Genesis 6:1-8
6 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,
2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
A grandchild sitting on her grandfather’s lap listening to the Bible story of Noah’s Ark, asked "Were you in the Ark, grandpa?" He chuckled and replied, "Why, no I wasn’t." There was a pause, and the child looked up at him quizzically and asked, "Then why weren’t you drowned?"
Lessons Learned from Noah’s Ark:
- Don’t miss the boat.
- Remember that we are all in the same boat.
- Plan ahead...it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
- Stay fit...when you’re really old, someone may ask you to do something really BIG.
- Don’t listen to critics...just get on with the job that needs to be done.
- Build your future on high ground.
- For safety’s sake, always travel in pairs.
- Speed isn’t always an advantage...the snails were on board with the cheetahs.
- When you’re stressed, float awhile.
- Remember...the ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.
- No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.
- THE NECESSITY OF THE ARK.
Because of the sinfulness of mankind. Vs. 5
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
God also destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of sin out of control.
Hebrews 10:31
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Acts 17:31-32---Many will mock, some will want to hear more, others will decide to follow.
The ark was built to cleanse the sin from this earth.
In Noah’s day, some mocked, some probably thought they would wait and if it started raining, they would join him…..8 got on the ark!
Are you waiting on rain? Just remember that when the rain started with Noah the ark was closed.
- THE AVAILABLE ENTRANCE INTO THE ARK.
Noah found grace with God to enter the ark!
God has found grace with us. He gave us John 3:16
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
- THE SAFETY OF THE ARK. Vs 14
- A) God told Noah exactly how the ark was to be built….the size, type material, where the window should be located….
- B) He had Noah pitch it within and without---tar was used to seal the ark for safety.
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who[a] is the [b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy layden and I will give you rest.”
God offers His grace today---It will not always be offered.
I can only imagine the scene outside the ark as the waters began to fill the earth. The fountains of the deep rising, torrential rains falling, many probably tried to get in once the door was shut but it was too late. I plead with you today….don’t realize one day too late that you should have accepted God’s offering of grace
Matthew 24:30–31
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 24:36–44
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.