Stand firm – Unshakable

We are living in turbulent times. There is a great shaking taking place. At times like this, I need to encourage you to stand firm. 

A time of shaking is taking place

Jesus told us that in the last days, “The powers in the heavens will be shaken.” (Matthew 24:29)

Again, this is spoken of in the Bible where it says, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” (Hebrews 12:26-27)

There is a great worldwide shaking taking place. Covid. Wars. Cancel culture. The man-made systems of this world are being shaken. We are living in scary times, but you can take refuge in God.

Meditate on these comforting words… 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.” (Psalm 46:1-2)

God is your place of safety. He is your ever-present help in times of trouble. You do not need to live in fear. You are safe in his arms. You can stand firm if your life is planted on a firm foundation. Let God be the solid rock on which you build your life. 

Have you been shaken? 

Are you worried? Depressed? Weighed down? Filled with dread? Afraid? Overwhelmed? Shaking? 

Give God your burdens. “Cast all your anxiety on him (Jesus) because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

No matter how bad things are. Hold onto God. Do not fear. With God at your side, you will be ok. 

You might have been pressed down or even knocked down, but you can get back up.  

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Don’t give up. Don’t give in. It is time to arise. God is with you. He will never abandon you.  

“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Your present troubles will not last very long. Look up. Look to God. Get back up. Do not let trouble keep you down. This is your time to grow. Endure. Persevere.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

We are currently living in a time of great shaking. There is so much turbulence and uncertainty. 

Everything is being shaken: The heavens and the earth are being shaken. Countries, economies, social media, Churches, and governments are being shaken. 

We are living in a time of crisis: Wars. Pandemics. A breakdown in the moral fiber of society. God is being canceled. Everything is shaking. 

But despite the chaos, I have good news for you.  

God’s Kingdom will never be shaken 

While the Kingdoms of man are currently shaking, I need to tell you that God’s Kingdom cannot and will not be shaken. God’s Kingdom is unshakable. God’s Kingdom is eternal.

While the Bible tells us that the world will be “shaken”, we are also told that those who take refuge in God will receive “a kingdom that cannot be shaken.” (Hebrews 12:26-29)

Where does your hope lie? 

Is your hope in a fragile worldly system or God? I implore you to put your hope and faith in God. If you are part of God’s Kingdom, you can stand firm! You don’t need to fear.

How can you keep it together when the world is falling apart? 

Put your hope in Jesus.

Jesus told us, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Jesus also told us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1) 

Again, Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

And again, Jesus assured us that he would never leave us nor forsake us. He said, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Stand Firm 

There seems to be a great attack on anything to do with Jesus Christ. Christianity is being made out to be an “old-fashioned” religion that just brings judgment and condemnation, but this is a lie. Jesus did not come to put people in bondage. Jesus did not come to break people, beat them over the head, and tell them they were too bad. He came to “bring good news” and he came to “set captives free.” (Luke 4:18)

The Bible is clear. We are told that “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)

We are also told, “For this is how God loved the world (YOU) that He gave his one and only Son (JESUS) so that everyone who believes in him (PUTS FAITH IN JESUS) will not perish (HELL) but have eternal life (STARTING TODAY AND CONTINUING FOREVER TO HEAVEN).” (John 3:16)

Jesus came to bring good news. He came to reconcile man to God. 

According to God’s Word, “In the last times some will turn away from the true faith” and will be “deceived.” (1 Timothy 4:1)

We are told that the end times will be “very difficult times” and that “people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)  

The end times will be shaky, turbulent times, difficult times, filled with deception and the counterfeit. No wonder Jesus warned us that in the last days, “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)

But Jesus did not stop there. Jesus continued, “But the one who STANDS FIRM to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13)

We are living in dark darks. There is a great shacking taking place but hold on. Stand firm. God is still in control. STAND FIRM for the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The Bible also tells us that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

This includes you. 

No matter where you find yourself today, the good news is that can invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. You can STAND FIRM with God in his UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM. 

Stand Up

It is time to stand up. Get back up. Don’t throw in the towel. Hold on! It is always darkest, just before dawn. 

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? 

No matter what you have done, or where you find yourself today, the good news is that can invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior and reset your life. On the cross, Jesus, the Savior of the world, paid the full price for our sins and made the way for you and me to find forgiveness and peace, and become part of God’s unshakable Kingdom. This relationship can start today and goes on into eternity.

You may have failed. You may have messed up. 

RETURN to God. REPENT. RESET. You can RESTART your walk with God. RESURRENDER. REFRESH.

If you want to become part of God’s unshakable Kingdom, you can call on Jesus…

Dear Lord Jesus, I need you. I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

If you have prayed this simple prayer sincerely, you have become a child of God. Your sin is cleansed away. You are born again. You are part of God’s unshakable Kingdom. You can stand firm knowing that whatever may come or happen, you are secure in Christ.  

If you want to start or restart your walk with God, click here to pray a simple prayer we have set up for you.

Stand firm on an Unshakable Foundation 

Wait on God. He can lift you and set you on a firm foundation. 

Psalms 40:1-4 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” (Psalm 40:1-2)

God can set your feet on the firm rock of His unshakable Kingdom. 

It’s time to arise. Even if your world is shaking and even if everything seems down, you can stand firm. 

In Romans 8:35, God’s word asks two questions of those who are part of God’s Kingdom…

1. “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?” 
2. “Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

And then in Romans 8:37-39, God gives us the answer …

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In other words, although the heavens and the earth may shake, we can be secure if we are part of God’s unshackled Kingdom. 

Rise-up! Stand firm. Endure. Persevere.

Despite all the shaking, overwhelming victory is ours through Jesus Christ. 

Don’t be discouraged. Be brave. Be strong. Be courageous. Rise-up. Look up. Stand firm. Be patience. Hold on. Despite the circumstances, you need to persevere. Hang on in there. No matter what is happening all around you, stand firm.

Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Don’t drift from God. Don’t fall away. Don’t drift into sin. Don’t let your walk with God grow cold. 

Hold on to Jesus. Persevere. Be patient. Don’t become weary. Keep your chin up. Keep looking up. Stand firm. Stand strong. Endure to the end. 

A Final Word to Stand Firm:

Ephesians 6:10-18…

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. 

A Prayer to remain Unshakable in a Shakable World

Psalm 91…

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. 5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.

6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 8 Just open your eyes and see how the wicked are punished. 9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with long life and give them my salvation.