God: The Rewarder of Diligent Seekers
Summary
In this message, we explore the profound truth that God is a rewarder. This understanding is crucial for our spiritual journey, as it shapes our motivation and commitment to God. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. This is not just about receiving gifts, which are given freely, but about rewards that are tied to our service, effort, and faithfulness. Our walk with God should be driven by love, but it is also important to recognize that God has established a reward system in His kingdom. This system motivates us to endure challenges and remain faithful.
We live in a world where motivations can be skewed. Some seek God only for material gains, while others reject His blessings in an attempt to demonstrate selflessness. Both extremes are cautioned against in Scripture. God desires that we love Him above all, but He also wants us to embrace the rewards He offers. These rewards are not just material; they encompass spiritual growth, peace, and fulfillment.
The message highlights three key areas that God rewards: diligent pursuit of Him, faithfulness, and the works of men. Diligent pursuit involves seeking God with all our hearts, prioritizing Him above all else. Faithfulness is about being consistent and reliable in our service to God, regardless of the task. The works of men are rewarded based on the purity of our motives and our adherence to God's patterns.
Understanding that God is a rewarder encourages us to live lives that are pleasing to Him. It assures us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. As we serve God and others, we can be confident that He sees our efforts and will reward us in due time. This perspective transforms our approach to life, motivating us to pursue God passionately and serve Him faithfully.
Key Takeaways:
1. God as a Rewarder: God rewards those who diligently seek Him, emphasizing the importance of spiritual pursuit over mere material gain. This understanding motivates us to endure challenges and remain faithful, knowing that our efforts are not in vain. [12:33]
2. Balance in Motivation: While our primary motivation should be love for God, it is not wrong to expect rewards from Him. God desires that we embrace His blessings, recognizing that they are part of His benevolent nature. [11:27]
3. Diligent Pursuit: God rewards those who earnestly seek Him, prioritizing their relationship with Him above all else. This pursuit leads to spiritual growth and fulfillment, setting us apart in our walk with God. [35:58]
4. Faithfulness in Service: Faithfulness is a key attribute that God rewards. Being consistent and reliable in our service, regardless of the task, positions us for divine rewards and greater responsibilities. [50:57]
5. Purity of Motives: The works of men are rewarded based on the purity of our motives and adherence to God's patterns. Our actions should be driven by a genuine desire to honor God and serve His purposes. [58:29]
YouTube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:23] - Introduction and Prayer
- [09:13] - Understanding God's Reward System
- [12:33] - God as a Rewarder
- [16:07] - The Parable of the Talents
- [22:13] - David and Goliath: A Lesson in Reward
- [25:02] - Peter's Question on Reward
- [27:38] - Life as a Fight, Race, and Trust
- [35:58] - Diligent Pursuit of God
- [39:38] - The Reward of Seeking God
- [44:04] - Faithfulness and Its Rewards
- [50:57] - The Power of Faithfulness
- [56:43] - Encouragement to Remain Faithful
- [58:29] - God Rewards the Works of Men
- [01:02:25] - The Purity of Motives in Service
- [01:10:34] - The Rewarder is Coming
- [01:19:42] - Prayer and Commitment to God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 11:6
- Matthew 6:25-34
- 1 Samuel 17:24-27
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Hebrews 11:6, what are the two essential beliefs one must have when approaching God? How does this relate to the concept of God as a rewarder? [03:23]
2. In the sermon, what are the two extremes of motivation for seeking God that are cautioned against? [09:13]
3. What was the reward promised to the person who would defeat Goliath, as mentioned in 1 Samuel 17:24-27? How did this promise motivate David? [22:13]
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between a gift and a reward in the context of God's kingdom? [12:33]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding God as a rewarder influence a believer's motivation and commitment to their spiritual journey? [12:33]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the balance between loving God and expecting rewards from Him? How can this balance be maintained in a believer's life? [11:27]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faithfulness is rewarded by God? How does this apply to both spiritual and practical aspects of life? [50:57]
4. How does the purity of one's motives affect the rewards they receive from God, according to the sermon? [58:29]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current motivations for seeking God. Are they more aligned with love for Him or the rewards you might receive? How can you ensure that your primary motivation remains love for God? [11:27]
2. Consider a time when you faced a challenge in your spiritual journey. How did the promise of God's rewards help you endure and remain faithful? How can this perspective help you in future challenges? [12:33]
3. Identify an area in your life where you can pursue God more diligently. What specific steps can you take this week to prioritize your relationship with Him above all else? [35:58]
4. Think about a task or responsibility you have been given, whether in church, work, or home. How can you demonstrate greater faithfulness in this area, knowing that God rewards faithfulness? [50:57]
5. Reflect on your motives for the actions you take in service to God and others. Are there areas where your motives could be purified? How can you align your actions more closely with God's patterns and purposes? [58:29]
6. How can you embrace the rewards God offers without letting them overshadow your love for Him? What practical steps can you take to maintain this balance in your daily life? [11:27]
7. Consider someone in your life who may be seeking God for material gains. How can you encourage them to pursue a deeper relationship with God that goes beyond material rewards? [09:13]
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Reward System: Beyond Material Gains
Understanding that God is a rewarder is crucial for our spiritual journey. This concept is not about seeking material wealth but about recognizing the spiritual rewards that come from diligently pursuing God. Hebrews 11:6 emphasizes that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him, which encourages us to remain faithful and endure challenges. This perspective helps us to focus on spiritual growth, peace, and fulfillment rather than temporary material gains. By embracing God’s reward system, we are motivated to live lives that are pleasing to Him, knowing that our efforts are not in vain. [12:33]
Hebrews 10:35-36 (ESV): "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised."
Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from seeking material rewards to pursuing spiritual growth and fulfillment in your daily life?
Day 2: Embracing God’s Blessings with the Right Motivation
While our primary motivation should be love for God, it is not wrong to expect rewards from Him. God desires that we embrace His blessings, recognizing that they are part of His benevolent nature. This balance in motivation helps us avoid the extremes of seeking God solely for material gains or rejecting His blessings to appear selfless. By understanding that God’s rewards encompass spiritual growth and fulfillment, we can align our motivations with His desires, ensuring that our pursuit of Him is genuine and wholehearted. [11:27]
1 Corinthians 3:8 (ESV): "He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor."
Reflection: How can you ensure that your motivations for seeking God are rooted in love and a desire for spiritual growth rather than material gain?
Day 3: The Pursuit of God: A Path to Spiritual Fulfillment
God rewards those who earnestly seek Him, prioritizing their relationship with Him above all else. This diligent pursuit leads to spiritual growth and fulfillment, setting us apart in our walk with God. By seeking God with all our hearts, we align ourselves with His will and experience the peace and joy that come from a deep relationship with Him. This pursuit is not just about receiving rewards but about growing closer to God and becoming more like Him in our daily lives. [35:58]
Jeremiah 29:13-14 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to prioritize your relationship with God and seek Him with all your heart?
Day 4: Faithfulness: The Key to Divine Rewards
Faithfulness is a key attribute that God rewards. Being consistent and reliable in our service, regardless of the task, positions us for divine rewards and greater responsibilities. This faithfulness is not just about completing tasks but about serving God with a genuine heart and a desire to honor Him. By remaining faithful in our service, we demonstrate our commitment to God and open ourselves up to the blessings and rewards He has in store for us. [50:57]
Luke 16:10 (ESV): "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."
Reflection: In what areas of your life can you demonstrate greater faithfulness and consistency in your service to God?
Day 5: Purity of Motives: Serving God with Integrity
The works of men are rewarded based on the purity of our motives and adherence to God's patterns. Our actions should be driven by a genuine desire to honor God and serve His purposes. By examining our motives and ensuring they align with God’s will, we can serve Him with integrity and receive the rewards He has promised. This purity of motives is essential for living a life that is pleasing to God and fulfilling His purposes in our lives. [58:29]
Proverbs 16:2 (ESV): "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit."
Reflection: How can you examine and purify your motives to ensure that your actions are genuinely honoring God and serving His purposes?
Quotes
"The word of God brings enlightenment to the believer. The word of God opens our eyes to understand the ways of God. And do remember. That our excelling in this kingdom depends on the level of spiritual illumination that we have. We rise in this kingdom, not just by desire, not just by intention, but upon the strength of the revelation that we have access to." [00:03:48]
"Without faith it is impossible to please him the next part of the verse is my emphasis for tonight it says for he that commit to god must come believing that he is that means he exists and then number two that he is a rewarder that every time you approach god you must have this orientation as you come before him number one that you are not coming to an idol he is meaning he's alive." [00:09:13]
"God is a rewarder it is his name it is not just what he does he is a rewarder not just that he rewards I can reward without being a rewarder but when I am a rewarder is more than what I do it is who I am I'm bound by the integrity of that name are we together that whosoever satisfies the condition that provokes that name I am committed to seeing that I live up to that name." [00:12:33]
"Refusing to embrace and receive that which God gives is fighting his fatherhood. It's important that we understand this. We are never called to reject the givings of God. We are never called to frown at the possibility of God rewarding us. We are only called to prioritize our loving him more than receiving from him. I need to put this as a very strong foundation." [00:10:53]
"God rewards those who diligently seek him, emphasizing the importance of spiritual pursuit over mere material gain. This understanding motivates us to endure challenges and remain faithful, knowing that our efforts are not in vain. It therefore means that you can have two believers perhaps saved in the same church perhaps mentored by the same pastor and yet the possibilities that they command as far as their Christian experience is concerned can be east and west." [00:16:07]
"Let's establish a few things very quickly and then we'll pray so our walk with god is primarily motivated by our love for him our walk with god the believers experience must be motivated by his love for him but second to being motivated by your love for jesus you are motivated by the fact that there is a reward system that was built in this kingdom you have to understand this that understanding that there is a reward system built in our walk with god motivates you it gives you the energy to survive on bearable things." [00:18:38]
"Don't tell me to just serve god only because I love him that is a very sincere but destructive theology the kingdom is built around a reward system it is only when my desire to be rewarded or my desire to receive from him now at waste my desire to love him there is a problem there but when my love for him is in place it is not unspeakable you will find out that there are many blessings you have rejected probably through ignorance in a bit to show that you love god you have rejected a lot of things that have been scheduled by god to come into your life." [00:20:57]
"God rewards diligent pursuit for him and the things of the spirit the first thing that god rewards is a diligent pursuit for him and a diligent pursuit for the things of the spirit. Hebrews 11 and verse 6 Already tells us that he that cometh to God Must come believing that God exists And he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Please say after me Them that diligently seek him." [00:35:58]
"God rewards faithfulness anyone who is waiting to enjoy the ministry of the rewarder must be one who is faithful god rewards faithfulness in matthew chapter 25 from verse 14 to 30 we are not reading everything for sake of time this is the parable of the talents the bible says he gave unto one five talents he gave unto one two talents he gave unto one one talent and the bible says then he went on a long journey are we together immediately the person with five said i need to get to work and he went to work immediately and made five more." [00:44:04]
"God rewards the works of men. There are two dimensions to this. God rewards the purity of the motivation. And God rewards the degree to which you comply to the pattern given to you. Please pay attention. The third thing that God rewards is the works of men. God rewards the works of men. He rewards the purity of the motivation. And he rewards your degree of compliance to divine patterns." [00:58:29]
"Behold, I am coming quickly. And my reward is with me. To give to everyone. Not according to my love for them. According to his work. Behold. Have this at the back of your mind. That I am coming quickly. And my reward is with me. Not without my reward. And that I am here to give to everyone. According to his work. Let me tell you sincerely. The works of men will be rewarded." [00:59:23]
"God rewards passionate pursuit. For him. And for spiritual things. Number two. God rewards faithfulness at all levels. And number three. God rewards the works of men. Please give it to us. 1 Corinthians 3. I begin my reading from verse 12. Now. If anyone builds on this foundation. Gold. Silver. Precious stones. Wood. Hay. Straw. Uh -huh. We are reading to 15. Each one's work will become clear. For the day will declare it. Because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test each one's work." [01:01:06]
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