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Loving God’s Word (Psalms 119:97-104)

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Loving God’s Word
Psalms 119:97-104
November 6, 2011

I have to say that tonight we look at my favorite stanza of this 119th Psalm.
We certainly find value in every line, but this one just jumps to me.

For here we find our Psalmist simply giving an account
Of his great love for the word of God.

If indeed these stanzas build upon one another,
It seems that the victory he experienced last week
Has spilled over into doxology this week.

You may remember that our Psalmist
Has been dealing quite a while now with affliction.

And we have seen him with almost every conceivable emotion.
He has questioned it…
He has fought it…
He has embraced it…
He has appreciated it…
He has asked for it to leave…
He has even reached despair over it…

But last week we finally saw him conquer it.
(92-93) “If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me.”

That certainly was a rejuvenated man.
That certainly was a victorious man.

Now, as we noted, his affliction wasn’t gone.
(95) “The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Your testimonies.”

His affliction wasn’t gone, but he had found victory in the middle of it.

And he gave sole credit for that victory to the word of God.
It was God’s law that kept him from perishing.
It was God’s precepts that revived him.

And it is apparent that he is not yet finished
Testifying to his high esteem of God’s word.

For tonight we have a stanza purely devoted to his love for God’s Word.

And certainly loving the word of God is essential in our lives.

You may remember when we talked about the Anti-Christ
While studying 2 Thessalonians.
Listen to what Paul said about people who don’t love the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”

There, love of God’s word is equated with salvation.

Jesus indicated the same:
John 8:31-32 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

And you may remember that love for God’s word
Was one of the chief distinctions of the early church.

Acts 2:41-42 “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

It is easy to say that a chief characteristic of the children of God
Is that they love the word of God.

And in reality, this is obvious.
How can you claim to love God if you don’t care to listen to Him speak?

And so love of God’s Word is basic.
And that is precisely what our Psalmist is.
He has a tremendous love for God’s word.

In fact he begins by saying, “O how I love Your law!”

And that phrase is very insightful.

He doesn’t just say, “I love Your law”, but “O how I love Your law!”

It is almost as if “love” isn’t a strong enough word for him.
He loves it immensely.
He loves it exceedingly.
His love for it is immeasurable.

He can’t seem to put a limit on it,
Nor can he seem to be able to express it fully.
I just love it soooo much!

And that is a refreshing statement to us.
We live in a day where God’s word may or may not be loved.
But we certainly live in a day where if you talk about God’s “law”,
It most certainly is not.

Even in the church, people have grown
To attach a negative connotation to the “law” of God.

It sounds condemning.
It sounds judgmental.
And today everyone wants to put the emphasis on grace and blessing.

So talk about precepts all you want.
Talk about Scriptures if you must.
But if you talk about “law” that is most certainly negative.

BUT THAT IS REGRETTABLE.
Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”

Romans 7:12 “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”

God’s law is God’s word. It is good.
It is perfect.
It should be loved.

And that is precisely what we hear from our Psalmist.
And so tonight, let’s see what it looks like to love God’s Word.

The Psalmist will show you what it means to love the word of God.
#1 THE EXPRESSION OF HIS LOVE
Psalms 119:97

We already saw that the Psalmist loves the word of God,
But here he even shows us what it means to love God’s word.

HOW DO YOU EXPRESS LOVE FOR GOD’S WORD?
“It is my meditation all the day.”

This is actually one of my favorite words in regard to the word of God.

You can’t just read God’s word
And you can’t just listen to God’s Word being read.
If you want the full effect, you have to meditate on it.

Proverbs 2:1-6 “My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
I tend to believe that Proverbs 2:1-6 is the pinnacle passage
On how to study the Bible.

Notice all the words he uses in regard to the way we treat God’s word.
“RECEIVE my words”
“TREASURE my commandments”
“MAKE your ear attentive”
“INCLINE your heart”
“CRY for discernment”
“LIFT your voice for understanding”
“SEEK her as silver”
“SEARCH for her as for hidden treasures”

The writer of Proverbs is clear about
How the search for wisdom should be conducted.

He treats it as though it is a fine jewel.
I’ve always pictured it as a fine jewel buried beneath the earth.

If a miner is going to find it he will have devote himself to the process.
Not all nuggets just sit right out on the surface.
To find some, you have to dig for them.

It takes work, it takes diligence, but the reward is certainly worth it.

Well, reading the Bible requires the same kind of diligence.
In this book, not all the jewels just sit right out on the surface.
Some are buried deep within.

Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

And to begin to learn the things He would reveal
Requires extreme diligence.

You are all aware of the fact that the Scriptures are appraised.
1 Corinthians 2:11 “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.”

And yet God gives us His Spirit that we can understand these things.
But we must work at it.

Paul told Timothy:
2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

And so we know Bible understanding requires work and diligence,
Just like a miner extracting a precious jewel.

BUT HOW DO WE MINE?
The answer is meditation.
We read, read, and re-read.
We contemplate.
We listen

It is Read, Contemplate, Think, Pray, Question and Apply…
You roll it all up into one and we call it meditation.

There is so much depth to the word of God
And meditation is the key to begin to unearth some of that depth.

Psalms 27:4 “One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.”

Furthermore, meditation is an expression of love.

Remember when you met the love of your life?
• Some facts were on the surface (name, looks, etc.)
• Some facts required a little more digging.
• Some you are still trying to dig out.

BUT YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE THEM
So it is with God’s word.
The Psalmist loves God’s word and he expresses that love by meditation.
He loves to fill his mind with what God has said.

The Expression of His Love
#2 THE EXPLANATION OF HIS LOVE
Psalms 119:98-100

We already know that the Psalmist has a great love for God’s Word,
A love so deep that he meditates upon it continually.

A GOOD QUESTION AT THIS POINT WOULD BE WHY?

You could say, “I love my wife”.
Someone could say, “Why?”

And you would have to give explanation as to why she is worth loving.

Well that Psalmist tells you here why he loves God’s Word.

And the simple answer is because it makes him wise.
And wisdom is of great value!

Proverbs 3:13-18 “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.”

Wisdom is vitally important in this life.
We desperately need it, and we greatly desire it.
And the Psalmist loves God’s word because that is where he finds it.

In fact he gives examples of what he means.
1) God’s Word makes me Craftier than the Enemy (98)

When we talk about being crafty or cunning,
The Scripture paints this to be the chief characteristic of the enemy.

He is slick, he is smooth, he is cunning, he is stealthy
Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”

The enemy is crafty.
And yet “Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies.”

It is of tremendous value to be a step ahead of the enemy.
It is extremely important to know ahead of time his plan of attack.

When I know God’s Word, I am a step ahead of the game.
I am wise, and I am ready for the enemy.

“For they are ever mine.”
In other words, I am wiser than the enemy because I own God’s word.
I have not only received it, but there is a level of ownership to it.

MAYBE YOU HAVE A VERSE LIKE THAT,
THAT YOU HAVE PROVEN AND NOW CALL IT “YOURS”.

That is what the Psalmist said.
He has believed God’s Word and it makes him craftier than the enemy.

2) God’s Word makes me more Knowledgeable than the Scholars (99)

The chief example of craftiness is the enemy.
The chief example of knowledge is the scholar.

• They have devoted their lives to studying and learning and lecturing.
• They have degrees and awards and accomplishments.
• They have solved problems and answered riddles.
• They are revered as knowledgeable.
And yet the Psalmist says, “I have more insight than all my teachers”

I may not have a great education, like they do,
But I am not ignorant nor am I slow to understand.

There is a wisdom in me that is not of man.
There is an education in me that is beyond worldly.

Remember Paul?
Galatians 1:11-12 “For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Remember the Apostles?
Acts 4:13 “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

Even Jesus
John 7:15-16 “The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.”

I am not knocking education,
But it does not equate with the wisdom found in God’s Word.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”; and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”

And the Psalmist understood that.

I can’t go and debate physics with a professor at Texas Tech,
But that does not mean I am not wise.

Man’s education may explain how laws of the universe affect us,
But man’s education has never answered who wrote those laws.

The best answers man has are an explosion and a monkey.

The Psalmist says God’s word gives him knowledge.

“I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.”
I get it because I meditate on it.
I don’t just sit on the surface.

And so meditation is not only an expression of love,
But is also a means of knowledge.
3) God’s Word makes me more Experienced than the Aged (100)

The Enemy is the pinnacle example of Craftiness.
The Scholars are the pinnacle example of Knowledge.

But if you want to see the pinnacle example of experience,
You go to the aged.

And there is tremendous value in talking with them.
Proverbs 20:29 “The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair.”

Leviticus 19:32 ‘You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.”

Job 12:12 “Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding.”

Certainly there is a wealth of knowledge and experience there.

But notice what the Psalmist says: “I understand more than the aged,”

That is quite a statement.
• I am more crafty than the enemy.
• I am more knowledgeable than the scholar.
• I am more experienced than the aged.

HOW?
“Because I have observed Your precepts.”

A person used to say to me all the time, “Wisdom comes with age.”
I would respond, “It comes with fear of the Lord”.

Psalms 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”

The Psalmist knew that “fear of the LORD” (obedience)
Is what produces wisdom.

Certainly there is a manner of wisdom that comes from age,
Namely that which we know as experience.

But there is a wisdom even greater than that
Which only comes from God, through obedience to His word.

TURN TO: JOB 28

God has a wisdom that even experience cannot give you.
It is the wisdom of obedience.

And so now we see why he loves God’s Word so much.
It makes him wise.
His Expression of Love, His Explanation of Love
#3 THE ENDURANCE OF HIS LOVE
Psalms 119:101-102

I love the way he states this first phrase.
“I have restrained my feet from every evil way,”

WHY?
“That I may keep Your word.”

Notice also that he used the word “restrained”

That is to say that if given free reign
His feet would have naturally gravitated down the ways of evil.

The natural inclination of the human heart
Is to rush into sin and gravitate toward evil.

That is why Paul said:
1 Corinthians 9:27 “but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

That is why the writer of Hebrews said:
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

And the Psalmist sees the need as well.
He has to restrain his feet, he has to overcome temptation
If he wants to be obedient.

And yet that is a struggle worth enduring because he loves to obey.

Furthermore we see an endurance in this struggle.
(102) “I have not turned aside from Your ordinances”

Regardless of the struggle…
Regardless of the temptation…
He has committed not to disregard God’s Word.

WHY?
“For You Yourself have taught me.”

AND THERE IS THE KEY TO IT ALL
He loves it because it is God’s Word
He endures because God said it

“You Yourself have taught me.”

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

This is what makes God’s word worth the effort.
IT IS GOD’S WORD

• We don’t follow this book because it is fun – we are not pleasure seekers
• We don’t follow this book because others do – we are not men pleasers
• We don’t follow this book because it is history – we are not historians
• We don’t follow this book because it works – we are not pragmatists
• We don’t follow this book because it is easy – it is not

WE FOLLOW THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT IS WHAT GOD SAID!

The God who created the world…
The God who will judge the world…
THAT God said these things, and that makes them more valuable to us
Than any other written word known to man.

And for that reason we not only love it, but we meditate on it,
We obey it, and we keep obeying it no matter what.

That was the attitude of our Psalmist.
His love of God’s word had endurance.

And it must, for “love bears all things”

We know he loved God’s word because he refused to leave it.

The Expression of His Love, The Explanation of His Love, The Endurance of His Love
#4 THE ENJOYMENT OF HIS LOVE
Psalms 119:102-104

Don’t you love the imagery?
“How sweet are Your words to my taste!”

See, he does love God’s word.
And his love is a commitment.
But it is not as though God’s word is hard to love.

It is not like those who commit to love God’s word have a difficult task.
God’s Word is easy to love.
It is sweet to the taste.

“Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

Proverbs 24:13-14 “My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off.”

That is good advice.
Here the Psalmist would say, God’s word is good, so read it.

1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”

Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light”

Point being, it is not hard to love God’s word, just read it.
If you will meditate upon it, you will understand.

Someone could say, “I don’t know if I would like so & so”.
Well, get to know them and see. You do and find that they are great to get to know.

That is even more true with God’s word.
It is a blessing.
It is sweet to the taste.

The Psalmist loves loving God’s word.

(104) “From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.”

The point there is he loves the right way (God’s Word) so much
That he actually hates everything that opposes it.

It is a hate that is born out of his love.

• If you love life, you hate murder.
• If you love marriage, you hate divorce.
• If you love people, you hate gossip.
• If you love God, you hate idols.
• If you love truth, you hate error.

And that is what the Psalmist said.
I love God’s Word so much, it is impossible for me to love what is false.

He is in love with the truth of God’s Word.

And the point is that loving God’s word is not a burden to him.
It is not a difficult choice.
He tried it and he loves it.

• He loves it because it makes him wise.
• He shows that love through meditation and endurance.
• And if he were given the option to get out of the commitment, he would not do it.

HE LOVES IT

Let me encourage you to love God’s Word in the same way.

If you don’t know, but you would like to, the path is easy.

Do what the Psalmist did.
(97) He meditated on it
(98) He made it his
(99) He meditated some more
(100) He obeyed it

And that is what allowed him to say it tastes sweet.

Listen if you are truly a believer,
You already have an in born hunger for God’s Word,
It just may be you need to try it.

(it is like being hungry and not knowing it)

Trust me, it will satisfy you and make you love it too.
(I used to not want to read the gospels – until I did)

The same with God’s word.
Get into this book and see why the Psalmist loved it so much.

Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

The Fruit of Contentment (Philippians 4:10-14)

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The Fruit of Contentment
Philippians 4:10-14
January 26, 2014
 
As you know Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians
In large part as a response letter to the visit from Epaphroditus.
 
Epaphroditus was a member of the Philippian church, and he was entrusted to take a gift from the Philippians all the way to Paul in Rome.
 
It is likely that while he was there Epaphroditus also informed Paul of
• The opposition they were facing,
• The threat of the false teachers,
• And even the lack of harmony between Euodia and Syntyche.
 
In response to that visit Paul wrote this letter.
• To encourage them in their opposition
• To encourage them in their discernment
• To encourage them in their attitude
• To encourage them in their harmony with one another
 
And, as we find here to encourage them in regard to contentment.
 
Certainly in this letter Paul would want to mention
The gift that the Philippians gave him.
 
The fact that he waits until the end of the letter already
Does an adequate job of revealing that Paul’s first concern for the Philippians
Was not what he could get from them.
 
He doesn’t even mention the gift until he has faithfully and sufficiently
Dealt with the spiritual issues they were dealing with.
 
But now Paul is closing the letter and he turns to his portion
Where he will tell them thank you.
 
What is so interesting about this “thank you” portion is that Paul’s primary purpose for being thankful is not at all what you would think.
 
I’m sure the Philippians envisioned Paul
In that Roman apartment, on house arrest, chained to the guard, and thought “He must be hurting so badly and just begging for someone to help him”
 
I know I would certainly view people in Paul’s condition like that.
(namely because that is probably how I would be)
 
But that wasn’t Paul.
Paul had an attribute that served him well in times of hardship.
 
That attribute was CONTENTMENT
 
 
I think I can safely say that
CONTENTMENT IS THE FORGOTTEN VIRTUE OF OUR DAY
• We talk often of love
• We talk often of grace
• We talk often of mercy
• We talk often of forgiveness
• We don’t even mind a little patience
 
But take a quick look at our society and it becomes quickly clear,
That contentment is not something we are interested in.
 
Most people today are in a rat race trying to figure out
How they can constantly get more.
And not just more, but the latest version of more.
 
First I have to get it
• Then I need a second one
• Then I need a bigger one
• Then I need a faster one
• Then I need a more efficient one
• Then I need a cooler looking one
• Then I need one like yours, because yours is better than mine
 
Our society has forgotten about contentment.
 
But rest assured, God has not.
 
When John the Baptist preached to the centurions he said:
Luke 3:14 “Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”
 
The writer of Hebrews said:
Hebrews 13:5 “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”
 
God has always cared about contentment.
 
Paul wrote to Timothy:
1 Timothy 6:6-10 “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
 
Godliness is valuable IF it is accompanied with contentment.
See a lack of contentment will eventually
Pull you away from a pursuit of godliness.
It’s just plain impossible to concern yourselves with righteousness
And gaining the world at the same time.
 
Matthew 6:19-24 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
 
That is why Jesus would go on to say:
Matthew 6:31-33 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
 
John would echo that thought:
1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
 
As would James:
James 4:4 “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
 
In Luke’s gospel Jesus gave a penetrating parable to reinforce this issue:
Luke 12:13-21 “Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘ “But God said to him, ‘ You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
 
And you see where we are coming from here.
You cannot love God and the things of the world.
You cannot seek God and the things of the world.
 
You can only seek one of them
And then (get this) you have to be content with the other.
 
That means that you are either content in your circumstances
Or you are content in your relationship with God.
Now we know which Paul wanted don’t we?
 
He already told us what he was pursuing.
• He wanted to know Christ.
• He wanted to gain the righteousness which is according to faith.
• And even though he hadn’t obtained it yet, he was reaching for it.
 
Paul was content with the things of the world
And this allowed him to pursue the things of God.
 
Contentment matters.
 
Perhaps the story of the Rich Young Ruler ends differently
Had he been a man content with less.
 
(Zaccheus was and the story ended well for him)
 
• Matthew was content with a tax business
• Peter was content without a fishing boat
• James and John were content without their father
 
A person has to choose if they will be content in their circumstances
Or content in their relationship with God.
 
Contentment matters.
We are called to have it.
 
For godliness is a means of great gain
When accompanied by contentment.
 
But godliness without it is certainly lead you to ruin.
• Remember Gahazi (the servant of Elisha) who chased down Naaman that he might receive payment and inherited his leprosy?
 
• Consider the Pharisees who Luke says were “lovers of money” and how their life ended in destruction.
 
Jesus said it best when He asked:
Matthew 16:26a “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?”
 
Contentment matters.
 
So, obviously we should do some thinking about it.
• What does contentment look like?
• How does one achieve it?
 
Well I think we can confidently answer both of those questions
In our text tonight.
 
 
When I first started working on this, I was really trying
To give some profound points about what was going on.
 
But it seems to me, you’ll have to be content with simple ones.
 
For tonight we see three simple realities about the contented person.
What is the fruit of contentment?
 
There are three here
#1 JOY
Philippians 4:10-11
 
Now we do need to clarify the point a little, but in a very simple sense
You can see that one of the attributes of contentment is joy.
 
Paul said, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me;”
 
Paul is rejoicing
After all we are commanded to rejoice always
 
He received the gift (and we don’t know what it was),
And when he did he wrote this letter saying that he was thrilled.
 
Now even in the first line of verse 10 we see that
Paul was NOT REJOICING about what he received,
But rather he was rejoicing that they “revived” their concern for him.
 
The Greek word for “revived” is a horticultural term
Speaking of when a plant brings forth flowers.
 
Their concern finally bloomed.
 
You can plant flowers and you know they are flowers,
But until they bloom they don’t look like much more than a weed.
 
Paul is rejoicing that their concern
Has finally come to the forefront and has bloomed.
 
Before they were like a flowerless plant:
 
“indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.”
• Maybe they were too poor to share (we know of their poverty)
• Maybe they had no way to get the supplies to him
• Maybe they didn’t know where he was
 
For whatever reason, the Philippians had not recently been able to help,
But once they had the “opportunity” they seized it
And their concern for him was in full bloom.
 
And there is a spiritual reality to be seen there.
Luke 16:10-13 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? “And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
 
People all the time live under this self-deluded assumption
That if they had more they would give more.
 
But listen, generosity has nothing to do with wealth.
You are either a giver or you or not.
 
If you think in your heart, I’ll give when I get ahead,
I can confidently say you will never give.
 
If you aren’t faithful with a little, you will never be faithful with a lot.
 
And that is Jesus’ point.
God can tell if you love Him or love money
Regardless of whether or not you are rich or poor.
 
Well the Philippians came through.
They gave, when they had little, and they gave when they had a lot.
 
And their giving caused Paul to rejoice.
 
However, it is so important to understand WHY he was rejoicing.
 
Many would immediately assume it is because he received some supplies that would make his life more comfortable.
 
Many would assume that he was rejoicing in the gift.
 
NO
(11) “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
 
Paul says, “I am rejoicing true enough, but it is not because I finally have something I wanted.”
 
You will see next week that Paul’s rejoicing had more to do
With the spiritual state of the Philippians.
 
Philippians 4:17 “Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”
 
Paul wasn’t rejoicing in what he received, he was rejoicing in the fact that
The Philippians were generous, and what that meant for them.
John said:
3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”
 
Paul told the Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 3:8 “for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.”
 
The rejoicing came as a result of the faith and obedience of his spiritual children, not because he received something he wanted.
 
And Paul explains that:
“for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
 
Now that is a good explanation of contentment.
Contentment is not dependent upon circumstances.
 
If circumstances can make you discontent, then you are not content.
 
The Greek word translated “content”
Here is only used here in the New Testament.
 
And it is a word that literally means “self-sufficient” or “adequate”
It speaks of one who “needs no assistance” because he already has enough.
 
And Paul basically is describing the reality that
He has learned not expect or depend on anything else.
What he already has is enough.
 
(pretty impressive statement for a man in prison on limited rations,
Chained to a Roman centurion 24/7)
 
We would say that this is a person who has
Learned “to make do” with what they have.
 
The solution to their life is not found in getting something else.
 
Now, you may remember that Paul was not always this way.
Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”
 
Paul used to be a covetous man.
• He used to be a man who did not see what he already had as adequate.
• He used to be a man who was very discontent, coveting what others had.
 
But here he says, “I have learned to be content”
 
One can only imagine the lessons God used
To teach Paul this priceless attitude.
 
2 Corinthians 11:27 “I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.”
Without a doubt God used those things to teach Paul contentment.
He had to learn it.
 
In other words contentment is not natural to the flesh.
 
We learned a couple of weeks ago
About people who are enemies of the cross.
 
Paul described them like this:
Philippians 3:19 “whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.”
 
The natural man is not content
You did not come into this world content
 
Contentment must be learned and Paul said “I have learned” it.
 
That means that Paul was not sitting in his quarters moaning and wishing and begging for more supplies or better circumstances.
 
He never mentioned it and he wasn’t even thinking about it
Because he was content with what he had.
 
He rejoiced but not about getting stuff.
 
And that is a contented person.
Joy.
 
They aren’t bitter, even when they don’t have all they could have.
 
Joy is a fruit of contentment.
#2 FAITH
Philippians 4:12-13
 
Now Paul just said that he learned contentment.
And that education certainly came through a few life experiences.
 
“I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”
 
I would say most of us are half-way there.
We know how to get along in prosperity and how to be filled
And how to have an abundance.
 
It’s the other three circumstances on that list we struggle with.
 
But Paul had been cold and hungry and alone
And shipwrecked and beaten and in danger.
And through those times he learned how to be content.
• He learned how to be self sufficient
• He learned how to “make do”
 
And notice here what he says he learned.
“I have learned the secret…”
 
Hey, now we’re getting somewhere.
WHAT’S THE SECRET?
 
(13) “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
 
Perhaps the most misquoted verse in Scripture.
• A wide receiver scores a touchdown
• A bull rider stays on for 8 seconds
 
And they all point to Philippians 4:13
 
They use that verse to mean the exact opposite of what Paul meant.
People use that verse to say that God supernaturally provides for their lack, when in reality Paul is saying God supernaturally lets me accept my lack.
 
A better translation of that verse is:
• “I can handle all things through Him who strengthens me.”
• “I can endure all things through Him who strengthens me.”
 
And that is what Paul is saying.
 
He says I learned the secret of contentment,
And that secret is that God infuses strength
For any situation into His children.
 
We learned last week that in the midst of anxiety
He can give a peace that is beyond comprehension.
 
Now we learn in the midst of any need He can give strength to endure.
And Paul knew all that because he had so often been without.
 
It’s the old adage – “You don’t learn Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”
 
Paul prayed for this same thing for the Ephesians:
Ephesians 3:14-16 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,”
 
It is the same strength we need to stand against the schemes of the devil:
Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
It is the strength Isaiah spoke of:
Isaiah 40:28-31 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”
 
It is the strength Paul learned about through the thorn in his flesh
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
 
• It is not human strength
• It is not will power
• It is not fortitude
• It is supernatural, divine strength, which God infuses into His children
 
It is His strength to endure any situation,
Any hardship, any amount of lack.
 
And Paul says when I learned that God has strength for me
That is greater than my own,
I realized that I could handle any situation thrown my way.
 
I realized that I was no longer dependent on outer resources.
I was no longer constantly in need of food.
 
God has strength available to allow us to endure any hardship.
And when I learned that, I was content with what I had.
 
Now, don’t turn Paul into more than he was.
This does not mean Paul completely took his eye off of human necessity.
 
Acts 18:1-4 “After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.”
 
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.”
 
Paul still knew what it was to work
Paul still knew what it was to earn money and buy food
We aren’t saying he just dropped it all sat down
Waiting for God to supernaturally take care of everything.
 
What we are saying is that
Even when Paul was put in a position where there was nothing he could do to change his circumstances, he had faith that God would supply the strength to endure it.
 
He was content
He wasn’t worried
He had faith.
 
And that is a fruit of contentment.
• Contented people have joy
• Contented people have faith
 
They aren’t disgruntled due to their lack of supply
And they aren’t worried about it either.
 
They have joy and they have faith
#3 GRATITUDE
Philippians 4:14
 
Now if you aren’t careful you could almost read what Paul has said up to this point as though he would rather not have received anything.
 
You know it almost sounds like he is saying,
“Thanks, but no thanks. I’m good”
 
But that is not at all what he is saying.
 
In fact he was very appreciative.
He just wasn’t desperate for it.
 
He actually tells the Philippians:
“Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.”
 
Look, don’t misunderstand, what the Philippians did was a good thing.
What the Philippians did was the right thing.
 
After all Jesus said:
Matthew 25:37-40 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”
 
The writer of Hebrews said:
Hebrews 13:3 “Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.”
Paul himself wrote:
Romans 12:10-13 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”
 
So it is clear that what they did was the right thing to do.
And Paul is appreciative.
And this gratitude is a fruit of contentment.
 
Notice what Paul did not do.
He did not say, “Thank you so much for the stuff you sent, if it is possible next time could you also get me some…”
 
That is what discontented people do today.
You can give them something, but it is never enough.
There is always “Could you also?” coming later.
 
That is what can make things like benevolence difficult.
It is impossible to meet the needs of a discontented person.
 
“The leech had two daughters; give and give”
 
Sooner or later you have to just stop, because they never will.
 
Paul however was not like that.
He was grateful for whatever,
But even more grateful for the heart of the person who gave it.
 
With him, it really was the thought that counted.
 
And that is contentment.
 
So look at your life.
 
• Are you joyful in your circumstances? (even bad ones)
• Do you have faith that God can supply strength to endure?
• Are you grateful for what you have and not constantly begging for more?
 
That is a contented person.
And it is a virtue that God requires.
 
If you aren’t, then learn the secret.
Learn that God will take care of you and find contentment where you are.
 
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
 

 

God’s Grace to Humanity (Genesis 9:1-17)

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God’s Grace to Humanity
Genesis 9:1-17
January 26, 2014
 
Well, we’ve been covering this story of the beginning of man,
And it has not been a fun story to watch.
 
• God started it all perfect
• He did everything for man that He could have
• And then man sinned and brought a curse
• And then man sinned again and brought more curse
• And then man continued to sin until God was grieved
 
That is when we saw the Judgment of God
(Judgment is you getting what you deserve)
 
God sent a flood upon the earth
And killed every living thing with breath in its nostrils.
 
After this we saw the Mercy of God
(Mercy is you not getting what you deserve)
 
And for that we looked at Noah and his family and the remnant of animals.
• Yes Noah walked with God
• Yes Noah was blameless in his time
• Yes Noah was a preacher of righteousness
 
But do not be confused into thinking
That Noah was righteous like God is righteous.
 
• The fact that God warned Noah about the flood
• The fact that God waited for Noah to build an ark
• The fact that God walked Noah through the flood
 
Those were all acts of Mercy.
 
And Moses is taking us through that reality.
 
Well this morning we see the next important attribute
And that is the Grace of God
(Grace is you getting what you don’t deserve)
 
Now we talk and sing a lot about grace, and rightly so.
 
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
 
It is true that salvation is by grace alone.
(otherwise it would be by grace and works, and Paul squashes that there)
 
It is only God’s grace that allows anyone to be saved.
It is literally God giving us what we do not deserve.
And because of that we love the grace of God.
 
One of the best statements on grace in Scripture is found in Romans 5
Romans 5:20-21 “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
 
We love the reality that God does not always treat us as we deserve, but instead often times treats us better.
 
He gives us grace.
 
And that is what Moses is reminding the children of Israel of.
 
GOD IS A GRACIOUS GOD
 
Here was Moses’ congregation, wondering in the wilderness (in the middle of judgment) wondering what would become of them.
 
• Sure they had been saved from the wrath of Egypt
• Sure they had been carried through the Red Sea
• Sure God was caring for them in the Wilderness
 
But they were still prone to forget how good their God was.
Moses is reminding them here of just the kind of God they serve.
 
We too need this reminder.
• When things don’t go as planned
• When life throws us an unexpected curveball
• We too are tempted to wonder if God is as good as He says.
 
Last week we looked at Psalm 77 and how Asaph was in despair
Because God wasn’t answering as quickly as he expected.
 
He felt like God must have changed his policy
In regard to helping those who suffer.
 
Psalms 77:10 “Then I said, “It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed.”
 
So how did Asaph pull himself out of that pit?
 
Psalms 77:11-15 “I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds. Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. You have by Your power redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph.”
 
Asaph pulled himself out of despair
By remembering all that God had done in the past.
AND THE STORY WE REMEMBER THIS MORNING IS A TREMENDOUS STORY TO SHOW US GOD’S AMAZING GRACE.
 
Isaiah even used reference to this story.
 
In Isaiah 54 God is making an appeal to Israel
Regarding the blessing of redemption.
 
If they will but trust in Him, He is promising grace.
Isaiah 54:4-9 “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth, And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. “For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. “For the LORD has called you, Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,” Says your God. “For a brief moment I forsook you, But with great compassion I will gather you. “In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, But with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,” Says the LORD your Redeemer. “For this is like the days of Noah to Me, When I swore that the waters of Noah Would not flood the earth again; So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you Nor will I rebuke you.”
 
When Isaiah wanted God’s people to understand God’s grace,
He reminded them of what God did for Noah.
 
And that is what Moses is doing here as well.
 
The children of Israel needed to be reminded of how God carried His people through the judgment and how He was merciful and gracious.
So do we.
 
• We have seen the judgment of God – which is real
• We have seen the mercy of God – which is real
 
This morning let me show you the grace of God.
God giving humanity what they most certainly do not deserve,
And that is a second chance.
 
Two main points that we will develop a little further.
 
Grace seen in two ways:
#1 GOD’S PLAN FOR HUMANITY
Genesis 9:1-7
 
Now honestly, if you want to talk about grace,
It is actually seen in the first verse of chapter 9.
 
“And God blessed Noah and his sons”
 
• Gen 8 started with mercy – “God remembered Noah”
• Gen 9 starts with grace – “God blessed Noah”
And this is amazing.
Wouldn’t you agree that it is fair to say that God has done enough.
 
I mean God did warn Noah and God did spare Noah
And God did carry Noah safely through.
 
It seems like the natural course of thought here would be that
Chapter 9 would be a chapter about Noah blessing God.
 
It seems to me that a natural flow would be a whole song of Noah,
Where he did nothing but talk about the tremendous mercy of God
To save him and his family through the judgment.
 
And yet, instead of a chapter recording that,
We get a chapter which records how God blessed Noah.
 
• That is above and beyond
• That is the extra mile
• That is Noah getting what he did not deserve
 
You also see here a command from God to “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.”
 
And there two things important about that.
1) God is intending for the survival of man.
He actually wants man to thrive, and that command bookends this section
as he repeats it again in verse 7
 
2) The reality has changed since the beginning.
God told Adam something different.
 
Genesis 1:28 “God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
 
Adam was also to subdue the earth and rule over it.
That reality was lost at the fall.
 
But just because man lost his place of authority
Does not mean he lost his affection from God.
 
God still wants man to succeed.
Based on the way man grieved God previously, this is an act of grace.
 
No human ever has the right to assume that God is against humanity. If He was, we would not be here.
 
But you see very quickly a picture of God’s grace.
 
But let me show it to you a little more detailed than that.
These 7 verses actually give us
4 distinct pictures of God’s grace toward humanity.
 
1) GOD’S PLACEMENT OF MAN (2)
“The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all of the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.”
 
Now again, this is a little different than what occurred for Adam.
• For Adam the animals were friends.
• In fact you may even remember that God looked through every animal to see if one would be a suitable helpmate for Adam.
 
But animals are no longer friends, now they are foes
That is again a consequence of sin and the curse
 
And this is initially very bad news for humanity,
For who can match the strength of a horse? Who can match the ferocity of a lion? Who can match the sting of the viper?
 
If we are all even in this thing, man is in a world of hurt.
 
And so God makes provision.
He put “the terror” of man on every animal.
 
Man imagines himself so fierce and crafty today because of his ability to hunt.
 
• We really think we’re doing something when we go out and hunt an animal and
kill it, and we suppose this makes us superior to the beasts.
 
• Another man decorates his home with trophies of animals he has killed as
though he is some sort of mighty man able to conquer the wild beasts.
 
But he forgets that the playing field is not level.
 
He is hunting beasts, but they are not hunting him,
They are running from him.
 
Had God not put a terror on the beasts, and they hunted us like we hunt them,
Trust me when I tell you that humans wouldn’t be the only ones in need of a taxidermist.
 
God graciously put man at the head.
God gave us a place we did not deserve.
 
We had this position once and ruined it, and God graciously gave it again.
 
And if you will remember, it was this reality
That literally blew David’s mind.
Psalms 8:3-8 “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.”
 
David just couldn’t figure why God would put so much stock in man.
 
We call that grace.
God placed man above everything.
 
Now it is true that we still await the perfect fulfillment of that placement when Christ returns and all is set to peace.
 
But the placement was made long ago.
God is gracious to man.
 
God’s Placement of Man
2) GOD’S PROVISION FOR MAN (3)
“Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.”
 
• First animals were friends
• Then animals were foes
• Now animals are food
 
And yes Moses would introduce dietary restrictions for the Jewish people to help separate them from the nations, but the point here is not restriction.
 
The point here is provision.
 
God is providing for man.
God is giving man food to eat.
 
That is grace, especially since the ground is cursed.
Now man can eat the beast of the field, not just the fruit of it.
 
Incidentally we know why God has graciously agreed to provide for us.
 
Matthew 6:31-33 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
 
God promises to provide so we can focus on serving.
God says I’ll take care of the food so you can set your priority on My kingdom.
 
It is grace that God would not only place man at the pinnacle of creation,
But would also choose to provide for his needs.
 
Grace is also seen:
3) GOD’S PROTECTION OF MAN (4-6)
 
Now here, just as with Adam, we find that Noah had only 1 command.
 
“Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.”
 
Man was not to eat animals where the blood
Had not been properly drained.
The reason is because the life is in the blood,
And the life belongs to God.
 
It is not man’s to take, it is not man’s to eat.
 
And this was not just a Jewish command, this was a universal one.
In fact you will remember when Gentiles started to be saved
And the Jews were up in arms about rather or not they should be circumcised
And come under the Law.
 
The Jewish council met and decided,
No, they did not have to come under the Law.
 
However they did say this:
Acts 15:19-20 “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.”
 
That originated with Noah.
 
Now man could shed animal’s blood, they just couldn’t eat it.
However, man has an even greater protection.
 
(5-6) “Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man. “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.”
 
Now man was allowed to shed the blood of an animal,
He just could not eat it.
 
But in regard to man, man is not even allowed to shed his blood.
 
The only time blood could be shed would be in judicial justice
To punish one who does shed another’s blood.
 
God instituted the death penalty from the beginning.
Murder is a serious crime and God requires the blood of the murderer.
 
That is the only way to appease the crime.
And we could talk more about murder and the shedding of blood,
But the main point I want you to see is that
God set a certain protection over man.
 
Whereas animals could be killed for food, man can’t be killed at all.
 
If a man kills a beast, it is food
If a beast kills a man, it is to be killed
 
Why would God place man so high above all other creation?
The answer is grace
 
God’s placement of man, provision for man, protection of man
4) GOD’S PROPAGATION OF MAN (7)
 
“As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.”
 
And just as we said earlier, this command bookends the section.
God is for man.
 
• He wants an earth full of humanity.
• No population control
• No annihilation of races
• God wants man to multiply.
 
After all the grief that humanity caused Him, you would think God would be done with them, and yet He isn’t.
 
That is grace.
That is man getting what we do not deserve.
 
And so we see grace in God’s plan for humanity.
It is a great plan, it is a glorious plan, it is a gracious plan
 
The second way we see God’s grace
#2 GOD’S PROMISE TO MAN
Genesis 9:8-17
 
God does something here that I find truly amazing.
 
God actually enacts a covenant with man,
And an unconditional one at that.
 
When you think about it, after the flood,
This was a time when God held all the cards.
 
I mean, He is letting man start over, but certainly man should now know
That you don’t mess with Him.
And if I were God and I wanted to keep it that way, it is easy.
 
Every time man starts pushing my patience a little,
I just send a little sprinkle, and I let it rain until they repent.
 
Easy enough right?
 
And yet God completely gives up His ace in the hole.
He is not a Tyrant
He is not a Bully
 
When Jesus came as God made flesh, we saw how gentle He could be
 
Matthew 12:18-21 “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM IHAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. “HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. “A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. “AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.”
 
Jesus explained God to us better than ever before.
 
• And we find Him to be gracious and gentle.
• He is not the kind to hold threats over a person’s head.
• He doesn’t threaten, He doesn’t manipulate, He doesn’t bully.
 
And that is perfectly seen here as well.
 
Instead of forcing man to forever treat lightly for fear of another flood,
God makes a startling promise to man that He’ll never do it again.
 
(8-11) “Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, “Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. “I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
 
What a promise from God!
 
I would imagine man to have just a bit of an anxiety complex
Every time they saw a cloud build and rain come.
 
Children today are naturally afraid of thunder storm.
 
But if God had never made this promise,
Every time it rained we would be concerned if it was the next global killer.
 
God could have used this forever, instead He makes a promise.
I’ll never flood the earth again.
 
Now don’t misunderstand this.
God does not promise to never judge the earth again.
 
That He will most certainly do, just not with water.
2 Peter 3:7 “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
 
God will judge again with fire.
 
But He gives Noah a promise
That He doesn’t have to fear every time it rains.
 
And just in case that promise is not enough,
God promises a continual reminder.
 
(12-17) “God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. “It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. “When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
 
The rainbow would become God’s ultimate symbol of grace.
(The cross is not a symbol of grace – the cross is a symbol of judgment)
That is why the cross is offensive.
 
THE RAINBOW IS THE SYMBOL OF GRACE
 
God said every time it rains, and the anxiety of a flood fills your heart,
Then look to the heavens at my rainbow,
It is the sign of My promise that I will not flood the earth again.
 
Furthermore, God said (16) “When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant”
 
(It is disheartening that today the rainbow has lost its symbolism and has been instead adopted by the gay and lesbian community as their sign)
 
But the rainbow was never intended to be a sign of sin,
It was intended to be a sign of grace.
And this is true throughout the Bible.
 
In the book of Revelation, when John is caught up to heaven and sees God on His throne, notice what he saw:
 
Revelation 4:3 “And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.”
 
Later in Revelation when a strong angel comes to John to convince John not to give up on sinners, but to prophesy to them again, notice what the angel is wearing:
 
Revelation 10:1 “I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;”
 
God’s rainbow has always been a sign of grace.
 
I suppose those who hide behind it today as a symbol for sin,
Do what many do when they seek to take advantage of grace.
 
They think If God is gracious then I can sin.
And that is a foolish thought.
 
For grace was given to remind us of God’s propensity to forgive,
Not to encourage us to sin.
 
But the point is that God was and is gracious to humanity.
(He gives us what we do not deserve)
 
After man grieved God to the point of total annihilation,
God preserved a remnant.
 
He then took that remnant and:
• Placed them above all creation
• Provided for them food to eat
• Protected them from one another
• Propagated them over the whole earth
• Promised to never flood them again
• Proved it with a sign in the heavens
 
That is a gracious God.
 
And as Moses preached to that rabble traveling in the wilderness,
Continually tempted to forsake God or turn against God.
 
Moses could only remind them that God is good.
God has good plans for you.
• He had placed them in the wilderness, but under a cloud and out from under Pharaoh.
 
• He was providing for them daily with manna from heaven
 
• He was protecting them continually from every surrounding foe and even the elements
 
• And He had already made them to be like the sand which is on the seashore in number.
 
God was being gracious to Israel, and they couldn’t even see it.
 
HOW ABOUT YOU?
• God has placed you in His kingdom, under the blood of Christ and out from under sin.
 
• God is providing for you daily, not only food, but also forgiveness.
 
• God is protecting you from the schemes of the enemy.
 
• God is daily calling out others to join you and be His children.
 
What more can we call this but grace?
 
So next time things don’t go as you think they should,
And you are like Asaph, crying through the night.
 
Stop and remember who God has always been,
And turn to Him once again to trust Him. He has earned it.
 
He also deserves your trust today, if you have never given it to Him.
• No, you don’t deserve forgiveness
• No, you don’t deserve new life
• No, you don’t deserve a second chance
 
But grace is when you get what you don’t deserve.
And “by grace are you saved”
 
• If a fear of God’s wrath won’t lead you to repentance
• And if the offer of God’s mercy doesn’t lead you to repentance
• Then by all means, may the blessing of His grace be what does.
 
Trust in Him.
 

Through the Flood (Genesis 8:1-22)

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Through the Flood
Genesis 8:1-22
January 19, 2014
 
Most of you are familiar with David’s 23rd Psalm.
(It was probably one of the first you ever memorized)
 
Psalms 23 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
 
And of course we are thankful that God is in fact a Shepherd.
We are but sheep.
• Sheep aren’t the brightest
• Sheep aren’t the toughest
• Sheep aren’t the most resilient
 
If sheep are to survive from danger, predator, and their own stupidity,
They need a shepherd.
 
Such a shepherd we have.
• He guides us in life to green pastures and quiet waters.
• He guides us in death through the valley of the shadow of death.
 
And in life and death David says, I will not fear “for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
 
God will always be with me to protect me with His rod
And to gather me back to Him with His staff.
 
Because of David’s supreme confidence in his Shepherd
He knew there was no reason to fear anything that would come upon him.
 
After Genesis 8 we will be able to put Noah in that same category.
 
Many times we study passages of Scripture that depict judgment.
• Whether it be the flood of chapter 7
• Or Sodom and Gomorrah
• Or the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians
• Or even the coming judgment
 
We have seen the Bible depict judgment.
 
However, when talking about the judgment we said a few weeks ago that,
Like Noah, we have an ark which carries us safely through.
 
1 Peter 3:18-22 “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”
 
Two weeks ago we talked about the reality that
Christ carries us through the judgment.
 
• We die with Him and we rise with Him.
• He went down into death and came out the other side, and now He is our ark.
• We are saved through the judgment by Him.
 
He is the One, as David said, “Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;”
 
Now you and I know that death is an intimidating thing.
• Some fear the cause of death (how bad will it hurt?)
• Some fear the consequence of death (judgment)
• Some simply fear the confusion of death (what will it be like?)
 
Sure we know that in Christ we have eternal life.
 
We know what Jesus said to Martha:
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
 
We know the promise that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
 
But still, it is the unknown that causes some concern.
• What will it be like as we travel through the judgment?
• What will it be like as we travel through the valley of the shadow of death?
 
We sing:
“Guide me O Thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land
I am weak, but Thou are mighty; Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow
Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through
When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside
Bear me through the swelling current, Land me safe on Canaan’s side
 
Our minds are filled with curiosity about what this passage is like.
But our minds should never be filled with anxiety; God is with us
 
Well, few stories remind us of that like this one.
Here in Genesis 8 we find Noah in the middle of the judgment.
He wasn’t destroyed at the beginning of it,
But he certainly hasn’t completed it either.
Noah and his family are currently in the middle of the judgment.
 
And here we see God walking with Noah through the judgment.
 
THROUGH THIS STORY WE ARE REMINDED:
• God guides us in life
• God walks with us even through the judgment.
 
We survive the judgment because God provides for our salvation
And secures safe passage through.
 
I just want you to see how God shepherds His people
Through the judgment.
 
We see that in 4 ways.
#1 GOD’S PROPENSITY TO REMEMBER
Genesis 8:1-3
 
It is really to our own misfortune that we can so quickly
Read over a verse like this just to get to the rest of the story.
 
Verse 1 says, “But God remembered Noah”
 
That may seem like an insignificant statement to you,
But I promise it wasn’t to Noah.
 
Sure the heavy rains had stopped,
But following the heavy rains was 5 months of floating.
 
Genesis 7:24 “The water prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days.”
 
Now put yourself in Noah’s shoes.
 
Certainly you are grateful that God spared you from the flood,
And I would imagine while the rain fell for 40 days
Noah and his family thanked God.
 
Then the rain stopped.
 
And you know how we are, we expect instant results.
So the rain stopped, everyone is certainly dead by now,
The judgment is complete, time to let us out of the ark.
 
But what followed was 110 days of just sitting there.
 
I don’t know if Noah ever felt abandoned by the Lord,
But I do know humanity today.
 
And it wouldn’t take even close to 5 months to cause most of us
To start wondering what happened to God.
 
See, often times in our trials, we come to grips with the initial tragedy.
Like Noah we understand that we live in a sin infested world
And so sometimes bad things happen.
 
We get that.
What we have trouble with is understanding
Why God just seems to let the bad things continue.
 
So send your flood, kill everyone (shouldn’t take more than a couple of days)
And then let us off the ark to get on with our lives.
 
And that is where we falter.
We have no understanding for why God allows things
To endure as long as He does.
 
And we find ourselves in the middle of our trials
And all we seem to be able to do is wonder where God is,
And why He is letting it go on as long as He does.
 
TURN TO: PSALMS 77:1-10
 
Here is a Psalm of Asaph
(I really like Asaph, because he reminds me so much of me – remember he also wrote the 73rd Psalm were he spoke of being tempted by riches)
 
Well here he is in the midst of a trial, we don’t know what,
But as far as he is concerned it is a bad one.
 
But he is a man of faith, so what does he do?
• (VERSE 1) – He knew to cry to God and he starts out with faith that God will hear him.
 
• You will even notice that this crying out to God continued through the day and through the night, see (VERSE 2)
 
• But God wasn’t responding as quickly as he would like and so by verse 3 he is actually starting to get a little put out with God (VERSE 3)
 
• And by verse 4 he has started to quit asking. He can’t sleep, but he doesn’t even know what to pray. (VERSE 4)
 
• And in verse 5 he starts his complaint. And see if this complaint sounds like you (VERSES 5-10)
 
It certainly sounds like me.
“Well great! I am the first person to suffer since God changed His policy about helping those who suffer.”
 
Now you can read on and see that Asaph calmed himself by remembering God’s deeds from of old and he saw how God never failed His people.
 
But you get the point.
When we walk in the middle of the judgment
We often feel as though God has abandoned us.
 
God told Noah a flood was coming,
But He didn’t tell Noah when it would stop.
 
And for 5 months Noah has been floating in the middle of this judgment.
 
If Noah is on his own, he is in big trouble
• Where could he go?
• Where would he replenish supplies?
 
If God forgets Noah, his judgment will be just as certain as those who died in the flood; slower, but just as certain.
 
BUT:
• God did not forget
• God did not forsake
• GOD REMEMBERED
 
And God didn’t just remember Noah, and every living thing upon that ark.
 
AND WE SEE THAT GOD REMEMBERS HIS PEOPLE
 
Certainly Moses would want his congregation to pick up on this fact.
 
How many times did they accuse God of forgetting?
 
Exodus 16:3 “The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
 
Exodus 17:1-3 “Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
 
Forty years in the wilderness certainly caused Israel
To doubt God from time to time.
 
Moses here reminds Israel of God’s propensity to remember His people.
 
“Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with Me.”
 
Hebrews 13:5-6 ” He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”
 
God remembers His people as they walk (or float) through the judgment.
 
And here God remembers and begins to relieve the judgment.
 
“God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided. Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain form the sky was restrained; and the water receded steadily from the earth, and at the end of one hundred and fifty days the water decreased.”
 
Yes Noah was still in the middle of the judgment,
But now he could see that God had remembered him
And was working for him.
 
That is one way God shepherds His people through the judgment
And other trials, He remembers them.
 
#2 GOD’S PROVISION OF REST
Genesis 8:4-12
 
We talked about this a few weeks ago as well,
But the word “rest” has been a very important word to Moses
And to the congregation he was preaching to.
 
As Moses wrote this book, rest is exactly what they were looking for.
 
Exodus 33:14 “And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”
 
That was after the golden calf incident and Moses was afraid that God would no longer go with them. There God promised rest.
 
Deuteronomy 12:10 “When you cross the Jordan and live in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security,”
 
Moses and his people were on a quest for rest,
And Moses has been very adamant about
Reminding his people were it comes from.
 
• We saw God rest in Genesis 2
• Then we saw rest taken away when the curse arrived
• We saw Noah’s dad Lamech pleading for rest
And now you can rest assured that rest is precisely what Noah wanted.
Well, fear not, God provided it, in the middle of their storm.
 
God begins to remove the water from the earth and the first thing we see:
(4) “In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark RESTED upon the mountains of Ararat.”
 
5 months to the day, from when the floods broke out
And the ark rested on the mountain.
 
And then 2 ½ months later the mountains became visible.
(5) “The waters decreased steadily until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains became visible also.”
 
And then after nine months on the ark, Noah began looking for land.
(READ 8:6-12)
 
Noah first sent out a Raven, but the Raven just flew,
Waiting for the earth to dry up. It did not return to Noah.
 
So next Noah sent out a dove, but you notice what it said in verse 9, “but the dove found no resting place” so she returned.
 
• Noah would wait 7 days and try again, and this time the dove came with an olive leaf.
 
• Noah would wait 7 more days and this time the dove did not return.
The dove found rest.
 
(Interesting that Noah didn’t send the ark every day, God was him and he was patient.)
 
BUT HERE WE FIND GOD GIVING REST
He is carrying them safely through the judgment.
 
DID GOD NOT PROMISE THE SAME TO ISRAEL?
Did He not promise to walk with them and then give them rest?
 
David said that God guided him to “green pastures” and “still waters”.
 
• There was a rest on the other side of judgment for Noah.
• There was rest on the other side of the wilderness for Israel.
• There is rest for you as well.
 
Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.”
 
I was thinking about this recently.
You all remember the story of Jesus sleeping in the boat.
Matthew 8:24-26 “And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.”
 
And of course we’ve all heard the song “Some times He calms the storm, other times He calms His child.”
 
And since Jesus rebuked them for their fear,
It would seem that Jesus had a better plan.
 
Wouldn’t it have been something if instead of panicking, Peter had just decided to lay down and sleep too?
 
That is the kind of rest we are talking about.
There is rest in the middle of the storm.
There is peace that surpasses all comprehension
 
AND THIS REST IS AVAILABLE BECAUSE GOD IS PRESENT.
 
When I was a kid, I was the master at sleeping in the pickup.
It didn’t matter if it was a 3 hour drive or a 3 minute drive. I had learned that the trip goes faster if you sleep through it. (And because I had a propensity to talk, my parents never discouraged this practice)
 
But why is a child able to sleep in the car?
Because someone else is driving.
 
There is no need to panic, just rest – God is there.
That is how He shepherds His people.
He is with them and He guides them to rest.
 
Recently we studied the book of Acts and I was particularly struck about Paul’s voyage to Rome.
 
• We don’t have time to read it, but you remember
• They sailed late
• They were in a super storm (at least 2 weeks)
• They lost all hope
• They even threw all their food and tackle into the sea
• And wished for daybreak
 
• When the sun rose they saw a beach and went for it.
That beach proved to be their salvation.
It was the Island Malta and they didn’t even know it existed.
 
God provided rest in a way they could not imagine.
THAT IS HOW HE SHEPHERDS
The ark rested
The bird rested
Noah and his family would soon rest as well.
 
God’s Propensity to Remember
God’s Provision of Rest
#3 GOD’S PLAN OF RESTORATION
Genesis 8:13-19
 
You have to love this part of the story, I’m sure Noah did.
 
But roughly 11 months after the flood came,
Noah was able to remove the covering from the ark, and he could see that “the surface of the ground was dried up.”
 
It looked dry out.
 
Incidentally, you should see a miracle there as well.
I told you last week that the place where you are sitting
Was over 26,000 feet below water.
 
And not only did God do that in 40 days,
But He removed all that water in a mere 6 months, that too is impressive.
 
But Noah looks out and the surface is dry.
 
Why didn’t Noah get out?
(many of us would have)
 
Because God didn’t tell him to yet.
The earth’s surface was dry, but it wasn’t yet ready for Noah.
 
(14-17) “In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. “Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”
 
Exactly one year and 10 days from the time of the flood waters,
Noah once again stepped out of the ark.
 
But Noah didn’t step off to find a ruined earth,
Noah found a washed and renewed earth.
(The dove had an olive branch)
 
Noah found a new earth, a clean earth,
And God was willing to do it all over again.
 
God specifically told Noah to be fruitful and multiply.
 
If you were God wouldn’t you be just a tad bit leery of humanity?
 
And yet
“be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”
 
And that is what they stepped out to do.
 
Noah had been carried safely through the judgment by God.
And God is giving all of humanity a second chance.
 
WE CALL THAT MERCY
• God knew the sinfulness of man
• God knew the propensity of man
 
And yet God gave man a second chance anyway.
 
Because that is how God shepherds His people.
 
David knew that God would be with Him through life and death, and the whole time David was sure of this one thing:
 
Psalms 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
 
Please understand that when you walk through the judgment,
Not only is God with you, and not only can God take care of things,
BUT GOD IS MERCIFUL TO DO SO.
 
God is not a vengeful God
God is not a cruel God
He is a merciful God
 
It was mercy not only to deliver Noah,
But also to give this world a second chance.
God is a merciful Shepherd.
 
His Propensity to Remember, His Provision of Rest, His Plan of Restoration
#4 GOD’S PROMISE TO RELENT
Genesis 8:20-22
 
If you haven’t been convinced that God is merciful so far in this story,
These three verses should do it for you.
 
Now first you need to see the worship of Noah.
 
“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.”
 
Now that is really fascinating.
Noah didn’t start by building a house, he started by building an altar.
 
Noah was a recipient of the mercy of God,
And any time you receive the mercy of God it should motivate worship.
 
Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
When you receive mercy, the only proper response
Is to present all that you are to God.
 
In fact it is a wicked person indeed who would claim God’s mercy
And then refuse to submit to Him in worship.
 
Noah was no such person.
He was a worshipper.
 
And let me also point out the generosity of Noah.
He didn’t sacrifice cattle from his vast herds, or birds from his enormous supply.
 
How many clean animals did he have?
He took them in the ark by 7’s, and now he is sacrificing some of them to the Lord.
 
That is a massive sacrifice
That ranks up there with the alabaster vile of perfume.
 
And as you will see the fragrance was just as special
(21) “The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.”
 
How can you not love God with a statement like that?
 
God did judge sin – He had to.
But God knew the judgment did not change a thing in regard to humanity.
 
They were sinful before the flood, they will be sinful after the flood.
 
BUT INSTEAD OF JUDGMENT, GOD CHOOSES SALVATION.
 
(22) “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.”
 
WHAT A SHEPHERD WE HAVE!
He is always justified in judging the world,
But instead He is mercifully choosing to save it.
 
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
 
Certainly you remember the story of when Jesus and His disciples passed through Samaria and the Samaritans refused to house them.
 
Luke 9:54-56 “When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.”
 
God is merciful.
And when the Lord is your shepherd you shall not want.
 
The journey Moses is taking us on is a remarkable one.
• We know that sin kills
• We know that sin brings judgment
• And yet we see that we have a Shepherd who will gladly save us through the judgment.
• He is provided an ark in His Son Jesus Christ
 
And as we are carried through that valley, there is no need to fear.
• He is with us
• He provides rest
• He has a plan to restore
• And all throughout He is merciful as He promises to relent
 
What more could the children of Israel need to know on their journey?
 
And what more could you need to know?
• God is a great Shepherd and you can trust Him.
• You can trust Him for the judgment
• You can trust Him in your various trials
 
BUT YOU MUST TRUST HIM
 
And when He comes through for you – and He will.
THEN YOU MUST WORSHIP HIM FOR NOT DEALING WITH YOU AS YOU DESERVE.
This is what God desired from Noah
This is what God desired from Israel
And this is what God desires from you.
 
This morning, give Him that worship.
Trust Him and worship Him.
 
Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
 

The God of Creation – pt. 1 (Genesis 1:1)

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The God of Creation – pt. 1
Genesis 1:1-2:3 (1:1)
November 3, 2013
 
Without a doubt the passage we just read holds its rightful place
As the opening statement of all of Scripture.
 
I don’t think it is possible to overstate the importance of Genesis 1.
 
From the very first words of Scripture we learn of
The transcendent God who reigns and rules above all that is.
 
It simply reminds us that God is at the preeminent forefront of all that is.
He is the greatest…
He is the highest…
He is the absolute and undeniable head of all things.
 
John 1:3 “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”
 
Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
 
Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
 
The simple fact that God is the Creator of all
Instantly gives God FIRST PLACE in everything
And indeed makes Him the Lord of heaven and earth.
 
Everything is from Him, Everything is for Him, and Everything is coming to Him.
 
• He is the Author of Creation.
• The Alpha and Omega
• The Beginning and the End
• The God who was and is and is to come
 
All of those truths are settled in the very opening pages of Scripture.
 
Before Scripture gives a single command…
Before Scripture reveals a single proverb…
Before Scripture utters a single prophecy…
 
Scripture first sets up the eternal hierarchy with God as the ultimate and total authority over all things and the One all creation will answer to.
 
In the first chapter of the Bible is laid the foundation for all submission,
All obedience, all trust, and all worship.
 
There is a God.
And because it is such a pivotal truth we understand that few truths
Have ever come under more attack and scrutiny than this one.
 
Our world is continually trying to do away with Genesis chapter 1.
 
• We hear of evolution
• We hear of Big Bang
• We hear of global warming (an attack on the Sustainer of Creation)
(And yet we know the earth is preserved for the fire of God’s wrath)
 
• We even hear about the earth being millions of years old
 
All of this is totally in contradiction to the truths found in this first chapter
 
That God created the heavens and the earth in 6 literal 24 hr. days.
 
Genesis 1:5 “God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.”
 
That is one literal day.
And it only took God 6 of them to create the entire heavens and earth.
 
And yet our world continually attacks this.
 
WHY?
Because our world has rejected the Creator.
 
Romans 1:18-25 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
 
Our world has rejected the Creator and sought to worship themselves.
And having rejected the Creator
They have put themselves under His wrath.
 
Their only option is to repent or to destroy Him.
And foolishly they have relentlessly sought the second.
 
In their minds if they can dethrone the God of creation
Then they have grounds to remove the God of judgment.
 
And so they attack these truths.
And of course this is why we study them, and proclaim them,
And preserve them.
 
They may call us fools, they may mock and scorn us as ignorant,
But every time you proclaim this truth the sword of the word pierces their soul and reminds them again that there is a judgment coming which they cannot escape.
 
That is the beauty of Genesis.
 
Beyond that understanding these truths work wonders for
The problem of human contentment.
 
Our world is seemingly going crazy in their circles of futility.
 
More than one person has looked back on their life and wondered,
• “What is the meaning of it all?”
• “Why are we all here?”
• “What is my purpose in life?”
 
And yet creation emphatically answers those questions.
 
You are here because God put you here
And you are here to seek and to serve Him.
 
Acts 17:24-28 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’”
 
People could save themselves a great deal of therapy
If they would simply accept the truths of Genesis chapter 1
And see that their life is not a random chaotic event.
 
The God of Creation created them to know Him.
 
Psalms 139:13-16 “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”
 
The fact that God is the Creator answers so many questions of humanity.
I just can’t stress how important it is that you grasp the reality
That is given to us here in Genesis chapter 1.
 
It all starts with God.
Now, as we begin this study it is also important that you understand
Some of the parameters that help us to understand the message.
 
One commentator wrote that you cannot study the history surrounding the book of Genesis because Genesis was the beginning and there was not yet any history to study.
 
In one sense that is true, but in another it is false.
 
Yes the events written about here were the beginning,
But the book was not written at the very beginning.
 
This book was written by Moses.
And it was written for the benefit of those he was leading out of Egypt.
 
• Now you can read Genesis and learn the history of creation which is true and beneficial as we have just said.
 
• However if you want to see the theological message of the book, then you need to understand who wrote it and who he wrote it to.
 
This book is historically accurate in every way,
But it is also theologically profound in every way.
 
We want to make sure and see both.
 
This book is the work of Moses (obviously inspired by the Holy Spirit)
Meant to show Israel their beginning
And call them to trust the God who had chosen them.
 
• This book starts with God
• It walks through sin and tragedy and judgment
• But very soon it reveals that God selects a people.
• A man named Abram arrives on the seen – God’s elect – and he was chosen by God to father a nation.
 
This book is meant to move God’s children to gratitude
As they see how the God of creation
Has been flawlessly working to bring His people to Himself.
 
And the opening chapter of this book is meant to introduce the children of Israel to the God who has chosen them and now calls them.
 
That’s why I have chosen to call the study of Genesis
“The Gospel According to Moses”
 
It is Moses work of “good news” for the children of Israel.
It starts with creation and ends with redemption,
And it perfectly sets the stage for the deliverance of the Exodus
Which the first recipients of this book were presently experiencing.
So this morning we start at the beginning.
 
And in order to help us as we study there are five points
I want to make about this opening chapter of creation.
(two this morning)
#1 THE POINT OF CREATION
Genesis 1:1
 
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
 
While we are certainly interested in the entire creation story,
This verse really sums up the main point
That Moses was making to the Israelites.
 
• There is one God
• He is THE God
• And He sits enthroned above everything
 
Israel, why would you fear the gods of the sea or the gods of the air or the gods of the land?
God created them all.
 
The God Israel is called to serve is THE God of the world.
He is the Creator and origin of it all.
 
Because we know Israel’s history, we know that they were currently in the wilderness, but in about 40 years they would enter the Promised Land.
 
And we know what occurred when they arrived.
They were sucked away into every form of idolatry imaginable.
 
• We see high places
• We see pagan worship
• We hear of Baal and Molech and Tammuz and Milcom and Dagon and all
these other false gods that Israel would eventually worship.
 
And their idolatry is all because they failed to remember that
Only One God sits enthroned above the heavens as the Creator of all.
 
In fact the prophets continually tried to get this truth across to Israel.
Jeremiah 10:11-16 “Thus you shall say to them, “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.” It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens. When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain, And brings out the wind from His storehouses. Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish. The portion of Jacob is not like these; For the Maker of all is He, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name.”
Why would you bow to any other god?
There is only One God who “created the heavens and the earth.”
 
It was a foundational and pivotal truth for Israel.
No one else will ever be worthy of your worship.
 
Jeremiah 51:15-19 “It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom, And by His understanding He stretched out the heavens. When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain And brings forth the wind from His storehouses. All mankind is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish. The portion of Jacob is not like these; For the Maker of all is He, And of the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name.”
 
There is no call to ever worship another.
 
In fact worshiping any god other than the One who made them all
Is FUTILITY and STUPIDITY.
 
Every time I read a verse like Jeremiah 51:17 that uses the word “stupid” one of the kids will go home and tell their mom that the preacher said a bad word.
 
Well kids its true you shouldn’t call people stupid.
(your brothers and sisters and friends and parents are not stupid)
 
In fact the Bible reserves use of that word for one type of person.
It is the person who fails to honor the most high God of creation
And who instead gives His glory to some created deity.
 
That person is stupid.
Only a stupid person would give God’s glory to a false god.
 
There is only One God worthy of worship
And it is the God who created all things.
 
Psalms 96:5 “For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.”
 
Job 26:7 “He stretches out the north over empty space And hangs the earth on nothing.”
Have you ever heard of anything so amazing?
 
And because of His creation God alone is worthy of praise.
 
Psalms 148:1-6 “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.”
• If you learn nothing else children of Israel…
• If you learn nothing else First Baptist Church…
Learn that the God who created you deserves all your worship.
 
AND LET ME GIVE YOU A FEW REASONS WHY.
 
The fact that “God created the heavens and the earth”
REVEALS THE TRANSCENDENCE OF GOD like nothing else.
 
The fact that He created it all reveals He is higher and loftier than any other thing. There is nothing like Him.
 
TURN TO: Job 38:4-38
 
• And when you read that you must ask is there really another like God?
• Is there really any other that deserves worship like Him?
There is none.
 
His creating power demands our deepest worship.
 
His creation reveals His tremendous GRACE TOWARD HUMANITY.
 
TURN TO: Psalms 8:1-9
 
• Why would you give man such preeminence on the earth?
• What did we do to deserve such a lofty position?
God has indeed been gracious – creation proves that.
 
Creation gives tremendous TESTIMONY TO THE GLORY of God.
 
TURN TO: Psalms 19:1-6
 
• Does anything let you see the power of God like creation?
• Who hasn’t tremorred at the thunder?
• Who hasn’t been captivated by the snow?
• Who hasn’t been breathless at the Rocky Mountains?
• Who hasn’t marveled at the size of the ocean?
• Who hasn’t melted under the sun?
• Who hasn’t felt the power of the wind?
 
Creation continually testifies to the power and majesty and glory of God.
 
He is worthy of all worship simply because He is the Creator
 
Beyond that Peter even says that God’s creation is also a TESTIMONY TO HIS TERRIBLE JUDGMENT.
 
2 Peter 3:5-7 “For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
 
God’s spoken power to create
Only reminds us of His spoken power to destroy.
And as sure as He created all things, He will certainly judge all things.
 
He sits alone as Creator and Judge.
 
And that is really the point of this whole chapter.
What God is like our God?
 
If all you knew of Him was that He created all things,
That is enough to convince you that He alone is worthy of worship.
 
If you get nothing else from this chapter.
Walk away in awe of THE God who created the heavens and the earth.
 
He is awesome, He is glorious, He is gracious, He is powerful,
HE is transcendent, He is worthy of all your worship.
 
That was lesson 1 to Israel
And it is a pretty good lesson to the rest of us as well.
 
In fact anyone who can see that God created all things
And refuse to worship Him is exactly as Jeremiah said – he is stupid.
 
Romans 1:22-23 “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.”
 
That is the point of creation.
God is worthy of all your worship.
 
But let’s move on a little further this morning.
 
The Point of Creation
#2 THE POWER OF CREATION
Genesis 1:3
 
Don’t worry we are not skipping verse 2, we’ll come back to it a little later.
 
But before we get to the specifics of creation
I think it is important that you first see the power of creation.
 
I want you to understand exactly the power that God has as the Creator.
 
There is one phrase repeated 10 times in the first chapter of Genesis.
The first time it is used is found in verse 3.
“Then God said…”
I want you to understand that that phrase
Repeatedly makes all the difference.
 
The spoken word of God is in fact the dynamic that changes everything.
 
Genesis 1:3 “Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.”
 
Genesis 1:6 “Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”
 
Genesis 1:9 “Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.”
 
Genesis 1:11 “Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so.”
 
Genesis 1:14 “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;”
 
Genesis 1:20 “Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.”
 
Genesis 1:22 “God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
 
Genesis 1:24 “Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so.”
 
Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
 
Genesis 1:28 “God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
 
God’s spoken word made all the difference.
Everything did exactly what He told it to.
 
• If God had never spoken, there would never have been light, or form, or land, or animals.
• If God had never spoken, there would be no morning or night or seasons. Fish wouldn’t swim and birds and wouldn’t fly and man would have no dominion.
 
All those things happen because God told it to happen.
 
Science can figure out air movements and things of that nature
That allow a birds wings to catch air and fly.
 
But the only reason air blows and birds wings can catch it
Is because God told it to be that way.
• The power of creation was not chance.
• The power of creation was not explosion.
The power of creation was the interjection of the command of God
 
Isaiah 55:11 “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
 
When God speaks, it happens.
Psalms 29:3-9 “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful, The voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, And Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”
 
AND THIS TRUTH SETS GOD AS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
 
God’s word is so powerful that when He wanted light He didn’t start a fire.
He instead used an even more powerful tool. He told light to come.
 
He stands alone as the One True God.
There is none like Him in power and might.
There is none like Him in grace and glory.
 
If Israel learned nothing else just from this opening chapter of the Bible
They were to see that there was no reason on earth
To ever bow the knee to any other god.
 
• There was no reason on earth to ever fear the work of any other
god.
 
• There was no reason on earth to ever tolerate the claims of any
pagan worshiper.
 
Israel’s God is God.
And He alone deserves the glory of that.
 
Israel’s failures in obedience and participation in idolatry
Are all be rooted in a failure to understand who their God was.
 
And might I add
That this is the problem with humanity still today.
 
• People disobey the commands of God…
• People fail to trust God…
• People worship false gods…
 
All because they have failed to see the One God
Who sits alone as the Creator.
 
And in their rejection of this Creator
And because they have given His glory to created beings,
They suffer immensely for it.
 
TURN TO: Romans 1:22-32
 
All of this sin
All of this wrath
Is all rooted in the fact that humanity has failed
To give their Creator the glory He deserves.
 
HOW ABOUT YOU?
 
Paul said it like this:
Acts 17:24-31 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
 
There you have it.
The God who created everything “is now declaring that all men everywhere should repent”
 
• Humanity has dishonored the One True God and is headed for judgment.
• God is declaring that they repent and trust in the provision of forgiveness found in His Son.
 
Jesus Christ came and died
To pay the penalty for all those repentant sinners
Who will trust in Him and seek the pardon He provides.
 
But rest assured failure to do this brings a sure and certain judgment,
For the God who created this world will not overlook forever.
 
There is coming a day of judgment for all those who refuse Him.
 
2 Peter 3:7-10 “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”
 
And this morning that is my invitation to you.
• If you have never repented for failing to glorify God as He deserves…
• If you have never sought forgiveness through the death of Jesus Christ…
• If thus far you have been indifferent to the coming judgment…
 
Then this morning I want to ask you to see who He is.
I want to ask you to recognize the glory of the great God,
Repent before Him, ask His forgiveness and trust in His Son.
 
He is patiently waiting, but that doesn’t mean the judgment won’t come.
 
He is the Creator and He not only demands,
But also deserves your worship.
 
Pray
 

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