Shaken
I have purposefully not written about the things stirring in my heart this week awaiting a fresh, new insight to what God is wanting to say and I must admit, I’m getting a little worried. I know when the Lord prompts me with thoughts, ideas, or scriptures, He usually follows with the understanding or interpretation of them–but not this week—not yet.
Isn’t is funny how we get so “comfortable” with the “norm” of how God speaks and when He changes, we wonder if we’ve missed something.
I’ve had 1 word and 3 passages of scripture swirling in my heart for days now and though I have prayed, studied, and waited…I can’t seem to get a clear understanding; however, I know it has to do with the times we find ourselves in and I know that God’s word is true and His timing for all things is perfect.
SCRIPTURE: “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:25-28 NIV
THOUGHT: We can know that heaven is in control of world events and that things are right on course for the return of the Lord
SCRIPTURE: ‘Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:4-8 NIV
THOUGHT: OT Prophet Haggai saw into the future of what we are now seeing and reminds us of the covenant promise and that fear has no place in our lives in light of God’s ultimate purpose. EVERYTHING IS HIS!
SCRIPTURE: 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 less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “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—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:25-29 NIV
THOUGHT: The writer of Hebrews tells us that God will shake everything and only that which remains is eternal. Therefore, we must worship from a place of gratitude for our God is Sovereign. His consuming fire will try all things!
I suppose it is really very simple. We, as a nation, as well as the worldwide Body of Christ, are in a serious time of “shaking” and only that which is advancing the kingdom of God will stand, and anything else will fall. So as we see these things happening …let us not fear. Heaven is right on course and we must lift up our heads for our redemption is coming to its full completion.
I close this writing with this: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy”.
1 Peter 1: 6-8 NIV