"AN ALTAR OF THANKSGIVING"

>>>Introducing the Thanksgiving season- “An Altar of Thanksgiving”.

>>>In Genesis, the world continued further into evil, leading to God’s judgment by flood.

>>>Noah found favor with God and was told to build an ark for his family and two of every kind of animal.

>>>The flood came reaching above mountains and destroying everything.

Genesis 8:1 “But God remembered Noah and all the animals and all the livestock that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.”

Genesis 8:20–21 “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took some of every kind of clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The Lord smelled the soothing aroma, and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.”

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>>>Giving a little more context

Genesis 7:21–24 “So all creatures that moved on the earth perished: birds, livestock, animals, and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind; of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. So He wiped out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from mankind to animals, to crawling things, and the birds of the sky, and they were wiped out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark. The water prevailed upon the earth for 150 days.”

Genesis 8:1 “But God remembered Noah and all the animals and all the livestock that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.”

>>>The waters of the flood reached even above the mountains.

>>>God was killing everything that had life for 150 days. Only Noah was left.

*He was on a boat for 150 days with seven other people and animals.

*Think about what it would have been like in the ark that many days.

>>>(8:1) God was operating a massive flood over the entire earth, yet this verse said that He still “remembered” Noah.

*“remember” means “keep in mind for attention”. God had Noah continuously in mind while the flood was happening.

*Not just Noah, but his family and even the animals.

>>>This word has been used to describe God in many of the major points in the Bible.

Exodus 2:24 “So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

>>>As Israel suffered in Egyptian captivity, God remembered His covenant with Abraham.

1 Samuel 1:19 “Then they got up early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.”

>>>God remembered Hannah’s distress and the faith-filled prayer she lifted up asking Him for a child.

>>>In the middle of chaos and devastation, God remembered His people.

WE HAVE A REMEMBERING GOD.

>>>People are crazy, and floods happen.

*Wars/hurricanes/elections/shootings/wildfires/famines/earthquakes

>>>Pray for the things and the people involved, but don’t believe that God is so preoccupied with the “major things” that He’s forgotten you in your diagnosis/job situation/home situation/whatever is going on in life.

*Nothing is more devastating than being on a boat with animals rocking on waves that reach unimaginable heights, yet God remembered Noah. He will also remember you.

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Genesis 8:1 “But God remembered Noah and all the animals and all the livestock that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.”

>>>God, remembering Noah, cause the flood to subside and go away.

>>>After a long 150 days, the flood was over and Noah would be able to start over.

THE FLOOD WILL END.

>>>Need to be careful: The flood may end with the needed provision/miracle, but will definitely end in Heaven.

*Job flood-loses everything but receives double after trial.

*Paul flood-lives a life of continuous persecution and “misfortunes”.

Philippians 3:8 “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ,”

>>>Whatever “good” thing was about Paul, it did not compare to simply knowing Jesus as Lord.

>>>There is no healing/miracle/job/provision/money that will ever compare to you knowing Jesus.

>>>There were two storms involving Jesus: one where He is sleeping, wakes up, and stops storm; and one where He walks on water, but Peter asks to walk to Him (not stop storm-call out into it).

*The storm didn’t matter because He was focused on Jesus.

*We need to have a focus on Jesus.

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Genesis 8:20–21 “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took some of every kind of clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The Lord smelled the soothing aroma, and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.”

>>>After leaving the ark to repopulate the earth, Noah stopped and built an altar to the LORD.

*Building altars were how early cultures appealed to the gods. For GOD, it was done for atonement, worship, commemoration, and thanks giving.

*Interesting that this is before law.

>>>Noah knew Who God was, followed God, obeyed God, and saw the power, provision, protection of God, and his response was worship. Out of worship, thanksgiving.

*Noah worshiped the God Who remembered Him and brought him through the flood.

THANKSGIVING/WORSHIP IS THE RESPONSE TO GOD’S CHARACTER AND WORK.

>>>With the thanksgiving/worship of Noah was the grace/promise of God. God received Noah’s offerings and made a promise to Himself to never again curse the ground.

>>>When we understand Who God is and what He has done and can do for us, there is nothing else left to do but give thanks with the altar of our hearts.

>>>Worship/thanksgiving is a continuous response to God (church/quiet time/driving/working/sleeping/everything) despite the flood around us.

>>>God hears our praise and continues to hold to His promise and grace toward us.

*It His promise and character.

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>>>God remembers us, so we can remember Him.

*Remember God and how He remembers you despite the craziness around you (personal/external).

*Remember God and His promise that one day the flood will subside whether in this world or the one to come.

*Remember God and worship Him for Who He is and what He has done. When we look closely, we can still see Him despite our circumstances.

>>>Look on Thanksgiving (holiday and attitude) a little different.