Building On A Solid Foundation Series: Wise Or Foolish Builders (Pt 3)

God is once again, shaking things!

At a time when God is shaking the nations we need to strengthen our foundation by receiving and obeying the “gospel” message.” The Lord says in Hebrews 12:26-29, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The word “once more” indicates the removing of what can be shaken, meaning created things, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

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

These passages are sobering because they speak of the shaking of the heavens and of the earth. There is something chilling about the thought of the shaking of the earth. When the writer of these passages speak of God’s shaking of the heavens and the earth he reminds the readers that once God shook the earth when He spoke from Mount Sinai shook the very foundations of the world (Exodus 19:16-19).

The writer of Hebrews is quoting from the prophet Haggai, reminding them that there would come another shaking. “Yet once more,” God says, “I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” (Haggai 2:7)

What the Spirit was saying is that, during this whole age between the first and the second comings of Jesus, there would come repeated cycles of perilous times when God would shake the earth and the heavens, and things would be upset and confused, times of upheaval. The One who does the shaking is God Himself. God shakes up the earth, shakes up the people.

This truly brings tears of joy to my spirit because in August 2004, I sensed a word from Lord regarding the restoration of the church. The Lord said to me. “Yet, now be strong [alert, courageous], saith the Lord and work for I am with you according to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt [the world], so My Spirit remaineth among you. FEAR NOT! (The words in brackets are mine.)

Later, I was again reminded of this word while reading an excerpt from Cleansing and Igniting the Prophetic: An Urgent Wake Up Call by Jeremiah Johnson. I didn’t have understanding of how or when this might unfold, yet I believed a time would come when God would bring restoration to His Church.

In the Book of Ezra we see the work of restoring the house of God ceased until Haggai and Zechariah the prophets started prophesying. Ezra 6:14 says, “the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo.” They we’re able to build and prosper as they received the prophetic Word of the Lord. This is a prophetic parallel of where the church is today. Prophets are arising just as Haggai and Zechariah to awaken and inspire God’s people to finish the work the Lord began.

This spiritual nudge inspires me to keep ministering the Word of Truth that will be building up God’s people and in restoring God’s house. We are “like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5)

In May 2018, I wrote a blog post, “The Glory of God” in which write that the light within our nation has grown darker. While the world grows darker, Scripture says that the glory of God will increase upon God’s people (Isaiah 60:1-2). Isaiah said it clearly: “For the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord shall rise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you” (Isa. 60:2). A time of deeper darkness is coming, yet at the same time, the glory of God will be seen on His people in an unprecedented way.

As I was going through my emails a few days ago I came across several emails from ministries I follow. One email was inviting me to participate in a Bible Study taping on Haggai. Unfortunately, it was in Missouri and I couldn’t attend. The other was talking about the Prophet Haggai and the great shaking that is happening in the earth and with America at its enter.

Haggai’s words are powerfully applicable to our day. He spoke to a struggling remnant that was attempting to build God’s house in the days of Cyrus.  “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2:6-9)

The “desire of nations” is Jesus and the “glory” is nothing less than a great end-time outpouring. Again the prophet closes saying and adds a detail: “…. I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.  I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms..” (Haggai 2:21-22) This explains what is shaking – “the throne of kingdoms.” The spiritual forces aligned with corrupt rulers. God is shaking “thrones” in the spirit in order to advance His kingdom in the earth.

Hebrews 12:28 says, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.” Let us be grateful? Why? Because shaking opens up a path to advance into the unshakable kingdom! God is both moving and removing as He shakes up the status quo.

May the grace, joy, and peace of God be yours through Jesus Christ our loving Lord. To Him be glory, now and forever.