LEGENDS OF THE FAITH

Part 1: Noah

PERSONAL NOTES

OPEN

1. Doesn’t that introduction – make you want to go do something BIG for God??

2. Welcome everyone – at all of our campuses!

3. WOODMEN CAMPUS – What you are experiencing today is JUST like one of our many
campuses we will eventually have around the city. Sit back and enjoy.

4. Today we begin an exciting new series as we look to some of the legends and heroes of the Bible.

5. Normal men and women. Facing adverse challenges and obstacles.

6. They were kings, prophets, warriors, commoners, explorers…

7. By learning from these heroes and legends of the faith – our goal is to inspire and build your faith.

8. ALL – learned to trust God in the face of adversity and trials.

9. Today we are going to look at the life of Noah

BACKGROUND TO NOAH

1. BIBLICAL HISTORY goes about 6000 years deep.

2. We have approximately 4000 years before the time of Christ.

3. And it has been just over 2000 years since Jesus walked on the earth.

4. Noah is 10 generations after Adam.

5. It’s about 1000 years later – which makes it around 3000BC.

6. People lived hundreds of years.

7. Noah lived 950 years.

8. Noah’s grandfather – Methusla 969 years.

9. Noah started having kids at 500. (great idea?)

10. Had three sons Shem, Ham, & Japheth.

11. Earth needed no rain – all fed through natural springs.

12. Wickedness begins to build on the earth – messed up.

13. Noah was 600 years old when the flood came.

14. From that point on you see a diminishing of the life span.

Life Lesson: One person can make a difference!

a. So many people don’t think their life counts.

b. God needs every one of us.

c. Turn in your Bibles to Genesis 6.

Genesis 6:5-8 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth,
and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply
troubled. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—
and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I
have made them.”

8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

 A day of judgement is coming!

 It's a fact – we are in the same condition as 5000 years ago

d. The earth was in bad condition – one person made a difference.

e. 1) We’re either adding to the wickedness – 2) just trying to get through – OR 3) we are making
a difference.

f. Our life is not all about us. We are called to make a difference in our world!!

1. We can make a difference for our family.

Genesis 7:1 The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I
have found you righteous in this generation.

 Noah’s actions. Noah’s life made a difference in the life of his children!
 Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your
household.”

Household - GR: OIKOS You will impact your sphere of influence.

a. Your salvation isn’t just about you.

b. We are to be light in the world!

c. Impact the people around me.

d. Sociologist say we each have a sphere of approximately 12 (to 17) people we have an hour or
more of time/ interaction per week.

e. Average Dad spends 7 minutes a day with his kids – 7X7=49.

f. For most dads they would not be an influence in their kid’s sphere of influence and life.

2. We can make a difference for our generation.

a. We have a responsibility TO our generation.

b. It’s not about you just enjoying your life – but making a difference.

c. Some say, “Give me a good message pastor! Go deeper.” They have Itching ears!

o Their concern is about what’s in it for them??

d. The purpose of church is not about getting more.

e. It’s a half time locker room talk – go out and win more for Jesus.

f. It is too easy to live our life NEAR sighted – I can see my world. We need to get a vision for
the world around us.

Acts 13:36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he
was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.

g. Teenagers – reach other HS and JH students

h. Singles – reach out to more singles

i. Young married

j. Families with kids and teenagers

k. Empty nesters

l. REACH YOUR GENERATION

3. We can make a difference for God.
a. God is looking for someone to enlist.

b. What if Noah had said - “Send someone else God!”

c. The reality is God literally works and moves here on earth THROUGH us!!

2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to
show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done
foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

Ezekiel 22:30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before
me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.

ONE person can change the world!!! Would you be that person???

Would you be bold enough to say – Here I am God – use me to make a

difference in my world today!

IF NOAH COULD SPEAK

 “Don’t be afraid to stand out in the crowd.”
Genesis 6:9 Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked
faithfully with God.

a. Think of the opposition Noah faced.

b. He was the ONLY righteous godly person on the planet!!!

c. The ridicule, mockery, jeering,

d. People egging his boat / Graffiti

e. He is going to ask you to be a difference maker – to make a change.

f. THINK ABOUT THIS: It had never rained and “your building a boat?”

g. Don’t be afraid to stand out in the crowd at a party, bad movie, telling a dirty joke,
gossip, pressure on a job to be unethical, etc.
Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept
safe.

h. It’s time for us to do the right thing even when everyone else is doing the wrong thing.

 (2nd) “Don’t be afraid to do something for the first time.”

a. God always requires a leap of faith.

b. Noah had never built a ship!

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an
ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the
righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

c. FEAR OF THE LORD – God I can’t do this without you!

d. Chances are God is going to ask you to do something you have never done before and
maybe no one has.

e. To be a difference maker you have to be more concerned about obeying God than
looking foolish.

f. EX: LEADING SOMEONE TO CHRIST

o Back in November

o Melinda / Member – met a new guest in the lobby and invited her to sit with her.

o HS – told her she was going to respond to the invitation – Get Ready!

o She was scared – she had never led anyone to Christ!

o Woman raised her hand and Melinda led her to Jesus!!!!

EX: Ice Cream truck – not in the book of church leadership

EX: Planting this church – NEVER been a SENIOR PASTOR – never done it before.

What is God asking you to do this year???

 Don’t quit

 Step up
  Take the risk

 Apologize now

 Get help

 Get out (not marriage)

 Slow down

 Call them

 Start today

 Be a difference maker

 “Don’t be afraid when the storms come. God is faithful to His promise.”
a. Can you imagine that storm? The floods? Thunder and lightning? People screaming? DEATH
everywhere you look?

Psalms 91

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of
the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you
with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and
rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in
the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You
will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If
you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will
overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you
up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because
he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor
him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

When the waters receded God gives a covenant sign about His promise.

 “When you see a rainbow, remember that one person can make a
difference.”

RAINBOW = “I promise you Dean – I am with you!”

Matthew 28:20 NLT . . . “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Noah is the best picture of what the end times will look like

2 Peter 3:6-9 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By
the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of
judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 Butdo not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years,
and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some
understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance.

Genesis 6:3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are
mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

God’s mercy and patience – waited 120 years!!!

Why hasn’t God come yet – he is waiting on you!

INVITATION