Safe Now

Hebrews 12:26-28 | March 29, 2020

Have you ever been intimidated?

Have you ever had a moment when you felt…

• Nervous?
• Scared?
• Alarmed?
• Pressured?
• Threatened?
• Afraid?
• Frightened?

All of us have had a moment or two when we’ve felt one or all of those things.

What do you do?

What do you when you feel frightened or intimidated?

Do you close your eyes and count to ten?

Do you grab a Ring Pop and start licking your fear away?

Do you soften the blow of intimidation with 4 or 6 salted caramel apple cheesecake brownies?

Do you drink a cup of Maximum Charge Cannonball Coffee with a splash of Turbo Charge French Vanilla creamer to caffeinate your way through your fear?

Or maybe when you get intimated you start knitting something or you start woodworking something or you start listening to your old Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass albums.

Tug McGraw was a major league baseball pitcher for 19 years.

He was a two-time all-star and he won two World Series championships.

And for country music fans, yes, he was Tim McGraw’s father.

The story has been told that Tug McGraw had an interesting pitching philosophy that he called the “frozen snowball theory”.

He described his philosophy using Willie Stargell who was one of the most feared power hitters in his day.

Tug McGraw

If I come in to pitch with the bases loaded, and heavy hitter Willie Stargell is at bat, there’s no reason I want to throw the ball. But eventually I have to pitch.

Tug McGraw

So, I remind myself that in a few billion years the earth will become a frozen snowball hurtling through space, and nobody’s going to care what Willie Stargell did with the bases loaded!

Now, I’m no rocket surgeon, so, I won’t speculate on the snowball earth, but his point is helpful:

When we are intimidated it is important to keep perspective. 

So, what is the best way to keep perspective?

What is the one perspective that can change every single moment in your life?

The one perspective that works on the good days and the bad days and the happy days and the sad days?

What is the one perspective that can transform your heart and your mind no matter what you are facing in life?

Let’s find out.

We turn our attention to the New Testament of the Bible and the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 12, beginning with verse 26.

And I just want to quickly note that these verses were picked out and scheduled for this message on February 10 – long before we find ourselves where we are today.

So, be of good cheer – the Lord graciously planned these words for us today.

26 And His voice shook the earth then,

I was in the balcony earlier this week preparing some things in the sound booth for the live stream this morning.

Suddenly the whole sanctuary had this loud rattle and shake, and I began to wonder if there was an earthquake.

That’s happened before when I was in the booth, but it wasn’t as intense as it was this week.

I’m thinking it might be flight paths connected to the airport, or maybe Ricky has made some serious hot rod modifications to the church vacuum cleaner.

The passage notes that God’s voice shook the earth “then”.

When was “then”?

Well, specifically, about 1500 years before Hebrews was written. 

Moses and the Israelites were at Mount Sinai and the Lord was about to give Moses the Ten Commandments.

And as the people waited at the base of the mountain the ground began to shake.

This wasn’t just some uncomfortable shaking of the sanctuary.

This was an earthquake that stirred the people to fearful awe. 

The reason I say fearful awe is because if we just said the people were afraid, we might forget why they were afraid.

The ground was shaking, and they were shaking because the one, true God was drawing near. 

This was not a ride at the amusement park – this was grand and holy and majestic and awful. 

The people were not fist-bumping and talking about how cool it all was – they were intimated and afraid and in awe. 

Someone might say:

“I don’t want to be around a God who makes people afraid and leaves them shaking in their shoes.”

Have you ever heard someone say something like this…

“That’s just who I am, and you can’t change me.”

Or maybe you have said that yourself. 

Well, as humans we do have the ability to change some things:

• We can eat better
• We can read more
• We can save more
• We can study more
• We can be kinder to our spouse
• We can be more diligent at work
• We can social distance

But God is holy, holy, holy!

He is other, other, other!

The Lord God is grand and majestic and powerful and he is the only being in the universe that was and is and is to come, so, he is the only one that gets to say, “I AM WHO I AM.”

He cannot and will not change his nature and his character to meet anyone’s buffet-style approach to religion.

God is God and you have to deal with him as he is. 

And he is the only one that can truly cause the whole world to shake as he draws near – and the Lord is drawing near right now.

The world is being shaken right now.

• We are being shaken from the normal routine of life
• We are being shaken from the things we normally rely on
• We are being shaken by a virus we can’t even see

So, what is your perspective right now?

• Are you looking at this as the beginning of the snowball earth?
• Are you looking at this as a reflection of climate change?
• Are you looking at this as some fake news conspiracy theory?
• Are you looking at this as some silly flu bug that will blow over?
• Are you looking at this with eyes of panic and anxiety?

Regardless of how you are looking at things, please know this, the Lord is always drawing near.

He is always graciously reaching out to the world during wars and pandemics and normal daily routines. 

Is this the end of the world and the end of the economy and the end of society?

Listen, I haven’t paid my $49.99 to get my online degree in prophecy with a minor in holy water, but this is probably not the end…why?

Because the language of the Bible pretty clearly establishes that when Jesus sets his foot upon the earth again the whole world will know immediately and all at the same time.

So, what is all of this?

Jesus described it this way:

Matthew 24:6

“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.”

 

Matthew 24:7

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.”

 

Matthew 24:8

“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

• Wars
• Rumors of wars
• Famines
• Earthquakes
• Pandemics

These will happen and Jesus describes them as birth pangs or birth pains. 

I have four kids – one of their births was scheduled, so to speak.

The doctor told us when to be at the hospital and they were going to start the process of inducing.

With my other three kids, though, there was this moment when my wife said, “Yo, it’s time to go!”

Why?

Because her body was experiencing more birth pains and those pains were alerting her to the reality that this party was starting quickly.

So, how should we respond to this unique moment in history?

Can we just blow things off and relax because maybe this isn’t the real end of the ages?

No.

Why?

Listen again to the last part of verse 26:

26 but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”

There is coming a day when God is going to shake everything one last time. 

And no one knows the hour or the day.

• It might be today
• It might be tomorrow
• It might be next Friday
• It might be April 14th
• It might be 75 years from now

But as sure as the world was spoke into existence and as sure as Jesus fulfilled more than 300 distinct prophecies with his birth and as sure as Jesus was crucified outside of Jerusalem and was then raised from the dead three days later and appeared to at least 500 people and as sure as his closest friends with their own eyes watched him ascend into heaven promising them that he would return Jesus will step foot on this earth again. 

So, are you ready for his return?

But what if you aren’t here when he returns?

Do you still need to be ready?

What I’m about to say is super heavy, but please just hang in there with me for a moment:

It may not be COVID-19.

• It might be cancer
• It might be a stroke
• It might be a heart attack
• It might be an earthquake
• It might be a hurricane
• It might be a tornado
• It might be a car accident
• It might be a terrorist attack
• It might just be old age

But death is coming and over and over again God kindly and graciously warns us through wars and rumors of wars and famines and earthquakes and pandemics that we need to be ready. 

So, are you ready to wake up on the other side of death?

Are you ready to meet the One who says very simply to the world, “I AM WHO I AM”?

Every second of every day is a merciful reminder from a merciful God that his mercy is available right now. 

But when he comes to shake the earth one final time, the door of God’s mercy will shut for good. 

Some of you might be thinking:

“Ugh, this guy is so depressing, let’s click on another stream!”

So, is there any hope?

Is there any hope for these heavy realties?

Yes, yes – a thousand times yes!

Listen to verse 27:

27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

What things can be shaken?

Well, we are seeing it, right?

• School
• Jobs
• Stock market
• Hospitals
• Government
• Vacations
• Family
• Friends

In 1989, Hurricane Hugo created devastation and death through Guadeloupe, Saint Croix, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and the Southeast United States, including here in our state of South Carolina. 

I saw a portion of a letter that was written by Christians from St. Croix in the aftermath of Hugo. 

Letter

Hugo has further reinforced in our minds the importance of holding loosely to material things. In one night accumulated wealth for which people had labored for many years was turned over to wind and rain…

Someone is saying…

“I thought you said there was hope – this is still depressing!”

Here’s the hope – listen to it in the very last part of verse 27:

27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

What kinds of things remain?

On the second week of May 1866, Charles Spurgeon was standing next to a church.

The church used to be inland, but as he stood there that day the church now stood closer to the ocean.

Every year the clay cliff fell a little more into the sea and Spurgeon estimated that by 1868 the church would probably fall along with the cliff into the sea.

I know you are thinking…

“Man, Dow, you do not understand the concept of hope because these stories keep getting worse and worse.”

But here’s what Spurgeon asked in relation to that falling church:

C.H. Spurgeon

Will you hold up your hands and cry, “The church of God is gone”?

No – because God’s church is not a building!

One Chinese pastor said that the virus has forced their church to meet online only, but because of that their church was learning to be the church instead of just doing church.

The earth can shake the church building off a cliff and a virus can force the church to meet online, but the earth and the virus cannot make the church disappear?

How?

Why?

Listen to verse 28:

28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken,

If you are a Christian, you have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Just marinate on that for second:

You have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken. 

• The bank cannot shake the kingdom of God
• The stock market cannot shake the kingdom of God
• The culture cannot shake the kingdom of God
• Society cannot shake the kingdom of God
• War cannot shake the kingdom of God
• Plagues and pandemics cannot shake the kingdom of God

When everything in your life is rocked and everything in your world is shaken and you feel the tremors of stress and anxiety you can look to the cross of Jesus and sing to your soul:

“’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!”

Why?

Because Jesus purchased the copyright to that song for your heart with his own blood – Jesus satisfied the penalty of your sin and has made the only way for you to be right with God. 

If you are saved, you are safe!

If you are a child of God today, there is absolutely nothing that can ever change that – NOTHING!

And if you are not saved, you are not safe!

Everything in your life can be shaken and there is nothing that will remain because only the truth of God remains. 

David Platt is the former president of the International Mission Board and currently serves as the lead pastor of McLean Bible Church in the metro area of Washington, D.C.

This is what he said about preaching to an empty room right now:

David Platt

It’s not hard to speak to people whom I can’t see in front of me. I would say that, in some ways, I can see them more clearly now than I could before. And, in this, I believe I have a great privilege:

David Platt

Every Sunday, I get to point multitudes of people here and around the world toward the Author of Peace who alone can generate the headline: “Pandemic No More.”

If you are in Christ, you have received everlasting membership in the kingdom of God.

You are a child of the King!

You belong to the Author of Peace!

So, if the pandemic claims your life or if you escape the spread – either way – one day because of the birth and life and crucifixion and resurrection and ascension of Jesus you will hear:

“Pandemic no more!”

Or you may hear something different.

You may hear:

• “Cancer no more”
• “Diabetes no more”
• “Dementia no more”
• “Single no more”
• “Orphan no more”
• “Fear no more”
• “Anxiety no more”
• “Funerals no more”
• “Death no more”
• “Enemy no more”

But all of that only comes from the kingdom that cannot be shaken. 

The story is told of a village that was struck by an earthquake many years ago. 

The people of the village were alarmed and afraid. 

But there was an old woman in the village that remained extremely calm. 

One of the villagers asked her:

“Aren’t you afraid?”

The old woman said:

“No. I rejoice to know that I have a God who can shake the world!”

Dear Christian, we will have moments of fear and frustration and aggravation in the days ahead, but let us keep a firm grip on our salvation and keep whispering to our hearts:

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus because his kingdom cannot be shaken!

Message by Dow Welsh |

March 29, 2020 © Holland Avenue Baptist Church

 

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Above are pre-sermon manuscript notes, not sermon transcript

Sermon scriptures NASB unless otherwise noted

Lots of help from many pastors and theologians

Weekly help from Bruce Hurt at www.preceptaustin.org

https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/a-lesson-from-the-great-panic#flipbook/

Have you ever been intimidated? Ever been intimidated? Ever, Ever had a moment where you were? You were frightened. You were pressured. You were threatened. You were a little bit afraid. If so and most of us have all had at least one of those things happen to us. What did you do? What did you do with your fear? What did you do with your intimidation? Did you close your eyes and count to 10 Kind of hoping everything would go away? Did you grab a ring pop in and start licking your fear away until you felt like everything was fine? Maybe to absorb your intimidation, You you had four or six salted caramel apple Jesuscake brownies, just just to kind of help the intimidation. Or maybe when it comes to fear, what you do is you drink a cup of maximum charge. Cannonball coffee, maybe with a little splash of turbo charged French vanilla creamer. Just tryingto caf innate your fear away. Some of us do that right? Or maybe when fear and intimidation come your way, you start knitting something or you start woodworking something er Or maybe you pull out your old Danny Davis in the Nashville brass albums and you just hang out. Just try to chill out. Yeah, we all have something that will use her fear and intimidation. Tug McGraw was a major league baseball pitcher for 19 years. He was a two time All Star, and he also won two World Siris And for your country music fans, Yes, he was Tim McGraw's dad. So Tuck had an interesting philosophy about pitching, and he called it the frozen snowball philosophy, and he described it using Willie Stargell. Willie Stargell was one of the most feared power hitters back in his day, and this is what Tuck said. If I come to a pitch with the bases loaded and heavy hitter Willie Startle, is it bat? There is no reason I want to throw the ball, but eventually I have to pitch. So I remind myself that a few 1,000,000,000 years the Earth will become a frozen snowball hurtling through space, and nobody's going to care what Willie Stargell did with the bases loaded. Now I'm no rocket surgeon, so I won't speculate on the whole snowball Earth thing. But But his point is super helpful when we are intimidated when we are frightened when we are threatened. One of the most important things we can do is have perspective. So how do you have perspective? But what's the best way for you to have perspective? And what's a perspective that can help you in every moment of life? The good days and bad days, the happy days and the sad days? What is a perspective that can change and transform your heart and your mind? No matter what you're facing in life? What kind of perspective is that? Well, let's see if we can find out. We turn our attention to the New Testament today to the letter to the Hebrews Chapter 12 and we'll be looking at Verse 26 to begin with. But before I do, I just I want to say exactly what I said last week. This sermon. These verses were scheduled for February 10th that that's when this was planned out. And so this passage today is this beautiful picture of God's grace, and so I just encourage be of good cheer. God wanted us to hear this truth today. He rushed after 12 beginning with Verse 26 and his voice shook the earth. Then I was in the balcony earlier this week here in the sanctuary, putting some things together for our live stream. This morning, up in the sound booth. And while I was sitting up there all of a sudden, the whole room started to shake. I mean, like, seriously started to shake. I I thought it was an earthquake. And then that's happened to me before when I've been in this room during the week. But but never as intense as it was this past week, it it was it was shaken. Now I haven't seen any news about an earthquake. So I'm just assuming maybe has something to do with flight paths between us and the airport here. Or maybe, I don't know. Maybe Ricky has taken the church vacuum cleaner and he's got some serious hot rod modifications on I don't know, but this thing was shaken this past Wednesday. It says here that the voice of God shook the earth, been so, so wins. Then well, about 1500 years before Hebrews was wrote, Moses and the Israel lights they were at Mount Sinai. God was about to give Moses the 10 Commandments and the people were all spread out at the bottom of the mountain, and as they were standing there, the ground began to quake. The ground began to shake. Now not in an uncomfortable way, like you're sitting in the sanctuary and something feels off. It was more like an earthquake, and the people were in fearful all. And the reason I say fearful all instead of just saying they were afraid, is because if we just say they're afraid, we might miss why they were afraid. They were in fearful all because God was drawing near. The one true Godof the universe was drawing near and the ground was shaking and they were shaking because God was present. They weren't fist bumping. They weren't saying, Hey, this is kind of fun. Kind of cool that this wasn't a ride at an amusement park. They were terrified. They were intimidated when they were filled with all. Now someone might say, You know what? I don't anything to do with God like that. I don't want some God that scares people to death. And I don't want some God. That leaves people shaking. The master question. Have you ever heard somebody say something like this. You know what? That's just how I am and you can't change me. Maybe you said that to someone. The reality is, though, as humans we can change. We can sleep better. We can eat better. We can read Maur, study more, save more. We could be kinder to our spouse. Weaken, Be kinder to our parents. We could be kinder to our kids. We could be more diligent with our schoolwork. Even online we can. We can be more diligent with work, even from home, and we can be more diligent in social distancing. We can make some changes. But God is holy Holy holy God is other, other, other. There's there's absolutely no one like God. The Lord God is the only being in the universe who waas and is and is to come. Therefore, he's the only one who truly gets to say I am who I am. God is God and he cannot change. And he will not change to to meet our buffet style approach to religion. God is who he is, and we must deal with him as he is. There is no option and God is the only one who can truly shake the whole world. His his voice is the only voice that can truly shake the whole world. That's what he does when he draws near. Don't miss this. God is drawing near right now because the world is is being shaken. We're being shaken from from the things that are normal to our day. We're being shaken from the things that we normally rely on. We're being shaken by a virus that we can't even see. So what's your perspective right now? Who was with your perspective in the middle of all of this? Maybe your perspective is you're looking at all this. You're like, open up. This is the beginning of that old frozen snowball. Or maybe you're saying yes. This is this is what's going to happen with climate change. This is a picture of that. Or maybe you're saying you know what this whole thing is? Just fake news, conspiracy theory. Or maybe you're looking at this and you're saying you know, this is just some flu, but like anything else, it'll blow over. Or maybe you're looking at all this through the eyes of panic and fear and anxiety. Well, regardless of how you're looking at these things, regardless of what eyes you're using through all this, please know this. God is drawing near God's drawing near God's always drawing here. God's always drawing near with with grace and kindness. God's always drawing near in the in the middle of wars and earthquakes and pandemics, trying to help our hearts hear his voice. So is this the end of our economy? Is this the end of our society? Is this the end of the age? Well, I haven't paid my 49 99 for my own line degree in prophecy with a minor and holy water. So I'm not going to try to be any crazy profit here. But I will say this. It's probably not the end of the age. Why? Well, the language of the Bible. It's pretty clear. And it establishes this sense that when Jesus steps foot on this earth again, the whole world will know it immediately. Everywhere there will be a power, there will be authority and it will be immediate. So fast. The case Then then what's this? What are we dealing with here? Well, this is out. Jesus said it, Matthew, Chapter 24 beginning with her six. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened for those things must take place. But that is not yet. The end for nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs or birth pains. So Jesus says that things like this will happen, that wars and rumors of wars, that famines, that earthquakes, that pandemics, these things air going toe happen. And he describes them as birth pangs, birth pains. I've got four kids and one of their births was kind of scheduled. The doctor told us, Ah, certain morning that we needed to be there and they were going to begin the process of inducing. But my other three kids did not go through that process. And so there was this moment when my wife looked at me and said, Yo, it's time to go now. Why? Because those birth pains we're increasing. They were getting a little more riel, and those birth pains were starting to let her know that that party was starting quickly. So we had to go. So how do we respond to this unique moment in history? Can can we just blow it off? Can we just say Hey? Well, I mean, Darryl said it was the end of the age, so it doesn't really matter what I could do. I could just kind of go about my business and not worry, right? No, we can't blow it off. Why listen to the last part of verse 26? But now he has promised saying yet once more I will shake not on Lee the Earth, but also the heaven. There is coming a day where God is going to shake the earth again one last time. And we don't know when that's going to be It might be today. It might be tomorrow. It might be next Friday. It might be April 14th. It might be 75 years from now, But whenever it is as sure as the world was spoken into existence, as sure is more than 300 distinct prophecies were perfectly fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. As sure is Jesus lived and loved and healed and preached and tall. As soon as Jesus was arrested and crucified outside of Jerusalem, is assurance Jesus was buried in a tomb and and raised from the dead. Three days later. It sure is. Jesus was seen by at least 500 people risen and alive. Assurance Jesus was seen by his closest friends ascending into heaven, telling them that he was coming again. It sure is. All of these things are true. Jesus in some way, shape or form will set foot on earth again. So, are you ready? Are you ready? That's the money. May I ask what if I'm not here when he returns? I don't need to be ready. Right. Everything's fine. No, I'm just going to say just a few things and and they're going to be heavy for just a moment. But But hang in there with me through the moment. It may not be Cove it 19. It might be cancer. It might be a stroke. Might be a heart attack. It might be an earthquake. It might be a tornado. It might be a hurricane. It might be a car accident. It might be a terrorist attack. It might just be old age. But for every one of us, the day is coming and God over and over again today. Right now. He did it yesterday. Lord willing, he'll do it tomorrow. God, Cray, Cious Lee And kindly. Through wars and rumors of wars and earthquakes and tornadoes and famines and pandemics, he keeps kindly saying, Are you ready? Are you ready to wake up on the other side of death? Are you ready to meet the one who has so simply said to the world I am who I am Every second of every day is a mercyful reminder that are mercyful. God is giving his mercy again. His mercy is available right now, right now. But one day when God comes to shake the earth one last time, that door of his mercy is going to shut forever. And so the question today is again. Are you ready? Now someone's thinking. Kali may. Let's go find another live stream. This guy's depressing. Let's move on. So is there any hope? I mean, fair in office. Is there any hope for this heavy news? Well, there is Yes, there's hope 1000 times over. There is hope. Listen, diverse 27 This expression yet once more denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken as have created things so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. So what kind of things can't be shaken. What is that? Well, we're seeing right now the difference and things that can't be shaken and the things that can be shaken right? We know what can be shaking right? Schools, jobs, hospitals, health, government, nations. We're seeing that the stock market and the banks and vacations and family and friends and our normal routine, all of that can be shaken. In 1989 Hurricane Hugo had a devastating path through the Caribbean in the Southeast United States, including here in our state in South Carolina. I came across a portion of a letter from some Christians that were in ST Croix when Hugo came through there. And this is a part of their letter that reads like this. Hugo has further reinforced in our minds the importance of holding loosely to material things. In one night, accumulated wealth for which people had labored for many years was turned over to wind and rain. Someone saying, Dude, I thought you were going to start saying something hopeful man, this stuff is still depressing. Okay, here's Here's the hopeful part. Listen again, Divers 27. The last part. This expression yet once more denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as have created things so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain so. What kinds of things can't be shaken. What what will remain. On the second week of May, in 18 66 Charles Spurgeon was standing beside a church. He noticed how that church used to be a long way away from the shore, but now it has gotten closer. The cliff of clay that was there on the edge just year after year kept dissolving into the sea, and that church, which once sat far away, was now getting closer and closer. In fact, Spurgeon estimated that by 18 68 that church would be just like back Cliff and fall into the sea again. Somebody's thinking, Dude, your stories get worse and worse. Here's here's the hope. So Spurgeon asked this question connected to that church that would fall into the sea. This is what he said. Will you hold up your hands and cry? The Church of God is gone. Are you feeling? Could Spurgeon have gone out there on the on the edge of that cliff knowing that that church just fell to the sea and and said, Well, the church of God, it's gone. No, Because God's church is not just a building. It is a living organist I heard this week one pastor in China who said that their churches now shut down there on Lee able to meet online. But he said, What it's doing is it's causing their church toe learn to be the church instead of just do church. It's a big difference. Look, I won't show here. I mean, it is strange to be preaching to an empty room, but I'm really not preaching to an empty room. Pastors all over the world today are reaching more people with the gospel this morning that maybe we ever had. This is not a time to say, Oh, the gospel isn't working. The gospel is working, God is trying near, and the world is being shaken. The reality is a cliff can shake a church building into the sea, and a virus can shake a church building from being able to meet together. But the earth and a cliff and a C and a virus can never make the Church of God disappear. How? Why this universe 28. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken if you're a Christian, you have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken to marinate on that just for a second. You are now part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Make that practical. The bank cannot shake the kingdom of God. The stock market cannot shake the Kingdom of God. Stress, anxiety, fear worry cannot shake the kingdom of God. War cannot shake the kingdom of God. Pandemics plagues cannot shake the kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God cannot be shaken under any circumstances. If your life is being rocked right now, if everything in your life is being shaken, if you're feeling the tremors of stress and anxiety and anger and aggravation if you are a believer, you can still sing to your soul. Tis sweet to trust in Jesus. How? Why? Because Jesus purchased the copyright of that song for your heart. With his own blood, Jesus. Through his birth and life and death and resurrection, he has made a way for things to be right between you and God. Jesus has satisfied the penalty of your son. This is oversimplified, but but I like simple. If you are saved, you are safe. If you are saved, you're safe. If you're a believer and follower of Jesus right now, you're a child of God, and absolutely nothing can ever change that ever. On the flip side, if you are not saved, you are not safe with God. Your life can be shaken and there will be nothing that remains because only the truth of God remains forever. So we would plead with you. Turn to Christ today, run to Christ. Today he is always ready and willing to say Salvation Safety David Platt is the former president of International Mission Board. He's currently the pastor, lead pastor of McLean Bible Church in outside of D. C. He wrote an opinion this week for The Washington Post, and this is what he said about preaching to an empty room. It's not hard to speak to people whom I can't see in front of me. I would say that in some ways I can see them more clearly now than I could before and in this I believe I have ah, great privilege. And here's the privilege. Every Sunday I get two point multitudes of people here and around the world toward the author of Peace Who Alone? Congenital Rate. The headline Pandemic No More. If you are in Christ, you have been an established member forever in a kingdom that never ends. You are part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. You are a child of the king of the universe. You belong to the author of Peace. And if that's true, then this history if the pandemic claims your life or if you escape the spread either way, because of the birth and the life and the death and the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus because of who Jesus is there is coming today where you will hear the words pandemic no more. Or maybe you'll hear some different words. Maybe you'll hear cancer no more. Maybe you'll hear diabetes no more. Maybe you'll hear dementia no more. Maybe you're here, stress. No more anxiety no more. Maybe you'll hear single gnome. Or maybe you'll hear Orphan no more. Maybe you'll hear funerals no more. Maybe you'll hear death no more. Maybe you'll hear enemy no more. But If you are in Christ, please know your safety is guaranteed and all of those things will be true for you. But only in Christ. Because only his kingdom I can never be shaken. Many years ago, there was a village where an earthquake hit. The people were alarmed. They were panicking. They didn't know what to do. But there was one old woman in the village, and she was just a cz calm and cool as a cucumber. And one of the Villagers went over to her and said, Are you not afraid? And she said, No, no. I rejoice that I have a God who can shake the world. Do you have that A woman's piece today? Do you have her confidence? Are you living in her safety? I want you to know that in the next few hours next few days you're probably going to have some fear. You have some anxiety, some stress. You're going to panic. You're going to worry. You're going to get angry. You're going to get aggravated. You're going to feel a little discouraged or depressed. Hopefully not long. Maybe just for a moment. But But if and when you experience any of those things, If you are in Christ, you can still whisper to your soul. It is so sweet to trust in Jesus because his kingdom cannot be shake.