GRACE IS WHAT YOU NEED FOR TIMES LIKE THESE
MATT 24:32-39 & GEN 6:5-8
FOCUS - AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH & NOAH FOUND GRACE
I. BREAKING DOWN MATTHEW 24
A. Matt 24 deals with Israel’s future and the second coming of Christ at the end of the tribulation period
B. 3-14 deal with first 3 1/2 years of tribulation
C. 18-28 deal with last 3 1/2 years of tribulation
D. 29-31 deal with the events that take place at the second coming of Christ
E. 32-35 deal with the time frame when these things will begin
F. 36-44 deal with the condition of humanity during this time
G. 45-51 deal with how those who are awaiting Christ’s coming should live
II. THE DAYS OF NOAH
A. Humanity was in a desperate condition before the flood and so will it be before Christ’s return
B. Humanity was exceedingly wicked in thought and imagination
C. Humanity was only concerned about satisfying fleshly desires and pleasures
D. Humanity was extremely violent
E. Humanity was unconcerned about spiritual things
F. Humanity was unbelieving concerning the gospel
G. Humanity was unrepentant concerning sin
III. THIS GENERATION
A. There are several different ways to interpret what Jesus meant by “This generation” and we should not use this as a means of setting dates for Christ’s return
B. Evidently began with the restoration of national Israel on May 8th, 1948
C. “This generation” did not refer to those living during the time Christ
D. “This generation” could refer to those who were alive at the time of Israel’s restoration
E. “This generation” could refer to the continued existence of the Jewish race
F. “This generation” could refer to the spiritual condition of Israel at the time of her restoration
G. Regardless of how you want to look at it, “This generation” does refer to the time in which we live
IV. THE SOURCE OF NOAH’S STRENGTH
A. These are fearful times in which we live, as we progress toward the tribulation it will only get worse
-talk about all the things going on right now, these are the birth pains, the beginning of sorrows
B. How did Noah live such a life of faith and godliness in the midst of this corrupt society?
C. How did Noah deal with the issues at hand from day to day
D. I believe we find the source of Noah’s spiritual and moral strength in one word “GRACE”
V. NOAH FOUND GRACE
A. Jesus prayer for the believer - John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
B. God’s assurance to Paul - 2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
C. These days in which we live are days that demand that we live in the grace of God
D. Grace is getting what we do not deserve, receiving what we do not have
1-grace is an act of divine sovereignty - God took it upon Himself to initiate the plan of salvation, the same grace that saved you will preserve you until He calls you home
2-grace is a supernatural power that will sustain you through what you normally couldn’t handle
3-grace is the hand of God carrying you through life - foot prints in the sand
4-grace is God giving you strength to live right when everybody else is living wrong
5-grace is God giving you faith to believe when nobody else even cares
6-grace is God giving you peace and assurance when everything is going the wrong way
7-grace is God giving you the ability to live free from fear when terror is all around you
8-”Grace has led me safe thus far and grace will lead me home”
E. No wonder God told us to “Grow in Grace”
VI. HOW CAN WE FIND GRACE?
A. Noah didn’t really find grace - grace found Noah
-the Hebrew translation of Gen 6:8 - “Lord the eyes of the in grace found Noah but”
-grace found Noah because Noah’s life pleased God
B. If we walk like Noah walked, live like he lived, perfect and just in our generation - “Grace will find us”
-Jesus said - “Worship (live for) God in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship Him”
-worship is not just what we do in church worship is the way we live
C. Keep your eyes on Jesus, keep living for Him, don’t compromise your living to please this world. Do not conform to this world be transformed by the renewing of your mind and grace will find you. Grace will come running to give you strength to rise above your circumstances
D. Jesus said - “Matt 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
E. Just as grace found Noah, grace will find you and sustain you in these last days. Grace didn’t just deliver Noah from the flood, grace gave him strength to walk with God every day.
