Great Faith Pleases God

Great Faith Pleases God

Text: Hebrews 11:5–6 (KJV 1900)

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 them that diligently seek him.

I. Great faith pleases God.

* There are two great pillars that hold up “great faith,” the kind of faith that pleases God this morning.

1). Faith in God’s ability to bless us.

Matthew 8:5–10 (KJV 1900)

5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but

speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

2). Faith in God’s willingness to bless us:

Matthew 15:21–28 (KJV 1900)

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

* I think of the gentile woman who came to Jesus and begged Jesus to heal her daughter who was “grievous vexed” with a demonic spirit.

* Jesus at the first told this poor woman that He would not help her because He was sent to the Jews first, and Jesus even proceeded to make reference to her as a gentile dog!

* I want you to see the faith of this woman this morning! This woman astounded Jesus! This poor woman had a great faith that pleased God in the highest order! More so than the great rabbis and scholars of the Jews!

* This poor woman replied to Jesus, even the dog’s get the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. She refused to believe that God was not willing to reward her faith in him!

* Our text this morning says “

Text: Hebrews 11:5–6 (KJV 1900)

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 them that diligently seek him.

* My friend, if you would have great faith this morning, the kind of faith that would please God, then you must believe that God is willing to bless you!

* I think of the faith of Jacob in the Old Testament this morning and how when Jesus appeared to him as he prayed there alone in anguish, he put his hands on God and grabbed him by his shirt and said “I am not going to let you go until you bless me!”

* What began as a desperate struggle in prayer with God, became a victory and a blessing from God because Jacob refused to believe that God did not want to bless him!

* That second great pillar of Great faith this morning is the belief that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him!

II. Great faith does not question God’s motives.

* Early on in the ministry of the disciples of Jesus still had a small faith, they questioned God’s motives. There arose a great storm in the course of their ministry that caused them to question whether God cared for them. They Jesus saying “Carest thou not that we perish?”

Mark 4:35–41 (KJV 1900)

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

* Jesus asked the disciples “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that you have not faith?”

* These disciples greatly displeased Jesus by doubting His care for them.

* God is not pleased with those who He is this morning.

* Our text says:

Text: Hebrews 11:5–6 (KJV 1900)

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 them that diligently seek him.

* The person that would come to God this morning must know that He is- but what must we know that He is?

* We must know that He is sovereign over all creation.

* If you want anything form God this morning you must know, not just that there is a God, but that God transcends everything in the universe, and that God is in control of the entire universe, including all the events that happen to mankind upon this earth.

* There are two questions that those who have no faith ask-

1). Why does God not prove that He exists?

* Great faith this morning knows that a sovereign God does not stoop to do the will of insignificant man!

* Who are you that you command God to prove Himself to you?

* The audacity to think that a mere man would look at God, His very creator and demand that He prove to him who He is!

* In Psalms chapter 8 and verse 4 the prophet David asked the question of God “What is man that thou are mindful of Him?

Isaiah 55:8–9 (KJV 1900)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.

* The unbeliever that says I will not believe in God because I cannot see any proof that God exists, is like a little fish that says I don’t believe the ocean exists because I cannot see it!

Romans 1:17–32 (KJV 1900)

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

* It’s a wonder, and only by the sheer mercy of God that God does not utterly destroy the insignificant litter pervert that dares God to prove His existence!

* And I will add to that my friend that is exactly what God will do in the end to those who refuse to believe that God is sovereign over this world:

Jude 14–15 (KJV 1900)

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

2). Why does God allow bad things to happen?

* Great faith does not need all the answers.

* The Bible does not have the answer for every question this morning.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (KJV 1900)

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

* “Then shall I know!” Then shall I know everything there is to know!

* There are some things that the insignificant puny little mind of man is not able to comprehend.

* Jesus said in John 14:1–4

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

* I the Bible does not give us all the answers this morning, but the kind of faith that pleases God does not need all the answers!

* I don’t know exactly what heaven is going to be like this morning, but by faith I know that whatever God has in store for us in heaven will better than anything we have known here on this earth!

* Great faith does not need to know what is in heaven, great faith only needs to know that we can trust God!

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV 1900)

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

* I don’t want to know why God allows bad things to happen on this earth. I don’t have all the answers, but God is most pleased this morning with those who no longer need the answers!

* Great faith does not require that we know all the answers, Great faith only requires that trust God with answers to the reasons why.

* I don’t know why God allowed my 18 year old brother to die of a shotgun wound to the head, but I don’t need to know why, because I know who God is, and I know that He has all the answers!

* I no longer have to in agony of soul cry out “Why God?” Because I trust Him with the answers!

* I don’t know why God allowed little Sophia to die at the age of two, and why God healed Miranda’s grandmother to be healed of lung cancer! I don’t know and I don’t want to know! I no longer need to know!

* I don’t know why God has allowed that terrible thing in your live that has caused you to question God and cry out to God “Why?” But I want you to see this morning that you don’t need to know why!

* You only need to know the words of our text this morning:

Text: Hebrews 11:5–6 (KJV 1900)

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 them that diligently seek him.

III. Great faith leaves all matters of life the hands of a capable God.

* We see in the Old Testament that Job did not have all the answers.

* Job had lost everything! There is not a person here who suffered grief more than the man Job!

* Listen to the words of Job in his great sorrow!

Job 2:12–3:3 (KJV 1900)

12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

3 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. 2 And Job spake, and said,

3 Let the day perish wherein I was born,

And the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

Job 3:11–13 (KJV 1900)

11 Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? 12 Why did the knees prevent me? Or why the breasts that I should suck? 13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

* In his weakness, in his time of weak faith Job, as we all do, cried out and asked God “Why?

* But when Job’s faith is strengthened listen to the words of Job:

Job 2:8–10 (KJV 1900)

8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

Job 13:15 (KJV 1900)

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.

* When Job’s faith give way to great faith, Job no longer questions God’s motives concerning the bad things in his life, but now He shuts his mouth and rests in the sovereignty of a God his in in control of the universe!

Job 40:1–9 (KJV 1900)

Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproveth God, let him answer it. 3 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: Yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. 6 Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? 9 Hast thou an arm like God? Or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

* We see in the life of the apostle Paul, that Paul did not have all the answers.

* As a matter of fact, we see God illustrate to Paul that Paul didn’t need all the answers! What Paul needed was to trust God with a “great faith.”

* I think of the apostle Paul and how he pleaded with God to heal His body, but God refused to heal Paul.

* The apostle Paul had healed others. The apostle Paul had even raised the dead, but God would not heal Paul.

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (KJV 1900)

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me,

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

IV. Great Faith brings Great Peace and Happiness.

Matthew 8:23–27 (KJV 1900)

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?

Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

* Brothers and sisters I have not reached the goal of my message this morning.

* I want you to know that like the disciples learned in this passage, God does not want you to live in the torment and fear of the storms!

* Jesus taught his disciples in this passage to look past all the storms of this life and the bad things that happen to us and place our faith in the God that is in control of the entire universe!

* A weak faith asks why. The lord this morning desires you have “great faith.” Great faith” doesn’t need the answers!

* Great faith brings great peace in times of trouble and sorrow!

Philippians 4:4–7 (KJV 1900)

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

* I want you to know that there is a way in which you can live this morning that will cause you to live rejoicing every day!

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men.

* The Lord wants you to demonstrate the great peace and joy that faith in God gives!

The Lord is at hand

* What does this mean:? The Lord is at hand?

* It means that, like those disciples in the boat with Jesus were never in any real danger, because the God that controls the wind and the waves was right there with them, close by to deliver them at any moment!

6 Be careful for nothing;

* Worry is what steals our peace and happiness! Worry is the enemy of faith! It is never the will of God to worry about anything!

but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

* Do you want to know the secret to happiness this morning? The secret to happiness in a world full of trials and tribulations is “great Faith!”

* It is as if the apostle Paul was quoting David in this passage- David said essentially the very same thing in Psalm 40:3-4:

Psalm 40:1–4 (KJV 1900)

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust…

* The world translated blessed means happy. David said he had a happy song in his mouth! David said the person who trusts in the Lord will be happy!

* The secret to happiness is trusting in God- great faith!

* Do you want to be happy? Stop questioning God, and start trusting Him right now.

Conclusion:

* If you have never put your trust in Jesus, to save your, why not come and place your trust in Him right now to be saved?

* If your life is filled with fears and worries, get rid of all that baggage! Come this morning and place your faith and trust fully in God and God will reward you with great joy, peace and true happiness.

Text: Hebrews 11:5–6 (KJV 1900)

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 them that diligently seek him.