Latest / CraveMore / What Is The Unshakable Kingdom?
Transcript
- Victoria: you you Victoria Grant: Well, want to welcome you to Cravemore. I'm Victoria Grant alongside my husband Mark. And we are going to talk today about the unshakable kingdom of heaven. And before we get into that, we're gonna talk about a kingdom that does shake because Mark and I grew up in Southern California, and we both knew when the earth beneath our feet was shaking. And there are two quakes that come to mind that we both remember very well, actually. One, I was in the backyard with our three kids. I had my youngest in my arms and two of them were playing up on a hill. And this quake hits, well, I'm barefoot and I'm standing on concrete. And beneath my feet I feel the shifting of solid concrete. The foundation shifted before I knew anything was going on and it was very dramatic. Mm-hmm. Yes. And there was a second quake that we both remember really, really well, and that was the Northridge quake. Right. Mark, what do you remember about that quake? I remember, you know, as you said, we grew up in Southern California and so we experienced earthquakes from the time we were young kids. So d that was not new to us, but this one was memorable. It hit in January of nineteen ninety four, around four thirty in the morning we were asleep and it hit with such a jolt that it literally pushed us up out of bed and we immediately ran to our kids' rooms. the quake was measured at six point seven, which if you're familiar with quakes is very, very powerful. And so I went to the bedroom where our two older kids were, they were on bunk beds. Victoria went into where our youngest was. I physically braced myself against the bunk beds as they were swaying back and forth. Thank goodness the boys stayed asleep. But I braced myself against the wall so that they would not shake out of bed. but you went into our youngest room and did the same with the crib and the doors faced each other. And I remember you yelling out to me. I remember the doors were open and they were facing each other. I remember yelling to you, This one isn't stopping. So it was stronger, more violent, and it was longer. Yes. And so living on planet Earth, there are many places in the world where earthquakes are felt. Southern California was one of them. But at any given moment in our own personal lives, our worlds can shake without warning. some of us have received a diagnosis we weren't expecting. Some of us had said goodbye to loved ones that we just weren't ready to say goodbye to. And some of us, you know, we're in a marriage that is struggling and maybe it's going in a place that we hadn't planned. And that list goes on the earth will shake and it is going to happen without foreknowledge, without warning. Just like that earthquake, so the question is where do you go? What do you do when that earthquake hits? When all of a sudden things around you are shaking. Well, in Hebrews chapter twelve, verse twenty-eight, the Bible says that in Christ we have received an unshakable kingdom. Absolutely. Unshakable kingdom, even though what's happening around us is shaking. His kingdom doesn't shake. So it doesn't mean that we are ignorant or that we ignore the circumstances, ignore the emotions that come when those situations arise as you just described, Victoria. Emotions are real. And what is happening is real. But it also means that the situation that is happening on earth while it's shifting, there's more to it. You see, when our hope is on the firm foundation of the unshakable kingdom, which we're going to be talking about in depth when it's secured in that, God is there with you. You might feel alone, but it's not the case. It's not true. God is with you because he's not gonna leave you, he's not gonna leave us. Our story isn't finished. So as we talk about this unshakable kingdom, what is it? Well, the unshakable kingdom is God's kingdom. It's the kingdom of heaven. It's his sovereign rule and his sovereign activity over all creation, his authority and his authority over heaven, earth, and below the earth. And what we don't want to do is we don't want to rush past who the kingdom is about, who has rule and reign, because everything that we believe as Christians, This is a foundational truth for us. And sometimes when we are trying to bust out a life, right? Sometimes we get in a position where we want to grab control of our own life. But we just said that the kingdom, he rules and he reigns above and below. He reigns and rules it all. And yet sometimes we are trying to grab for control, which we know that's an illusion, right? We can think we're in control. But as Christians, our foundation is rooted in Jesus Christ. So that means we are submitting ourselves to the sovereign rule and reign of God. Because this is the truth. You and I, you and I, we cannot find a firm and secure footing in the kingdom of God if we are wrestling for control. And God is not going to give up control to me, to you. He is sovereign and he is not. going to share control with anyone. That's correct. And so how this goes as Christ followers, when our kingdom shakes, our little earthly kingdom shakes, we have to remember there's one king. He is the king that rules and reigns and has the power over sin, death, grave. Yes. And it's his kingdom. It's not ours. That's right. And there's something really important about this kingdom, Mark. It's what? Well, it's the duality of it. There's the now and the not yet. That's right. God's kingdom is a present kingdom, the now and the not yet, because we know that there will be a new heaven and a new earth and God will come and rule and reign forever and ever. But the kingdom of heaven now exists when there are people who truly submit their lives to God's rule and reign, as you just described. It's where loving God is the very focal point of our life. It's the center. Where faith is exercised both in the highs and the lows of our life, in some of those circumstances you described in the very beginning. And the kingdom exists in the now where God's word is elevated above our own thoughts, our own logic and our own powers, our own abilities. Correct. We also see the kingdom of God existing where people are committed to living out his grace and his mercy and his justice and his compassion. This is where we see the kingdom in the now, and we wait for the not yet, because that not yet is us fixing our eyes on Jesus, waiting for Christ's return. it's a tension between the now and the not yet. Yes, it is. we just recently experienced goodbye to a very dear friend. Well, it really wasn't goodbye. No goodbye. we will see you later because he is now in glory with the Lord. and he lived a a wonderful life. we had the opportunity to be present with him. And what was really capturing to both of us in this situation is that he simply said over and over and over, I want to be with my king. I want to see my king. I want to be with Jesus. his passion to be with his king led us right up to that point to where he was able to cross over into eternity with the Lord, but we remain here. But what a beautiful way to say the now and the not yet. We did get to see him live that out. And as he went home to be with the Lord, we stood around his bed in the ICU room and we sang hymns. And he said just before I died, don't be sad for me. Right. I'm going to see my king today. Right. And it made us think of the the passage in Philippians chapter one, verse twelve, where Paul said, To live is Christ, to die is gain. And so he exemplified that right up until where he was able to be with Christ. And in the same book, Philippians chapter three, verse twenty, Paul writes this that we are citizens of heaven, and don't miss that. We are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and we are waiting for him to return So that is the now and the not yet. And so through this podcast, we're going to keep returning back to this. And there's a reason for it. It is so important for us to understand that we are living in both worlds at one time, right? Because the truth of what we believe hinges on this. And so we just have to remind ourselves in our circumstances, the ones we talked about and the ones that we didn't list, that in the midst of those circumstances, we are still living in the tension of living in this fallen world, still waiting for Jesus. What does Matthew 7 tell us, Mark? Matthew seven, is where Jesus is describing a person who listens to the words of the Lord. Yeah. And not just listens, but obeys. Obedience is a key part of this duality. and he says, a wise person who built his house on a solid rock. And so he says in verse twenty-five that because the house is on solid rock. Though the rain comes and the torrents and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it was built on the bedrock. Our bedrock is Jesus Christ. Correct. And everything in us builds on that foundation and that biblical truth so that when those earth-shaking moments happen, our foundation is secure. it's on the foundation of Christ. And note that he says in this passage, not if these things will come When. But then in verse 26, he says just the inverse. He says, Anyone who hears my teachings and does not obey is foolish. He's like a person who builds a house on sand, and when the rains and the floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. And so we have a choice as we go through life. The foundation we lay is it on the bedrock of truth of Jesus Christ and his unshakable kingdom? Or Are we building it on sand that shifts here on earth? tomorrow are midterm elections here in this country. And the ads on TV have been vicious on both sides. There has been nothing godly or kind or uplifting about the ads we have been watching. conversations Are riddled with disdain for the political spectrum on either side. The mudslinging, the rock throwing has been pretty intense. And so what we're seeing is many people are expressing anxiety over the state of our nation and what is going to happen in these elections. And this is a perfect time, church. This is a perfect time to share. When the world shakes, what we are holding fast to, it is an unshakable kingdom. So whether your candidate wins tomorrow in these elections or whether they don't, your earth might feel like it's shaking, but root yourself back into Jesus Christ. We are not, as believers, we are not hoping in a political party. We are not hoping in worldly ideology. And we do not, as believers, listen to me, we do not want to have an unhealthy allegiance to political leaders or to a political party. Absolutely not. With our feet firmly planted on Christ, no matter what happens in these elections, we have to remember there is one throne. That's right. There's one king. His name is Jesus, and he has not given up that throne to anyone. or any party whatsoever. And it really makes us think of the words of that hymn, On Christ the Solid Rock I stand. yeah. All other ground is sinking sand. Absolutely. there's our cue for whatever happens. no matter what happens, we do not need to become Anxious depending on what happens in the future. Right. But where does that leave us in a world of gray tones and in a world where society has deviated from God's sovereign rule and reign. So where does this leave us? Well, Jesus speaks of this in John chapter 17 as he's speaking to his disciples, starting in verse 16, and he says, This, I have given them Thy word. So there's a cue right there. It's the word. And the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I, Jesus, am not of the world. I do not ask thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. So our call as believers is to find that balance. It's a very delicate balance and it requires us just being so close to the Lord. That godly balance of living in this temporary place. Yeah. Right. While not being of it. We are to be in it, but not of it. And that's a difficult line to live by. So, what's it mean? It means first and foremost, we have to be honest. We've got to be honest as to where do we have our feet planted? Are they planted in a worldly kingdom? Are we straddling a line a little bit? Like, okay, I've got my one foot here in Jesus' kingdom, but I kind of like this part of the world. And so we've split that line. And we've also got to ask ourselves. Who or what captivates our heart? What is capturing our affections? Where do we let those things drift to? And this is going to be a challenge for some of us. To whom do we pledge our allegiance? Is it to Jesus Christ in his kingdom? That's right. Or is it elsewhere? So again, why do we spend so much time here? It's because if we do not clearly establish the kingdom of heaven. And the rule and reign and authority of Jesus Christ, our foundation will always shift. And our hope is gonna rise and it's gonna fall with people and fallible systems. Did you catch what he said? Fallible systems. So here's the truth, right? We have earthly systems that we work within, and those systems are to be resources that help us bring about a more just society. But as believers, if we lose sight that these systems can be corruptible, then we stand a good chance of transferring our allegiance, our hope in our savior, to a government or to a political leader or to a particular party. So if we anchor ourselves to this corruptible foundation, We are going to shift. It's going to be sin for us because we're going to have an unholy allegiance to the world. Our emotions are going to rise and they're going to fall with who's in office. and I think what happens is we become perpetually disappointed. We can become disillusioned with the decisions being made that are contrary to what we believe and the motives of. other people that might take office that we don't appreciate. We understand. Listen, it doesn't take a rocket scientist. The Gale Force winds in this nation are blowing. They are. And they are blowing hard. And that's why we want to encourage you today to have your feet firmly planted and your heart rooted in this unshakable Kingdom. Paul writes that we are to pray for our leaders and we do, We recognize that God throughout scripture, puts kings in place. He raises kings, he lowers kings, he establishes government. What we are saying is that you have to be anchored to the kingdom of God first and foremost, so that nothing else shakes. And not to put your trust into places that are not of God. Psalm twenty verse seven says, Some nations boast of their chariots and of horses, but we boast in the name of our God. Psalm one forty six verses three through five. Do not put your confidence in powerful people. There is no help there for you. When they breathe their last, they return to earth and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. We are warned not to trust in earthly things. We are taught not to trust in military might, human wisdom, Jeremiah 17 in verse 5 says, Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans. Who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. Verse six says, They are stunted shrubs in the desert with no hope for the future. Do you think that's a clear picture of where we should be putting our faith and our hope? Without question, because scripture continually points our hearts back to the Lord, lest we rely on our own strength and wisdom or another person. Now, stay with us here because having said that, we do not believe that being in the world but not of it means that we simply abdicate our civil responsibilities. Actually, we believe the opposite. We believe that living in the church age, it's gonna cost us something to be standing up for the truth of God and for his kingdom. I believe as Christians, we must accept this call to share the gospel and to share the kingdom of heaven. And we're gonna have to boldly and courageously act. Acting, not sitting back on the sidelines. We're gonna act on behalf of our king. We do believe that Christians should play a role in civic affairs. So what does this mean for us? What does this mean for the church? Well, we do believe that we should enter civic responsibilities, but there's a warning that we should be entering them cautiously, thoughtfully, prayerfully. We need to exercise wisdom. We need to know where our identity lies. It cannot lie in anything but Jesus Christ. Where do we get our values from? Are they being shaped by the world or are our values biblical and being shaped by the word of God? And we have to ask ourselves before we accept civic responsibilities, where does our allegiance lie? Are we being controlled by the values of a political party? Are we adopting ideologies that are outside of Christ? As Christians, we're not to be motivated by greed or power or influence or money. We are to advance the kingdom of God So we have to ask ourselves if we're going to be involved civically, what moves God's heart? Scripture tells us That means here on earth, we can live out the things that move his heart. We can do that, as ambassadors for Christ. And we can advance his kingdom in a civic way. But here's what we do believe it is hard, and we know this. Our son works at the state capitol and he helps make policies for the better of people. He knows God's heart for people. So buckle up because I watch what my son does. This is very, very hard work, and it's not for the faint-hearted, because he has to keep his mind, his heart, his soul, his strength rooted in Jesus Christ while still working with people that don't believe what he believes. So there he is, he is doing it, and we have to do it too. We have to speak up for truth. We have to speak truth to systems that are fallible, and we have to speak up in a world that strongly opposes Christ. No question, No matter where we're placed, that's what we're called to do. But make no mistake, speaking out comes with a cost. Absolutely. When we speak truth. The truth of God's kingdom and the truth of his word, and we speak that truth to worldly values, it's going to get intense because the opposition will come and they will come with force and fire. And we see that all the way through scripture, The world hates the truth because it's opposed to the truth of Jesus Christ. When you look at how Jesus interacted with the Jewish rulers, We can understand the level of persecution that comes with telling the truth. But we do not believe that the fear of persecution should cause us to be silent. Absolutely. Because if the world persecuted Jesus Christ for being truth, then we should expect persecution and opposition for sharing the truth. It's just going to come. So we have to understand that. Actively speaking up for the kingdom of heaven is going to require some things: godly wisdom, amen, intense prayer, and accountability. It's going to require boldness and courage, a firm resolve to speak the truth, but in love. We've seen where the truth can be spoken, but it's not in love. it crushes. But speak the truth in love, but most importantly, in humility. To be clear, Jesus Christ is our savior and a cravemore. We refuse to be advocates for a political party or candidate to save us or this nation. We look to heaven. where do I look for my help? It comes from heaven above. Amen. that's a firm fact, We are not advocating politically. We are advocating for the kingdom of heaven. And there are topics being discussed today that move God's heart that He cares very deeply about. the Bible refers to us as salt and light. And what we are saying, if you are a believer and you find a place where you can speak the truth and you can share the kingdom at the same time. Be that salt, be that salt and that light, because we believe we have a place at the table. Where do salt shakers belong? At the table. And we believe some very important conversations are going on. And of course, in Matthew 5, 13 through 16, the church is likened to salt something that was valuable, something that was a preservative and something that added flavor. And as Christians, we are called. To influence this world for good, and we are to promote justice. And Micah 6 8 says this He has shown you, man, what is good. Jesus has already told us what is good, what moves his heart. He has shown you, man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act, to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly. Humbly with our God. So, in other words, we are to respond justly and fairly, and we are to stand up for truth. We are to influence our world with kindness and grace and forgiveness and humility that orients people towards God. We are to speak up for the vulnerable. We are to speak up for the voiceless. We are to speak up and act upon the knowledge that there are widows and orphans around us and they need a voice. Yes. The power of God's people has always been called to action. Amen. And that action does influence our laws and our policies. And here's where we get this. we see in the Old Testament that there were many leaders that were called upon to work within a pagan government system to bring about godly responses to situations in their day. Mark, who have we looked at? we've looked at Moses and Joseph, Esther and Nehemiah and Daniel, and and there's some really common traits about those individuals, each one of them was one of God's chosen people. Each one of them had been put in a place, not of their choosing, but they were put in a place to be next to leadership in the ability to influence that leader. Each one of them was given favor, not by their own work, but by God. Called upon by God. Called by God, but then given favor by God with the leader to earn trust to be able to speak in. And each one was used by God in those positions to influence policies or practices Whether it was Moses speaking deliverance, whether it was Joseph to save a nation and then create a trust with Pharaoh to bring. his family, seventy people, into the belly of the most powerful nation on earth at that time to create a nation that God would then call out through Moses. If we look at Esther, in one particular moment, we know her for the words that Mordecai said, who knows for such a time as this? And and Esther went before the king and said, If I die, I die, because she went to protect Her people. Nehemiah used his favor to go and rebuild the walls around Jerusalem And Daniel earned the trust and favor of Nebuchadnezzar to be able to speak life into the king. So each one was placed by God in a key position for God to use them for the purpose of his kingdom to his glory. They didn't shrink back. It took great courage and boldness for every single one of these individuals to do what they did, And there was risk involved with every single one of these people that God called into action on behalf of the kingdom. There was risk. And I started to think as we looked at the Old Testament, I started to think of modern day people they are godly and yet they acted in a governmental way. And I thought of William Wilberforce, and I also thought of Martin Luther King Jr. William Wilberforce was elected as a member of the House of Commons at the age of 21. He had experienced a conversion in his life to Jesus Christ. And at that time he was contemplating the pulpit, but he was encouraged. To actually forego the pulpit and fulfill the call of God over his life by becoming a political figure as well as a follower of Christ. And after nearly 20 years of campaigning in parliament against the British slave trade, a bill was finally passed in 1807 that banned slavery in the British Empire. Now he continued to advocate for freedom of all slaves. Yes. And three days before he died, the Slavery Abolition Act was passed, he advocated for the working poor. And this cost him something. There was a huge risk to this, first of all, his reputation. It was destroyed those twenty years advocating against the slave trade, but it physically deteriorated his health and the cost of his convictions and the fierce political opposition that he faced, it made him sick and he eventually died from that sickness. And of course, if you look at the life of Martin Luther King Junior, a black Baptist minister in the Jim Crow South who used his leadership skills to forge a path of equality for all people. He preached and he advocated with a nonviolent method. to end the heinous oppression of black Americans working to put an end to segregation. The opposition was incredible. I don't even think we could fully realize in the freedoms that we live in now what this man faced. And of course one of his most important contributions to the cause was the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which was the movement to outlaw the discrimination of people based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The cost of this movement, we talked about the risk, he paid the ultimate price. As someone who was political and a Christian, he paid the ultimate price for his convictions. He was assassinated on April 4th in 1968. So his life was brutally snuffed out. Standing up for what God stood for equality for all people. He had a deep conviction and he spoke to power and he advanced God's kingdom. And I'm so thankful. I am so thankful. There's so much more to be done in this country. But what if it the work had never started because he was going to stay in the pulpit? And not speak out against discrimination, the very thing that God would say we are not to do. We just studied in James, right? Just this past Sunday, where to discriminate against someone is to actually raise a hand against God. And Martin Luther King Jr. stood up and he affected change Great examples of what you were saying earlier, Victoria, about being salt and light, And so maybe you've never considered biblical ways in which we're to advocate for people. But laws and policies and economics are critical tools that are used to build a just and compassionate civil society. So we too are to be a voice and presence that promotes policies and positions. that God cares about. That's right. And to speak against the things that oppose his kingdom. So we believe Christians should have a seat at the table. So salt and light, let your voices be heard. Proverbs twenty-nine two says, When the righteous thrive, people rejoice. When the wicked rule, people groan, And that breaks God's heart. So as believers, we're to be leaders of integrity, practicing God's justice, and speak truth. Yeah. And we're to lend wise and moral leadership to our society. James 4, 17, Speaks about the sin of omission, the saying that it's a sin to know. What you ought to do and then not do it. And so when we know that we're to speak truth and we choose not to do it, that's a sin. We are to participate as believers in bringing about moral change, moral integrity to the social landscape in which we live that again is kingdom-based. So as salt shakers, we're to take our place at the table, but at the same time, we have to unashamedly Make sure that our loyalty is to Jesus Christ, that our allegiance is with Christ and His kingdom. We have to make sure that our hope isn't rising and falling with a political party, that we are rooted not in a party affiliation, but we are rooted in Christ. And remember that a political party or a political system is just a tool. it is a resource, and that the ultimate outcome is to use whatever tool or resource in a godly way rooted in the kingdom to help advance God's kingdom. To do otherwise, for us to put our allegiance in a party, to put our allegiance in a leader, to put our allegiance into an ideology is going to be sin here's the conclusions that I came to. The advocacy for Christ's kingdom on earth was not left to hell on earth. But that's sometimes what it feels like. But advocacy for good for the kingdom of God was left to the church. The church that is filled. With the power of the Holy Spirit, the one who guides us and empowers us We believe Christians should be running for public offices. We believe that Christians should be voting with biblical convictions. Hell has taken so much ground in this nation. And I believe while the church exists on this planet, Though this earth shakes, we are to advocate for good and we are to advocate for the kingdom of God. Amen. And the definition of darkness is simply the absence of light. Let that not be said of the church in these times. If it feels dark, it's because the light's not there. So as long as the church lives on earth and it does while we're here. We have a voice and we have an obligation to stand up and to speak up for God's biblical truth We have the mind of Christ. We have God wisdom and we should use those when it comes time to vote and put into practice policies and people that will represent Christ in his kingdom. It's amazing, Mark, because in all of this, even talking about it, I can feel the tension. we talked about living in two worlds. You can feel the tension. at Cravemore, we acknowledge that Jesus was not political. Jesus was not a government official. And he did not run for office to wield earthly power. He was not a partyist. Jesus' message challenged the leaders of the day. He spoke truth to power and he ushered in the kingdom of heaven. So why would we do less? As followers of Jesus, we're called to prevent further decay. How do we know that? We were called salt. That's what salt does That's right. We're called to influence society as Jesus did in a way that drives godly practices. So Jesus said, let your light shine before men in such a way that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. So at Cravemore, Mark, are we advocating For political activism? no we're encouraging kingdom minded people to speak up. Right. And speak into the topics that really matter to God things that you described earlier in this podcast. We're encouraging those if you are hearing clearly a call from the Lord to become involved in politics, whether it's at the the school board, state, local, obey that call. Get prayer. Get some trusted people praying for you to confirm that. And be involved, be engaged. If that's you, do it. Yeah. Lead with humility and with godly reason and truth. And with accountability. I would never recommend that someone in Christ called to either run for office or be politically involved would do that without accountability. So here we are there's still a lot of work to do until Christ returns. And so what do we need to do? We need to focus. We need to declare in every arena of our lives that Jesus Christ is the Lord and that He is our firm foundation, no exceptions. So in our homes and in our careers and in our friendships, in our service to church and in our Civic responsibilities, we must remember once again, we'll keep saying it because it's easy to get lost in the world's view. We'll keep saying that our allegiance is to Jesus Christ, and we want to keep saying that because we don't want to muddy the waters, because if we do, then our service will lack integrity. And what will happen is we will be prone to serving ourselves. We'll be prone to pumping up our ego. We'll be prone to what pleases people and forget that our call is to elevate the Gospel of Christ and his kingdom, We need to recognize the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. And we are not to be swayed by worldly power. so wrapping this up. one king, one kingdom, his glory, and that's it. Yeah. going back to the beginning of this podcast. Your earth will shake. It's not a matter of if. It's when. And when it does, which kingdom will you honor? Yeah. Who will captivate your thoughts in those times? And which kingdom is going to influence your decisions as to how you behave in response when your world shakes. So as Christians, we do not stand firm in Christ because it's easy. Quite the contrary, and Jesus told us that. We stand firm in Christ because He is our foundation, and His foundation is the only secure, everlasting foundation. Amen. Well, we're glad you joined us we hope we've encouraged you. go to our website at cravemore.org on our website, you'll get more than just the podcasts. We have blogs up as well that you can be encouraged by. And so what we like to tell each other, we're going to tell you Follow us as we follow Christ. Victoria: Bye!