Only Faith Can Please God Series

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you believe in GOD and that He is the Rewarder?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that it takes faith to believe in GOD that exists and that GOD rewards. Go beyond the level of faith of the enemy.

IV. TEXT:

Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified Bible)

11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS for You are my Rewarder and I worship You for who You are.

VI. TITLE:

Only faith can please GOD

Subtitle: Study on the Book of Hebrews

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Date of writing: Before AD. 70

B. Style of writing: Best Greek style

C. Authorship: Not specific, but generally attributed to Apostle Paul. Can be also ascribed to Barnabas, Luke, Apollos

D. Audience: Hebrew Christians

E. Theme: Christ is superior to the prophets; Christ is superior to angels - J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible

F. Purpose: The chief doctrinal purpose of the writer was to show the transcendent glory of the Christian dispensation, as compared with that of the Old Testament.Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Our faith can please GOD

"But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him."

Without or "choris" in Greek meaning:

1. at a space

2. separately or apart from

3. beside

4. by itself, without

Faith or "pistis" in Greek meaning:

1. persuasion

2. credence, moral conviction

3. reliance upon CHRIST for salvation

4. assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity

Impossible or "adunatos" in Greek meaning:

1. unable

2. weak

3. could not do, impossible, not possible

Please or "euaresteo" in Greek meaning:

1. gratify entirely

2. well

Hebrews 13:16 (Amplified Bible)

13:16 Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good, to be generous and distribute and contribute to the needy [of the church as embodiment and proof of fellowship], for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Romans 13:14 (Amplified Bible)

13:14 But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).

Galatians 5:16 (Amplified Bible)

5:16 But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

The word "gratify" in Webster's 1828 Dictionary means:

1. To please; to give pleasure to; to indulge; as, to gratify the taste, the appetite, the senses, the desires, the mind

2. To delight; to please; to humor; to soothe; to satisfy; to indulge to satisfaction.

We gratify GOD not our flesh, it's a constant decision we fall into every moment of our lives here on earth, whether to please GOD or our flesh (human nature). Pleasing GOD gets more benefits for us and no benefit for GOD at all, for our well-being is GOD's concern and priority.

Illustration:

There's a commercial about ice cream candy where we can gratify or indulge in it's taste, but we rather gratify or indulge in GOD's Presence.

B. Believe in two things: GOD exists and GOD rewards

"For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]."

Romans 10:14 (Amplified Bible)

10:14 But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?

Genesis 15:1 (Amplified Bible)

15:1 AFTER THESE things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great.

Boaz said to Ruth:

Ruth 2:12 (Amplified Bible)

2:12 The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to take refuge!

Matthew 5:12 (Amplified Bible)

5:12 Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 6:16 (Amplified Bible)

6:16 And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already.