Tag: consuming fire
God’s Unshakable Kingdom!
Scripture reading for October 29: Hebrews 12
“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. 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.” 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. 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, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:25-29
The writer of Hebrews continually contrasted the Old Covenant of Law with the New Covenant of Grace. The accounts in Scripture of God speaking with Moses and wanting His people to hear His voice and honor Him as a Father are used here as a warning. Those that heard trembled with fear as Moses went up on the fiery mountain. They did not want to hear God. But those hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ are told to listen and obey. Jesus is the final Word from heaven spoken to shake the earth for the final harvest of souls. (Hebrews 1:2) Those who chose to listen in faith enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who refuse to listen will not escape the final shaking when Jesus returns in that their own ‘kingdom’ will come tumbling down.
All created things will be shaken in heaven and on earth. The purpose of the shaking is to remove those things that can be shaken. All that man has made and depended upon for protection will be shaken out. All sin and human pride will be shaken and exposed. All the schemes of man and Satan will come to naught at the revelation of the One Who shakes not only the heavens but the earth. This calls for reverent worship and holy awe. Our God is Himself a consuming Fire. His holiness and shining presence will cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that He is Lord. Those in faith will not be shaken for their kingdom is forever secure!
Have you received the ‘unshakable kingdom’ promised by God to those living by faith? Could others who know you testify of your life of worship and reverence for God? Are you ready for the shaking of the heavens and the earth that is foretold?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus as Your final Word from heaven. Thank You for opening my ears to hear Your voice and respond in faith, drawing me to Jesus. Help me to live my life daily in such a way that others see You through my obedience, worship and joy of eternal life. Amen.
Thankful for Jesus’ Mercy!
Scripture reading for October 27th: Luke 5-9
Key Scriptures: Luke 9:51-56 “As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And He sent messengers on ahead who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for Him; but the people there did not welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.”
Jesus was heading for Jerusalem and went through Samaria. He sent messengers ahead to prepare a place to stay, but was not welcomed there because of the racial strife between Jews and Samaritans. The disciples felt that this was an affront worthy of God’s fiery judgment but Jesus rebuked them! Followers of Jesus must leave all judgment to God alone! Mercy must be shown to those in ignorance and unbelief.
Thankful God knows when to judge: “Then he (King Ahaziah of Samaria) sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!'” Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.” (2nd Kings 1:9-10)
The Prosperity Trap!
Scripture reading for February 24th: Deuteronomy 8-11
God’s ways are that of a father. He cares deeply for the welfare of His children and because He loves them, He disciplines them. Moses, in his second message, continued to encourage this younger generation to remember, listen, and learn to obey God completely so that they would enjoy and prosper in the new land God was giving them. In fact, Moses had prophetic insight about a major problem that they would soon face and sought to warn them about a danger he saw lurking in this wonderful new land.
This land was a good land and full of wonderful things that would supply needs of the children of Israel. There were valleys and hills, vineyards and groves of fig trees, land to grow wheat and barley, and an abundance of pasture for flocks. There were deposits of precious minerals in the land and the ability to have wealth. Moses warned them to be careful when they enjoyed this wealth. They could easily forget God! (Deuteronomy 8:10-11) When that happened they would surely find trouble.
Prosperity is something we all would like to have and God also wants us to prosper. (3 John2) Our thinking often goes something like this: ” if only we had a nice home on some land, then we will be happy and satisfied.” We scrimp and save to finally get the nice home but find our friend got a nicer home! We are soon dissatisfied and begin the process all over again, losing sight of the joy of a relationship with God and with our family because we placed our focus on getting something.
Real prosperity is loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4) It is contentment with what God provides and enjoyment of His presence with us on our journey. We need to remember that He is the source of everything. (Deuteronomy 8:17) God took His children through the wilderness to demonstrate that He would take care of them. They had manna to eat every day, but were dissatisfied with that supernatural food. He wanted them to learn that our true food is the word of God coming from His mouth to us. (Deuteronomy 8:3-4) Jesus reiterated these words from Deuteronomy when He was tempted of the devil to turn stones into bread in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:2-4) Jesus went on to live this out for us and shows us the way to ultimate prosperity!