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“Hall of Faith” (Mess.#4) “The Work of Faith” (Noah)
Text: Heb.11: 7; 2 Pet.2: 5; Ezek.14: 14, “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord.” Intro.: Abel evidenced his faith in his worship (he offered a blood sacrifice by faith). Enoch evidenced his faith in his walk (he enjoyed unbroken fellowship with God by faith). Noah evidenced his faith in his work (he built the ark). Noah speaks to us of the great truth that “faith without works is dead.” Had Noah merely said, “I believe God,” but had failed to obey God and build the ark, then he too would have perished. But instead he revealed that he did have faith by obediently building the ark, thus sparing his family, while condemning the rest of the world. Let’s take a look at Noah’s faith and see what we can learn from his “work of faith.” His faith was displayed in . . .
A) His Walk: (Gen.6: 9) 1) Like Enoch, Noah also enjoyed fellowship with God. 2) He walked with God while all others walked in wickedness! (Gen.6: 5-13). 3) His walk separated or distinguished him from the world! Is your walk distinctive? Does it separate you from the world?
His faith was revealed when he received . . .
B) His Warning: (Heb.11: 7; Gen.6: 3) 1) God warned Noah of things not seen as yet – A universal catastrophic flood – and Noah believed and was filled with fear. 2) A divine revelation – doesn’t say whether it was by voice or vision, but either way Noah responded to the warning. 3) God usually warns sinners before judgment strikes and He used Noah to do so. His warning was rejected.
His faith also was evidenced by . . .
C) His Work: (Heb.11: 7) 1) First “fear” - first the negative, then the positive. Fear of the Lord is a motivation to good works. 2) Secondly “prepared” - True faith always leads to good works! (Eph.2: 8-10; Tit.2: 14; 3: 8). 3) It was not Noah’s “works” that saved him! His “work” merely revealed that he had faith and was already saved! (Note: No one else in the whole world obeyed God and built an ark! Jas.2: 17-20, 26). 4) Noah’s faith caused him to work - Does your faith work? 5) Faith first influences our affections, then our actions. 6) He was “moved with fear” (affections) he “prepared an ark” (action). 7) His faith influenced his practice. He did not dispute with God why he should make the ark, how it could contain all the animals and food, nor how it could weather so great a storm. Faith silenced all objections and set him to work in earnest!
His faith testified against the ungodly by . . . (2 Pet.2: 5, “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eight person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly”).
D) His Witness: (Heb.11: 7)
1) Noah condemned the world by preparing the ark. 2) His fear condemned their security and confidence. 3) His faith condemned their unbelief. 4) His obedience condemned their contempt and rebellion. 5) Good examples will either condemn or convert sinners. 6) The best way to condemn the wicked is not by harsh language, but by a holy, exemplary life!
His faith was also displayed in . . .
E) His Waiting: (Gen.6: 3) 1) First - Noah waited one hundred and twenty years for judgment of the flood (Gen.6: 3). 2) Second - Noah waited on the ark for seven days before rain began (Gen.7: 4, 10). 3) Third - Noah waited three hundred and seventy days for flood to subside, more than one year! (Gen.7: 11 cf. 8: 14-16). 4) Noah’s faith was sorely tested by all this waiting! Tribulation worketh patience (Ro.5: 3). Through faith and patience we inherit the promises (Heb.6: 12). Truly Noah had to trust and wait patiently in order to inherit the promise of a brand-new world! (A type of the Nation of Israel who must pass through the tribulation before inheriting the new earth in the Millennium!)
Last of all his faith was revealed in . . .
F) His Worship: (Gen.8: 20-22) 1) Noah showed his gratitude and love for God by building an altar and offering up a sacrifice! 2) We too can show our gratitude and love for God and His great salvation by offering up a sacrifice – The sacrifice of our bodies! (Ro.12: 1-3).
Conclusion: Noah illustrates the “work of faith” “He walked with God” - Do you? Does your walk separate you from the world? “He believed the warning” - Do you really that God will condemn sinners in hell forever? Are you warning them? He “worked” because he had faith - Does your faith work? He “witnessed” against the world - Is your life a witness to the lost? “He waited” - Remember faith and patience go together. “He worshipped” - Have you offered up your body as an act of worship to God? May your faith cause you to go to work for the Lord! And if you’re not saved may you, like Noah, find safety and salvation in the ark – the Lord Jesus Christ! And you too will become an heir of the righteousness which is by faith!
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