Whole Lotta Shaking Going On

Whole Lotta Shaking Going On

ARMI Article-Excerpt from the book, "FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE" by Denise Capra

“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.’ Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire”  (Hebrews 12:25-29). I was always perplexed by this verse until I noted the word, “PROMISED”. That denotes something positive rather than negative for us.  “See that you do not reject or disregard Him that speaks.” That is, the gospel. Don’t refuse good news being spoken to you. Don’t refuse the new covenant.

“You’ve come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. He is the Mediator of this covenant” (Hebrews 12:24 MSG).

Meditate on this. Revolutionize your thinking and transform your soul. This kingdom cannot be shaken. He tells us “let us have grace” because by it we’ll serve God acceptably with reverential awe. In essence, “You may have refused to hear Him then, but don’t refuse to hear Him now. You have come to Mount Zion, the refuge of His mercy.” What a contrast between the people’s terrified approach to God at Mount Sinai and their approach at Mount Zion. Before Jesus came, God seemed distant and threatening.  Now God welcomes us through Christ into His very presence even where angels celebrate. You couldn’t keep the Law, and its self-focus. Now see JESUS Who fulfilled it. The Gospel is speaking! The Word made flesh—Jesus—is speaking. Grace is a person. This is how you’ll live out your destiny blueprint. Acknowledging Him and His empowering presence on the inside of you will cause your purpose to emerge.

Contrast Moses and Jesus. Moses spoke in the name of God. Jesus, the Son of God, spoke as from heaven. Hebrews 12:26-27 speaks of shaking (referring to commotions among the nations that prepare the way for the Messiah)

“For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:6-7).

Haggai prophesied changes under the Messiah. There’d be great revolutions at His coming, as if the universe were shaken to its center. This applies to the first coming of Jesus. Not only the earth was to be shaken, but also heaven.

Denise Capra

Author, teacher, pastor.