You are part of a bigger picture. You are not the picture. Dr. Tony Evans says God is seeking the pieces of the puzzle that are connected to the picture. There is a bigger picture that is taking place.
And if you miss that, if we miss that, then we will miss our purpose for existence. This is the alternative broadcast, featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans. Chaos and God's Kingdom. the two couldn't be further apart.
Today, Dr. Evans discusses the need for each of us to nurture a divine connection. Without it, our pursuits are hollow, our destiny unfulfilled, and our world chaotic. Let's join him to discover the key that unlocks the purpose and satisfaction we were created to experience. If you've ever opened a puzzle box, There are a myriad of disconnected pieces.
That piece of puzzle. Only is significant to the degree. that it fits into a bigger picture. Isolated on its own. That piece of the puzzle.
has not discovered its purpose for existence. The purpose for the peace is the picture. The purpose for the peace is not the peace. But if the peace gets so fixated on itself. It not only limits The fuller expression of why it exists.
It actually nullifies its reason for existence. You are part of a bigger picture. You are not the picture. Amen. Amen.
And neither am I. There is a bigger picture. That is taking place. And if you miss that, if we miss that. then we will miss our Purpose.
for existence. What God is seeking. Are pieces of the life puzzles who are. connected to the picture. God has won.
Umbrella. Abiding Picture and purpose. for your existence, my existence. And his goal in history. And that is called his kingdom.
Hebrews 12:28 says, Since we have received a kingdom, that cannot be shaken. The kingdom is the jurisdiction of divine rule. It is the realm of divine authority. The Greek word kingdom, basilia, refers to a rule or authority. That involves a realm.
God Exist in a realm. It is an invisible spiritual. Heavenly kingdom realm. You and I were created. To be participants in extracting up there and delivering it.
down here. That is your. purpose. Anything that doesn't fit into that. You're operating outside of your purpose.
Now, you have to understand, we are in an environment that offers a rival kingdom. The Bible calls it the kingdom of darkness.
So there is a rival. It's like the ants. On your yard. If you have an anthill on your job. That's a rival kingdom to your grass.
The ants build a kingdom, and we know it's a kingdom because they build the anthill to serve a queen.
So, the ants are building this hill to serve their queen while destroying the greenness of your grass. And if you get too close, they will sting you.
So they don't want interference with the growth of their Kingdom. There is an enemy that wants to build a rival kingdom and to shift your purpose from the kingdom of God to the kingdom of darkness. The author of Hebrews says. Since we belong. to an unshakable Kingdom.
Far too many people, Christians, are living their lives in false setup. They're living outside of the normal range of their creation. They're singing outside of their Created purpose for being. because they have not yet linked. Who they are.
And what they do. to this kingdom. Jurisdiction, divine rule. which is the purpose why each of us were created and then converted. He says, therefore, since we have received And on Shakable kingdom or a kingdom which cannot be disturbed Shake it.
Disturbed.
Well, he's used the word shaken previously in the verses preceding it. Let me read verse 25. See to it that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, Much less will we escape. who turn away from him who warns from heaven.
And his voice shook the earth then. But now he has promised, saying, yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven. The expression yet once more denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken. As of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken.
So he is now making a contrast. Between things that are created that shake. and the kingdom of which we are a part that is unshakable. he makes this contrast between the shaking and that which does not shake. Have you ever been on an airplane?
And there's turbulence. It's going up and down. Flopping back and forth, and you now getting a little nervous. You tighten in a seatbelt that's already tight. You grabbing the handles like that's gonna do something.
You, because you have been disturbed. But you know the feeling you get. When the pilot that you don't see comes over the loudspeaker. And he speaks into the turbulence. And he says, well, we've hit some turbulence at 35,000 feet.
I'm gonna go down a few thousand feet to find us some smooth air. This will last for about 15 to 20 minutes. Do you know the feeling you get when you just hear his voice? in the midst of the turbulence calming the uncertainty of the insecurity that you're in. God will allow or create turbulence.
in our life and in our circumstance. In order for us to pay closer attention, because now we wanna hear more of what he has to say in the turbulence that we're going through. If he wants to move you to a new career, he'll create turbulence in the career you're in. If he wants to move you to a new circumstance, he'll create turbulence in the circumstance you're in. If he finds out you love money too much, he'll start breaking stuff down.
to take away your love for money. He will create a turbulence in the situation because he wants you to hear him a lot closer than you were previously listening.
So when God wants to make sure That you are more attuned to listening, whether you choose to or not, because he says you can refuse it. He will allow or create turbulence or what he calls the shaking or the disruption of the normal activity or the normal movement of things.
So rather than get mad at God. When there is turbulence, he says you better listen more carefully to God when there is turbulence. Just like when you hear that bad weather is coming. You know what you do? You pay more attention to the weatherman or weather lady.
They get listened to like never before. If somebody says, well, there's a tornado possibly, you're going to be paying attention because turbulence is on the way. There's uncertainty on the way. When we had our ice storm, the weatherman, the weather lady got undivided attention. We wanted to listen.
How bad will it be? How long will it be? And the kids were listening. How long are we going to stay out of school? Everybody listening.
Because there is turbulence. That is, things are outside the natural order. He says, God is speaking. When there is disruption.
Now, the good news is. God is still talking. You need to worry if you're not talking.
Okay. God is speaking using circumstance, disruption. to get our attention so he can reveal to us. And that's good news in a bad situation because he says what he's doing. Is he is creating a separation?
He says, the removing, verse 27, of those things which can be shaken.
So he's getting rid of something. of created things. He's trying to change something in the physical to replace it with something in the spiritual. Oh. You know why?
Because He sees we've gotten too attached to the physical. as of created things. the things that the five senses partake of. When we get attached. illegitimately to the wrong kingdom.
then he will create a disturbance. to detach us. He does not want us. Overly connected to this kingdom. To this world.
We're supposed to be in it. But we're not supposed to be tied. to it. We're not supposed to have it as our ultimate obligation. And so, disruption is what he will bring.
We'll return with more from doctor Evans on Unleashing the Kingdom in just a moment. But first, if you're ready to go deeper into discovering what it means to live out God's kingdom purpose, Tony's brand new book, Unleashed, is a great place to start. It'll help you apply what you're learning from these messages, seeing how God's power can transform your perspective, your priorities, and even the people around you. Along with the book, we'll also send you the companion Unleashed Bible Study Guide with bonus streaming video lessons from Dr. Evans, the perfect tool for personal reflection or group study.
And of course you'll receive all twelve full-length audio messages from our current series, Unleashing the Kingdom. This complete package is yours as our thank you gift when you make a contribution to help us keep bringing Tony's teaching your way each day. Get all the details right now at tonyevans.org or call our 24-hour resource center at 1-800-800-3222 and let one of our team members assist you. That's 1-800-800-3222.
Well, Dr. Evans will come back with more of today's message right after this. How do you share the gospel with confidence? What's God's plan for our communities? Why does the Old Testament matter to your faith today?
Those are just a few of the questions you'll get answered when you enroll in the Tony Evans Training Center. an interactive online study experience with Dr. Tony Evans, where you can grow in your knowledge of God's Word and learn to advance His Kingdom agenda in your life. Visit TonyEvanstraining.org to get started today. That's TonyEvanstraining.org.
When God creates a disturbance, it's generally not comfortable. it's generally not desired it's generally not preferred you don't want it But if you will tune your ear to listening. because he's talking when he disrupts the natural order of things. Then he says, you will discover. that you are a part.
Of a, watch this. Unshaped. Shakeable. Kingdom. All right.
Watch this now. I'm going to show you, he says. Why you can't be overly tethered to this world, this culture, and this kingdom. And the reason why you can is I'm going to shake it up. And I'm going to show you if you put all your eggs in this basket.
You're going to be shook up too. Because you're attached. You know, if there's an earthquake on the ground. Folks in the plane aren't shaking. Because they're not attached.
It's the things that are attached that get shaken in an earthquake. But what God wants to do is lift us up to a new spiritual reality of a kingdom that's not attached, so it doesn't shake when everything else around you is. Toe up from the floor up. When everything around you has been disturbed, it's shaking, it's discontinuity and disconnected.
So, God is allowing the shaking to reveal the unshakable topic. Kingdom. Because you're listening to his voice. A young boy was on his plane with flying somewhere. Sh And um he was uh Sitting next to an older lady, and the plane had some really bad turbulence.
And everybody was screaming on the plane because it was dropping suddenly and it was just going from side to side and felt like you were going to crash. And the kid was just there. He was just there playing. He was just having a good time. And the older lady was irritated.
She was irritated that he was so calm when the whole plant is in disruption. She loved the little boy. She said, How can you be so calm when all this is going on? He looked at all they said. Because my daddy's the pilot.
See, when you know to whom you are attached. Then, while everybody else is going through all of this. Your connection to God's kingdom purpose. Will stabilize you because his kingdom up there can't be shaken by circumstances down here. It doesn't mean those circumstances are real.
It just means they're no longer in control. They're no longer dictating. They're no longer calling the shots because it is an unshakable kingdom. Yeah. When it rains, On the ocean?
The rain No matter how hard it hits. can only penetrate the water down to approximately 25 feet.
So the rain is coming from up there and it's hitting the water. And you've seen the disturbance of rain and wind on water. And it can penetrate 25 or so feet. Fee.
So what fish do? When it's raining. is go 26 feet. In other words, The rain is the indication it's time to go deeper. When God disturbs the natural order of things.
When your world is turned upside down. When things are in discord. God is saying. Time to go deeper. Time to go.
The disturbance is to. call our attention to time to go deeper.
Okay. So how do you go deeper? In God's purpose.
Well, look at what he says. Therefore, verse 28. Since we receive the kingdom. that cannot be shaken. Let us show gratitude.
I want you to be thankful.
Now The tendency When our world is shaken, is to complain. Yeah, and that's the natural. I don't like this, I don't want this, I don't agree with this. You know, it's too complaint. He says, let us show gratitude.
But how can I show gratitude if I'm in a disturbance? You're not showing gratitude for the disturbance. you're showing gratitude for the purpose. You're saying, Lord. I don't like this.
I don't want this. I don't agree with this. I don't desire this. But Because you talking. And because you have something to say, which means it's worth hearing.
I want to thank you. for how you're going to use this. to take me deeper in my purpose with you. I'm not thanking God for the problem. I'm showing gratitude for the purpose.
God was taking Israel from Egypt to the promised land. The purpose was the promised land. The wilderness was development. for the promised land. He says, I let you get hungry.
So that you could see, I could feed you. I let you get thirsty.
So you can see I'm your provider for your water.
So, yeah, I let you get hungry. I let you get tired. I let you get weary. I let you get thirsty because I knew you would depend on me more to have to come through. Why did I do that?
Deuteronomy says.
So that when you get to the promised land. And when you got houses that you did not build. Farms that you did not develop. blessings that you did not that you should not forget The Lord your God.
So he says with gratitude. And then he says, By which we may offer to God an acceptable service. We call it here kingdom servants. We want to develop kingdom disciples, visible, verbal followers of Christ who are kingdom servants that make a kingdom impact. That's what we want to do.
in our ministry. How? Is God? using you to advance his name. How is God using you?
to advance his truth. How is God using you to meet the needs of others? How is God using you? Or do you just want to get from the king and his kingdom, but the king and his kingdom can get nothing from you? He is saying that you are to give acceptable service.
You know what? When you get up. Appliance. You get a warranty. For a certain amount of time.
They're going to stand behind the product. They're going to say if this appliance stops working Call us. And we will, if it's a reputable manufacturer, we will fix or replace. your broken down appliance. you get a warranty.
God has a warranty. Yeah. As long as you're plugged into his kingdom purpose. But the moment you start living outside of his kingdom purpose. You living for me, myself, and I.
You know, God can't get you to serve. You're an ungrateful Christian, then what you're doing is voiding the warranty of your covering from his unshakable kingdom. You are to be God's kingdom representative in whatever you do, wherever you go, you are representing the king and his kingdom. Just like when you go to another country, you still are an American. When you go to your job, you still are a Christian.
When you go to your neighborhood, you still are a Christian. When you go to your friends, you still are a Christian. You are a representative of the king and his kingdom. And he is a consuming fire.
So No, he's going to disturb something. in all of our lives, but it's always designed to take us to the next level. We'll return to Dr. Evans in a moment with a final illustration about how God operates in our lives when He's preparing to use us. First, though, I want to remind you that what you've been hearing is part of Dr.
Evans' life-changing sermon series called Unleashing the Kingdom. The full-length versions of all 12 messages are available for you to review again or to share with a friend or family member. For a limited time, we're offering them as our gift when you make a contribution to help us keep the alternative coming your way each day. Along with the complete audio series, we'll also send you a copy of Tony's newest book called Unleashed, Releasing God's Glorious Kingdom in and Through You. as well as his Unleashed Bible Study Guide with streaming video lessons, powerful resources to help you take what you've learned even further.
This is a limited time offer, so don't miss your opportunity to take advantage while it's still available. You'll find all the details waiting for you at tonyevans.org. Again, that's tonyvans.org. or speak with one of our resource team members any time, day or night, by calling 1-800-800-3222. The number again 1-800-800-3222.
Salvation is a free gift from God with no strings attached. But tomorrow doctor Evans explains that following Christ here on earth comes at a price that not everyone is willing to pay. Be sure to join us for that. But right now, let's listen as he wraps up today's message with this final story. On Sunday morning, when Sister Evans was here, she would Take my shirt.
and make sure the wrinkles were out. She put it on the ironing board and then she put the iron over the shirt. And I'd see steam coming up from the ship. That's cause the iron was hot. But she knew how much heat to put.
And how long to leave it.
So that while it was Throw enough smoke. It was not being destroyed. But the reason why She would put the iron on the shirt. If she knew, I was going to have to wear the shirt to church. And she wanted me to look good in the shape.
Because she wanted me to look good in the shirt. She subjected the shirt. To heat. but only because there were wrinkles that needed to get out. And she wanted the wrinkles out.
Because she wanted me to look good. in the shirt. When God sees a wrinkle, That needs to be brought out. in your life. He may disturb it with some heat.
But he knows how hot it is. And he knows how long to leave it. But the only reason he's doing it It's because he wants to wear you. And he wants to look good on you. And because he wants to wear you and look on you, there'll be some consuming fire.
to get out the wrinkles so that he can get greater glory from you.
