Untitled Sermon (34)

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GENESIS - “THE COURAGE TO BE DIFFERENT IN A DECAYING SOCIETY” (GENESIS 6-9)

GOSPEL PASSAGE

Matthew 24:37–39 ESV

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

(CSB)

- JESUS IS TELLING US THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE LORD’S COMING IS NEAR WHEN THE BY TELLING US WHAT THE CLIMATE AND CONDITIONS WILL BE

o “As the days of Noah” – When it looks like this; know that I am coming

- WE ARE IN THE DAYS OF NOAH

o Describe it as pure hedonism

§ Preoccupied with the self - (selfie generation before social media)

§ Captivated by distractions -

§ Deaf to the voice of God

BUT HERE’S THE QUESTION OF ALL ETERNITY:

- WHERE THE NOAH’S AT?

WE ARE IN THE DAYS OF NOAH – BUT GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOME NOAH’S

o THOSE WHO HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE DIFFERENT

· See, the COURAGE TO BE DIFFERENT IS THE COST OF BEING USED GREATLY

o Different aint easy in this life;

o But DIFFERENT is everything to the Lord

GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOME NOAH’S WHO HE CAN USE GREATLY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD FLOODED WITH SIN.

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT GOD SAW NOAH’S DAY LIKE THIS

(CSB)

Genesis 6:5–6 ESV

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

5 When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, 6 the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.

Genesis 6:11–12 ESV

Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

genesis 6 11

BUT

Genesis 6:8 ESV

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

(CSB)

8 Noah, however, found favor with the Lord.

FAVOR: God regarded Noah as acceptable and regarded Noah as favorable

Genesis 6:13 ESV

And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

SO LOOK AT THIS

Genesis 6:17 ESV

For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.

gen 6

GEN 6

NOW WATCH THIS

Gen

Genesis 6:18 ESV

But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

BETWEEN THE FLOOD AND THE RAINBOW - THERE WAS A MAN WHO HAD THE COURAGE TO BE DIFFERENT

Between souls destroyed by floods of immorality and the coming of the Lord - WHERE ARE THE NOAH’S?

BETWEEN WHAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED IN YOUR WORLD AND THE HEALING OF THE LORD - WILL YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE LIKE NOAH?

1. YOU HAVE TO WALK WITH THE LORD WHEN WALKING WITH HIM IS NOT COOL

Noah was obedient before the storm so Noah was able to

withstand the temptation to act in sin

go through the storm and not lose heart and not lose faith

A SOLDIER IS A SOLDIER IN PEACE-TIME AS WELL AS WAR; BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS: IF A SOLDIER DOES NOT ACT LIKE A SOLDIER AND DO THE NECESSARY DRILLS AND PREPARATIONS FOR WAR LIKE A GOOD SODIER IN PEACETIME; THAT SOLDIER WILL FAIL IN WAR

2. COURAGE TO ACT/OBEY WHEN OBEDIENCE IS FOOLISH.

Hebrews 11:7 ESV

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

HEBREWS

Noah by faith. Faith in what? What was in front of him? No that was chaotic; what was in the future – no he couldn’t see that; WHAT DID NOAH HAVE FAITH IN? THE REALITY THAT GOD’S VOICE IS THE ONLY VOICE TO MOVE ON EVEN WHEN COMPETING VOICES ARE CALLING YOU CRAZY

GOD TOLD NOAH - BUILD AN ARK; ITS GONNA RAIN

I GOT TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU LORD

WHAT’S RAIN?

WHAT’S AN ARK?

WHAT GOD IS CALLING THE CHURCH TO IS A FAITH THAT WITHSTANDS THE TIDE OF THE FOOLISH

ILLUSTRATION

Boy was on the third story of a burning home: family was frantic and told the firefighter he was inside. The boy was scared and he made his way to his window. The fire-fighter called and told the young man to jump we have a net that will catch you; the boy said “I’m scared because I cant see; and he wouldn’t jump; the firefighter yelled again, son, you have to jump the entire house is going to fall down JUMP! – the boy was screaming and crying: But I’m scared because I can’t see! The boy did not make a move. They were frantic and thought for sure the boy would die. Then the daddy came over and said, “Son, jump. I’m here. AND WITH THE FATHER’S VOCIE the boy – even though he could not see and was scared out of his life – He jumped because he heard the voice of His father.

NOAH, DID WHAT HE COULD NOT SEE BECAUSE HE HEARD THE FATHER’S VOICE. THAT IS THE KEY TO BEING USED GREATLY BY GOD AND FOR GOD; NOT WANTING TO SEE WHAT WILL BE BUT KNOWING THAT GOD SIMPLY IS WORTHY OF MY FAITH

3. GOD WILL LEAVE YOU WITH JUST ENOUGH FOR YOU TO REBUILD WHAT WAS DESTROYED

AFTER NOAH’S BUILDING OF THE ARK AND WHEN EVERYTHING AROUND HIM THAT WAS A THREAT TO ROB HIM OF HIS COURAGE WAS DESTROYED

GOD MADE A WIND BLOW

Genesis 8:1 ESV

But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.

Genesis 9:1 ESV

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

genesis 9

WHEN YOU ARE DIFFERENT GOD WILL USE YOU TO REBUILD WHAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

GOD DESTROYED MAN, BUT HE DID NOT DESTROY THE BUILDING BLOCKS

- HE STILL HAD A MAN

- HE STILL HAD A WORLD

- IN ESSENCE, EVEN THOUGH YOUR WORLD HAS FALLEN APART, THE STUFF TO GET IT BACK – TO REBUILD REPAIR AND RESTORE IT IS STILL THERE. BUT NOTICE, THAT GOD WOULD PROVIDE THE ARK, BUT NOAH HAD TO BUILD IT!!!! GET THIS! GOD WANTS TO REBUILD, REPAIOR AND RESTOPRE WHAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE WHAT HE HAS PROVIDED FOR YOU TO BUILD IT!!!! –

o SO, STOP ASKING THE LORD TO

§ rebuild your finances - you do it by being wise with your money

§ strengthen your marriage

§ Keep your children straight

§ Grow you spiritually

o HE HAS GIVEN YOU THE “STUFF” TO GET IT DONE. ITS NOT DON’T BECAUSE YOU WONT PUT SOME SWEAT IN THE GAME!

§ Your Marriage Is Where It Is Because You Are Waiting ON God

§ Your Child Is Where She Is Because You Are Waiting ON God

§ Your Finances Are Where They Are Because You Are Waiting ON God

§ Your Soul and Passion Is Where It Is Because You Are Waiting ON God

§ ETC

o BUT I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU – “GOD IS WAITING ON YOU”

GOD MADE A WIND BLOW

Genesis 8:1 ESV

But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.