God Rewards You

Part III

Pastor Young Joon Park

September 21, 2008

 

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for he who comes to God must believe that He is

and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

 

I. Seeking the Lord only

 

Jesus wants us to seek Him.

Matthew 7:7

Ask, and it will be given to you;

seek, and you will find;

knock, and it will be opened to you.

What does it mean to seek the Lord?

Does this mean you have to pray in a room for hours at a time or spend time praying in the mountains?

 

The #1 priority is to seek the Lord in your life.

The question is how do we seek Him?

 

1. Seeking the Lord daily

 

     1) Jesus wants us to abide in Him.

 

John 15:4

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

¡°Abide in Me¡± means to live each day with dedication for one another as a relationship between a husband & wife.

God wants to share His life with us everyday, and He also wants us to share our life with Him too.

 

     2) He wants us to share everything with Him in every area of our life.

 

Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 

This is the way to have a close relationship with Him.

 

One time I tried to park my car, but the parking lot was full.

The Lord reminded me to make my requests known to Him, so I began asking the Lord to give me a parking spot. My friend heard my prayer and laughed at me. As soon as I finished praying, one car started to pull out in front of us.

 

We really need to rely on the Lord alone.

 

     3) If we do not seek the Lord

The Lord shows us what kind of life we are living if we do not seek Him daily.

James 4:2

You lust and do not have; so you commit murder.

You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.

You do not have because you do not ask.

 

Your lust leads you to commit murder

There was a recent storm (Ike) that passed through Texas, and I saw pictures of the disaster.

People were forced to clean their homes after the disaster, and they put their own stuff on the dry ground outside their home.  They put signs out saying, ¡°U Loot, I Shoot U¡±

 

Your envy will lead you to fight and quarrel

We could see these kinds of problems everyday around us and on the news.

 

The Israeli people who wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years – their life was almost similar to these types of problems. Their life was full of lust and envy without seeking the Lord, so their life style consisted of fighting and quarreling all the time. That is why God could not bring them to the Promised Land.  He destroyed them all in the wilderness, except for, Joshua, Caleb, and the new generation.

 

     4) The meaning of seeking the Lord

We are not seeking an answer from the Lord to do our own will, but The Lord¡¯s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven in our lives.

 

2. Seeking the Lord in every decision

One lady came to church and refused to receive prayer. Later she emailed me that the reason why she did not want to receive prayer during the ministry time was because,

She mentioned in the email: about the laying on of hands – I Timothy 5:22 – she doesn¡¯t want to do anything contrary to God¡¯s will.

 

All Christians want to follow the will of God.

So we seek the will of God when we start something, because we want to make a decision to follow the will of God. 

 

But God desires for us:

God wants us to obey His will with what He has already shown us, instead of looking for special insight to the will of God.

 

Jonah – He knew the Will of God, but he looked for other things.

 

The Lord is our Shepherd

Whose job is to lead the sheep? The shepherd or sheep?

The shepherd knows where he leads his sheep. The shepherd corrects the sheep if they go the wrong way.

 

3. Seeking the will of God

   1) Commit to obey the will of God

When you study the bible about this subject you will find that God¡¯s desire for us is that we act and obey, rather than know the will of God.

 

Matthew 7:24,26

24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

 

Many times we apply the Lord¡¯s will the wrong way

1. We try to curiously find out the will of God

2. Then we make a decision to do His will or not

 

Do not despise the Lord¡¯s will with this kind of attitude.

 

What we need to do is commit 100% to the Will of God know matter what He wants in our life.

 

 

   2) Trust the Lord who is working in you

Philippians 2:13

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

 

His Good pleasure – is this your desire?

He will fulfill your desire (will) that is His Will and He works in you continually, so you can fulfill His will.

 

   3) See your desire

If you are committed to obeying the will of God with the Lord working in you, then remember His promise.

 

Psalm 37:4 

Delight yourself in the LORD;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

 

   4) Go for it now!

You are ready to commit to the Lord, and also you trust His guidance.

It is time for you to go forward according to the desire that God placed in your heart.

Then, you will face different results from it.

1. He will close the door.

2. He will supply every thing to fulfill your desire.

 

Paul wanted to visit the Christians in Romans 3 times – the door was closed

Paul wanted to preach the Gospel to Asia – the door was closed.

 

Abraham – God supplied everything and protected him from every danger for his journey.

 

Living by faith means,

 

God¡¯s responsibility

   1. To be our source

   2. To reward us

 

Our responsibility

   1. Seek the Lord

   2. Let Him be your Lord in every area

   3. Expect His Help in each case

 

I have a desire to see revival in Orange County and to make disciples throughout Orange County and the nations. I did not know how to do it, and then God spoke to me that He was going to open the door in Orange County through me. And I did not know how it would be done. I obeyed the Lord to start a congregation in 2006. And now God changed the direction of our Church to another level from last June 22, 2008. I just follow the Lord¡¯s leading continually, because I trust the Lord who promised me through Hebrews 11:6.

 

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for he who comes to God must believe that He is

and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

 

 

II. Invest yourself in the Bank of the Lord

We heard about the stock market problem last week, and also some financial advisor announced that around 1000 banks will be closed down because of this problem.

 

Our Lord¡¯s bank is unlimited and secure, and also the interest and benefit will be returned to us in abundance.

If you believe in God and you trust the Lord, then invest whatever you have in the Lord.

 

1. We have to invest in God

Joshua 3:10-17

Joshua led all of Israel into Canaan, but they had faced obstacles before entering the Promised Land.

There was the River Jordan, which became flooded.

Joshua trusted God alone, so he did not worry about the solution to this problem.

He did not walk up and down the river Jordan to look for the right place to pass; he did not call the engineers who had built the bridge, or did not try to find other methods.

 

When he received the instruction from the Lord, he acted right away.

 

The river was overflowing and there was no way to pass, but Joshua sent the priests with the Ark of the Covenant. There was no dry ground at all. But Joshua sent them to the river by faith.

He did not have any doubt that God was going to open the way, even though the river was still overflowing.

 

As soon as the priests¡¯ feet touched the water, the flood stopped.

 

Faith is not just talking about it, but stepping forward by action.

If you trust the Lord, then invest your time by taking action.

 

James 2:26

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

 

God rebuked Moses in this area.

Exodus 14:15

Then the LORD said to Moses, ¡°Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.

 

Stop praying. You have prayed long enough. Now you need to step forward by Faith.

 

Testimony

One young couple – no children for 2 years – doubted that she could get pregnant – Hebrews 11:6 – they put their trust in the Lord – even though she did not get pregnant – they bought baby stuff and prepared the room – they trusted the Lord through this action – God gave them a beautiful baby boy.  

 

 

2. Reason to invest in God

Many times we misunderstand the meaning of the promises of God.

We have tons of promises from the Word of God.

We often hear Christians complain or doubt the promises of God.

¡°God promised to give me a house, but He did not give it to me.¡±

We need to see the word of God clearly. Most of the promises of God have conditions.

A lot of times we do not see the conditions but claim the promises of God.

The condition of each promised word of God means that you have to have a starting point to receive the promise.

 

Joshua acted in Faith by sending the priests with the Ark of the Covenant, and that was his investment for the promise.

 

This young couple invested time buying baby stuff and preparing the baby¡¯s room as their starting point in trusting the Lord by faith.

 

Testimony

One young man worked at a small shop, but he needed certain days off.  This seemed impossible because there was no way he could take any days off from work.

He trusted the Lord in giving him certain days off. And he wanted to invest in something as a starting point. So he decided to give a $100 offering toward the missionaries. He gave the offering to the Lord at his church.

 

He trusted the Lord would open the door, and he did not mention his desire for getting days off to the shop owner.

The owner came and asked him to take a couple days off and these were the exact days he needed.  The shop just happened to be closed on those couple of days the owner asked him to take off.

 

Investing begins with your first step in trusting the Lord through action.

 

3. What do we invest to God?

 

   1) Invest what you want to receive

 

Elijah fled from king Ahab and the Lord sent him to a widow who lives in Zarephath. God promised this widow would feed him.

When he met this widow, she was struggling to feed herself and was very poor.

But this widow invested the little food she had and fed Elijah. This food was the last amount she had for her and her son.

1 King 17:12

But she said, ¡° As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.¡±

 

After she invested her food and fed Elijah, the Bible mentions this about her life.

1 King 17:16

The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.

 

We have to invest something to the Lord by faith if you want to receive the promises of God.

 

One brother spoke to me about being unable to give an offering to the Lord because he was in debt.  He also commented on the fact that he did not believe in offerings while in debt. But I corrected him saying that it is a matter of the heart between him and God, and God will take care of him.  Then he started to give an offering to the Lord, and I heard that some new business opportunity opened up to him. I believe that God will release the abundant funds to him.

 

 

   2) Invest what the Lord wants

John 2: the miracle – water was changed to wine

These people had an urgent situation in the middle of a wedding

Jesus told them to fill the jars with water.

 

Testimony

One brother needed to go to his home because of an urgent situation.

He did not have enough money, so he thought of asking his friend.

He started to call his friend, and then suddenly God spoke to him

 

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the LORD;

Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the LORD.

 

So he did not call his friend, and waited on the Lord.

 

The Lord wanted him to wait on Him as his investment.

 

Soon after, one of his friends called him and wanted to help with all of his expenses for the trip.

 

   3) Invest in the Lord with your finances

One brother prayed for his brother¡¯s salvation. And he wanted to invest in the Lord for his brother¡¯s salvation. So he sent some money with a note ¡°from Jesus¡± to him. He met his brother later, and shared the Gospel with him.

He received Jesus at that moment.

 

 

   4) Your investment moves God¡¯s heart

God honors your faith with your investment.

The investment itself does not move God¡¯s heart, but your decision to trust the Lord and act by faith will move God¡¯s heart.

So we have to take action with your investment.

 

If you have business problems or any financial problems, then invest your money or any thing to the Lord by faith.

 

If you have marriage or family problems, please do not stay in that situation, but invest in the Lord with what you have by faith. He will give you the solution.

 

That is why Paul encouraged the Corinthian Christians to invest what they had to the Lord.

 

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

 

4. Let the Lord work for your investment

Please remember that investment means you start to act by faith, and let the Lord finish the rest of the job.

 

You might be saving $100 a month for 10 months to buy a laptop that costs $1,000.

This is not faith. This is just using a natural method and trusting your idea.

 

We need to use common sense if you want good results.

 

We have to move by faith if you want supernatural results in your life.

 

If our actions are in line with the Lord¡¯s heart, then even if we have faith the size of a mustard seed God will finish the job for us in abundance.

 

Do you want God to work in you and for Him to do a great job?

1. Trust the Lord.

2. Finish your faith with action by investing something.

 

Then God will take your faith, and He will bring miracles to your life.

Also you will receive tremendous blessings from the Lord on earth and in heaven.

 

III. We need to live expecting from the Lord

 

Through this message series we come to understand that people who are pleasing God are the only ones who are standing on Hebrews11: 6.

People standing on Hebrews 11:6 have conviction and expectation.

 

Abraham

God wanted Isaac from him.

 

Genesis 22:5

Abraham said to his young men, ¡°Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.¡±

 

He had great conviction from the Lord regarding the resurrection of his son as a sacrifice made to the Lord.

Also he expected that he would come to his servants with his son Isaac.

 

This expectation is the major key when you step out by faith, and also this expectation is the key when going through hardship.

 

Our faith can move mountains.

Mark 11:23

Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ¡®Be taken up and cast into the sea,¡¯ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.

 

One young Christian who knew this word traveled and stayed in the mountains. When He saw the mountains around him, he wanted to apply this word by faith.

So he started to pray to move mountains by claiming this word.

And he opened his eyes, but the mountain was still there.

He said, ¡°I knew that the mountain will not move.¡± And He was upset with the Lord.

 

Faith has power, but at the same time doubt has the same power.

This doubt can hinder you or make you give up while walking by faith.

 

God gave us a warning about doubt.

James 1:5-8

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 

Doubt

Makes you anxious

Makes you fear

Makes you confused and gives you an unstable mind

Vanishes the protection shield against your enemy

Takes away your joy

Destroys your relationship with the Lord

Hinders your destiny with what God has called you

 

So we have to understand doubt

Where it comes from

How we need to deal with it

  1. Doubt 

 

Sources of doubt – Fear, people, Devil

 

     1) Fear

Fear always brings doubt.

We are very sensitive ¡°If¡¦¡± ¡°If not¡¦.¡±

 

King Saul¡¯s fear

I Samuel 15:24

Then Saul said to Samuel, ¡° I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.

 

At this moment God regretted his decision to raise a king over Israel.

 

     2) People

 Doubt comes from many sources, but in many cases from close relationships such as, family, friends, or Christian friends.

The leaders shared the vision that God gave them to other people, and sometimes they just laughed at it. Even without the decision to pray about it.

This person must have great discernment by the Holy Spirit or an arrogant heart.

 

Jesus – major hindrance – His family

Mark 3:21

When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, ¡°He is out of His mind.¡±

 

     3) Devil

The devil is the main one to bring doubt to God¡¯s people

Genesis 3:1

He did it to Adam

Matthew 4:1-11

He did it to Jesus

 

 

  2. From doubt to trust

 

     1) Doubt is a sin

Many people try to remove doubt from their heart, but this will not work and it is wrong. You are not going to succeed even when you make a strong commitment in your heart.

 

 Doubt is sin

I John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

What we need is to confess this sin to the Lord and receive His forgiveness.

 

     2) We need to have the right perception

Goliath

Israel soldiers – He is too big and too strong to fight

David – He is big and a good target for his sling shot.

How we look at the situation can also determine the outcome of the situation.

 

        a) We need to re-evaluate how we started this task

I have been in many different situations after God led me to ministry.

Sometimes I was disappointed and discouraged from a ministry standpoint, and because of these difficulties I had been in doubt on numerous occasions.

The reason I could not give up was because God was the one who called me to ministry.

 

He opened the ministry that no one can shut.

 

        b) Look back and see how God took care of you before

I have been in the ministry almost 40 years.

I have seen the Lord¡¯s hand in so many ways in ministry.

And I believe that God is going to continually lead me according to His way.

 

        c) Remember who Jesus is and what He can do for you

Our Lord is our source.

We have to continually rely on Him by faith.