AND THE WATERS PREVAILED

Gen. 7:18-24

(All scripture quotations are from the NASB)

Original sermon idea and points by Bobby K. Thompson's "Sermons from the flannel board" - Vol. II

Expanded and worked by Tim Henderson

Introduction:

A. Go back to time of Flood

1. Relate situation of mankind

2. Note attitudes at that time

a. Unbelief, Ungodliness, Indifference, Broadmindedness, Efforts to save themselves.

b. Similar to many attitudes today

B. Same God then as now – Rev. 1:8, 17ff "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. ... 17 ... I am the first and the last,"

1. Results will be the same at judgment as they were at the time of the flood

2. Let’s look at some attitudes that may have been present at the time of the flood and note how they will reap the same reward at judgment ...

Discussion:

(The waters prevailed over their ...)

I. Unbelief

A. Compare Unbelief

1. At the flood ...

a. Noah, I just don’t believe in rain, never seen it before and don’t believe I ever will

b. Noah, a flood???? What are you talking about, how in the world could the entire world be flooded

c. God is a loving God, I just don’t believe He would condemn the entire world to die by flood.

2. Today ...

a. I just don’t believe in God

b. I just don’t believe in one church

c. I just don’t believe baptism is necessary

d. I just don’t believe attendance is necessary

e. God is a loving God, I just don’t believe He would condemn anyone to hell throughout eternity.

B. Note Heb. 11 – often titled chapter of Faith or Heroes of Faith

1. Note v. 6 "And without faith it is impossible to please {Him,} for he who comes to God must believe that He is and {that} He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

a. It is impossible to please God without FAITH

b. To come to God we MUST BELIEVE

2. Note v. 7 "By faith Noah, being warned {by God} about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith."

a. By FAITH Noah ...

1) Believed God’s warning

2) Acted according to God’s will (Gen. 6:22 "Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.")

3) Condemned the world and saved his family.

C. Faith is NECESSARY

1. Will the lack of faith on our part make void the faithfulness of God??

2. Rom. 3:3-4a "What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man {be found} a liar,"

a. I think not!

b. Whether I believe or not, will not change God’s faithfulness.

(The waters prevailed over their ...)

II. UNGODLINESS – Gen. 6:5-6

A. Look at the world today

1. Ungodliness is prevalent, in movies, music, TV, schools, politics, all are without God

2. Ungodliness – not conforming with the law or will of God (World Book Dictionary)

3. Even the religious world today is ungodly by definition

a. They have removed God by not abiding by His authority

1) 1 John 3:24 "The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."

2) John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."

b. No authority for Pope or hierarchy of Catholic church or centralized earthly organization of denominations.

c. No authority for Missionary Societies, church support of orphan homes, schools, institutions

d. No authority for fellowship halls, youth rally’s, instruments of music in worship

e. ALL THINGS WITHOUT AUTHORITY ARE UNGODLY (read definition again)

B. 2 Pet. 2:5 "and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;"

1. We must put away ungodliness – Titus 2:11-12 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,"

2. We must have God’s will abiding in us and keep all of His commandments to have God dwell within us

a. 1 John 3:24; John 14:23 (See above)

3. Anything less is ungodly (not conforming w/the law or will of God) and will be destroyed.

(The waters prevailed over their ...)

III. Indifference - (1. Having no feeling for or against; having or showing no interest 2. Impartial; neutral; without preference)

A. At the time of the flood, mankind could care less about God – Mt. 24:38-39 ""

1. Eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage

a. Jesus says, just as it was then, so it will be when He returns.

b. Is Jesus condemning these things???? If so then we are in trouble!!

1) I eat – do your???

2) I drink (cokes, Koolaid, water) – do you?

3) I got married – did you?

4) I hope to give my daughter away in future – others do to or have already!

5) Are we condemned just as they were at the time of flood??

2. Jesus is saying these things because the world placed importance on them.

a. That was all they were concerned with.

B. Noah cried out – "It’s going to flood Wednesday at 7:00 PM

1. Replies

a. "Ummm, well Noah, I’ve got a wedding and a reception to attend."

b. "Ummm, Noah, that’s not a good time for me, can you reschedule."

c. "Ummm, You see Noah, junior has a baseball game that night and it’s the playoffs and he’s the star player, we just couldn’t take that away from him, we may be a little late, if we are able to make it."

d. "Ummm, Noah, it’s like this, little Susie has a school play she has been practicing for for months, and they had to move it to that night, we couldn’t tell her no, we probably won’t be able to be there"

e. Simply put, they were not concerned with God’s approaching judgment.

2. What are some of the most often heard replies to our teaching the Gospel?

a. Does it really matter?

b. I don’t care!

c. It doesn’t concern me!

d. Sunday is my only off day, only day I can sleep in a little later, we’ll probably be late.

e. Simply put, they are not concerned with God’s approaching judgment.

3. Many in the world today are in the same boat (or more accurately are missing the ark), they know what God says, but they don’t care, other things are more important.

a. This is true even in the body of Christ

b. Some place things of this world over service to God.

1) Travel on Sundays and purposefully miss services.

2) Miss Wednesday evening Bible Study for worldly reasons

3) Not attend some nights of the Gospel Meeting, because not convenient for them.

c. Simply put they are indifferent in their service to God.

C. 1 Thess. 5:2-3 "For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape."

(The waters prevailed over their ...)

IV. Broadmindedness – ( 1. Not prejudiced or bigoted; tolerant)

A. At 1st glance at the definition, we may think, well what’s so bad about that

1. Unfortunately many feel this way, even so-called members of the church.

2. Show cartoon

a. Third line, last panel – I agree it is not under our control, it is under God’s

b. Over all I don’t agree with the attitude of either, we cannot be more broadminded in our fellowship than God, likewise, we cannot be more narrowminded.

B. Gen. 6:8-13

1. Perhaps a little too broadminded, a little too tolerant.

a. Well Noah, what’s so bad about that guy over there with his 10 wives and 20 girlfriends

b. What’s wrong with a little fun Noah

c. A young man has to sow his wild oats Noah, give him a break.

2. Some in the church today want to teach Unity in Diversity.

a. God does not have an open fellowship and neither should I – Mt. 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven {will enter.}"

b. Jesus pleaded for unity – John 17:21-22

1) Are God and Jesus diverse in their beliefs????

2) If someone is not abiding within God’s authority then he is too broadminded for me.

3. Mt. 7:13-14 is somewhat quoted in the cartoon

a. Some have used this just as this man is, an excuse to be too exclusive, everyone must believe just as he does.

b. That is not what it is teaching, it teaches us that the way we are to follow is the path of Christ, no broader, and no narrower.

(Also, the waters prevailed over their ...)

V. EFFORTS TO SAVE THEMSELVES

A. Imagine if you will ...

1. Rain literally pouring from heaven

2. Every stream, river, spring, running full blast

3. Land quickly disappearing

4. Surely some were finding something that would float, or perhaps building some sort of raft.

a. Perhaps some floated and thought they might make it.

b. Perhaps some survived for a period of time (who’s to say)

1) But the waters prevailed 150 days.

2) No provisions for food or water

5. Gen. 7:23-24

a. ALL who were not in the ark were destroyed.

B. The same will be true at Judgment

1. How many are trying to find their own ways to heaven.

a. Sinner’s prayer, just believe, have your sins absolved by a priest

b. Live a good moral life, attend the church of your choice and obey the gospel of your choice

2. Many on the day of Judgment will say – "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?" Mt. 7:22

a. Remember, Judgment is being held by God’s word alone – 2 Pet. 3:5-7

b. Jesus will say to those who tried to save themselves – "I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS." Mt. 7:23

C. With Jesus it is literally HIS WAY or NO WAY.

(Likewise, the waters prevailed over their ...)

VI. PROCRASTINATION – (1. The act or habit of putting things off till later; delay)

A. Picture Noah – preacher of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5)

1. Repent, the earth is to be destroyed by flood

a. Yeah, yeah, later Noah, I’ve got things to do right now

b. I’ll get in the boat when the flood starts

c. When I see it raining, I’ll believe and obey

2. How many times in TV shows or movies do we see Noah and his family getting into the ark while it is raining and the flood is beginning.

a. Notice in Gen. 7:9,10 – God warned Noah to get in the ark for the flood would start in 7 days.

b. How many people do you reckon came running to the ark when they heard thunder and saw lightning

c. How many began banging on the door to get in cause it was getting pretty wet out.

d. It was too late – "the LORD closed {it} behind him." Gen. 7:16ff

B. Gen. 6:3a "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever"

1. God will not strive with man forever now, just as then

a. 2 Cor. 6:2 "for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU." Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"--"

b. Heb. 3:12-13 "Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is {still} called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

2. Their is NO TIME for DELAY – "Behold, now is the day of salvation"

Conclusion:

A. Remember, Heaven and earth are now reserved unto fire – 2 Pet. 3:7

1. Are we making the same mistakes ???

a. Unbelief, ungodliness (not conforming with the law or will of God), indifference, broadmindedness, trying our own way of salvation and not the Lord’s (one way then, the ark, one way now, Jesus Christ)

b. Perhaps the case most prevalent with us is procrastination, we know what to do, but delaying it.

B. "Behold, now is the day of salvation"

1. Heb. 3:12-13 (see above)