NOAH - Faith prepares for Judgment
Heb 11:7 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.
The lessons thus far;
1. Faith recognizes the Creator.
2. Faith Worships the Creator.
3. Faith walks with the Creator.
Now; Faith Prepares to Face the Creator.
I. Warned by God. Judgment is a
certainty. Faith accepts the fact.
Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the
which he will judge the world in righteousness by that
man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from
the dead.
Many stew and fret over things that MAY happen
while the sure event of the judgment is ignored. I.E.
'Global warming' may or may not be occurring and if it
is it may or may not be caused by pollution of the air,
water or the earth. The real danger is 'Spiritual
Pollution'. This is 'obfuscation by spiritual
proliferation'. The real danger to the human race isn't
too many bombs but too many spirits.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but
try the spirits whether they are of God: because many
false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every
spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is of God:
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard
that it should come; and even now already is it in the
world.
A. As in Noah's day, many still
don't believe judgment will come.
2 Pet 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come
in the last days scoffers, walking after their own
lusts,
2 Pet 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his
coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue as they were from the beginning of the
creation.
2 Pet 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that
by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the
earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2 Pet 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being
overflowed with water, perished:
2 Pet 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are
now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto
fire against the day of judgment and perdition of
ungodly men.
These reject the idea of judgment because they have
rejected the Creator.
II. 'things not seen as yet,'
Remember, faith is the evidence of things not seen.
God didn't have to send occasional showers to keep Noah
motivated!
To be convinced of the urgency of the impending event
because of current events might be a powerful incentive
for preparation but when the situation changes the
urgency fades. It is much better to be absolutely
convinced of the need to prepare simply because God says
so. Faith in God's Word is much more lasting and
effective than titillation by the evening news.
For one hundred and fifty years Noah's faith never
faltered.
III. 'prepared an ark to the saving
of his house;' His faith made him feel responsible for
his household.
A. For whom are WE responsible?
Rom 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the
Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Rom 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach
the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one
that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
IV.' by the which he condemned the
world,'
The faith of God's people in 'things not seen'
leaves the world without excuse.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the
creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood
by the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but
became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened.
Noah's continuous building was a daily testimony
to others.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven.
V. 'became heir of the righteousness
which is by faith.'
Faith is rewarded.
Heb 11:6 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.
Rewards will be determined by how well we are
prepared for judgment.
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