The Rewards Of Faith

Perhaps the greatest subject in the entire Bible is that of faith. Because in faith we believe the world had it's beginning. It is faith that is the start of a new life in Christ. It is faith that allows us to live in this ungodly world. And it is the one thing that will help us to leave this world with assurance of a better life. This morning with the help of the Spirit of God we would like for you to see the "rewards of living by faith." As we search the scriptures we will be assured that faith does have it's rewards. And there is no better starting point than that of Hebrews 11. Here God records many of the people (just like you and me) who lived by faith and not by sight.

1. Faith and it's relation to God.

· Faith Pleases God-(Heb. 11: 6)"But without faith it is impossible to please Him:"

· Faith Proves God- (Mal. 3:10) "and prove me now herewith,"

· Faith Provokes God- (Job 12:6) "and they that provoke God are secure;"

· Faith Presents God- (1 Thess. 1:8) "but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad;"

· Faith Petitions God- (James 5:1) "And the prayer of faith"

2. Faith and it's Rewards:

I. Salvation - (Eph. 2:8) Salvation and it's rewards

a.) Heaven- (Phil. 3:20-21)

b.) Become a child of God- (Jn. 1:12) Heirs and joint-heirs with Christ.!!!!!!

c.) Forgiveness of Sins- (Ps. 32:1-2) The weight of sin is gone, glory, the sad thing is that many who have been forgiven would once again yoke up again.

d.) Accepted by the Lord- (Eph. 1:6) Peer pressure by the majority causes many to fold up and go with the crowd, but even as this is wrong for our young people it is equally wrong for saved folk to want acceptance in this world.

e.) Peace with God- (Phil. 4:7) Many seek peace in other places, but Christ the "Prince of Peace" can alone give a person peace.

f.) Access to God- (Eph. 2:18) To many time we are guilty of trying to spiritualize our prayers, we should carry on a normal conversation, for God alone can do what we can't.

g.) Victory over Sin- (1 John 5:4) only through salvation in the Person of Christ can a person have consistent victory over sin.

h.) Fellowship with God- (John 14:1-4) Golden streets will be something to behold, great men and women of God will be great, but God will be there and we will fellowship with Him forever.

II. Sufferings Reward- (1 Pet. 1:7; 1 Pet. 4:12)

a.) Trials are common to everyone, but everyone doesn't react to them the same way. Trials are for a reason and that reason, though hard to understand at times is for our benefit. Suffering does have it's rewards.

b.) Job for instance- If there has ever been a man of God Job is the man. We find Satan wouldn't even consider Job, why do you think this? In the book of James the bible says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

c.) Let's not focus on the material things as much as the beginning of Psalms 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. "So Job died being old and full of days" (42:1)

d.) Suffering is in many cases is to do us like that Gold, the hotter the fire the purer the gold, the more severe the trial the more precious the faith.

e.) Never forget with every trial there is a reward.

f.) The next may be a little more severe, and because of the last trial, we can endure more and be more pure.

g.) Though suffering in the presence may not be joyous, in it's end it will yield a likeness of Christ.

III. SEPERATIONS REWARD- (Heb. 11:8-10; 23-29) Though it may not be popular it does have it's rewards.

a.) Abraham because of his separating from his native people became the father of many nations. I'm sure it wasn't popular then even as it is now.

b.) Many don't want to stick out in the crowd, so they just mingle in, it is kind of like I heard someone say the other day, the world is imitating Christians and Christians are imitating the world. Seems to me someone is real confused here….