See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25 – 29.
If there is any reason that made Christ to suffer for sins, the just for the unjust that he might bring us back to God, it is just on this one thing: that we might escape the wrath of God to come upon the world of ungodly men: to spare and keep us away from the terror of God describes as the fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God who is also portray as a consuming fire. Hebrews 10:31. The nemesis, perdition and ruination of a backslider who has once put his hand into the plough but look back in Christ is determined and settled (now the just shall live by faith: but if any man drawback, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:38 – 39), but the sorer punishment of worldliness and ungodly lifestyle of a regenerate soul is unimaginable in the blackness of darkness. Our present salvation in Christ Jesus position us as heirs of the eternal unshakable kingdom promised by God to those that loves him, while his holy spirit is poured upon us to help us in our walk, and to teach and guide us to walk worthy of God unto all pleasing, increasing in the fruit of the spirit which is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; proving what is acceptable unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:10), lest anyone should ignorantly be worshiping and serving a God they do not know or fully understand. To prove and know what is acceptable unto Lord is the first step to seek for grace to serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear in your understanding of what is expected of you by God, not what is generally accepted or perceived to be right by others to serve God in your walk with him – be you not unwise, but understanding what the will of God is. Ephesians 5:17. But if you don’t know what the will of God is (sanctification, submission, rooted and grounded in the word of God, to work out your salvation with fear and trembling in obedience and personal holy spirit’s guidance into the purposes of God etc), how can you prepare yourself to serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear? Is Christ the minister of sin who has died to redeem us from all iniquity? Should anyone be holding the truth in unrighteousness and hope to escape the wrath of the living God, though they are called by his name? Where then is the fruit of our daily prayer to hallow (sanctify) his name if our comportment and lifestyle is not providing the answer? If we are not willing and determined to endure sound doctrine (I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears: and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:1 – 4), but we seek for refuge and false comfort and assurance from the sweet words of the pernicious ways of false and flattering teachers and pastors (but there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbers not. 2 Peter 2:1 – 3), how do we serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear? Whosoever speaks truth shows forth righteousness (Proverbs 12:17): we should love the truth and speak the truth as the truth is in Christ Jesus: to defend the truth, live out the truth, and to grow in it (then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Matthew 23:1 – 4) if we are to serve the God of truth without iniquity acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Has the Lord not come into the world for the sake of truth? Was Christ not hated for speaking the truth, and was crucified for it? The truth was crucified, but it rose again from the dead to prove that there is nothing anyone can do against the truth but for the truth. 2 Corinthians 13:8. Note: we should not only be honoring God with our lips to worship and to bless his holy name, but our spiritual walk in a renewed moral comportment as new creatures walking in the newness of life should testify to our deep respect and admiration we have for God either Jewish and of the Gentile believer. Galatians 6:15.
God has spoken from heaven and testified of his beloved Son (Hebrews 1: 1 – 3) and he was in Christ Jesus reconciling the whole world unto himself, not counting their sins unto them anymore (therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 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; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Hebrews 2:1 – 4): but how shall we escape if we heed not the voice of him that came down from heaven to earth to speak to us to receive and accept the free gift of salvation and righteousness that Christ should be formed or reproduced in us. The salvation in Christ should not be taken for granted, while we are enjoying the fellowship with the Father, we should be thoughtful, sober and dilligent in our walk in all holy conversation (seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you. 2 Peter 3:10 – 15) in preparation for the possession of the unmovable kingdom.
There are four key words I want us to retain this morning from our text which are (a) we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken (b) to have grace © to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (d) because our God is a consuming fire. The questions are what is reverence and godly fear?Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire. God is known as the God of all grace (John 1:16. 1 Peter 5:10) which means that grace varies, and there are many or different categories, levels and phases of grace for godly, holy purposes and accomplishments (1 Corinthians 15:10) and for the perfection of the saints in all the will of God. Colossians 4:12. Sometimes, grace is measurable according to the service or work given to individual to be accomplished (having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6 – 8) on earth. And generally speaking, there is immeasurable grace available for all to obtain that we might attain unto divine standard set before us in the expectations of God in such the grace of God that brings salvation, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11 – 14. The grace spoken here is an obtainable immeasurable divine ability and capacity to meet up with God’s holy standard and demands for all and sundry who are called to be saints (1 Corinthians 1:2), saved and sanctified in Christ Jesus, and are expected to live as becomes saints (Ephesians 5:3 – 5): to be dead to sin, crucified to the flesh and to the world, even as Christ Jesus, who by the grace of God, tasted death for us all. Hebrews 2:9. This is the unlimited grace of God which is made available through consistent prayer for all to obtain, irrespective of our different position of responsibility (1 Corinthians 9:27), spiritual authority and stewardship in the kingdom (seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14 – 16) from the least to the greatest to help us in the time of need: to become all that we are called to be in him until we reach the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ — unto a perfect man. We are all compassed with infirmity (Hebrews 5:3) but the provision of grace is made available for everyone in the kingdom to meet up with God’s standard of righteousness and true holiness we are saved to become and live in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:24 – 32) through the power of the spirit of grace that dwells in us as we continue to cleanse ourselves from all the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1.
God has no favorites among men, but everyman that fears him and do his will and works righteousness and righteously in every nation is accepted of him (Acts 10:35): he will judge and reward everyman according to his ways and works; therefore, we must serve and live in reverent fear of him during our time here as temporary residents.1 Peter 1:17. Should they which are redeemed with incorruptible precious blood of the everlasting covenant (wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13 – 16) continue to live in a corruptible lifestyle, whereby despising the spirit of grace and counting the blood of the covenant wherein they are sanctified as an unholy thing (Hebrews 10:29) not be counted worthy of double punishment from God, the judge of all? Has he not prepared the blackness of darkness (worst place in hell) for the unworkable — ungodly men who are turning the grace of God unto lasciviousness, denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus who has bought them by his unblemished blood? Jude 1:13. Indeed, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, says the Lord. For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, the evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. Amos 9:8 – 10.
Yet once more, the Lord will not only shake the earth to remove it, but the heavens with all the elements therein shall be burnt altogether with fervent heat (knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein the righteous people dwell. 2 Peter 3: 3 – 7: 11 – 12), but whosoever does the will of God shall abide forever in the unshaken new heaven and earth when the saints of the most high shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. Daniel 7:18. 1 John 2:15 – 17. Revelation 21:1.
How is your representation of Christ in the world? Is your lifestyle contrary to, or in conformity to the written epistle of Christ? Philippians 1:27. 2 Corinthians 3:2 – 3. Is your lifestyle in anyway a stumbling block of iniquity to yourself and of offense to others; or, of blessing and inspiration to others within and outside the church? Hebrews 6:7 – 8. Have you overcome the corruption that is in the world through lusts? Have you overcome the lusts of the flesh, and the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life as you are increasingly growing in humility and holiness in all manner of conversation, even as he who has called you is meek and lowly in heart and holy? What are the steps you have taken before the Lord by godly sorrow to correct and overcome your unrighteousness before him in whom there is no unrighteousness? Where is the carefulness godly sorrow has wrought in you? Where is your repositioning to do the right thing if you have learnt wisdom and uprightness of heart from your fall by godly sorrow? Where is your indignation against that sin and your trembling heart of fear, fast and weeping before God by godly sorrow? Where is your vehement desire, yea, your first zeal, yea, your revenge to live righteously and godly afterward! How do you serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear if these factors of godly sorrow are not in your life? Jeremiah 14:10. Psalms 119:101. 2 Corinthians 7:9 – 10.
When you are not praised and commended for the good works you have done, how is your response and motivation to continue, instead of being weary in doing good? Are your works indeed done as unto God because you serve the Lord Christ? Are they done to be seen and praised by men like the Pharisees hypocrites? Colossians 3: 23 – 24. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out from the mouth of God doth he live. What is your measure of regard (to have or show respect or concern for. to think highly of; esteem. to take into account; consider. to look at; observe) for his word? Isaiah 66:1 – 2. The regard you have for the eternal word of God determines the measure of your godly fear before him (therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. Psalms 119:128): this is the reverence and godly fear requires of you by the Lord. The fear of the Lord is to depart from sin – let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shake his hands from holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Isaiah 33:13 – 17. 2 Timothy 2:19.
God will make good of all his word – promises, good or bad. If you do believe in the fire that burnt the bush and the bush was not consumed, you can be sure that the vengeance of eternal fire against the world of ungodly men and women in the church and in the world is imminent, and the fixed gulf (Luke 16:26) shall be bridged and reopened to give access to the place where the saved and redeemed shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against the fearful, terrible and the living God: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Isaiah 66: 24.