Hebrews 12:18-29 A Kingdom that Cannot Be Shaken
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Intro: Earthquakes
Intro: Earthquakes
Kari Morse
Whenever you tour ancient ruins or sites you will often notice that the cities are on these mini-hills
Those hills are called Tels
They are man made mounds that were intended to stave off opposing armies
It is harder to attack an enemy going uphill
Those tels came about by building on top of the remains of cities that had crumbled or been attacked and needed to be rebuilt
The goal was to build a city that couldn’t be shaken
Unfortunately, even if you built an impenetrable fortress the elements or an earthquake would bering the city down
Today, Jesus shows us His kingdom cannot be shaken
We are shown what we need to do to get ready for His return
It starts with making a choice and the writer of Hebrews uses the metaphor of choosing between two Mountains
Read Hebrews 12:18-21
Read Hebrews 12:18-21
Transition: Standing on Mount Sinai
A year ago I stood at the base of Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia
David Guzik at Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai is lifeless
There is vegetation that grows and there are no animals that inhabit it
That is where God chose to deliver the Law to His people
In retrospect, there was a purpose
The law doesn’t bring life, only Jesus does
If you choose a life that is measured by the law you will always be dead on the inside
If you
Mountain of Fear vs. 18-21
Mountain of Fear vs. 18-21
Mount Sinai represented a life of fear
When we live our life based on fear we will always longing for more
vs. 18 A Mountain on Fire
Mount Sinai was where the cloud of God’s presence rested
You couldn’t touch it because everything that did died
And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.
It was the place where the presence of God dwelt
It burned with fire, was dark and stormy
The holiness and power of God was there and no one except Moses were qualified enough to approach it
vs. 19-20 Silence the Voice
The mountain was so intimidating that the Jews begged for Moses to silence the voice
Whenever the voice of God spoke to the People the begged for Moses to silence it
just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’
When we make our life all about rules we don’t want to hear the voice of the Lord
The voice of the Lord convicts us of our unholiness and shows us how far we are falling short of God’s standard
vs. 20 they could not endure what was commanded
Are you trying to silence the Word of God in your life?
vs. 21 Tremble w/ Fear
Finally, when you lead a life lead by the law you tremble with fear
The presence of the Lord was so intimidating that even Moses trembled with fear
For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure that the Lord bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also.
All this fear did not succeed in promoting holiness among the people of Israel.
It did not succeed in changing the heart of Israel.
40 days later, they worshipped a gold calf and said it was the god that brought them out of Egypt.
People who lead their life based on the law are always controlled by fear
They cover it with arrogance and judgment, but underneath is a very insecure and fearful person
Mountain of Life vs. 22-24
Mountain of Life vs. 22-24
When you lead a life led by the Spirit you are full of life
Now we look at Mount Zion
Mount Zion is the hill that Jerusalem is on
Look at how it described
vs. 22 City of the Living God
vs. 22 City of the Living God
The mountain of life is called the city of God
There was no city at Mount Sinai; it was out in the desolate desert
Jerusalem is the center of the universe
That is why there so much violence in the region
The Muslims are trying to wipe out the Jews
Satan knows that is where Jesus is going to reign
It is the source of Life
One day this Jerusalem will be destroyed and replaced with a new Jerusalem filled with an innumerable company of Angels
For the Christian, it is a symbol that Our king is living
vs. 23 Church of the Firstborn
vs. 23 Church of the Firstborn
This verse has two important themes
First, we are the church of the firstborn
Jesus came to the living mountain for his church
He is the firstborn, which means he is the rightful heir
We are his bride and he is coming back for us
He is coming for his Bride, the church
All of those who are registered in heaven
Let me tell you that this wedding registration is way better than anything you can get at Target
Are you registered in Heaven?
Is your reservation secured?
Why do we need that reservation?
Because God is the Judge of all
One day we will stand before God and give an account of our life
He is the Judge of all
No one will escape his judgment
vs. 24 Mediator of a New Covenant
vs. 24 Mediator of a New Covenant
The final thing we see on the living
Mount Sinai was marked by fear and terror – Mount Zion is a place of love and forgiveness.
Mount Sinai is in the desert – Mount Zion is the city of the Living God.
Mount Sinai spoke of earthly things – Mount Zion speaks of heavenly things.
At Mount Sinai, only Moses was allowed to draw near to God – at Mount Zion, an innumerable company, a general assembly is invited to draw near.
Mount Sinai was characterized by guilty men in fear – Mount Zion features just men made perfect.
At Mount Sinai, Moses was the mediator – at Mount Zion, Jesus is the mediator.
Mount Sinai brought an Old Covenant, which was ratified by the blood of animals – Mount Zion brought a New Covenant, which is ratified by the blood of God’s precious Son.
Mount Sinai was all about exclusion, keeping people away from the mountain – Mount Zion is all about invitation.
Mount Sinai is all about Law – Mount Zion is all about grace.
Get Ready vs. 25-29
Get Ready vs. 25-29
If you are registered in heaven and are full of the life of Christ you need to get ready for his return
vs. 25 Heed the Voice
vs. 25 Heed the Voice
The first thing you need to do to get ready is heed the voice
The Jews refused to hear the voice in the wilderness
If you refuse to listen to the voice from heaven it will be much worse
You won’t escape eternal judgment
vs. 26 Shake Heaven & Earth
vs. 26 Shake Heaven & Earth
The second thing you need to be ready for is things are gonna shake
Have you ever been through a really good earthquake?
Not one these rollers that you say, “Oh that was fun” afterwards
I’m talking about one of those foundation shaking earthquakes that do some serious damage
I grew up on the San Andreas fault line
Growing up, the running joke was that California would have a quakes so big, we would end up with beach front property
It never happened, but I was involved in some doosies
The Northridge quake on MLK day in 1994 was crazy
Earthquakes show you what is built to last and what wasn’t
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
vs. 27 Strengthen what Cannot be Shaken
vs. 27 Strengthen what Cannot be Shaken
The third we need to be ready for is that you will be shaken
Just because we are are part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken doesn’t mean that we won’t go through a time of shaking
God will remove everything that isn’t glorifying to Him
That brings up a good question
If we were shaken down to the foundation, what would remain?
Revelation 3:1–2 (ESV)
“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die,
vs. 28 Offer Acceptable Worship
vs. 28 Offer Acceptable Worship
The fourth thing you need to do is offer acceptable worship
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
vs. 29 God is a Consuming Fire
vs. 29 God is a Consuming Fire
The final thing you need to remember is that God is a consuming fire
Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.