Preached by Rev, Wesley Ellis on 31st May 2009 in Cregagh Congregational Church, Belfast.(Apologies to the preacher if these words are not exactly what you said - they are what I heard through God's voice.)
There are a number of keywords in this sermon that speak to us today. These words are evident in the life of Noah - FAITH (being sure, being certain, hope, holy fear), OBEDIENCE, ENDURANCE and RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Many would assign the story of Noah, the ark and the word wide flood to a storybook. BUT have a look at the evidence for a word wide flood and you will be amazed.
(Have a look here - http://www.answersingenesis.org/get-answers/features/worldwide-flood-evidence )
Answers in Genesis website says - When the Bible refers to a worldwide Flood in Genesis 7–8, that’s exactly what it means. Not local, not metaphorical, not some crazy dream—the waters covered the whole earth. Don’t just take our word for it, though. Take a look at the evidence right beneath your feet
vs13 - God is going to save Noah and his family BUT the frightening thing is that God regretted having made mankind (what a terrible contemplation). God was grieved and abhorred the sin of that generation, He could not (and still cannot) tolerate sin even in its most minute detail.
God was able to see into the hearts and minds of all men and is able to see our bias towards sin. God concludes that mankind is without redemption even though He wants no-one to perish - but verse 3 makes us understand that His Spirit will not contend with man forever.
It is not that God is incapable of saving,rather that man does not wish to be saved. For over 100 years Noah's generation listened to his preaching and watched him build the ark - all to no avail - only 8 people would be saved. And yet salvation was open to all men.
Noah however was a man of faith - see Hebrews 11:7
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."
Is faith evident in our life? Are we sure of what we hope for? Are we sure of our escape from the judgment of this world and the destruction to come? Noah was sure even though he lived in a virtual desert. Noah was sure that a flood was coming.
Noah followed God's instructions to the letter. How would we react in such circumstances?
Hope was in Noah's heart because God had put it there. He had hope to escape the coming destruction and hope that the sin of the people would be judged. Are we pushed to the limit in our faith - pressured to conform - pressured to give up our hope in Jesus who is our Ark?
Being sure - is this true of our faith even when we are pressurised? When our faith is tested and we face trials - this is the work of sanctification. And what was meant for evil, God turns to good. And if we are pressurised by sin our our lives, we should repent of that sin and he will re-instate us. Where is the certainty of our faith, the passion that drives us?
Those people could see the ark but not the impending destruction. How much more is this true now? People cannot see the impending destruction because they have been blinded by the god of this age.
In holy fear Noah built the ark, not out of bravado nor out of self-reliance. His faith brought about this holy fear -fear of a Holy God who will judge. He is a loving God and a patient God, but one day His patience will run out and judgement will come.
Does our faith condemn the world? Do we fly in the face of this world, as salt and light. Are we set apart and preaching to this generation by our words and deeds, as Noah was?
Noah was also set apart by his obedience. He spoke to others and he prepared for the destruction to come. God gave him specific instructions of how He wanted things done - this was God's way of salvation. Just as instructions for the tabernacle had come directly from God again to show Israel the way of salvation. Both the tabernacle and the ark are precursors of Jesus.
In Hebrews 5: 8-10
"Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek." What is it that perfects Jesus - it is his perfect obedience to God through his sufferings. Noah was sinless as Jesus is, Noah's righteousness came from obedience to God.
Genesis 6:20 says that Noah did everything God had commanded him - his obedience to the letter - just as Jesus did throughout his life.
Is their obedience in our life? Yes we will get things wrong BUT what is the mark of our life? It should be that we do what God's says despite our failings. So we persevere to the end and that shows our obedience.
Endurance - How are we enduring? It is because of God's spirit in our lives that we can endure.As we live our Christian lives it will get harder - yet we should endure.
Matthew 24 - Jesus said about Noah that he who stands firm to the end is motivated by God's Spirit. This is evidence of faith - that we stand firm to the end. Noah could have used the wood that he had cut to build a retirement hut instead of a boat - but he endured. He endured even though his preaching did not lead to any turning to God. But when we preach the gospel it is for 2 outcomes - (1) The salvation of souls (2) The condemnation of unbelievers
Those who listened to Noah and watched him were condemned
Luke 17:26-27 as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be in the day of the sons of men.
There is nothing new under the sun - Right up to the day of Christ's return people will keep on keeping on.
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