🐝 Shaken 🍯

The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.

Hebrews 12:27 (KJV) And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

This word, that is all you and I have, is God's Word.

John 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

In a bee colony when you pull a frame of honey out you don’t want the bees but you do want the honey. So you shake the frame downward with a small jolt and the bees will fall off. You are then able to remove the frame of honey. As I read this verse I have to ask myself what do I have in my life that can’t be shaken? Can my marriage be shaken? I would have to say yes to that. Oh it will not be shaken by a divorce. But one day it will be shaken by our enemy, death. That enemy will take this life away and that day is coming for us all. But what do you and I have that can’t be shaken? I can’t answer for all only myself. So what do I have that can’t be shaken? My Faith in God. My Faith in God’s Word. Death is a fearful enemy. Listen to what my close friend said. He told me that the doctor said he was going to die. Then he said but the good part is it’s not today the doctor said I have about a year; that’s good news he said. Not long ago he told me that death had become his friend. I said oh my how could that be? He said because before I get to heaven I must lose to the enemy death. Know why he could say that? Because he has something that can’t be shaken. What’s that? God’s promises he has in his heart.  

Luke 1:1 (KJV) Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Luke 1:2 (KJV) Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

How much of His Word do you and I have hidden in our heart? 

Then there was this other lady who was crying out for help as she spoke loudly. You could hear her clearly as she said “I don’t want to die.” Here are two stories of two different people. One looks at death as a friend because he had something that death could not shake. A woman who was begging for help that would never come. All she had was shaken and no hope in sight and death was on its way. The Apostle Paul said examine yourselves.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Examine yourselves, Prove you own selves, Know your own selves. For what reason? That Jesus Christ is in you. You and I need that which cannot be shaken. Luke 21:33 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

🌬️The Voice🦻🏻

Never put passion before principle even if you win you lose. 

Hebrews 12:26 (KJV) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Two words jumped out at me when I read that verse. First, the word “voice” Sound or audible noise uttered by the mouth.

Second word “shake” move irregularly

Whose voice did what? Shook the earth! When was this and whose voice was that powerful. Let us go back to the book of Exodus where we read in Exodus 19:9 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

Exodus 19:17 (KJV) And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

Exodus 19:18 (KJV) And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

Here we read where God by His Voice shook a mountain. The shaking of that mountain was so visible and noticeable and then they heard the voice of God. Wow what a day that must have been. I have heard people say if God would just speak to me audibly I would have no problem believing. You think so? If you were to keep reading you will read yes the people were fearful of what they heard. The question is how long did their fear last? There was a man I know who almost died because of his drinking. He said “I’m done drinking and that scared me.” How long did that fear last? A short 2 weeks! Well the same happens here. It wasn’t long before those people who heard God and witness the shaking of the mountain decide to make their on god and worship it. It would be no different today if you or I heard God speak. Never forget the enemy who wants to destroy you and I. People see angels or so they say. They hear others say you are fine, God will take you to heaven when the time comes. Be careful about feelings, what you see and what others tell you. Remember what faith is  Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Seeing is not believing but evidence enables the mind to see truth. Look past what you see and look for the evidence. Now hearing, well do you not understand the older ones get the less they are able to hear? That’s why people wear hearing aids. Well if God spoke you may not hear what He said. Well I need something that is not going to be shaken don’t you? Like a strong foundation.  

Luke 6:48 (KJV) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

A strong foundation like the Word of God which anyone can read.

Luke 21:33 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

The winds will blow hard in our life that you can rest assured. The problems will come and they will shake your life. We will lose many things from a pocket knife or purse which will be much easier to overcome than many other losts. I lost my dad, my hero, my advisor, the one I listen to, the one I looked up to. On that day, after talking with him by phone, the enemy of death came and took him, I was 37. But there have been many things and people I have suffered lost in my life. But I do have the promises of my Heaven Father; First that He would never leave me. 

Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Not only will He never leave me He also said that He would never lose me. John 10:28 (KJV) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Don’t give in to this worlds draw, don’t let the sounds and sights get you so consumed that you let go what you know is right.

Hebrews 10:23 (KJV) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Yes I’m holding on to my profession of faith because I have seen the evidence and this world has nothing to compare. If today I had all this world could offer it would be nothing to what is a head. I'm not selling out, I'm holding on to what I know. Mark 8:36 (KJV) For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

 Read the Book!

Hebrews 10:7 (KJV) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Hid the Book

Psalms 119:11 (KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Know the Book

Matthew 7:15 (KJV) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:16 (KJV) Ye shall know them by their fruits. 

💣Escape🧨

 Scripture is God's Truth to mankind in every generation, and it never grows old . . . it's timeless!

Hebrews 12:25 (KJV) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Who is this we are not to refuse? Verse 24 tells us. Hebrews 12:24 (KJV) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Rewind back to the book of Genesis when we read of the first sacrifice. Abel brings forth a blood sacrifice Genesis 4:4 (KJV) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but here in Hebrews we read of Jesus and His sacrifice which is better. 

Hebrews 12:25 (KJV) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: To refuse not means “decline to accept what is offered ” missed opportunity. I can look back over my life and see missed opportunities and I’m sure you can too. Something was offered to me and I said NO or declined to accept what was offered at the time. Here we read about the blood of Jesus Christ and about escaping. This reminds me of

Hebrews 2:3 (KJV) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; How will we escape if we neglect so great salvation? We won’t. Picture yourself in a burning building. You are on the fifth floor and all of a sudden a lift with a fireman waves for you to come. But you instead run out the door into the hallway and then are overtaken by the smoke and are consumed by the fire. You had an opportunity and refused it. There is no escaping. Those offers I had I refused and they are gone forever. Live this life and refuse Christ the gift of eternal life and just like those opportunities of the past will result in the failures of the present. Listen to what John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world,“ question:  who is in the world? We are the human race.

What does love do? It Gives!  “that he gave his only begotten Son,” God gave you and I a Gift; His son Jesus Christ. “that whosoever” Who are the whosoevers? We who are in the world. So the one qualification to receive this Gift of everlasting life is to be in the world. Not one word about being good or better or what you have done or didn’t do, just be in the world and here is an opportunity that we should not let slip by. “believeth in him” that word believe - When we believe upon the authority of another, we always put confidence in their accuracy. We believe God loves us beyond who we are or what we have done. I can never be too dirty for God; He loves we who are in the world. All we who are in the world have to do is “believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That’s simple, don't miss this great opportunity.

🚫Nothing Here To Compare📝

 

As long as there are people to inhabit the world, there will always be a dire need for truth and direction for living.

Hebrews 12:22 (KJV) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

The last post was about the law. The law has no mercy, you break, you pay, no exceptions. But here we read about coming into a heavenly Jerusalem with innumerable angels. Remember Verse one  Hebrews 12:1 (KJV) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Wherefore seeing we; who are the we? Would you say it was those who had placed their trust in the saving works of Christ Jesus? Why would I say that? Because if you keep reading in that verse you will see the word “sin.” I don’t know of any others that sin. The angels don’t, the dead don’t but you and I do. Keep reading and you will see “Jesus” Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Our Sin, Paid in full!

Before you and I could come we must know where we aren’t coming from; verse 18 tells us “For ye are not come ” Now I can see why to run this race that is before me with patience looking unto Jesus. Because I know that my sin debt is paid and I’m more than grateful for what Jesus has done for me. Yes, I’m going to run and while I run and endure that which is before me.

I know that one day, and I know not when I will enter into the City of the living God. I hope I have made myself plain. The other day I sat at a funeral of a man that I knew, a good man and a man of great faith. While I listened to his two sons preach his funeral with great boldness. I sat there in my seat thinking about where he was  and wanting to go myself. You see I’m nearing the end of my journey or race. I know in whom I have placed my trust; Jesus. As I look ahead to a place that I have read about and talked about and told others about and soon I’ll be there myself. Here’s what is strange: I know little about the place I’m going. But what I do know I got from my travel guide, my bible. First, it's a place like I have never seen before. My travel guide tells me in 

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, Oh my eyes have never seen anything like it. 

Second there will be sounds in the City of God that I have never heard “nor ear heard,”

Third there will be things that have never entered my heart “neither have entered into the heart of man,”

Fourth “the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Oh my, great things that only God can prepare. It’s much more than our little tin cup  minds can comprehend. Too many rejoice about streets of gold, walls of jasper, gates of pearls. Oh my that’s weak thinking, there is much much more that we know nothing about. Jesus told His disciples in John chapter 14 that He was going to prepare a place for them. What kind of place? Jesus didn’t say, Jesus just said a place. Now before that Jesus did say that there were many mansions. Jesus said that those mansions were already there and that He was going to prepare a place for them. So where Jesus is, they would be there too. If you think you know what heaven is like; think again, you don’t.

🤑Not Even A Dollar 💸

 Hebrews 12:18 (KJV) For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, Here’s another word picture. When the reader reads this their mind should remember a time such as this. A place of fear even Moses said “I exceedingly fear and quake” It was the mount where the law was given, the 10 commandments a law that was soon broken.  Why would God give such a law that couldn’t be kept? Great question? Many people hope that when they die that their good deeds will out way their bad deeds. If that were so then we first would have to know what good and bad were. How is that possible? The Apostle Paul explains it in Romans 7:7 (KJV) What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. God’s law is not sin. But instead it shows me what sin is and without God’s law I would have never known that lust was wrong. If we are to be judged on our good versus our bad we will lose. According to God’s Law we fail. Not long ago a man died who had some wealth more than the average person. He had a son that had two children and his son ran off and left his children when they were young for another woman. Their Grandparents raised those boys as their own. When the grandad wrote his last will and testament he gave the grandboys much and only left his son $1.00. The man' s dad told his son if he leaves his sons and runs off with that woman he will give his inheritance to his grandchildren. God’s law is not that merciful, if you break it you pay the price with no exceptions and no dollar. If you lie, steal, kill, commit adultery, mistreat your parents, dishonor God’s day, His Name, replace Him for another God. Then there is a penalty for our actions. God didn’t leave us helpless with no escape route 

Hebrews 2:3 (KJV) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; I noticed the word “great” Then I ask myself I wonder when the word great was first used in the New Testament and what was it saying was great? Are you ready?  

Matthew 2:10 (KJV) When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Exceeding great joy. Over what? A star? What’s so important about a star? It was a star that led the Wise Men to baby Jesus. Luke tells us more about this word “great” Luke 1:15 (KJV) He (Jesus)shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him (Jesus) the throne of his father David: How then shall we escape if we neglect, reject Jesus the payment for our sins?  Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Payment for sin is death! Accepting Jesus as my payment for my sins, Life. There is a lot I could write here like don’t forget we have an enemy that wants to destroy your faith, your learning more about Jesus your Savior. I would love to keep writing but your time is valuable and I thank you for reading my post. My hope and prayer is that you learn more about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Know Him and one day we will all see Him face to face. 

🤫Selling For A Double Cheeseburger🍔

  Ordinary folks telling the Extraordinary story of Jesus with Extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 12:15 (KJV) Looking diligently(not carelessly)  lest any man fail of the grace of God;   

Who wants to fail? We all have failures in our lives we are not proud of. The writer of the book of Hebrews is saying “don’t be careless, don’t think you are any different and for sure don’t get to thinking that God understands why and will make an exception for you.” Then he wrote about two things. #1- Fornication a sexual sin 

#2- Then an example about earthly things, selling out for earthly things.

Hebrews 12:16 (KJV) Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Remember the enemy is crafty and he wants you and I to be failures. Sex is a big business. According to earthweb.com The porn industry is worth approximately $97 billion. With $10 to $12 billion coming from the United States. But that’s not all, you and I see, hear or are a part of, sexual misconduct. From movies, TV programs and talking with others. This may put thoughts in our mind that we are being somehow cheated sexually so we look outside the marriage bed for greener pastures and pleasures. In the process we lose our families and the greener pasture turns brown. The enemy wins broken homes are easier to conquer, so the root goes on defiling others. Then there is Esau who sold out for a meal. What are we willing to sell out for? Whatever it is, it is way too cheap. For here it’s only a morsel (one morsel of meat). Are you willing to sell out for a double cheeseburger?

🫚Bitter Root🙊

Don't miss the good things God's doing focusing on the hard things.

Remember that after the correction and punishment and the fresh start. We still have an enemy that wants you and I to fail. Don't forget that our enemy is very crafty. He doesn’t like that you are living peacefully and walking up right and talking to our Heavenly Father and lifting up your hands. He hates that you have a song in your heart and once again you are singing Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual songs making Melody in your heart. Oh no, he has to get this stopped as soon as possible. Here’s how he can do it.

Hebrews 12:15 (KJV) Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Have you admired something someone had? Then you asked the question, where did you get that? I like it. Then they would tell you where they had gotten it. Then you might say I’m going to get me one. To which they might say “great it only cost me about 20 bucks I think.” What they just did was put a number in your mind. So off to the store you go only to find out that it was not 20 bucks at all but it was $80.00. Oh, that's 60 dollars more than you thought. That is the same tactic our enemy uses “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God” What is God’s Grace?

Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Don’t fly by this “the forgiveness of sins” No matter what sin, we have been forgiven. Grace is being given something we don’t deserve at the expense of someone else. We have been forgiven of our sins at the expense of Jesus Christ. But here comes our enemy in his crafty way. He not only wants your life back in bondage but as many others as possible by using me or you to do it. First we forget what God has forgiven us for. Then we notice something we don’t like in someone else. But instead of keeping quiet and remembering what God has forgiven us for we tell someone else about what we don’t like about Jim or Mike or whoever. Know what we have just done? We have now placed something in the heart about another. If they tell someone else and maybe add a little to it, it then becomes a root that spreads defiling many. Oh my it’s like that number that was placed within the mind. Now every time you see that awful sinful person you can only see their bad side. What’s wrong with that? Nothing except I/you forget what we have been forgiven of and instead of forgiving we become unforgiving toward another. That’s not what Jesus did and that’s not what we are to do either. I still remember it and it must have been 25 years or more now. Yes God has forgiven me and the man is in heaven today. But the lesson learned that morning is not forgotten. A man that had written me more than one bad check had written a book of poetry. As he went to his car to get me and the men I was having breakfast with his book; free of course. I made this statement “he might write good poetry but don’t take a check from him because more than likely it will be bad.” What did I do? I put a root of bitterness in those men's hearts. Because of me they more than likely never read his book and if they did you know what they remembered? The bad checks he had written to me. Be Careful about what we say about others. Don’t give the enemy ammunition to destroy others. 

Luke 11:4 (KJV) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

🙌🏻Lifted Hands Feeble Knees🦵

Hebrews 12:12 (KJV) Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

Here is the word “Wherefore” again. Remember what Webster said it meant? “For which reason”  that’s right.  In the verses before, there is correction and as bad as that might sound; for who likes to be corrected, punished? I sure don’t and especially when I was a kid. But after the punishment was over I had no more fear of being punished. Because of what you have just been through there is no more reason to be fearful of being punished. So for this reason “lift up the hands ” and those “feeble knees” which have not kneel in prayer, talking with your Heavenly Father now can kneel in prayer and pray to the Father. When I was in fear of being caught and of the punishment that would follow it was hard for me to look my dad in the eyes. So it is with my Heavenly Father. It’s hard to talk with Him in prayer because I know He knows. It is almost impossible to raise my hands in praise because I know He knows.  So what did this correction do? Hebrews 12:13 (KJV) And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. It put me back on the right track or path and let me know I was healed. The hiding is over, the shame is gone because my Heavenly Father has forgiven me. Live peacefully and Godly so others see the Lord in me.  

Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: