WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.540 Turn your Bibles to Hebrews chapter number 11. 00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:06.640 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.060 He's basically preaching this really big sermon on how Jesus is better than everything that they have experienced in life. 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:41.780 It's better than the Jewish law that they had. 00:00:41.859 --> 00:00:46.100 And it's better than anything that they could possibly turn to. 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:57.179 And as we study this chapter on Hebrews 11, the author here is giving us examples of what it looks like to have faith in Christ. 00:00:57.579 --> 00:01:01.280 And how this faith is worked out in people's lives. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:10.180 And we see this is the common theme throughout scripture, especially when it comes to the people who are mentioned here. 00:01:10.599 --> 00:01:17.099 Of just showing how faith in and of itself is not really enough. 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:17.840 I'm sorry. 00:01:18.099 --> 00:01:23.379 Faith in and of itself, if we just say that we have faith, doesn't really mean a lot. 00:01:23.520 --> 00:01:24.760 Faith is always worked out. 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:29.540 We see that through James when he is talking to the believers. 00:01:30.099 --> 00:01:31.140 And saying that, hey, you know what? 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:33.840 If you say that you have faith, that's not enough. 00:01:33.939 --> 00:01:35.560 Faith is always worked out. 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:37.879 Our faith is shown by our works. 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:46.379 And so as we look at this passage today, we get to see examples of people who worked out their faith. 00:01:47.140 --> 00:01:53.120 And so if you're in Hebrews chapter number 11, we're going to be looking at the account of Noah today. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:56.599 So it's Hebrews 11 and verse number 7. 00:01:58.040 --> 00:01:59.180 And the author says, 00:01:59.180 --> 00:02:25.840 And so as we see here in this account of Noah, we're first going to be looking back at Noah's life. 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:31.520 So if you want to turn your Bibles to Genesis chapter number 6, which is where the account of Noah is, 00:02:31.580 --> 00:02:34.980 we're not going to look at each individual verse. 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:36.740 I'm just going to walk through the story. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:44.099 And then I want in our minds to think about what the author is trying to demonstrate from Noah's life. 00:02:44.099 --> 00:02:49.239 So he's pointing to Noah's life, and he's drawing out three important things. 00:02:49.239 --> 00:02:56.459 I believe that he is drawing out God's warning to Noah, as seen in the first part of verse 7. 00:02:56.859 --> 00:03:00.139 And then Noah's working for God. 00:03:00.579 --> 00:03:03.599 And then finally Noah's witness for God. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:10.340 And so as we look through here, we see, and I want us to remind ourselves of this important truth, 00:03:10.659 --> 00:03:14.939 that as we look at these people's lives, as we look at the life of Noah, 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:19.879 it's really easy to elevate these people a lot of being like, 00:03:19.979 --> 00:03:22.840 hey, you know what, these people are a part of scripture. 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:25.939 So they're almost like superhumans. 00:03:26.060 --> 00:03:29.439 You know, there's somebody who's another level from us. 00:03:29.459 --> 00:03:31.900 We would never be able to do what these people did. 00:03:31.900 --> 00:03:37.300 But the important thing to remember is that these people are just like you and I. 00:03:37.780 --> 00:03:43.780 And these ordinary people were ordinary, but they served an extraordinary God. 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:49.520 And because of that, God worked through them in mighty ways to be able to bring about his work. 00:03:49.640 --> 00:03:52.360 So if you find yourself in Genesis chapter number 6, 00:03:52.420 --> 00:03:57.580 I want to kind of walk through the story of Noah with you guys just as a good refresher. 00:03:57.580 --> 00:04:04.380 And so we see at the beginning in Genesis chapter number 6, starting in verse number 5, 00:04:04.880 --> 00:04:10.780 that God looks down on the earth and he sees an abundance of wickedness. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:17.160 He looks down and he sees that there is pretty much no one on earth who is doing the will of God, 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:20.780 nobody who is following after God. 00:04:20.779 --> 00:04:26.159 And so he just saw an incredible amount of wickedness that was just raining on the earth. 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:32.779 And so we see as he looks down, he determines that he's going to judge the world. 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:36.599 That because of the wickedness of the world, it deserves judgment. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:43.159 And this is such an important reminder of the fact that God treats sin seriously. 00:04:43.160 --> 00:04:49.720 I think that that is something that we overlook today in modern evangelicalism, 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:54.320 of viewing God as a mere loving God, which he is, 00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:59.700 but in that neglecting God's wrath and God's judgment for sin. 00:04:59.980 --> 00:05:06.240 And we see that as he looks down, he sees the wickedness of mankind and determines to destroy it. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:13.040 And so maybe in our minds, I think we kind of revolt against that idea of being like, 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:15.740 man, I'm sure that these people were doing bad, 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:20.500 but certainly not worthy enough to have the entire earth destroyed. 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:26.379 But I want us to remember the depths and the depravity of sin. 00:05:26.660 --> 00:05:29.139 You know, it was just with Adam and Eve, 00:05:29.400 --> 00:05:33.500 we think in our minds just eating a piece of fruit that cursed humanity 00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:41.120 for the rest of all time until Christ ultimately returns to set up his kingdom. 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:45.240 And we look at it and say, that's not really that big of a deal, right? 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:48.779 You know, it's not like Adam and Eve went out and murdered somebody. 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:49.959 They just ate a fruit. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:53.980 But that's the thing, our brains tend to categorize sin 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:59.240 and we begin to justify the sin that we see or the sin that we have in our lives 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:01.819 of thinking, ah, it's not really that bad. 00:06:01.819 --> 00:06:07.240 But when God looks down on sin, no matter what the level of what we determine sin to be, 00:06:07.779 --> 00:06:11.579 all sin is deserving of God's wrath and God's judgment. 00:06:11.980 --> 00:06:14.319 And so as we look at this account of Noah, 00:06:14.420 --> 00:06:19.439 we see that God is clearly justified in what he is about to do in destroying the earth. 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:24.899 The people deserve to be destroyed because they were sinning against the holy God. 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:29.399 I think back to a quote that I read from R.C. Sproul 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:35.299 describing what it is like for sinful mankind to sin against the holy God. 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:38.720 And I can't remember the exact quote word for word, 00:06:38.819 --> 00:06:45.040 but it had the basic idea of basically dirt spitting back at the face of its creator. 00:06:45.300 --> 00:06:48.319 And when we think about it, you know, we are the dust of the ground. 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:52.780 And what makes us significant is the image of God, but God creating us 00:06:52.780 --> 00:06:56.699 and us in our creation saying that we know better than God 00:06:56.699 --> 00:06:59.819 and that we know how to live our lives better than God. 00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:01.680 And we are not going to follow God's commands. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:05.139 But yet we see that God takes his commands very seriously 00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:08.340 and views sin in a very serious manner. 00:07:08.540 --> 00:07:09.240 And so should we. 00:07:09.800 --> 00:07:14.860 And so we see how the destruction was impending for the world, 00:07:14.960 --> 00:07:18.500 but God had mercy through this. 00:07:18.780 --> 00:07:19.819 And that's what's so good. 00:07:19.899 --> 00:07:20.420 That's what's so good. 00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:25.600 That God did not, it was not as if God looked down at Noah and saying, 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:28.000 oh, Noah doesn't deserve to die. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:31.459 You know, Noah was still just a sinful human, just like everybody else. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:38.120 But God looked down on Noah and had mercy on him and found favor with him. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:44.939 And so it says in the account that God looked down and saw Noah that he was righteous, 00:07:45.139 --> 00:07:46.639 that he was following after God. 00:07:46.779 --> 00:07:52.180 And we know from an understanding of the New Testament that that is also by the grace of God, 00:07:52.180 --> 00:07:58.100 of God working in our lives, of God changing our hearts and giving us a desire for him. 00:07:58.780 --> 00:08:01.780 So Noah found favor in God's eyes. 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:06.040 And so we see that the destruction is impending. 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:07.519 Noah finds favor. 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:11.920 And now God commands Noah to build an ark. 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:18.379 And so he comes to Noah and he says, no, I'm about to destroy the earth with a flood, 00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:23.420 but I'm going to save you and your family and the livestock. 00:08:23.840 --> 00:08:28.720 And we will create a new world basically through you. 00:08:28.900 --> 00:08:34.980 And so Noah obeys the command of God and he spends time building the ark, 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:38.840 which, you know, I think a lot of times we kind of take that for granted, right? 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:44.019 Because if you grew up in church, you know, you've probably heard the story of Noah's ark 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:46.580 ever since you could probably remember. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:49.519 And so I think we just kind of take this story for granted. 00:08:49.680 --> 00:08:54.980 But if we really think about it, you know, Noah has never seen anything like this 00:08:54.980 --> 00:08:56.580 as far as a worldwide flood. 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:59.500 It even says here in our predominant passage, you know, 00:08:59.540 --> 00:09:04.139 that Noah was working through this idea of faith that was unseen. 00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:08.440 And so he had never seen anything like this take place before. 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:14.320 Yet he depended on God and trusted in God and followed after God through that. 00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:17.460 And so we see how Noah builds the ark. 00:09:17.680 --> 00:09:23.720 He prepares this gigantic boat that is going to store not only his family, 00:09:23.940 --> 00:09:27.960 but also a representation of all of the animals across the world. 00:09:28.660 --> 00:09:35.200 And so it takes him, I believe, 120 years just about in order to be able to build this. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:43.580 So it was 120 years from the time when God commanded this to the time that God sent the flood to the earth. 00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:46.480 And so Noah prepares the ark. 00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:47.280 He builds the ark. 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:49.860 And it's a massive, it's a massive ark. 00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:54.940 I don't know if you guys have ever been to Kentucky and you might have seen the ark encounter. 00:09:54.940 --> 00:09:59.760 But so that would give you a good visual of what this thing looks like. 00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:03.500 But basically, if you've never been, it's super big. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:11.020 I believe the size of the ark is just about the size of one and a half football fields in length. 00:10:11.560 --> 00:10:13.920 And so this thing is just a massive structure. 00:10:14.220 --> 00:10:19.820 And if we think like this is built, you know, roughly, I think about 4,000 years ago, 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:24.740 you know, it's not like they had the equipment that we have today to be able to do something like that. 00:10:24.820 --> 00:10:26.440 So this is a big undertaking. 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:30.580 This is not Noah one day being like, oh, yeah, I'm just going to go out and build an ark really fast. 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:35.960 Like, this takes an incredible amount of time, an incredible amount of dedication. 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:39.800 And it's not like he's receiving a lot of support from this, right? 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:45.800 You know, when we look at the text, we see that Noah and his family is the only one who boards the ark. 00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:53.479 And as far as we know, the text doesn't give us an exact account of this, so we can't know for sure. 00:10:53.779 --> 00:10:59.000 But it looks like Noah or no one really helped Noah during the course of this, 00:10:59.059 --> 00:11:01.759 that it was him and his family who was working on this. 00:11:01.839 --> 00:11:05.079 He might have hired additional help, you know, to be able to help out with this. 00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:08.859 But certainly no one was supporting him in this endeavor. 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:15.860 But he worked on it because he trusted in God and he knew that God had commanded it and it was something worthy to be followed. 00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:17.600 So Noah builds the ark. 00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:26.120 And as we go into chapter number seven, we see that God commands Noah then to board the ark. 00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:28.860 And so it is now time the ark is completed. 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:30.320 It is finished. 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:34.860 And God is ready to pour down his wrath and judgment on the earth. 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:40.379 And so we see that Noah and his family boards the ark along with all of the animals. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:49.759 And when the ark is closed, it says that the door was, I don't know if it says in the exact passage or maybe somewhere in the New Testament, 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:57.300 but that God closed the door of the ark and then rained out his punishment and his judgment on the earth 00:11:57.300 --> 00:12:02.180 and punished the wickedness of the earth but spared Noah and his family. 00:12:02.179 --> 00:12:10.399 And so we see how the author of the book of Hebrews looks back to this account of the story of Noah 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:17.079 and draws from it what he is trying to teach us as far as what faith looks like. 00:12:17.479 --> 00:12:21.459 I think it's important to remember the context of everything that goes on here, 00:12:21.599 --> 00:12:26.039 of realizing that from the very first part of chapter 11, 00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:33.639 that he is basically building a case on the sentence that faith is the assurance of things hoped for 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:37.480 and for the conviction of things not seen. 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:40.519 And so this is kind of the topic sentence. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:49.219 This is the sentence that everything goes now underneath of the examples given of showing how faith is worked out in this way, 00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:54.179 the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:57.359 And throughout this whole account of this whole story, 00:12:57.779 --> 00:13:05.539 I think Noah probably describes for us the greatest account of these words being so true in his life. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:14.859 You know, Noah did not have the assurance or he did not see before this worldwide flood of really maybe even understanding what was going to go on, 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:20.279 but he had the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:25.100 He had an assurance of God in his word and a conviction that even though he hadn't seen it 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:32.720 and maybe didn't even quite understand it, that God was a man of his word and that he was giving Noah the truth. 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:38.579 And so I want us to go back to our primary text now of Hebrews chapter 11, 00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:45.300 and I want to break down for us what the author here of Hebrews draws from Noah's life 00:13:45.300 --> 00:13:50.740 and gives it as an example for us of what faith looks like. 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:57.060 And so we see back in our text of Hebrews 11, 7, 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:58.840 it says, 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:08.399 And so we see God's warning to Noah. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:17.980 And as I said before, this is really just a great example of what the author of Hebrews is drawing from this topic sentence of, 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:21.960 faith is the assurance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. 00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:27.300 So God commands Noah and God warns Noah of this impending judgment. 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:30.339 And so as I have said before, you know, 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:37.879 Noah might not have necessarily understood everything God was explaining to him and telling him as far as what the, 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:41.939 how this worldwide flood was going to take place, 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:46.859 but yet he knew that God was telling him the truth and followed after it. 00:14:47.359 --> 00:14:50.579 And so we see, as I said before in our, 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:52.720 in the story of Noah, 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:58.780 that God's wrath and God's mercy is clearly seen through this passage. 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:00.980 And, and that's the beauty of, of God. 00:15:01.040 --> 00:15:06.139 The fact that each one of his attributes do not work in opposition of one another. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:12.960 I think we have a tendency to do that of thinking that we have to emphasize one and de-emphasize the other. 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:24.040 But when we do that, we end up creating a God in our own image of what we think God should be rather than what he has expressed himself and what we understand from his word. 00:15:24.700 --> 00:15:29.980 And so we see God's wrath and God's mercy being poured out in this text. 00:15:30.280 --> 00:15:34.420 And we see that it is by Noah that God choose, 00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:37.759 chooses to work out his mercy here on earth. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:45.200 And so God warns Noah and then Noah receiving that message, 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:49.899 then works out what he has been given from God. 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:50.919 And so once again, 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:56.200 this describes so perfectly for us what James preaches to us in his book, 00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:56.600 you know, 00:15:56.939 --> 00:15:57.259 and, 00:15:57.299 --> 00:15:57.960 and here's the thing, 00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:00.500 like Noah had faith in God, 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:05.439 but what if Noah just believed that God was correct in what he was saying, 00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:05.700 right? 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.980 That he was going to destroy the world, 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:09.700 but did nothing to prepare for it. 00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:11.320 So he understood it and, 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:11.440 and, 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.019 and, 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.440 um, 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:14.920 knew what God was commanding from him of saying, 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:22.560 go build this gigantic boat and you're going to save your family and all the livestock and all the creatures of the earth. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.320 Noah says, 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:23.700 you know what? 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:24.379 Like I get it. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.259 That's really good. 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:25.840 And, 00:16:25.920 --> 00:16:26.840 and he studies it out. 00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:27.120 Well, 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:30.360 he can articulate God's message to him super well, 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:33.240 but then doesn't go out and do it. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.120 You know, 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:36.300 then it would be absolutely useless, 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:36.759 right? 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:40.120 Like the knowledge that Noah had didn't really mean anything, 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.100 that it wasn't, 00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:41.399 um, 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.360 worked out. 00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:44.759 And that was the purpose of the knowledge, 00:16:44.819 --> 00:16:49.679 that knowledge in and of itself is not good enough to be a good follower of God. 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:51.379 In order to be a follower of God, 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:54.340 you must follow what he has commanded. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:55.980 And so we see, 00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:56.639 um, 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:59.620 that that is a very clear example of kind of, 00:16:59.700 --> 00:16:59.980 uh, 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:00.500 you know, 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:00.679 like, 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:02.379 of course that doesn't make sense. 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:02.679 You know, 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:04.940 if Noah didn't build the ark, 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:05.200 you know, 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:07.859 he would be destroyed just like everyone else. 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:13.319 But how often in our lives do we kind of use that same logic? 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:15.599 Where we study the Bible, 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:20.579 we know a lot of what God has commanded for us and what God says. 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:28.879 But a lot of times we just leave that in our life where we feel that we are close with God because we study after him. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:32.900 I know I had such a tendency of this in seminary and, 00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:38.380 and seminary is a really easy place to do this because you're taking a lot of Bible classes. 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:44.180 You're learning a lot of scripture and you're learning a lot about God and you feel really good about yourself. 00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:44.780 You know, 00:17:44.800 --> 00:17:45.100 you're like, 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:45.360 man, 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.340 I know more, 00:17:46.600 --> 00:17:46.880 you know, 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:50.480 than say like 70% of the people in my church, 00:17:50.560 --> 00:17:50.760 you know, 00:17:50.780 --> 00:17:52.820 just being a very prideful seminary student, 00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:53.660 not being reality. 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.480 And, 00:17:54.560 --> 00:17:55.500 and you begin to think, 00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:56.180 oh man, 00:17:56.180 --> 00:18:04.759 my job in life is to learn as much as I can about the Bible and to tell other people how to live what the Bible has to say. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:07.779 But it's not really too important for me to follow the commands. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:14.259 It's not really important for me to go out and evangelize and to witness to people and to work out my faith. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.400 My call, 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:21.240 my command is to study the Bible and to show other people and to tell other people how to do it. 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:23.980 And then they're the ones responsible for working it out. 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.019 And, 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:26.059 and I think that that, 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:26.440 um, 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:31.319 that really has a lot to do with our culture today as well, 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.059 where we focus so much, 00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:33.319 you know, 00:18:33.360 --> 00:18:38.039 I was talking through church history and looking at church history and, 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:47.759 and seeing the development of the Christian thought and understanding where we are today with technology that we have and resources and information that I bet in this room, 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:49.759 we know more about theology. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:57.140 We know more about the church and know more how to please God than probably any generation that has ever existed on the planet. 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.780 Like we know more, 00:18:58.780 --> 00:18:59.320 um, 00:18:59.320 --> 00:19:01.960 because of the information that we have of, 00:19:02.040 --> 00:19:04.120 of knowing scripture and, 00:19:04.300 --> 00:19:04.620 um, 00:19:04.620 --> 00:19:08.180 knowing great theological truths that people of, 00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:11.340 of previous generations would have been super envious of knowing. 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:12.339 But yet, 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:13.579 with that knowledge, 00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:18.599 are we known as the generation that serves God the most of any generation? 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:20.139 I would say probably not. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:28.959 I would say that a lot of times we tend to find our satisfaction in knowing and not really our satisfaction in doing and working it out. 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:31.519 And we see how Noah didn't do that. 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:36.100 Noah took the message of God and believed it and worked it out. 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.519 And here's the thing, 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.019 Noah's, 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.660 um, 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:41.740 day is so much like our day as well. 00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:44.539 So if we put ourselves in Noah's shoes, 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:50.840 Noah is building an ark in the middle of this gigantic land mass. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.140 You know, 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:56.380 it's believed that he was right around kind of that middle Eastern area. 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:57.840 And so there's not really, 00:19:58.280 --> 00:19:58.500 you know, 00:19:58.580 --> 00:20:02.260 and he's not building it right on the coast of an ocean of going onto the ocean, 00:20:02.320 --> 00:20:02.420 right? 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:04.540 Like he is building it on land. 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:08.120 And if you were to look at that and just think with a natural brain, 00:20:08.320 --> 00:20:08.980 you'd be like, 00:20:09.060 --> 00:20:09.220 no, 00:20:09.300 --> 00:20:10.440 what are you doing right now? 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:15.780 You are building a boat that is one and a half football fields in the middle of this land. 00:20:15.800 --> 00:20:21.180 And you're going to say that the whole earth is going to be flooded with water and that, 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:23.800 and that you are going to survive on this boat. 00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:25.880 And then I have to follow you in this. 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:26.780 Like if you're, 00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:28.300 if you're just going based on logic, 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:29.620 this sounds crazy, 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.020 right? 00:20:30.040 --> 00:20:34.300 Like if somebody in Dahlonega were to start building this massive boat and say, 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:34.580 Hey, 00:20:34.600 --> 00:20:36.300 the whole world is going to get flooded. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.980 You should come join me in my boats. 00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:40.240 Like you're probably not going to join them in his boat, 00:20:40.280 --> 00:20:40.560 right? 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.360 You're going to be like, 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.520 this guy is crazy. 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.820 What is he talking about? 00:20:44.520 --> 00:20:44.840 And, 00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:46.280 and because that's just natural, 00:20:46.280 --> 00:20:46.540 right? 00:20:46.560 --> 00:20:46.760 And, 00:20:46.840 --> 00:20:47.520 and that's, 00:20:47.520 --> 00:20:47.840 um, 00:20:47.840 --> 00:20:50.020 what these people must've been thinking as well. 00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.280 And, 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.880 and when we look at Noah, 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:56.700 Noah faithfully worked on what God had called him to do, 00:20:56.780 --> 00:20:59.080 no matter what culture said, 00:20:59.140 --> 00:21:02.580 and no matter what culture tried to influence Noah in it, 00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:02.900 you know, 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.700 in the new Testament, 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:10.880 I believe it's Peter who looks back to Noah and says that Noah was a preacher of righteousness in his day. 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:14.120 That as he was working on this boat, 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:16.240 as he was working on the art, 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:19.100 he was preaching to the people of, 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:28.799 of showing that God's judgment was coming on earth and that they must prepare for God's punishment and God's judgment. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:37.240 And Noah did not care about blending in to society or what other people thought he was faithful to God's message. 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:40.359 And how true is that for us today? 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:43.919 That as we are called to live out God's commands, 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.119 if you've noticed, 00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:47.019 that's not really too popular. 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:59.259 A lot of times it'll often cause us to be unpopular with people around us for people to make fun of you or to people to not understand why you live the way that you do. 00:21:59.500 --> 00:21:59.680 You know, 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:05.599 why do you come here on Sunday when you could be sleeping in and getting a lot of rest? 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.139 You know, 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:09.240 why not just relax by the lake or do something different? 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:12.879 Why do you come to church to worship God? 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.359 You know, 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:15.480 why do you live the life the way that you do? 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:17.579 Why don't you cheat in school? 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:21.599 Why don't you do whatever it takes in order to be able to get what you want? 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:31.420 Why don't you look for yourself as number one and do whatever you can to climb up the ladder and to be as popular as you can and as successful as you can? 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.160 You know, 00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:34.099 that is the world's thought, 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:34.299 right? 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:36.019 Like that's what culture teaches you to do, 00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:37.360 to look out for yourself. 00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:40.099 But when we are following after Jesus, 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:42.180 we don't live a life that way. 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:45.680 We live a life that to the world seems crazy. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.220 To the world seems like, 00:22:47.600 --> 00:22:47.759 man, 00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:49.400 you are wasting your time. 00:22:49.560 --> 00:22:50.860 What are you doing right now? 00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:54.460 You are missing out on all of these things that you could be experiencing. 00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:57.640 And it's not just culture that is telling us. 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.120 That is, 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:01.080 that is also our sinful flesh as well too. 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:01.400 You know, 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:06.080 there's a lot of times where I understand what the commands of Christ are, 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:08.639 but yet I don't follow them and I don't live them. 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.859 And why is that? 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:12.359 Because I think that my way is better. 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:19.579 I think that I know more and that I know what brings about my joy and satisfaction more than what God does. 00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:32.419 And we see how Noah in his life demonstrated for us this perfect example of someone who desired to please God more than pleasing himself. 00:23:32.679 --> 00:23:34.079 And this was such a long endeavor. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.720 You know, 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:39.099 most of us probably aren't going to live to be 120 years old. 00:23:39.439 --> 00:23:39.939 You know, 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:43.139 most of us are going to be lucky to make 70, 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:43.599 80, 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.099 90, 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.460 maybe 100. 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:49.359 But to think that for over 100 years, 00:23:49.939 --> 00:23:59.259 Noah every single day is facing a culture that is completely opposite of the direction that he is going. 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:02.879 And he's constantly having people come up to him saying, 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:03.180 Noah, 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:04.000 what are you doing? 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:07.160 Why are you wasting your time building this massive boat? 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:10.359 Why not enjoy the world that you have been given? 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:12.519 Why not do these other things? 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:15.180 But Noah remains faithful to God. 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:19.140 And how encouraging that is that we can look back and say, 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.320 hey, 00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:19.720 you know what? 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:24.420 We maybe only have 70 or 80 years to be able to do that. 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:26.019 And for most of us, 00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:30.160 I believe that would be even less as far as following after Jesus. 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:32.740 And so we have this short amount of time. 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:37.819 And we get to see an example of Noah who lived a life like this. 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:40.779 That's probably double our time span of following Jesus. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.139 And yet he remained faithful. 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:45.500 And he remained true to the message that God had given him. 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.299 How important that is for us. 00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:55.440 And this leads us into our third and final point of Noah's witness to the people around him. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:57.180 And so we see back in our text, 00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:57.720 by faith, 00:24:57.819 --> 00:25:01.740 Noah being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:06.139 and reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.319 By this, 00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:12.579 he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:16.359 So how did Noah condemn the world? 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:21.759 Noah condemned the world because of the fear that he had for God. 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:27.139 That he feared God more than he feared man's opinions and man's ideas. 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:29.639 And because of that fear, 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:33.479 he obeyed what God had commanded him to do. 00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:38.399 And as Noah went out and he was a preacher of righteousness, 00:25:38.699 --> 00:25:41.119 as Peter refers back to him as, 00:25:41.199 --> 00:25:43.819 and as he daily worked on that ark, 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:48.839 daily he was condemning the world of their rejection of God's message. 00:25:49.439 --> 00:25:51.559 And that as he followed after God, 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:57.960 his example of faith condemned the world of their lack of faith. 00:25:58.299 --> 00:26:02.200 That as Noah built this ark each single day, 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:08.500 that these people rejected God's message of love and mercy and grace each day. 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:08.859 You know, 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:16.240 the ark wasn't just big enough to be able to contain just Noah and his family and the animals. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:23.059 There was plenty of room to be able to house anybody who would have wanted to come and be on that ark. 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:26.019 But no one wanted to come and be on the ark. 00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:28.480 Everyone rejected the message of God. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:30.420 And as we look at that, 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:34.680 we see that example being given to us in the New Testament as well. 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:37.259 When we look at the world today, 00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:41.180 we see that apart from the spirit of God working in people's lives, 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:43.759 everyone will reject the message of God. 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:47.620 And everyone will not respond to the message of God. 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:49.319 They will be presented the message. 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:53.059 These people were presented a way of salvation, 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:56.159 of the destruction that God was about to bring. 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:59.960 Noah was preaching the righteousness of God and following after him. 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:01.639 But they rejected that message. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:03.059 And in that, 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.579 they were condemned. 00:27:05.659 --> 00:27:07.139 And in the same way today, 00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:09.179 you who are sitting in here, 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:12.559 get to hear that same message of righteousness. 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:15.519 That God is commanding you to follow after him. 00:27:15.879 --> 00:27:19.619 To quit living a life of trying to earn your own salvation. 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:22.239 Or to fulfill your own desires. 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:24.759 Or to live the life that you want to live. 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:28.519 But God is calling you today to follow after him. 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:31.379 And to obey his commands. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:36.500 And to put your faith in the work that Christ has done for us. 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:40.939 And in that same way that Noah preached the righteousness of God, 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:44.159 we today preach the righteousness of God. 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:46.739 And that God is the only way to salvation. 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:50.500 He is the only way of the destruction that is coming. 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:50.940 You know, 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:54.380 we look back to Noah's day and we see God's destruction. 00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:57.160 But we also look forward to another day. 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:59.480 When Jesus Christ will return. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:02.500 And he will set up his kingdom. 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:07.079 And those who are not following after him will be destroyed and will be punished. 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:11.480 And just as Noah preached in his day that this coming judgment was coming, 00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:15.440 we in our day preach the same message that the judgment of God is coming. 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:19.840 That God is not a different God from the Old Testament to the New Testament, 00:28:19.840 --> 00:28:23.400 where we look at God as being this judging God in the Old Testament. 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:28.200 Now in the New Testament of God accepting everyone no matter what they do. 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:30.820 And that all will eventually be forgiven. 00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:35.160 And that God's love supersedes his justice. 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:40.120 But we see the exact same God being presented in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. 00:28:40.120 --> 00:28:42.519 And we see that God is going to return. 00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:43.860 He will set up his kingdom. 00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:47.500 And he will judge those who are not followers of him. 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:54.420 And so I encourage you today and I plead with you today that if you have not followed after Christ, 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:57.180 if you have not repented of your sins and turned to him, 00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:59.620 that you would not let a single day go by. 00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:08.119 Just as when Noah was preaching, there was one day when God shut the door and the flood came and God judged the world. 00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:12.159 So it will be with us that there is one day where Christ will return. 00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:15.719 And we don't know when that day will be, but it is going to happen. 00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:18.939 And in that day it will be too late. 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:26.700 And so I pray for you and I pray that you would turn to Christ today. 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:30.740 That you would not let a single day go by of living a life that is against him, 00:29:30.820 --> 00:29:36.500 but rather experience his love and mercy that he has for you and depend on him. 00:29:37.600 --> 00:29:44.299 So as we see here in this chapter 11, verse 7, account of Noah, 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:47.420 that we see Noah being warned by God. 00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:50.460 We see Noah working out what God has commanded. 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:57.840 And we see how Noah witnessed to the world of God's message. 00:29:58.800 --> 00:30:05.400 And as we look at Noah, I want us to once again be reminded that Noah is not some superhuman. 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:09.100 He's not somebody who is on a different level than us, 00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:17.980 but it is just the same as us of a sinful, ordinary man who is saved by the grace of God to serve an extraordinary God. 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:24.639 And as we look to this, we don't necessarily look to Noah as being the ultimate example, right? 00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:30.079 I'm sure if Noah were here today, he would not want you to like have all the focus on Noah. 00:30:30.179 --> 00:30:33.659 Rather, he would be pointing the focus back to Christ. 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:37.900 And I love how I don't want to steal from future messages coming, 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:47.140 but if you look at Hebrews 12, after the writer gives us all these examples of people who follow after Christ, 00:30:47.840 --> 00:30:50.580 he says in Hebrews 12, verse number one, 00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:56.139 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 00:30:56.859 --> 00:31:01.279 let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, 00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:06.039 and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:09.819 looking not just to these people, but to Jesus, 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:13.759 who is the founder and perfecter of our faith, 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:17.779 who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:22.200 despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:24.559 And I want us to focus on this last verse here. 00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:29.500 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:33.519 so that you may not grow weary or faint-hearted. 00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:39.160 And it is so encouraging to know that Jesus has already walked this path, 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:42.879 that Jesus is calling us not to something that he has not experienced, 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:46.040 but rather he has experienced it for us, 00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:51.840 that when we go out from here and we live the commands that we see in this text, 00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:54.060 and we live the commands seen in the Bible, 00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:56.340 that it is going to be something that is uncomfortable, 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:59.260 that it is going to be something that is so counterculture, 00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:04.260 that people will try to get us to fall off that path, 00:32:04.260 --> 00:32:05.520 to do anything that they can. 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:08.400 Why? Because they feel condemned in their sinful nature, 00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:09.320 and they feel uncomfortable. 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:14.659 And so in doing that, they want us to compromise the way that we live and the way that we follow. 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:17.799 But as we go out from here and we obey these commands, 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:21.119 it is not something that we do in our own strength and our own power, 00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:23.419 but we look to the ultimate example, 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:25.319 that being in Jesus Christ, 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:28.279 who endured for us the sufferings, 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:32.220 and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:36.400 And our motivation is for worship to him, 00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:40.240 that we look to fear God and not fear man, 00:32:40.299 --> 00:32:44.000 and that we look in our lives to worship and serve Christ, 00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:45.799 and nothing else matters. 00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:48.779 When we stand before the throne of God, 00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:51.180 and we give an account for our lives, 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:54.980 it will not matter what your neighbor thinks or what your co-worker said. 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:57.200 It will only matter what you did. 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:59.860 And as we look to James, 00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:01.080 who says that, you know what, 00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:02.940 it is not good enough just to have faith. 00:33:03.160 --> 00:33:04.519 When we stand up before Christ, 00:33:04.600 --> 00:33:06.000 it won't be good enough just to say, 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:08.539 hey, you know what, like, I believe this. 00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:10.000 I didn't work it out in my life, 00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:11.279 but I believed your message. 00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:13.279 No, rather, it is going to be, 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:15.220 I believed your message, 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:18.380 and I depended on you for your strength to work it out. 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:22.440 And these are the works that you have demonstrated in my life. 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:24.720 And as we have the crowns placed before us, 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:27.700 we set it at his feet because we realized that it wasn't us, 00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:30.299 it wasn't our own strength that did these great things, 00:33:30.380 --> 00:33:31.120 but it was Christ, 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.740 because we looked to Christ, 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:34.019 and we focused on Christ, 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:35.420 and we depended on him. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.240 So I pray for us today, 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:39.799 that as we look at this account of Noah, 00:33:39.880 --> 00:33:42.000 that we would understand the fact 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:44.180 that it's not going to be easy to follow after Christ, 00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:48.579 but it's certainly worth it to follow after Christ. 00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:49.620 Let's pray. 00:33:49.620 --> 00:33:49.680 Amen.