That which cannot be shaken

We are living in an exciting time. Everything seems to be moving at a rapid pace. Local Churches are preaching end-time messages. Church members are urged to study the last Book of the Bible - Revelation. A pastor said the more times you read Revelation, the more you will be blessed. The blessings you are going to recieve is proportionate to the number of times you read. So why not do nothing else but continuely read Revelation? Of course this is not true. Even people of the secular world are talking about the end of the world. Even Hollywood comes out with a movie recently concerning the year 2012. To many people the end of the world comes in 2012. Of course there is no Biblical basis. Search the internet and you will be amazed to read about what the people of the world and so-called Christians are talking about. There is nothing but total confusion. But God is in full control! While the whole world is worrying about the immediate future, Chrisitians are called to wait eagerly for the coming of their Lord:

The writer of Hebrews said: "... so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart form sin, for salvation" (Heb. 9:28, NKJV, emphasis added).

Paul said: "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself" (Phil. 3:20, NKJV, emphasis added).

Paul also said: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:11 - 13, emphasis added).

Notice that, while "eagerly" waiting for the coming of our Lord, we need to live a godly and sober life - "denying ungodlness and worldly lust."

True Christians who will be the Bride of Christ are eagerly waiting for Lord Jesus Christ who will take His Bride very soon (Please refer to many of my measages concerning the Bride of Christ.) But, before that time comes, God is in the midst of shaking all things.

The Kingdom of God cannot be shaken

The writer of Hebrews said: "See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 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 heaven.' The phrase, 'Yet once more.' indicates the removal of what is shaken - that is, created things - so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for indeed our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:25 - 28, NRSV, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. God is shaking both earth and heaven.

2. The purpose of shaking is to remove things that can be shaken, so that only things that cannot be shaken may remain. Things cannot be shaken are the things of God and His Kingdom.

3. God is removing all things and all kingdoms created by men. The writer is contrasting things created by men, which are temporal and all things created God which are eternal.

4. The Kingdom of God, which cannot be shaken, remains. The Kingdom of God is permanent, unchanging and eternal in nature and no power of earth or hell can destroy it.

5. Because of the above facts, we need to fear and give reverence to God - He is a consuming fire!

God is shaking the Church

Ideally, the Church of Jesus Christ, being the Body of Christ, cannot be shaken. The reason being - the Kingdom of God is in the true Church and also in individual Christian believers that make up the Body of Christ. Similarly, the true Church is the temple of the Holy Spirit and so are individual believers the temple of the Holy Spirit. But God is shaking the Local Church to find out whether it is built by man or God. Our God is a just and awesome God. If the Church can stand the shaking, not only God is please, but also the Church will come out stronger.

Jesus said to Peter: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).

Notice that the Church belongs to Christ, and is built by Him. It is not built by Peter or any other man, It is built by the Rock - the divine revelation (the petra) and confession given to Peter. The Rock is Christ Himself (Isaiah 28:16). The confeasion given by Peter was - "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). The gates of Hades shall not prevail against the Church that is built by Christ. In other words, the true Church will not be overcome by the enemies. This is a promise that has been remarkably fulfilled.

Look around you and you will see that many so-called local churches are built by men who called themselves pastors. These men are building their own kingdoms. God has nothing to do with such churches. This type of man-built churches will be shaken and found wanting.

A mega man-built local church that has been shaken

The leadership of a well known mega Church has been accused of mismagement of funds. A group of church members (about 300 of them) who called themselves "a transparency group" is demanding for accountability and transparency over the use of church funds from the Church Board of deacons led by the Senior Pastor. This group even lodged a police report over that matters. The feud between this group and the Church Board are trading accusations over various issues. This has been reported by a local newspapers.


The disagreement, among others, includes the rising construction costs of a Church Convention Centre. This group of church members alleged that there is a transfer of substantial funds from the Church into the accounts of the personal ministry headed by the Senior Pastor without members' knowledge. In other words, the Senior Pastor is accused of channeling the money for his personal use. As a result of this shaking, the following things happen:

1. Dwindling congregation at the Church.

2. Resignation of a deacon.

3. Financial disaster - not enough funds to complete the Convention Centre.

4. Bad testimonies.

Obviously there are many unbiblical practices here. Let me just mention three here:

1. The Senior Pastor has not been given a chance to explain.

2. Making a police report over seemingly misappropriate of Church funds is not the way to solve Church problems. The right way is come to God, seek His face and pray.

"If My people who are called by My name will himble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14).

Notice that the healing of the land is closely related to the healing of the Church.

3. The leadership of the Church is running the Church using world system - forbidden by the Scripture.

Whether the Senior Pastor is guilty or not is not the issue. Only God knows his heart. But one thing is certain - the leadership of the Church has grieved the Holy Spirit!

Paul said: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:30 - 32).

Nothing can be clearer!

Covering of sins

Since the main Church has been shaken, should the pastors of other small Churches of the same denomination cover the sins of the main Church and keep quiet about it? Shouldn't they let other congregations know about it and to bring it to the Lord in prayer in Church prayer meetings? It is true to talk about it is gossip. But to pray for those involved is restoration.

Paul said: "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light" (Eph. 5:8 - 13, emphasis added).

Paul said to Timothy: "Do not receive an accusation against an elder execpt from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear" (1 Tim. 5:8 - 13, emphasis added).


The Scripture is very clear. As Christians, we are light in the Lord and therefore we must walk as children of light. It follows that we must expose any hidden sins of darkness. We must rebuke believers (pastors and elders included) in the presence of others so that all other believers may fear. The word "rebuke" denotes to reprove or to reprehend. It means that there should be a public statement of the nature of the offence, and such a censure as the case demanded. It extends to only spiritual censures. There is no power given to the Church of inflecting any form of punishment.


Peter said: "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'" (1 Peter 4:7, 8, emphasis added).


Seeing that the Lord is coming soon, we need to watch and pray. We need to love one another fervently to the extent that we pray for one another so that everyone will turn away from sinning.


James said: "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19, 20).


There is an apparent paradox in the above passages of Scripture. We need to understand that "covering of sins" does not mean condoning sins. It means, despite our brother's sin, we forgive him and pray for his restoration. By doing so, our brother, although he knows that he was wrong, is convicted of his sins and he is likely to repent.


Pastors in the eyes of Jesus


Let us study the introductory Chapter (Chapter One) of the Book of Revelation (I am using the KJV). In this Chapter you can see nine pictures of Jesus. And, from the "great voice" (Verse 10) that John heard, we can infer the importance of pastors in the eyes of our Lord Jesus. Let us look at the nine pictures of Jesus (nine is a number of completeness, finality and fulness):


1. Jesus was "like unto the Son of man," clothed with a long garment (Verse 13). This speaks of Jesus being the High Priest of His people.


2. Jesus was "girt about the paps with a golden girdle." In Bible times a golden girdle was worn only by the king. Thus, the girdle around Jesus' chest symbolizes His positon as the King of kings.


3. "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow" (Verse 14). That means Jesus is not only pure and righteous, but also omniscient. White hair usually means one has reached the hightest point of wisdom of life. "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness" (Proverbs 16:31).


4. Jesus' "eyes were as a flame of fire" (Verse 14). It speaks of judgment of Jesus - His eyes are able to penetrate the corrupt thinking we may have in our minds.


5. Jesus' "feet (were) like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace" (Verse 15). Brass, throughout the Bible implies judgment.


6. Jesus' voice was "as the sound of many waters" (Verse 15). That is the voice of none other than the Creator, who speaks to us, to His creation, with the same voice He used in the days of creation.


7. Jesus "had in His right hand seven stars" (Verse 16). I will try to expound this later.


8. "Out of His (Jesus') mouth went a sharp two edged sword" (Verse 16). The Word that proceeds out of the mouth of Jesus Christ is indeed a sword (Heb. 4:12). The Word is a surgical knife God uses to save our lives.


9. Jesus' countenance (face) "was as the sun shineth in his strength" (Verse 16). The full strength of sunshine means overflowing vitality. Whoever comes to Jesus will receive the shining light that radiates from His face and will be filled with the joy of the Lord to the fullest.


The Seven stars in the right hand of Jesus


Now, what are the seven stars held by Jesus in His right hand? I believe the seven stars signify the seven pastors of the the seven Churches in Asia Minor. From this Verse (16) we can understanding how close pastors are to the Heart of Jesus Christ. Their position is immensely honorable and high before Him. But, pastors who entered the ministry without a divine calling - perhaps through the influence of their parents, relatives or friends - are not the stars laid upon His palm. They are fallen stars. Those who pastor only for a profession, establish numerous churches that follow a secular direction will not please the Lord. Those who follow these pastors are let down a side path, not established by Him. I believe the person who pastors the mega man-built church that I mentioned earlier is a "fallen star!"