Not Shaken...Or Shaken Awake?

In my other post about some eye-opening experiences at our youth retreat, I wrote about joy (and alluded to some other, upcoming topics), and this post is about two topics that I am (again) coupling together into one. 

Most of this came from Friday's worship times.  While we were listening to "We Will Not be Shaken" by Bethel Music is when I began to write down the following, which I have tried to organize for you.   

"The Israelites knew and trusted in the fact that against the plans God held for them all would fall – all the armies that came against the children of God would fail, and the Israelites would not be shaken – they rested in the shadow of His wings and the promise that God would never leave or forsake them, to not be afraid or discouraged, but to be strong and courageous – God is all they needed to win any battles that the Devil shook them with, because Our God is Stronger, He can do ANYTHING.  

Why don’t we as Christians, the Children of God under the new Covenant sealed with the precious blood of Christ, stand like that in life??  We give in too easily in what we assume must be God’s will…but what if it’s not?  What if we’re supposed to be strong and courageous and fight back for the will of God, the promises He gave, to take over what Satan is trying to shake out from underneath us? We are truly the children of God, with His power in us.  Why don’t we use it like the Israelites did when they took the Ark of the Covenant into battle, and into raging seas?? 

The Apostles knew this.  They never went anywhere, did anything without deliberately bringing the Spirit with them.  They couldn't function without it.  When they were persecuted, they praised and invited the Spirit until it was so thick they were almost “drunk” and the house they were in shook.  They went out excited to be persecuted for God!"

During that afternoon worship session I also penned the following poems:

The Devil trembles in the face of

God’s children praising His name

Stomping out the darkness

Establishing this place as

Holy ground.

The angels descend to this place

Filling the place with protection

Because the Father loves His children.

No demon or darkness can penetrate

For the Light has already won

This is a conquered battleground

For we will not be shaken.

We claim this time and place

Under Christ’s hold victory.

He has overcome.

There is so much shaking

So much.

But who is shaking you?

Is it the devil shaking your foundation

Creating cracks that can take down

Your entire building

As the evil one watches in twisted glee

Or is it the bone-shaking, earth-shattering

Presence of a Holy God

A Holy sacrificed Son

A Holy Spirit that invades?

Are you shaking with power

That Christ released from behind the veil

That no longer resides in the mercy seat

But in your heart?

A holy tremble is what solidifies

Against the devil’s attacks.

Let us be a generation built of a solid foundation

That causes shaking within that

Of the enemy’s.

Use what is shaking and rattling your bones

To shake the rest of the world

From their deadly complacency.

Later, while listening to Bellarive's song "Lazarus" (If you choose to look it up, just listen, don't watch the video - it's a little odd at first) I wrote this poem:

Why are you sleeping

Why do you slumber?

Can’t you hear Him

Calling for you,

Calling your name?

He does not call quietly

He commands you

To arise from your

Self-dug grave!

You are not dead!

Your grave is just a place to sleep.

When we spoke about the message in this song, we pointed out that Jesus, when raising people from the dead, would often speak as though they were only asleep (Jon 11:11-14, Mark 5:39), as does Paul (Acts 20:10), and when Christ was crucified, the Bible says that the saints who were sleeping rose (Matthew 27:52-53).  For Christians, death is a momentary nap before spending all of eternity in heaven with our Lord God!  Why do even say that they have "died?"  They have not!  They are sleeping!  This also brings to mind the question of, why do we always accept that things that happen are God's will?  Sometimes God gives us situations to intervene in!  People are still raised from the dead today, because God's people prayed.  I am not saying that that's always the case; no, far from it.  But if the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is living in us, what are we waiting for?  Why do we not let God use us?  

Well, that was a bit off-topic from my title and what I was originally planning; but no matter.  So I ask you, are you shaken in your foundation by the devil and his evil works, or are you shaken awake, realizing that with God, all things are possible?  Are you shaken from your slumber, out of you self-dug grave?  I hope so; I pray so.  Now, one last poem:

Demons tremble

All of hell falls apart

And chaos reigns there

When this name is spoken.

There is more power

In this one name

Than could ever be imagined.

This name heals

Works miracles

Raises the dead

Comforts the hurting

Just one name

Jesus.

His name satisfies

My every sense

As peace and joy

Overwhelm me

Top to bottom

With the lightest and surest touch

Of His nail-pierced hand.

Amen.