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 them that diligently seek Him.
This Scripture begs the question of: "what is the reward for diligently seeking Him?"
The first and foremost application we see here is faith to believe that He (God) is.
Second is that doing so we are rewarded for the effort by God.
Third is that the effort of "diligently seeking Him" is an effort of passion and constancy.
There are the "for sure" rewards that quickly come to mind, those gifts that are given "severally" by the Holy Spirit:
1 Chorintians 12:4-11
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
If we just stick with the list inside of this Scripture the "rewards" are endless by participation.
Just a note:
I think that through all these "manifestations" one of the most lacking, and of necessary importance, is the "discernment of spirit". Not that everyone of them aren't incredible in nature and use, but the lack of "discernment of spirit" robs pastors, teachers, prophets, anyone who has the authority to "prepare the believers for ministry", from recognizing those gifted of God from those "wolves in sheep's clothing". It doesn't take much to see how this works.
Another incredible reward is being shown our spiritual calling and election with which to serve in.
1 Corinthian 12:28
28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
All of these are incredible rewards to "seek after" and acquire, but here is one that overrides them all:
Seeking Him by faith diligently, brings to pass the Scripture that commands us to "draw neigh to God and He will dray neigh to you." What happens when God draws neigh to us?
We have fellowship with God and receive a deeper revelation of who He is.
That's what we are going to explain in this post.
With the faith issue past us, (believing that God is), our reward is a greater revelation of "who He is". I say "revelation" because we cannot "know God" or "understand Him" with our fleshy carnal minds.
1 Corinthians 1:20-24
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God.
John 4:23,24
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
To worship Him is to give Him His True place in His creation. Master, Savior, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is perfectly realized when "in the Spirit" during worship and praise. Here the "veil" is drawn back and He "reveals" Himself as He really is. This is the revelation: to see Him as He is in His power, glory and majesty, high and lifted up, God of all, beside whom is no other.
So now we get the "nay sayers" coming in with "no man has seen God and lived!" True. But God has given man glimpses of "who He is" through dreams and visions.
John 4:9
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, show us the Father?
Of course there is the argument that "well you never seen Jesus!"
Hmmmm. I believe that the "diligently seeking Him" by faith comes in here.
So here is the question: How does He "reveal" Himself to those that diligently seek Him? Of course through "signs and wonders" following the presentation of the Gospel. This presentation comes in several forms: preaching orally, preaching with our actions, and preaching with our deeds.
Our lives become a "living presentation of the Gospel, read and seen of all."
Why does He do or manifest Himself in this wise? So as to back up the "Truth that sets free" to those who hear with divine signs so that have "no excuse." That begs the question for today to be "why is Christianity so weak and not more dynamic?" Maybe it's because we no longer allow God to manifest Himself in the preaching of the Gospel. Why? Because we only practice/present half a Gospel due to ignorance or embarrassment.
Remember that Jesus is the complete "Revelation of God" to mankind. He is our savior. Savior doesn't just mean "delivered from death and hell" but savior means "victorious" over death and hell, including: sin, sickness, infirmities, oppression, and all manner of things that ail the human spirit." We become one with Christ and He is one with the Father.
Because most Christian churches see the "witness of God" (according to Scripture) as "too" controversial so they just eliminate what follows the preaching of the Gospel for "convenience" sake.
Therein: aside from the fact that "God's Word will not come back void", it suffers the "differentiating" witness that would prove it to be the Truth beyond argument. The Truth again that sets free!
Here is the weakness that then convinces "even believers", that the reward for those that diligently seek Him is made of no value and has no gain.
I maintain that "those that diligently seek Him" have the highest of Spiritual Gifts and experiences freely given to them by the Holy Spirit.
Now here is where many of you would say "this saying is too hard for us."
Many times, as shown in Scripture, that one of the "rewards" for the practice of faith in seeking God is His revealing Jesus Christ to us. So before you "blow a gasket" Jesus, after His death, appeared to Thomas, all the disciples, Mary His mother, and Paul the Apostle. What He has done in the past He will continue to due in the future. He still "gives witness to His Gospel by signs and wonders, and He still appears unto man, when needed.
I have had several of such "blessings" during and continuing in my diligently seeking Him by Faith.
I say this only for the purpose of "shaking the spiritually lethargic" out of their comfortable stupor of "I'm on MY way to heaven and shouting victory", and making a difference to others while on their way.
If your "life in Christ" isn't "plagued" with daily "newness of Life" and "excitement" for the outpouring of what God is doing; then you better check whether or not your "walking in the Spirit".
To worship Him is to give Him His True place in His creation. Master, Savior, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is perfectly realized when "in the Spirit" during worship and praise. Here the "veil" is drawn back and He "reveals" Himself as He really is. This is the revelation: to see Him as He is in His power, glory and majesty, high and lifted up, God of all, beside whom is no other.
So now we get the "nay sayers" coming in with "no man has seen God and lived!" True. But God has given man glimpses of "who He is" through dreams and visions.
John 4:9
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, show us the Father?
Of course there is the argument that "well you never seen Jesus!"
Hmmmm. I believe that the "diligently seeking Him" by faith comes in here.
So here is the question: How does He "reveal" Himself to those that diligently seek Him? Of course through "signs and wonders" following the presentation of the Gospel. This presentation comes in several forms: preaching orally, preaching with our actions, and preaching with our deeds.
Our lives become a "living presentation of the Gospel, read and seen of all."
Why does He do or manifest Himself in this wise? So as to back up the "Truth that sets free" to those who hear with divine signs so that have "no excuse." That begs the question for today to be "why is Christianity so weak and not more dynamic?" Maybe it's because we no longer allow God to manifest Himself in the preaching of the Gospel. Why? Because we only practice/present half a Gospel due to ignorance or embarrassment.
Remember that Jesus is the complete "Revelation of God" to mankind. He is our savior. Savior doesn't just mean "delivered from death and hell" but savior means "victorious" over death and hell, including: sin, sickness, infirmities, oppression, and all manner of things that ail the human spirit." We become one with Christ and He is one with the Father.
Because most Christian churches see the "witness of God" (according to Scripture) as "too" controversial so they just eliminate what follows the preaching of the Gospel for "convenience" sake.
Therein: aside from the fact that "God's Word will not come back void", it suffers the "differentiating" witness that would prove it to be the Truth beyond argument. The Truth again that sets free!
Here is the weakness that then convinces "even believers", that the reward for those that diligently seek Him is made of no value and has no gain.
I maintain that "those that diligently seek Him" have the highest of Spiritual Gifts and experiences freely given to them by the Holy Spirit.
Now here is where many of you would say "this saying is too hard for us."
Many times, as shown in Scripture, that one of the "rewards" for the practice of faith in seeking God is His revealing Jesus Christ to us. So before you "blow a gasket" Jesus, after His death, appeared to Thomas, all the disciples, Mary His mother, and Paul the Apostle. What He has done in the past He will continue to due in the future. He still "gives witness to His Gospel by signs and wonders, and He still appears unto man, when needed.
I have had several of such "blessings" during and continuing in my diligently seeking Him by Faith.
I say this only for the purpose of "shaking the spiritually lethargic" out of their comfortable stupor of "I'm on MY way to heaven and shouting victory", and making a difference to others while on their way.
If your "life in Christ" isn't "plagued" with daily "newness of Life" and "excitement" for the outpouring of what God is doing; then you better check whether or not your "walking in the Spirit".
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty", liberty to know God's Word (Jesus Christ) by revelation given of the Spirit. God has many rewards for us but the greatest one is intimate fellowship with Him, our Creator.
Just so that I don't let anyone the argument about "Love being the better way", yes it is. God is Love! God's Love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. You can't know the "Love of God" unless it's been "shed abroad" by the Holy Spirit, or lets just say "revealed", or given as a revelation, a reward for those that "diligently seek Him."
When you are one with someone that means that you are intimate with them. It is not at all a long shot to say that the deepest intimacy's are face to face. So it is with God through Jesus Christ.
Putting it simply, on my behalf, God seeing fit to reveal Himself to me for whatever reasons, as He did to Paul and various others, I have twice been taken into heaven and twice Christ appeared at the foot board of my bed. Every time there was a need for Him to be there or for me to be "taken up." I can at a later date go into these experiences but for now, suffice it to say, fellowship at this level is by far the "greatest reward" I have ever received for "diligently seeking Him by faith."
Now does this in any means set a bar for spirituality? No. But this better humbly open the door to faith to receive all that He has for each individual who "calls on His name". Remember that NOTHING can be received with out faith. No faith=sin! Faith in God and His Word=divine intervention. When you are "saved by the blood, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ" you "inherit all that is Christ's that was given to us by God the Father "through" Him.
Every precious gift comes down from above from the Father.
We are all blind regardless of where we are or how long we have been in Christ. Each day is a new day to receive from our Heavenly Father wisdom, knowledge and revelation through His Word. Deeper and deeper intimacy with Him, until the glass through which we see darkly becomes face to face.
Cast aside your doubt, gird up your "most Holy Faith", put on the full armor of God, and claim by fervent prayer and faith the thing that God has called you to do in making certain "His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
I daily seek by faith my "calling and election" to be made sure so that I can "Glorify my Father in Heaven."
We serve a risen Savior.
Love
J&E in Tn
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