The Unshakable Christian Life
Introduction
Will we be able to stand in the days ahead, or will we be-
… tossed by the storms of life, carried about by winds of doctrine and the schemes of men Eph 4:14
In the 1300’s- Bubonic Plague- killed millions, changed the face of Europe for decades.
Affected every area of life- family life, moral values, religion, economy, government, work conditions.
The world had changed and man was powerless to stop it.
Today we are faced with another possible world wide epidemic- Avian Influenza- Bird Flu.
Many saying- best case scenario- could be the worst disaster in human history- a possible pandemic.
If realized- could impact our culture dramatically.
How will it affect the Church? Individual believer?
The Unshakable Christian Life
We live in a time the Bible calls the End of the Age.
We see earthquakes, tsunami’s, hurricanes, plagues- events the prophets warn will take place at the end.
Mk 13:7 "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.
8 "For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. NASU
These calamities are coming in part because the Creation is trying to live without its Creator.
Mankind trying to run the world without God.
God is allowing events to take place over which man has no control and no ability to stop,
so mankind will see his need of God.
We need God, not just in the affairs of mankind, but in our own lives if we are going to survive.
Heb 12:26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also."
27 This means that the things on earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will be left.
As the end of the age approaches everything that can be shaken will be shaken.
However we have a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.
We may see chaos in the world and men fainting from fear, but we should be able to remain calm.
Mtt 8:23-26
Jesus remained calm in the middle of the storm.
We can also if we have allowed God to shake everything out of our lives that can be shaken.
In order not to be shaken- build our lives on Christ.
Mtt 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. NASU
We build our house on the rock, which cannot be shaken, by obedience to God’s Word.
"If the Word Himself has taken His stand against the devil with “it is written,” how much more should we." (Rick Joyner, Ref Mtt 4:1-11).
God will protect those who have made Him their refuge, their hiding place.
Psa 91:1-7
This does not say we will not have trouble, but trouble will not shake us if we are standing on the Rock.
Paul and Barnabas …
Acts 14:22 … Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." NASU
As Rick Joyner says, God allows difficulties in the life of a believer for two purposes …
1. that we might be conformed to the image of Christ
2. to help us enter into the Kingdom of God
One reason for tribulation in the world is to help them find their way into the Kingdom of God.
The only way we are going to be able to stand in the days ahead is if our lives are hidden in Christ.
That comes through the process of death, dying to self
Rom 6:5-8
Death to self is the path to Christ living in us.
Jesus, just before His crucifixion ...
Lk 12:49 "I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!
50 "But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! NASU
Jesus died in the flesh so he could be raised up into resurrected life.
In the same way God has called us to become living sacrifices so the resurrected Christ can live in us.
2 Cor 4:8-12
If we want to drink in and walk in the life of Christ, we must also drink/walk in His death.
God is calling us no longer to live for ourselves, but for Him and for His purposes.
2 Cor 5:15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
As the world is shaken, God will prosper His Church
He is going to …
Empower His people with His Holy Spirit,
Release gifts and callings in His people, so they can
Advance the Kingdom of God in the world.
As the world shakes, God will strengthen and prosper the church, so we can help the world find the Kingdom.
We have already seen in New Orleans how the church has actually been more affective than government.
The government has limited resources, but the church has the unlimited resources of heaven.
But, we must allow God to shake everything out of our lives, if we are going to stand, and help others.
In Conclusion
1. We are seeing the end of this age and the birth pains of the next age
2. God uses difficulties in a Believer’s life to conform us to Christ and help us enter the Kingdom of God.
3. As we die to self, Christ can live in us (a dead man cannot be shaken)
4. Times of shaking are coming for the whole world.
5. The Lord is going to prosper the church so we can help the world find the Kingdom of God
Closing Comments
1 Thess 5:1-6
