Lessons From Noah's Ark

ASCENDING TO THE HEAVENS

Genesis 5:29 And he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed.”

Noah = nuah, which means to cease or to rest.

Hebrews 4:1-13 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

THREE TYPES OF REST

1. CREATION REST

2. CANAAN REST

3. CHRISTS REST

The book of Hebrews was written to those struggling with past tradition and law after embracing Christ.

What then does this mean?

Hebrews 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

When we work God rests. When we rest God works.

Rest then is ceasing from your:

a. Works

b. Power

c. Natural mindset

The challenge then is for us to let go and let God, to loose control of your life and give it to God. This is the labor we all face as Christians. The word judges our actions. Hebrews 4:12.

CONSIDER CAIN

Genesis 4:1-5 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD.” Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

1. Cain worked the land

2. He offered a product of self

3. This resulted in pride

It was not the offerer it was the offering.

CONSIDER NOAH

Genesis 6:8,9; 7:1; 9:1 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

Noah found GRACE. Grace is not only includes Gods unmerited favor, it is also His empowering presence enabling you to be all you van be and to do all that He commands you to do.

1. REST FINDS GRACE

2. REST FINDS GODS KINGDOM

Genesis 8:4 Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.

Rested = to settle down, remain, be quiet.

The Ark rested on Mount Aratat. “Aratat” means sacred land, high and holy ground, the curse is reversed.

Mountain represents Kingdom.

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT LOOKS FOR A PLACE OF REST