Part 1 of this teaching is in the blog from yesterday, so you might want to read that first. This is part 2 and finishes the teaching on how our Faith operates in the context of Faith. The main passage comes from Hebrews 11:7 (ESV)
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God
concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the
saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of
the righteousness that comes by faith.
Noah’s Faith Meant He Worked - To Prepare
For What God Was Going to Do
WHAT HAPPENED?
God came to Noah and told him to prepare an Ark…because
there was going to be A Flood that would destroy the whole world.
Genesis 6:11-14 (ESV)
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood...
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood...
Here’s the KEY point: No one had knowledge of an Ark…
The Ark was a wooden
vessel built to survive a flood – which had never occurred before… God is clear in giving instructions to Noah….
Genesis
6:14-15 (ESV)
14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make
rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.
15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits.
15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits.
The word “Cubit” is a familiar O.T. word, but not a unit
measure we use. It was the distance from
the elbow to the end of your hand: 18-20 in.
The other words “GOPHER WOOD” is unclear. It comes from a Hebrew word “Go-fer” . The NIV translates it “Cypress”…and it’s also been translated “Pine Tree”. Most modern interpreters think it is something like Cedar
or Cypress…
Regardless, it was massive…about 450 feet long, about
the size of two Boeing 747’s. But it was
shaped like a Barge…it wasn’t meant to steer, just float in the ocean of water,
and hold many different varieties of species.
Genesis 6:16 (ESV)
16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a
cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower,
second, and third decks.
What God tells Noah to do, doesn’t have any correlation
to any other event before it…so, Noah has to listen to what God is saying…and
he hears the reason:
Genesis 6:17 (ESV)
17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.
17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.
The
Point in this is NOAH hears God say, “THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO WORK AT.” Noah knows the reason, and he knows the task
ahead, and he says “I’ll work for you God by Faith”.
Remember how Hebrews introduces Faith?
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
What do you do when God tells you to work at something
and it’s never been done before? You apply your mind, and your will…you choose to
obey…YOU BELIEVE.
Genesis 6:22 (ESV)
22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
WHY DID HE DO IT?
Hebrews 11:7 (ESV)
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household...
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household...
Faith is choosing to obey God, to serve God by obeying,
because God is always truthful, he’s always right, and obedience is worth it,
no matter what is going on around you. Noah has “reverent fear”… I think he sawed and hammered
with a profound sense of both sorrow and urgency as to what was about to occur.
Noah’s Faith Demonstrated by Word and by
Work
Genesis 7:1 (ESV)
1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.
1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.
Genesis 7:5-6 (ESV)
5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.
6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth.
5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.
6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth.
Do you remember? Noah was 500 years old when
God came to him, so for 100 years he WORKED on the Ark. Did he say anything to others? Noah didn’t just seclude himself and built the Ark and ignore the world…sort of going to “hell in a handbasket” mentality. He proclaimed to them the truth of what was going to happen. AND, He worked… Patiently day after day, week after week, year after year.
2 Peter 2:4-5 (ESV)
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell…
5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell…
5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Faith and Work are both Gifts of God
Let’s talk about how our Faith operates in the context
of our Work.
I don’t think that a lot of people associate Faith and
their Work together.
But let's think about this thing we do - Work - and here's some things that we need to known in order to understand it:
First,
God Works: Genesis
1:31 (ESV)
31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
God worked and it was in Creation that he Produced.
And, notice that this gift of Work was something we do
in partnership with Him.
Secondly,
God Created Work for Us:
Genesis 2:15 (ESV)
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Work was not part of the Fall, it was built into the
creation by God for humans to find they can partner with God in controlling
creation.
Thirdly,
God Built into Work, Rest
Genesis 2:2 (ESV)
2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
WHY? We need to
remember that life is not defined by our work or productivity. Work becomes de-humanizing when people are treated as
product.
Fourth,
When the Fall took place, Work changed…
Genesis 3:23 (ESV)
23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.
23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.
Genesis 5:29 (ESV)
29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.”
29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.”
There is an inherent struggle in work because of the
Fall…our work is at times painful toil.
We need “relief”.
Fifth,
God Works in our Work
Deuteronomy 30:9 (ESV)
9 The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you…
9 The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you…
Philippians 2:12-13
(ESV)
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
SO…Faith enters into our
Work as we give it to God
Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)
3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Ecclesiastes 3:22 (ESV)
22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
I believe our Work is Holy when we do it for the Lord,
and not for the praise of others, or the income as the reason for doing it.
Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
I think we should celebrate our Work and make it a part of our worship. One idea would be to get a different person up in front of
the congregation each week and have them share their work. And then, COMMISSION them in their Work through Prayer…
Noah worked in order to fulfill God's purposes, and our work can do the same when we work by Faith.
Peace
Noah worked in order to fulfill God's purposes, and our work can do the same when we work by Faith.
Peace
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