be forgiving and all of that and that's certainly true. But I'll tell you, this was a writer who knew the Jewish history and knew the scriptures and let me show you where that really comes from. Turn over if you will to Deuteronomy

29. This is when Moses was going over the law and the covenant that God had given them and telling the younger generation, really laying it out. And one of the things that he said beginning in verse 18, he says this, "Make sure there is no man or woman clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure that there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison." That sound familiar? This is where he was really going with this. This is how it fits into the context of Hebrews 12. Now, here's the description of what's really going on there. "When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, 'I will be safe even though I persist in going my own way.'" Isn't that clear? That's an amazing scripture. Here's somebody who's among the people of God. They outwardly profess and go along, but on the inside, they're going their own way. But they are so deceived, they think, "It's okay. I'm a good person. I qualify. I do the right things. I say the right things." And yet on the inside, who's on the throne? And it's not only how it affects you, this begins to affect other people. on the water land as well as on the dry." I'll tell you, I believe God's heart reaches out to people with a word of warning, and it does have to do with the end of the age. The reality is, well, let me put it this way. You know, we have something in human society called dual citizenship. You know what that is? You can be a legal citizen of two different countries. That is true of any particular, of all countries, but there are countries where you can do that. Well, let me tell you about the kingdom of God. There's no such thing as dual citizenship. You are 100 percent a citizen of God's kingdom or of the world. But what he's describing here is someone who thinks that I can be a citizen of both. I can have the blessing. I can go to heaven one day. I'm a good person. That's what it's really about. It's about making me a good person in this world. And I can do that and see, I'm qualified. And they miss completely what it's about. God help us, everyone. I believe God's heart longs to see every single one who hears his word open their heart. Praise God. So anyway, I'll go back to Hebrews 12, see to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See where that comes from now. And then he talks about some other things. See that no one is sexually immoral or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance

rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. Think about Esau. Here he was. He had the rights in his hand. He had no idea what it was really about. All that God had revealed going before this time. He just didn't see it, didn't believe it. It just didn't make any sense to him. And so when it came time to, and what am I going to do to have the inheritance rights or a meal I desperately need, he took the meal. I wonder how many people are selling their souls for a little bit that this world can offer. That's what's going on. That's what's happening. And you remember what happened if you look at the history with Esau? He became the father of a nation. They were a nation of idol worshipers. I believe they were the people who lived up in a rocky area. There was a strong defense. They were enemies of God's people. They were pronouncements of judgment, and they don't exist anymore. They're done for. That's what you have to look forward to if you serve your life in this world. Think about that. Anyway, and of course he talks about the fact that there's a place where people get, and I want to be careful that the enemy doesn't misuse this and have somebody look in the mirror and say, "Oh, there's so much wrong with me. Maybe I haven't got it." There's plenty wrong with all of us in God's teaching us. We are not told to look in the mirror and make sure you're okay. We're told to look at Jesus because it's only by His grace that we have any hope at all. Praise God. But I'll tell you, there's a need for some to look, not in their mirror, but in God's mirror, and He'll show you the truth about yourself. You may be one of the good ones outwardly. And I'll tell you, I've said this many times, no one is going to be saved by a Bible tabernacle religion. You need Jesus. Praise God. He's got His people. And I just praise Him today. But anyway, the point here is that there are people who say no to the point where it's been said, the choice has been so made that There's no way in it, I mean that's it, there's no way. I'll tell you, God doesn't do anything like that lightly. If there is a glimmer of hope for any particular heart, He will reach until there is none. You know, we were seeing about the coming of the Lord and all that's ahead for His people. It's not going to look good for the world, is it? And the people of this world are going to go on and think everything's just fine. And they're all of a sudden destruction is going to land. That's where this world is headed. But anyway,

so here was Esau. Don't be like that. Now he begins to compare the two covenants and he says, "You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and is burning with fire. It's a darkness and gloom and storm as a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them because they could not bear what was commanded." Can you imagine standing before Mount Sinai? The whole mountain is on fire. There's an earthquake. It's just, and the word is don't you even go near that mountain or you'll die. And then a voice comes out of the heavens. I mean, they were part of a world culture where they understood there were invisible beings who ruled in the affairs of men. And so they knew there was such a thing as a God. We know there were demons pretending to be gods, but now all of a sudden they're, "Oh my God, this, this God, I'm scared to death of Him." But that's what they were, I'll tell you, there was something that was serious. God wanted to know, want everybody to know that they were serious. He was serious. We know, thank God, that this first covenant of laws and commandments was only meant to teach and prepare and to teach them that, yes, they were sinners, but there was a way that their sins could be forgiven through a sacrifice. God was preparing His people. But that wasn't the end. But you in verse 22, "But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem." You got folks today that think it's always all about Jerusalem in the Middle East. Well, God cares about the people in Jerusalem. He cares about the people in New York, cares about the people in Southern Pines and even Piners. Every place God cares about people. But that's not part of His kingdom. His kingdom is not part of this world. You can't say, here or there, that's His kingdom. His kingdom is one that cannot be seen with human eyes, with natural eyes. But I'll tell you, God can give you eyes in your heart and you can see. And it's real. You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. That's the one that God's concerned about. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. Are you part of that? That's the church I want to be part of. I pray that there are many here that are part of that church. And I'll tell you, God has a people scattered around the globe that are His, places we'd be surprised. But thank God. I appreciate the emphasis the Lord made recently

about how God's going to bring His people together, one way or another. I don't have the plan, but I know somebody who does. You have come to God, the judge of all, to the spirits of righteous made perfect. That's what He was talking about at the end of chapter 11, isn't it? About the saints that came through all that God brought them through in this world, and there they are. We've come to them. Praise God. We're part of that. Same kingdom. To Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Thank God for the blood that was shed. My only hope this morning. Then again, the warning, see to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused Him, who warned them on earth, how much will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven? my mind, and I hope I'm wrong about all this, but he was a guy who had been in the military and I believe he'd been assigned at one point to a airfield in Alaska, it must be Air Force, I don't know, but anyway, and he came and boy he was a zealous leader type and I worked with him when we were working on the streets of Brooklyn at one point, and then Sue and I went back for a visit in the summer of 1969 and just to see some of the folks we had known and he was in a bad way spiritually, he just, I don't know, he just was off, he was out of it, couldn't seem to get with it, and I don't remember when this came up, it may have been in that conversation, but he told me about a time when he had walked out on the airfield in Alaska and literally cursed God, I don't know all the details, but that was his own words, and I've got to wonder now, you know, the problem is not always that somebody does it, that definitely, and I just wonder if he had just crossed a line when he did that, that's pretty sober isn't it, the world is full of people who have done that one way or another with their deeds and their thoughts and their choices, so then he says this, at that time his voice shook the earth, now he's looking back to Sinai, but now he has promised once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens, now we're going to find out something about what that means, the words once more, what is it, what's the significance of saying once more, they indicate the removing of what can be shaken, that is created things so that what cannot be shaken may remain, that may be a good title, what cannot be shaken, all right, created, so what is it that can be shaken, created things, the simple truth is that everything that is part of this old creation, when God's through with it it will

be done, burned up, gone, forgotten, there will come a time in the age to come when all that is, that we know now in this world will be past history, and as I said it won't, it will be forgotten, and I'll tell you there are people, the world is full of people who have built their foundation, the foundation of their lives on something of this world, God help us, praise God, praise God because everything, God's going to shake things up, you know we were talking about, I mean the song we were singing was signs of the times and all the bad things that are happening in the world, this world has always had shakings, you ain't seen nothing yet, nations rise and fall, wars, famines, pestilences, all kinds of things happen, that's part of the world, God will shake things up, and I'll tell you if there's somebody who has a heart for God that will turn their hearts to God, for other people it will just, you know, what's your life built on, what foundation are you standing on today, there's only one foundation in God laid it, and it's his son Jesus Christ, thank God, thank God we've got something to stand on that won't be shaken because that's the new creation, it's already come, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature, part of that new creation, when there's a heart that literally turns the throne of their heart over to him, he implants in us a life that simply cannot die, everything about created life and wife in this world, there's an end, it cannot exist beyond what God says, and I'll tell you, I thank God that there's a foundation that's And I just pray, that's God's heart this morning. He wants everyone who hears his word to have that on the inside that cannot be shaken. And have you had any shaking going on? Yeah, well thank God, he knows how to shake things up when they need to be shaken up. Thank you Lord for shaking me up when I need it, for waking me up. But I'll tell you, if your heart, if your trust is in your bank account, your abilities, your career, your anything that has to do with this world, and that's what your heart is attached to, be warned.

And as I said, the Lord is even gonna allow there to be a moment in time when the world thinks we've got it, we're there, we've achieved what we've been trying to do. The devil's gonna say, oh boy, we finally got here. And that moment, the Lord's gonna return. Gather his people out and destruction will fall, sudden destruction the scripture says, will fall upon everything that is left, and it will all be burned up. Thank God, there's a whole other world beyond that. But anyway, so God is promising a shaking, but there is that which cannot be shaken, and I pray that everyone listening to this, that you've got in your heart that which cannot be shaken, because it isn't of you, you didn't earn it, you can't do anything to qualify yourself for it. It's not about being a good person, it's about having his life in you, and then learning how to grow up in that. Oh, God can plant in that is willing to plant in every willing heart. Thank God. You know, we know so many scriptures that talk about the foundation that people build on, the wise man that builds his house upon a rock, listens to what God says and agrees with it from his heart, and he builds his house on that, the storm comes, comes for everybody, doesn't it? But his house stands, and there's a foolish one, he builds his house on sand,

something that part of this part of this world, no strength to it. You look through history, and you look at again, all the great empires that have arisen and looked like they were undefeated. It couldn't be defeated, and they fall one after another. I'll tell you, I thank God for so much that has gone on in this country, but my hope is not in America. Do you not see the spirit that's at work in our society to divide, to tear down, just to undo everything that from the past, to bring every conflict that they can, the spirit of the age is here? I'll tell you, it should awaken us. And I'll say, as I've said many times, God has not given me a chart, or he hasn't given anybody a chart. To know exactly what's gonna happen and when it is. We are called to walk with a savior who knows the path that we're on, knows how to take us all the way to the end. That's all I need. I need the foundation that he's planted in here. I didn't deserve it, I couldn't begin to deserve it. Thank God. To any way, once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens, the words, once more, indicate the removing of what can be shaken. I'll tell you, if there is anything in your heart, if you're trying to be a dual citizen,

if there's anything in your heart that is the real foundation of your life, this is what your life is really about. And it's not him. God's gonna tear that down. It will come to nothing in the end. But God's heart reaches out to anyone who's in that place. Hear his voice while you can. Praise God. The removing of what can be shaken. That is created things so that what cannot be shaken may remain. So what's the conclusion? Therefore, now he's talking to believers. Since we are receiving, and that's an interesting way to put that, and he could have said, we have received, we are receiving. He's talking about the process, isn't he? It doesn't mean there's anything uncertain about it because Jesus didn't say, again, it is starting. He said it is finished. So he set something in motion. There's a train that left that station, You're not hanging it on and off and on and off. You're on the train, the gospel train. It's going to arrive at the station and every passenger will be brought safely. Oh, God, praise God. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom

that cannot be shaken, that's what's going on with every heart. It's turned to him, it's given to him and learning his ways and thanking him and being a part of that. And when you mess up, he has a way of getting your attention, doesn't he? But he does it because he loves you. Praise God. Because of all that, let us do what? Be thankful. That sounds familiar, doesn't it? Let us be thankful. And so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe for our God is a consuming fire. It doesn't say a torturing fire, does he? He says a consuming fire. That's what's ahead for everything that it pertains to this creation. Every created thing is going to be destroyed. There's a new creation that cannot be destroyed, cannot be shaken. And that's God's heart again this morning that anyone who hears this, I pray that your heart is open to have God hold the mirror up. And to look and see, what is your life really about? Who's in charge? We've seen over the decades, we've seen precious young people grow up in the church.

And you'd look at them and you'd say, praise God, they're wonderful Christians, they're followers of Jesus, and then they get to a certain age, and then what's really in their heart takes over. And thereafter something from this world, whether it's debate, whether it's lust of some form or whether it's career or it's just self on the throne. I'll tell you, that's a sure way for destruction, to destruction. But there's one way that leads to life and is giving the throne of your heart to Jesus. And if he is talking to anybody and saying this, I'm trying to talk to you today. You can write at this moment say yes from your heart. Doesn't have to be an altar call necessarily, it just needs someone to say yes. And he will hear the cry of your heart. And he will wrap his arms around you and plant something in here. He'll seal you, you'll be one of the ones that seal marked. That one's mine. When the judgment lands, they'll be the ones that'll be preserved. Do you think this is real? Is this just fantasy? Is this just religious ideas? This is the word of God. This is the word of one who went to a cross. Was buried, but he rose again.

Clearly rose from the dead. And then before his followers, he ascended into heaven. He's been there ever since, praying for his own, working for his own, doing whatever it takes to finish the job the father gave him. I don't know where we're at. We're getting closer every day. We sang a lot about the second coming. And it's one of those deals where you hear about it and you hear about it and you hear about it. Okay, when's that gonna happen? I don't know. The picture I get in Peter at one point is, we've heard that all our lives. That's just a bunch of ideas. That's not gonna happen. Oh, it will. And I'm so thankful that God isn't gonna leave any of his behind. I pray that it'll come. I'd love for it to come today, but I don't want it to come one moment before he has called everyone of his own and put his seal on their forts. And that one's mine. I hope that includes everyone here and everyone who hears this. Because it is a God who loves you and has made every provision so you can be part of what he's talking about here. This is serious business.

And you know, the shaking, God didn't say this so that we'd be scared and live in fear in that sense. But he does want us to be aware. He's gonna shake things up. Who knows what's gonna happen in our country? You look at politics and how the pendulum swings and we think, oh, it's gonna be good. And that comes back the other way. And I think it's about to land the other way. I've watched the communist movement my whole life. this wrong. Well, I don't know what the Lord's going to allow, but I know one thing, He will bring His people through if we would just look to Him. Take one step at a time and keep our eyes on the Savior. Realize there's going to be shaking. Don't ever be discouraged or, you know, turn your heart away because of that. Keep your eyes on the prize, on where we're headed, just like Jesus did, and realize that the one who went through all that is with us by the Spirit. Thank God. Thank God. So I'll just leave that with everyone here, because when God speaks, we're responsible, aren't we? I can't make a choice for anybody. I'm not calling people to follow me. I just want people to hear His voice, and from their hearts say yes. Realize that all that He says, even when it's hard, it's because He loves you and knows what's best. Praise God. To God be the glory. Praise God for His Word. I, you know, we were singing that song today coming down, the Master calls coming down, and there's a prayer about Him. He makes a call. You know, I really got this for you come, you know, and the thought I had too was there in that line, there's a song, there's a line, "If you're hungry, come and die." The Lord is the only one that can create a hunger in our heart. And when He is drawn us to Himself, He's not saying, "She's heaven," or "choose hell," what He's saying is, "You can have everything in Me." The other is nothing. It is a brief. It is, it is, this life is just a vapor that appears for a little time and soon passes away. But I've come that you might have life and that you might have it to the full. You know, but that doesn't the word say that no man can come to me except the Father which has sent me to draw Him. And the thing about that is, is the Lord, you know, if we're looking at it through our natural lives, we can't see heaven anyway. It takes the divine inspiration of God to even show us what He's inviting us to. But when

He does, and if it's your heart that He's working on, blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, if He creates a hunger in you and you are one of His, you are going to go to the source that can satisfy your hunger. And it is Jesus Christ alone. People need to know that Jesus, He's so good. They need to know who they're coming to. They're coming to the one who, as soon as we fell on this earth, Adam and Eve did, their skins provided. They weren't condemned, but they were covered with a sacrifice. We are covered with a sacrifice and all that you lack and all that you need and all that you feel naked spiritually, He can clothe you with His righteousness. He will wrap you in a robe of righteousness and bring you to Himself. What an incredible Christ He is. You know, it's not okay. Well, if I come to Jesus, I am going to live a life of pure misery. No, when we come to Him, we find out what life is. He said, and we look at His verse, I think it's not been too long back in our Bible study, but that Jesus had surely, and I didn't bring my Bible up here, or my phony Bible, the one on the phone or whatever it is, a hell of issue with my eyes, but you know, He said there is no one who was given up houses, land, wife, children, whatever you could have that would not receive in this life a hundredfold. It's that in this life plus eternal life, whatever we give to Him, what He gives back in return, there is no comparison. And even if you do have things you go through, we know as Christians you can go through a lot of hard things, but is it worth everything to be mourning in? Is there joy, peace, and righteousness? It said the Kingdom of Heaven is not made in green, but righteousness, peace and joy. joy. I mean, this life will not bring you joy. It will bring thrills and you can be momentarily happy, but it's just momentarily. But with the hymn, it is eternal. And when we were singing those songs, and I guess it was the song coming down, but there's a verse in Luke 12, where it talks about being watchful and being ready. And then it says this. It says that marriage is the one who brought us to that, will then come and put a robe on himself and serve us. Jesus Christ is so gracious. You know, that song said he remembered one day after he had died and risen and risen from the dead. He had the fish and the bread on the coals on the fire. It says that in that song. What is his heart toward us? He is a provider. He is a provider. He looks down and says, come to me because I can provide everything that you don't have. And in the depths of your soul, you know if you're hurting, if you're empty, I can feel you and give you the only thing that will set you free and give you life. But in the end, that wedding banquet that he's invited us to, it happens. It does come to pass. This is

the wedding day that we sang about. But then I wish, does the money have a Bible right there? Your iPad is your, is it handy? I'll tell you what, I'll go grab mine real quick. Did you find Luke 12, Luke 12 there? Just to show you the heart of God. Do you know he loves us? Luke 12, I think it's maybe like 36. If you just got the chapter on there, I'll... Man, you need some white on this thing. I got it. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Kenny. Lord bless you. It will be good for those servants whose master finds him watching when he comes. Truly, I tell you, he will dress himself to serve. He will dress himself to serve. The Son of God, God that came here that redeemed us would dress himself to serve us. That's his heart now, is to provide everything that you need. You need to know that when the Lord makes a call to you that, look, he loves you. He has so much for you. Whatever you give up will not compare to what he will give you in your heart and your soul. He will give you life. Let me find it again here. Truly, I'll tell you, he will dress himself to serve. We'll have them reclined at the table. Sit down, sit down right there. You'll chill out here. It's incredible. And we'll have him reclined at the table and we'll come and wait on them. Does that sound like incredible? That the Son of God would put a servants robe around himself and come and say, this is how much I love you. I can't even, does that make sense? It's almost so deep it's hard to understand. But, you know, I think when the Lord is given an invitation, he wants to know, he wants people to know his heart toward them. He loves you. He's backing you to come to him because he has everything that you need. And even the things you don't know you need. How many people are you after serving the Lord say, I didn't even know I had that issue or I had that need. Does he meet the need? He shall supply all your needs in Christ Jesus. I would say, you know, this is a positive thing when it comes to Christ inviting us to come to him. This is not a mountain that burns with fire and shakes. It said even Moses was afraid. Moses was shaking his boots because the law and everything is this demanded of you that cannot help you is a rough thing. But when that righteousness is provided for you, that's a different plate of potatoes. And that's what he does. That's who he is. Anyway, that was a few thoughts I had. It was actually in the song service, but I just thought I'd share that. [BLANK_AUDIO] says, "See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks." And that just really stood out

to me and it reminded me of something that I had in my daily reading yesterday, which is in Revelation. And it's in chapter 9 verse 20. And in chapter 9 here, it's the seven angels with the trumpets and the plagues that will come upon the earth at the end. And this just really stood out that the Lord, He is long-suffering. He's not willing to any would perish, but that all would come to repentance. And I believe whether there's someone here or someone who hears this later online, just know that the door to the ark is still open. The Lord, He's drawing hearts. Today, the message has been brought forth. And this right here just shows His long-suffering love. It says this is after, you know, many of the people during this time will be killed. But it says, "The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent." Oh, my goodness. A loving Savior has His arms open wide and they still didn't repent. There's a time that says, "The Lord's Spirit will not always strive with man. He's not going to continue to not go on your heart. But if you hear this word this morning, no matter if it's right now or later, He's not going on someone's heart. Watch this. It said, "They still did not repent of the work of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons, idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood. Idols that cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent from their murders, magic, arts, sexual immorality, or their thefts." All that to be said, these people survived all that. The Lord was giving them time. He was saying, "The door is still open even after all these other people have perished. Come to Me. Come unto Me, all who are weary and burdened. If you hear His voice today, do not heart in your heart. Come to Him as arms are wide open for you." Praise God. Praise Lord. I'm going to be completely honest with you. I sometimes struggle in services like this, especially when it can seem like there's two sides, and it's not. I want to be clear, but I hope Lord can give me a thought ahead here. Why did Jesus die for our sins? Right? Not just forgive us, but to have a life and a future with us and to restore us to the Father, right? But also in that, what's going to happen if there is not the proficiency of what Christ has done for human being? Is it not to evade us from the wrath of God that will wipe this out? I'm going to tell you my burden this morning. Well, for one thing I find interesting, let me go about what Phil read and start in Deuteronomy. I don't necessarily have this gift, I don't think, but I'm going to do what I have. You know, when Phil read

about the person, the bitter root, no root among you that produces such bitter poison, and then it actually goes on from there to the Lord. We'll never be willing to forgive them. His wrath and zeal will burn against them. However, the very last scripture, Phil was interesting. I actually thought this was somewhere else in the Bible, or maybe it's repeated by Paul or somebody later. In twenty-nine of twenty-nine, the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever that we may follow all the words of this law. I don't know, that gave me a comfort. Certainly we can't understand. I mean, how far is God, as far as the east is from the west, right? So let's take a step back and realize who we're trying to talk about here. But I don't know even in what Steve read there, you know, he talks about, was it Luke 12? Is that right? But after that, he talks about So I don't know, I can tell you where I'm at this morning is I think, I think this very scripture in Deuteronomy actually isn't much different than the other ones. There is a thank God for the peace that we can walk freely and not on eggshells without condemnation because of what the Lord has done for us. But that doesn't take away from the fact that we are serving a reverent Holy God that made commands that even if an animal touched that mountain that was burning, they would be to stone to death. So I want to have a fullness of appreciation that Christ wants me to be, you say, "Cause us brothers and sisters." That blows my mind if I'm honest with you. But I know it is that we get older when you get a glimpse of it. And it's not this far off distant. It is a friend that sticks closer to the brother. However, he is our elder brother that's been given charge over all heaven and earth. And there is a reverent center respect. And I think that's what the Lord's maybe just for us but in the scripture is you can get so undisciplined if you're not careful that you lose respect for the God that we serve. But you can get so, what's the word? What's the word we have to follow?

You can get so legalistic that you never appreciate the grace that Jesus brings us. And so I think that's been brought clear. You know, we need to go home and meditate on this thing. Read the word and have a clarity. He gives a peace that passes all understanding. So to me, I can be at peace with the God that I know has every right to crush me for everything about me. And I can have peace that he made provision not to do it because he loves me. I think that summed up everything I got to say. Does anybody else need to say anything? Praise the Lord.