We Belong to an Eternal, Unshakeable Kingdom

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire”.  Hebrews 12:28,29

• Fire burns, heats, cooks, refines and consumes.
• There are many references to fire in the Old and New Testaments.
• In God’s presence our sins are both exposed and consumed.
• The writer of Hebrews in chapter 12 affirms that his readers now belong to a SPIRITUAL, ETERNAL and UNSHAKEABLE KINGDOM.

1.  SPIRITUAL KINGDOM.  The Old Covenant was given from Mount Sinai, a physical place where God revealed himself in awesome and frightening ways.

(a) The divine voice was so overwhelming the people did not want to hear.  But now, under the New Covenant, we must not ignore what he says.

(b) The divine presence was unapproachable.  But now a way has been opened up for us to enter God’s presence.

2.  AN ETERNAL KINGDOM.  Our destiny is incredibly wonderful.

(a) The book of Revelation gives us glimpses of heaven.

(b) In 90 Minutes in Heaven Don Piper describes the wonder of heaven as he saw it.

3.  AN UNSHAKEABLE KINGDOM.  The world continues to be shaken by God, as prophesied by Haggai.  We give practical expression for our indebtedness to Jesus Christ by our obedience, confidence and reverence.

(a) Obedience.

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks.  Hebrews 12:25a

How American Quakers listened and obeyed.

(2)  Confidence.

We belong to an order that cannot be shaken.  In the midst of instability, change, turbulence, apostasy, hardship and moral decay we do not despair.

(3)  Reverence.

We are to be thankful worshippers of God who do so with reverence and awe, remembering that our God is a consuming fire.

Bible readings:  Exodus 19:16-25, Hebrews 12:18-29