Opening song: 330
Closing song: 369 sowing
in the morning
Scripture reading Phil 3:13-21
3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus.
3:15
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything
ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
3:16
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same
rule, let us mind the same thing.
3:17
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye
have us for an ensample.
3:18
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even
weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
3:19
Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose]
glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
3:20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
3:21
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his
glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all
things unto himself.
contents
1. I have not attained
2. Thrilling
stories –of all the stories I have ever heard
3. Noah
and the Ark story
4. Methuselah
and his name
5. Types
6. Story
continued
7. It
was a clear day
8. Can
you do it on your own
9. Story
of Limo driver
10. Have
you told them son of man?
11. It
not just the pastor’s job it’s your job too
12. Story
of waiting at the bus station-occupy till I come
13. Noah
had to tell them
14. Pool of Bethesda – people will seek other means to gt healing but we need to show them the right way
15.
Question…if
there was no heaven or hell would you still serve the Lord.
We don’t do these things to be saved, we do
them because we have a loving relationship.
Hold fast to what
you have. Do not take for granted.
16. Jude
3
17. We
are at the brink
18. Appeal
Intro:
One of the most soul stirring sermons that I’ve ever heard
preached was that of Noah and the Ark. The preacher broke down the message
linking then and now, and it dawned on me that Christ words “As it was in the
days of Noah so shall it be in the end” – Luke 17:26 was fulfilled.
Only one family was worthy,
and only one man in that family was worthy. Everybody else who was worthy to
enter the ark was asleep.
Recount the story
The
Flood of Noah did not come as a surprise. It had been preached on for
four generations. But something strange happened when Enoch was 65, from
which time "he walked with God." Enoch was given a prophecy
that as long as his son was alive, the judgment of the flood would be withheld;
but as soon as he died, the flood would be sent forth.
Enoch
gave his son a name to reflect this prophecy. The name Methuselah comes
from two roots: muth, a root that means "death" ; and from shalach,
which means "to bring," or "to send forth." Thus, the
name Methuselah signifies, "his death shall bring."
(in the translation
to English some of the meaning to his name was lost, so rather than getting the
correct meaning for his name we have “dart man”…which is the translation of two
other words linked to the name “meth” which should be “muth” and “selah” which
should be “shalech/shalach”……moth
& math not the same. The spelling is very similar but totally different
words.
And,
indeed, in the year that Methuselah died, the flood came. Methuselah
was 187 when he had Lamech, and lived 782 years more. Lamech had Noah
when he was 182.7 The Flood came in
Noah's 600th year.8 187 + 182 + 600 =
969, Methuselah's age when he died.9
It
is interesting that Methuselah's life was, in effect, a symbol of God's mercy
in forestalling the coming judgment of the flood. It is therefore fitting
that his lifetime is the oldest in the Bible, symbolizing the extreme
extensiveness of God's mercy.
Creation
|
0
|
3950 BC
|
130
|
Genesis 5:3
|
Birth of Seth
|
130
|
3820 BC
|
105
|
Genesis 5:6
|
Birth of Enos
|
235
|
3715 BC
|
90
|
Genesis 5:9
|
Birth of Cainan
|
325
|
3625 BC
|
70
|
Genesis 5:12
|
Birth of Mahalaleel
|
395
|
3555 BC
|
65
|
Genesis 5:15
|
Birth of Jared
|
460
|
3490 BC
|
162
|
Genesis 5:18
|
Birth of Enoch
|
622
|
3328 BC
|
65
|
Genesis 5:21
|
Birth of Methuselah
|
687
|
3263 BC
|
187
|
Genesis 5:25
|
Birth of Lamech
|
874
|
3076 BC
|
182
|
Genesis 5:28
|
Birth of Noah
|
1056
|
2894 BC
|
600
|
Genesis 5:32
|
Beginning of the flood
|
1656
|
2294 BC
|
1
|
Genesis 7:11, 8:13-14
|
What led up to the flood?
The mixture of the seeds – the faithful of
God stopped holding up the standards, the separation between the seeds had
stopped being preached.-after Enoch was translated.
Not a recent phenomenon
Jewelry and exposure of body (gen 6:1……..saw that the
daughters of men were beautiful).
This implies that there was something that the daughters of
men were doing that drew attention to themselves, that the Sons of God were
‘forced” to notice them.
Types
Noah and his 3 sons.
How come Noah only had three sons…And it was in the time when
men were living for hundreds of years and having many, many children?
Consider
the similarity with the 3 angels message! As a matter of fact in the Revelation
14,
Q.
who are the angels?
A.
Is it not men carrying the message through the Earth.
So
here we see the three (sons) becoming angels as they carried God’s warning to
the Antediluvian world.
The
similarity goes even further; consider this quote taken from Fundamentals of
Christian Education, page 504.
In consequence of Adam's transgression, sin was
introduced into the fair world that God had created, and men and women became
more and still more bold in disobeying His law. The Lord looked down upon the
impenitent world, and decided that He must give transgressors an exhibition of
His power. He caused Noah to know His purpose, and instructed him to warn the
people while building an ark in which the obedient could find shelter until
God's indignation was overpast. For one hundred and twenty years Noah
proclaimed the message of warning to the antediluvian world; but only a few
repented. Some of the carpenters he employed in building the ark, believed the
message, but died before the flood; others of Noah's converts backslid. The
righteous on the earth were but few, and only eight lived to enter the ark.
These were Noah and his family. {FE
504.2}
The rebellious
race was swept away by the flood. Death was their portion. By the fulfillment
of the prophetic warning that all who would not keep the commandments of heaven
should drink the waters of the flood, the truth of God's word was
exemplified. {FE 504.3}
The
sons of God take the daughters of men
Why were they marrying and giving in
marriage?/ Why was this important?
Consider the recent spike in divorce. There are sincere righteous people who have
been married to unrighteous spiteful people.
In the context of Seth's descendants and Cains descendants we understand that these marriages were forbidden. As a result people desecrated the marriage institution by entering into it with unfit
partners.
Story of Noah continued
We are told in inspiration that at Noah’s preaching many
were convicted that what Noah was saying was true, but still they would not
enter into the Ark. They failed to make a lone
decision to enter the Ark to the saving of their souls, because the then known
religious leaders did not support what Noah was preaching.
I shall not mention what that means for us today, but I do
ask that brethren you awake to the seriousness of the hour, and do the right
that you know you are supposed to do, which includes stop doing the wrong you
know you have been doing.
All things continued- until Noah entered into the Ark
Math24:37-39
24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also
the coming of the Son of man be.
24:38
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into
the ark,
24:39
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also
the coming of the Son of man be.
Luke1
7:26-28 - 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall
it be also in the days of the Son of man.
17:27
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in
marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and
destroyed them all.
17:28
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank,
they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
17:29
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone
from heaven, and destroyed [them] all.
17:30
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Picture this
conversation
Bro Paul: Where’re you going
sis Sadie?
SIS Sadie: Oh I’m going to the
Ark, Bro Paul
Bro Paul: You don’t believe
in that madness? Do you?
SIS Sadie: Well yes I do
Bro Paul: Look Pastor said
water has never come from the sky…and that Noah is a false prophet.
SIS Sadie: I don’t know Noah
to be a liar, as a matter of fact Noah is a very honest man…. And didn’t Enoch
preach something to that effect.
Paul: Alright alright, if water did come from the sky,
compared to the mist that we are used to, do you really think that the water
will be enough to lift that huge vessel which Noah has built? Don’t
you see Noah has lost it, don’t follow him. Think of your children’s future and
what the rest of your family will say.
SIS Sadie: Sadie; You have a
point.
Paul: Plus!!! Will
God destroy the billions of us and just leave the 8 of them? Does that
make sense? God might send punishment here or there but not to the extent
that Noah is saying. You better get back on the right side and hope no one saw
you step towards Noah.
SIS Sadie: o.k. you know
what..you right
Although this woman believed, in the end
she was found on the wrong side of the door of the Ark. The sad truth is that we run the risk of the
very same thing happening to us.
Consider this quote from Early writings
… I saw that Satan was at work in these ways to
distract, deceive, and draw away God's people, just now in this sealing time. I
saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were
trembling, and their feet sliding, because they were not firmly planted on the
truth, and the covering of Almighty God could not be drawn over them while they
were thus trembling. {EW 44.1}
Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they
were, until the sealing was past, until the covering was drawn over God's
people, and they left without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the
seven last plagues. God has begun to draw this covering over His people, and it
will soon be drawn over all who are to have a shelter in the day of slaughter.
1. God’s Delay to punish
– must warn of the severity of the punishment….never before has the wrath of
God been poured out Without mercy.
2. Without
mercy
The
wrath of God was poured out on the Earth, but sister white records, that as bad
as it was. This wrath was poured out with mercy.
The
Earth shook violently, and great cracks developed upon the Earth’s surface, to
the point that even Lucifer feared for his life.
I
don’t think you nor I can imagine what it will be like to see the wrath of God
poured out without mercy.
It was a clear day
It was a clear day: when Port Royal sank.
It was a clear day: when the planes struck the twin towers,
It was a clear day when the bomb exploded in Massachusetts,
It was a clear day when there was an explosion at the plant,
It was a clear day when the gun man marched into the school.
The last movements will be sudden ones…they will say peace
and safety! but then there will be sudden destruction.
God is going to save you from the effects of sin only if you
want to be saved. He will not save you in your sin, against your will. Won’t
you submit your will to him and put the devil to shame?
Can you do it on
your own?
You cannot do it on your own.
God is willing to help you, but you must make an effort.
This is not a free ride….it did not come cheap and God would
be irresponsible if He gave the gift of Eternal life to every tom dick and
harry who asked, but who did not make an effort.
Story of man
hiring limo driver.
Abstain from the very appearance of sin
Have you told
them-son of man?
So often if a pastor does not come with something new and
fresh we say that the sermon is boring. But how many of us in this room can do
a presentation? How many of us have done a presentation? The truth is the
pastor has done his work by telling us, his family and friends; but are we
doing our part to tell our friends and families? They are depending on us to
tell them the truth. If we don’t tell them how will they know?
The man blind for the kingdom of heaven sake.
It is not just the
Pastor's job; it is our job too
How do you think Noah preached: gently…the agaony of a
prophets heart may12/2013
To their listeners, the message was contained both in the
prophetic words and also in the external signs, which often betrayed a deep
pain stemming from within.
Story of waiting
at the bus station
I love seeing people at the bus station waiting on buses.
Because they are the epitome of a ready person.
However one day, I found myself waiting at a bus station for
a bus. To pass the time, I started to do some calculations in my head; however
I became so engrossed with the calculations that the bus came and I was not
prepared to get on it.
So while standing and waiting on the bus, at the bus
station, I missed the bus. I was prepared physically, but not mentally.
Let this not be you.
The focal point of our existence….let us
not become so occupied that we forget what we are waiting for.
What makes life worth living, what makes
worship meaningful, is if God is honored by it. Cain sacrifice not honored.
Obedience to what God said. Go fight with
God and not with men.
Obedience is not legalism.
Partial obedience….
Some dreams----that I have that I can’t
control…the word of the Lord will be fulfilled. Satan has been trying for years
to prove the world of the Lord false, what think that you can?
Tell them
According to scripture how many people found grace in the
eyes of the Lord in Noah’s day? Who was
told to build the ark?
Yet Noah preached for 120 years and was only able to
convince his wife his sons and their wives to board the ark with them.
Suppose Noah had kept the truth to himself, do you think he
still would have been counted worthy to enter the ark after such important
truth was revealed to him? Ezekiel shouts the answer, he would not.
Ezekiel 3:17-21
3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto
the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning
from me.
3:18
When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him
not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his
life; the same wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I
require at thine hand.
3:19
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor
from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy
soul.
3:20
Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and
commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because
thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness
which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at
thine hand.
3:21
Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous [man], that the righteous sin
not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou
hast delivered thy soul.
As our scripture reading says, you can hold the truth from
them, but this will not be to the saving of your soul.
You have been called to serve; You have been saved to serve.
How long will you hold the truth from them?
Rom1: 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
1:19 Because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath showed [it] unto them.
You have people who are desperately searching for truth, but
because you will not do your duty (found in Math28:19) they are suffering; or
worse gone to Christ-less graves. You console yourself, that I cannot preach or
teach; but I tell you today that all of us can pray.
All of us can tell what Jesus has done for us. All of us can
lift praises to our God and All of us should know why we believe what we
believe, and should be able to give reasons to the enquiring minds.
Pool of Bethesda-john5:6-----–
people will seek other means to get healing but we need to show them the right
way
Among the many lessons to be learnt from the simple bible
account of how Jesus healed the sick, we may learn something about how to
believe in Him for the forgiveness of sins. Let us turn to the story of the
paralytic at Bethesda. As the paralytic lay beside the pool, helpless and
well-nigh hopeless, Jesus drew near, and asked, in tones of pity, "Wilt
thou be made whole?" This had been the burden of his desire and prayers
for long, weary years. With trembling eagerness he told the story of his trials
and disappointments to the sympathizing Son of God. No friend was near to bear
him to the healing fountain at the troubling of the waters. His agonizing
appeals for help fell unheeded. All around him were those who sought the coveted
boon of health for their own loved ones; and while he painfully sought to reach
the pool, another would be hurried down before him. {ST, July 15, 1886 par. 2}The poor sufferer
was helpless; he had not used his limbs for thirty-eight years. Yet Jesus bade
him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." The sick man might have said,
"Lord, if Thou wilt make me whole, I will obey Thy word." But, no, he
believed Christ's word, believed that he was made whole, and he made the effort
at once; he willed to walk, and he did walk. He acted on the word of Christ,
and God gave the power. He was made whole.
In like manner you are a sinner. You cannot atone for your
past sins; you cannot change your heart and make yourself holy. But God
promises to do all this for you through Christ. You believe that promise. You
confess your sins and give yourself to God. You will to serve Him. Just as
surely as you do this, God will fulfill His word to you. If you believe the
promise,--believe that you are forgiven and cleansed,--God supplies the fact;
you are made whole, just as Christ gave the paralytic power to walk when the
man believed that he was healed. It is so if you believe it. {SC 51.1}
Object lesson: The
world is dying and seeking false systems to be cured. If we do not seek them out and give them to
drink from the healing waters they will perish.
Jesus did not hold himself aloof from the poor, the suffering, and
sinful. His great heart of love went out in yearning tenderness for wretched
objects who needed his help. He was acquainted with the sufferers who had
learned to look forward to the period when it was thought that the waters were
agitated by a supernatural power. Many suffering from different maladies
visited the pool; but so great was the crowd at the appointed time, that they
rushed forward, trampling under foot men, women, and children weaker than
themselves. (God was not in it)
******Question…if
there was no heaven or hell would you still serve the Lord. We don’t do it to
be saved we do it because we are in a saving relationship.
Jude 3.
Cunning men.
This week I listened to a very eloquent man discredit the 7th
day Adventist church. He has studied at the universities, he is very well read
in scripture and sis white’s books and he very carefully and meticulously
picked apart the doctrine and then made some very serious insinuations.
As I listened I thought, how many 7th day
Adventists could raise a good rebuttal to these arguments. How many 7th
day Adventists will now doubt as a result of these arguments. How many people will leave as a result of
these arguments? I wondered but I could not answer the question.
We are at the
brink
2000 years of degeneration- (1656)
2000 years later the messiah
2000 years after that Sabbath commences
Creation
|
0
|
3950 BC
|
130
|
Genesis 5:3
|
Birth of Seth
|
130
|
3820 BC
|
105
|
Genesis 5:6
|
Birth of Enos
|
235
|
3715 BC
|
90
|
Genesis 5:9
|
Birth of Cainan
|
325
|
3625 BC
|
70
|
Genesis 5:12
|
Birth of Mahalaleel
|
395
|
3555 BC
|
65
|
Genesis 5:15
|
Birth of Jared
|
460
|
3490 BC
|
162
|
Genesis 5:18
|
Birth of Enoch
|
622
|
3328 BC
|
65
|
Genesis 5:21
|
Birth of Methuselah
|
687
|
3263 BC
|
187
|
Genesis 5:25
|
Birth of Lamech
|
874
|
3076 BC
|
182
|
Genesis 5:28
|
Birth of Noah
|
1056
|
2894 BC
|
600
|
Genesis 5:32
|
Beginning of the flood
|
1656
|
2294 BC
|
1
|
Genesis 7:11, 8:13-14
|
Appeal
Make use of the tools that have been given you. There is
light bearer training sessions. There are countless ministries to get involved
with. Ask the leaders and they will tell you. Get involved.
We are a type of Noah to warn this “rebellious race that they
will be swept away by the flood; and death will be their portion. By the
fulfillment of the prophetic warning that all who would not keep the
commandments of heaven should drink of the wrath of God which is poured out
without mixture. (the waters of the flood), the truth of God's word was
exemplified. {FE 504.3}) Let’s us not be
like the rebellious prophet Jonah that sought to hide God’s message or a worse
fate than a fish’s belly awaits us.
Prayer of recommitment.
The focal point of our existence….let us
not become so occupied that we forget what we are waiting for.
What makes life worth living, what makes
worship meaningful, is if God is honored by it. Cain sacrifice not honored.
Obedience to what God said. Go fight with
God and not with men.
Obedience is not legalism.
Partial obedience….
Some dreams----that I have that I can’t
control…the word of the Lord will be fulfilled. Satan has been trying for years
to prove the world of the Lord false, what think that you can?
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