The Unshakable Kingdom

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'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

Week of February 20 - 27, 2011

The Unshakable Kingdom (2-25-11)

“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).

The kingdom which the Hebrews writer and his fellow believers received was an entirely different and unique kingdom. Every kingdom upon this earth can be shaken/removed. Yet, the kingdom which the Hebrews writer identified was entirely incapable of being shaken, and that because it was not made of things that were made, i.e. material items such as stone, brick and mortar. Rather, the kingdom spoken of here was made of non-material things, i.e. items which were not made! The contrast could not be greater. A physical kingdom vs. a spiritual kingdom! The physical kingdom was the inferior and the spiritual kingdom the superior. That superior kingdom, the kingdom which could not be shaken, was both a hope and a reality to the first century Christians.

Why is it that some still look for and build entire theological systems on the hope of the inferior? Jesus did not come to be a king upon the earth, but rather to qualify Himself to sit upon David’s throne in the heavens. That mission was complete on the first Pentecost following His resurrection. Peter quoted David as having said: “I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 2.25-27).

Continuing his explanation of current events as they related to ancient prophecies, Peter explained, “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” (Acts 2.29-33).

How could it be plainer? Jesus inherited David’s throne and He was seated at God’s right hand as Peter spoke! The throne of David is not empty; it has been occupied for almost 2000 years. Don’t pursue the inferior; demand the superior!

Questions:

1. What are the things that can be shaken? Of what are they made?

2. Of what was the kingdom composed which cannot be shaken? Since it is/was made of non-material things, how is it superior the old?

3. What did God promise David through the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2.29-31).

4. How did God fulfill His promise (see Acts 2.36)

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Author's Bio:

Jim Bullington - A Christian writer whose insight into the scriptures is reflected in practical application lessons in every article. The reader will find that the Bible speaks directly to him/her through these articles. God is always exalted and His word is treated with the utmost respect in this column.
Copyright:

'Today's Little Lift' Copyright 2011 © Jim Bullington. 'Today's Little Lift' articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each story, along with a link to http://www.liveasif.org/ 2) 'Today's Little Lift' content may not be arranged or "mirrored" as a competitive online service.