Bible Study
WHY IS FAITH IMPORTANT, PART 2
Hebrews 11:6 “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.”
A. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Think about that. There is simply no way whatsoever to please God without faith. Imagine being in relationship with someone that it was impossible to please. Horrible!! Nothing satisfies the person. What would you do?? Probably leave!! That person would be impossible to live with!! In the same way, we cannot be in relationship with God without faith. Faith is / must be attached to everything you do or think concerning Him, or it’s not going to work out well. You just cannot have a successful, fulfilling relationship with God without faith.
1. Prayers not working? Check your faith level.
2. Falling into sin / temptation regularly? Check your faith level.
B. For he that cometh to God must believe that He is.
1. You cannot have a relationship with someone you don’t believe exists.
2. If you believe He exists, then you will have to put trust in His Word, the Holy Bible. This is the way that people get to know about God, through His Book. There has to be a trust factor, to approach the Bible as true and real. There must be a belief factor first.
3. Anyone who wants someone to prove that God exists is lost. Even with impeccable apologetics, at the end of the day, it takes faith. People can have good reasons to believe and still refuse to do so. One must first believe that He is to come to Him, to get into heaven when they leave this earth in death.
C. And that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
1. Ephesians 3:8 “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”. The benefits and “riches” to be found in salvation are so numerous that Paul literally called them “unsearchable”. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t search for them! When you do, you find vast treasures, including peace, healing, joy, love, wisdom, deliverance from unclean spirits, sinful behavior and more!
2. Jeremiah 29:11-14 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive." So when you seek God diligently, these are just a few of the benefits described in His word that will come to you…
a. Peace
b. An expected end / a hope and a future (NIV)
c. Freedom from any captivity/ vice/ bondage (emotional, financial, physical, demonic)
d. Restoration
3. Psalm 146:5-9 LOADS of benefits to the righteous- those who put their hope in Him:
a. Happiness (vs. 5)
b. Help (vs. 5)
c. Judgement for the oppressed (vs. 7)
d. Food to the hungry (vs. 7)
e. Freedom for prisoners (vs. 7)
f. Opens eyes of the blind (vs. 8)
g. Raises up those who are bowed down (vs. 8)
h. Preservation for foreigners (vs. 9)
i. Relief for the fatherless and widow (vs. 9)
j. Turns the wicked upside down (vs. 9)