“GOD’S UNMOVABLE KINGDOM” (Heb
Int. We shall not try to produce
an outline of this verse this evening; rather just make a few simple comments
about it.
1. One writer, Mr.
Humboldt's description of the first earthquake he saw, is significant, because
of the question he was led to ask.
When he beheld the rivers overflowing, the earth shaking, the houses
tumbling, the mountains rocking, and heard the animals howling, and the birds
wailing, he said: "Is there nothing solid? As he asked the question, he looked
up to heaven, and there he got his answer, as he himself said: "I looked up to
heaven, and all was still there."
2. J.
3. Those who are in
the immovable
1.
Because of our Protection in Him.. (Ps. 62:6). "He is my Defense, I shall not be
moved."
2.
Because of His Position beside us. (Ps. 16:8). "He is at my right hand, I shall not be
moved."
3. Becase of our daily practice., (Ps.
112:6) "Surely
he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting
remembrance.”
4.
Because of the Lord's power .. (Ps.
121:3)."He will not suffer thy foot to be moved."
5.
Because of the Lord's promise...(1 Chron. 17:9)."I will ordain a place for My people
6.
Because of the character of the believer...(Prov 12:3). "..The
root of the righteous shall not be
moved."
4.
“We
receiving a kingdom.”
Int.
A. W. P. says: To understand this "receiving this Kingdom", we need to consider the threefold meaning of the word
Kingdom.
1. First, it
signifies that we are admitted into that realm or sphere where Christ is owned
as Supreme.
2.
Second, it signifies that we have surrendered to the reign or sceptre of Christ, for Him to rule over our hearts and
lives.
3.
Third, it signifies that we now participate in the blessings of Christ’s
government.
a.
"This word “receiving” also
denotes that we have this kingdom from Another: “walk
worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory” (1 Thess.
b.
“....Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs
of the kingdom?” (James
2:5).
c.
“Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world” (Matt.
25:34).
5. The “Shakings” of the previous verses
were designed to make way for the establishment of Christ’s kingdom.
a.
Paul
insists that God’s “shakings” were in order to “remove” that which hindered the
manifestation and development of Christ’s kingdom."
6. All present
things were
to be shaken, and out of these was to come the kingdom that cannot be moved
— a kingdom unchangeable and eternal.
7. The kings of this
Kingdom. Who are they? “We,” says the apostle — that is, not “we apostles,” but “we saints.”
8. As believers, we
have received a kingdom, being made kings and priests unto God; being made “ heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ.”
9. Angels are but
“ ministering spirits”: we are kings— partakers with
Christ Himself of His crown and throne!
10. This Kingdom was taken from the
Jews and given unto the Gentiles.
a.
(Mt
11. Christ’s kingdom existed in
the days of John, and he was in it!
a.
Christ is now “the Prince of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5).
b.
He
has already been “crowned
with glory and honour” (Heb. 2:9).
12. Pulpit Commentary says: "The great empires
of antiquity —
13. Believers in Christ “receive” the
a.
Even
our Lord's disciples made the inquiry whether he was about to
restore the kingdom to
14. John Gill says: "There are several things
in this dispensation which are called a kingdom; as a Gospel church, the Gospel
itself, and the privileges and blessings of grace bestowed, especially spiritual
and internal ones,
1.
(Mt. 25:1) “Then
shall the kingdom of heaven be
likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the
bridegroom.”
2. (Luke
3.
(Rom.14:17)
“For
the
15. B. H. Carroll said: "There will never be a
a.
(2 Sam
16. (Dan 4:3)
"How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his
dominion is from generation to generation."
17. Notice how our King took
office. (Zech 9:9) “Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of
a. A. W. P. says: "How different was that from the imposing splendour assumed by earth’s sovereigns! what a contrast was His ass from their magnificent chariots
and state-coaches!
b.
“How plainly did the poverty and meanness of Christ’s regal
appearance intimate that His kingdom was not of a temporal kind! The Maker of
heaven and earth, the Lord of angels, disdained such things as are highly
esteemed among men."
18. Mt Henry says: "This “kingdom which cannot be moved” is but another name for
“those things which cannot be shaken” that “remain” of (v. 27) : it is the substance
and reality of what was a type under the Mosaic
economy."
19. It is not, like the Jewish
dispensation, to give place to another, nor is there any power that can destroy
it." (Mt
16:18).
a.
Barnes Notes: "It has now
endured for 1800 ) (2000) years,
amidst all the revolutions on earth, and in spite of all the attempts which have
been made to destroy it; and it is now as vigorous and stable as it ever was.
The past has shown that there is no power of earth or hell that can destroy
it, and that in the midst of all revolutions this
kingdom still survives. Its great principles and laws will endure on earth till
the end of time, and will be made permanent in heaven. This is the only kingdom
in which we can be certain that there will be no revolution; the only empire
which is destined never to fall."
20. Christians will not trust in
a roll of duck tape;
but rather in the Lord our God.
a.
B. H. Carroll says: "Everything relating to the old
covenant was shaken, and soon, in the destruction of
b.
As
Daniel prophesied, the kingdom set up by the God of heaven would be
an everlasting kingdom and would
never pass to another people.
1.
(Dan 4:3) “How
great are his signs! and how mighty are
his wonders! his kingdom is
an everlasting
kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to
generation.”
21. LET US.....SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY: "A saint
is not one who serves God in order to be forgiven, but one who, having found
forgiveness, serves God in love and liberty as a forgiven soul, and with an
enlarged heart."
22. John Gill says: "“let us hold it”, as the
Ethiopic version renders it; let us hold the Gospel fast, and a profession of
it:"
23. Barnes notes: "let us hold fast the grace or favour which we have received in being admitted
to the privileges of that kingdom."
24. Family Bible Notes: "Serve God; perseveringly, to whatever
troubles it may expose us. Godly fear; having respect to all
God’s commandments."
a.
(Ps 119:6)
“Then
shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy
commandments.”
b. (Jer 32:40) “....I
will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from
me.”
25. LET US HAVE GRACE...A. W. P. says: " Our King came into this world
lowly, riding upon an Ass, (Zech 9:9)
a.
“To subdue hearts, not to conquer
kingdoms;
b.
“To
bestow the riches of His grace to poor and needy sinners,
c.
“Not,
like Solomon, to heap up gold and silver and precious
stones;
d.
“To
save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him,
e.
“Not
to spread ruin and desolation. over countless
provinces (as did Ceasar, Charlmagne, Napoleon.
f.
“To be surrounded with an army of martyrs, not an army of soldiers;
g.
“To
hold a court
where paupers, not princes, are freely welcome”
1.
J. C. Philpot said: "Only
those favoured with true spiritual discernment will be
able to perceive what the
real honours
and glories of
the Lamb consist of."
26. Whereby we may serve.....The
true spirit of service: —
1.
C. H. S. said: “I once saw
a beautiful device and motto painted on the walls of a Sabbath-school. It was an
ox standing between an altar and a plough, with the words underneath, “Ready for either.” The altar represented
suffering, and the plough serving; and the ox stood ready to be laid on the
altar or to be yoked into the plough, equally ready for suffering or serving, as
the owner wished. We should ask God to make us ready for
either.
2.
John Gill says: "Serve God,
not a creature, nor the elements of this world, the ceremonial law,
and its rites: nor is he to be served in any form, only in a spiritual way.”
27. Acceptable service: Our prayer should ever be that one
day we shall hear Him say:
“Well done, thou good and faithful
servant.”
a. It is not
the man with the most money, the finest home, the largest number of
friends. "The Richest Man" is the faithful steward to whom God
says, "Well Done." He has wealth beyond the
material
possessions of life.
His riches endure forever.
b.
How faithful are you with the money
God has given to you? God honors those that honor
him.
c. "The reward of a
thing well done is to have done it." --Ralph
Waldo Emerson
28. Of too many it shall be said of them as of Cain of
old: “Unto Cain and to his offering the Lord had not
respect.”
29. C. H. S. said: "Some, like the Pharisees of
old, give alms only to be seen of men; they sound a trumpet before them that they
may have praise of men. Verily, I say unto
you, they have their reward."
30. Many, Like Jehu cry out: (2
Kings
31. C. H. S. again said: "Better far the
two mites dropped into the treasury unobserved of all but the great Master
himself, than all the wealth that we could possibly bring if we made the
offering with divided intent."
a.
(Mk
32. With Reverence and godly
fear.
a.
(Lev
b.
(Lev
26:2) "Ye
shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD."
c.
(Mat
d.
(Mk 12:6)
“Having
yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him
also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my
son.”
1.
Robert Hall once remarked,
when
criticizing the habit of a lady addicted to easy, familiar talk of
the Divine Being: “It is a great mistake to affect this kind of familiarity with
the King of kings, and speak of Him as though He were a next door neighbour, from the pretence of
love.”
2.
John Gill says: "With reverence of the majesty of God,
with shame for sin, and with a sense of
unworthiness:"
Conclusion: (Psa
1.
(Ps 5:7) “But as for me, I will come
into thy house in the multitude
of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy
temple.