Wanted: Diligent Seekers
But without faith, it is impossible to please him. For he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. [Hebrews 11:6]
As I continue to study the Scriptures--especially the ministry of Christ, I have finally come to understand the importance of diligence when seeking the blessings, anointing, gifts, and power of God. With few exceptions, everything Christ did--whether it was healing, deliverance, or even turning water to wine--it was done because someone had asked Him. Often it occurred by reason of a person's persistence in their seeking of Him to receive the blessing. This same principle applies today.
One of the most striking characteristics of the ministry of Jesus was that multitudes of people always followed Him. In two separate cases, there were 5000 and 4000 men (not including women and children) that were among the crowds that were miraculously fed [Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13]. In another case, Jesus was teaching in a house and upon learning of His presence, many gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door. [Mark 2:2] In yet several others, the crowds had grown so large that it forced the Lord to preach from a ship [Luke 5:1-4]; and even when Jesus departed into a deserted place, the people still followed, asking Him to stay with them [Mark 4:42]. These people were diligent followers who were seeking Him for various reasons.
Regardless of the reasons, they shared one common thread. They desired to receive something from Him--so much that they traveled hundreds of miles [Mark 6:55-56], pressed through crowds [Mark 5:21], persistently cried out [Matthew 20:31], abandoned their previous lives [Matthew 19:27], climbed trees [Luke 19:1-10], cut open the roof to a house [Luke 15:17-26], sent messengers [John 11:3], and persevered for days without eating just to get a touch from Him [Matthew 15:32]. And this is what we must do in order to receive the blessings of God. Although God has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) and His blessing is done by grace and not dependent upon our works, the kingdom of God was established to be delivered first through Jesus and then by faith, and lastly through diligently pursuing or "pressing" into what God has given to us.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. [Jeremiah 29:11-12]
Built Upon a Relationship
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. [Matthew 6:21]
So how do we diligently seek God? A good start is to make Him your treasure. Whatever is important to you will be reflected in your life. For example, I heard a gospel teacher tell the story of a man who approached him regarding the difficulty he was having with understanding the Bible. "I just can't understand it," the man explained. The teacher knew the man was a huge baseball fan. He could cite records and statistics from many years, but he couldn't understand the Bible. Why? Because this man had made baseball his treasure. As soon as you make the Lord and His word your treasure, you will begin to see fruit of it.
When the Lord led me to share this message with you, I asked Him to give me an example of how I could explain how diligently we should seek Him. He used the example of a relationship between a man and woman. When two people first meet and begin dating, they are usually speaking to each other daily--sometimes more than once a day. They call each other or see each other frequently. Many try to spend as much time with them as possible. These two people are diligently pursuing each other and this is how the Lord wants us to behave with Him.
Blessed are you that hunger now. For you shall be filled. [Luke 6:21]
One doesn't begin an everlasting relationship with a person by only calling once or twice a week, thinking about them only on Sunday, or only seeking to know them occasionally. Lasting relationships usually occur when at least one person pursues the other or when both pursue each other. Because of the time spent in effort to get to know the other person, they grow in their love for one another, hopefully leading to marriage. If we spent as much time developing and growing in our relationship with Christ as with our human relationships, we would be in a better position to understand how He has blessed us. The apostle Paul used the illustration of marriage when describing our relationship with Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32). This relationship is built on a commitment of each person growing in their knowledge of the other.
Most married couples know their spouses pretty well--their likes and dislikes; their dreams and hopes for the future, etc. The relationship is built upon each other knowing and understanding the desires and will of their spouse and then aligning their own desires and will accordingly. The marriage relationship should be the union of two people working in one accord to accomplish its goals. In order to truly know the Lord and understand His desires and will for us, we must first seek this knowledge. Romans 12:2 says: but be transformed by the renewing your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. In other words, we have to spend time with Him--not only in prayer where we do most of the talking, but more importantly in His word, where the Spirit speaks to us.
As the Bible says: He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. [2 Corinthians 9:6] You will grow in Christ according to how diligently you seek Him. The more time you spend in His word, the more revelation and growth in knowledge of His will and promises you will receive. By establishing the foundation of a relationship with Christ as the disciples had, you will eventually learn how to operate in the power and anointing He has given all believers, which will result in great rewards.
This section may sound redundant to you, but until you diligently seek to establish an intimate relationship with Christ through His word, you will never be able to exercise the faith to operate and pursue the true blessings of God. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. [Romans 10:17] I believe this is where many Christians have been deceived. They have been programmed that their relationship with Christ is one-way, or can flourish by only going to church each Sunday. They haven't developed enough knowledge of His ways and will to properly undertake receiving most of the promises. We must zealously and continuously seek to know more and more in order to be able to operate in the power He has given us.
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. [Psalm 37:4]
Persistence Pays
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. [James 1:6-7]
While the multitudes were persistent in their pursuit of Jesus, there are several other illustrations of how persistence in faith led to great rewards. Take Abraham, for example. Romans 4:19-21 says: And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was also able to perform.
The disciples also demonstrated persistence during the ten days before Pentecost. After being instructed by the Lord to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from the Holy Spirit, [Acts 1:8] they stood upon the promise and did what the Lord had commanded. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication [Acts 1:14] Of course, their faith brought great rewards--for Abraham, the promise of Genesis 17:4-5 (I have made you a father of many nations) was fulfilled; and for the apostles, the Holy Spirit came upon them as Jesus had promised [Acts 2:1-4].
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. [James 5:16]
The Old Testament prophet Elijah demonstrated the power of fervent and persistent prayer. The Bible says in James 5:16-18: Elias (Elijah) was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain. And it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Now, I am not telling you that if you pray for a drought, it will happen. Elijah was so in tune with God's will that he knew God would grant this prayer of judgment on Israel. Again, when we set our sights on remaining completely in God's will, our prayers will always be fruitful.
Visible Faith
I will show you my faith by my works. [James 2:18]
One of the greatest examples in the Bible of diligence of faith occurs in Luke 5:17-26. Jesus had returned to Capernaum and when the people heard he was there, many gathered to see Him. The Lord was preaching in Peter's house (Mark 2:1-2; Mark 1:29) that was so full of people that they couldn't fit them all inside. When Jesus began healing the people, a group of men sought to find a way to bring a paralyzed man inside to be healed. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, your sins are forgiven. [Luke 5:19-20]
Because of the love for their brother and their faith in the Lord Jesus, these men went to the extreme to bring healing to this man. Their faith was greater than the circumstances of the crowd, and because of their faith, the man was healed. How many people today would exercise this level of persistence and faith to seek healing or any other blessing from the Lord? These men could have very easily given up, and waited for another opportunity to bring the man to Jesus, but they weren't going to let a small man-made circumstance get in the way of God's promise. This is the faith that moves mountains and we must operate in it today.
I heard a similar story that occurred in modern times. A minister was giving his testimony and describing his childhood suffering with tuberculosis in the 1940s. The disease had gotten so bad that the boy was bed ridden and ready to die. His older brother had been out playing baseball and on his way home, he passed by a large tent where a man was preaching the gospel. The boy stopped to watch as the man began laying hands on the people in line. As he witnessed blind eyes open, the lame walk, and deaf ears open, he knew this man could cure his ailing brother. The boy rushed home to tell his family about what he had seen, and his mother, who was a religious person, refused to believe what her son had said. However, he wasn't going to allow his mother's unbelief to stop him, so he pulled his younger brother out of bed and carried him to the tent meeting. There he laid the boy at the feet of the man of God and when he prayed and laid hands on him, the boy was immediately healed.
Come Boldly to the Throne
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. [Hebrews 4:16]
In the new covenant established by God through His Son Jesus Christ, we now have direct access to God. Therefore, we are instructed to come with all confidence, without fear to the throne of God--not to ask for what God has promised as if He could or would say "No." Rather, God's word instructs us to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace in time of need. As heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, we are making a demand on the power and blessing of God based on what Jesus did for us to make us heirs as it is written, Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command me. [Isaiah 45:11]
Many of you will perceive this as being irreverant to God, but I promise you that my boldness in asking is done with all reverence and respect because I am doing it in the name of Jesus. I liken this boldness to when you go to the ATM. You're not being disrespectful to the machine; you are simply making a demand on it to give you what you have in your account. In the same way with God's grace, you are making a demand on the power and blessing of God, as is your privilege being an heir. Although this is commonly misunderstood, but Jesus taught the same principle in Luke 17 when the apostles asked the Lord to increase their faith Luke 17:5). The "unprofitable servant" Jesus is teaching about is faith, not you. That's for another teaching, but I suggest you read the passage and see for yourselves.
Another good illustration is your behavior at your parents' home. Do you have to "ask" to get something out of the refrigerator? No, because you're at home, you don't ask, you just open the door and get what you want because it's your parents' refrigerator, right? We have been pounded to death by ritual after ritual when relating to God as if He required it. Some have been taught that you must always call God "Blessed Heavenly Father" and always use the name of Jesus when speaking to God or God just might strike you down. That's about as absurd as you going to your natural father and reminding him that you're his child all the time--as if he can't see you. God knows you're His--you don't have to remind Him. Using the "name" of Jesus refers to authority and privilege given because of a name. Similar to if you were a member of the Kennedy family, you would have certain privileges others didn't.
Be Specific in Your Request
Yet you have not because you ask not. [James 4:2]
Although the Lord knows all of our needs [Matthew 6:32], He needs for us to be specific when submitting our requests. When God gave dominion over the earth to man in Genesis, He was establishing a covenant with man in that anything God does on earth, He must have license to do so. I won't attempt to get into a deeper study of this issue, but if you read Matthew 16:19 and 18:18-19 you will see that short of judgment God needs our permission to do anything for us. This is the concept behind prayer. Since we are free moral agents, we can choose to receive or reject whatever God wants to do in our lives. God will and does not force anyone to worship Him or follow His ways.
If you study many of the miracles and healings the Lord Jesus did, you will see that He often asked what the person wanted, especially when their initial request was a general one. In Mark 10:46-52, blind Bartimaeus cried out, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me (v.47). Then the Lord asked the blind man for a more specific request, What would that I should do unto you? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
In the account of a leper in Luke 5:12-13, the man asked directly and was blessed as he requested. And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy. Who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord if you will, you can make me clean. And he put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will; be clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
The Syrophenician woman in Matthew 15:21-28 & Mark 7:24-30 is a great example of faith, making a specific request, heartfelt persistence, humility, boldness, and an understanding of grace in pursuing a touch from the Lord. As with the leper, the woman made a specific request and her persistence and boldness caused even the Lord to praise her faith. And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Lord, son of David. My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil [specific request]. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she cries after us [heartfelt persistence]. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him [humility], saying, Lord, help me [persistence]. But he answered and said, It is not meet (proper) to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table [boldness and understanding of grace]. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is your faith. Be it unto you even as you will. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Let us take the examples given to us by the Syrophenician woman (faith in His power and grace as demonstrated by her persistence, boldness, and humility) and the centurion (faith in the power of His word) in Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-10 and use them in our own lives.
In John 11 (the account of Lazarus) the Lord teaches us about being specific in our requests instead of using general terms. Martha had come to the Lord in mourning over her brother's death. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever you will ask of God, God will give it to you. Jesus said unto her, Your brother shall rise again. Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believes in me though he were dead, yet he shall live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? She said unto him, Yea, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. [John 11:21-27]
The Lord was trying to teach Martha the importance of being specific in her requests. Although she had faith in Jesus (v. 22, 27), it was faith in general terms. He stated directly, Your brother shall rise again in order to stir up her faith to be more specific. Despite his direct statement, she still answered in nonspecific terms (v.27). Although Martha's answer proved her faith in Jesus as Messiah, it did not address the current need of her brother. Like many people today, they fail to make a direct request instead of operating in complete faith for what God has promised through His word. She also illustrated the limits of her faith. Although she had faith that if Jesus had been there in person, He could have healed her brother, but she could not grasp the fact that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead. She did what so many have done today, and that is she had put God in a box. God's power is limitless. Consequently, our faith has to be limitless as well. This is why many prayers today are not answered.
However, I want to address a more important point illustrated in verse 22. But I know, that even now, whatsoever you will ask of God, God will give it to you. Martha's faith lay in what God would do for Jesus--not for her. Does this speak to any of you?
There is a philosophy of unbelief where people submit their request in prayer, but nullify it by saying "If it be Your will." Why would you pray for something and then add a disclaimer like that to it? That's not faith! Luke 11:9-10 doesn't say, "Suggest, and you might receive, if it's the Lord's will." It says, Ask, and you shall receive.
We are supposed to pray according to what God has promised us. If by faith, we ask something that is promised us in Scripture, and we have the right motives, there is no reason to say, "If it be Your will." His word says that He will do it [John 14:14; 15:7]. According to Romans 12:2, the Bible is God's will for us. All this disclaimer does is justify your unbelief when the prayer isn't answered and then you place the blame on God. "Well, it must not have been God's will for Aunt Martha to be healed."
Seek the Provider Not the Provision
You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. [James 4:3]
Many people who have been blessed greatly fall into a trap where they pursue the provision of God instead of the provider. In addition to your prayers being in accordance with God's word, you must have the right motives for asking before He will give it to you. Since selfishness is the root of all sin, many of our prayers are self-centered. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with praying for the Lord to give you something, our motives must not be completely focused on ourselves. A blessing of monetary gain, for example, should be used to further the gospel or as a gift to the poor, but never simply to pad your bank account. Jesus clearly stated that if you first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all things would be added unto you. [Matthew 6:33]
This is why it is so important to align our will to God's will, so that when we ask for something, like Elijah did, we know He will provide it. The Lord Jesus walked completely in God's will and when He needed something, God provided. Knowledge of His word alone will not guarantee a blessing, but knowledge combined with faith and obedience assures blessing.
In John 6:26 we see an example of people seeking the Lord for the wrong reasons. Jesus had the day before fed the five thousand [v.1-13] and the people were seeking Him. When they found Him on the other side of the sea of Galilee, they said unto him, Rabbi, when did you come here? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you. You seek me, not because you saw the miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. For him has God the Father sealed.
Rewards of Diligence
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you shall never fall. [2 Peter 1:10]
What are the rewards of diligence? When we examine the Bible, we learn that diligence always results in blessings from the Lord. Granted, our diligence must be in line with God's word and done with the right motives. Simon the sorcerer was diligent in his pursuit of receiving the Holy Ghost, but he had the wrong motives [Acts 8:18-21]. However, it was because of their diligence and persistence that tens of thousands of people in the Bible were blessed with miracle provision, healing, and deliverance from demonic oppression/possession, which are all promises of God. Because their diligence in remaining with Jesus during His ministry and later waiting for the Holy Spirit, the apostles walked in the same power of Christ, doing the greater works promised in John 14:12. The apostle Paul never physically walked with the Lord, but because of his zeal in pursuing God [Galatians 1:16-20] he perhaps contributed more to the Church than any of the original twelve apostles. The promises of power and blessings didn't end with the apostles. God is still alive and, as He has always done, He is looking for someone who will seek Him diligently and with all their heart so He can reveal the promises through him as He did with Jesus. [1 Samuel 2:35]
Our goal of spiritual growth and maturity should be pursued diligently. Because many of God's promises are more fully realized to the mature Christian [Ephesians 3:16-20], it is important that you stir up your hunger for spiritual growth. Wherefore I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands. [2 Timothy 1:6] You will never fully realize the promise made in Ephesians 3:20 if you continue in a carnal or immature state. Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Therefore, if we desire to receive and operate in the superabundant promises of God, we must understand that it is according to the power that works in us. How do we acquire this power? Let's examine 2 Peter 1:3-12 for the answer.
According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises. That by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
By His divine power, God has given us His word so that by knowledge of Him and His exceeding and great promises, we can live godly lives, in glory and virtue, being partakers of the divine nature.
And beside this, giving all diligence, have in your faith virtue; and in virtue knowledge; and in knowledge temperance; and in temperance patience, and in patience godliness; and in godliness brotherly kindness; and in brotherly kindness charity. And because these things are in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (v.5-8-Darby Translation)
Therefore, if we, with all diligence--not half-diligence, but complete and zealous diligence--walk in the fact that in our faith we already have virtue, knowledge, temperance or self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity or godly love (agape), and they are in us and abound, meaning these things are flowing from us, we will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The King James Version of the Bible translates the passage to the extent that we must "add" these things to our faith, but I believe this is incorrect because of what verse 9 says:
But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
After reading this, I asked this question: "How am I blind to something I don't yet possess and have to add? How can I forget something I do not yet possess?" This just didn't make sense to me so I went to a concordance and found the passage in Greek. The phrase "add to" is epichoregeo en which according to Strong's means "to be supplied, ministered to, assisted". The notes in Strong's refer to this passage from 2 Peter 1:5 as being in the passive voice as in "furnished, provided" indicating that whatever it is referring to is already provided or furnished as in the verse from 2 Peter, "provide or furnish to or in your faith the fact that you have virtue, knowledge, temperance, etc."
Therefore, if a person is lacking in faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love, it's not because those things are not present, but rather, it's because the person is blind to them and has forgotten that when he was born again (purged from his old sins) these virtues were imparted to him by the Spirit of God, which is why the Bible calls these things a "fruit" of the Spirit. If we were to "add" these things as the KJV translates, then Peter's reasoning (that if you lack these things you are blind and have forgotten that you have been purged from your old sins) is confusing at best. What Peter is teaching is that in order to begin realizing these "virtues" one must look into the spirit of a person, which is where these things are resident, and not in the flesh. It is a byproduct of the revelation of your identity in Christ that these things will abound in your life.
So then, what are the rewards?
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you shall never fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth.
If we will place our focus on who we are in Christ, and diligently seek a greater relationship with the Lord, we will never fall. We will never fall. We will never fall. Sounds like a great reward to me. Amen. Finally, in addition to the other examples of diligence, our Lord Jesus provides the greatest example of diligence in His journey to the cross. He faced many obstacles that tried to thwart His mission, but He remained steadfast and obedient to the very end--when He submitted to the Father's will and laid down His own life for us. Jesus is our example. Follow Him!
