[ ] 5/29/2011 #935
IN THE BEGINNING
THE INVITATION
Genesis 7:1
INTRODUCTION: In verse one, we read of the care and faithfulness of God to Noah. Judgment was about to begin. Noah received an invitation from the Lord to enter the ark. This is the first use of the word “come.”
I. LORD OF NOAH
A. PATIENCE OF THE LORD. (1 Peter 3:20)
In Peter 3:20, we read of the patience of God during the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.
B. PLAN OF THE LORD.
1. Destruction of the godless. (Gen. 6:17)
The ungodly people had turned their backs to their Creator. They would perish in the flood waters, but Noah and his family would be safe in the ark with God.
2. Delivery of the godly. (Gen. 6:18)
II. LIFE OF NOAH
A. PREPARED MAN.
1. Saved man.
(Eph. 2:8-9)
Noah was saved by grace through faith. God gave grace and by faithNoah believed the Lord.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
2. Separated man.
Noah lived a separated life from the world. He walked with God instead of the world. Noah conducted himself differently. He was “just and perfect in his generation.” (Gen. 6:9)
3. Servant man. (Gen. 6:22)
A servant is obedient to his master. Noah was faithful and obedient to do whatever the Lord commanded him.
4. Secured man.
God invited Noah and his family into the Ark “and the LORD shut him in.” (Gen. 7:16) The grace of God saved Noah and the grace of God kept him secured during the flood.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” John 10:28-29
Jesus taught the security of the believer in John 14:20.
“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”
B. PREACHER MAN. 2 Peter 2:5
Enoch and Noah were two men who lived godly lives before the flood. They both walked with God. Enoch preached 300 years against sin and also about the coming judgment of God.
Enoch named his son Methuselah which means “When he dies, it shall come.” Methuselah lived 969 years. The flood came during the same year in which Methuselah died. People had heard the preaching of Enoch and Noah, and they had witness the building of the ark.
Some of the people in Noah’s day would have heard the powerful preaching of Enoch.
“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”Jude 1:14-15
Noah was a “preacher of righteousness.” He preached against sinand called the people to faith in God. That they wouldrepent of their sin and live godly lives. The Lord preached through Noah for 120 years.
His faithfulness in building the ark condemned the world.
“And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.”
III. LOOMING JUDGMENT
A. INDICTMENT FORJUDGMENT. (v. 4, Gen. 6:5, 11-13)
Wickedness continued to increase and the mercy of God ran out. The people outside of the ark went about their day as usual “And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away.” (Matt. 24:39) Judgment was imminent.
B. INVITATION TO NOAH. (v. 1) “Come thou and all thy house into the ark.”
Noah waited seven days in the ark before the flood waters were released upon the earth. The ark rested upon dry ground with no sign of rain. Redemption for Noah and his family was imminent.
Invitation to salvation.
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17
Invitation at the rapture.
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”Rev. 4:1
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1) While Noah was told to build the ark, we are told to build our lives on a sure foundation. Judgment is coming. In Luke 6:46-49, Jesus told the parable of two builders.
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-47
2) The coming of the Lord should be a powerful motivator for believers to live godly. (1 John 3:1-3)
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:10-14
3) Genuine faith is proven by obedience. Noah preached while he built the ark.You are preaching by the life you are living for the Lord.
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:7
4) The coming judgment should be a powerful motivator for the lost to be saved.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31
One door, and only one
And yet its sides are two;
I am on the inside
On which side are you?
Last invitation is found in Revelation 22:17.
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”