Shake It Up!
Focus Scripture:
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. — Acts 4:29-31 NIV
Introduction:
The early church was under great attack and was under constant threat. While this attack came in the form of people, we understand that our war is not against people but against principalities and powers, rulers of darkness and wickedness in high places. Therefore, in response to the retaliation of the enemy, the believers prayed. After they prayed, God responded. The place where they were gathered was shaken, they were filled with the Spirit of God and spoke the Word with boldness. In the next chapter signs and wonders were performed through the Apostles and the church continued to grow rapidly. Amazing things happened but it all began with a shaking. Sickness was healed but it began with a shaking. The word of God was preached but it all began with a shaking. God shook their environment which in turn shook their whole lives and led them into the next chapter of their story. Because the threats didn't mean they were finished, they were just getting started.
Much like the early church, we are facing many threats—sickness, depression, division, divorce, among many others. Our response to the retaliation of the enemy is prayer and in this week of prayer, we're asking God to "Shake It Up!"
Much like the early church, we are facing many threats—sickness, depression, division, divorce, among many others. Our response to the retaliation of the enemy is prayer and in this week of prayer, we're asking God to "Shake It Up!"
This Week's Devotionals
Day 1: Stir It Up
One day, Chanell and I were walking through a local farmer's market and saw a cooler filled with jugs of orange juice. Chanell asked "Why does it look like that?" We then realized that the juice was fresh squeezed and the contents had settled to the bottom of the jug. If purchased, the juice could not be served in its settled state. In order to serve it at its best, it has to be shaken up to stir up the contents of the juice. We purchased a bottle of the juice and sure enough when we shook up the bottle and poured a glass, the juice was amazing!
As I read this scripture, I wondered why would God shake the building? Why would He shake the church? Then I realized that the church is a lot like that fresh squeezed orange juice. It was new in nature but somehow it had become settled at the bottom. For many of us we've become settled in our prayer, settled in our worship, settled in our serving, settled in our seeking, settled in our boldness and settled in our giving. The good news is that we've been praying daily and God is going to respond to our prayers by shaking things up! In order to get the greatest level of effectiveness out of the church, God has to shake things up — He's got to move things around. Although it may be uncomfortable, it's necessary to be effective. A settled church is an ineffective church.
It's time to shake it up in order to stir it up! Apostle Paul told Timothy to "stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV). The gift of God in you is not effective while it's settled, it must be stirred to be most effective.
As I read this scripture, I wondered why would God shake the building? Why would He shake the church? Then I realized that the church is a lot like that fresh squeezed orange juice. It was new in nature but somehow it had become settled at the bottom. For many of us we've become settled in our prayer, settled in our worship, settled in our serving, settled in our seeking, settled in our boldness and settled in our giving. The good news is that we've been praying daily and God is going to respond to our prayers by shaking things up! In order to get the greatest level of effectiveness out of the church, God has to shake things up — He's got to move things around. Although it may be uncomfortable, it's necessary to be effective. A settled church is an ineffective church.
It's time to shake it up in order to stir it up! Apostle Paul told Timothy to "stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV). The gift of God in you is not effective while it's settled, it must be stirred to be most effective.
Day 2: The Work is Not Finished
Yesterday we talked about how fresh squeezed orange juice settles at the bottom of the jug. When we purchased it, Chanell and I discovered that we have to shake it up to stir it up in order to be served. I believe, just like that juice, the church was shaken so that it could serve in its purpose—expanding the Kingdom of God.
The more I thought about that orange juice, I was reminded of the process it went through to get to the point of being consumed. The orange was grown, until it got to a point of maturity or what we call ripe and then it was picked. After being picked from the tree, the orange went through a violent experience. It was cut, pierced, and twisted until its blood flowed below. That blood (or juice) was then captured and bottled for a future use.
I want you to know that God has grown you and picked you for a time such as this. You’re not here by chance nor by accident. It’s by divine providence that you’re here today. Like the orange, it’s likely you’ve come through a difficult season where you’ve been cut, pierced, and twisted until tears flowed from your face like blood from your soul. You’ve been stressed, stretched, and emptied beyond what you thought was possible and a season of rest is warranted. However, settling is not an option. Yes, you’ve been hurt. Yes, you need to heal, and healing takes time, but what you cannot do is settle. Settling is what people do when they plan to stay where they are. Where you are is not where you belong, it’s only a steppingstone on the road to your destiny.
Maybe you thought it was over and that’s why you settled. You thought it was the end of your story and that’s why you settled. You stopped dreaming, stopped hoping, stopped expecting and you’ve settled. Perhaps what you didn’t know is that nothing from the last season has been wasted. The blood, sweat and tears of your experience was captured and bottled for a future use. So don’t complain about the shaking of this season. God is shaking it up, to stir it up because the work is not finished. Someone needs to be strengthened by your testimony. Someone needs to experience your gift. Someone needs to be encouraged by your resilience—the ability to bounce back. There’s a bounce back in you. Jesus, the bounce back King, lives on the inside of you and the same power God used to resurrect Him is being used to resurrect you (Romans 8:11). He too was cut, pierced, and wore a twisted crown of seventy-two thorns on His head. He finished His work and now it’s time for you to finish yours.
When it comes to the church, and where we find them in the text, they were just getting started. The same is true for you, you’re just getting started. Therefore, He’s got to shake it up to stir it up because the work is not finished.
The more I thought about that orange juice, I was reminded of the process it went through to get to the point of being consumed. The orange was grown, until it got to a point of maturity or what we call ripe and then it was picked. After being picked from the tree, the orange went through a violent experience. It was cut, pierced, and twisted until its blood flowed below. That blood (or juice) was then captured and bottled for a future use.
I want you to know that God has grown you and picked you for a time such as this. You’re not here by chance nor by accident. It’s by divine providence that you’re here today. Like the orange, it’s likely you’ve come through a difficult season where you’ve been cut, pierced, and twisted until tears flowed from your face like blood from your soul. You’ve been stressed, stretched, and emptied beyond what you thought was possible and a season of rest is warranted. However, settling is not an option. Yes, you’ve been hurt. Yes, you need to heal, and healing takes time, but what you cannot do is settle. Settling is what people do when they plan to stay where they are. Where you are is not where you belong, it’s only a steppingstone on the road to your destiny.
Maybe you thought it was over and that’s why you settled. You thought it was the end of your story and that’s why you settled. You stopped dreaming, stopped hoping, stopped expecting and you’ve settled. Perhaps what you didn’t know is that nothing from the last season has been wasted. The blood, sweat and tears of your experience was captured and bottled for a future use. So don’t complain about the shaking of this season. God is shaking it up, to stir it up because the work is not finished. Someone needs to be strengthened by your testimony. Someone needs to experience your gift. Someone needs to be encouraged by your resilience—the ability to bounce back. There’s a bounce back in you. Jesus, the bounce back King, lives on the inside of you and the same power God used to resurrect Him is being used to resurrect you (Romans 8:11). He too was cut, pierced, and wore a twisted crown of seventy-two thorns on His head. He finished His work and now it’s time for you to finish yours.
When it comes to the church, and where we find them in the text, they were just getting started. The same is true for you, you’re just getting started. Therefore, He’s got to shake it up to stir it up because the work is not finished.
Day 3: It’s Only a Threat
The purpose of a threat is to invoke fear about a possibility. The most important thing to know about a possibility is that it’s not reality. This does not mean that challenges aren’t real. It doesn’t mean that what you feel isn’t real. However, nothing you face in this world can ever outweigh the ultimate reality that God loves you. The creator of all things loves you and that love was expressed through the sacrifice of His only son, Jesus. If God didn’t withhold his Son from the cross, what more is He willing to do to take care of you (Romans 8:32)? Even better, that same Jesus who died and was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:34).
In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul gave a powerful word to those faced with threats:
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)
There is no threat that can separate us from God’s love. Because of Him, we are more than conquerors because he’s already conquered the world. Therefore, the enemy can’t conquer you, he can only convince you to give up. That’s I want to remind you that whatever you’re going through, it’s only a threat. It’s an attempt to invoke fear about a possibility to distract you from your reality. There may be an attack on your health but it’s only a threat. There may be an attack on your marriage but it’s only a threat. There may be an attack on your mind but it’s only a threat. No matter where the attack may be, it’s only a threat. Whether it be your peace, your family, or your finances, there’s no threat that separate you from the love of God.
In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul gave a powerful word to those faced with threats:
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)
There is no threat that can separate us from God’s love. Because of Him, we are more than conquerors because he’s already conquered the world. Therefore, the enemy can’t conquer you, he can only convince you to give up. That’s I want to remind you that whatever you’re going through, it’s only a threat. It’s an attempt to invoke fear about a possibility to distract you from your reality. There may be an attack on your health but it’s only a threat. There may be an attack on your marriage but it’s only a threat. There may be an attack on your mind but it’s only a threat. No matter where the attack may be, it’s only a threat. Whether it be your peace, your family, or your finances, there’s no threat that separate you from the love of God.
Day 4: The Second Wind
During the 2020 Olympics, something amazing happened in the final lap of the women’s 1,500-meter race. A runner from the Netherlands, named Sifan Hassan, tried to jump over a runner who had fallen but she failed and fell herself. When Sifan got back up, she was next to last in the race but what happened next shocked the world. She began to run faster and stronger than she did before the fall. She not only caught up with the competition, she passed eleven runners to come in first place.
After the race, Sifan told a reporter “I can’t believe it. I used all my energy this morning and I was kind of tired. I couldn’t believe what happened. It was terrible when I tripped.” Yet, she got up and not only finished the race, she won! If you’ve ever been a runner, then you know what Sifan found when she got up from the ground was a second wind. A second wind is a new strength or renewed energy. One definition says a second wind is a person’s ability to breathe freely during exercise after having been out of breath. When Sifan fell, most believed that her chances of winning were next to impossible. But somehow when she got up, she found a new strength to not only catch up but to win. No one likes the feeling of a failure. No one likes the feeling of a fall. Some would argue that failure and falling feels just as terrible as falling on pavement. But sometimes it’s the failure and fall that reveal that there’s more inside of us than we could’ve ever imagined.
When the believers went to God in prayer in Acts 4, I believe they felt a lot like Sifan. They were in the final lap of their first race and experiencing what felt like a failure. Yet in their prayer they asked for the boldness to get back up and keep running, to keep proclaiming the word of God. The scripture says that “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken” (Acts 4:31a). The word used for shaken describes a motion produced by winds. If you remember, just two chapters earlier, while they were praying in the upper room, “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2 NIV). Therefore, the shaking of the place where they were praying was the sign of the coming of their second wind. The latter portion of Acts 4:31 says “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” The second wind of the believer is found in the Spirit and is accessed through prayer.
This morning, I want to talk to someone who’s been running in the race called life. You were running well and then came face to face with a challenge. Tried to jump over it, tried to push through it but you failed and fell. Two of the most difficult moments to overcome in life is a failure and a fall. Both are painful and both discourage progress. I want you to know that you may have failed and may have fallen but the race is not over. The pain of your failure and fall was only meant to push you back towards the Father. He’s always ready to help, He just needs your permission. Now, because you’ve been praying, you’ll experience some shaking. But don’t be afraid, it’s only a sign of your second wind. You may have failed but you’re coming back wiser. You may have fallen but you’re getting up stronger. I know you’re tired, but there’s more inside of you. Because greater is He that is in you than any threat in this world (1 John 4:4).
After Sifan Hassan fell in her first race, not only did she get up and win, but she was also awakened to her hidden potential. She continued on to win bronze in the 1,500-meter, gold in the 5,000-meter and gold in the 10,000-meter. You may have failed; you may have fallen but a failure doesn’t stop your story and a fall doesn’t change your destiny. There’s greater on the other side of your failure and your fall. All you have to do is get up, pray and receive your second wind. Receive the Spirit of God.
After the race, Sifan told a reporter “I can’t believe it. I used all my energy this morning and I was kind of tired. I couldn’t believe what happened. It was terrible when I tripped.” Yet, she got up and not only finished the race, she won! If you’ve ever been a runner, then you know what Sifan found when she got up from the ground was a second wind. A second wind is a new strength or renewed energy. One definition says a second wind is a person’s ability to breathe freely during exercise after having been out of breath. When Sifan fell, most believed that her chances of winning were next to impossible. But somehow when she got up, she found a new strength to not only catch up but to win. No one likes the feeling of a failure. No one likes the feeling of a fall. Some would argue that failure and falling feels just as terrible as falling on pavement. But sometimes it’s the failure and fall that reveal that there’s more inside of us than we could’ve ever imagined.
When the believers went to God in prayer in Acts 4, I believe they felt a lot like Sifan. They were in the final lap of their first race and experiencing what felt like a failure. Yet in their prayer they asked for the boldness to get back up and keep running, to keep proclaiming the word of God. The scripture says that “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken” (Acts 4:31a). The word used for shaken describes a motion produced by winds. If you remember, just two chapters earlier, while they were praying in the upper room, “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2 NIV). Therefore, the shaking of the place where they were praying was the sign of the coming of their second wind. The latter portion of Acts 4:31 says “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” The second wind of the believer is found in the Spirit and is accessed through prayer.
This morning, I want to talk to someone who’s been running in the race called life. You were running well and then came face to face with a challenge. Tried to jump over it, tried to push through it but you failed and fell. Two of the most difficult moments to overcome in life is a failure and a fall. Both are painful and both discourage progress. I want you to know that you may have failed and may have fallen but the race is not over. The pain of your failure and fall was only meant to push you back towards the Father. He’s always ready to help, He just needs your permission. Now, because you’ve been praying, you’ll experience some shaking. But don’t be afraid, it’s only a sign of your second wind. You may have failed but you’re coming back wiser. You may have fallen but you’re getting up stronger. I know you’re tired, but there’s more inside of you. Because greater is He that is in you than any threat in this world (1 John 4:4).
After Sifan Hassan fell in her first race, not only did she get up and win, but she was also awakened to her hidden potential. She continued on to win bronze in the 1,500-meter, gold in the 5,000-meter and gold in the 10,000-meter. You may have failed; you may have fallen but a failure doesn’t stop your story and a fall doesn’t change your destiny. There’s greater on the other side of your failure and your fall. All you have to do is get up, pray and receive your second wind. Receive the Spirit of God.
Day 5: Go Bold
It’s time to GO BOLD! In response to the threats of the enemy, the church prayed. Acts 4:31 says “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” You’ve been threatened, you’ve been shaken, and you’ve been filled with the second wind. Now it’s time to go bold. Fear tried to grip you but it cannot have you, because “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT). With His power comes boldness. Go forth in boldness!
Heaven has no place for the fearful, only the victorious (Revelation 22:7-8). You are more than a conqueror! You’ve been designed in the image of the Victorious One, therefore you were designed and destined for victory! Speak boldly! Live boldly! Walk boldly! Serve the Lord with boldness. Build your business with boldness! Apply for that job with boldness! Live your life with boldness. It’s time to GO BOLD!
Heaven has no place for the fearful, only the victorious (Revelation 22:7-8). You are more than a conqueror! You’ve been designed in the image of the Victorious One, therefore you were designed and destined for victory! Speak boldly! Live boldly! Walk boldly! Serve the Lord with boldness. Build your business with boldness! Apply for that job with boldness! Live your life with boldness. It’s time to GO BOLD!
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