From the Desk of Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Bremen, GA
HOW TO KEEP YOUR HEAD UP IN HIGH WATERS
Gen 6:11-18, 22
Intro: The creation of God had rebelled against the creator, and God sovereignly chose to destroy the earth. Still Noah found grace in the eyes of God, and God gave him the plans for the building of an ark. This ark was the salvation of a family, a society, and all humanity. It is amazing what God can do through the righteous faith of one man!
We see Noah, the pre-flood carpenter, toiling away to build an ark that will save humanity and withstand the judgment of God on a lost and condemned world. It is much like the carpenter of Nazareth who provided a salvation plan that can withstand judgment day for all who will believe.
This ark was not only their salvation, but it was also a shelter from the storm, and a store of supply for all on board. It is a type of our complete salvation in Christ. Col 2:10, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” II Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” Because Noah was in the ark, he could keep his head up. Notice:
I. The Ark Was A Place Of Safety: v. 14
A. The Frame, “Make thee an ark of gopher wood…”
1. The Wood Was Cut Down, as was the wood for the cross
2. The Wood Was Constructed, so also was the cross fashioned for use
3. The Wood Was A Coffin, ark in Hebrew is the same word for a chest or coffin. This shows us the death and burial of Christ. His sacrifice is our hope!
4. The Wood Was Changeless, Gopher wood is Cypress. Cypress is resistant to decay and is nearly never eaten by worms or termites. Time and Satan’s attacks have not changed the power of the old rugged cross!
5. Still Many of God’s people who have been to the cross still find themselves looking down! How can you keep your head up?
B. The Food, v. 14-16, cells, nests, or small rooms were built along the sides of the three floors. These rooms stored the animals and the food for the trip. Still many of God’s people who have been fed physically, emotionally, and spiritually find themselves looking down.
C. The Finish, it was made with pitch within and without. This pitch was a material used for covering or overlaying. It was a plaster created with the resin of the cypress and the chips or sawdust left from their cutting and sawing. It was plastered within the ark and without. This shed rain off the outside, and kept the water from soaking through to the inside. It is a type of Christ’s atoning blood- it keeps us from the world and the world from us! Still many people who know the finished work of Christ’s atonement have a hard time keeping their head up in high waters.
II. The Ark Was A Place Of Sufficiency: v. 15 speaks of how Noah was to “fashion” the ark.
A. Definition, to fashion is to give the proper fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, and plan. Salvation was not an afterthought with God (Eph 1:4). The Savior was not an afterthought (I Peter 1:20).
B. Design, v. 15 tells the length, the breadth, and the height. The length was 300 cubits (3 Divine Completeness; 100 Divine Promises). The Breadth was 50 cubits (The number of the Holy Spirit in Resurrection, same width as the tabernacle court). Height was 30 cubits (the price of blood… 30 pieces of silver). The limits were exact and designed by God. The same God who appoints our habitation, sets the limits thereof! Even still many of God’s people who know his plan find themselves looking down in high waters.
III. The Ark Was A Place Of Summons: v. 16, there was a door and a window
A. The Door Was A Summons To Come In
1. Single Door, John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
2. Side Door, John 19:34, “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”
3. Span of the Door, “…with lower, second, and third stories.” It appears the door spanned all three levels. This shows us the work of each member of the trinity in the salvation of man. Father gave the Son; Son gave the Spirit; Spirit gives us life.
4. Secret Door, It appears that the door opened from top to bottom like a long gangplank. Noah could not open it nor close it. God did that. Salvation is not man opening up to God, but it is God opening up to man. It is not just man accepting Christ; it is Christ accepting us. God opened the Red Sea from top to bottom. He tore the veil of the temple from top to bottom. He made us acceptable. He has opened the door giving us access to safety, and someday, he will close the door. You better come while he is calling.
The thing that really kept his head up in high waters and will keep our head up in high waters as well is:
B. The Window That Was A Summons To Come Up, the window stood up one cubit above the ark’s top. It is a type of one mediator; it is a summons to pray in the Holy Ghost. You can keep your head up in high waters when you accept the summons to pray in the Spirit. Notice:
1. The Erection of the Window, “above” the top 18 inches. In prayer you can keep your head up in high waters.
2. The Enlightenment of the Window, this is how light was let into the ark. It is through Spirit-filled prayer that the light of God is shown into our lives in the midst of the storms.
3. The Encouragement of the Window, some might say that through the window, he saw all the desolation that was set upon the earth. As he watched it, however, he saw where he could have been were it not for the grace of God.
4. The Exposure of the Window, It admitted air- source of ventilation. It is breath of God that keeps our heads up in high waters!
5. The Effect of the Window, it released the birds. God had control of the door, but Noah had control of the window. Noah released two birds. The raven is a type of how the carnal man is led, but the dove shows us how the Spirit-filled man is led. It is up to you. If you want to access the window and be led of the Spirit, God has designed that for your life.
Conclusion: Noah was not to be looking down on the devastation; they were to look up to God. When there seems to be no way, don’t look down. Look up! Keep your head up. When the waters look high, when you’ve come to the end of yourself and can’t find a way out or over, there is still a way up! It is not safety or sufficiency but the summons to “Come Up Higher” that kept their heads up in high waters. Are you walking in “High Living?”
