Revival – 6
Subject: God Promises to Reward Those Who Seek Him
by Rick Welborne
Hebrews 11:1-6 (NKJV)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
--I love verse 1 where it says faith is the substance of things hoped for. Faith must be our substance when it comes to revival. I love what Huldah Bantain said:
Bantain: Money is the currency of earth but faith is the currency of heaven. My husband had all the faith and I had all the ulcers.
--Thru their faith God had all the substance they needed for the miracles that were to follow…the evidence of things not seen…they were not even supposed to be in India…so they thought.
--Verse three settles any argument about what God can and cannot do…He framed the worlds simply by His Word…in other words He spoke into existence what did not exist out of things we cannot see.
Hebrews 11:3 (NLT)
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
--Maybe right now you cannot see how revival can come to Life Church and to Central Florida…I personally see what appears to be a cloud the size of a man’s hand rising out of the sea.
--The rain (the water) we need is rising out of the great source of water (the sea) to come and bless us. Revival is rising up from God to come to earth to saturate us with His glory…He is the source! He is the substance!
--The other day I was praying in the sanctuary and God truly touched my heart with verse 6 as it relates to revival…I see three things…faith, knowing He is, and knowing He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
1. We must have faith that revival is coming.
--Thank God for earthly wisdom and a view of reality but sometimes we need to dare to believe God when it is not all black and white.
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
--Just because you cannot see it does not mean that it is impossible...my faith becomes the substance to believe God for that which I cannot see. Revival, prodigals, healing.
--I want to be surrounded by men and women of God that will say to me...Pastor, we do not see the evidence we want to see but we will seek God until it comes. Stay thirsty, My Friends!
--I believe that when we are truly filled with the Holy Spirit that we will be filled with faith...How can you, if you are filled with God Himself, not be filled with faith? He is faith personified!
--God, surround me with those when times are tough to say to me "Hang in there, Pastor, God is on the way and He will hear and he will answer!" Revival is coming!
--We all need to speak faith into each other's lives...it is not about what we cannot do but what God can do thru us! We need to speak into the dry bones around us! Speak to the Wind…to Holy Spirit!
--Faith and vision are so much alike...thru God we see what is not there yet.
—If you can't see it, then you do not have vision or faith.
—Some people see it but don't believe it. They do not have vison or faith.
—Some people see it, believe it, but don't do it. They do not have vision or faith.
—Some people see it, believe it and start to do it but quit. They do not have vision.
—Vision is the ability to see it, the faith to believe it, the courage to do it, and the hope to endure.
--To be filled with faith and be ready in these last days we must seek God while He may be found!
Isaiah 55:6 (NLT)
6 Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
–God is crying out to His people and to the lost to come to Him and drink and to eat. Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? What is He saying?
–Why keep going to the wells that are empty and dry? Why continue trying to fill your emptiness with the things of this world...adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drugs, alcohol.
–Why go to the world when you should come to me and find abundant life?
John 10:10 (NKJV)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
–Why keep running from relationship to relationship...whether it is heterosexual or homosexual when after the infatuation is gone you are hurt and empty.
Isaiah 55:3 (NLT)
3 “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
–Stop looking for love and fulfillment in all the wrong places. God is saying He wants to display His power thru us like He did thru David! Our promise can be linked to God’s promise to David.
--To be filled with faith and be prepared in these last days we must be ready to be used by God in incredible ways!
Isaiah 55:5 (NLT)
5 You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”
Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)
6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.
--To be filled with faith and be ready in these last days we must willing to repent of our sin!
Isaiah 55:7 (NLT)
7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
2. We must believe God is!
Deuteronomy 4:24 (NKJV) 24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire…
Deuteronomy 4:31 (NKJV) 31 (for the LORD your God is a merciful God)
Deuteronomy 7:21 (NKJV) 21… for the LORD your God, the great and awesome God, is among you.
Deuteronomy 10:17 (NKJV) 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords…
Deuteronomy 20:1 (NKJV) 1 …do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you…
Deuteronomy 33:27 (NKJV) 27 The eternal God is your refuge…
Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) 9… the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua 23:10 (NKJV) 10 … the LORD your God is He who fights for you…
2 Samuel 22:33 (NKJV) 33 God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect.
Job 9:4 (NKJV) 4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Job 36:5 (NKJV) 5 "Behold, God is mighty…
Job 36:22&26 (NKJV) 22 "Behold, God is exalted by His power…
26 "Behold, God is great…
26 "Behold, God is great…
Psalm 7:11 (NKJV) 11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psalm 46:1 (NKJV) 1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Psalm 47:7 (NKJV) 7 For God is the King of all the earth…
Psalm 54:4 (NKJV) 4 Behold, God is my helper…
Psalm 56:9 (NKJV) 9 …my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.
Psalm 59:9 (NKJV) 9 I will wait for You…For God is my defense;
Psalm 62:7 (NKJV) 7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge…
Psalm 77:13 (NKJV) 13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary…
Psalm 84:11 (NKJV) 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield…
Psalm 89:7 (NKJV) 7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints…
Psalm 99:9 (NKJV) 9 the LORD our God is holy.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV) 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you…
1 John 1:5 (NKJV) 5 God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
1 John 4:8 (NKJV) 8 God is love.
--God is the One Who can send revival, bring and awakening, bring healing…He is!
3. We must believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
--By reward I do not mean that this is some kind of spiritual pyramid scheme where if you follow certain steps you will end up with wealth beyond your imagination.
--Immediately after verse 6 in Hebrews 11 the writer begins to give us person after person who received some kind of reward from God because they diligently sought Him and obeyed Him.
--Noah was rewarded by His family being saved, Abraham received an inheritance where he became the father of our faith, Sarah received a child in her old age.
--Moses was rewarded by leading Israel out of bondage, Joshua was rewarded by walls falling down,
Hebrews 11:32-40 (NKJV)
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented--
38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented--
38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
--What God calls rewards may not be the same as what we think…
Revelation 22:12-13 (NKJV)
12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
Isaiah 40:10-11 (NKJV)
10 Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.
11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.
10 Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.
11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.
--His reward is with Him…if we diligently seek Him and find Him…I will have my reward…Will have revival!
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