Discovering Genesis, Part 8
Genesis 6:9-10
IMPORTANT: Prayer Walk on Wednesday, October 19, 6:30 pm – BE HERE!
Introduction
- Last week, we set up the foundation for what mankind had done
- Simply stated, we provoked God’s wrath through disobedience and rebellion
- God sent men like Enoch and Noah to preach to them; but still they rebelled
- God brought great conviction through this lineage (Gen 5); but nothing changed
- God talks about wiping man off the earth, like a bug from your windshield
-- This is man’s punishment, and what we deserve b/c of a righteous God
-- God cannot be righteous and wink at your sin
-- God cannot be merciful and not demand your repentance
-- God cannot be holy and allow you to continue to sin in His presence
- Then, along come a man named Noah who found grace in God’s eyes
- Noah was not a “crowd favorite”; nor was he a man that others loved
- Noah was a just man — Justified before God by faith in the promised seed; for he was an heir of the righteousness which is by faith
- Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.”
- In these next two parts we are going to do more than talk about a bunch of rain
- We are going to do more than talk about the salvation of everyone through Noah
- Let’s be honest here church, we know that story / we know about the boat
- This morning, the Lord has impressed on me to study what we might miss
- Read Genesis 6:9-10
- Pray
Point 1 – Examining Noah’s Life (9)
- (v9) Could there be anything greater said about any man or woman today?
-- There are three things I want us to see from this before we get into the Ark
-- I believe, if you want to live for God you will see these and do a gut check
-- It is in times like these that God is seeking servants who live like this
- “Noah was a righteous man”
- The life that Noah lived was one that was totally committed to living for God
- We discussed last week that there he was NOT the people’s choice for living
- He was not the one you wanted at your parties of debauchery / wickedness
- Noah was a man who lived completely for the Lord in everything he did
- It is because of His life, and his obedience to God, that he was found righteous
- When it comes to righteousness, how are we measuring up today?
- IMP: Do we wear the title of being righteous as something owed to us?
- So, we must honestly ask ourselves … what is the only way to have it?
- 2 Cor 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
- In short, there is NOTHING you can EVER do to gain righteousness today
- It must be something that is given to you by and through the death of Christ
- The death of Christ on the cross is the only thing that brings righteousness today
- Many want to live under the premise that their way is the only way
- I submit that they are absolutely wrong: The only way is Christ’s way – period
- Noah was a man considered to be “Blameless among the people of his time”
- When we consider being blameless, we must be willing to examine ourselves
- We must take a long look at how we react and act towards one another today
- Let’s examine first how we “act” – then we’ll examine how we “react”
- Psalm 101:2 says, “I will be careful to lead a blameless life--when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart.”
- Will be ones who will live our lives before God even in our homes?
- It is in this verse that we must see our challenge to live rightly today/now
- Go to Phil 2:14-18 (read)
- If you want to know how this reads, think of it this way:
- When the scandal hits, are leading the charge to string people up or show Jesus?
- Do we do everything that we can to bring forgiveness and restoration?
- Or, are we the ones who believe that we are right and gossip/gripe about others?
- Should we really spend time tearing one another down or lifting up Jesus?
- If we are living for Jesus today, we should seek to be blameless among people
- We must show others the same Grace we expect to receive from Christ
- To not do this, is to NOT lead a blameless life and is not God’s example
- APP: There is nothing short of the Grace of Christ that makes you live this way
- If you cannot live this way, you definitely need to examine if you know Jesus
- Lastly, we need to see that “He walked faithfully with God”
- How faithful are you living before God? How do you honor His decrees?
- Consider the following when thinking of this answer:
- Do you joyfully come to the His house to worship?
-- Noah was God’s selected man because of the position God put him in
-- He was given the tools to live before God, and he CHOSE to be faithful
-- Others took all their energy to cast doubt on Noah; do we do the same?
- APP: Do we spend our time casting doubt on the ones God puts over us?
- Do you tithe what you are required?
-- Do we give to God what He requires and do we honor him faithfully always
-- Are we willing to submit to Him even in the matters of our finances
- Do we evangelize at all times and give ourselves to the spreading of the Gospel?
-- The Great Commission is not a recommendation; it’s a command to follow
-- We must see our own need for Jesus and apply that to others around us
-- APP: In short, we MUST be willing to pray and reach others for Christ
- This Wednesday night will be an opportunity to join in prayer …
Point 2 – What’s Our Application? (10)
- (v10) Noah had three sons: lived righteous, blameless, faithful before them
- Do you want to know why Noah was selected? Because there was none other
- There was no other man, woman, or child who lived rightly in this time
- We owe our existence to the fact that Noah lived rightly
- But, even though his life was; Noah could NOT save us from what we really need
- Do you want to know why Jesus had to die? Because there was none other
- There was no one else who could provide a way to the Father – NO ONE
- No one else (not even ourselves) could give us a way to God
- Even in our pride of life, which is sin by the way, we cannot get to God
- APP: Listen to this great quote and consider how it applies to you today:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
- These words were written by Paul in Romans 8:1-8
- How righteous are you living today before God?
- How are you living before your family?
- How are you living before your friends?
- What kind of example do you set by obeying/disobeying God?
- Pray
