1. FAITH
IS
REWARDING
TEXT:
HEBREWS
11:6
David
Clayton
Sr.
Sermon
Notes
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
Hebrews
11:6
REVIEW
1. Review
from
last
week:
When
I
think
about
the
existence
of
God
I
am
astounded
by
his
creative
majestic
energy,
awed
by
his
desire
to
be
near
us,
amazed
at
what
pleases
Him,
and
astonished
by
His
love.
This
lesson
focuses
on
the
second
part
of
the
text:
He
rewards
those
who
earnestly
seek
him.
WHAT
PLEASES
GOD
2. Three
things
associated
with
pleasing
God
from
this
verse:
Belief
in
his
existence,
coming
to
him,
and
earnestly
seeking
him.
3. Throughout
the
Old
and
New
Testament
there
is
the
constant
focus
on
how
God
rewards
those
who
earnestly
seek
after
him.
4. That
does
not
mean
he
only
cares
for
them
who
care
for
Him.
5. God
wants
everyone
to
know
His
love
and
providence
and,
as
we
pointed
out
in
last
time,
He
created
everything
to
point
to
the
evidence
of
His
existence
and
His
loving,
generous
care.
WHO
GOD
VALUES
1.
The
value
he
places
on
human
life
is
quite
unique
from
our
cultural
perspective.
2.
For
example:
John
Gray
in
his
work:
Straw
Dogs:
Thoughts
on
Humans
and
Other
Animals.
He
believes
thoughts
of
virtue,
morality,
or
progress
whether
it
comes
from
secular
or
liberals
or
conservatives
is
“derived
from
an
erroneous
Christian
notions
of
humans
as
morally
autonomous
beings
categorically
different
from
other
animals.
This
belief,
and

2. the
corresponding
idea
that
history
makes
sense,
or
is
progressing
towards
something,
is
merely
a
Christian
prejudice.”
3. Gray’s
philosophy
is
widely
accepted
as
intellectual
and
true
in
political
and
philosophical
studies.
If
he
is
correct,
then
really
there
is
no
more
value
to
a
human
life
than
say-­‐
to
a
bird-­‐
4. This
devaluing
of
humanity
explains
so
much
as
to
why
human
life
seems
to
be
so
cheap
in
our
day
and
age:
5. The
fact
of
the
matter
is-­‐
those
who
adhere
to
Gray’s
philosophy
and
others
like
him
are
not
intellectual-­‐
they
are
foolish
and
wrong.
Paul,
a
writer
of
many
of
the
New
Testament
Christian
letters,
would
agree
with
Gray’s
conclusion
about
the
human
condition,
as
do
I,
if
human
life
does
not
originate
with
God.
Remember
what
he
wrote
to
the
Corinthians:
6. If
there
is
no
resurrection
of
the
dead,
then
not
even
Christ
has
been
raised.
And
if
Christ
has
not
been
raised,
our
preaching
is
useless
and
so
is
your
faith
(1
Corinthians
15:13-­14).
And
if
Christ
has
not
been
raised,
your
faith
is
futile;
you
are
still
in
your
sins.
Then
those
who
also
have
fallen
asleep
in
Christ
are
lost.
If
only
in
this
life
we
have
hope
in
Christ,
we
are
to
be
pitied
more
than
all
men.
But
Christ
has
indeed
been
raised
from
the
dead
(1
Corinthians
15:17-­20a).
7. Gray
and
others
do
not
see
a
value
difference
between
human
life
and
animal
life-­‐
back
to
his
point
as
to
why
humans
need
birds
and
other
animals.
Here
is
what
Jesus
says
about
that:
“Look
at
the
birds
of
the
air;
they
do
not
sow
or
reap
or
store
away
in
barns,
and
yet
your
heavenly
Father
feeds
them.
Are
you
not
much
more
valuable
than
they?
(Matthew
6:25b-­26)
8. God
cares
and
delights
in
his
creation
–
yet
he
value
human
life
over
other
forms
of
life.
He
rewards
those
who
earnestly
seek
him.
For
just
a
moment
let’s
go
to
the
Old
Testament
Psalm
8,
starting
in
verse
3:

3. When
I
consider
your
heavens,
the
work
of
your
fingers,
the
moon
and
the
stars,
which
you
have
set
in
place,
what
is
man
that
you
are
mindful
of
him,
the
son
of
man
that
you
care
for
him?
You
made
him
a
little
lower
than
the
heavenly
beings,
and
crowned
him
with
glory
and
honor.
You
made
him
ruler
over
the
works
of
your
hands;
you
put
everything
under
his
feet;
all
flocks
and
herds,
and
the
beasts
of
the
field,
the
birds
of
the
air,
and
the
fish
of
the
sea,
all
that
swim
the
paths
of
the
seas.
O
Lord,
our
Lord,
how
majestic
is
your
name
in
all
the
earth.
9. In
the
vastness
of
the
created
universe,
we
can
often
feel
small
and
insignificant.
Why
would
God
care
and
value
me?
10. What
is
a
human
that
you
are
mindful
of
them?
They
are
delightful
creation
of
God
with
tremendous
value
and
significance.
So
God
spends
considerable
time
throughout
the
generations
covered
in
scripture
reminding
them
and
us
that
He
created
us
for
a
purpose
and
that
He
values
us
so
much.
Of
course,
the
greatest
way
he
shows
how
much
he
values
us
is
the
astonishing
loving
act
of
Jesus
on
the
cross
to
die
for
our
sins
and
to
redeem
and
reconcile
us
back
to
God.
POINTS
TO
IS
GOD
AS
A
GENEROUS
GIVER
OF
REWARDS
11. He
rewards
those
who
earnestly
seek
him.
Or
as
Paul
told
the
Athenians,
“God
did
this
(creation
of
world
and
people)
so
that
we
would
seek
him
and
perhaps
reach
out
for
him
and
find
him,
though
he
is
not
far
from
each
of
us.
For
in
him
we
live
and
move
and
have
our
being
(Acts
17:27-­28)
12. It
is
reasonable
to
conclude
that
if
God
creates
us
then
we
find
our
true
purpose
and
joy
in
living
by
doing
what
pleases
God.
Someone
described
it
this
way:
Cars
work
well
when
you
follow
the
owner’s
manual.
If
you
to
properly
maintain
your
car,
it
will
stop
working.

4. 13. In
the
same
way,
God
has
designed
us
to
work
in
a
proper
relationship
to
him
by
faith
and
when
we
violate
the
owner’s
manual,
the
commands
of
God,
the
Word
of
God,
not
only
do
we
displease
God
but
also
we
stop
functioning
properly.
14. Isaiah
48:17-­18
I
am
the
Lord
your
God,
who
teaches
you
what
is
best
for
you,
who
directs
you
in
the
way
you
should
go.
If
you
had
only
paid
attention
to
my
commands,
your
peace
would
have
been
like
a
river,
your
well
being
like
the
waves
of
sea.
15. Obeying
God
is
not
a
burden
or
restricting
our
happiness,
but
true
freedom-­‐
rewarding.
16. The
implications
of
this
are
far
reaching.
We
have
the
freedom
to
seek
what
suits
our
gifts
and
passions.
We
can
be
open
to
greater
opportunities.
And
every
Christian
should
be
able
to
identify,
with
conviction
and
satisfaction,
the
ways
in
which
God
is
rewarding
us.
17.
When
we
properly
see
God
as
a
generous
giver
who
loves
to
rewards,
we
realize
that
we
will
never
disappointed
in
earnestly
seeking
and
putting
our
hope
in
Him.
I’m
thinking
of
Romans
5:5
Hope
does
not
disappoint
us,
because
God
has
poured
out
his
love
into
our
hearts
by
the
Holy
Spirit,
whom
he
has
given
us.
THE
REWARDS
OF
GOD:
Performance
and
Grace
18. Hebrews
11:6
He
rewards
those
who
earnestly
seek
after
him.
Reward
in
the
Word
of
God
is
used
in
two
ways:
First,
he
rewards
based
on
performance.
Second,
he
rewards
by
His
grace.
Let’s
look
at
rewards
by
performance.
19. Faith
is
a
verb-­‐
calls
for
action.
I
understand,
decide,
and
then
act
upon
it.
There
is
a
work
or
performance
associated
with
faith.
James
makes
it
clear
that
our
performance
or
actions
in
no
way
save
us-­‐
salvation
is
a
gift
from
God.
However,
James
also
points
out
“faith
without
works
is
dead.”
(James
2:17)
20.
This
verse
must
be
connected
to
Paul’s
statement
in
Ephesians
2:8
“For
it
is
by
grace
you
have
been
saved,

5. through
faith-­
and
this
is
not
from
yourselves,
it
is
the
gift
of
God,
not
by
works,
so
that
no
one
can
boast.”
21. OK,
based
on
Hebrews
11:6
God
rewards,
and
James
2
Faith
without
works
is
dead,
and
Ephesians
2
that
works
cannot
save
us-­‐
what
does
it
mean
God
rewards
us
based
on
performance.
22. Example
of
my
son
internship
where
he
forgoes
payment
to
instead
have
the
employer
as
his
mentor.
Richly
rewarded.
23.
In
a
similar
manner,
God
does
the
same
with
us.
He
loves
to
give
generous
and
great
gifts.
He
delights
and
loves
when
we
earnestly
(over
and
above
the
normal)
seek
him.
He
rewards
that
earnest
seeking.
It
does
not
add
anything
or
go
toward
our
salvation-­‐
it
is
faith’s
reward
for
earnest
seeking.
That
can
be
for
our
work,
conduct,
giving,
fasting,
praying,
serving
others,
bible
study,
etc.
Many
ways
faith
is
rewarded
by
its
performance.
When
by
faith
we
earnestly
seek
him,
God
rewards
our
performance.
1
Corinthians
3:8
each
will
be
rewarded
according
to
his
own
labor.
24. Peter
tells
us
that
God
gives
us
everything
we
need
to
be
godly
and
to
escape
the
corruption
of
this
world.
When
we
exercise
our
faith
in
the
wonderful,
generous
promises
of
God
to
reward
us
in
escaping
corruption
we
are
add
7
rewards
to
our
faith:
goodness,
knowledge,
self-­‐control,
perseverance,
godliness,
brotherly
kindness,
and
love.
Picking
up
in
verse
8,
Peter
writes,
“
For
if
you
possess
these
qualities
in
increasing
measure,
they
will
keep
you
from
being
ineffective
and
unproductive
in
your
knowledge
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ.
25.
God
rewards
the
work
of
our
faith.
But
here
is
what
is
really
exciting;
the
reward
of
God
is
also
a
gift
of
grace.
By
God’s
grace,
Paul
reveals
in
Ephesians
1:3
that
he
blesses
us
with
every
spiritual
blessing,
in
Ephesians
3:20
that
he
is
able
to
more
than
all
we
ask
or
imagine,
according
to
his
power
that
is
at
work
within
us.

6. 26. 1
Samuel
26:23
that
the
Lord
rewards
all
for
their
righteousness
and
faithfulness.
When
we
earnestly
seek
him,
we
are
rewarded.
When
rewarded,
we
want
to
seek
him
more-­‐
this
process
of
faith
pleases
God
and
unleashes
his
abundant
generosity
upon
us.
salvation
and
heaven
forgiveness
and
mercy
Sure
hope,
understanding
and
wisdom
The
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit
Victory
over
temptation
Comfort
and
compassion
just
to
name
a
few
of
the
graces
of
His
reward
for
the
righteous
and
faithful.
By
the
riches
of
mercy,
abundance
in
grace
and
love,
and
great
forgiveness
we
makes
wealthy
those
who
earnestly
seek
him.
27.
Hebrews
points
to
a
real
God
who
gives
real
rewards
to
those
who
believe
he
exists,
will
come
to
him
through
Jesus
Christ,
and
earnestly
seek
him.
The
greatest
reward
is
that
God
gives
Himself
to
us.
This
is
a
personal
relationship
with
the
majestic
Creator
God-­‐
he
gives
himself
to
us.
28.
When
Abram
learned
for
4
warlords
in
the
region
that
were
causing
havoc
and
had
kidnapped
his
nephew
Lot,
Abram
marched
out
with
318
men
and
defeated
the
four
warlords
and
rescued
Lot.
Abram
refused
to
take
any
bounty
or
spoils
from
the
warlords
or
a
reward
from
King
of
Sodom
for
his
personal
services,
although
he
did
allow
his
allies
in
the
rescue,
Aner,
Eshcol,
and
Mamre,
be
paid
by
the
King
of
Sodom
for
their
efforts.
What
Abram
told
the
King
of
Sodom
was
that
his
riches
and
trust
was
in
the
Lord,
God
most
high,
Creator
of
heaven
and
earth.
29.
A
short
time
later,
as
recorded
in
Genesis
15:1
The
word
of
the
Lord
came
to
Abram
in
a
vision:
Do
not
be
afraid,
Abram,
I
am
your
shield,
your
very
great
reward.
Abram
was
richer
in
his
soul
than
any
person
in
that
region
because

7. He
God
as
his
shield-­‐
his
very
great
reward.
Abram,
by
faith,
had
a
personal
relationship
with
God
who
cared,
valued,
loved,
and
rewarded
him
with
that
close
personal
relationship.
That
is
the
greatest
reward
God
gives
anyone
of
us-­‐
himself.
30.
In
2
Chronicles
16:9
it
describes
how
the
eyes
of
the
Lord
range
throughout
the
earth
to
strengthen
those
who
hearts
are
fully
committed
to
him.
What
sort
of
commitment
does
he
find
in
you
today?
What
steps
of
faith
do
you
need
to
take
for
God
to
reward
you
as
earnest
seeker
of
him?
31.
The
first
step
is
to
accept
the
most
generous
gift
ever
given
by
anyone-­‐
it
comes
from
God-­‐
salvation
through
Jesus
Christ.
Accept
Christ
as
your
savior,
believe
in
him,
confess
him,
turn
from
your
sinful
ways,
and
identify
with
him
by
being
baptized
into
his
name-­‐
so
that
by
grace
you
will
be
saved
through
faith
in
Christ
Jesus.
That
is
the
greatest
grace
and
reward
of
all-­‐
God
gave
his
only
son
so
that
all
who
believe
in
him
might
not
perish
but
have
eternal
life,
32.
The
next
step
is
by
the
grace
of
God
continually,
diligently,
earnestly
put
God
first
in
your
life-­‐
to
seek
him
with
all
your
heart,
mind,
soul,
and
strength.
Get
ready
to
receive
the
rewards
God
gives
those
who
live
righteously
and
faithfully
before
him.