Summary: This sermon looks at the story of Noah's Ark, but takes us into a deeper level, by understanding the types and biblical numerology. By doing so we gain an awe of the depth of God's Word. in it's finished form. It contrasts the rest of God as opposed to the work of man.

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

Genesis 8:6-12 So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself. And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return again to him anymore.

James 4:5,6 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

The Raven represents the flesh that will work with what it finds.

The Dove represents the Holy Spirit. Notice that three times the Dove was sent from the Ark before ii found rest. The second time it returned with an Olive leaf, which speaks of fruitfulness – the Fruit of the Spirit.

John 1:32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.

4. REST TAKES YOU DEEPER INTO THE THINGS OF GOD

Genesis 6:14,16; 7:1 “Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. “You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.

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.

Noah’s Ark is a striking illustration of Jesus Christ, who preserves those who are in Him in the midst of Judgment.

a. The Ark was sealed or covered with pitch. Pitch = Atonement

b. The Ark had only one door

c. The Ark was 300 cubits long which denotes complete deliverance. Jud 7:7-22

d. The Ark was 50 cubits wide, the number of Pentecost, jubilee and anointing Acts 2:1-4

e. The Ark was 30 cubits high which is the number of Priestly authority and maturity

f. The Ark had three decks. The multi-leveled decks speak of Jesus Christ in three realms. The Outer Court, Holy Place and Holy of Holies.

Three’s in the Bible speak of the order of God and the progression into greater dimensions of the supernatural.

Examples: A three-cord strand is not easily broken Eccl 4:12 Death, Burial and Resurrection. Righteousness, Peace and Joy Ro 14:17. The Way, Truth and Life Jn 14:6. Faith, Hope and Love 1 Cor 13:13. Body, Soul and Spirit 1 Thess 5:23. Manifestations, Administrations and Operations 1 Cor 12:4-6. Who is, was and is top come Rev 1:8.

g. The Ark had one window Gen 8:16 which looked up to the heavens.

THE PROPHETIC PICTURE

1 Peter 3:18-22 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Hebrews 6:12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

How about you, "are you weary?" can you "let go and let God?". He just wants us to trust and obey so we can enter His rest.