A shaking is coming. Ordained by God’s justice, necessitated by man’s selfishness. As God is faithful and just, so he is faithful to perform his work in us; and he is just in the way he performs his righteous shaking.
His shaking is nothing to fear, though he is a consuming fire. But either our sins will consume us, ultimately within the fires of hell, or God’s fire of righteousness and true holiness will consume us. Therefore, a shaking is coming. And, it’s a good thing!
Who can endure the shaking, the judgment, of the Lord? Well, who can dwell in his Presence? His Word is clear and certain. For it is impossible to endure his shaking, if we haven’t found our place in his Presence.
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. (Psalm 15 ESV)
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15 ESV)
America has become so high and mighty in their own eyes, they have left no room for God. America does NOT trust in God; at least, not the God of the Bible. God has given the nation’s political and spiritual leaders the mandate, the calling, to lead their country back to its biblical roots, but for the most part, they have failed. Even in the face of national disasters, lengthy wars in foreign lands, and domestic problems that will never be solved by man’s wisdom, all we hear from our leaders is “We shall prevail”. Really?
Where are the spiritual leaders, those who should have the mind of God? Where is the voice of one crying, “in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord?” Yes, the Lord takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants. But the two things which should be emphasized seem to take a back seat. Prosperity and happiness are the messages that sell.
The Lord is intimately involved with his servants. Those who desire to serve him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Regardless of where it leads, or what it demands; the servant of the Lord is focused on and committed to, God.
A shaking is coming; a shaking that will rattle the political, economic, and spiritual realm of the United States. Everyone who is living a “shakeable life” will be affected. Change is definitely coming. To be unshakeable, is to be ready.
How can you and I be ready for the coming shaking? By shaking off the “stuff” that doesn’t belong in our lives, now.
The apostle Paul wrote this to the Corinthians:
But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (1Corinthians 11:31-32 ESV)
Peter had this to say about judgment, and specifically, judgment in the church:
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? (1 Peter 4:17-18 ESV)
The emphasis of this teaching, though, is not so much on the coming shaking and time of testing, but how you and I should prepare ourselves for anything that may come; whenever it may come.
How to live a life that is UNSHAKEABLE. Or, how to “Shake-Proof Your Life.”
…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 12:26-29 NKJV)
There is something to hope for, even in the midst of shaking and judgment. What could that be? God’s hope, and plan, is for the act of discipline (shaking and judgment) to produce a holy people. Without holiness, no one sees the Lord; but with it…
I’ll begin by explaining different ways God shakes nations, churches, and individuals. It isn’t anything new, as nations and civilizations over the last 6,000 years have witnessed times of God’s intervention.
Please comment and let me know what your thoughts are pertaining to this timely subject. Most of all, be prepared.
Jan Grace 