Overcoming Apostasy: The Rewarder of Those Who Seek Him, Hebrews 11:4-7

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Overcoming Apostasy:

The Rewarder of Those Who Seek Him 

Hebrews 11:4-7

Introduction: For any text to be properly understood and applied, we must have before us the reason for which it was written. Because of our tendency to find a text that speaks to us, we easily determine that the message we have gleaned for our present day experience, is the message of the text. Hebrews 11 is one of those texts in which the intended message is missed. We call it the “hall of faith.” The emphasis is often placed on the greatness of these men and women of faith.
But our preacher has a different intention. The people of whom he speaks are ordinary people. They are flesh and blood with all the weaknesses that each of us possess. Abel’s sacrifice was offered because he was a sinner. Noah found grace because he was a sinner. We can recount numerous examples of Abraham’s weaknesses. And so it is with all that are mentioned in this chapter.
Therefore, the writer’s intent is not to exalt these men and women, but to exalt the God who rewards and empowers those who live by faith (10:38). The Hebrew Christians have need of endurance. The foundation for endurance is faith. That is what we will see. How does faith create endurance?

There is another error that can be made in reading this text and that is to move so quickly that in the end we simply say, “Oh, Abel was great; Noah was great, Abraham was great, etc.” But that is not the preacher’s method. His approach is to show us certain details that we can adopt in our lives so we can visually see and then actually live by faith in our own circumstances.

1. Introducing the Faith of the Pre-Flood Patriarchs
   1. First consider that our preacher is not randomly picking men and women of faith to illustrate his message. There are patterns and connections to each. For example, he begins with three men, Abel, Enoch, and Noah who all lived prior to the Flood. Abel’s faith results in being killed. Enoch’s faith puts him under the threat of death, but is taken up without seeing death. Noah’s faith enables him to save his family and condemn the world.
   2. Therefore consider that some who live by faith will be as Abel who suffer in this life even to death, but do so in hope of a “better resurrection.” Others like Enoch illustrate the power of God that transcends death. The faith of Noah reminds us that those who live in godly fear will escape the coming judgment on the world.
   3. Connecting Abel and Enoch, we see the preacher preparing us to suffer even to death if need be because we can see in Enoch God’s power and desire to free us from death. 
   4. Regardless of our lot in this life, we all can identify with both Abel and Enoch. Like Abel, we will all die without receiving the promises, but like Enoch we will all triumph over death.
2. Abel
   1. Jesus considered Abel the first in a long line of martyrs (Matt. 23:35). Jesus also referred to his murder as the responsibility of the devil (John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Consider therefore, ultimately it is the devil who brings upon us these sufferings that we may have to endure even to death. I believe this gives us even more strength – battle on! And Satan loses.
   2. Genesis 4:1-8 gives us the story. Two men offered sacrifices. Two brothers drew near to God and worshiped. But only one was accepted. It is the one who lived and worshiped by faith. Therefore, what are we to learn about living by faith from Abel?
   3. Notice the end of verse 4: even though Abel died at the hands of an evil man, through his faith he still speaks. These words not only indicate that Abel still lives, but that his example and vindication by God continues to testify to the world that persecution and death are not a barrier for the fulfillment of God’s promises.
3. Enoch
   1. Over the years we have all made the mistake of looking at the examples of Enoch and Elijah as simply facts upon which we can drill our children: Who were the two people who did not see death? But God had a purpose, and the placement of Enoch is significant in the midst of Genesis 5 that does nothing but record people who lived and died. The curse of death is evident. And yet suddenly Enoch “walks with God and he was not because God took him.” 
   2. Enoch stands as the seventh generation from Adam in the midst of ten listed generations until Noah. But only Enoch is said to “walk with God” and “please God.” Just as is implied, there is no doubt Enoch was in the extreme minority just as Noah. Jude 14 tells us that Enoch was a preacher in the midst of an overwhelmingly ungodly world. As a result of his faith, he was “taken,” or the word also means “changed.” In the LXX the word is “translated,” therefore bypassing death. 
   3. Therefore, verse 6 summarizes the illustrations of Abel and Enoch by offering a few critical principles:
      1. First, it is not enough to simply “draw near” to God. That drawing near must involve “believing that he exists” and that he is a “rewarder of those who seek him.” To believe in the unseen God requires believing he exists, but not just saying, “Yes I believe there is a God.” It is required that we have such a belief that he exists that we trust his faithfulness that he rewards those who seek him. Please consider the impact of this statement. 
      2. Do you remember what James said about praying for wisdom during a trial? He said, “Let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting…for that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” What does it mean, “ask in faith?” It is being absolutely convinced of the character and reliability of the God you are serving. He made a promise. To question his promise is to question the truth of his existence as the God he claims to be.
      3. Therefore, we aren’t going to say things like, “I sure hope God saves me.” Like, “Maybe I’ll get lucky!” Listen to the words again: “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” And then, “for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” 
      4. Now, why are the Hebrew Christians lacking endurance? Why do they need faith and conviction in things not seen? They aren’t confident that God is a rewarder of those who seek him! In today’s vernacular, here is how we should hear the message: God has made hundreds and hundreds of promises that he has always kept. We see his glory in the heavens and all that is created. So just stop the waffling. Stop the doubting. Pull your big boy pants on and seek the Lord. He is a rewarder of those who seek him. 
      5. One more point. Pay attention to the phrase, seek him. The Greek implies a diligent seeking (ASV, KJV, NKJV). In the OT God commonly commended those who seek him. It was said of Josiah that when he was 16 years old, “he began to seek the Lord.” So, because he is a rewarder, stop the laziness, stop the excuses, and love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
4. Noah
   1. The reason the preacher follows with Noah is because he is an illustration of God being a “rewarder.” 
   2. Noah responded when God “warned him of things not yet seen.” Of course, when we think of the Flood, we think of a massive judgment on the whole world where everything with the breath of life died except eight souls. But that is not the preacher’s point. God desires to reward; God desires to save those who believe that he is and seek him. The Flood was a type of the final Judgment. The message of Noah is deliverance. And please, it isn’t that Noah was “lucky.” “In reverent (godly) fear he constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” And notice: “by this he became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Noah’s godly fear was full recognition of God’s promise, God’s power, and God’s faithfulness. 
   3. Think of Noah’s confidence in things not yet seen. By faith, he was able to see the unimaginable. And in doing so, he saved himself and his family. Wow. That’s us! That is what we are doing! We are confident of things not yet seen, and through godly fear we are saving ourselves, our family, and everyone else who will listen. That is our faith. That is our conviction in things not seen. And we will not be disappointed!  

Conclusion: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…” Do you have that kind of faith? Do you have the assurance that God is your rewarder?

Berry Kercheville