WEBVTT 00:01.516 --> 00:04.876 Welcome to the Valley Baptist Church sermon podcast. 00:04.876 --> 00:08.316 We're so glad you're here, and we hope this message inspires you, 00:08.316 --> 00:12.476 builds your faith, and moves you toward a deep relationship with God. 00:12.476 --> 00:15.516 Today, you'll find great insight into the Bible 00:15.516 --> 00:18.236 and learn how you can apply it straight to your life. 00:18.236 --> 00:20.756 So welcome and enjoy the message. 00:21.428 --> 00:26.388 If you have your Bible, please open it with me to Genesis chapter 6 in a message I'm calling 00:26.388 --> 00:29.408 The Flood of Judgment. 00:30.228 --> 00:36.768 In Genesis 1 through 11, there are four major events of ancient mankind that are recorded for us. 00:37.240 --> 00:42.240 Creation, the Fall, the Flood, and then the Tower of Babel. 00:43.140 --> 00:46.840 Well, today we're beginning to look at the flood account, 00:46.840 --> 00:49.180 which skeptics scoff at. 00:49.180 --> 00:52.120 I may even get some mail this week from people who say, 00:52.120 --> 00:57.120 I cannot believe you believe in a literal worldwide flood. 00:57.360 --> 00:58.980 Well, I do. 00:59.735 --> 01:02.535 The way I see it, once you get past Genesis 1, 01:02.535 --> 01:04.075 verse number one, in the beginning, 01:04.075 --> 01:06.135 God created the heavens and the earth. 01:06.135 --> 01:07.835 Once you get past that, 01:07.835 --> 01:09.615 you shouldn't really have any problems 01:09.615 --> 01:13.015 believing any other miracles in Scripture. 01:13.015 --> 01:16.755 You see, I take the Word of God by faith. 01:16.762 --> 01:21.162 because it's never, not once, failed me, 01:21.162 --> 01:24.562 and because it's never, not once, been disproven, 01:24.562 --> 01:28.002 although the world has certainly tried. 01:28.002 --> 01:31.202 Anthropologists will tell you that the flood never happened 01:31.202 --> 01:34.822 because virtually every civilization in the world 01:34.822 --> 01:37.322 has a record of a great flood, 01:37.322 --> 01:39.662 but that the details don't match up. 01:39.662 --> 01:44.602 Well, that's actually one of the greatest arguments for a flood. 01:44.858 --> 01:52.858 I mean, when Noah and his family got off the ark, what do you think's the one story they told their kids and grandkids for generation to generation? 01:53.338 --> 01:56.938 The earth was flooded and we got saved by a boat, right? 01:57.418 --> 02:03.258 Now, the details, they did change for various people groups, much like the game of telephone. 02:04.358 --> 02:07.198 Where it gets passed on, the details change. 02:07.198 --> 02:14.778 But the repeating theme from all these civilizations is that there was a catastrophic flood that wiped everyone out. 02:15.588 --> 02:20.468 Everyone but one family who is saved by both. 02:21.173 --> 02:26.473 Now, thankfully, the Holy Spirit preserved the true story for us in his word. 02:27.313 --> 02:31.373 I can remember one of my professors in college, a missionary to India, 02:31.473 --> 02:34.573 who happened to also be a Ph.D. in anthropology, 02:35.373 --> 02:39.973 sharing with our class how the Chinese people claim to be descendants of Noah. 02:40.733 --> 02:43.033 Sounds like a whole lot like Noah to me. 02:43.033 --> 02:48.173 He also pointed out that the Chinese word for boat is a combination of three symbols. 02:49.033 --> 02:50.332 Vessel. 02:50.333 --> 02:52.513 The number eight and people. 02:53.433 --> 02:58.873 Well, the Bible says that eight people were saved on the vessel called the ark. 02:59.373 --> 03:02.793 And we could go on, but instead, let's get into our text. 03:02.793 --> 03:11.273 The context is that the world had grown so evil and so corrupt that God said that he was going to destroy it. 03:11.673 --> 03:13.401 Verse number eight. 03:13.402 --> 03:15.902 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 03:16.562 --> 03:18.222 This is the genealogy of Noah. 03:18.362 --> 03:20.762 Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. 03:21.562 --> 03:23.082 Noah walked with God. 03:23.602 --> 03:26.882 And Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 03:27.302 --> 03:28.921 Here's our first principle. 03:28.922 --> 03:33.762 God's grace is actually an invitation for us to walk with Him. 03:33.942 --> 03:34.461 Okay. 03:34.462 --> 03:37.062 It says that Noah found grace. 03:37.062 --> 03:41.102 Noah didn't earn grace, he found it. 03:41.102 --> 03:44.242 You see, Noah was a sinner just like the rest of us. 03:44.242 --> 03:47.042 Yes, certainly he was a just and righteous man 03:47.042 --> 03:50.442 as the text indicates for his generation, 03:50.442 --> 03:52.482 but we know he wasn't perfect 03:52.482 --> 03:54.022 in the way we understand perfection 03:54.022 --> 03:56.582 because as soon as he got off the ark, 03:56.582 --> 03:58.382 he got drunk, he got wasted. 03:58.382 --> 04:02.802 So we know his righteousness didn't come from his own doing. 04:02.795 --> 04:08.075 In fact, Hebrews chapter 11 says that Noah built the ark by faith 04:08.075 --> 04:12.655 and that he became an heir of righteousness by faith. 04:13.175 --> 04:15.835 You see, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, 04:15.955 --> 04:20.395 and he found it the same way any of us find it, by faith. 04:21.055 --> 04:24.755 And then God's grace in his life so transformed his life 04:24.755 --> 04:28.195 that it says that Noah walked with God. 04:28.883 --> 04:34.103 Just like his great-grandpa Enoch had walked with God, Noah walked with God. 04:34.883 --> 04:38.403 You know, I hope and I pray that at the end of my life, 04:38.403 --> 04:43.823 the totality of my life could be summed up as Andrew walked with God. 04:44.523 --> 04:46.563 Now, what does it mean to walk with God? 04:46.603 --> 04:48.963 Well, it means you're heading in the same direction as he is. 04:49.403 --> 04:53.483 It means that you're in relationship and conversation with him, 04:53.563 --> 04:57.203 and it means that you go wherever he leads you. 04:58.010 --> 05:04.850 Now, if you're like Noah and you have found grace in God's eyes through Jesus Christ, 05:05.350 --> 05:08.510 that is God's invitation to you to walk with him. 05:08.590 --> 05:11.070 And there's nothing like walking with God. 05:11.645 --> 05:17.405 Verse number 11, it says, the earth also was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence. 05:17.505 --> 05:23.945 So God looked upon the earth and indeed it was corrupt for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 05:24.445 --> 05:30.885 And God said to Noah, the end of all flesh has come before me for the earth is filled with violence through them. 05:30.965 --> 05:33.605 And behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 05:34.696 --> 05:37.676 The word corrupt here is used three times 05:37.676 --> 05:39.416 in verse number 11 alone. 05:39.416 --> 05:41.856 God is saying that it is corrupt. 05:41.856 --> 05:45.336 The word means to bring to ruin or destruction. 05:45.336 --> 05:47.736 So what God really is saying is I'm gonna destroy 05:47.736 --> 05:51.316 that which has already been destroyed by sin. 05:51.436 --> 05:55.056 And notice it says that all flesh had corrupted their way. 05:55.136 --> 05:56.376 So who corrupted mankind? 05:57.376 --> 05:59.436 We corrupted ourselves. 05:59.976 --> 06:01.776 We are to blame. 06:01.976 --> 06:03.415 So here's the principle. 06:03.416 --> 06:07.936 Any judgment that mankind receives from God is justified. 06:09.236 --> 06:15.316 Sometimes people will ask, well, how can a loving God judge people for their sin to the point that they die? 06:15.316 --> 06:16.292 Why? 06:16.293 --> 06:21.513 The more complex question the Bible addresses is how can a holy and a just God possibly 06:21.513 --> 06:24.213 forgive people of their sin? 06:24.213 --> 06:28.393 So if you ever struggle with the justice of God and you're wondering if His judgment perhaps 06:28.393 --> 06:31.953 is too harsh, just know it's never too harsh. 06:31.953 --> 06:35.833 God is good and He always does that which is right. 06:35.833 --> 06:42.753 We can take comfort in that, which means He never judges more harshly than what's deserved. 06:42.753 --> 06:46.873 Now, verse number 14, we're introduced to the ark that Noah is instructed to build. 06:46.873 --> 06:54.033 And we know from 1 Peter chapter 3 that the ark is actually a picture of Jesus. 06:54.573 --> 07:00.793 So I want you to just keep that in your mind as we go through the text this morning, because we're going to come back to that. 07:00.792 --> 07:05.752 Now, in verse number 14, through the end of the chapter, we have a lot of repetitions, 07:05.872 --> 07:07.272 a lot of verses we're going to cover today. 07:07.752 --> 07:12.912 The story just keeps repeating itself, and each repetition gives us just a little more 07:12.912 --> 07:14.172 detail about the story. 07:14.232 --> 07:19.272 But if you're not careful, you can get lost in all of the repetition, because we're not 07:19.272 --> 07:20.191 used to it. 07:20.192 --> 07:23.792 In our day, we're more linear with our storytelling. 07:23.792 --> 07:26.312 So you've got to really pay attention. 07:26.852 --> 07:28.672 In verse number 14... 07:28.670 --> 07:31.850 God says, make yourself an ark of gopher wood. 07:32.290 --> 07:35.450 Make rooms in the ark, literally nests or compartments, 07:36.150 --> 07:38.370 and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 07:38.490 --> 07:39.870 That's to keep the water out. 07:40.570 --> 07:41.850 And this is how you shall make it. 07:42.170 --> 07:45.310 The length of the ark shall be 300 cubits. 07:45.310 --> 07:49.550 Now, a cubit is the distance between the end of your elbow to the end of your finger, 07:49.650 --> 07:51.150 about 18 inches long. 07:51.856 --> 07:55.816 Its width, 50 cubits, and its height, 30 cubits. 07:55.856 --> 08:01.236 So it's about 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 08:01.456 --> 08:04.096 This is a massive boat. 08:04.968 --> 08:08.008 And then he says, you shall make a window for the ark 08:08.008 --> 08:10.348 and you shall finish it to a cubit from above 08:10.348 --> 08:13.188 and set the door of the ark in its side. 08:13.188 --> 08:16.448 You shall make it with lower, second and third decks. 08:16.448 --> 08:20.208 So the boat is three stories tall. 08:20.208 --> 08:25.208 So we see here that Noah is told by God, build an ark. 08:25.288 --> 08:27.028 And then God tells him how to do it. 08:27.028 --> 08:29.168 He tells what it's supposed to be made of, 08:29.168 --> 08:31.008 its size, its dimensions, 08:31.008 --> 08:33.468 what it's supposed to be sealed with. 08:34.263 --> 08:39.963 Now, there's a couple of things that jump out to me about the construction of the ark. 08:40.023 --> 08:43.163 Now, I might be reading a little too much in here, but I find it interesting. 08:43.703 --> 08:51.863 The first is that it was to be covered and sealed with pitch so that the waters of God's judgment wouldn't destroy Noah and his family. 08:51.963 --> 08:56.943 Now, this is the same Hebrew word that's used throughout the Old Testament for atonement. 08:57.567 --> 08:59.847 Now, what does the blood atonement do? 08:59.947 --> 09:01.927 The blood of Jesus, his atonement do? 09:02.027 --> 09:07.067 It covers our sin with his righteousness to keep God's judgment from us. 09:07.777 --> 09:11.377 Now, God also tells Noah here to put a door 09:11.377 --> 09:13.757 into the side of the ark. 09:13.757 --> 09:17.017 So we see there's only one way into the ark. 09:17.017 --> 09:20.017 There's only one way into the boat of salvation 09:20.017 --> 09:22.257 through the door. 09:22.257 --> 09:23.417 Well, Jesus said what? 09:23.417 --> 09:25.957 He said, I am the door. 09:25.957 --> 09:28.037 If anyone enters by me, 09:28.043 --> 09:29.182 He will be saved. 09:29.183 --> 09:31.403 Now, there's a lot of other details here that are given. 09:31.583 --> 09:39.763 I think the details together are an example of how God often gives us detailed instructions in life, doesn't he? 09:40.203 --> 09:43.143 Sometimes a lot of detail in his word for us. 09:43.583 --> 09:48.703 You see, sometimes I think that people are tempted to think that God only cares about the big issues of life. 09:48.703 --> 09:51.223 But God actually cares about all. 09:51.871 --> 09:53.230 the issues of life. 09:53.231 --> 09:54.090 Jesus said, 09:54.091 --> 09:55.471 he who is faithful with little 09:55.471 --> 09:57.951 will be faithful with much. 09:58.431 --> 10:00.470 Verse 17. 10:00.471 --> 10:01.070 God says, 10:01.071 --> 10:01.650 and behold, 10:01.651 --> 10:04.531 I myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth 10:04.531 --> 10:06.631 to destroy from heaven all flesh 10:06.631 --> 10:07.911 in which is the breath of life. 10:08.291 --> 10:10.411 Everything that is on the earth shall die. 10:11.210 --> 10:19.630 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall go into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 10:19.990 --> 10:26.090 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. 10:26.590 --> 10:28.410 They shall be male and female. 10:28.770 --> 10:34.670 Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, 10:34.770 --> 10:38.330 two of every kind will come to you and keep them alive. 10:38.670 --> 10:39.187 Amen. 10:39.188 --> 10:42.488 And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, 10:42.488 --> 10:47.528 and you shall gather it to yourself, and it shall be food for you and for them." 10:47.528 --> 10:54.568 So this is the first time that God tells Noah how he's going to destroy the earth. 10:54.568 --> 10:57.068 He says by flood waters. 10:57.068 --> 11:01.668 Now, everything that has the breath of life, meaning all land animals, 11:01.668 --> 11:05.188 all human beings are going to be destroyed. 11:05.260 --> 11:10.260 But then God says, but I will make my covenant with you. 11:10.700 --> 11:12.880 Now that's the first time the word covenant 11:12.880 --> 11:17.760 is used in scripture and covenant means promise. 11:17.760 --> 11:22.420 God's promising Noah and his family and the animal kingdom 11:22.420 --> 11:24.940 that he is not going to destroy them. 11:24.940 --> 11:26.600 Here's our principle. 11:26.600 --> 11:30.580 The only way that we come to God is on his terms. 11:31.484 --> 11:32.963 It's on his terms. 11:32.964 --> 11:35.564 Noah was not saved because he was so smart. 11:36.444 --> 11:40.004 Noah wasn't saved because he struck up a deal with God. 11:40.224 --> 11:45.844 Noah was saved because God chose to make a covenant with him to be saved. 11:46.584 --> 11:48.344 And he told him detailed instructions. 11:48.504 --> 11:51.404 He said, build an ark and then go into it. 11:52.544 --> 11:55.544 Sometimes people will say, well, I think you get to God this way. 11:55.664 --> 11:58.424 No, I think we get to God this way or that way. 11:58.524 --> 12:00.684 No, we only get to God his way. 12:01.144 --> 12:02.464 We come on his terms. 12:02.664 --> 12:03.383 He's God. 12:03.384 --> 12:04.683 We're not. 12:04.684 --> 12:11.304 Now, we see here that Noah is told to bring a male and a female of each kind of animal, 12:11.304 --> 12:16.084 obviously for the purpose of repopulating the earth once the flood is over. 12:16.912 --> 12:22.112 Now, the question becomes, how in the world did Noah get all these animals on the ark? 12:22.212 --> 12:25.592 Well, I think the first thing I would point out is that God says, 12:25.692 --> 12:32.992 bring two of every kind of animal, not species as we know it today. 12:33.092 --> 12:34.892 Kind is a much more general term, 12:34.992 --> 12:41.372 probably referring to the reproductive boundaries within animals. 12:41.363 --> 12:47.183 So instead, I think of a ring of a coyote and a wolf and a jackal and a dog. 12:47.403 --> 12:54.803 Perhaps they just loaded up two within the canine family and microevolution took effect from there. 12:55.343 --> 13:02.403 Also, I assume these animals were chosen specifically for maximum reproduction once the flood was over. 13:02.403 --> 13:04.503 So I think they were probably juveniles. 13:04.955 --> 13:06.275 Which makes a big difference. 13:06.275 --> 13:09.535 Because for example, the largest dinosaur egg that we have 13:09.535 --> 13:13.015 is just a little bit bigger than a football. 13:13.015 --> 13:16.855 So bringing juveniles certainly would have made sense. 13:16.855 --> 13:19.595 Now remember the ark is massive. 13:19.595 --> 13:24.595 It had the capacity of 569 railroad boxcars. 13:24.795 --> 13:27.595 So I don't have any doubt that God designed the ark 13:27.595 --> 13:31.775 big enough to put all the animals he wanted on the ark. 13:31.775 --> 13:34.721 Verse 22. 13:34.722 --> 13:57.082 It says, 13:57.082 --> 13:57.131 It says, 13:57.132 --> 13:58.392 A male and his female. 13:59.072 --> 14:01.112 Two of each animals that are unclean. 14:01.432 --> 14:02.891 A male and his female. 14:02.892 --> 14:07.072 Also 70 each of the birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species. 14:07.152 --> 14:08.712 I think it's a bad translation. 14:08.712 --> 14:14.952 It literally means seed or offspring to keep them alive on the face of the earth. 14:15.312 --> 14:19.732 For after seven more days, I will cause it to rain on the earth 40 days and 40 nights. 14:19.852 --> 14:24.492 And I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I've made. 14:24.487 --> 14:28.827 And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. 14:29.407 --> 14:33.167 Now, there's two things, two times in the passage that we just read that it says, 14:33.167 --> 14:36.327 And Noah did all that God commanded him. 14:36.407 --> 14:39.367 Noah did all that the Lord commanded him. 14:39.827 --> 14:45.967 Now, this word all is an important word, a small word, very important word. 14:46.587 --> 14:51.467 Let me ask you, do you do all that the Lord commands you? 14:52.178 --> 14:57.078 Or do you sort of pick and choose which commandments of God that you're going to obey? 14:57.758 --> 15:03.098 You see, God expects us as his children to do all that he commands us. 15:03.538 --> 15:05.718 Now, that doesn't mean that we're perfect. 15:05.858 --> 15:06.797 Certainly doesn't mean that. 15:06.798 --> 15:11.038 But it does mean that we make a decision to go all in on following Jesus, 15:11.138 --> 15:13.578 to make him our Savior and our Lord. 15:14.757 --> 15:16.077 Some people say, well, I believe, 15:16.317 --> 15:19.917 and yet their life remains unchanged by the grace of God. 15:19.997 --> 15:22.437 Listen, if that's the case, that's a counterfeit faith. 15:23.177 --> 15:25.076 Here's our principle. 15:25.077 --> 15:29.897 Obedience is actually the byproduct of genuine faith. 15:30.451 --> 15:32.391 Hebrews chapter 11, verse number 7, 15:32.591 --> 15:36.991 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, 15:37.151 --> 15:42.791 moved with godly fear, prepared or built an ark for the saving of his household. 15:42.891 --> 15:45.571 It says, By faith Noah built the ark. 15:45.571 --> 15:47.511 And what incredible faith it was. 15:48.271 --> 15:51.231 I mean, some believe that prior to the flood, 15:51.231 --> 15:53.771 the ecosystem was so different 15:53.771 --> 15:56.271 that it had never rained before. 15:56.271 --> 15:58.731 And they get that from Genesis 2, verse number six, 15:58.731 --> 15:59.550 where it says, 15:59.551 --> 16:03.471 and a mist came up from the ground to water the garden. 16:03.610 --> 16:06.470 Now, I'm not sure if it had rained at this point or not. 16:06.470 --> 16:07.970 I don't think that's crystal clear. 16:08.070 --> 16:09.450 But one thing is clear. 16:09.910 --> 16:12.710 It had never rained to the point where it had flooded the earth. 16:13.190 --> 16:14.429 That's clear. 16:14.430 --> 16:15.770 It had never rained to that point. 16:16.230 --> 16:21.310 He was warned, Hebrews says, of things not yet seen. 16:21.530 --> 16:24.550 No one had seen it, a flood like this. 16:25.070 --> 16:26.490 And so Noah built the ark. 16:27.488 --> 16:29.148 based on the Word of God, didn't he? 16:29.148 --> 16:31.588 He didn't base it on science, certainly. 16:31.588 --> 16:33.488 He didn't base it on his personal experience. 16:33.488 --> 16:35.488 He based it on the Word of God. 16:35.488 --> 16:37.908 And did you know that saving faith 16:37.908 --> 16:40.228 is always based on the Word of God? 16:40.228 --> 16:43.028 It's always rooted in the Word of God. 16:43.028 --> 16:46.708 The Bible says that faith comes from hearing, 16:46.708 --> 16:49.968 hearing by the Word of God. 16:49.968 --> 16:53.988 Now, many believe that Noah actually took him, 16:53.988 --> 16:56.148 perhaps over a hundred years 16:56.210 --> 16:58.290 to build this massive ark. 16:58.290 --> 17:00.250 The New Testament says that Noah 17:00.250 --> 17:02.470 was a preacher of righteousness. 17:02.470 --> 17:06.050 For over 100 years, Noah is preaching and building. 17:06.050 --> 17:08.650 He's preaching and building, warning people, 17:08.650 --> 17:10.890 pleading with them to believe and repent, 17:10.890 --> 17:14.610 and the whole time, I'm sure he is ridiculed for his faith, 17:14.610 --> 17:19.250 ridiculed for building this massive boat on dry land. 17:20.527 --> 17:23.887 which has led me to wonder if Noah got discouraged 17:23.887 --> 17:24.726 along the way. 17:24.727 --> 17:26.627 And my assumption is that he did 17:26.627 --> 17:28.867 because Noah was a sinner saved by grace, 17:28.867 --> 17:31.727 just like the rest of us as Christians. 17:31.727 --> 17:34.487 So he was susceptible certainly to discouragement 17:34.487 --> 17:36.807 like we are from time to time. 17:36.807 --> 17:40.167 So here Noah is, he's believing God. 17:40.167 --> 17:44.047 He's working so hard to build the ark, he's preaching, 17:44.047 --> 17:47.127 but no one outside of his family believes 17:47.127 --> 17:49.287 a word he has to say. 17:49.855 --> 17:52.115 I mean, the results just simply aren't there. 17:52.635 --> 17:57.275 In spite of his discouragement that likely he faced, he just kept building. 17:57.515 --> 18:00.075 He just kept preaching for a hundred years. 18:00.195 --> 18:02.195 He just kept obeying God. 18:02.255 --> 18:03.295 Now, how did he do that? 18:03.295 --> 18:04.735 By faith. 18:05.718 --> 18:11.598 That's the only way he possibly would have done it, by believing what God had told him. 18:12.478 --> 18:19.878 I've run across far too many Christians who said, you know, God really convicted me about something. 18:19.998 --> 18:22.638 Maybe it was to attend church consistently. 18:22.838 --> 18:26.258 Maybe it was to become faithfully a part of a life group. 18:26.258 --> 18:33.118 Maybe it was to start reading your Bible every day or start giving or to start serving or to start sharing Christ with other people. 18:33.218 --> 18:34.958 And they start out maybe strong. 18:35.705 --> 18:37.184 For a few days. 18:37.185 --> 18:38.064 Maybe three days. 18:38.065 --> 18:38.944 Maybe three weeks. 18:38.945 --> 18:39.684 Maybe three months. 18:39.685 --> 18:40.725 Maybe three years. 18:40.825 --> 18:43.445 But at some point, discouragement sets in. 18:44.425 --> 18:49.085 And they quit on what God had so clearly told them to do. 18:49.085 --> 18:52.185 Listen, obedience is the byproduct of faith. 18:53.592 --> 18:56.172 Do you really believe God? 18:56.172 --> 18:58.452 Do you really trust him to see you through 18:58.452 --> 19:00.632 to the other side of that discouragement 19:00.632 --> 19:02.472 that you're in in life right now? 19:02.472 --> 19:04.872 Do you believe him to see you through to the other side? 19:04.872 --> 19:09.872 Do you love him to obey all that he has commanded you? 19:10.092 --> 19:11.912 Verse number six of chapter seven. 19:12.972 --> 19:14.692 It says, Noah was 600 years old 19:14.692 --> 19:17.132 when the flood waters were on the earth. 19:17.132 --> 19:20.972 Now we know that life expectancy for humanity 19:20.972 --> 19:23.092 dropped rapidly after the flood. 19:24.305 --> 19:30.285 So Noah with his sons, his wife, and his son's wives went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. 19:30.925 --> 19:35.345 Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, 19:35.345 --> 19:40.525 two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. 19:40.522 --> 19:44.702 And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth. 19:45.042 --> 19:50.302 In the 600th year of Noah's life, in the second month, in the 17th day of the month, 19:50.302 --> 19:57.202 on that day, all the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windows of heaven were open 19:57.202 --> 20:00.762 and the rain was on the earth 40 days and 40 nights. 20:01.717 --> 20:04.957 So we see here that it takes about seven days 20:04.957 --> 20:09.437 to get for Noah to get all the animals on the ark. 20:09.437 --> 20:11.177 Now that must've been quite a chore. 20:12.437 --> 20:14.297 But we know he had help from the Lord 20:14.297 --> 20:16.797 because we read earlier in chapter six, 20:16.797 --> 20:20.077 where God said the animals will come to you. 20:20.077 --> 20:23.117 So the animals show up to Noah at the ark, 20:23.117 --> 20:25.237 but Noah still has to get them on board. 20:25.237 --> 20:29.677 And on the seventh day of loading, the flood began. 20:30.218 --> 20:33.278 Now there's two sources of water. 20:33.938 --> 20:40.098 The fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windows of heaven were opened. 20:40.758 --> 20:43.818 So the water came from above and it came from below. 20:43.818 --> 20:48.398 Now, many people believe that the canopy of water referenced in. 20:49.945 --> 20:51.925 Genesis chapter one, verse number six, 20:51.925 --> 20:53.845 encircled the globe prior to the flood. 20:53.845 --> 20:56.825 It created perhaps a better environment for life, 20:56.825 --> 20:57.965 but in the flood, 20:57.965 --> 21:02.965 God dumped that canopy of water out for 40 days and 40 nights. 21:03.305 --> 21:05.025 We also know that 21:05.386 --> 21:09.966 The flood and the waters came from the breaking up of the deep. 21:10.726 --> 21:16.266 Many believe this is a reference to God breaking apart the tectonic plates on the earth, 21:16.506 --> 21:22.546 shifting them in such a way that the water from underneath the earth's surface spewed out. 21:23.246 --> 21:26.466 Now, some think this is when the theory of Pangea happened, 21:26.466 --> 21:30.906 not over millions of years, but over almost a year's period of time. 21:31.711 --> 21:35.151 Now, later in the chapter, it says that the water went up 21:35.151 --> 21:39.351 over 20 feet above the highest mountain, 15 cubits. 21:39.351 --> 21:41.571 Most or many scientists will tell you 21:41.571 --> 21:44.231 there's just not enough water on earth 21:44.350 --> 21:46.730 to do that, although some scientists, 21:46.730 --> 21:51.130 and we've discovered large, massive ocean miles 21:51.130 --> 21:53.810 under the earth that's three times the size 21:53.810 --> 21:57.110 of all the ocean water in existence today. 21:57.110 --> 22:00.110 But some still say, hey, there's not enough water. 22:00.110 --> 22:01.470 Well, there's a couple different ways 22:01.470 --> 22:02.950 or theories that this happened. 22:02.950 --> 22:04.910 Either it's under the earth, as we know it, 22:04.910 --> 22:07.230 which I assume much of it is, 22:07.230 --> 22:10.730 or God simply removed that excess water from earth. 22:10.730 --> 22:13.050 He could certainly do that. 22:13.325 --> 22:17.405 Or another theory is that prior to the flood, 22:17.405 --> 22:20.285 the earth was much more flat. 22:20.285 --> 22:23.765 And as God moved and shifted the tectonic plates, 22:23.765 --> 22:24.825 allowing the flood, 22:24.825 --> 22:27.605 he then moved and shifted them more, 22:27.605 --> 22:30.105 allowing the water to recede. 22:30.105 --> 22:33.585 And that process probably involved great earthquakes, 22:33.585 --> 22:37.365 volcanoes, the topography was completely changed 22:37.365 --> 22:38.765 as the mountains were shoved up 22:38.765 --> 22:42.545 and the oceans were carved out. 22:43.497 --> 22:47.997 You can go right over by Hart Park 22:47.997 --> 22:50.377 to what is called Shark Tooth Mountain, 22:50.377 --> 22:52.677 and you can find shark teeth. 22:52.677 --> 22:55.677 You can find all other ocean fossils. 22:55.677 --> 22:57.577 How in the world could that be? 22:57.577 --> 23:00.617 Well, obviously this all used to be underwater. 23:01.334 --> 23:03.274 All geologists agree with that. 23:03.634 --> 23:07.674 Because tectonic plates, they're still shifting even today ever so slightly. 23:07.794 --> 23:15.194 The question becomes, did God in the flood move them more forcefully and rapidly? 23:16.334 --> 23:21.914 Psalm chapter 104, you read that later if you want, 23:22.194 --> 23:25.034 seems to indicate that's what happened. 23:25.034 --> 23:26.834 Verse number 13. 23:28.402 --> 23:36.722 On the very same day, Noah and Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah's wife and three wives of his sons with them entered the ark. 23:37.262 --> 23:48.282 They and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort." 23:48.280 --> 23:53.460 And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh, in which is the breath of life. 23:53.900 --> 24:01.940 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him, and the Lord shut him in. 24:02.760 --> 24:05.980 Now remember, Noah's been preaching for over a hundred years. 24:06.140 --> 24:10.420 Repent and believe, or else death and destruction. 24:12.100 --> 24:14.700 And the door of the ark has been open for a week. 24:15.263 --> 24:19.383 For seven days as they gather all the animals into the boat, 24:19.603 --> 24:24.803 but no one outside of Noah and his family joined them on the ark. 24:25.623 --> 24:29.223 No one believes God's warning. 24:30.343 --> 24:35.683 So on the seventh day, the Lord himself shuts the door to the ark. 24:35.683 --> 24:39.983 And at that point, God's patience had come to an end. 24:41.043 --> 24:43.342 Verse 17 says, 24:43.343 --> 24:45.763 It says, now the flood was on the earth 40 days. 24:46.283 --> 24:50.383 The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 24:50.583 --> 24:56.363 The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved, which is an understatement. 24:56.923 --> 25:00.423 It means it surged, I think indicating there was turbulence. 25:01.450 --> 25:04.710 It moved about on the surface of the waters. 25:05.090 --> 25:08.010 And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, 25:08.050 --> 25:10.150 and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. 25:10.150 --> 25:13.930 The waters prevailed 15 cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. 25:14.610 --> 25:18.630 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, 25:18.770 --> 25:22.130 birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, 25:22.370 --> 25:26.970 and every man, all in whose nostrils were the breath of the Spirit of life, 25:27.050 --> 25:28.670 all that was on dry land died. 25:29.362 --> 25:32.122 So he destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground, 25:32.222 --> 25:34.582 both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. 25:34.982 --> 25:36.902 They were destroyed from the earth. 25:37.842 --> 25:42.242 Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. 25:43.122 --> 25:48.022 And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days, five months. 25:49.493 --> 25:52.793 So it comes to downpour for 40 days and 40 nights, 25:52.793 --> 25:56.693 but the water actually kept rising for 150 days, 25:56.693 --> 25:58.233 it indicates. 25:58.233 --> 26:00.973 Everything's covered with water at this point. 26:00.973 --> 26:02.753 Everything dies. 26:02.753 --> 26:04.832 It's judgment. 26:04.833 --> 26:06.653 But verse 23 says, 26:06.653 --> 26:11.273 "'Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark 26:11.273 --> 26:12.553 "'remained alive.'" 26:13.613 --> 26:15.480 You see, the ark, 26:15.481 --> 26:20.481 And the ark alone was the means of God's salvation. 26:20.741 --> 26:25.081 Only those who were in the ark were saved. 26:25.081 --> 26:26.040 You know what? 26:26.041 --> 26:27.801 That reminds me a lot of Jesus. 26:28.681 --> 26:30.301 Only those in Jesus, 26:30.301 --> 26:34.501 only those who placed their faith in Jesus are saved. 26:34.501 --> 26:37.541 Now I love how God initially told Noah, 26:37.541 --> 26:39.901 he commanded him, go into the ark. 26:39.901 --> 26:42.641 But in chapter seven, verse number one, 26:42.641 --> 26:44.921 when the flood was about to come upon him, 26:45.181 --> 26:46.941 It changed from go to come. 26:47.881 --> 26:49.300 He says, come. 26:49.301 --> 26:51.641 Noah, come into the ark. 26:51.741 --> 26:55.681 I think indicating that he is calling and inviting him to himself. 26:55.781 --> 26:56.941 God was now in the ark. 26:57.721 --> 26:58.821 He said, Noah, come to me. 26:59.201 --> 27:02.301 Come to my salvation that I'm providing. 27:02.301 --> 27:03.523 Come to me. 27:03.524 --> 27:07.604 Now, there's one last little thing I want to point out that we skimmed over earlier. 27:07.744 --> 27:09.084 It's in chapter 7, verse 16. 27:09.264 --> 27:10.564 It ends with the phrase, 27:11.024 --> 27:14.244 And the Lord shut him in. 27:15.144 --> 27:16.144 I love that. 27:17.184 --> 27:22.644 It's a picture of God shutting the door to the ark 27:22.644 --> 27:26.844 and then sealing it from the waters of judgment. 27:27.404 --> 27:28.824 Here's our last principle. 27:30.124 --> 27:31.444 When God saves us, 27:32.701 --> 27:34.201 He seals us. 27:35.841 --> 27:37.721 Ephesians chapter one says that 27:37.721 --> 27:40.961 when we come to Jesus in faith, 27:40.961 --> 27:44.701 that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, 27:44.701 --> 27:46.781 the Holy Spirit of covenant. 27:46.781 --> 27:49.921 We're sealed into Christ Jesus our Lord. 27:50.808 --> 27:52.287 Now here's my question. 27:52.288 --> 27:58.148 How safe do you think Noah was when he walked onto the ark where God was, 27:58.328 --> 28:04.368 and when God shut the door behind him and God sealed him in from the waters of judgment? 28:04.508 --> 28:05.628 How safe was he? 28:05.928 --> 28:07.548 I'm telling you, he was very safe. 28:07.808 --> 28:08.267 Why? 28:08.268 --> 28:11.788 He had been secured by the very hand of Almighty God. 28:12.268 --> 28:14.248 Well, I want to tell you today, 28:15.091 --> 28:19.051 that I am not in an ark, but I am in Jesus Christ. 28:19.051 --> 28:20.331 That's what scripture teaches. 28:20.331 --> 28:21.971 In fact, it's one of the most fundamental, 28:21.971 --> 28:24.491 most important teachings of the New Testament, 28:24.491 --> 28:27.471 that all believers in Christ 28:27.578 --> 28:29.818 are in Christ, that we're in him. 28:29.978 --> 28:31.938 We are safe in him. 28:32.478 --> 28:36.938 The Bible says if anyone's in Christ, he's a new creation. 28:37.318 --> 28:38.658 Behold, all things have passed away. 28:38.778 --> 28:41.558 Behold, all things have become new. 28:42.238 --> 28:46.478 You see, Jesus is our ark of salvation. 28:47.318 --> 28:49.178 He's our ark of safety. 28:49.178 --> 28:53.138 We find rest in him. 28:54.342 --> 29:02.962 All those who are in him are sealed and secured by the Holy Spirit of God and by the atoning work of Jesus. 29:03.922 --> 29:06.142 So here's the invitation today. It's very simple. 29:08.082 --> 29:09.402 Come into the ark. 29:10.522 --> 29:12.821 Come. 29:12.822 --> 29:14.912 Come. 29:14.913 --> 29:16.133 Come, join me. 29:16.713 --> 29:18.693 Join us in the ark of salvation. 29:18.813 --> 29:21.093 Now, it's not enough to believe that there is an ark. 29:21.653 --> 29:22.833 Let me be very clear. 29:23.373 --> 29:26.613 It is not enough to believe there is an ark. 29:26.613 --> 29:29.013 The people of Noah's day, they saw the ark. 29:29.253 --> 29:31.173 They saw it be built for over 100 years. 29:31.293 --> 29:33.473 They believed certainly that it existed. 29:33.813 --> 29:35.773 It's not enough to believe it exists. 29:36.053 --> 29:38.733 You've got to walk on board by faith. 29:39.331 --> 29:40.491 You've got to get on. 29:41.011 --> 29:42.591 You've got to trust the ark. 29:42.811 --> 29:44.231 You've got to yield to the ark. 29:44.431 --> 29:49.451 You've got to put your whole hope, your whole salvation in the ark, 29:49.911 --> 29:54.011 which we know is Jesus, our Savior. 29:54.471 --> 29:56.471 So the invitation has come. 29:58.012 --> 30:03.012 Just come, come to Jesus today. 30:03.612 --> 30:06.532 Jesus said, come to me, 30:06.532 --> 30:09.572 all you who are weary and heavy laden, 30:09.572 --> 30:12.512 and I will give you rest. 30:12.512 --> 30:14.412 Let me ask you, do you need rest today? 30:15.652 --> 30:20.012 Maybe the waters of your sin and the consequences of it 30:20.012 --> 30:24.692 are, they're just invading your life 30:25.484 --> 30:28.024 and you're working, trying to stay afloat, 30:28.024 --> 30:30.364 but you have no rest. 30:31.804 --> 30:36.624 I wanna invite you to allow the Holy Spirit of God 30:36.624 --> 30:39.744 to touch you at a deep place within your soul, 30:39.744 --> 30:42.044 and he can give you rest. 30:42.044 --> 30:45.124 He can give you salvation. 30:45.124 --> 30:50.124 The Bible, the invitation of the Bible is to come. 30:51.164 --> 30:53.564 In fact, that's how the Bible ends. 30:53.564 --> 30:56.404 Revelation chapter 22, verse number 17, it says, 30:56.524 --> 30:58.924 In the Spirit and the bride say, Come. 30:59.404 --> 31:00.764 And let him who hears, come. 31:01.084 --> 31:02.404 And let him who thirsts, come. 31:02.664 --> 31:07.944 Whoever desires, let him take of the water of life freely. 31:09.304 --> 31:13.124 Would you come to Jesus today? 31:14.124 --> 31:16.484 Let's bow together in an attitude of prayer, if you will. 31:17.964 --> 31:20.364 This is a holy moment in the life of our church. 31:20.484 --> 31:22.564 This is the moment that we've set aside. 31:24.985 --> 31:27.885 to respond to God's word. 31:29.785 --> 31:30.985 This is the moment 31:33.165 --> 31:35.705 where we don't wanna just be hearers of the word, 31:35.705 --> 31:38.905 but we wanna pray and we wanna talk to the Lord 31:38.905 --> 31:40.625 about how this applies to our life 31:40.625 --> 31:42.645 and we wanna be doers of the word. 31:42.645 --> 31:46.285 We wanna believe, we wanna love, we wanna have faith. 31:46.285 --> 31:49.465 So this is our time to ask the Lord to increase our faith 31:49.465 --> 31:51.105 and to give us direction. 31:54.095 --> 31:57.295 The Bible says, for the wages of sin is death. 31:58.655 --> 32:00.495 Sometimes we look at the flood and we think, 32:00.495 --> 32:05.175 man, that is, I can't believe God would have done that. 32:05.175 --> 32:07.075 And the reason I think we struggle with that 32:07.075 --> 32:09.695 is because we're corrupt. 32:09.695 --> 32:11.115 We're marred by sin. 32:11.115 --> 32:11.994 God is perfect. 32:11.995 --> 32:16.115 So it's hard for us to understand how bad our sin really is. 32:16.115 --> 32:19.595 But we think, how could God judge the world by flood? 32:19.595 --> 32:22.005 How could? 32:22.006 --> 32:29.606 All of those people die in God's judgment, but the truth is, the truth is, every one of us is going to die. 32:32.626 --> 32:39.666 If the Lord tarries every single one of us, we're going to have our last breath of air. 32:39.986 --> 32:42.326 Our heart's going to beat for the very last time. 32:43.066 --> 32:49.466 Now, thankfully, we're going to learn next week, God's never going to destroy the entire earth at once in a flood. 32:52.010 --> 32:55.130 We're not all going to die at once in a flood, but we're all going to die. 32:56.370 --> 32:57.690 That's the judgment of God. 32:58.150 --> 32:59.690 That's the reality of things. 33:00.790 --> 33:02.910 But here's the truth of the matter. 33:03.870 --> 33:09.290 In spite of our sin, in spite of the judgment we deserve, 33:10.150 --> 33:13.310 God still loves us. 33:13.930 --> 33:18.590 The Bible says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 33:18.690 --> 33:21.470 God loves you with a perfect love. 33:22.030 --> 33:25.570 He loves you more than anyone's ever loved you before. 33:26.130 --> 33:28.210 And he wants a relationship with you. 33:29.658 --> 33:33.818 He wants you to walk with him now and forevermore. 33:34.798 --> 33:40.418 You see, God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. 33:41.098 --> 33:42.717 He didn't deserve it. 33:42.718 --> 33:46.298 We're the ones, we deserve, we corrupt our own ways. 33:48.052 --> 33:52.792 But he came to be our substitute, to die in our place so that we could have life. 33:53.052 --> 33:57.812 In him, he rose on the third day so we could have resurrection life as well. 33:58.212 --> 34:03.212 And the Bible says, whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 34:03.952 --> 34:05.992 In just a moment, I'm going to pray. 34:06.592 --> 34:11.912 And as soon as I pray, I'm going to ask everyone to stand and we're going to sing a song. 34:11.992 --> 34:14.632 And there's going to be pastors and other leaders here at the front. 34:14.692 --> 34:17.432 And we're going to ask you to give your heart and your life to Jesus today. 34:18.697 --> 34:22.717 Just to come as you are and say, I want to get on the ark. 34:23.937 --> 34:25.256 It's time. 34:25.257 --> 34:25.996 I don't want to wait. 34:25.997 --> 34:28.146 I don't want to miss it. 34:28.147 --> 34:30.227 I want to give my life to Jesus who loves me. 34:30.727 --> 34:30.986 You know what? 34:30.987 --> 34:32.647 These folks will know exactly how to help you. 34:32.727 --> 34:34.446 They'll pray with you. 34:34.447 --> 34:35.667 They'll minister to you. 34:36.187 --> 34:37.427 Maybe say, I want to be baptized. 34:37.507 --> 34:38.807 I want to go public with my faith. 34:38.867 --> 34:39.546 That's wonderful. 34:39.547 --> 34:43.047 Come let us know, and we would love to talk with you about what that means 34:43.047 --> 34:44.727 and line up a time for you to do that. 34:44.967 --> 34:48.447 In fact, in just a few weeks from now, first Sunday of December, 34:48.447 --> 34:50.607 that's our 40th anniversary as a church. 34:51.047 --> 34:55.407 What a wonderful day to get baptized on our 40th birthday as a church. 34:55.487 --> 34:56.767 I think you'd remember that forever. 34:57.442 --> 35:01.242 We can line that up or baptize you whenever God leads. 35:02.342 --> 35:04.062 Maybe you want to join our church family. 35:04.162 --> 35:09.182 Whatever it is, I invite you to come as we sing in just a moment. 35:09.282 --> 35:09.801 Let's pray. 35:09.802 --> 35:15.882 Father, we thank you, Lord, for your love and your grace. 35:19.642 --> 35:21.682 It's hard for us to fathom your judgments. 35:25.353 --> 35:30.093 But Lord, we're reminded today about how bad our sin really is and how just you really are. 35:30.093 --> 35:38.453 But thank you for your grace. Thank you for not wiping creation out entirely, but saving a remnant and starting over. 35:39.813 --> 35:47.773 Lord, we know as we're going to see in your word that it didn't take long for the world to fall right back into a whole heap of sin. 35:49.653 --> 35:56.593 But Lord, you are still gracious and you're still loving and you have extended your grace beyond that of just one family. 35:58.533 --> 36:04.793 But through one family, you bless all the families of the earth through your son, Jesus. 36:06.493 --> 36:13.533 Lord, admittedly, we read the flood account and I tried to make sense of different parts that we have questions about. 36:13.613 --> 36:16.353 But the truth is, Lord, we don't know for sure all these answers. 36:17.429 --> 36:18.569 We don't know how it happened. 36:18.709 --> 36:20.549 We don't know this or that. 36:20.849 --> 36:23.249 We know you sinned, and that's enough. 36:26.049 --> 36:29.729 Help us, Lord, today. 36:29.929 --> 36:31.228 We need you. 36:31.229 --> 36:34.569 I pray that you would touch people's hearts and lives, Lord. 36:35.569 --> 36:36.689 Help them believe. 36:37.769 --> 36:43.129 Help their eyes be opened to the reality of you and your beauty and your love and your grace. 36:44.800 --> 36:47.840 and the judgment that is the alternative. 36:49.100 --> 36:51.000 Lord, please draw people to yourself, 36:51.000 --> 36:53.380 we ask in Jesus' name, amen. 36:54.440 --> 36:55.860 Thanks for listening today. 36:55.860 --> 36:57.540 We hope you enjoyed this message. 36:57.540 --> 36:59.620 And if you did, we would be so grateful 36:59.620 --> 37:01.320 if you left us a review. 37:01.320 --> 37:03.760 Also, go ahead and subscribe to the podcast 37:03.760 --> 37:05.060 if you would like to be notified 37:05.060 --> 37:06.960 when a new sermon is released. 37:06.960 --> 37:08.600 If you feel the Lord calling you 37:08.600 --> 37:10.220 to take the next step in faith 37:10.220 --> 37:14.540 through salvation, service, or giving, don't wait. 37:14.534 --> 37:17.994 reach out to us by texting podcast to 88988. 37:17.994 --> 37:21.534 That's podcast to 88988 or connect with us 37:21.534 --> 37:23.914 on one of our social media platforms. 37:23.914 --> 37:27.054 You can also visit our website, valleybaptist.org 37:27.054 --> 37:29.634 to find even more great resources. 37:29.634 --> 37:31.834 No matter where you are in your journey, 37:31.834 --> 37:34.554 know that we love you, we're praying for you 37:34.554 --> 37:37.514 and we can't wait to see what God will do in your life.