Believe In God or Believe God!
Hebrews 11:1-6 (NIV)
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
What is Faith?
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see
How do we get it?
Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
What is the benefit?
Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
I want to look at something else about this verse.
Believe
Verb
Accept as true; take to be true;
Be confident about something
Hebrews says that to come to God we must believe that He exists.
Have to accept as true that God exists.
We must be confident that this is fact.
Then the writer goes to say that God rewards those that “earnestly” seek Him.
Earnestly
Adverb
1. In a serious manner;
So we must believe accept as truth that He exists and
We must seek Him in a serious manner then He will reward us.
The question of the day is this…
Do we really believe God?
There is a big difference between believing in God and believing God.
Ann Kimball wrote some book in the 1970’s had a marvelous way of talking about Jesus. She was the dean of women at Eastern Nazarene College in Boston and she would speak all over the country. She flying from Boston to san Francisco to speak she said she was just so tired from the week and she sat down in her seat and ask the Lord to not have her talk to anybody because she was so tired and about that time a businessman comes and sits next to her and the Lord says Ann talk to him. She says Lord no I so tired. The Lord says yes go ahead so she looks over at the man and says Hi I’m Ann. The man says hi Ann I’m Hap. Hap would you do me a favor. He said sure what is it. Can I sing a little song to you? It will be short and quiet and I won’t embarrass you, he said ok but hurry it up. She sang something beautiful, something good, all of my confusion, he understood. You know what confusion is Hap, I do. All I have to offer him is brokenness and strife. You know what brokenness and strife is Hap, I do. He made something beautiful of my life. Hap said, Ann thanks a million I love your song, my wife would love your song she wonderful catholic lady, very religious persons he goes to mass five times a week, she would love your song but I am an atheist. Ann said oh a real live atheist, that’s wonderful, Hap said it is? Ann said yes I’ve never met and real live atheist before. Hap said you haven’t? She no just because you don’t believe in a God Hap, doesn’t mean that there’s not. He said really? She said O yeah. I have a giant of God in me Hap. We’re out to change the world my God and I. We dream great dreams for guys like you. He said you do? They started have this conversation that went on for several minutes and she said I looked at him and he had turned his head away and tears started run down his check onto his shirt. She said I didn’t even know what to do we haven’t even taken off yet. She said the plane finally took from Boston on its way to San Francisco and at 35,000 feet for 5 and ½ hours we talked about the God who is. She said when we landed I like to be the first off, Hap ask if he could write to me and I gave him the address and I told him remember Hap I have a giant of a god in me. My God and me we dream big dreams for guys like and someday when you least expect he may invade your life and with that she got off. Two weeks later back in Boston Ann Kimball got a letter from Hap that said, Dear Ann I have not ask this Jesus that you talked about into my heart yet, but I want you to know that somewhere at 35,000 feet between Boston and San Francisco for the first time in my life I believed that God is.
Do we really believe stuff like……
Romans 8:1 (NKJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Psalms 103:12 (NIV)
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Exodus 15:26 (NIV)
26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."
If we say yes we believe God then why don’t we act like it?
Why don’t we act there is no condemnation?
Condemnation
Noun
judging to be unfit for use
We have people in church who think they are unfit for use in the Kingdom
Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
Why don’t we act like God works for our good?
James 1:2-4 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Why don’t we act like we are more than conquerors?
We don’t have walk around beat up and beat down.
We can walk in victory because we are more than
conquerors!!
Why don’t we act like nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God?
Why don’t we act like he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us?
We have people who are carrying loads of guilt and shame that God does not intend for us to carry.
Why don’t we act like he removed our transgressions from us?
Why don’t we act like I am the LORD, who heals you?
1) because we started questioning God.
It’s the same as with Eve in the garden.
Genesis 3:1 (NIV)
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, ’You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?"
As soon as we start thinking, Did God really say?” we get into trouble.
The answer is yes God did really say.
2) Another reason is that we don’t like to wait.
We want things done in a microwave,
But God sometimes cooks up blessings in a crockpot.
We’re saying God we want it now and we want our way
God is saying you don’t do anything just wait on me.
3) we won’t accept the evidence.
We are always asking for a sign
when it clearly marked in front of us.
Matthew 16:1-4 (NIV)
1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, ’It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ’Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.
These guys are asking for a sign right after they have watched Him feed 4000 people with seven loaves and few small fish.
What more do you need?
We have evidence right here in this room.
The evidence demands a verdict.
What more do you need.
CLOSE:
Matthew 21:21-22 (NIV)
21 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ’Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
• If you are sick believe and you will be healed.
• If you are struggling financially, believe and your need will be met.
• If you are battling thoughts believe and you will have peace of mind.
• If you have lost loved ones, believe that they come to the Lord.
• If you want God to do something awesome in your life, believe.
Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
