Unshakable Kingdom

Hebrews 12:28 NKJV Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

God gave promises to Abraham and Sarah that their descendants would be great and would be given a land of promise. When the LORD made that covenant promise, He told Abraham that He was giving him an unshakable kingdom. At that time, God listed all of the kings and kingdoms that possessed the land and promised that none of them would be able to stand against him. God continued renewing the promise of an unshakable kingdom to Isaac and Jacob. All of Abraham’s descendants were told of God’s promise and the covenant that was made with them.

When Moses entered the scene, Israel had been in bondage in Egypt for over 400 years. God’s covenant provided an exodus from the things that held them captive and also renewed the promise of a land where God’s blessings flowed. After God brought them out and they proceeded through the wilderness, God continued showing Himself strong in behalf of His people that He had redeemed. They came to know that since the LORD God was with them, nothing was impossible. Every kingdom and power that was raised against them was defeated.

When Moses passed out of the scene, God raised up Joshua to lead Israel into the land of promise. God repeated the same message to him that no enemy would be able to stand against them. This was the everlasting covenant that the LORD God had made with Abraham and his descendants. The message continued to be given throughout the ages.

Isaiah 54:14 NKJV In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.

Isaiah 54:15 NKJV Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.

HCSB If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever attacks you will fall before you.

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

You need to make the Word of God personal. The LORD your God is on your side. He sees things that you cannot see and He does things you cannot do. He is the One Who said: “I know you!” He knows your frame and remembers how you are made, (Psalms 103:14). God has made this promise that “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper.” You need to fill your mind and spirit with the powerful  and effective Word of God. Keep reminding yourself of God’s faithfulness and rehearse in your mind what God has given you. Remember the ways God has blessed and used you.

Isaiah 40:28 NKJV Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

Circumstances and situations change, but God remains the same. I will not fear because the Lord my God is with me.

Just as God had said, none of the enemies, kings or kingdoms they encountered were able to stand against them.

One by one great kings, kingdoms, giants and great walled cities fell before them. No weapon formed against them prospered. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. What God was doing for His people was so amazing that every king and people that heard trembled with fear. When Jericho had fallen and Ai was defeated, God started drawing out their enemies, and over and over the LORD their God worked with His people to defeat them. They were an unshakable people who were mighty through God.

Sometimes we don’t want our enemies to be drawn out.

Joshua 9:1–2 NIV84 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites) — they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel.

At the same time when the people of Gibeon heard what had happened in Jericho and Ai, they deceptively made a covenant with the men of Israel, (Joshua 9:3-27). When that covenant was made, five kings of the Amorites joined forces to attack Israel, (Joshua 10:1-5).

Joshua 10:6 NIV84 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

God was giving them victory after victory and nothing their enemies did prospered. God was blessing them going out and coming in. They were going from strength to strength.

“If God is for us…Who can stand against us?”

God wants to bring His people into victory over every foe that can come against us. Take this personally today! God wants to bring you into victory over every foe that can arise against you! For that reason, you should not be afraid when God draws your enemy out. God is doing this so that He may bring you into greater victories and He will be glorified.

If the Lord is for us, who can stand against us?

It was an amazing thing to watch how the Lord gave victory and delivered their enemies into their hands. When the five kings came out against them, the LORD threw them into a panic and as they retreated the LORD destroyed them with large hailstones from heaven. When the battle continued, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the sight of Israel.

He said, “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

Joshua 10:13 NKJV So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

There was no day like that before or after when the LORD answered such a prayer and fought for Israel.

Joshua 11:21 NLT During this period Joshua destroyed all the descendants of Anak, who lived in the hill country of Hebron, Debir, Anab, and the entire hill country of Judah and Israel. He killed them all and completely destroyed their towns.

Joshua 11:22 NLT None of the descendants of Anak were left in all the land of Israel, though some still remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.

The numbers of those who remained were so insignificant in their sight that they ignored them. At that time Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod were not worth fighting against. Listen to the way they considered things to be.

Joshua 11:23 NLT So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war.

Everything seemed to be going as planned. Their enemies were defeated and the land was possessed. They were resting from war and all of their needs were supplied. Every enemy seemed to be defeated and destroyed except for Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. These three were descendants of Anak the giant, who was 9 foot and 9 inches tall. The numbers in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod seemed to be so insignificant that they were not concerned. What are a few giants when so many battles have been won? Why should we be concerned when we have been invincible? It is easy to count your victories and discount things you have not confronted. All they could see was how God gave them victory and conquest over every enemy, giant and walled city. They wanted peace at any cost.

What is so significant about three unconquered areas?

• Samson, was destroyed by the people of Gaza, (Judges 14-16).
• Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, defiled, mocked, and cursed the God of Israel, (1 Samuel 17:4).
• Gath was a major Philistine stronghold and served as a flashpoint in ongoing conflicts in Israel’s history.
• When the Ark of God was captured by the Philistines it was taken to Ashdod and placed in the temple of Dagon, (1 Samuel 5). The people of Ashdod harassed Israel when they were rebuilding the city of Jerusalem.

For hundreds of years the children of Israel suffered because Joshua and the armies of Israel did not conquer every enemy that was before them.

Do you have some unconquered areas in your life? Have you considered that they are not significant since you have made so much progress and have so much victory and peace in your life? Listen to what God told Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua and the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 43:1 NKJV But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.”

• Do you know that God is your Maker that formed you?
• Do you know that God has redeemed you?
• God knows your name and He knows how you were made.
• Do you know that God claims you?
• He has created you.
• He knows what you are made of.
• He knows every detail of your form.
• He knows you.
• He knows your heart, mind, and body.
• He knows your past and your future.

After giving this word of assurance of God’s intervention and care, Isaiah gives some facts that we need to hear.

Isaiah 43:2-3 NKJV When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God…

God is telling you, “I will be with you!” You are not going up against that next great thing by yourself. The reason the water does not overflow and the flame does not consume is He is the LORD our God. He has subdued kingdoms, stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire, (Hebrews 11:33-34). He has done supernatural things and nothing that you are up against is going to defeat you.

Malachi 3:6 NKJV  For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed…

Since God does not change, the source of our faith, strength, power, victory, life… does not change. With God’s help, every giant is going to fall. Be strong and of good courage, do not fear… for the Lord your God is going with you, (Deut. 31:6,8).