WITHSTANDING THE SHAKING

As I read through the daily newspaper a few days ago it was a bit disheartening to see an article about another pastor in the Dallas metroplex who was forced to resign due to inappropriate behavior with a member of the opposite sex.  He is 73 years old.  I am saying “another” pastor because there have been at least 10 other pastors of large congregations in the Dallas area who have been forced to resign this so far this year.   As a graduate of Christ For the Nations located in south Dallas, I have heard this city referred to as “the belt buckle of the Bible belt” many times.  There are truly some tremendous and anointed churches and Christian leaders in Dallas and surrounding areas.  It is no wonder that they may be on the tip of the spear for an attack from the enemy.  To me, the bigger picture includes the promise in the Bible that in the last days “what can be shaken will be shaken so that that which should remain, will remain”.  .  (Hebrews 12:27)

The scriptures in Hebrews 12 are saying that when there is a shaking, the interruption of the normal order of things means that God is talking and trying to get through to us.  This is not a time to refuse or resist God.  It is time to embrace Him and acknowledge that He has something new to say.

Scriptures also make it clear that right before Jesus returns the eyes of the world will be focused on events in Israel and the Middle East.  Here are some things to look for in the midst of shaking:

1)     WHEN GOD CREATES A SHAKING, HE IS CRAFTING SOMETHING NEW:  One of the mysteries of stomach flu is that when you throw up, you immediately feel better.  God will allow upheavals in our circumstances to let us know that He has something new to say. 

·       It is important that we tune in our spiritual ears to hear what the Spirit is saying in this hour.  The discovery of sin and the resignation of so many key pastors and Christian leaders in the Dallas area and beyond is a sign of shaking.  I Peter 4:17 says, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:  and if it first begins with us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”   Shaking has begun with God’s people.  It’s just a matter of time until the unbelievers of the world experience a shaking as well.

2)     WHEN THERE IS A SHAKING, GOD IS SPEAKING TO OUR PARTICULAR SITUATION:  When God allows something in the physical, it is because He has something to say in the spiritual.  This means that if all you see is what is to be seen then you do not see all there is to be seen.  When God disrupts what you can see, it is because He is speaking about what you cannot see.

3)    THERE NEEDS TO BE A FOCUS ON THE SPIRITUAL WHEN THINGS ARE SHAKEN IN THE PHYSICAL:  When God creates a shaking, He is trying to get our attention to move us into a spiritual level.  If everything is calm right now in your life, remember this, you just came out of something, or you are heading toward something. 

4)    WE NEED TO SHOW GRATITUDE IN THE MIDST OF SHAKING:  When things are out of control, rather than get angry we should give thanks.  You are not giving thanks for the confusion; you are giving thanks for how God is going to show His spiritual solution in spite of confusion.  You are not giving thanks for the problem.  You are giving thanks for the unshakeable kingdom of God that will show up in the midst of your problem.  Remember, before Jesus fed the 5,000-plus with five loaves and two fish He looked up to heaven and gave thanks for what would never be enough.  He ended up with more than enough.    No matter how much chaos and confusion is released around us in this season we should give thanks to the God who is never caught by surprise.

5)    THERE IS SOME MINISTRY THAT GOD WANTS US TO PERFORM amid THE SHAKING:   There is somebody whom God wants you to improve while you are going through a time where you need Him to improve you.  When God is consuming something in your life it appears to be bad news.  Yet it means that He is doing a new thing for you that is good news. 

·       God’s shaking has begun in the house of the Lord.  We may think that it will only lead to discrediting Christianity and making godly leaders not worthy of being trusted.  I believe we will see that it will actually lead to more purity in the body of Christ which will result in more power, anointing, and fruitfulness among those who are followers of Christ.