WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:02.100 Genesis chapter 6. 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:10.560 The way God works and the way he moves is often unpredictable. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:15.019 I often say that God throws curveballs. 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:18.080 He works in unexpected ways. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:26.560 But a common trait of God is to raise somebody up in just the nick of time 00:00:26.560 --> 00:00:28.719 when there's a task at hand. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.020 He challenged Abraham to pick it all up, everything he had, 00:00:35.020 --> 00:00:42.960 and go and God would tell him where he had to go along the way. 00:00:44.060 --> 00:00:45.039 That's pretty scary. 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:51.760 He rose up Moses to become the mouthpiece of the law, of God's law. 00:00:52.060 --> 00:00:58.320 And Moses was, by his own description, slow of speech and tongue. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:00.619 He even said that slowly. 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:08.219 Joseph was a man who ran the breadbasket of the world in the midst of a famine, 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:13.400 but he had been sold into slavery by his brothers, left for dead. 00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:16.920 David was the youngest and the overlooked, 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:23.480 but God used him to expand Israel to its greatest heights, at least so far. 00:01:24.540 --> 00:01:28.780 Did we bring up the foot-shaped mouth of Peter? 00:01:29.620 --> 00:01:34.560 Did we bring up the Christian killer named Saul or the late bloomer named James 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:37.260 who became the pastor of the church in Jerusalem? 00:01:37.260 --> 00:01:42.340 That's just a few of those because God throws curveballs. 00:01:43.700 --> 00:01:47.200 How about if God picks a man that lives in the desert 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:52.460 to build a boat to save humanity from total destruction 00:01:52.460 --> 00:01:56.080 while the earth was to face utter destruction? 00:01:57.080 --> 00:02:01.480 That's what God did, and he chose Noah to be that man. 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:02.760 Now, how did he pick him? 00:02:04.460 --> 00:02:06.740 Who is it that God uses? 00:02:08.300 --> 00:02:13.099 What is God looking for in us to use us? 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:15.520 Now, as I've listed several people, 00:02:15.640 --> 00:02:18.199 we could get several traits that God looks for 00:02:18.199 --> 00:02:20.939 in examining the many that I've mentioned, 00:02:21.099 --> 00:02:24.800 but I just found, I just want to look at a few traits 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:26.420 that we see in Noah this morning. 00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:28.120 I think it's challenging enough. 00:02:28.540 --> 00:02:29.819 It's plenty to ponder on. 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:35.039 It's found in Genesis chapter 6, beginning in verse 5, 00:02:35.959 --> 00:02:36.939 and it says this, 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:40.219 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, 00:02:41.060 --> 00:02:43.359 that every intention of the thoughts of his heart 00:02:43.359 --> 00:02:46.099 was only evil continually, 00:02:47.379 --> 00:02:50.620 and the Lord regretted that he had made man on earth, 00:02:50.659 --> 00:02:53.039 and he grieved him to his heart. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:55.379 So the Lord said, 00:02:55.379 --> 00:02:59.319 I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:02.280 and man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, 00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:05.780 for I am sorry that I made them. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:11.340 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 00:03:12.519 --> 00:03:14.400 These are the generations of Noah. 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:17.539 Noah was a righteous man, 00:03:18.659 --> 00:03:21.000 blameless in his generation. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:25.120 Noah walked with God. 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:29.379 I don't know about you, 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:32.919 but I know that I, 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:35.840 I want to be used of God. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:41.539 I want God to use me for his purposes, 00:03:41.539 --> 00:03:43.960 as he sees fit, 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:47.800 and to do my best to remove any hindrances 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:50.039 that may be, 00:03:50.140 --> 00:03:52.219 that I may be prone to put in his way. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:54.719 I want to be used of God. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:57.400 And from Noah's example, 00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:00.719 I believe we find some things that God looks for. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:01.840 Who does God use? 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:06.979 God uses one who is blessed. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:11.919 It may seem kind of backwards to say it like that, 00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:12.879 but it's the truth. 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:13.360 It's not. 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:14.259 It's not backwards. 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:14.800 It's the truth. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:17.639 It's just the way God works, 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:19.579 and we don't have to understand his work. 00:04:19.579 --> 00:04:21.419 We better accept it, 00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:22.539 but we don't have to understand it. 00:04:22.620 --> 00:04:24.859 God favored Noah. 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:25.719 He did. 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:27.060 He blessed Noah. 00:04:28.060 --> 00:04:30.240 He didn't do that because Noah was righteous, 00:04:30.359 --> 00:04:31.839 although Noah was righteous. 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:33.979 He was not perfect, 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:35.459 and scripture points that out, 00:04:35.539 --> 00:04:37.199 but he was right. 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:40.539 And God looked upon him with favor, 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:41.799 and he shined. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:44.099 It is the blessings of God 00:04:44.099 --> 00:04:46.139 that allow us to be at our very best. 00:04:46.299 --> 00:04:48.159 We're not able to do that within ourselves. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:50.120 God enables us. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:50.880 As a matter of fact, 00:04:50.960 --> 00:04:52.560 when it says that he found favor with God, 00:04:52.840 --> 00:04:55.920 that word in the Hebrew literally speaks of grace. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:56.880 In other words, 00:04:56.960 --> 00:04:59.560 it's in his grace and by his blessings 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:03.640 that we're allowed to be everything that we can be 00:05:03.640 --> 00:05:05.760 for his honor and for his glory. 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:09.140 We don't receive his blessings because of what we do. 00:05:09.260 --> 00:05:10.800 We are blessed by his grace 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:12.980 and given the ability to do that. 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:15.620 And when we use that God-given ability 00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:17.420 to do blessed things, 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:19.620 we are further blessed. 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:24.580 It is a fulfillment of what life was meant to be. 00:05:26.020 --> 00:05:30.500 It has to do with being used for your purpose. 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:35.839 I don't normally carry a pocket knife. 00:05:36.660 --> 00:05:39.680 I've had a few in that big knife store 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:40.899 in Sevierville. 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:45.120 I'll go in there and find one and buy one 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:46.120 and put it in my pocket 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:48.480 and wash it in the washing machine the following week. 00:05:49.339 --> 00:05:52.259 I don't normally carry a pocket knife. 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:53.959 I have a couple, 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:57.100 but I just don't need it that often. 00:05:57.100 --> 00:05:59.580 But I do carry a set of keys. 00:06:00.580 --> 00:06:02.060 I carry a set of keys 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:04.160 and I can cut a lot of things 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:06.180 with a jaggered end of a key. 00:06:06.960 --> 00:06:08.260 I'm pretty good at it. 00:06:09.060 --> 00:06:10.300 Don't come messing with me. 00:06:10.340 --> 00:06:11.020 I'm pretty good at it. 00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:11.200 So, 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:17.379 do my keys always do a good job cutting something? 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:18.180 No. 00:06:19.339 --> 00:06:21.099 My keys are made to open locks, 00:06:21.139 --> 00:06:24.159 but sometimes I can cut through packaging tape 00:06:24.159 --> 00:06:25.959 to open a package when it comes. 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:28.680 You take those tags off your clothes, 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:29.000 you know, 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:30.339 I'll get my key out, son, 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:31.659 and saw that baby off. 00:06:31.660 --> 00:06:35.380 But much beyond that, 00:06:35.460 --> 00:06:36.580 my keys won't cut it. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:37.680 Pun intended. 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:39.900 Why? 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:42.120 Because that's not the purpose of the keys. 00:06:43.700 --> 00:06:45.660 The purpose of the key is to unlock, 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:47.820 to open a lock. 00:06:49.760 --> 00:06:51.340 My best defense is my key, 00:06:51.420 --> 00:06:52.260 so if you mess with me, 00:06:52.320 --> 00:06:53.200 be careful, son, 00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:54.740 because I'll pull it on you, 00:06:54.820 --> 00:06:55.100 you know. 00:06:55.500 --> 00:06:58.879 But that's not really the purpose of the key. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:01.480 The key is to unlock. 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:03.980 Knives are made for cutting. 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:07.879 Our purpose in life 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:10.439 is to live for the Lord. 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:14.399 We're to carry out His will for our lives, 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:15.800 and when we don't do that, 00:07:15.899 --> 00:07:17.959 we are living outside of our purpose. 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:21.219 We're not living up to our potential. 00:07:22.659 --> 00:07:24.079 You'll be blessed by God 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:26.040 when you carry out His purpose for your life, 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:28.500 that His grace has enabled you 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:29.259 to do, 00:07:29.379 --> 00:07:31.079 and you'll see the favor of God. 00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:33.779 The favor that God has for you 00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:35.920 as you walk in His way. 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:37.439 Living for Him 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:38.920 brings everything to light. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:41.319 Scripture says that Noah 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:43.560 was favored and blessed, 00:07:43.699 --> 00:07:45.480 and God used him. 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:48.939 But I see another trait as well. 00:07:48.939 --> 00:07:51.379 God uses one who is righteous. 00:07:53.980 --> 00:07:55.660 One who walks with the Lord 00:07:55.660 --> 00:07:57.139 can be righteous. 00:07:58.500 --> 00:08:00.939 It's not that we earn that righteousness. 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:04.959 It is that we're changed by God's power 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:05.839 and by His might, 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:06.620 and under God, 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:08.939 we can live in a way that pleases Him. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:10.779 Now, for the Christian, 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:13.000 this righteousness is positional. 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:17.740 We have been made right by the Lord 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:19.500 when we come into relationship with Him. 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:21.600 And now, 00:08:22.220 --> 00:08:24.939 we just have to live that way 00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:26.759 in our practice. 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:28.819 And Noah did. 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:32.299 He put his faith in God 00:08:32.299 --> 00:08:33.759 to work, 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:35.399 and God enabled him 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:37.860 to live a righteous life. 00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:39.679 I want you to listen to what Hebrews 11, 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:40.779 verse 7 said about him. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:41.360 He said, 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:42.480 By faith Noah, 00:08:42.620 --> 00:08:43.779 being warned by God 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:45.820 concerning events as yet unseen, 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:47.879 in reverent fear, 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:48.960 constructed an ark 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:51.860 for the saving of his household. 00:08:52.659 --> 00:08:53.500 By this, 00:08:53.580 --> 00:08:54.759 he condemned the world 00:08:54.759 --> 00:08:57.019 and became an heir 00:08:57.019 --> 00:08:57.860 of the righteousness 00:08:57.860 --> 00:08:59.580 that comes from faith. 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:01.919 Just as in the days of Noah, 00:09:02.039 --> 00:09:02.600 so it'll be 00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:05.180 in the days of the Son of Man. 00:09:05.179 --> 00:09:07.059 What a contrast to the world 00:09:07.059 --> 00:09:08.819 in which he was living. 00:09:09.339 --> 00:09:12.859 His world was marked by wickedness. 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:15.120 His world was marked by perversion. 00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:17.699 And the thoughts and the minds of society 00:09:17.699 --> 00:09:18.739 were polluted. 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:22.399 They were led by the lust of the flesh. 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:24.659 They were led by the lust of the eyes. 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:26.959 They were led by the pride of life. 00:09:27.459 --> 00:09:29.699 How do you survive in your walk with God 00:09:29.699 --> 00:09:30.679 when you live in a world 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:32.299 that's filled with all of that stuff? 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:33.819 Well, we better learn 00:09:33.819 --> 00:09:34.899 because we're right there. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:37.019 We're right in the midst of it. 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:39.819 Jesus was talking about his return 00:09:39.819 --> 00:09:41.919 and he said this in Luke chapter 17, 00:09:42.059 --> 00:09:44.019 verse 26 and following. 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:45.099 He said, 00:09:45.839 --> 00:09:47.299 Just as in the days of Noah, 00:09:47.419 --> 00:09:49.279 so it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:51.799 They were eating and drinking 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:53.639 and marrying and being given in marriage 00:09:53.639 --> 00:09:56.019 until the day when Noah entered the ark. 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:58.319 And the flood came and destroyed them all. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:01.559 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot, 00:10:02.079 --> 00:10:03.719 there will be eating and drinking 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:04.980 and buying and selling, 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:06.220 planting and building. 00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:09.480 But on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:12.000 fire and sulfur rained from heaven 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.040 and destroyed them all. 00:10:13.180 --> 00:10:15.019 So it will be on the day 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:17.700 when the Son of Man is revealed. 00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:18.940 Now, I want you to understand something. 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:22.160 The point of that passage is the suddenness 00:10:22.160 --> 00:10:23.900 and the need of readiness 00:10:23.900 --> 00:10:26.700 concerning the return of the Lord. 00:10:26.940 --> 00:10:28.960 I truly believe the only thing 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:31.080 that is holding the Lord back from coming 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:33.700 is the Father telling him to go get his bride. 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:36.300 And I believe we need to be ready. 00:10:37.040 --> 00:10:38.900 I don't care what's happening in the world 00:10:38.900 --> 00:10:41.660 and you're trying to figure it out on your timeline. 00:10:42.040 --> 00:10:42.960 You better be ready 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:44.340 because I'm telling you, 00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:46.440 the Lord could return at any time. 00:10:46.520 --> 00:10:48.100 However, I want you to understand 00:10:48.100 --> 00:10:51.100 that the wickedness we see around us today, 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:55.280 it is no greater than the wickedness around Noah. 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:57.320 He faced the same thing. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:10:59.400 It's probably not any better today 00:10:59.400 --> 00:11:00.320 than it was with Noah, 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:01.960 but it's probably not any worse. 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:05.120 So what do you do if you're a Christian 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:07.840 who's trying to live for Christ 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:12.780 if the world you live in is wicked enough to destroy? 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:15.340 What do you do 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:18.420 when the whole world seems to have turned upside down? 00:11:19.060 --> 00:11:21.040 It becomes completely amoral 00:11:21.040 --> 00:11:23.240 and the things that they should shame 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:24.960 are held as if it's correct. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:26.960 And the things that are correct 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:28.560 as if they're shamed. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:30.540 What do you do in the midst of that? 00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:31.379 I'll tell you what you do. 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.879 You live for the Lord Jesus. 00:11:33.659 --> 00:11:35.059 You live on for Christ. 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:37.000 You live a righteous life. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:41.100 It is the darkness that the light is made more obvious. 00:11:41.779 --> 00:11:42.879 The more wicked world, 00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:45.299 the more the faithful Christian will stand out. 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:48.059 And friend, it's time we stand out. 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:50.159 It's time we make a difference in the world 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:50.960 in which we're planted. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:54.460 God uses one who's righteous, 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:56.740 but also God uses one who is a witness. 00:11:56.740 --> 00:12:02.460 No one didn't try to hide the fact 00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:06.259 that the difference in him was God. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:09.299 He let that be known. 00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:13.440 He spoke out about living right before the Lord. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.480 And you know how I know that? 00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:16.820 Because 2 Peter 2, verse 5 00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:20.600 calls him a herald of righteousness. 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:24.300 Now, a herald is a person who carries 00:12:24.300 --> 00:12:26.379 or proclaims important news. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:29.980 And Noah was speaking of the Lord. 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:32.659 He was preaching about the Lord. 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:36.100 So don't think that Noah was some recluse whittler 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:38.580 that never engaged with anybody, 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:41.019 but spent 100 years of himself, 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.800 to himself building the boat 00:12:42.800 --> 00:12:44.259 that God told him to build. 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:47.740 No, Noah honored God with his life. 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:50.039 And when people ask him 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:51.720 why he lived the way he did, 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:54.480 if people ask him 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:57.740 why he built a boat miles away from water, 00:12:58.059 --> 00:12:58.659 he told them. 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:02.159 Actually, he was telling them 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.700 before they ask 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:06.700 because he is a herald of righteousness 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:08.220 as Scripture describes him. 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:12.860 There is a fella at Sam's Club these days 00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:15.460 that is trying his best. 00:13:15.700 --> 00:13:17.200 He stands beside the dog food 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.840 and he's trying to sell me a home warranty 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:22.399 every time I go in there. 00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:25.519 He asked me if I'm a homeowner. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:26.600 I said, I am. 00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:29.080 He does his sales pitch. 00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:30.120 I tell him I'm not interested. 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:32.240 I come back two weeks later. 00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:33.360 He says, are you a homeowner? 00:13:33.560 --> 00:13:35.259 What is it about me 00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:37.420 that makes him think I'm losing my home? 00:13:37.420 --> 00:13:39.120 I mean, what is that, you know? 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:44.019 But I want you to understand something 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:44.620 about this fella. 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:47.879 He is a herald for the home warranty. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.180 I mean, he is. 00:13:51.060 --> 00:13:53.639 He does not wait for you to ask him, 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:55.460 why do you loiter by the dog food? 00:13:56.580 --> 00:13:57.620 He don't ask. 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:00.000 He meets you where you are. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:03.019 And he tells you 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:05.259 the qualities and the timing. 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.779 If you'll do it today, 00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:09.539 Sam's will pay for your first month, 00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:11.420 but you got to fill out the form now. 00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:12.219 Go to it now. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.659 He's a herald of the home warranty. 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:16.059 He's dedicated to it. 00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:18.159 I don't approach him. 00:14:18.219 --> 00:14:19.399 He approaches me. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:22.379 Noah was living it, 00:14:22.459 --> 00:14:23.360 is what I'm trying to tell you. 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.799 Noah was sharing it. 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:27.319 He was telling people about it. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.779 He told people 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:31.199 who made the difference in his life. 00:14:32.579 --> 00:14:33.299 And my friend, 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:35.339 we ought to too. 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:38.519 We ought to be heralds of the gospel. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:40.740 Sharing with others 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:43.180 the difference that Christ has made in our life. 00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:44.139 Seek them out. 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.060 Pray for them. 00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.720 Speak to them. 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:49.019 When God opens the door for you to do that, 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:52.180 God uses a witness. 00:14:52.680 --> 00:14:53.940 Somebody who's just willing. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:54.899 He'll use you. 00:14:56.820 --> 00:14:59.879 He also uses one who is blameless. 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:07.980 Blamelessness speaks of how people took him. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:13.899 Some people live right. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:17.080 They talk right. 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:20.779 But you just don't trust them. 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:24.159 You can't quite put your finger on it. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:27.059 But something just don't smell right. 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:32.559 It just seems like something's up. 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:36.379 That was not the case for Noah. 00:15:38.699 --> 00:15:40.579 Noah lived out his faith. 00:15:41.939 --> 00:15:43.019 He spoke of it. 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:46.319 And when Noah was standing with two other men 00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:47.379 having a conversation 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:48.899 and Noah walked off, 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:51.079 those other two guys would look at each other 00:15:51.079 --> 00:15:51.480 and say, 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.079 I think a lot of that man. 00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:57.139 That man's a lot. 00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:58.259 He's a man of God. 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:01.519 And when discussion came up 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.919 about why Noah was building 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:04.480 a cruise ship-sized boat 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.379 in the middle of the desert, 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:07.840 they didn't understand him. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.899 They probably thought he was a little off. 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:13.019 Maybe way off. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.899 But I'm telling you, 00:16:16.160 --> 00:16:17.000 if he was blameless, 00:16:17.060 --> 00:16:18.040 they thought the world of him. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.940 He believed God 00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:22.280 and people believed in him 00:16:22.280 --> 00:16:24.060 and God uses people 00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:26.259 with a reputation 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.680 that people can trust. 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:32.220 He'll use the blameless. 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:37.340 God also uses one who walks with God. 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:42.080 He uses the person who walks with God. 00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.340 And Scripture says clearly 00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:45.360 at the end of this passage, 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:48.000 Noah walked with God daily. 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:50.940 That means he talked with God. 00:16:51.040 --> 00:16:52.440 That means he walked with God. 00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:54.060 That means he lived for God. 00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.940 Now, I want you to notice 00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:58.759 the progressive buildup 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:01.060 in this description of Noah. 00:17:02.060 --> 00:17:03.780 First, he was a blessed man. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:07.200 We could spend the afternoon here. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.519 If I were to ask you, 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:10.580 has God blessed your life? 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:13.779 Share today some way 00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:15.539 that God has blessed your life. 00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:16.539 If you were quick 00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.400 and wasn't hungry, 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:19.940 you could stand up and speak 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:21.740 and talk about the blessings 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.680 of the Lord. 00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.860 He was blessed. 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:28.660 He was a righteous man. 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:33.860 Not near as many as there should be 00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:35.060 are righteous today. 00:17:36.580 --> 00:17:37.620 God honors 00:17:37.620 --> 00:17:39.680 and God uses 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:41.360 the righteous. 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:43.940 He was a blameless man. 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:46.800 Many want that. 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.720 They aim for that kind of goal, 00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:50.980 but they few reach that, 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:53.779 that blamelessness. 00:17:54.580 --> 00:17:56.240 He was a godly man. 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.799 He walked with God. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.839 That term there, 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.720 Noah walked with God, 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.859 is something that is used 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:05.000 very rarely in the Old Testament. 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:08.519 It is spoken of about Enoch. 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.740 It is spoken of about Abraham. 00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:13.059 It is spoken of about Isaac 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:14.779 and some godly kings. 00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:15.559 And that's it. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.120 And when you combine 00:18:18.120 --> 00:18:19.480 all those characteristics 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.460 of being blessed 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.339 and being righteous 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.440 and being blameless 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.940 and walking with God, 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:25.460 I want you to understand 00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.220 the impact 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.680 that that has upon your life. 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:28.180 For one, 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:29.660 you are spiritually alert. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.840 He knew the judgment 00:18:32.840 --> 00:18:33.820 of God was coming 00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:35.700 because he walked with God. 00:18:35.820 --> 00:18:36.680 Nobody else seemed 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.820 to have a clue apparently. 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:40.380 But he knew it was coming 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.840 because he walked with God. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.600 He was spiritually alert. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.259 Not only that, 00:18:43.320 --> 00:18:44.539 but he was spiritually accurate. 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:46.620 He was aiming 00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:47.799 in the right direction. 00:18:48.340 --> 00:18:49.240 He was surrounded 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.480 by the ungodlessness 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:51.259 of the day 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.640 and yet he was blameless 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.720 and above reproach. 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:54.559 It wasn't that he was 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.200 a little bit better 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:55.799 than everybody else. 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:57.460 No, he was blameless 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.759 and above reproach. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:18:59.799 That means that people 00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:01.539 didn't say anything bad about him 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.700 and if they did say something about him, 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:04.279 somebody was going to straighten you out 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:04.980 if you said something. 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:11.079 That whole phrase 00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:12.980 that Noah was blameless 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:13.839 and above reproach 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:16.100 just hangs over me. 00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:18.960 What a testimony. 00:19:20.600 --> 00:19:23.120 What a place to aim. 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:25.440 to be blameless 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.380 and above reproach. 00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.720 Not only that, 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.299 but he was also 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.500 spiritually consistent. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.120 He steadily walked with God. 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:38.100 Not only was he made stronger 00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:38.620 by that, 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.380 but he impacted 00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:40.259 other people's lives. 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:41.279 He was a herald 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.200 of godliness. 00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:42.559 I mean, 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:45.319 as Noah was exposed 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.500 to the holiness of God 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:46.920 in his walk, 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:48.180 he became more aware 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:49.120 of the wickedness 00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:50.019 around him. 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.339 And it's cyclical 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.259 the way this works 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:54.099 because the more aware 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:55.059 of the wickedness 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:55.879 around him, 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.240 the more he realized 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.740 the coming 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:59.019 of the judgment of God. 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:00.519 And the more he realized 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.639 the judgment of God 00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:02.160 was coming, 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.500 the more he considered 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.720 the evil of the world. 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.740 And the more aware 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.599 of that that he was, 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.819 the closer he walked 00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:08.200 with God. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.000 And the closer 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.980 that he walked with God, 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.200 the more he was aware 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.160 of the judgment of God. 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:13.480 Out of the overflow 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.720 of that spiritual life, 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:15.740 he lived blamelessly 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:17.279 blamelessly before the Lord. 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:17.960 He lived, 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:19.420 he walked obediently 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:20.000 before the Lord. 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.519 And he spoke openly 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.759 about the Lord. 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:25.599 And what, 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:28.440 what may seem ironic 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.339 about all that, 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.779 I don't believe it is, 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:33.460 is the name Noah 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:35.779 means rest. 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:39.460 Debatably, 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:41.740 the busiest man 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.640 on the earth. 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:45.000 He had a big boat to build. 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:48.700 Yet his name 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:51.620 means rest. 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.019 That's what 00:20:58.019 --> 00:21:02.200 a blameless walk 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.880 and talk 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:07.240 with God 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:10.079 will do for you. 00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:12.660 In the midst of the busyness 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.380 and the chaos, 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:16.100 God will give you rest. 00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:20.340 Hebrews 11 verse 7 00:21:20.340 --> 00:21:21.520 says that he worked 00:21:21.520 --> 00:21:23.740 with a reverent fear. 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:27.000 That means that he had 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:27.920 a reverence 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:28.780 and an obedience 00:21:28.780 --> 00:21:29.500 to God 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:30.980 that motivated him 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:32.980 to let nothing 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.740 come in the way. 00:21:34.820 --> 00:21:35.080 Nothing. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.420 Not, 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.740 not his misunderstanding, 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:39.660 a flood. 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.640 Many believed 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:44.000 it hadn't even rained yet. 00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:45.500 And here he is 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.460 preparing for a flood. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.620 How do you wrap 00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.480 your head around that? 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.599 He didn't let his 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:53.839 weariness get in the way. 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.980 He built a big old boat. 00:21:56.980 --> 00:22:00.220 He didn't let his 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:01.059 weariness come in the way. 00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:02.019 He didn't let the ridicule 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.559 come in the way. 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:02.779 I mean, 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.700 he was blameless 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.720 and right, 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:05.599 but people would say, 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:05.799 you know, 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.420 he's blameless 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:07.079 and he's right, 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.440 but is he all right? 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.180 What's he doing? 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.480 Not the stress 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.099 of the job 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:15.920 ahead of him. 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:18.120 Did you realize 00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:19.079 that once he 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:20.539 got that thing built, 00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.660 what was in front 00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.059 of him? 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:25.659 For one, 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.179 he was going to be 00:22:26.179 --> 00:22:26.599 on a boat 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.220 with his family 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:27.859 for a year, 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:28.839 you know? 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.039 But besides that, 00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:32.259 he was a cruise 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.099 ship manager 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.359 for thousands 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.059 of animals. 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:39.279 Nothing 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:41.919 came in the way 00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:44.179 of him being 00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:45.200 used by God. 00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.879 And I'll tell you, 00:22:47.919 --> 00:22:49.059 in a day of wickedness, 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:52.099 God uses 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:53.099 the person 00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:55.379 that lives out 00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.359 God's purposes 00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:58.319 for his or her life. 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.139 The person 00:23:01.139 --> 00:23:01.740 that's blessed 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.419 by God. 00:23:03.959 --> 00:23:04.779 The person 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.319 who's willing 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.179 to be a blessing 00:23:06.179 --> 00:23:06.879 for the Lord. 00:23:08.199 --> 00:23:09.459 God wants people 00:23:09.459 --> 00:23:10.719 who live 00:23:10.719 --> 00:23:12.219 a consecrated life, 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.779 a solid witness 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.359 for the Lord, 00:23:15.459 --> 00:23:16.459 a reputation 00:23:16.459 --> 00:23:17.539 without blame, 00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:20.279 that have a solid 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.240 daily walk 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:21.959 with God. 00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:24.099 God's 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:25.259 God's 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.740 God's 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.139 God's 00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:26.279 love. 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:26.659 That's why 00:23:26.659 --> 00:23:29.759 he'll use you today. 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:34.599 May there not 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.399 be any 00:23:35.399 --> 00:23:35.959 hindrances 00:23:35.959 --> 00:23:38.659 in our life 00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:40.279 from being 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.919 everything 00:23:40.919 --> 00:23:42.639 that God 00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:43.159 would have us 00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:43.579 to be, 00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:45.379 from doing 00:23:45.379 --> 00:23:45.919 everything 00:23:45.919 --> 00:23:47.199 that God 00:23:47.199 --> 00:23:47.679 would have us 00:23:47.679 --> 00:23:48.199 to do, 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:51.220 than accomplishing 00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:51.860 all 00:23:51.860 --> 00:23:53.440 that God 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.100 has set forth 00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:54.740 for us. 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.519 May nothing 00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.380 come in the way 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:59.360 of that. 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.720 And so I ask 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.200 today, 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:05.319 what is it 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.240 in your life 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.140 today 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:09.600 that serves 00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:10.620 as a hindrance 00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:12.220 from you being 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.340 everything that God 00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:13.799 would have you 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.080 to be? 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.819 I'm not 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.399 talking about 00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:17.879 10 years 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.220 ago. 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:19.939 I'm not 00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:20.299 talking about 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:20.879 20 years 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.199 ago. 00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:22.939 I'm not 00:24:22.939 --> 00:24:23.240 talking about 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:23.619 two weeks 00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:23.939 ago. 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.879 Let's deal 00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:28.419 with today. 00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.899 What is it 00:24:31.899 --> 00:24:32.439 today 00:24:32.439 --> 00:24:34.579 that keeps 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.079 you from being 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.819 everything that God 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.259 would have you 00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:36.579 to be? 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:38.779 for some 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.259 of you, 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.279 it may be 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.720 that although 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.439 you have a 00:24:42.439 --> 00:24:43.179 knowledge of 00:24:43.179 --> 00:24:43.599 the Lord, 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.399 an awareness 00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:45.919 of Him, 00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:48.079 the reality 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:48.579 is when you 00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:48.960 look at your 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.240 life, 00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:50.119 you've never 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.559 entered into 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.059 a relationship 00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.639 with Christ. 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:53.819 You've never 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.339 surrendered your 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:55.039 life to follow 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.379 Him. 00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:57.279 You've never 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:57.899 confessed your 00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.740 sins before Him. 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.500 You've never 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.000 asked Him to 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.480 forgive you and 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:01.819 to come into 00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:02.299 your life and 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:02.919 change you. 00:25:04.159 --> 00:25:04.879 You've never 00:25:04.879 --> 00:25:05.279 entered into 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:05.819 a relationship, 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.379 never been 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:06.900 saved. 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:08.660 And if that's 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.240 the case in 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:09.640 your life, 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.280 I've got news 00:25:10.280 --> 00:25:10.560 for you. 00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:10.980 Today's the 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:11.620 day of salvation. 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.080 He'll meet 00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:13.900 you where you 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:15.080 are and change 00:25:15.080 --> 00:25:16.300 you forever. 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.900 And maybe you 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.820 have done that, 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.620 but the reality 00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:21.820 is there's areas 00:25:21.820 --> 00:25:22.660 of your life that 00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.380 are not pleasing 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:23.860 to God. 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.440 You've not been 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.360 obedient about God. 00:25:25.540 --> 00:25:26.000 Maybe you've 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.780 done that privately 00:25:26.780 --> 00:25:27.480 and never made 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:27.940 it public. 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.240 Jesus, by His 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.480 example and by 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.460 His commission, 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.740 tells us that 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.380 our faith ought 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:35.760 to be made 00:25:35.760 --> 00:25:36.140 public. 00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:38.860 We need to 00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:39.320 let that be 00:25:39.320 --> 00:25:39.640 known. 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.460 Or maybe you 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.020 have all that 00:25:43.020 --> 00:25:44.760 down, but you 00:25:44.760 --> 00:25:45.020 don't have 00:25:45.020 --> 00:25:45.680 everything down. 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:47.980 And there's 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.460 some things you 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:48.880 need to put 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:50.660 down at the 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:51.320 altar and leave 00:25:51.320 --> 00:25:53.940 them today so 00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.540 that you can be 00:25:54.540 --> 00:25:55.220 used of God, 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.660 not for great, 00:25:57.820 --> 00:25:59.300 mighty, earth-shaking, 00:25:59.520 --> 00:26:00.940 life, world-changing, 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:04.580 but just be ready 00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.500 to do what God 00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.140 wants to do in 00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:06.720 your life. 00:26:07.580 --> 00:26:08.940 Let nothing come 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.500 in the way of 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.220 what God wants 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:12.480 to do in you. 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:16.120 May we honor God 00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:18.059 with everything that 00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.559 we are. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.720 With every head 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.000 bowed, 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:21.220 with every 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.779 eye closed. 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.779 God wants to 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.099 love. 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.240 I don't know how 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.940 God speaks to 00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:25.960 you today, but I 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.539 know you'll never 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.480 be happy unless 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:28.460 you are obedient 00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.099 to Him. 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.299 And so I would 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.039 encourage you to 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.779 just simply be 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.639 obedient to God. 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.160 If you've never 00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:35.740 given your heart and 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.180 life to the Lord, 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.899 I'd love to guide 00:26:36.899 --> 00:26:37.259 you in that 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:37.799 process. 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:38.779 If you've never 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.559 been baptized as 00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:40.359 a believer, but 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.399 you've got a 00:26:41.399 --> 00:26:42.019 personal relationship 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:42.920 with Him privately 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.460 and never made 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.180 that public, you 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:44.539 come. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.200 We'd love to 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:45.720 guide you in 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:45.940 that. 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.240 Maybe God's 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.839 drawing you to 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.279 this church. 00:26:48.379 --> 00:26:48.740 This is where 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.460 God would have 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:49.860 you to go. 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.559 I encourage you 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.160 to join us. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:53.980 You invest in 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.640 us, we invest 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.240 in you, we grow 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:55.620 together. 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.799 We get it done 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:58.059 for the kingdom's 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.279 sake. 00:26:58.840 --> 00:26:59.620 Or maybe you just 00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.299 got something in 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.920 your life that's 00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:01.660 gnawing on you 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.180 today and the 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:02.840 Holy Spirit is 00:27:02.840 --> 00:27:03.819 eating your lunch. 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:04.880 Whether it's in 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.720 the pew where you 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.400 are or whether it's 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.100 at this altar, it 00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:07.420 don't make any 00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:07.579 difference. 00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.100 Let's just get 00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:08.620 rid of it. 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.240 Let's just take 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.940 care of it today. 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.039 Let's make a 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.180 commitment to not 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:13.079 let anything in our 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:14.200 life be a hindrance, 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.620 to be everything that 00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.340 God would have us 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:16.700 to be. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.700 We're not looking 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.440 for the grandiose, 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.620 we're just looking 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.140 for obedience. 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:23.319 Just do whatever 00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:25.160 it takes to be 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:25.920 everything that God 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.579 would have us to be. 00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.720 Lord Jesus, I love 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.779 you and I thank you 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.799 for the life of 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.039 Noah. 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.259 How inspiring and 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:32.600 how encouraging it 00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:34.400 is to me to know 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.220 that you meet us 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:36.120 where we are, you 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:36.860 make us what we 00:27:36.860 --> 00:27:37.980 need to be, and you 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.920 guide us to be 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.620 everything that you 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.420 have us to be, and 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:42.000 you use us for your 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.579 purposes. 00:27:43.600 --> 00:27:46.079 God, today, speak to 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:46.980 our hearts and lives 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.880 and give us the 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.819 willingness and the 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.659 fortitude and the 00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.539 obedience to do 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.439 exactly what you 00:27:51.439 --> 00:27:52.299 would tell us to do. 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.579 Nothing more and 00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:54.279 nothing less. 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.399 Lead us right now 00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:57.159 during this time, I 00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:57.439 pray. 00:27:58.399 --> 00:28:00.240 In Jesus' name, amen.