Introduction: 1. Hebrews 11 is often called "the great faith chapter of the Bible." a. It defines faith (vs.1). b. It informs us that faith is essential (vs.6). c. The remainder of the chapter tells about the faith that was demonstrated by a number of great men and women from the Old Testament. 2. (vs.7) Noah's faith is mentioned. 3. In our lesson we are examining 5 statements made in this verse about Noah's faith. 4. Our purposes for studying these statements relating to Noah's faith are: a. to help us gain a better understanding of what faith is b. to supply information that will help us to increase our faith.
Discussion:
I. NOAH WAS "WARNED OF GOD OF THINGS NOT SEEN AS YET"
A. To understand this statement we must consider several verses in Genesis 6. 1. In Noah's day, man had become very wicked (vs.5). 2. Man's wickedness affected God (vs.6). 3. God decided to destroy man and the animals He had created (vs.7). 4. However, "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (vs.8). a. (vs.9) Noah found grace in God's eyes because he "was a just man," he "was perfect in his generations," and he "walked with God." b. Consequently, God decided to spare Noah from destruction. 5. (vs.13) God informed Noah that He would destroy the earth. 6. (vs.17) God had decided to destroy the earth with "a flood of waters." B. This was something new -- no one had ever seen a flood like this. C. Although Noah had never seen a flood like this before, through his faith, he believed what God had said (see Hebrews 11:1). D. What caused Noah to listen when God warned him about the coming flood?
II. NOAH WAS "MOVED WITH FEAR"
A. Fear: reverence, respect for God B. In the Bible, fear and obedience are often joined together (Ecclesiastes 12:13). C. Noah's fear "moved" [motivated] him to do something. D. What did Noah's fear move him to do?
III. NOAH "PREPARED AN ARK TO THE SAVING OF HIS HOUSE"
A. God gave Noah specific instructions for building the ark and for placing the animals inside. B. Noah obeyed God's instructions (Genesis 6:22; 7:5). C. Noah would not have been saved if he had not obeyed God's instructions. 1. The Bible teaches that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). 2. Noah demonstrated his faith by his obedience.
IV. THROUGH HIS FAITH AND OBEDIENCE, NOAH "CONDEMNED THE WORLD"
A. Noah did not condemn the world in the sense that he destroyed it -- God destroyed it. 1. Noah condemned the world by refusing to be like the world. 2. (2 Peter 2:5) Noah is called a "preacher of righteousness." 3. His preaching was designed to save the world, but only his family listened to him. 4. Everyone else perished in the flood. B. Noah refused to be condemned with the rest of the world -- he knew that he had to obey God, even if no one else in the whole world did.
V. NOAH "BECAME HEIR OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS BY FAITH"
By his obedient faith, Noah received the reward that God reserved for him.
