Pleasing God Requires Faith
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAST GOD WILL ACCEPT FROM US in our reaching toward Him, this is the verse. There is only one other verse like it in the Bible, that I know of. For years, in my reading through the Bible, I paid little attention to this verse…until one day….it shook me! This is the starting place of relating to Almighty God! It’s like a statement made by Jeremiah:
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
JEREMIAH WAS A MAJOR PROPHET. Prophets in the Bible didn’t appear on the scene until the rebels had led the nation into ruin and the judgement of God was hanging over their heads. Jeremiah told them day after day that God was going to judge the nation of Judah severely. Mixed in with his message of doom Jeremiah told them that they would find God when they were willing to search for Him with all their heart. The message was specific to the Jews of that time, but it is a universal message that works for individuals in any nation in any century. It’s true today for you and me, my friend.
BUT, WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA to find God? “We are quite religious. We have over 300,000 churches in America. Drive our expressways and interstate highways and see buildings with steeples on them all over the place! We are not perfect, but we are civil, self-respecting Americans.” Yes, a thousand mothers a day in America sign a paper authorizing a doctor to kill the baby in her womb. That’s normal? Butchering a thousand babies a day is the mark of a civilized nation? We had better wake up! God notices every baby that enters Heaven. He sees every sparrow that falls, and He sees every baby that enters Heaven. There is much need for our nation to search for God with all our hearts. Killing our innocent children is only one of our problems. The Bible tells us why we don’t seek God:
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (Psalm 10:4)
THE PROPHET EZEKIEL PREACHED: Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11)
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, only a small percentage of the world’s population has ever been inside a church building or held a Bible in their hands, even one time. If all the people of the world should decide to go to church next Sunday, where would they go? It is God’s will that everybody in the world hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ; His death, burial and resurrection from the dead and His soon return to rule the world from the throne of His father David in Jerusalem. But the world could not get into a church building next Sunday to hear the Gospel of Christ.
BUT, EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD COULD COME TO GOD NEXT SUNDAY and believe that He exists and seek His face. Thousands of people find Him in prison cells and hospital rooms. The promise of God is that He would reward each one that does that. It means that God would respond to those who diligently seek Him and show them how to be saved. God would see to that. Did you know that today’s text is in your Bible? God has not left Himself without a witness.
OUR PICTURE TODAY IS OF ABRAHAM OBEYING GOD who told him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice on an altar. When he bound his son and laid him on the altar and raised the knife to kill him, the angel of God called to Abraham to Stop! Abraham had proven that he loved God as much as Abraham’s idolatrous neighbors who were killing their children and offering them to heathen gods. God told Abraham to look and see the ram with its horns caught in a thicket. Abraham offered the ram instead of his son, Isaac. What was in the mind of Abraham?
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him (Isaac) up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:17-19)
THAT IS, IT CAN BE SAID THAT ABRAHAM RECEIVED HIS SON BACK FROM THE DEAD because in Abraham’s mind, Isaac was as good as dead.
Anyone on earth can begin a journey with God by saying/thinking: “God exists! I will diligently seek Him.” Anyone who does this will get a response from God and God will reveal Himself to that person. That’s what the Bible says.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3)
THIS IS A TOUGH SAYING. God’s “preachers” go out every day, uttering speech and their voice can be heard throughout the world. There’s enough information about God to prompt every man, who wants to know God, to diligently seek Him. And when they seek Him with all their heart, they will find Him. God will show him all he needs to know to be saved. I’m not God’s manager. I’m just one of His messenger boys. He will save anyone who will give Him a chance.
THE NEW TESTAMENT SAYS THE SAME THING: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:8)
GOD IS NOT HARD TO FIND. Men who want to know God are hard to find.
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 24, 2018 – FRIDAY
A.M. Psalms 120-123 P.M. 1Corinthians 6
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
A Good Verse to Memorize:.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalm 91:1-2)
(Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)
Song for Today:
My Faith Looks Up to Thee (2:43) (Calvary Mem. Church-S.P.N.C)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auONkEY7n0c
Give it a little time – You may need to adjust the sound.
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