Good morning,
Last week we looked at Who Does God Use? This week we will look at how God uses people. What characteristics does God develop in His servants? Our study will be in Hebrews 11.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAITH:
1.OFFERED TO GOD V4 Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
2. SEEK GOD V5-6 he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.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.
Get to know God better. What are some characteristics of God?
3. FEAR GOD V7 moved with fear
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Noah’s fear moved him to prepare the ark. Eight saved/world repopulated
Note that these people were doing nothing extraordinary. They were just living their lives.
Abel was a shepherd. His father probably taught him about what God did for him in the Garden of Eden, after he and Eve sinned. God sacrificed an animal. The blood atoned for their sin. The skins were used as a covering for their bodies. Abel gave a blood sacrifice.
Enoch sought God. It does not tell us his occupation. God does tell us he had a testimony that he pleased God. That should be the testimony that every believer desires.
Noah lived in a wicked generation. So wicked, that God chose to destroy all living creatures. Then one day God told Noah to build an ark. He told Noah to build the ark before He told him why. Noah obeyed without questioning God. Noah must have been really confused because there had never been any rain before. He must have been mocked, ridiculed, and scorned, as he was doing the building. During this time, he was preaching about God’s righteousness. No converts in one hundred years. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” (v8)
What has or could God do with us if we were available for His use?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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