NOAH: A FAITH THAT WORKS
Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:5-18
Abel’s Faith was revealed through his worship
Enoch’s faith was revealed through his walk
Noah’s faith was revealed through his works
1) NOAH’S FAITH CAUSED HIM TO BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAID
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet...
God clearly told Noah that He had had enough of the wickedness of mankind and he was preparing to destroy all men and beast of the earth. (Gen 6:13) And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Noah, was just like you and me today, he had the choice to take God at His word or in essence call God a liar. But Noah had faith. He had faith in God and he had faith in his word. Just like Enoch, the bible teaches us that Noah walked with God (Gen 6:9) and because of his daily walk with God he knew clearly the voice of God and he knew that he could trust the word of God.
A. Believed God’s Word Even though He did not Understand
If we could understand everything then we would not need faith. Faith is the bridge that allows us to cross over the gulf of ignorance. God told Noah that His means of destroying the earth would be through flood waters. Noah had never seen a flood. Heck, Noah, had never even seen it rain. Noah, very possible had never even seen the ocean and now God was asking him to build a huge boat in the middle of dry land. He had most likely never even see a boat before. Therefore, there was no way Noah could even begin to understand all that God was asking him to do.
But folks, understanding is not the prerequisite of obedience, faith is and praise God, Noah had plenty of it.
B. Believed God’s Word Even though he may have not Agreed
Now folks this is some tough news. I am sure Noah thought to himself, that Lord I don’t agree with this. What about my cousins, what about the guys I bowl with, what about the women and the children? The judgment of God is never an easy doctrine to accept. Sure we want to hear about the blessings of God, but when we are confronted with that which is hard for us to accept what do we do?
If you walk with God, there will certainly be times in your life when God asks you to do some that you do not necessarily agree with and you certainly do not understand. I can remember it as if it were just yesterday when God spoke to my heart that it was time to leave my former church. I asked why.
2) NOAH’S FAITH CAUSED HIM TO ACT ON WHAT GOD SAID
... moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house;
A. Acting on His Faith Validated the Reality His Faith
(James 2:17-18) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
B. Acting on His Faith Revealed Reverence to His God
...moved with godly fear..
“..moved with godly fear” eulabeethee; from eu and labein , to take hold well or carefully), to show oneself eulabees to act circumspectly or with reverence, here only in the New Testament
Noah acted on his faith due to the deep
reverence he had for God.
This reverence is two-fold in nature.
Reverence God through the...
- Respect of His Person and
Position “Honor”
Noah respected God as Lord and Creator. This respect created a deep honor of Noah toward his God and he acted out of his honor of God’s person and position.
*** Therefore, God said do it, then he did it.
- Respect of His Power “Fear”
But Noah also had a deep respect for God’s power. He feared the consequences of not acting on God’s word more than he feared the coming flood. He understood clearly that natural disaster is worse than divine disaster.
C. Acting on His Faith Revealed the Love for His Family
...to the saving of his house.
How can I ever honestly say that God keeps his promises if I have never personally experienced his fulfilled promises in my own life? Otherwise I my testimony is useless and powerless to a lost world.
3) NOAH’S FAITH CAUSED HIM TO TESTIFY ABOUT WHAT
GOD SAID
by the which he condemned the world
A. Proclaimed God’s Word through His Actions
(1 Peter 2:12) Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
B. Proclaimed God’s Word through His Preaching
(2 Peter 2:4-5) For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
4) NOAH’S FAITH CAUSED HIM TO RECEIVE WHAT GOD SAID
... and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
