1. According to Mark 2:5, Jesus "saw" the faith of the men who brought their friend with palsy to Him -- they demonstrated their faith through their actions. 2. In Hebrews 11:7, 5 statements are made about Noah that help us to "see" his faith -- he demonstrated his faith through his actions. 3. In our lesson we are taking a look at Noah's faith.
Discussion:
I. NOAH WAS "WARNED OF GOD OF THINGS NOT SEEN AS YET"
A. To help us see Noah's faith we must consider several verses in Genesis 6. 1. (vs.13) God informed Noah that He would destroy the earth. 2. (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, his faith led him to believe 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.
III. NOAH "PREPARED AN ARK TO THE SAVING OF HIS HOUSE"
A. God told Noah how to build the ark and how to place the animals inside. B. Noah demonstrated his faith by obeying God's instructions (Genesis 6:22; 7:5).
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 no one listened to him except his family. 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 God reserved for him.
VI. APPLICATION
A. Just as God warned Noah about things that had never been seen before, God has warned us of things that have never been seen. 1. Warnings: a. (2 Peter 3:10-12) When Jesus returns, everything will be burned up. b. (1 Peter 4:17-18) Those who do not obey the Gospel will be punished. 2. We know that these things will occur because "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). 3. Noah and his family listened to God's warnings, and they were saved from the flood. 4. Everyone else on the earth refused to listen, and they perished. 5. We must listen to God's warnings. B. Just as fear moved Noah to obey God, fear ought to motivate us to do what God wants us to do (1 Peter 3:20-21; Mark 16:16). C. Just as Noah refused to be like the rest of the world, we must not be conformed to the world (Romans 12:1-2). D. If we remain faithful to God, we will also receive a great reward.
Conclusion:
1. Because of his faith, Noah's name is recorded in "the great faith chapter." 2. Through our faith and obedience we can have our names written in the Lamb's book of life. 3. Noah's faith should encourage us to run the Christian race (Hebrews 12:1-2).
