Gen Ch.6 v.1 - 8
a) A Season of Apostasy - 6:1,2 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
b) A Season of Anarchy - 6:3-5 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4 ΒΆ There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Wicked In Their Thoughts,Tempers,&Treatment of One Another
c) A Season of Apathy - Mt.24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
d) A Season of Anguish - 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
e) A Season of Anger - 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man I. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT THE SINNER IS EXPOSED John 16:8-11 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. A. Man's Pollution is exposed - he will reprove the world of sin B. Man's Problem is exposed - "of righteousness" C. Man's Penalty is exposed - "of judgment" II. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT THE SAVIOUR IS EXALTED John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A. In our Minds 1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost B. In our Manner We should live in such a way as to best glorify CHRIST (Matt. 5:16). Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. We should talk in such a way as to best magnify JESUS (Acts 4:13). Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. C. In our Message don't preach the "plan of salvation." preach the MAN of salvation! Philip preached CHRIST to the city of Samaria (Acts 8:5). Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. Later He preached JESUS to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35). Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. Paul, preached CHRIST in the synagogues as soon as he was saved(Acts 9:20).And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. Paul preached JESUS to the heathen at Athens(Acts 17:18). Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. Paul would preach CHRIST at Rome (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. III. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT SALVATION IS EXPERIENCED A. The Spirit of God Saves us John Ch 3 v 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. B. The Spirit of God Submerges us He baptizes us into Christ - 1 Cor. 12:13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. C. The Spirit of God Seals us Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. A.T Robertson "In whom ye were sealed" saved for the purpose of Heaven D. The Spirit of God Sustains us - John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; IV. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT SERVICE IS EMPOWERED Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; A. He helps us to do the Will of God B. He helps us do the Work of God Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. C. He helps us to understand the Word of God D. He helps us obtain the Wisdom of God V. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT THE SAINTS ARE AN ENTITY Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 1 Cors 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. A. There is one body, though Incomes vary Rich & Poor B. There is one body, though Ideas vary Calvinism & Arminianism etc. C. There is one body, though Interests vary VI. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT THE SCRIPTURES ARE EXPLAINED 1 Corinthians 2:9-14 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The Spirit Composed the Bible, Comprehends the Bible, Clarifies the Bible VII. IT IS BY GOD'S SPIRIT THAT SORROW IS ERASED A. His Presence brings comfort John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; B. His Peace brings comfort John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. C. His Promises bring comfort 2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. The promise of Salvation The promise of Security The promise of Strength The promise of the Second Coming
What is meant by the assertion that the Spirit will "not always strive?" Not, of course, that he will leave the earth; but that he will not always follow a man through the whole of his life, and continue to strive with him to the end of his days. Why ? Furthur Striving is Pointless C. Finney
