By Faith: Noah
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Introduction
Introduction
As continues, we see the Hall of Faith unfold as the writing portrays several characteristics of each of these infamous Old Testament figures. The purpose of this study is to study these great leaders and see what we can glean from their lives, particularly their faith. The closer we look at these men and later women, we can see glimpses of how then lived our their faith and what we can learn and adapt in our lives by their phenomenal example.
Our study brings us to a man named Noah.
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.
Hebrews 11:
We have one verse, consisting of two sentences, that we can learn lots from, but we also as good biblical scholars, we should look at the Old Testament account of the full story found in . Make sure you take some time to carefully study that passage.
On a parenthetical note, there is a school of thought that says that the account of Noah and the flood is a parable. Noah and the flood are mentioned in several passages in the Bible, and in not one of the passages, is it mentioned that it is a parable. The language used promotes it being an authentic reliable and very real account. Science has shown evidence of the ark resting on Mount Ararat and there is evidence of a great flood. I am convinced that this was an actual event and this passage in Hebrews is there to remind us today that we can apply these principles and precepts in our lives and grow in our walk with Christ!
As we look at the faith of Noah, first let’s look at his Foundational Faith.
Foundational Faith
Foundational Faith
This is the account of Noah.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.
As a righteous man, Noah believed in God.
“See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous will live by his faith—
Habakkuk
Noah some how, some way obligated himself to the commands of God. He didn’t have what we have today in the form of a Bible or opportunities to study the written word of God as we do. He was drawn to His God and trusted His God was faithful.
When God is in your life, you will have certain characteristics that will set you apart. One of those characteristics is that you will be, like Noah, a righteous person. This means that you and I will be people that are upright and devout. We will strive to be people of integrity, blameless and without defect.
if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
Noah walked with the Lord. This means that he had close fellowship and belonged to the Lord.
He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you.
Deuteronomy
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
To belong to the Lord is a wonderful thing! He has given us the opportunity to walk in close fellowship with each of us and He will give us insight and direction in our lives.
Oh how I pray that we might continue to be a church that is known for believing and belonging to our Lord because of such a foundational faith!
Do you have a foundational faith? In other words, have you come to a place in your life where you have said, “yes I will place my trust in Jesus and build my faith on Him and Who he is?
Have you placed your faith in Christ?
Noah also demonstrates for us a FUNCTIONAL FAITH.
Functional Faith
Functional Faith
Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
It is one thing to have that foundational faith, but it requires ACTION.
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Noah had a functional faith that he accompanied by action. He took the instructions that God gave him and built the ark exactly the way he was told. We don’t see any evidence of procrastination or delay, but only that he put action to his faith.
What is it that God has asked you to do based on faith? Have you taken the action to do so?
When you take action, you will ADVANCE with your faith. In the description of the armor of faith in , we learn the importance of the shield of faith.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Ephesians 6:16
We don’t have record in the Bible of this, but don’t you think that Noah received a tremendous amount of ridicule for building a massive boat on dry land. He had to be mocked and made fun of, but he also had to be able to overcome the objections and flaming arrows and was able to press on.
When we take our foundational faith and incorporate into a functional faith, we will take action and advance that faith by realizing that our faith as a shield can extinguish anything that comes to us from the evil one!
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
1 John
Noah had the experience of every action he took that helped him advance his faith, he also was affirmed in his faith.
It is an incredible cycle we can experience. As we move in our faith to do what God has called us to do. we are able to affirm the faithfulness of God.
Noah saw this! He was able to move and act with full trust in God. Guess what? You and I can do the same thing!
“ ‘The Lord has vindicated us;
come, let us tell in Zion
what the Lord our God has done.’
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
God will always prove Himself faithful to those who serve Him!
Noah was able to take this foundational faith, make it a functional faith and as a result, he had a fruitful faith!
Fruitful Faith
Fruitful Faith
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.
We learn that Noah’s faith was a fruitful faith that gave him a REWARD.
God used Noah’s faithfulness to save his family.
According to the Bible, every person and living creature on earth was wiped out, except Noah’s family.
This passage also tells us that Noah’s reward was that he “he became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”
Righteousness is God’s gift to the person that has faith in Him!
The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.
Genesis 7:
even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord.
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
Noah’s fruitful faith was found in his total, unhesitating obedience to God’s revealed word.
Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
Genesis 6
A fruitful faith is also a restored faith. God used Noah to re-establish this world. Noah’s faithfulness cause him to come out of the ark after the waters had receded and build an altar to the Lord. The Lord said in
The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
When
God used Noah’s faithfulness to restore hope to humanity and to the earth.
He prays to God and finds favor with him,
he sees God’s face and shouts for joy;
he is restored by God to his righteous state.
A fruitful faith is used to restore. What does God need to use you for to restore some type of hope to humanity and to the earth?
A fruitful faith also REMAINS.
God is a covenant God. In other words, He gives us His promise and we can count on it! Noah’s faithfulness provided a path for God to honor all of us. After the rains had ended, the ark came to rest, and Noah and his family worshiped God, God gave them a promise and a covenant:
Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
Gene
We are so fortunate to live in an area where we can see that beauty of that promise! I am moved every time I see a rainbow because I am reminded of God’s faithfulness and His promises.
When you and I establish a covenant with God, He is faithful! He will continue to be faithful to us! And as a result, we are changed and conformed by the power of God!
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
1 Jo
So what are we to do with a foundational faith, a functional faith and a fruitful faith like Noah demonstrated?
I think there is a challenge here for us all. I am convinced that God has called each of us to do and be something great. He desires us to be faithful to what He has called us to do.
Here is the challenge:
Spend some time in prayer asking God what He is calling you to do as a result of gaining understanding about Noah’s faith. Ask Him to reveal to you what your “ARK” is and how it should be built. The ARK was specific in its design and purpose. This what you are being called to do, it is not what you feel that someone else needs to do. No where in scripture to we see where Noah was told to have someone else build the ark!
Here are some thoughts to help you with your process:
Is there a need in your church, in your neighborhood, in your community that needs to be filled?
Is there someone that you know that needs to be reached outside of this church that needs to know that God loves them?
Is it stepping up to lead a bible study group in your home?
Is it helping Mrs. Georgia visit our advanced seniors on a regular basis?
Is it helping with children’s church?
Is in being trained to run our sound board?
This building is here in a prominent location for a prominent reason and you are prominently gifted to carry our a prominent task. Will you only believe?