Faith Like Noah - Walk Faithfully with the Lord

Today starts a new sermon series. We just finished up a great series of messages on the parables of Jesus. I highly recommend catching up with those if you missed any of them. As I was praying about where to go next, the Lord brought Noah to mind and the incredible events leading up to and after him building the ark, gathering the animals and his family and then exiting the ark after. It is quite a testimony in faith. A testimony that is included in the “Hall of faith” listed in Hebrews 11. Let’s turn there to start our study and read the verse that specifically mentions Noah:

Hebrews 11:7 NIV

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

We are going to dig into this verse a little bit more over the next few weeks, but this is the basis of our series. By faith Noah...

If we want a faith like Noah, we have to understand what faith is and how Noah came to have this faith by which he did all of these things that are mentioned in this verse. Let’s explore faith a bit…let’s read just a few verses earlier in verse 1:

Hebrews 11:1–2 NIV

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

So we have faith defined 2 ways here: 1. confidence in what we hope for and 2. Assurance in the unseen.

Depending on the translation you have, this particular verse has been translated a number of ways. This happens when a word is not entirely clear or only one English word fits well with the original. I believe that is the case here. There are many different English words that can and are used. I looked up the amplified version that often gives a move wordy, but detailed translation…this is what it says:

Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. Hebrews 11:1 Amplified Version

Verse 3 expands the context of verse 1:

Hebrews 11:3 NIV

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

All creation came about from something that is not visible to us…it is unseen. Our faith helps us to make sense of how all things came to be. Genesis chapter 1 tells us that the universe was spoken into being by God - formed entirely by His command.

Faith is the means by which we have conviction in our actions. Some kind of faith drives every single person to action. Faith in a paycheck drives people to work. Faith in the combustion engine or electric motors causes us to hit the gas pedal. Faith in God is the reason we worship. Faith in God is how we have hope. I think you could tie some kind of faith to each and every action by each and every person on the planet.

The question then becomes what or who is our faith in that causes us to act? Hopefully a faith in the God of the universe, in Jesus shapes your actions. Before I move on from this point, let me give you a few things that people place their faith in that is contrary to faith in God:

Faith in flesh - the desires of the flesh to satisfy

Faith in the approval of others - valuing what other people think or say over what the Bible says.

Faith in money - faith in money as a means of security

Faith in Humanity - people are flawed - the only assurance we have about people is that at some point they will disappoint - God will not.

Faith in control/power/titles

Faith in Government - enough said there.

I know there are other things that could have made the list. We must examine ourselves and see if we are replacing our faith in God with faith in something else. On the flip side, we must also the balance common sense with faith. For instance, wearing a seat belt is not a lack of faith in God protecting us in an accident, it is an exercise in common sense that a seat belt could save your life.

It is not for us to judge someone’s level of faith in God based on their actions. If they are seeking God in their decisions, let God work that out with them. Pray for them.

Today I want to look at some clues we have about why Noah had the faith he had and how can we go about having a Faith Like Noah? Turn with me to Genesis 6:5

Genesis 6:5–8 NIV

5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Noah found favor over the others because of the condition of his heart. God saw something different in Noah than what he say in the rest of humanity. In humanity he saw wickedness, he saw the evil inclination or plans within the human heart. These qualities were different in Noah. The world was selfish, corrupt, full of violence, greedy, yet Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord that was different.

In order to have Faith Like Noah, we must have a

Heart like Noah

While we don’t get a direct description of Noah’s heart here, we can use the contrast of the rest of the world that God was judging.

I can always sense in myself those times where the thoughts and the plans of my heart are evil. I make things about me. I look at how I’ve been wronged and where I thought I’ve deserved something and didn’t get it. I have thoughts about how I can manipulate a situation to get what I want. I might even think about concealing or hiding something…contemplating a little white lie so I can get what I want.

Those are the evil plans within my own heart. Without God, those plans are happening ALL THE TIME. Somehow, someway Noah was able to suppress those evil plans. I know how, but that is point 3, so you’ll have to wait for that...

Noah’s heart was different. In order to have Faith Like Noah, we must get hold of the thoughts and desires of our heart and get them in line with God’s heart and desires.

Verse 9 says...

Genesis 6:9 NIV

9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.

The condition of heart caused Noah to be righteous and blameless. So, if we want a faith like Noah, we must be

Righteous & Blameless Like Noah

He lived rightly - he was righteous. This is the first use of the word righteousness in the Bible. Noah was just in the way he conducted himself. His moral conduct was acceptable to the Lord, especially in contrast to the generation in which he lived. It is doubtful he was righteous or right all the time, as Jesus was the only to live a completely righteous life, but he genuinely sought to make the right choices with his life.

Then its he was blameless among the people of his time. Some translations say perfect instead of blameless, but I don’t like that word. It carries with it a weight that no man can carry. We can’t be perfect and I don’t believe Noah was perfect in the sense of the word as we use it today. Really it mans to be complete or sound. It is a indication of Noah’s integrity. These same qualities were used to describe Job.

Having Faith Like Noah starts with the condition of heart and then continues with how we conduct ourselves. Our conduct flows from the condition of our heart. We are to be righteous and blameless. It doesn’t mean that we don’t mess up, but it does mean that we right our wrongs. We humble ourselves and ask forgiveness and make the wrong right.

The end of Verse 9 says this:

Genesis 6:9 NIV

9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.

Noah’s faith flowed from his walk with God.

Walk with God Like Noah

I love the imagery here. Walking side-by-side with someone creates a image of relationship. When you are walking with someone, you are headed in the same direction. Noah was headed in the same direction with God. How do we walk with God today?

Read God’s word. Meditate on it.

Pray. Spend time talking to God. Pause and listen as well.

Talk with others about #1 and #2.