#3~ ENOCH~ Heb.11:5-6 HALL OF FAITH 4-26-14
Today we'll continue with our study of Heb.11: -- often referred to as "THE HALL OF FAITH CHAPTER" also "THE CATOLOG OF THE FAITHFUL"
Chapter 11 is a LIST of OT examples of those who were faithful in difficult situations, often life threatening situations.
These witnesses are given to encourage the Hebrew readers, and all believers
from all dispensations, to remain faithful no matter what physical circumstances may come their way.
The faith of these dear people in this chapter is seen in various situations and at various times, but the one great thing they all had in common was faith in the One True God, they lived and died believing and trusting in God, and after all that is really what faith is, believing and trusting in God.
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The first three witnesses of the faithful were men who lived before the flood, this is a good example of the faithfulness of God, He's still the same God that He's always been, I'm glad God never changes aren't you dear heart, men change but not God.
Last time we talked about "ABEL" -- today if the Lord be willing, we'll take a look at ENOCH, brother Enoch was raptured out of this world, he is a picture and type of the True Church, we'll also be caught away when God's time rolls around, and by what is obvious to any one that watches the news at all, and knows anything about end time prophecy it could happen any time.
All these happenings we see in the papers and TV news programs are nothing more that prophecy coming to pass, and then they only show what they want to, that is, we really don't see and hear it all.
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~ Listen as I read our text from Hebrews 11: 5 --6.
5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6But 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.
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Enoch is one of the mystery men of the Old Testament being mentioned only in > Gen.5:21-24 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
He was the first man after the fall not touched by death; the OT doesn't have much to say to do with the circumstances of Enoch translation, but simply say's that he "walked" with God."
~ Paul or the writer to the Hebrews points out, that only a man of faith could enjoy close communion with God. --- It seems that anyone who had this kind of fellowship with God surely must have pleased God, what a testimony to brother Enoch. --- Enoch fulfilled the purpose for which man was created;
>Rev.4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
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~Jude said that Enoch was a prophet, From this it would appear that he was a preacher; that he predicted the coming of the Lord to judgment, and that he lived in the firm belief of what was to occur in future times.
Jude 14-15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince (convict) all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, (committed is to do something on purpose) and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
~ I want to point out that the word "ungodly" is found 4 times in these verses, 4 is the number of the world, and this is the way the world will be as we're nearing the coming of the Lord for His Church.
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~Listen as I read verses 10-13 as to what Enoch prophesied, to do with this ungodly worldly crowd.
Jude 10 -- 13 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, -- in those things they corrupt themselves.
11Woe unto them! -- For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
~Three wicked examples from the history of Israel are provided to reveal the false prophets against whom Jude's epistle is directed:
(1) Cain represents the heart of a murderer, as he murdered Abel his brother. Gen. 4:1--15. --- (2) Balaam is typical of the idolatrous mind (Num. 22--24).
(3) Korah was noted for rebellion against God's chosen leadership (Num. 16:1--40). --- The evil teachers that Jude is speaking of are like these reprehensible characters from Israel's past.
12These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: -- clouds they are without water, (they appear full but nothing in them)
carried about of winds; (the winds and ways of least resistance) trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, (produce nothing but corrupt fruit) twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, (stars out of orbit) to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
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Dear heart these people are here at this time, the end time's preview is what we have here.
I found this poll when I was putting this message together, so I really don't know when it was taken, but if any thing it's even worst now.
~ Listen as I read to you this poll.
Out of a poll of 700 preachers, the following results were given: 48% denied the complete inspiration of the Bible; --- 24% rejected the atonement; ---12% rejected the resurrection of the body; --- 27% did not believe that Christ will return to judge the quick and the dead.
LISTEN; A Washington, D.C., minister said, "We liberal clergymen are no longer interested in the fundamentalist-modernist controversy. We do not believe we should even waste our time engaging in it. So far as we are concerned, it makes no difference whether Christ was born of a virgin or not. We don't even bother to form an opinion on the subject."
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Paul said in;
>2 Thess. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, --
~Falling away from God and His forever settled Word.
>2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
----- Jesus said in; - >John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. -- In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
~ All of this ungodliness we see on ever hand is in a manner of speaking, a good sign for the believers; it must be this way before the rapture.
I don't know if you've ever thought of it or not, but the world financial system has to be a mess or the Antichrist wouldn't have nothing to straighten out, our nation is the biggest debtor nation in the world and continues to get even more so ever day, the last account I heard was that our country owes more than 17 billion dollars, mostly to China.
Obama don't allow congress to make the decisions, he by- passes congress and does what he pleases, he ought to have been impeached a long time ago.
~ When the antichrist comes on the scene just after the rapture, he'll fix every thing or so the earth dwellers will think, he causes the earth dwellers to receive a mark in order to buy sell and trade, directed by the false prophet.
>Rev.13: 16-17 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
~ Let's get back to ENOCH;
11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6But 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.
~ The little word "MUST" here is very important, MUST here means, (a necessary or essential thing.)
~ makes us think of Jesus talking to a man with religion, Nicodemus, in
John 3:7-- Ye must be born again -- Nicodemus was a religious man, Jesus said that he was a teacher, a master, of Israel, but it was a MUST for him to be born again, always remember dear heart, hell has many religious people in it.
~Also the word "diligently"** means, (not carelessly; not negligently- but purposefully and sincerely)
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* But without faith it is impossible to please Him:
This is to do with the "basic faith" that God requires of any who seeks Him. "basic faith" means that true seekers after God must believe that He is, and also must believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. We must believe that God is there, and that He will reveal Himself to the seeking heart.
~ Walking by faith involves not only believing that God exists but also believing that he will reward the faithful. -- Listen, the faithful that He will reward are those who "diligently seek after Him" (carries the meaning of, are seeking, notice, present tense),
~ Not believers who have stopped seeking after Him.
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LISTEN, The writer to the Hebrews doesn't say that it is difficult to please God without faith. -- He says that it is impossible.
~ These two elements (faith in & seeking after God) seem simple enough to do, the test is in our sincerity, how many professing Christians conduct themselves as if God's not real, and if He is, He's far away, these are good at playing church, and then there's others, though seemingly their seeking after Him, are not sure that He's a rewarder to the seekers? -- There seems to be an element of doubt in many of the professed Christians.
~ We can fool every one around us, but not Him, God knows if our FAITH is genuine or not.
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The bible tells us that there's coming a Day of Judgment to one and all, there'll be people at the White Throne Judgment of the lost that thought they were saved, they'll be some that actually thought their good deeds would get them into heaven, and their faith was in their works, not in Him.
~ The Laodicians, the last day church are here now, their the pretenders, they have themselves fooled and most other people, but not Him.
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* Jesus said in;
Matthew 7: 20- 23 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
* NOTICE; Jesus said in verse 23 - I never knew you: --
In other words, they had never been saved at any time, if they had ever been saved at any time, then He would have known them, these poor souls, religious but lost, they had their FAITH in all the wrong things. -- They'll say;
-- in thy name have cast out devils -- in thy name done many wonderful works?
-- prophesied in thy name-- this sounds like people that appeared to be preachers.
Jesus will not be looking to see how many good deeds people did, but He'll be looking for FAITH, we don't have to be like some of the great preachers of the past, we just need to faithful in what He has allotted us.
He knows if our FAITH in Him is real or not.
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Verse 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him:
Not "might not please Him" -- But without faith it is impossible to please him:
