Noah, an example for fathers

Noah: A Successful Father

Genesis 6:1–9 NKJV

1 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. 3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

Genesis 6:1–7 NKJV

1 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. 3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

gen6.1-7

Genesis 6:10–15 NKJV

10 And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.

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Introduction

The Story of a Great Father

Noah’s greatest accomplishment: his family’s faith

without this, all the work on the ark would have been for nothing

without his faith, he would not have even been told to build the ark

He was great father and the father of all now living

every person alive is his descendant - we are all related

Raising a Family in a Difficult Time

An age of wickedness and evil thinking (v. 5)

An age of corruption and violence (v. 11)

How Did Noah Succeed as a Father in Such a Time?

Body

Noah Walked with God

Ingredients in Noah’s salvation

The work of the Holy Spirit in his life (v. 3 - “My Spirit shall not always strive...”)

God’s Spirit is working in you, is He leading you, or striving with you?

He began to seek God (v. 8)

He responded to God’s grace (v. 8)

He came to faith ()

“By Faith”, Noah prepared the ark...

Faith is “substance” and “evidence”

Are you “moved” by your faith?

Noah was a just man: declared righteous by faith ()

We are “justified” by faith - apart from the works of law

Noah was a just man, but not a perfect man

He had flaws, errors and sin in his life

His relationship with God was wholehearted (perfect) (v. 9)

In Spite of his faults, he was wholly sold out to God

We should be the same way. We can live by our faith in the same way he did

Consistent in devotional and daily living (walked with God)

This term “walked with God” means that he was consistent in his faith

He was not just a Sunday morning Christian -

His relationship with God defined who He was: as it should us

Noah Witnessed to Others ()

Compare God’s descriptions of Noah and his neighbors

Neighbors: corrupt, violent, wicked, evil

Noah: just, perfect (complete), walking with God

Peter says he was a preacher of righteousness ()

He told others of their sins and pointed them to God

“preaching righteousness” does include warning against sin, not just professing blessings

There was a day of judgement coming then, just as there is now

Is anyone warning people today?

Why are so many of the mega churches, and TV ministries only concerned with receiving and not preparing?

Jesus said “Be Ready!”

But he had no converts outside of his own family

How discouraging this must have been for Noah!

100 years of preaching and working, and no followers!

Thank God for those who are faithful, to complete the work God has given them-

Nevertheless, he stayed true to God and the work He had given him

His family saw his faithful walk and followed it

This is the greatest responsibility of a Father - set an example of faithfulness

Be steadfast, unmoveable.

Noah Won His Family (vv. 7:1, 7)

“Come thou and all thy house into the ark” (7:1)

We don’t know how difficult this may have been

perhaps there were some family divisions, maybe even some arguments

but he remained faithful, and they came through in the end (story of Jameson and Johnson)

The most important thing he could have done in life

Noah’s family members were his only converts

100 years of work and only 6 people in the church?

Not a great preacher, but a great practicer

Not a great financier, but a great father

What a day for Noah as his entire family entered the ark!

What a day for you, when your family enters heaven!

Conclusion

This Is Not an Easy Time to Be a Father

Jesus said “As it was in the days of Noah …”

God’s grace is sufficient for fathers now as then

“They that do know their God will be strong...”

May God Enable Us to Win Our Families to Christ

Let us walk with God

Let us Continue in the work of the Lord

Let us keep our witness for Christ consistent

Let us expect our families to follow us in faith