"Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken" weekly devotional with Pastor Michael Petit

Hebrews 12:26-29 ESV
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” [27] This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. [28] Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, [29] for our God is a consuming fire.
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If I were to ask you if your life or a life of loved one has been shaken in 2020 or 2021 for most of us the answer would be yes. I honestly think the country has been shaken or maybe still be shaken by the Lord. Do you believe the Lord will do this? Read from the Book of Haggai.

Haggai 2:6-7 ESV
For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. [7] And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

God will disrupt things here on earth to reveal his eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken.
 
Hebrews 12;28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Why would God do this? The American Church has become extremely comfortable, entertainment focused, insulated, and divided within the body of Christ. I believe God has shaken up the earthly things. Christians have forgotten that God reigns over class, race, politics, and culture. God has shaken us through Covid, racial divide, elections, Presidents, genders, socialism, and the battles with our culture. We have received a Kingdom that cannot be shaken and yet we as followers of Christ put more focus on our opinions and beliefs, and we stop pointing people to Christ and His Kingdom. God is in control not us. I have heard more opinions on mask, vaccines, Fauci, Racism, Biden, Trump, Critical Race Theory, Border Crisis, Election Fraud, Left, Right, Police, Gender, and this is just in the church. This turns people away from the church, it does not draw people to Christ. I know it is so easy to focus on certain topics and have our opinion heard. But does this point people to Jesus and His Kingdom? Where is love, peace, and perfect harmony of the body?  

Colossians 3:14-17 ESV
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [17] And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

What would your life look like if you just turned off the social networks, news, and the phone for a week?
 
We see the people in the Book of Nehemiah turn back to the Lord. They get back to worship, word, confession, and prayer. They had been shaken up, they were building the wall in one hand and have their sword ready in the other hand to stop attacks. Their lives were in danger daily the enemy wanted to stop the work of the Lord. The wall is done and the city Jerusalem is being transformed. They were obedient to God, His word and they even confess their sin and revival has come. God revived his people. Remember revival is to revive the people of God. 
  
Nehemiah 10:28-29 ESV
“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, [29] join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and his statutes.

In Nehemiah 10 they were separating themselves for the work of the temple of God. They begin to remove the things of the world that would hinder them. They dedicated themselves to the Law of God. Is there something you need to separate from, maybe a sin pushing from the Lord? Allow God to shake those worldly things that hinder our relationship with Him. We need too. It is so easy to be divided today, but when the people of God cannot get along, we have a hold of some things of this earth that need to go.

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

You know I have wrinkles in my life. I put it on daily like a dress shirt it looks like I slept in it, yet God is ready come steam and press out all that stuff that needs to go. The pride, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness and more. Why? God loves us, He cares about His children, He is jealous God, a consuming fire. He wants to bless us, and for us to walk in obedience with Him.  

Hebrews 12:29 ESV for our God is a consuming fire.
 
 
I am going to attach a video from Dr. Tony Evans that inspired this devotional, I will tell you it is not an easy teaching to watch he touches on some sensitive topics that need to be touched on. Dr. Evans shared this teaching at the National Radio Broadcast Conference. Watch it I really hope you will.
God Bless
Pastor Michael Petit