A GODLY MAN SINS

Genesis 9:18

Genesis 9:18–29 NKJV

18 Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. 20 And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. 21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. 25 Then he said: “Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren.” 26 And he said: “Blessed be the Lord, The God of Shem, And may Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth, And may he dwell in the tents of Shem; And may Canaan be his servant.” 28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.

INTRODUCTION:

1. It’s always shocking and sad when a godly man falls into sin.

When we hear of a Christian leader who has fallen, our initial response is usually, “I can’t believe it! or How could it happen?”

Somehow we want to believe that if a man has walked with God for years, he builds up an immunity against sin.

And personally, I want to hope that if I walk with God long enough, the day will come when temptation has no affect on off me.

But it just isn’t so!

NOTE: There isn’t one of us here this morning…and it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a Christian, who doesn’t face the constant struggle against sin.

You never become invulnerable.

You never become immune.

You can be Spirit-filled & talk in tongues…but temptation will still haunt you until you leave this world.

Young or old…male or female…the struggle against sin is something we all wrestle with.

Galatians 5:17 NKJV

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

How many of you feel like you live out that verse? Maybe even on a daily basis?

Like you’re in a constant struggle…You know what you should do…but the flesh is telling you to do something else.

When you were lost, you didn’t have that problem…but now that you’re saved, you’re in a fight…you’re in a struggle.

And if we would be honest - sometimes we lose the fight & the flesh wins & we sin.

2. In our passage, Noah is a prime example.

He had walked with God for over 600 years!

In a wicked world, Noah stood alone for God.

He was the only man on earth that God saw fit to save from the judgment of the flood.

The opportunity to launch a new beginning for the human race stood before him.

And what happened? He got drunk and uncovered himself within his tent.

It’s shocking…disgraceful…and unbelievable.

You may even question - Is this the same Noah?

3. Some have tried to exonerate Noah by arguing that he didn’t know about fermentation, and got drunk accidentally.

Other explanations have been suggested.

But since drunkenness and nakedness are always presented in the Bible in a shameful way...we must conclude that Noah sinned.

4. A godly man…A man that the bible describes as upright & perfect…and one who walked with God.

He sinned and from his sin we can learn some valuable lessons.

5. Noah’s sin shows us that ...

1) Even the Most Godly are Prone to Sin

1. If you condemn Noah, saying to yourself, “How could he do that?” you don’t know your own heart.

2. When it comes to godliness, Noah was top of the line.

He was the most righteous man on the earth before the flood.

Centuries later, through Ezekiel, God listed Noah, Daniel, and Job as three of the most righteous men in history ()!

And yet Noah got drunk and lay naked in his tent.

Lesson

Past godliness doesn’t guarantee future godliness.

You don’t build up an immunity toward sin.

Neither age nor maturity provide protection against temptation.

Just b/c you made it through yesterday w/o giving in to temptation doesn’t mean that you will make through today w/o giving in to temptation.

We have to constantly be on guard against temptation.

We must walk in dependence on the Lord daily.

Just b/c you made it through yesterday w/o giving in to temptation doesn’t mean that you will make through today w/o giving in to temptation.

Just b/c you made it through yesterday w/o giving in to temptation doesn’t mean that you will make through today w/o giving in to temptation.

We have to constantly be on guard against temptation.

We have to constantly be on guard against temptation.

Lesson

Noah’s sin also teaches us that we are often the most vulnerable when the pressure is off.

When he was surrounded by wickedness, Noah lived righteously.

But when the storm was over and he and his family were the only ones on earth, Noah fell into sin.

NOTE: When the pressure is off, our guard comes down.

But constant vigilance is the price of victory over sin.

Those who live righteously before God know their own propensity toward sin and live in constant dependence on the Lord.

2) God Doesn’t Have any Perfect People

1. This ties in with the first point…but it goes a little deeper.

Noah was a saved man…but he wasn’t a perfect man.

And one thing that I love about the bible is that God doesn’t hide the faults of His people.

If I were God…I would have left this part of Noah’s story out…but God left it in here for our example…but I also believe He left it here for our encouragement.

Noah’s story let’s us know that if God can use Noah…He can use us.

NOTE: We often place the men/women of the bible on pedestals & exalt them to god-like status.

We often forget that they were flesh & blood just like us.

They struggled with temptation & sin just as we do…and God recorded it for us to read.

Noah got drunk

Abraham was a liar

Moses got angry

Jacob was a deceiver

Samson got drunk & slept with prostitutes

David was an adulterer & a murderer

Elijah was depressed & suicidal

Jonah ran from God

Peter denied Jesus 3 times

and personally, I believe the apostle Paul struggled with pride.

NOTE: God doesn’t have any perfect people…but we do have a perfect Savior.

Now, I’m not condoning living in sin…but if you think that you have to have everything in perfect order to be used by God…let me ask you this -When do you think you will have all together so that God can use you?

3) Beware of the Dangers of Alcohol

Genesis 9:20–21 NKJV

20 And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. 21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.

1. First time wine is mentioned in the Bible…and first time drunkenness is mentioned in the Bible.

2. Noah’s own sinful & shameful actions show us the foolishness of drunkenness.

3. So, I want to take some time to talk about the dangers of alcohol.

Statement

Drinking without getting drunk isn’t sin…but drunkenness is ALWAYS sin.

In other words, the bible never comes right out & says do not drink…but it repeatedly warns against drunkenness.

The bible repeated warns against drunkenness.

However, I do believe that the bible does teach that it’s not wise to drink.

Proverbs 20:1 NKJV

1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 23:20 NLT

20 Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,

Proverbs 23:29–35 NKJV

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. 34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: 35 “They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”

Isaiah 5:11 NKJV

11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them!

Romans 13:13 NKJV

13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Again - Drinking without getting drunk isn’t sin…but drunkenness is ALWAYS sin.

4. Church of God stance is for total abstinence of alcohol.

And personally, I believe it’s best for a believer to never drink alcohol.

5. Let me share some reasons.

A. First, if you never drink…you never have to worry about getting drunk…you don’t have to worry about crossing the line.

If you never drink, you never have to worry about how much is too much.

Again, drunkenness is a sin…so the best way to never to be drunk is to never drink.

B. Second, what benefit are you receiving from drinking alcohol?

1 Corinthians 6:12 NKJV

12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Paul writes he is permitted to do anything he wants…but everything isn’t helpful or beneficial.

So, here’s the question we have to answer?

What benefit or help do we receive from drinking alcohol?

Well, the doctor says a glass of wine is good for the heart & lowering cholesterol.

Well, so does walking, drinking water, cutting back on caffeine, getting enough sleep,& losing weight…but we don't do those.

He also says that he won’t be mastered or controlled by anything.

NOTE: Alcohol has the power to master & control you.

As believers we shouldn’t want anything to control us or master us other than JC.

We can’t have but one master.

So, this raises the question - Why do you want to drink?

If you are a believer, why do you feel the need to drink?

Some people say that it helps them to relax…So, here's my question for that person - Are you saying JC isn't enough so you need another substance to give you peace & help you calm down?

C. Third, what if your drinking becomes a stumbling block for others?

Romans 14:13 NKJV

13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

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Romans 14:19–21 NKJV

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

Rom. 14:19-21

1 Corinthians 8:9–13 NKJV

9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

In & , Paul is dealing with Christian liberty & how our liberty can cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble.

In , Paul uses eating food sacrificed to idols as an example.

But for us let’s say - you think that having a glass of wine isn't an issue & you feel that you have liberty to enjoy a glass of wine.

However, a new believer or a young convert may feel that the drinking of alcohol is wrong…Maybe they were raised in a home where alcohol was abused…and they see alcohol as something to be avoided.

But if they see you taking a drink & you tell them that it’s ok to drink…then they go against their conscience…you have led them into sin…and you have sinned.

Now you may be thinking - It’s my life & I’ll do what I want to do.

But here’s what you need to understand - When you believe in Jesus…you become a part of His family…and it’s no longer just about you.

“Our actions can never be based only on what we know to be right for ourselves. We also need to consider what is right towards our brothers and sisters in Jesus.

It’s easy for a Christian to say, “I answer to God and God alone” and to ignore his brother or sister. It is true we will answer to God and God alone, but we will also answer to God for how we have treated our brother or sister.” (David Guzik)

(Guzik, David)

Would you want to be the reason they possibly go back into a lifestyle of addiction?

Do you want to be responsible for someone else’s fall into sin?

Let me also ask this - What kind of influence do you want to have on your kids & grandkids?

Let me also ask this - What kind of influence do you want to have on your kids & grandkids?

You may be able to control your drinking…but what if your kids/grandkids can't.

You may be able to stop after one or two…but what if they can't.

NOTE: I believe that it is best for believers to abstain from alcohol.

We are to be different from the world…not fit in with the world.

Now, if you are here today and you do drink alcohol on occasion…I’m not here to condemn you.

But I do want you to examine your motives…I do want you to ask yourself - Why am I drinking this?

Also, I want you to consider this - Are you glorifying God while you’re doing it?

1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

CONCLUSION:

1. All of us at times are weak & vulnerable to sin.

No one here today should ever say that they will never fall.

The bible is clear that pride goes before a fall.

1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

So, daily we must humble ourselves before God & depend on Him.

It’s only through His strength

Daily we must stay on guard…and it’s only through God’s grace & strength that we will fight temptation & sin & overcome.

Let’s pray!!!