Diligently seeking rewards.

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 those who diligently seek Him.

We all know that anything outside of faith is sin, but did we know that a lack of faith costs us our future rewards by the hand of God?

Lack of faith in any area of our lives not only makes it impossible to please Him but also denounces that we know Him. What? That's what the scripture above says: "For he that cometh To God must believe that He is!" 

Lets stretch this out to it's full implication. When you lack faith in any Biblical Truth you show that "in that area" you "do not believe in God." What? That's right. All Truth has been written in God's Word, and Jesus Christ "is" the Word of God come in the flesh. To say that any Truth in God's Word does not work, function or can be received, is to lack faith and is sin. Better to say "help thou my unbelief" than to say "this is not obtainable or not true for today." God has put all His precious promises for us in Jesus Christ, by His example in Scripture, in His name, and by the written Word. None of these can be changed or eliminated. Elimination for any reason is a "lack of faith." Sin, period. 
If we believe in Jesus for a guarantee of our salvation through His death and Resurrection then we also have to believe all else that He did, said and promised. Just like the example given in Scriptrure about sin, "if you broken one of the laws you have broken them all." If you believe in Jesus as Savior, then you have to "believe in Him for the rest of His promises." You can't pick and choose what you are promised when you believe in Jesus Christ. Many fail in this "practice" because they never followed through with being baptized in the Holy Spirit. How so? 
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
If you don't have the Holy Spirit then you don't have the "teaching and reminding."
Now lets not get your hackles up about the Holy Spirit. He "calls us to Christ", He "seals us" at salvation, but He "fills us" at His baptism to empower us to "manifest the glory of God." No baptism in the Holy Spirit, "no empowerment" or "teaching and reminding." 
I am going to say something here that might offend some but "the Truth sets free" so read carefully. This is not about you, your biblical practices, or what you have been taught, it's about the power of Scripture and the promise of God through His Word about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 
I believe that familiarization of God's Word is great, I believe that memorizing God's Word is great, but nothing is so powerful and "speaking as an oracle of God" the Words of God, unrehearsed, given by the Holy Spirit for that time and situation. Many times in Scripture men spoke the Word of God inspired and counseled by the Holy Spirit. "Unlearned men." Peter and the disciples, Stephen, unlearned men filled with the Holy Spirit to be a witness of God's Truth. So rehearse, memorize, make outlines about God's Word but don't miss the most important preparation: "being filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit."
I believe that all effort aside from this being the foundation becomes a "doctrine of man", an carnal effort, and a shameful folly. God's Word is Spirit! Only a person "filled" with His Spirit can understand them and apply them properly. Other wise all you have for a promise is that God's Word will not come back void. 
If you feel that there is valid, Biblical argument against the above just find it in Scripture...........Aside from the doctrine of men that must be added to this statement you'll not find any.

Now that the foundation has been laid lets look at the last statement in this verse in Hebrews:
"And He is a rewarder of those that "diligently seek Him."
Lets start with "without faith". It takes faith to be diligent about anything in God's Word. Any unbelief is sin and sin sets us short of the "glory of God." If we don't believe all things written in God's Holy Word then we cannot be "diligent" in seeking Him. Why? Because we don't trust in what He has written. If we don't trust in what's written then we cannot obtain the blessing that it contains for us because of "unbelief". Unbelief brings about the loss of the reward that we get from "diligently seeking Him." All God's promises are spiritual in beginning then manifest themselves as physical in receiving. An example would be healing. Prayed for "in the spirit" manifested in the flesh for the proof and glory of God's kingdom. All Scripture is "God breathed" which means it is spiritual before it "becomes flesh." Just as Jesus (who is the living Word of God) is God (Spirit) but in due time took on a body just a little lower than the angels, the body of a man. First spirit, second flesh. The so called "order that God has set all things in." 
So with this order we have our rewards "here on earth as in heaven." By faith we stand to receive these rewards, whatever they be by God's promises in Jesus His living written Word. Diligence is part of the seeking because diligence shows faith. Sometimes immediately, sometimes 21 days later, sometimes much later but in God's perfect timing. 
One thing for sure, we will receive the rewards if we "diligently seek Him."
Why do we need to receive rewards?
Because not only do we need to see our faith manifested but others do to. Many in the churches don't believe and never attain their rewards/promises because they don't know that they can. Seeing others being blessed and having answered prayers encourages them to "strive for a closer relationship with God." Thereby the encouragement to "diligently seek Him".
Scripture is always full of divine promises and interventions aimed at us. Only we can stop our receiving our rewards and only "by faithlessness" or more candidly "sin". 
One day we will "give an answer" and from what I have experienced there is none. When you stand before the Holy God of all creation just His presence will leave you speechless and without excuse. 
So as long as it is called "today" lets set our hearts on "things above", and diligently seek those given promises our rewards, from our Father who art in heaven so as to usher in His kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. For ourselves and others "who believe not" or believe but are ignorant/unlearned.
May the God of piece be with you.
Love
J&E in Tn 

A short expression of "in season and out of season."

As Christians there may be various and sundry times in your life where the question might arise: "why do you do and say the things you do?"
A good start is to have an answer prepared, in our hearts, because the Scriptures tell us:

1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Jesus said this "what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart," if our hearts are filled to overflowing with the Love of Christ, then the answer will be spoken as naturally as breathing. No thinking about it just a pure and natural response from Love. This response to the question will be instantly derived from whether or not we have "sanctified our hearts to the Lord God."
Making Him Lord over all our thoughts, words, and deeds, #1 over our life. All our thoughts are brought under/into submission to the mind of Christ, the Holy Spirit. Just think of how much more productive our lives would be if we would just submit our thoughts to Christ before we speak. The damage control from using this one practice would be would be negligent compared to what we have now to contend with.
With this in place and practiced, we have no problem with answering the question "about the reason of the hope that is in you?"

We would also, with power address the need for this next vs. when we use it:  

2 Timothy 4:2-4 King James Version (KJV)

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

How our words are received by others are almost always preceded by our attitude when we speak them. 1 Peter suggests to speak them with "meekness and fear." Meekness toward man to show humility, fear toward God to show reverence for His Word using it rightly, Truth that sets free.

"As a man thinks in his heart so is he." Because we become what we think in our heart then we should protect our hearts and what enters therein with all diligence. Put that together with "what's in our heart comes out of our mouth" should make us very sensitive to our conversations/responses "in season and out of season." It might be valuable to add, at this point, that the most important "season" to be instant in is the "out of season". 

"In season": preaching, witnessing, fellowship, sharing with believers. Times that are centered around an agreeable group to your presentation. Also when you are ready to speak, filled with the Spirit, knowing that you are "led of God" to open your mouth wide and let the "Word that dwells within you richly" spill out. 

"Out of season": When your not ready, in sin, beat down, needing a "Word" for yourself for encouragement, caught off guard, having "thoughts" in our heart not "in submission" to the mind of Christ. That "out of season" kind of day. In other words the part that demands that you "be instant" in putting off the oppression of the flesh that you are going through, and instantly decide to "speak as though speaking the very Words of God." Lifting your eyes and heart to Christ to make you an effective minister of the message of Christ. This takes maturity in the faith, real spiritual decision making to overcome the "flesh" and to "do the work of the Lord."

Remember that "what others observe in you" may be the only representation of the "gospel" they see that day.

Christianity starts with and continues on "a decision". You can decide to abide in His Word of Truth richly, or you can decide to use it at a lower level "avoiding the offence of the cross of Christ." 

To avoid confusion here lets remember that "All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved", but not all the call will be "used to their full potential." Those who call, are baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit will be the most productive ones in this war against "principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world." These will experience the "victory" bought by the precious blood of Jesus and expand the Kingdom of our God during their lifetime. They will "walk as Jesus walked." It's given unto them to bring about "thy will be done, thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven." 

Point to make: Only those who walk as Jesus walked, doing the will of the Father, can effect the "Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven." If your not part of that then your not "being all that you can be for Christ". And you probably have not completed the steps offered above to "receive power" that's needed to facilitate the job. 

Only those with a passion for the ministry of Christ will be used of God to "do the Kingdom work". Why? Because only those who are passionate, have the faith to believe God's Word without argument or debate. Who know the difference between the "Truth that sets free" and the "doctrines of man." Those who are willing to suffer for the cross of Christ "boldly." Believers who "know the Truth that sets free" and use it to do so. Those who do not instruct with words only but have the Power to manifest God's backing them up. Men and woman filled with the Holy Spirit, walking by faith, completing the Word of God daily in their lives. You know who they are! They are unmistakable, not hidden, passionate, compassionate, meeting needs not just with fleshy answers but with spiritual power and deliverance through prayer and signs and wonders.

Are you "in season or out of season?" Right now! It's just a decision that starts an action today that will flow through you until your "work is done." What's more important? The things of this life or the things of God by the hand of God? Decide you this day whom you shall serve.

As for me and my house "we shall follow the Lord."

I choose to be "in season" all the time. I pray that my "out of season" times be short.

God bless and keep 

Love 

J&E in Tn

A short comment on His return!

Oh boy! 

So there was a documentary on Christ's return on Sept 23 based on "scientific facts", a invisible planet x, and the last eclipse. So many Christians are "beside themselves" for the event. Clamoring on both sides of the fence for the "yay's and nay's". What foolishness. 
Here is what all Christians should be doing everyday of their lives" "looking for His return. expecting His return, hoping for His return, and preparing for His return in their hearts."
Our lives will tell others that we expect this event is going to happen at any time and should "awake them" to the expectation of what this means. Just like His birth He will be right on time, not one second early nor one second late. Right on time.
So:
Be vigilant.
Be ready.
Expect it at any moment.
Don't be distracted by the things of this world.
He is coming for:
Those who love Him.
Those who wait on Him.
Those who "look up."
Stay in His Word as it is the "gateway to all Truth and Knowledge." It's also the only way we receive Faith, for faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
Until His return lets be about the Fathers business.
God bless and keep.
Love
J&E in Tn