1. A number of valuable lessons can be learned from Noah's ark. 2. Our lesson is based on Hebrews 11:7 -- we are concentrating on "5 lessons to be learned from Noah's faith." Discussion: I. 1ST, 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. God decided to destroy man and the animals He had created (vs.6-7). 3. 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. 4. (vs.13) God informed Noah that He would destroy the earth. 5. (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. Through his faith, Noah believed what God said (see Hebrews 11:1). D. What caused Noah to listen when God warned him about the coming flood? II. 2ND, 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. 3RD, NOAH "PREPARED AN ARK TO THE SAVING OF HIS HOUSE"
A. God gave specific instructions for building the ark and placing the animals inside. B. Noah obeyed God's instructions (Genesis 6:22; 7:5). C. By obeying God's instructions, Noah demonstrated his faith (James 2:18). IV. 4TH, 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. 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. 5TH, NOAH "BECAME HEIR OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS BY FAITH"
By his obedient faith, Noah received the reward God reserved for him. Conclusion:
1. Just as God warned Noah about things that had never been seen, God has warned us of things that have never been seen. a. Warnings: 1) (2 Peter 3:10-12) When Jesus returns, everything will be burned up. 2) (1 Peter 4:17-18) Those who do not obey the Gospel will be punished. b. We know that these things will occur because "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). 2. 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). 3. Just as Noah refused to be like the rest of the world, we must not be conformed to the world (Romans 12:1-2). 4. If we remain faithful to God, we will also receive a reward (Revelation 2:10). 5. Noah's faith ought to encourage us to "run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1-2).
