WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.339 The first reading is Genesis chapter 6, and we're going to read from verses 5 to 7, verse 1. 00:00:14.280 --> 00:00:19.539 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention 00:00:19.539 --> 00:00:22.640 of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 00:00:24.080 --> 00:00:29.740 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 00:00:30.660 --> 00:00:37.840 So the Lord said, I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:43.240 and animals and creeping things, and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:43.820 made them. 00:00:44.579 --> 00:00:47.719 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 00:00:49.420 --> 00:00:51.579 These are the generations of Noah. 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:55.799 Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. 00:00:55.799 --> 00:01:04.259 Noah walked with God, and Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 00:01:04.260 --> 00:01:10.680 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:18.680 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:19.000 earth. 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:26.420 And God said to Noah, I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled 00:01:26.420 --> 00:01:27.820 with violence through them. 00:01:27.819 --> 00:01:33.039 Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 00:01:34.479 --> 00:01:37.119 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:42.259 Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 00:01:42.260 --> 00:01:44.880 This is how you are to make it. 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:48.620 The length of the ark, 300 cubits. 00:01:49.600 --> 00:01:51.719 Its breadth, 50 cubits. 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:54.660 And its height, 30 cubits. 00:01:55.660 --> 00:02:00.580 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above. 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:05.080 And set the door of the ark in its side. 00:02:06.540 --> 00:02:09.980 Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 00:02:09.979 --> 00:02:18.879 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:20.699 the breath of life under heaven. 00:02:22.280 --> 00:02:25.879 Everything that is on the earth shall die. 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:28.819 But I will establish my covenant with you. 00:02:29.839 --> 00:02:37.199 And you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:46.579 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, 00:02:46.679 --> 00:02:48.399 to keep them alive with you. 00:02:49.079 --> 00:02:51.079 They shall be male and female. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:57.979 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds. 00:02:57.979 --> 00:03:02.639 Of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:08.339 Two of every sort shall come into you to keep them alive. 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:13.780 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. 00:03:14.859 --> 00:03:17.280 It shall serve as food for you and for them. 00:03:18.339 --> 00:03:19.259 Noah did this. 00:03:19.939 --> 00:03:23.199 He did all that the Lord commanded him. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:30.299 Then the Lord said to Noah, Go into the ark, you and all your household. 00:03:30.899 --> 00:03:35.379 For I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 00:03:39.379 --> 00:03:40.359 Good morning, everyone. 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:44.299 I saw Ruby somewhere. 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:44.859 Hi, Ruby. 00:03:45.339 --> 00:03:51.039 Great to have you back with us from America, which is why I'm pointing out Ruby and embarrassing 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:51.599 her right now. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:55.319 I'm just going to give you a heads up. 00:03:55.519 --> 00:03:58.159 The three sections of this sermon, the first one is a lot longer. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:02.539 So if at the second interval you're like, Oh, we're here for a while. 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:03.919 It's okay. 00:04:04.180 --> 00:04:04.819 We'll be okay. 00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:06.539 All right. 00:04:06.579 --> 00:04:07.959 Why don't we pray as we come to God's word? 00:04:08.359 --> 00:04:08.620 Let's pray. 00:04:12.579 --> 00:04:19.620 Father, I pray as we come to a passage that is well known in one sense, 00:04:19.620 --> 00:04:21.780 even we think as Christians. 00:04:21.780 --> 00:04:29.840 Lord, your word is alive and active and we've probably all got assumptions about this story 00:04:29.840 --> 00:04:33.579 that need correcting and we need further insight. 00:04:34.379 --> 00:04:39.500 So I pray that you would give us a learning spirit as we come to your word. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:45.100 Father, show us your character in all its glory, I pray. 00:04:45.100 --> 00:04:46.140 Amen. 00:04:48.379 --> 00:04:56.700 Well, you can fear the God of the flood, but can you love him? 00:04:56.699 --> 00:05:06.759 The pictures in our children's Bibles, maybe some people in their children's bedrooms have 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:12.519 a mural of the flood, of Noah's Ark really, on the wall. 00:05:12.599 --> 00:05:17.800 They don't do justice to this sentence that is in the passage. 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:24.860 Everything on the dry land, in whose nostrils was the breath of life, died. 00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:30.040 Like, this is a horrific story. 00:05:31.540 --> 00:05:34.540 Like, what has happened from chapter 1, verse 31? 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:38.879 God saw all that he had made and behold, it was very good. 00:05:40.699 --> 00:05:44.080 What would motivate such a life-giving God? 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:48.279 We saw in Genesis 1, he loves order out of the chaos. 00:05:48.939 --> 00:05:49.919 He loves peace. 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:50.800 He loves life. 00:05:50.919 --> 00:05:56.120 What would bring him to bring such destructive chaos of the flood? 00:05:58.659 --> 00:06:01.459 Like, is he like a big bully at school? 00:06:01.919 --> 00:06:04.680 You just better not get him upset. 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:10.360 Is he like the ancient Babylonian ideas of the gods? 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:11.240 Unpredictable. 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:12.120 He's just moody. 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:17.399 Watch out, kids, if your dad wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. 00:06:17.540 --> 00:06:18.420 Is he moody? 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:19.519 Unpredictable. 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:25.000 Ancient Babylonians, the gods sent the flood because people were noisy. 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:30.079 What idea of God do you see here in the flood? 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:33.480 You can fear him, that's for sure, but can you love him? 00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:47.300 Well, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have loved one another before anything else was. 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:51.060 And so he had no reason to be angry. 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:56.560 No reason to be angry until evil and darkness came. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:06.160 Listen to the testimony of, I'm going to mispronounce this guy's name, but Miroslav Volf, a Croatian. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:12.100 I used to think that wrath was unworthy of God. 00:07:12.840 --> 00:07:13.759 Isn't God love? 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:18.259 God loves every person and every creature. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:25.839 And then he recalls the war in his hometown and the destruction that happened there. 00:07:25.899 --> 00:07:38.740 And then he says, think of Rwanda in 1994, where 800,000 people were hacked to death in 100 days. 00:07:38.740 --> 00:07:43.759 1994, this happened. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:46.400 How did God react to the carnage? 00:07:47.579 --> 00:07:51.360 By doting on the perpetrators in a grandparently fashion? 00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:57.620 By refusing to condemn the bloodbath, but instead affirming the perpetrator's basic goodness? 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:07.060 I came to think that I would have to rebel against a God who wasn't wrathful at the sight of the world's evil. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:11.199 God isn't wrathful in spite of being love. 00:08:11.660 --> 00:08:15.139 God is wrathful because God is love. 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:19.660 That's his testimony. 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:29.439 Isaiah 28-21 says that God's wrath is strange to God. 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:31.360 It's foreign to him. 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:34.600 It's his foreign work. 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:37.040 It's not essential to him. 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:39.159 It's what love does. 00:08:39.300 --> 00:08:41.620 Pure love does when it sees evil. 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:51.860 God blesses what is good, what gives life, what enhances life. 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:57.300 And he curses, he punishes what's evil, what destroys and takes away from life. 00:08:57.299 --> 00:09:03.620 Could you love him if he saw evil and didn't care? 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:07.479 Could you love such a God who didn't care about evil? 00:09:09.479 --> 00:09:10.559 I couldn't. 00:09:11.099 --> 00:09:14.579 Could you love a God who blessed it? 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:17.679 No way. 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:31.439 As creator, he alone has the wisdom, he has the power, and he has the right to be the judge of all the earth. 00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:33.379 And that's what we see here at the flood. 00:09:35.739 --> 00:09:39.239 Now, I reckon the need for justice, it's in our DNA, isn't it? 00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:43.099 Anyone heard of Sherlock Holmes? 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:46.359 Anyone not heard of Sherlock Holmes? 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:46.480 Sherlock Holmes? 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:48.919 Okay. 00:09:50.180 --> 00:09:53.080 Or even if you haven't, you're probably too embarrassed to put your hand up. 00:09:53.300 --> 00:09:55.340 But Sherlock, why is he such a classic? 00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:56.480 I love Sherlock Holmes. 00:09:56.840 --> 00:10:00.259 I reckon it's because we need someone strong. 00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:05.539 Someone wise enough who sees through the truth and can untangle it, 00:10:05.800 --> 00:10:09.320 and he's able to catch the evildoer and bring them to justice, right? 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:12.259 He's stronger than even Moriarty. 00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:15.000 Like, isn't that why we love Sherlock Holmes? 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:16.179 Or I love Sherlock Holmes. 00:10:17.179 --> 00:10:18.740 It's in our DNA, justice. 00:10:18.740 --> 00:10:27.240 I don't know what you think about movies and books where the villain doesn't get justice. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:29.379 How do you find those? 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:34.279 Like, one evidence that Emma is more godly than me, this is just one of the evidences, 00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:40.879 is that when we watch a show or movie where there's just injustice after injustice, 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:43.039 I feel a bit sick and uncomfortable. 00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:45.060 Emma, she has to walk away. 00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:47.039 Like, she can't stand to watch it. 00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:52.259 I think she's closer to the character of God. 00:10:52.479 --> 00:10:54.679 God can't stand to watch it. 00:11:01.419 --> 00:11:05.519 What God saw in Noah's generation grieved him to his heart. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:15.639 Working through the Constitution, I'm looking at sentences differently, reading the Constitution. 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:19.360 Just like, can you find a loophole in this sentence? 00:11:19.899 --> 00:11:21.620 John, you must be doing this all the time. 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:22.759 Can you find a... 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:27.659 If you want to not have a loophole for future generations, how do you need a word this sentence? 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:31.340 Let's see if you can find a loophole in chapter 6, verse 5. 00:11:31.340 --> 00:12:00.660 What a sentence. 00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:03.740 I can't find a loophole in that. 00:12:06.040 --> 00:12:12.879 It's not necessarily saying all the behaviour looked evil all the time. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:16.580 But it's saying God saw the heart. 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:22.539 He saw the design, the purpose, the goal of every thought. 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:28.519 Every goal was self-centred, was evil. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:33.500 It was trying to take away from the good life God had designed. 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:42.980 Now, before we just chuck our own imaginations in of what that looked like, Genesis has already told us. 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:52.019 The most immediate context shows us that even the descendants of Seth, the people who were holding on to the knowledge of God, 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:56.019 they were worshipping, calling on the name of the Lord, even these descendants were now... 00:12:57.579 --> 00:13:00.720 They were like Adam and Eve, the original sin. 00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:02.340 They saw and they took. 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:08.759 They saw the attractiveness of the descendants of Cain and they took. 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:13.500 Look, even they are corrupted now. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:20.319 If even the godly are corrupted, human race is in trouble. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:27.520 And we've seen in chapter 4 how violent that taking looks like. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.240 It looks like Cain. 00:13:31.280 --> 00:13:32.800 It looks like Lamech. 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:41.220 Now, apparently in the Hebrew, the word for destroy sounds like the word for corrupt. 00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:51.340 Which is just an indicator that God's judgment, it's not excessive, it's fitting, it's reaping what we've sown. 00:13:52.680 --> 00:13:56.860 It's completing the destruction that their actions have already begun. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:09.379 I don't think we've got an issue with the idea that there is such a thing as good and evil. 00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:16.779 Some people might, I don't know, philosophically debate that, but I don't know. 00:14:17.040 --> 00:14:20.620 I don't believe anyone actually lives like that. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:28.460 But you've got another movie, a recent one, Noah, Russell Crowe in it. 00:14:29.160 --> 00:14:33.800 That movie had no problem with the idea of good and evil, but the point of that movie, the message... 00:14:33.800 --> 00:14:39.420 I don't know if you've seen it or not, but it's animals land good, humankind bad. 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:41.339 That's the message of that. 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:47.199 The world would be a better place if we weren't here, is the message of the movie. 00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:49.799 It's not the message here. 00:14:52.719 --> 00:15:00.579 So I don't think we have a problem with distinguishing good and evil, but I think we've got a problem with we don't get to determine what is good and evil. 00:15:00.839 --> 00:15:02.519 God discerns what's good and evil. 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:07.639 He's the only one wise enough to do that. 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:11.419 I can only see your behaviour. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.319 I can't see your heart. 00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:17.139 I can't see your thoughts. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:18.460 God does. 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:20.919 I don't even know my own motives sometimes. 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:24.379 I can't untangle them a lot of the time. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:29.360 Have you ever had an occasion where you thought someone was doing the wrong thing and later on you're like, 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:30.539 oh, hang on. 00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:33.340 They had a really good purpose for doing that. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:38.920 I don't think we're wise enough to distinguish good from evil. 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:44.800 I think of the priest Eli thinking Hannah was drunk. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.780 She wasn't drunk. 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:50.879 She was pouring out her grief to God in prayer. 00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:54.500 I don't think we're wise enough to see the heart, but God is. 00:15:54.500 --> 00:16:00.120 Only our creator is wise enough to be the judge. 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:18.500 I was skiing at Thredbo one time years ago now and it was a really rainy couple of days and where we were skiing, 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:26.680 we were trying to traverse across this flat section and the water had come over the top. 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:31.799 So we're just waiting for some help from, I don't know what you call them, employees. 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:34.539 We're waiting for help to get across. 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:40.699 But while we're waiting, the sound of rushing waters was coming from the mountain above. 00:16:41.739 --> 00:16:46.699 And when the Bible talks about the sound of mighty waters, it was deafening. 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:52.359 And it was this, I don't know what you call it, landslide of snow, water. 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:56.360 It was coming right towards us. 00:16:57.800 --> 00:17:01.240 Now, obviously I'm here today, but there was a cliff on the other side. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:09.200 And this avalanche coming down, it missed me by, I don't know, five metres maybe. 00:17:10.860 --> 00:17:12.200 I had no chance. 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:17.759 I don't think I would have survived if I was five metres forward. 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:22.319 I was powerless. 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:24.920 I was absolutely powerless. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:29.339 And I think that's what we see here in the flood. 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:36.599 God has, as creator, he has all the power, which is really good news. 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:44.220 For those who are oppressing people with their power, God has the power to bring about justice. 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:49.539 He's got the wisdom and he's got the power to execute justice. 00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:57.339 And he alone has the right, because it's his creation, to judge. 00:17:57.339 --> 00:18:07.419 The flood shows us that the judge of all the earth, he can't stand to look on evil. 00:18:09.699 --> 00:18:19.480 And it warns us today that we learn from elsewhere in scripture that a worldwide judgement is coming again. 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:30.059 Jesus himself, don't separate Old Testament, God of wrath, New Testament, God of love. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.799 That's a misunderstanding of God. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.079 Jesus himself says, 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:59.679 It's a warning to us. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:08.660 Don't let anyone redefine what salvation means. 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:16.900 Can I suggest just be careful of people subtly changing why Jesus came to save us. 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:29.299 Jesus gave his blood to absorb the anger of God against evil. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:36.320 Don't let anyone move us away from the idea of God's anger. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:40.360 That is why we need salvation. 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:48.799 So the judge of all the earth, he sees the evil, but here's also the good news. 00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:50.100 He sees the righteous. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:54.900 Abraham later calls on God, 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:58.000 Will not the judge of all the earth do right? 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:00.759 Like talking about Sodom, 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:03.460 Will you just sweep the righteous away with the wicked? 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:05.019 What you do right? 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:07.500 Imagine saying that to God. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.319 What a man of faith. 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:12.440 Yes, he will do right. 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:13.599 He sees the righteous. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:16.000 He sees Noah. 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:19.740 Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord. 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:22.880 One man. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:25.220 Now what made Noah different? 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:29.019 Favour is the same word as grace. 00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:30.279 Unmerited kindness. 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:34.279 The idea that he found favour. 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.940 He didn't earn favour. 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:40.799 The prophecy at his birth, if you remember last week, 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:43.059 before he'd done anything good or bad, 00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:45.319 there was a prophecy that he would bring rest. 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:52.460 I think they're all suggesting that God freely chose to give his grace to Noah. 00:20:53.939 --> 00:20:57.839 In other words, verse 8 is the reason for verse 9, 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:01.119 and not the other way around. 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:06.679 God chose to give favour, grace to Noah, 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:09.319 and that's why he's a righteous man. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:11.079 He walked righteously. 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:15.500 This is a really big term, righteous. 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:19.599 The first time we get it in scripture, 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:24.339 it's to act according to the relationship God has with you. 00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:26.740 He's blameless. 00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:28.399 He's without blemish. 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.599 He walks with God. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.059 We've seen that term before. 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.619 And what we see in the story is, 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:36.819 and Tinian brought this out in the kids' talk, 00:21:36.939 --> 00:21:38.539 is his obedience. 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:41.839 He's received the instructions. 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:44.139 In verse 22, Noah did this. 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:46.500 He did all that God commanded of him. 00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.899 And 7 verse 5 says, 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:49.359 Noah did, 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:52.119 let me find it, 7 verse 5, 00:21:52.399 --> 00:21:54.759 Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him. 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:59.859 So a close walk with God looks like obedience. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:02.319 I think we often use that phrase 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:04.779 in terms of our feelings and things. 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:11.000 But a close walk with God looks like obedience. 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.779 Noah alone, he's righteous. 00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:15.940 We're not told about his wife. 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:17.759 We're not told about his kids and their wives. 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:20.119 That's not the important thing. 00:22:20.399 --> 00:22:22.240 The important thing is they belong to Noah. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:26.940 They belong to the one righteous man. 00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:31.500 Now where did his obedience come from? 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:34.799 We've got Hebrews 11, 7 that helps us with this. 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:38.700 By faith, Noah, 00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:42.700 being warned by God concerning events yet unseen, 00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:44.059 in reverent fear, 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:48.720 constructed an ark for the saving of his household. 00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:50.539 By this he condemned the world 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:52.440 and became an heir of the righteousness 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:54.400 that comes by faith. 00:22:54.400 --> 00:23:00.180 All Noah had, 00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:03.720 he couldn't see the rain clouds coming. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:07.180 He couldn't see the judgment. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.620 He had God's word. 00:23:08.780 --> 00:23:09.580 He had his warning. 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.560 He had his promise 00:23:11.560 --> 00:23:14.019 that he would save him. 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.860 That's all he had, God's word. 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.360 For years, 00:23:17.560 --> 00:23:20.000 like at least 55 years, 00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.259 years and years. 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:23.299 Imagine cutting your own timber 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.859 and milling it 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:27.519 and then constructing that ark. 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:31.339 The job itself, 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:33.480 like you put that order in at Saddington's, 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:35.599 it would take them a while, 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:37.779 even at Saddington's with our technology. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.859 Even the job itself, 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.180 let alone, 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:43.220 I'm going to use some poetic license here, 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:46.420 but imagine the taunts he got, 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.299 the ridicule, 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.819 maybe the threats 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:53.859 like every sprinkle of rain 00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:55.159 before the flood came. 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:58.119 You could imagine the cheers at Noah. 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:03.759 He believed God's warning. 00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:06.579 He took God at his word. 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:10.519 Obedience comes from faith 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:12.099 in God's word. 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:16.240 But Noah's obedience 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.819 isn't the main focus. 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.759 I'm glad Tin brought this out 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.619 in the kids' talk as well. 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:24.259 The main focus is seen, 00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:25.419 chapters 6 through 8, 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:27.359 is the structure of the story, 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:29.859 is what's called a chiasm. 00:24:31.439 --> 00:24:32.719 Once you learn the term, 00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:34.480 everyone's looking for chiasms everywhere, 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.219 but here is a chiasm. 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:38.960 A chiasm is a mirror image 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.360 of themes 00:24:40.360 --> 00:24:43.000 where it's working inwards 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.920 and the centre 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:46.140 is the main point. 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.559 It's a thing 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:50.220 to take away from it. 00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:53.600 I'm not going to go through the whole story. 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:55.880 I'm going to try and tell you 00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:56.620 the mirror image. 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:59.740 God resolves to destroy 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.740 the corrupt race. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.680 And then at the end of chapter 8, 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.340 the Lord resolves 00:25:04.340 --> 00:25:06.480 not to destroy mankind. 00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:09.180 Next bit in. 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.400 Noah builds an ark. 00:25:11.060 --> 00:25:11.960 Noah builds an altar. 00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:14.360 Coming again. 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:15.860 The Lord commands Noah's family 00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:17.220 to enter the ark. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.900 He commands the family 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.279 to leave the ark. 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.720 The flood begins. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.320 The earth dries out. 00:25:25.320 --> 00:25:27.519 The flood lasts 150 days, 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.519 covering the mountain. 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:31.600 The flood recedes 150 days. 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:33.500 The mountains become visible. 00:25:34.699 --> 00:25:36.000 And here's the heart of the story. 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.619 Chapter 8, verse 1. 00:25:40.439 --> 00:25:43.319 But God remembered Noah 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:45.439 and all the beasts 00:25:45.439 --> 00:25:46.740 and all the livestock 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:48.599 that were with him in the ark. 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:54.719 This isn't like our human remembering. 00:25:55.679 --> 00:25:57.399 Three hours after you should have 00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.439 picked your son up 00:25:58.439 --> 00:25:59.879 from soccer practice. 00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.099 Noah. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:03.859 It's not our remembering. 00:26:04.179 --> 00:26:05.359 God's remembering means 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.859 God always acts 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:09.159 according to his covenant commitment. 00:26:11.219 --> 00:26:11.740 Always. 00:26:13.179 --> 00:26:14.939 He keeps his promises. 00:26:15.939 --> 00:26:17.839 He's a covenant-keeping God. 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.579 That's why Noah survived. 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:25.699 It's the fundamental reason 00:26:25.699 --> 00:26:27.980 why Noah and his family survived. 00:26:28.399 --> 00:26:29.639 He remembered his covenant. 00:26:30.679 --> 00:26:32.199 It's the fundamental reason 00:26:32.199 --> 00:26:33.359 why Jesus went to the cross. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.259 It's the fundamental reason 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:37.939 why faith in Jesus means 00:26:37.939 --> 00:26:40.199 we will sail through death 00:26:40.199 --> 00:26:42.599 and judgment into eternal life. 00:26:42.679 --> 00:26:45.259 He keeps his word. 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.299 God's word. 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.359 It's good news. 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.119 Okay. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.240 I'm going to invite Gareth up 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:53.039 for the second, shorter reading. 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:53.579 Thanks, Gary. 00:26:53.579 --> 00:27:00.919 So our next reading is chapter 8 00:27:00.919 --> 00:27:04.879 and it's verses 20 to 9, verse 1. 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:09.080 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord 00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:11.160 and took some of every clean animal 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:13.220 and some of every clean bird 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:16.360 and offered a burnt offering 00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:17.140 on the altar. 00:27:18.840 --> 00:27:20.340 And when the Lord smelled 00:27:20.340 --> 00:27:21.260 the pleasing aroma, 00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:22.740 the Lord said in his heart, 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:25.240 I will never again curse the ground 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.200 because of man. 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:28.440 The intention of man's heart 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.740 is evil from his youth. 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:33.599 Neither will I ever again strike down 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:36.039 every living creature 00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:37.220 as I have done. 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.400 While the earth remains, 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.940 seed time and harvest, 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:42.720 cold and heat, 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:44.160 summer and winter, 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.579 day and night, 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:47.000 shall not cease. 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:49.279 And God blessed Noah 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:51.380 and his sons and said to them, 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:54.099 Be fruitful and multiply 00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:56.120 and fill the earth. 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.640 The flood is all about 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:02.740 new beginnings, 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.420 a fresh start, 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.660 salvation. 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:10.359 The parallels to Genesis 1, 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:11.779 there are many, 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:12.960 I'm not going to go through them all, 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:14.460 but Noah is now pictured 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.960 as a new Adam. 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:18.480 He's now the head of humanity. 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.720 He's a righteous head. 00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:23.200 Things are looking hopeful. 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:26.880 So the flood shows us 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.900 that God is determined 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.839 to have a new beginning, 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:29.959 a new creation. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:32.799 Evil is blotted out 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:35.019 and just peace 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:36.179 and righteousness. 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.199 And Noah leads 00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:42.079 the new humanity 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.799 in worship. 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:48.699 He offers sacrifice 00:28:48.699 --> 00:28:50.339 out of gratitude for salvation, 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.819 out of total devotion 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.439 to the Lord, 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.299 but it actually took 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.959 my three-year-old 00:28:54.959 --> 00:28:55.839 to, 00:28:56.879 --> 00:28:57.919 rather than my books, 00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:00.320 to ask a really obvious question. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:02.640 Why, 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.300 he didn't put it like this, 00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.360 but this was the gist 00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:05.820 of the question, 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.060 okay? 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:08.539 Why did God 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:10.039 want the animals 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.840 to be burned? 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.460 I think I, 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:13.539 I scared, 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:13.940 see him. 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.580 Why did God, 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.920 why was he pleased 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:19.539 with burnt offerings? 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.259 That's the first act. 00:29:22.320 --> 00:29:23.060 Isn't there enough? 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.660 Death. 00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:26.660 He didn't say all that, 00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:28.560 but he was horrified 00:29:28.560 --> 00:29:29.740 when I was reading 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.700 the story out loud. 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:33.420 It's a really good question. 00:29:34.340 --> 00:29:35.680 Why was he pleased? 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:37.400 Because if we did that today, 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.259 from what we know 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.040 from the rest of Scripture, 00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:41.560 he would not be pleased. 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:44.940 Garden of Eden, 00:29:45.060 --> 00:29:45.660 he told Adam 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:46.820 to name the animals, 00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:49.000 not to offer them. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:54.160 Why was he pleased 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.039 when he smelt 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.799 the aroma? 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.980 I think we have 00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.700 a hint here 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.259 that Noah 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.759 understood 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:03.000 that he and his family 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.339 needed to be made clean. 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:08.079 I think the Lord 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.859 was pleased 00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:11.319 because he knew 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:12.680 what it would really take. 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.960 It wasn't these sacrifices. 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.839 He knew what it would take 00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:17.859 to cleanse Noah. 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:21.039 to cleanse all 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:22.240 who are righteous 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.899 by faith. 00:30:23.939 --> 00:30:24.779 It's what Hebrews 00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.439 talks about, 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.219 that once 00:30:26.219 --> 00:30:27.599 and for all sacrifice. 00:30:28.939 --> 00:30:29.939 I think that's why 00:30:29.939 --> 00:30:30.679 he was pleased. 00:30:33.919 --> 00:30:34.719 When Jesus 00:30:34.719 --> 00:30:35.639 offered himself. 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:39.259 We might get 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.859 the wrong idea 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:40.379 from the flood 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.339 that God has a, 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.679 he thinks human life 00:30:42.679 --> 00:30:43.339 is disposable. 00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.479 But the covenant 00:30:45.479 --> 00:30:46.419 he makes with Noah 00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:48.279 corrects any 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.300 misunderstanding here. 00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:51.259 God has a huge 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:52.700 value on human life. 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:54.300 All human life 00:30:54.300 --> 00:30:56.220 are in his image. 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.920 We didn't read 00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.340 this section 00:30:59.340 --> 00:31:00.259 but there's three 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.940 threats 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:02.259 to the sacredness 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:03.080 of human life 00:31:03.080 --> 00:31:03.980 that God 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:06.220 protects from. 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:07.539 One is from animals. 00:31:09.300 --> 00:31:10.340 To put it simply, 00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:12.320 he's put the fear 00:31:12.320 --> 00:31:13.460 of man in animals. 00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:15.100 whatever it was like 00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:15.779 in Noah's day, 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:17.299 he's now put us 00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:17.700 at the top 00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.480 of the food chain. 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:20.559 It's to stop animals 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.519 from destroying 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.240 the sacredness 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:22.579 of life. 00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:23.120 He's even going 00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:24.019 to require 00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:25.160 reckoning of animals 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:26.299 who kill humans 00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.079 which I'm not sure 00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:27.819 how that works. 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.620 So firstly, 00:31:30.840 --> 00:31:31.340 from animals. 00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.000 Secondly, 00:31:32.100 --> 00:31:32.660 from people. 00:31:33.620 --> 00:31:34.340 Whoever sheds 00:31:34.340 --> 00:31:35.200 the blood of man, 00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:35.779 verse 6, 00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.539 by man shall his 00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.519 blood be shed 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:40.340 for God made man 00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:41.179 in his own image. 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.199 There once was 00:31:44.199 --> 00:31:45.339 protection of Cain. 00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:46.220 Now, 00:31:47.179 --> 00:31:47.939 there's authority 00:31:47.939 --> 00:31:48.859 given to mankind 00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.879 to punish 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:51.559 murder. 00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:56.240 It restrains society 00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.240 from being as evil 00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:58.119 as it might 00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:59.240 otherwise become again. 00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:01.240 And then third, 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:02.000 most importantly, 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:03.299 so from animals, 00:32:03.459 --> 00:32:03.939 from people 00:32:03.939 --> 00:32:05.159 and from God himself. 00:32:07.699 --> 00:32:08.679 You might want to look 00:32:08.679 --> 00:32:09.759 at verse 14 and 15 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.220 with me. 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:12.480 When I bring clouds 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.319 over the earth 00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:14.420 and the bow is seen 00:32:14.420 --> 00:32:15.160 in the clouds, 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:17.140 I will remember 00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:17.819 my covenant 00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:18.940 that is between me 00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:19.460 and you 00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:21.039 and every living creature 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.839 of all flesh 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:23.180 and the waters 00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:24.440 shall never again 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:25.400 become a flood 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:26.819 to destroy all flesh. 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:33.140 The word bow 00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:34.420 apparently is 00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:37.059 not bow wong 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.019 but bow 00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:39.740 rainbow. 00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:42.720 It's for a warrior's bow. 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:46.400 So when we see 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:46.839 a rainbow, 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.799 I don't know what you think, 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.599 oh, that's pretty. 00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:49.460 Whatever you think 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:50.240 when you see a rainbow, 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:51.200 when God sees it, 00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:53.559 he sees his warrior's bow 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:55.079 hung up. 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:00.940 Imagine if the rainbow 00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:02.000 was the other way around 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:03.759 facing us. 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:06.359 you'd feel a little bit 00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:07.140 uneasy 00:33:07.140 --> 00:33:08.279 if it, 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:10.019 but it's facing him. 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.720 He's hung up his bow, 00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.599 his war bow. 00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:20.059 And he makes this promise 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:21.240 even though 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:22.039 he knows 00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:22.480 there's going to be 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.259 violence again. 00:33:24.959 --> 00:33:26.579 He says in verse 21, 00:33:27.439 --> 00:33:29.819 the intention 00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.959 of man's heart 00:33:30.959 --> 00:33:33.699 is evil 00:33:33.699 --> 00:33:34.559 from his youth. 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:42.899 The Lord knew 00:33:42.899 --> 00:33:44.099 that evil 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:45.619 came with Noah 00:33:45.619 --> 00:33:46.379 and his family 00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:47.339 on that ark. 00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:49.539 How can 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.619 the judge of the earth 00:33:50.619 --> 00:33:51.679 hang up his bow? 00:33:57.399 --> 00:33:58.179 All right, Gareth, 00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:59.559 let's have that third reading. 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.619 9 verse 18 00:34:01.619 --> 00:34:02.440 if you're following along. 00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:08.159 The sons of Noah 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:09.400 who went forth 00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:11.320 from the ark 00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:11.840 were Shem, 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.320 Ham, 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.099 and Japheth. 00:34:13.700 --> 00:34:14.500 Ham was the father 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:15.119 of Canaan. 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.420 These three 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:18.599 were the sons of Noah 00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.980 and from these 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.559 the people 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.460 of the whole earth 00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:22.280 were dispersed. 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:24.740 Noah began 00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:25.380 to be a man 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:25.980 of the soil 00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:26.619 and he planted 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:27.360 a vineyard. 00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:28.539 He drank 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:29.179 of the wine 00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:30.000 and became drunk 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:30.820 and lay uncovered 00:34:30.820 --> 00:34:31.579 in his tent. 00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:33.840 And Ham, 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.940 the father of Canaan, 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:35.960 saw the nakedness 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.659 of his father 00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.619 and told his two 00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:38.619 brothers outside. 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:42.720 Then Shem 00:34:42.720 --> 00:34:43.460 and Japheth 00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:44.280 took a garment, 00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:46.360 laid it on both 00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:47.099 their shoulders 00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:48.119 and walked backward 00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:50.179 and covered the nakedness 00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.980 of their father. 00:34:51.780 --> 00:34:52.400 Their faces 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.360 were turned backward 00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:55.099 and they did not see 00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:56.679 their father's nakedness. 00:34:56.679 --> 00:34:59.419 When Noah awoke 00:34:59.419 --> 00:35:00.359 from his wine 00:35:00.359 --> 00:35:01.079 and knew 00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.460 that his youngest son 00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.099 had done 00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:04.519 what his youngest son 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.299 had done to him, 00:35:05.359 --> 00:35:05.799 he said, 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:07.699 Cursed be Canaan, 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:10.079 a servant of servants 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:11.239 shall he be 00:35:11.239 --> 00:35:12.000 to his brothers. 00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:14.139 He also said, 00:35:15.279 --> 00:35:16.399 Blessed be the Lord, 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:17.639 the God of Shem, 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:19.199 and let Canaan 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:20.460 be his servant. 00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:21.980 May God 00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:23.000 enlarge Japheth 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:24.519 and let him dwell 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.879 in the tents of Shem. 00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:27.500 and let Canaan 00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.740 be his servant. 00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:30.700 After the flood, 00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:32.860 Noah lived 350 years. 00:35:33.760 --> 00:35:35.059 All the days of Noah 00:35:35.059 --> 00:35:37.280 were 950 years 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:38.579 and he died. 00:35:41.720 --> 00:35:42.440 Well, 00:35:42.740 --> 00:35:44.860 this is a perplexing 00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:45.900 part of scripture 00:35:45.900 --> 00:35:47.740 if you're still 00:35:47.740 --> 00:35:48.559 awakened with me. 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:52.079 This is strange, right? 00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:55.240 It raises a lot 00:35:55.240 --> 00:35:55.760 of questions. 00:35:56.660 --> 00:35:57.059 And 00:35:57.059 --> 00:35:58.960 I'm not going 00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.700 to answer them all. 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.940 I'm not even confident 00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:01.920 I have all the answers. 00:36:03.619 --> 00:36:04.079 But 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:05.579 let me show you 00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:06.500 what I have come to. 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:08.539 We've seen 00:36:08.539 --> 00:36:09.099 in the flood 00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:10.039 that God's goal 00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:11.280 is a new beginning, 00:36:12.160 --> 00:36:13.500 a totally fresh start 00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:15.460 where righteousness is. 00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:17.480 Noah is the new Adam. 00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:18.980 He's the head of humanity. 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.780 He's this giant 00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:21.659 of faith 00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.699 and obedience. 00:36:25.340 --> 00:36:26.460 It's rather shocking 00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:28.320 that out of the 350 years 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:29.159 of Noah's life, 00:36:29.659 --> 00:36:30.579 everything that Moses 00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:31.619 could have told us about. 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.360 What did Noah do 00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:33.880 after the flood? 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:35.039 We're told one thing. 00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:36.099 He gets drunk. 00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:42.480 What's that about? 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:47.400 Scripture says 00:36:47.400 --> 00:36:48.460 God gave wine 00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:49.599 to gladden the heart. 00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:50.819 It's not the wine itself. 00:36:52.380 --> 00:36:53.440 He's lost control. 00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:57.460 It's unfitting 00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:58.500 of an image bearer 00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:59.980 and Scripture also shows 00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:01.880 it's especially unfitting 00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:02.980 of those in authority 00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:04.000 and he's the head 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:05.159 of the human race. 00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:10.879 Noah is the new Adam. 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:11.940 He's a new beginning 00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:12.859 but what we see here 00:37:12.859 --> 00:37:14.099 is a new beginning of sin. 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:18.779 The Bible doesn't do 00:37:18.779 --> 00:37:19.859 what we hear 00:37:19.859 --> 00:37:20.859 at a lot of funerals. 00:37:20.859 --> 00:37:22.920 It always presents 00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:24.559 people's blemishes. 00:37:26.039 --> 00:37:27.179 Noah gets drunk. 00:37:27.799 --> 00:37:29.319 Abraham, cowardly, 00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:31.480 risks his wife 00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:34.679 to protect his own skin. 00:37:35.159 --> 00:37:38.199 And then Hagar incident. 00:37:38.659 --> 00:37:39.719 Moses, a murderer, 00:37:39.879 --> 00:37:40.779 fleeing from Egypt 00:37:40.779 --> 00:37:41.859 and then losing his, 00:37:42.399 --> 00:37:43.779 getting into a rage, 00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:44.799 striking the rock. 00:37:45.460 --> 00:37:47.219 Elijah, just self-pitying, 00:37:47.259 --> 00:37:48.279 I'm the only one left. 00:37:49.759 --> 00:37:51.259 David with Bathsheba 00:37:51.259 --> 00:37:52.079 and Uriah. 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:53.879 Peter, denying Christ. 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:54.960 Paul and Barnabas, 00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:57.239 getting into a conflict. 00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:59.799 Blemish everywhere. 00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:01.379 All these giants of the faith, 00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:04.179 which is just by the by. 00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:07.679 It's encouraging in a way, 00:38:07.759 --> 00:38:08.099 is it not? 00:38:08.259 --> 00:38:09.980 God can graciously use 00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:11.759 flawed people. 00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:17.379 But it all shows us 00:38:17.379 --> 00:38:19.719 that when a man turns up 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:22.219 without any blemish 00:38:22.219 --> 00:38:23.399 whatsoever, 00:38:24.399 --> 00:38:25.739 he stands out. 00:38:25.739 --> 00:38:28.599 you sit up and listen. 00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:35.899 So there's a new beginning of sin. 00:38:37.699 --> 00:38:38.939 We need a better Noah, 00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:41.199 a better head of the race. 00:38:43.139 --> 00:38:44.539 The biggest focus here 00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:45.299 is on Ham 00:38:45.299 --> 00:38:47.239 and his response to this. 00:38:47.239 --> 00:38:49.239 Now, 00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:50.599 we don't have time 00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.000 to go into it, 00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:52.379 but the passage cares more 00:38:52.379 --> 00:38:54.699 about the consequences 00:38:54.699 --> 00:38:56.159 for future generations, 00:38:56.479 --> 00:38:57.839 like all the societies 00:38:57.839 --> 00:38:59.519 that come from these three guys, 00:38:59.779 --> 00:39:01.659 more than the individuals themselves. 00:39:04.759 --> 00:39:06.699 We might think of our actions 00:39:06.699 --> 00:39:07.939 as individualistic, 00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:09.439 the consequences are here and now, 00:39:09.539 --> 00:39:09.719 but, 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.079 I don't know, 00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:11.679 the teachers, 00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:12.500 the psychologists, 00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:14.519 the social workers among us, 00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:15.539 we know, 00:39:15.679 --> 00:39:18.719 we know intergenerational consequences, 00:39:19.699 --> 00:39:21.860 even in our individualistic society. 00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:24.099 So here, 00:39:24.679 --> 00:39:26.860 he sees Noah naked 00:39:26.860 --> 00:39:28.440 and drunk, 00:39:28.440 --> 00:39:30.800 and then he seems 00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:31.639 to go to his brothers 00:39:31.639 --> 00:39:32.940 to gossip 00:39:32.940 --> 00:39:34.679 and have a good laugh about it. 00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:38.539 He takes a good look 00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:40.720 and he wants to go talk about it 00:39:40.720 --> 00:39:41.579 and have a good laugh. 00:39:42.240 --> 00:39:43.179 It doesn't say laugh, 00:39:43.260 --> 00:39:43.559 he just, 00:39:43.860 --> 00:39:45.200 I'm reading into it there, 00:39:45.260 --> 00:39:45.400 okay? 00:39:46.059 --> 00:39:47.440 He wants to talk about it 00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:48.260 for some reason. 00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:50.039 It's either gossip 00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:50.900 or slander, 00:39:51.059 --> 00:39:51.320 something. 00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:54.280 What's the big deal? 00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.340 We might ask, 00:39:56.380 --> 00:39:57.099 what's the big deal? 00:39:58.440 --> 00:40:02.280 Well, 00:40:02.360 --> 00:40:03.639 the respectful actions 00:40:03.639 --> 00:40:04.619 of the other brothers, 00:40:05.780 --> 00:40:07.300 they're so careful 00:40:07.300 --> 00:40:08.460 in walking backwards, 00:40:08.619 --> 00:40:09.780 it's almost humorous, 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:11.240 but they're so careful 00:40:11.240 --> 00:40:11.760 to honour 00:40:11.760 --> 00:40:13.519 this blemish 00:40:13.519 --> 00:40:14.380 of their father. 00:40:15.539 --> 00:40:17.139 And it highlights 00:40:17.139 --> 00:40:19.179 Ham's dishonour. 00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:23.099 He enjoys 00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:24.320 Noah's humiliation. 00:40:25.280 --> 00:40:26.159 Ham enjoys 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:26.980 his humiliation. 00:40:28.440 --> 00:40:29.480 Which suggests 00:40:29.480 --> 00:40:30.619 something spiritually 00:40:30.619 --> 00:40:32.480 is not right. 00:40:33.840 --> 00:40:34.320 And perhaps 00:40:34.320 --> 00:40:34.940 that's why 00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:35.780 Noah saw 00:40:35.780 --> 00:40:36.740 in these three 00:40:36.740 --> 00:40:38.679 a spiritual condition 00:40:38.679 --> 00:40:39.579 that's going to 00:40:39.579 --> 00:40:40.400 intensify 00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:41.280 as the generations 00:40:41.280 --> 00:40:41.820 go on. 00:40:42.059 --> 00:40:43.599 But yes, 00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:44.599 Noah had lost 00:40:44.599 --> 00:40:45.440 control of himself. 00:40:45.639 --> 00:40:46.740 I'm not excusing that. 00:40:47.179 --> 00:40:47.740 I don't think 00:40:47.740 --> 00:40:48.480 scripture is 00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:49.300 excusing that. 00:40:50.300 --> 00:40:51.000 But he's 00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:51.960 Ham's father. 00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:54.700 He's the head 00:40:54.700 --> 00:40:55.300 of humanity. 00:40:55.300 --> 00:40:57.480 He's the reason 00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:58.280 why Ham 00:40:58.280 --> 00:40:59.120 survived 00:40:59.120 --> 00:40:59.800 the judgement. 00:41:04.500 --> 00:41:05.820 And he enjoys 00:41:05.820 --> 00:41:06.700 his humiliation. 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:10.140 Something's wrong there. 00:41:13.140 --> 00:41:14.360 It made me think 00:41:14.360 --> 00:41:15.300 how people today 00:41:15.300 --> 00:41:16.140 enjoy 00:41:16.140 --> 00:41:19.660 ridiculing Jesus 00:41:19.660 --> 00:41:20.340 even though 00:41:20.340 --> 00:41:21.380 he's got no blemish. 00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:23.300 what's going on there? 00:41:28.300 --> 00:41:29.000 The flood 00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:29.599 is all about 00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:30.140 new beginnings. 00:41:32.200 --> 00:41:33.119 He's committed 00:41:33.119 --> 00:41:34.019 to a world 00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:34.920 no more evil 00:41:34.920 --> 00:41:35.940 only peace 00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:36.500 and blessing 00:41:36.500 --> 00:41:37.200 but 00:41:37.200 --> 00:41:38.980 there's a beginning 00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:39.519 of sin 00:41:39.519 --> 00:41:40.360 and there's a beginning 00:41:40.360 --> 00:41:41.160 of curse again. 00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:43.619 It's telling us 00:41:43.619 --> 00:41:44.619 that the human heart 00:41:44.619 --> 00:41:45.360 needs a deeper 00:41:45.360 --> 00:41:45.780 cleansing 00:41:45.780 --> 00:41:46.400 than water. 00:41:46.400 --> 00:41:48.539 I think 00:41:48.539 --> 00:41:49.180 this passage 00:41:49.180 --> 00:41:50.660 also shows us 00:41:50.660 --> 00:41:51.460 how patient 00:41:51.460 --> 00:41:52.079 God is 00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:53.559 and the rainbow 00:41:53.559 --> 00:41:54.440 reminds us of it 00:41:54.440 --> 00:41:55.440 how patient 00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:57.000 the Lord is 00:41:57.000 --> 00:42:00.700 because it's not 00:42:00.700 --> 00:42:01.119 Shem 00:42:01.119 --> 00:42:02.300 who's going to 00:42:02.300 --> 00:42:03.180 reverse the curse 00:42:03.180 --> 00:42:04.500 but it's through 00:42:04.500 --> 00:42:05.139 his line 00:42:05.139 --> 00:42:05.639 that we get to 00:42:05.639 --> 00:42:06.180 Abraham 00:42:06.180 --> 00:42:07.900 and so many 00:42:07.900 --> 00:42:08.599 generations 00:42:08.599 --> 00:42:09.519 until we reach 00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:10.400 Jesus Christ. 00:42:12.860 --> 00:42:13.680 The Lord 00:42:13.680 --> 00:42:14.300 is patient. 00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:17.720 We need a deeper 00:42:17.720 --> 00:42:18.200 cleansing. 00:42:23.800 --> 00:42:24.780 So I think 00:42:24.780 --> 00:42:25.280 we've seen 00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:26.400 so many reasons 00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:27.119 why we can 00:42:27.119 --> 00:42:27.660 not only 00:42:27.660 --> 00:42:28.980 fear 00:42:28.980 --> 00:42:30.680 the God 00:42:30.680 --> 00:42:31.280 of the flood 00:42:31.280 --> 00:42:32.760 but we 00:42:32.760 --> 00:42:33.519 ought to love 00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:33.820 him. 00:42:36.059 --> 00:42:37.400 He's so pure 00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:39.440 in his love 00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:41.500 he just 00:42:41.500 --> 00:42:42.460 can't stand 00:42:42.460 --> 00:42:43.019 to look at 00:42:43.019 --> 00:42:43.320 evil. 00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:47.380 He's 00:42:47.380 --> 00:42:48.079 determined 00:42:48.079 --> 00:42:49.860 to purge 00:42:49.860 --> 00:42:50.500 the world 00:42:50.500 --> 00:42:51.260 of all 00:42:51.260 --> 00:42:51.900 evil and 00:42:51.900 --> 00:42:52.539 violence. 00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.519 That is 00:42:55.519 --> 00:42:56.240 good news. 00:42:56.760 --> 00:42:57.880 That is 00:42:57.880 --> 00:42:58.440 really good 00:42:58.440 --> 00:42:58.900 news. 00:42:59.260 --> 00:43:00.420 He's determined 00:43:00.420 --> 00:43:01.539 he wants a 00:43:01.539 --> 00:43:02.119 new beginning. 00:43:03.180 --> 00:43:03.639 He wants a 00:43:03.639 --> 00:43:04.599 new creation 00:43:04.599 --> 00:43:06.760 where peace 00:43:06.760 --> 00:43:07.700 and righteousness 00:43:07.700 --> 00:43:10.539 reigns. 00:43:12.280 --> 00:43:13.240 He's 00:43:13.240 --> 00:43:13.760 determined 00:43:13.760 --> 00:43:14.680 to give us 00:43:14.680 --> 00:43:15.180 rest. 00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:17.880 shalom 00:43:17.880 --> 00:43:18.340 as 00:43:18.340 --> 00:43:20.340 scripture 00:43:20.340 --> 00:43:21.019 calls it. 00:43:22.660 --> 00:43:23.200 He's a 00:43:23.200 --> 00:43:23.639 God who 00:43:23.639 --> 00:43:24.460 always remembers 00:43:24.460 --> 00:43:24.980 his covenant 00:43:24.980 --> 00:43:25.559 promise. 00:43:28.920 --> 00:43:29.539 He's 00:43:29.539 --> 00:43:30.160 patient 00:43:30.160 --> 00:43:31.400 incredibly 00:43:31.400 --> 00:43:32.079 patient 00:43:32.079 --> 00:43:32.760 hanging up 00:43:32.760 --> 00:43:33.240 his bow 00:43:33.240 --> 00:43:35.700 but he's 00:43:35.700 --> 00:43:36.099 more than 00:43:36.099 --> 00:43:36.619 patient 00:43:36.619 --> 00:43:38.300 we eventually 00:43:38.300 --> 00:43:39.180 see that 00:43:39.180 --> 00:43:40.099 bow aimed 00:43:40.099 --> 00:43:41.340 at himself 00:43:41.340 --> 00:43:41.840 on the 00:43:41.840 --> 00:43:42.220 cross. 00:43:42.219 --> 00:43:43.219 God 00:43:43.219 --> 00:43:43.279 has 00:43:43.279 --> 00:43:44.219 to 00:43:44.219 --> 00:43:45.159 come 00:43:45.159 --> 00:43:46.159 to 00:43:46.159 --> 00:43:47.159 see that 00:43:47.159 --> 00:43:47.279 God 00:43:47.279 --> 00:43:47.599 is 00:43:47.599 --> 00:43:49.480 looking 00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:49.799 for a 00:43:49.799 --> 00:43:50.019 fresh 00:43:50.019 --> 00:43:50.439 start. 00:43:51.919 --> 00:43:52.459 If you're 00:43:52.459 --> 00:43:52.959 looking for a 00:43:52.959 --> 00:43:53.459 new beginning 00:43:53.459 --> 00:43:55.459 if you feel 00:43:55.459 --> 00:43:55.819 like you're 00:43:55.819 --> 00:43:56.219 just at the 00:43:56.219 --> 00:43:56.559 bottom of 00:43:56.559 --> 00:43:57.019 the barrel 00:43:57.019 --> 00:43:59.439 the flood 00:43:59.439 --> 00:43:59.759 is good 00:43:59.759 --> 00:44:00.199 news. 00:44:00.379 --> 00:44:00.619 The God 00:44:00.619 --> 00:44:00.959 is all 00:44:00.959 --> 00:44:01.419 about a 00:44:01.419 --> 00:44:01.559 new 00:44:01.559 --> 00:44:01.919 beginning. 00:44:03.919 --> 00:44:04.779 He invites 00:44:04.779 --> 00:44:05.139 you into 00:44:05.139 --> 00:44:05.500 a new 00:44:05.500 --> 00:44:06.159 creation. 00:44:06.159 --> 00:44:12.159 And 00:44:12.159 --> 00:44:12.559 brothers and 00:44:12.559 --> 00:44:12.819 sisters 00:44:12.819 --> 00:44:15.299 those of 00:44:15.299 --> 00:44:15.779 us with 00:44:15.779 --> 00:44:16.319 faith in 00:44:16.319 --> 00:44:16.879 Jesus who 00:44:16.879 --> 00:44:17.779 believe he's 00:44:17.779 --> 00:44:18.399 coming again 00:44:18.399 --> 00:44:19.019 to judge 00:44:19.019 --> 00:44:20.559 and to 00:44:20.559 --> 00:44:21.019 bring that 00:44:21.019 --> 00:44:21.719 new creation 00:44:21.719 --> 00:44:23.219 may our 00:44:23.219 --> 00:44:24.219 faith look 00:44:24.219 --> 00:44:25.219 as radical 00:44:25.219 --> 00:44:26.379 as Noah. 00:44:26.380 --> 00:44:29.140 We can't 00:44:29.140 --> 00:44:29.640 see it. 00:44:30.860 --> 00:44:31.079 All 00:44:31.079 --> 00:44:31.360 that God 00:44:31.360 --> 00:44:31.680 is his 00:44:31.680 --> 00:44:32.039 word. 00:44:35.059 --> 00:44:35.880 We walk 00:44:35.880 --> 00:44:36.119 in the 00:44:36.119 --> 00:44:36.440 footsteps 00:44:36.440 --> 00:44:36.940 of Noah. 00:44:40.460 --> 00:44:41.059 I want 00:44:41.059 --> 00:44:41.360 to finish 00:44:41.360 --> 00:44:41.640 with the 00:44:41.640 --> 00:44:41.960 words of 00:44:41.960 --> 00:44:42.440 2 Peter. 00:44:47.599 --> 00:44:48.079 The 00:44:48.079 --> 00:44:48.640 heavens 00:44:48.640 --> 00:44:50.519 let me 00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:50.940 start a bit 00:44:50.940 --> 00:44:51.200 earlier. 00:44:51.840 --> 00:44:51.960 The 00:44:51.960 --> 00:44:52.500 Lord is 00:44:52.500 --> 00:44:53.400 not slow 00:44:53.400 --> 00:44:54.519 to 00:44:54.519 --> 00:44:55.000 fulfill 00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:55.260 his 00:44:55.260 --> 00:44:55.760 promise 00:44:55.760 --> 00:44:56.340 as some 00:44:56.340 --> 00:44:56.660 count 00:44:56.660 --> 00:44:57.280 slowness 00:44:57.280 --> 00:44:58.700 but is 00:44:58.700 --> 00:44:59.180 patient 00:44:59.180 --> 00:44:59.559 toward 00:44:59.559 --> 00:44:59.880 you 00:44:59.880 --> 00:45:01.220 not 00:45:01.220 --> 00:45:01.559 wishing 00:45:01.559 --> 00:45:01.800 that 00:45:01.800 --> 00:45:02.140 any 00:45:02.140 --> 00:45:02.440 should 00:45:02.440 --> 00:45:02.900 perish 00:45:02.900 --> 00:45:03.720 but that 00:45:03.720 --> 00:45:04.000 all 00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:04.260 should 00:45:04.260 --> 00:45:04.559 reach 00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:05.000 repentance. 00:45:06.640 --> 00:45:07.400 The 00:45:07.400 --> 00:45:07.780 heavens 00:45:07.780 --> 00:45:08.460 will be 00:45:08.460 --> 00:45:08.900 set on 00:45:08.900 --> 00:45:09.380 fire 00:45:09.380 --> 00:45:09.780 and 00:45:09.780 --> 00:45:10.300 dissolved 00:45:10.300 --> 00:45:11.860 and the 00:45:11.860 --> 00:45:12.120 heavenly 00:45:12.120 --> 00:45:12.680 bodies 00:45:12.680 --> 00:45:13.820 will 00:45:13.820 --> 00:45:14.380 melt 00:45:14.380 --> 00:45:16.000 as they 00:45:16.000 --> 00:45:16.440 burn. 00:45:17.780 --> 00:45:18.100 But 00:45:18.100 --> 00:45:18.500 according 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.880 to his 00:45:18.880 --> 00:45:19.380 promise 00:45:19.380 --> 00:45:20.539 we are 00:45:20.539 --> 00:45:20.820 waiting 00:45:20.820 --> 00:45:21.440 for new 00:45:21.440 --> 00:45:21.920 heavens 00:45:21.920 --> 00:45:22.820 and a 00:45:22.820 --> 00:45:23.039 new 00:45:23.039 --> 00:45:23.539 earth 00:45:23.539 --> 00:45:24.260 in which 00:45:24.260 --> 00:45:24.960 righteousness 00:45:24.960 --> 00:45:25.920 dwells. 00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:26.599 therefore 00:45:26.599 --> 00:45:27.119 beloved 00:45:27.119 --> 00:45:28.740 since you 00:45:28.740 --> 00:45:29.159 are waiting 00:45:29.159 --> 00:45:29.760 for these 00:45:29.760 --> 00:45:31.659 be diligent 00:45:31.659 --> 00:45:33.099 to be found 00:45:33.099 --> 00:45:33.680 by him 00:45:33.680 --> 00:45:34.440 without spot 00:45:34.440 --> 00:45:35.039 or blemish 00:45:35.039 --> 00:45:35.440 and at 00:45:35.440 --> 00:45:35.900 peace 00:45:35.900 --> 00:45:38.039 and count 00:45:38.039 --> 00:45:38.780 the patience 00:45:38.780 --> 00:45:39.300 of our 00:45:39.300 --> 00:45:39.659 Lord 00:45:39.659 --> 00:45:40.840 as salvation. 00:45:43.139 --> 00:45:43.820 May you pray 00:45:43.820 --> 00:45:44.059 me. 00:45:44.059 --> 00:45:44.559 Let's pray. 00:45:51.460 --> 00:45:52.059 Father, 00:45:52.500 --> 00:45:53.500 we praise 00:45:53.500 --> 00:45:53.960 you for 00:45:53.960 --> 00:45:54.800 your patience 00:45:54.800 --> 00:45:55.440 and 00:45:55.440 --> 00:45:57.620 thank you 00:45:57.620 --> 00:45:58.539 for absorbing 00:45:58.539 --> 00:45:59.100 your own 00:45:59.100 --> 00:45:59.480 anger 00:45:59.480 --> 00:46:00.960 in yourself. 00:46:03.720 --> 00:46:04.340 Lord, 00:46:04.420 --> 00:46:04.800 thank you 00:46:04.800 --> 00:46:05.039 that 00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:06.120 as we 00:46:06.120 --> 00:46:06.400 look at 00:46:06.400 --> 00:46:06.920 the cross 00:46:06.920 --> 00:46:09.019 even though 00:46:09.019 --> 00:46:09.500 the day 00:46:09.500 --> 00:46:09.900 of judgment 00:46:09.900 --> 00:46:10.500 is ahead 00:46:10.500 --> 00:46:10.900 we can 00:46:10.900 --> 00:46:11.300 see 00:46:11.300 --> 00:46:11.619 that 00:46:11.619 --> 00:46:13.099 the 00:46:13.099 --> 00:46:13.400 judgment 00:46:13.400 --> 00:46:13.639 has 00:46:13.639 --> 00:46:13.880 already 00:46:13.880 --> 00:46:14.099 been 00:46:14.099 --> 00:46:14.400 poured 00:46:14.400 --> 00:46:14.719 out 00:46:14.719 --> 00:46:15.679 for 00:46:15.679 --> 00:46:15.920 our 00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:16.179 sins 00:46:16.179 --> 00:46:16.440 on 00:46:16.440 --> 00:46:16.639 your 00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:16.960 son. 00:46:17.820 --> 00:46:18.260 Thank 00:46:18.260 --> 00:46:18.400 you 00:46:18.400 --> 00:46:18.619 for 00:46:18.619 --> 00:46:19.000 this 00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:19.599 confidence 00:46:19.599 --> 00:46:20.119 that 00:46:20.119 --> 00:46:20.280 we 00:46:20.280 --> 00:46:20.420 are 00:46:20.420 --> 00:46:20.699 in 00:46:20.699 --> 00:46:20.980 him 00:46:20.980 --> 00:46:21.760 the 00:46:21.760 --> 00:46:22.260 righteous 00:46:22.260 --> 00:46:22.619 one 00:46:22.619 --> 00:46:23.400 and 00:46:23.400 --> 00:46:23.539 that 00:46:23.539 --> 00:46:23.739 all 00:46:23.739 --> 00:46:23.900 we've 00:46:23.900 --> 00:46:24.019 got 00:46:24.019 --> 00:46:24.179 to 00:46:24.179 --> 00:46:24.340 look 00:46:24.340 --> 00:46:24.619 forward 00:46:24.619 --> 00:46:24.880 to 00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:25.340 is 00:46:25.340 --> 00:46:25.840 that 00:46:25.840 --> 00:46:26.159 new 00:46:26.159 --> 00:46:26.719 creation. 00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:27.539 Father, 00:46:27.659 --> 00:46:28.099 pray for 00:46:28.099 --> 00:46:28.280 us 00:46:28.280 --> 00:46:28.420 that 00:46:28.420 --> 00:46:28.519 you 00:46:28.519 --> 00:46:28.659 would 00:46:28.659 --> 00:46:28.900 help 00:46:28.900 --> 00:46:29.199 us 00:46:29.199 --> 00:46:31.039 have 00:46:31.039 --> 00:46:31.340 that 00:46:31.340 --> 00:46:31.920 reference 00:46:31.920 --> 00:46:32.280 point 00:46:32.280 --> 00:46:32.400 in 00:46:32.400 --> 00:46:32.579 our 00:46:32.579 --> 00:46:33.019 lives 00:46:33.019 --> 00:46:33.300 that 00:46:33.300 --> 00:46:33.460 we 00:46:33.460 --> 00:46:33.639 would 00:46:33.639 --> 00:46:33.840 live 00:46:33.840 --> 00:46:34.079 by 00:46:34.079 --> 00:46:34.579 faith 00:46:34.579 --> 00:46:36.800 seeking 00:46:36.800 --> 00:46:37.039 the 00:46:37.039 --> 00:46:37.480 salvation 00:46:37.480 --> 00:46:37.719 of 00:46:37.719 --> 00:46:38.019 others. 00:46:38.019 --> 00:46:39.039 I pray 00:46:39.039 --> 00:46:39.179 this 00:46:39.179 --> 00:46:39.320 in 00:46:39.320 --> 00:46:39.500 Jesus 00:46:39.500 --> 00:46:39.820 name 00:46:39.820 --> 00:46:40.199 Amen.