January 26th 2020
Are You Earnestly Seeking God So You Can Serve Him?
Hebrews 11:5-6 (NIV)
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. 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.
Working on becoming more Christ-like is how we can increase our faith and enable us to be able to speak with Jesus as His friend, because “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.” Jesus Christ came to this earth to become one of us, yet He died as a sinless man. No other member of mankind can make such a statement, as none of us is able to be sinless in this cursed world! We all have a sinful nature passed down to us from Adam. That is way Jesus did not have an earthly father, His Father resides in heaven! It says, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death.” However, it does not say Enoch was sinless, it says, " For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” It makes me wonder if it could be possible for anyone in this cursed world to please God enough for Him to take you away from this world without first dying.
The great thing about being a Christian is that we know we are going to be saved, even though we are still sinners, so in a way, we can be taken out of a life of sin by the salvation bought through the blood shed by Jesus. Our sins have been forgiven, when we are born again, so immediately we know we will be with Jesus, immediately when we die to this mortal life. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9). So, although it is unlikely that you will be taken out of your mortal life without dying, you can know that your destiny has been established, and you will end up in heaven, when you leave this lifetime. As Paul has written, we dare not becoming proud of anything we have done in this life, because our goal of heaven has been given to us as a grace filled gift! Do not be proud, just be happy!
Paul wrote about this more and cautioned us to not become proud and think of ourselves too highly, because your salvation was not earned it was awarded. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:3). It is important for each of us to be humble as this will allow us to think of ourselves as servants, instead of victors. While we should be happy about our salvation gift, because this gift also improves our worldly outlook, so we can see everything God provides as continuing gifts, until we go to where Jesus already is. Remember, He is preparing a place for you (us) in heaven, and He has promised to come back to take to where He is, when this mortal life ends! Now that is an amazing gift and should cause us to be joyful now in this life. “If your happy and you know it, your face will surely show it!” Do other people see joy in your face? Try to put on a happy face for others to see!
It seems to me that anyone who has been born again would want to be in community with other people who share such a faith. Therefore, it would seem they would desire to regularly attend a church of their choice to quench this thirst for sharing the joy of salvation. Paul wrote about this to the church at Rome, and for us. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5). This coming together would or should cause us joy as we share our joy with them, and they would share their joy with us. Do you feel this comradery at the church of your choice? This type of friendship can best be experienced through taking part in a Bible Study Class or Sunday School Class, at least that has been my personal experience. I have been teaching Bible Study Classes for many years. It is a great way to learn God’s Word by being the leader of such a class. So, do not just plan to attend, but to someday be the teacher or leader!
James wrote about this opportunity to gain wisdom through first asking God for wisdom. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6). Do you believe that God will grant you wisdom? James warns not about asking, but in believing God will grant our wish for wisdom, as James says, “when he asks, he must believe and not doubt!” Believe it, God wants us to ask for wisdom, so we can then become a teacher of the Word. When Jesus went back to be with His Father in heaven, He left the Holy Spirit to indwell those who have been born again. This alone should give all of us the confidence to be willing to teach the Word! He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:24-26).
When the Jews failed to recognize Jesus as their Lord and Savior, God opened the door for the Gentiles to be included with the chosen people. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:14). This inclusion was prophesied by Isiah and was then identified by Jesus. So, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to help us when we decide to be a leader. Paul wrote about those who failed to believe in Jesus, and then about those who choose to believe. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. (Galatians 5:4-5). Accept the grace being offered through this Holy Spirit to all who choose the follow Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews wrote about how we should rely on the creator who created the universe from nothing to be a reliable source for everything. 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. (Hebrews 11:3).
God created us to somehow give Him glory, so we can know that God wants us to succeed in everything we do in His Name! Are you brave enough to be seeking God, so you can serve Him?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Hebrews 11:5-6 (NIV)
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. 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.
Working on becoming more Christ-like is how we can increase our faith and enable us to be able to speak with Jesus as His friend, because “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.” Jesus Christ came to this earth to become one of us, yet He died as a sinless man. No other member of mankind can make such a statement, as none of us is able to be sinless in this cursed world! We all have a sinful nature passed down to us from Adam. That is way Jesus did not have an earthly father, His Father resides in heaven! It says, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death.” However, it does not say Enoch was sinless, it says, " For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” It makes me wonder if it could be possible for anyone in this cursed world to please God enough for Him to take you away from this world without first dying.
The great thing about being a Christian is that we know we are going to be saved, even though we are still sinners, so in a way, we can be taken out of a life of sin by the salvation bought through the blood shed by Jesus. Our sins have been forgiven, when we are born again, so immediately we know we will be with Jesus, immediately when we die to this mortal life. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9). So, although it is unlikely that you will be taken out of your mortal life without dying, you can know that your destiny has been established, and you will end up in heaven, when you leave this lifetime. As Paul has written, we dare not becoming proud of anything we have done in this life, because our goal of heaven has been given to us as a grace filled gift! Do not be proud, just be happy!
Paul wrote about this more and cautioned us to not become proud and think of ourselves too highly, because your salvation was not earned it was awarded. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:3). It is important for each of us to be humble as this will allow us to think of ourselves as servants, instead of victors. While we should be happy about our salvation gift, because this gift also improves our worldly outlook, so we can see everything God provides as continuing gifts, until we go to where Jesus already is. Remember, He is preparing a place for you (us) in heaven, and He has promised to come back to take to where He is, when this mortal life ends! Now that is an amazing gift and should cause us to be joyful now in this life. “If your happy and you know it, your face will surely show it!” Do other people see joy in your face? Try to put on a happy face for others to see!
It seems to me that anyone who has been born again would want to be in community with other people who share such a faith. Therefore, it would seem they would desire to regularly attend a church of their choice to quench this thirst for sharing the joy of salvation. Paul wrote about this to the church at Rome, and for us. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5). This coming together would or should cause us joy as we share our joy with them, and they would share their joy with us. Do you feel this comradery at the church of your choice? This type of friendship can best be experienced through taking part in a Bible Study Class or Sunday School Class, at least that has been my personal experience. I have been teaching Bible Study Classes for many years. It is a great way to learn God’s Word by being the leader of such a class. So, do not just plan to attend, but to someday be the teacher or leader!
James wrote about this opportunity to gain wisdom through first asking God for wisdom. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6). Do you believe that God will grant you wisdom? James warns not about asking, but in believing God will grant our wish for wisdom, as James says, “when he asks, he must believe and not doubt!” Believe it, God wants us to ask for wisdom, so we can then become a teacher of the Word. When Jesus went back to be with His Father in heaven, He left the Holy Spirit to indwell those who have been born again. This alone should give all of us the confidence to be willing to teach the Word! He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:24-26).
When the Jews failed to recognize Jesus as their Lord and Savior, God opened the door for the Gentiles to be included with the chosen people. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:14). This inclusion was prophesied by Isiah and was then identified by Jesus. So, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to help us when we decide to be a leader. Paul wrote about those who failed to believe in Jesus, and then about those who choose to believe. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. (Galatians 5:4-5). Accept the grace being offered through this Holy Spirit to all who choose the follow Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews wrote about how we should rely on the creator who created the universe from nothing to be a reliable source for everything. 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. (Hebrews 11:3).
God created us to somehow give Him glory, so we can know that God wants us to succeed in everything we do in His Name! Are you brave enough to be seeking God, so you can serve Him?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak