Noah Kept on Building

TEXT: Genesis 6:11-17

INTRODUCTION: The world had become so sinful that the Lord determined to destroy all flesh. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. He was perfect in his generation. He walked with the Lord. The Lord chose him to carry the message of judgment to come. The Spirit would strive with man for a time and then judgment would come. Man had become very wicked. Every imagination of the heart was only evil continually. The earth was filled with violence (v11). That hits home as we think of all of the violence in our day. Noah’s generation was probably a lot worse than ours, but it hardly seems possible as we hear and read about the news of the violence in our day and time.

I.          Noah Kept Building the Ark in Spite of the Depravity.

A.        The character.

1.      God describes the people as wicked and they had wicked imaginations.

a)      Imagination has to do with the thinking and planning in the heart.

b)      It has to do with the thoughts that preceded the deeds.

2.      People do what they do because of what they are.

a)      They were wicked and therefore they thought wicked thoughts and did wicked things.

b)      God saw the wickedness of man was great.

c)      Wicked men do not seem to think they are doing wickedly, but God does.

3.      God said the world was full of violence.

a)      When people are wicked, they will do wicked things.

b)      This includes being violent in their behavior.

c)      The heart cries out to God as we hear and read about the wicked deeds of our generation.

B.        The conduct.

1.      One thing that proved they were wicked was they were violent in their behavior.

2.      Their conduct refers to their action or behavior.

3.      A person’s character will expresses itself in his or her conduct or the way the person walks in life.

4.      God said "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually". (v5)

C.        The continually.

1.      The character and conduct is the product of our thoughts and imagination.

Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

2.      The violent and wicked behavior results from people imagining wickedness ... thoughts can be produced into actions.

3.      The deeper you go into sin the deeper you have to go to get any temporary satisfaction out of it.

4.      People become slaves to their sinful desires, and they must become wicked to find any satisfaction.

D.        The consecration.

1.      Noah just kept on doing what God told him to do.

a)      Noah was not moved by the depravity of his generation.

b)      He kept right on doing what God told him to do.

2.      The depravity probably pointed out to him the anger of God and the fact of God’s judgment.

a)      The spiritually mature see things different than what the worldly minded people see.

b)      We must consecrate our- selves to the Lord as we look out on a sinful world.

3.      The world is calling us to join in with it, but we must seek to obey Matthew 6:33.

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

II.       Noah Kept Building the Ark in Spite of the Deceit.

A.        The flesh.

1.      The sinful must feel like they are justified in their sinfulness.

2.      Most people want to be told that they are doing right by doing wrong.

3.      They cry out for someone to say their actions are right.

4.      The sinner wants to be told that he is not to blame for his sin.

a)      Call it a disease.

b)      Call it your surroundings.

c)      Put the blame on anyone and everyone, but don’t call it sin!

5.      The flesh must seek self justification in sin.

6.      The flesh wants to feel it is right to do wrong. (Song title: How can it be wrong when it feels so right?)

a)      Talk to anyone that is guilty of sin and they will give you a reason why they did it

b)      The reason seems to make sin right, but you just can’t be right doing wrong!

B.        The false.

1.      Some probably got around where Noah was building the ark and said,

a)      "God told me to tell you to quit building the ark."

b)      Old Noah is crazy ... he has lost his mind ... he is talking about a flood and we have never seen any rain.

c)      How can a mist flood the earth?

d)      You can just think of what the sinful nature moved men and women to say to this faithful servant of God as he labored building the ark.

2.      Those who do not believe the Word of God have their ways of trying to prove those who are doing right are doing wrong.

3.      Note what Paul wrote in I Timothy 4:1.

1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

C.        The fake.

1.      Satan always tries to counter- act what God does by using counterfeits.

2.      The devil is in the religious business in a big way.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

3.      Many of God’s people do not believe that Satan has churches and preachers who oppose the truth.

4.      The Word of God tells us that Satan does just that.

1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

5.      We have an obligation to obey this verse.

a)      Put the spirits to test or try them.

b)      Measure what you hear and see by the Word of God.

D.        The fearfulness.

1.      Noah had a reverence and a respect for God.

2.      He walked with Him.

3.      He was perfect and found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

4.      He kept right on building the ark in spite of the deceit and falsehood around him.

5.      We should respect and reverence God in spite of the situation or the condition of mankind.

III.    Noah Kept Building the Ark in Spite of the Defiance.

A.        The warning.

1.      Noah was a preacher of righteousness.

2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

2.      The flood came years after Noah started building the ark and preached.

3.      He warned them of God’s judgment.

4.      He preached while building the ark.

5.      Thank God for people who are willing to obey the Lord when it looks like they have lost all of their marbles.

6.      We also must preach and teach the Word of God.

7.      We must warn people of the judgment that is coming.

B.        The will.

1.      Paul tells us to get ready for the end time generation.

2.      He describes them in 2 Timothy 3:1-13 and it certainly sounds like our generation today.

3.      Noah’s generation would not listen; they were wicked, violent, and defiant.

4.      They were going to live their own way in spite of the coming judgment of God.

5.      Men and women can choose to do what they want to do even knowing that they will face God one day and give an account.

CONCLUSION: Nothing stopped Noah from obeying the Word of God. He just kept building the ark and preaching righteousness. This morning, will you stop? Will we be influenced by this world or will we make an impact on the people around us?

Who do we identify with in this Scriptural account? Noah or those who laughed and scoffed? God’s mercy is great and His grace is marvelous. This morning if you have never experienced the grace of God come and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Christian, why not come and commit yourself to a life of obedience regardless of what happens in this world around us?