“Things Start Shakin”
Pastor David Moore
Old Testament reading: Psalm 2:1-12 (NIV)
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling. Kiss His son, or He will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
Theme: An earthquake can be a metaphor, because we experience the same sort of unsettling when things we trusted to be there suddenly aren’t. The real question is what is going to be our ultimate solid foundation? God or something else? Today, we will explore how the early church dealt with uncertainty and how that can be applied to our lives.
New Testament reading: Acts 4:23-35
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. From time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
The early church was successful because they had experience with God that made them unshakable. The early church was shaken by the world, then they were shaken by God and they responded by shaking the world with their bold faith. ~D. Moore
Think about all the things people do to be unshaken. Build walls around their city. Raise armies, make alliances, build precise missiles and cameras in space – all are vulnerable to shaking. ~D. Moore
Psalm 103:15-18: The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.
There is something that lasts, something that is unshakable. The Word of God, the Love of God, and the Promises of God. We are made in God’s image; we will live forever. ~D. Moore
The best activities that will have eternal consequences: to work with people and to help people know Jesus. ~D. Moore
People are shaken by circumstances, but perhaps that shaking is to get our attention so that God can bring you to ground that will not shift but to a firm foundation. ~D. Moore
There is an earthquake when Jesus dies. God comes down on Mt. Sinai to give the Ten Commandments and there is an earthquake. In some ways I think it is fair to say, as a metaphor, that God coming upon us is a personal earthquake, that will shake things up in our lives. ~D. Moore
As I think about the realization that everything is passing away, so why am I afraid of losing wealth or my life? In Christ I have all the wealth I need, in Christ I have a new life and now eternal life in the future. So being bold makes sense. That is what the Spirit does; clarify what’s important. ~D. Moore
If your life has more than your fair share of anxiety, maybe you haven’t experienced enough of God. This is why the shaking of Jesus matters; Jesus was shaken when our sin came down on His head. He experienced the distancing from God, and the holiness of God in a way, He hadn’t before, in that Jesus had always been holy before, but knew taking on the sins, He wasn’t. And the weight of God’s promise shook Him. ~D. Moore
If God is our sure foundation, our mighty fortress, then we belong to Him, and everything of ours belongs to Him, even our money. ~D. Moore
Jesus knows control is a big issue for humans. Jesus urges us that our focus of control is God, our foundation. ~D. Moore
God is stable, the Word of God is stable. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Malachi 3:6: I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
In an unstable world, being shaken is a good thing. It reminds us that we are not in control, and never will be. But God will never be shaken. God’s Word will stand forever. God’s promises for you are unshakeable. God’s love for you is unshakeable. God’s Word is unshakeable. God’s faith and good will never change. ~D. Moore
I hope and pray that God’s foundation will keep you unshaken as the world is shaken and changing. God bless.