“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” (Hebrews 11:6).
TEXT — Hebrews 11:4-6
Message
Faith is essential if we must please and walk with God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Without it, we cannot be redeemed or justified, sanctified or receive the promise of the Spirit. So, in our service or worship in His vineyard, we must believe that God sent His only Son to the world to die for sinners. This forms the foundation of the believer’s fellowship with God.
Our text attests to how the elders received good reports because they exercised faith in their walk with God. Specifically, it reveals how Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than what his elder brother, Cain offered. God testified to the sacrifice he offered to Him in faith while he disregarded Cain’s sacrifice (Genesis 4:4,5). The text examined how Enoch earnestly walked with God for 300 years. He trusted God throughout this period and was translated that he should not experience death (Genesis 5:22-24). Our text further instructs that “he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Indeed, without faith, it is impossible to please God or receive anything from Him.
The lives of Abel and Enoch attest to the power of faith. Faith is everything we need to walk with and please God in all aspects of our lives. It is central to receiving the promises of God. Faith in God guarantees freedom from all sins, circumcision of heart, healing of sickness, deliverance from satanic attacks and victory over all principalities.
The most fundamental exercise of faith happens when a sinner places his trust in Christ’s redemptive work. This means believing that Jesus died for our sins and accepting Him as our Saviour and Lord. It is also an act of faith when we live daily in obedience to His words, trusting Him for protection, provision, preservation and power.
Thought for the day
Faith takes you to the realms where all human faculties combined cannot reach.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
