All right, hopefully you still
have your place in Hebrews chapter 11, verse 7. And I'd like to begin this service
this morning by stating these two absolute truths. The first is this, Almighty God, is absolutely sovereign. He is sovereign in all things. God's word says he'll have mercy
on whom he will have mercy. And whom he will, he hardened.
He'll be gracious to whom he will be gracious. Almighty God
will save whom he will. He is absolutely and totally
sovereign. And yet all men, all men are responsible under
God to walk in the light in which God has given them. God is sovereign and man is responsible. Turn again to Hebrews 11 verse
7. By faith, Noah, being warned
of God of things not seen as yet, He moved with fear, and he prepared
an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the
world and became heir of the righteousness, which is by faith. Let's look at this passage together
this morning. The first thing we read here
is of Noah's Faith. God gave Noah faith. By faith, that's what it starts,
by faith, Noah. Back in the book of Genesis,
we read this of Noah. Noah was a, he was a just man. That's how scripture describes
Noah, a just man. That he was perfect. And that
word means upright. He was perfect. He was upright
in his generation. And that Noah walked with God. Perfect. Upright. He walked with God. How can that
be said? How can that be said of any man? Truly, how can that be said of
any man? Well, the first thing we read
of Noah, the very first introduction we have to Noah is in Genesis
6, 8, and it says this. This is how it can be said of
Noah that he was perfect. This is how it could be said
that Noah was upright. Genesis 6.8 says, Noah found
grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah found unmerited favor in
the eyes of Almighty God. Grace. Don't we love that word? Eternal, eternal grace. Not just here today and going
tomorrow. Not just here while I think I'm
doing good things and then going the first time I fall. Eternal grace. Sovereign grace. Grace that rules
and reigns and conquers all, even this rebellious and sinful
heart. Free grace. Free grace. It's not for sale. It's not to be merited. It's
not to be earned. It's free, free grace. And it is all sufficient grace. We hear that word sufficient,
sufficient. What's it mean? It means it gets
the job done. Noah, just. Noah, upright. Noah walked with God. Noah, he believed. He believed God. Isn't it an amazing thought that
before the first drop of rain fell on this earth, Noah prepared an ark. God told him to. God told him
to. He said, build an ark. Noah believed
God. In spite of the fact that, again,
the earth was dry, there was no rain had fallen, no indication
anybody even knew what a flood was. And there's Noah out there building
an ark by faith, by faith. He believed what God said. Scripture says this, without
faith, it is impossible. It is impossible
to please God. Look back at verse six of Hebrews
11. But without faith, it is impossible
to please him. For he that cometh to God must
believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him. Noah believed God. Noah feared God. He believed
the warning that God gave. God told Noah, He said, the end
of all flesh is come before me. Turn there, hold your place in
Hebrews, but turn back to Genesis chapter 6. Beginning with verse 12. And God looked upon the earth,
and behold, it was corrupt. All flesh had corrupted his way
upon the earth, and God said to Noah, The end of all flesh
has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through
them. And behold, I will destroy them
with the earth." Noah, judgment is coming. God's going to judge sin. God's
going to punish sin. Scripture says God's going to
bring every work into judgment. Things that we see, things that
we don't see. He said, God shall bring every
work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good,
whether it be evil. And when He returns... God told Noah what was going
to happen in his day, and he continues to tell men what's
going to happen in our day. God is going to return in judgment,
and he is going to raise some men to glory. And we don't talk about this
much, but he is going to send some men to hell. those that refused to hear him,
those that refused to obey him. When God said to Noah, I'm going to flood this world,
build an ark, Noah built an ark. Noah believed when no one else
would. Can you imagine what men must
have said to him? There he was, I don't know if
it was out in his backyard or if he had to walk a little ways,
but there he is, the earth's dry, it's never rained, and he's
saying, Noah was a preacher of righteousness, Noah's saying,
God's going to judge sin, God's going to flood this world, No doubt men mocked him. Yet, Noah believed God. He waited on God. He waited on the Lord. Much time
passed. He waited on the Lord. That's
not us, is it? We're not, that's not me, I'll
just say that. You say what you need to about
yourself. I'm not one to wait. I want it, I want it now. I think,
I even complain now because Amazon shipping takes more than two
days, right? We don't wait on anything. Oh, that the Lord would give
us faith to wait on him. to believe Him, to walk with
Him. By faith, Noah. Second, we read of Noah's God. By faith, Noah being warned of
God. He believed God. Scripture says
he was warned of God. Again, Noah hadn't seen rain.
He hadn't seen a flood. These were all things that had
not been seen. Scripture says that the things
which are seen, what are they? They're temporal. They're temporary. But the things which are not
seen, they're eternal. God determined to send the flood, to judge this world. But at the same time, he was
pleased to show mercy. He's gonna show mercy. Isaiah
46, 9, remember the things of old. For I am God, and there
is none else. I am God, there is none like
me. Declaring the end from the beginning. And from ancient times, the things
which are not yet done, saying, my counsel shall stand. I will do what my pleasure. Calling a ravenous bird from
the east, the man that executes my counsel from a far country,
I have spoken it. I will bring it to pass. I've purposed it. I will do it." Things not yet seen, but things he purposed to do.
Things that he determined to do. What do we know of Noah's God?
He is absolutely sovereign. He is the God of Jacob. He is
the God of Israel. He's the God of this Bible. Sovereign in all that he does. He orders and directs all things
by the power of his might. Sovereign, yet man. is responsible for his
actions. Men do what they want to do, but in doing what they want to
do, they do what Almighty God has decreed. Turn to Acts chapter
4. Look at verse 26 of Acts chapter
4. The kings of the earth stood
up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and
against his Christ for of a truth against thy holy child Jesus
whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with
the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand
and thy counsel determined before to be done. They did what they wanted to
do. They did what their evil, wicked
hearts desired to do. The people the soldiers, the
rulers. But in doing what they wanted
to do, they did what God had already determined would be done. Turn back to Genesis chapter
45. How often do we think of the
life of Joseph? Remember his brothers, his own
brothers, what they did to him. They threw him into a pit. They
were going to leave him there to die. They took that coat that
he wore and they tore it into pieces and they poured blood
on it and took it to his dad and convinced him that he had
been killed by a wild beast. And then they sold him. Now this
isn't a stranger, this is their brother. Doesn't this show the
corruption of our hearts, the wickedness of our hearts, our
depravity? They sold him into slavery. Genesis
45, look at verse 4. And when this whole thing was
winding up, you know, Joseph ended up second only to Pharaoh. Look here when he meets with
his brothers. Look at verse 4 of Genesis 45. "...Joseph said to his brethren,
Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near, and he said,
I am Joseph your brother, whom you..." You see that? Who sold
him? They did. You sold me into Egypt."
But then he says, be not grieved or angry with yourselves that
you sold me. I tell you, if their conscience
didn't smite them, at least fear did because now they stand before
one who could do with them as he would. He could have easily
said, cast them into prison. Dig a pit and put them there.
Do to them what they did to me. But he says this, be not grieved. Be not angry with yourselves
that you sold me thither, for God did send me. And he sent me before you to
preserve life. For these two years hath the
famine been in the land, and yet there are five years in which
shall neither be earing nor harvest, and God sent me before you to
preserve you a posterity in the earth, and for this purpose,
to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not
you that sent me hither, but God. And he hath made me a father
to Pharaoh, Lord of all his house, a ruler throughout all the land
of Egypt." What did they do? What did his brothers do? Did
they run around saying, oh, we're just doing the will of God here. No, they did what their wicked
hearts desired to do. Evil, wicked men. Turn to Genesis 50, just a few
pages. Look at verse 19. Joseph speaks to his brethren
again. They probably dreaded this every
time he spoke to them, but they probably also took great comfort
in it. Look at verse 19. Joseph said
unto them, fear not, am I in the place of God, but as for
you, You thought evil against me. You meant evil against me. But God, but God meant it unto
good. And to bring it to pass as it
is this day, to save much people alive. Is that not what happened at
the cross? Turn to Acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2. Look at verse 22. Ye men of Israel. Acts 2, 22. Ye men of Israel, hear these
words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved
of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which
God did by him in the midst of you as you yourselves also know.
Him. Him being delivered by the determinant
counsel. and foreknowledge of God, you,
you have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." Evil men did what they wanted
to do, what they desired to do, what their hearts wanted to do.
according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of
God." God's sovereignty. He is to be
exalted. Scripture says, He is God over
all, blessed forever. And He doeth according to His
will. He is King of Kings. He is Lord
of Lords. That's Noah's God. That's the
God of Noah. Third, we read of Noah's obedience. Noah being warned of God, back
to our text, Noah being warned of God of things not yet seen,
moved with fear. and he prepared an ark. He obeyed God. Noah obeyed God. God's going to send a flood. But Noah, Noah found grace in
the eyes of the Lord. Noah Obeyed God. And listen, Noah believed God. He believed God would save him.
He believed God would do just as he said he would. Him and his house. In Genesis 6, it says, God's
Word says this, God spoke to Noah. He said, Thou shalt come
into the ark. Turn to Genesis 6. Genesis 6. Look at verse 13. Genesis 6, 13, beginning with
verse 13. God said unto Noah, the end of
all flesh has come before me, The earth is filled with violence
through them. Behold, I will destroy them with
the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood. Room shalt thou make in the ark,
and thou shalt pitch it within and without with pitch, and this
is the fashion which thou shalt make of it. The length of the
ark shall be 300 cubits, the breadth 50 cubits, the height
of it 30 cubits. A window shalt thou make in the
ark, And a cubit shalt thou finish it above, and the door of the
ark shalt thou set aside thereof, with lower and second and third
stories shalt thou make it. And behold, I, even I, do bring
a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh wherein
is the breath of life from under heaven, and everything that is
in the earth shall die. But But with thee, Noah, will I establish
my covenant, and thou shalt. You know, before Noah took one
step into that ark, God told him, thou shalt come into the
ark. You're going to come into that
ark, Noah. you and your sons and your wife and your sons'
wives with thee." In the counsel of God, this was
already accomplished before Noah nailed two sticks
of wood together. God is going to save his people. He's sovereign. He rules and
he reigns over all. How did Noah respond? Did Noah say, well, did he take
a fatalistic approach and just say, no, well, you know, whatever
will be, will be? Nothing I can do about it. God's
already determined what's going to happen. God's going to do
what he wants to do. And that is true. God will do
what he wants to do. But scripture says this, Noah
believed God. He knew his promises to be true. And Noah moved with fear. He built an ark and he entered
in. God's going to judge the world. He is going to punish sin. He's going to show mercy. He's
going to show mercy to some. In fact, Scripture says He delights. He delights to show mercy. And you know, all that want to
be saved, all that desire to be saved, they're going to come to Him. How do I know that to be true?
How can I say that? Because Scripture says this,
all that the Father hath given me Y'all know the rest of it, don't
you? Shall come to me. And him that cometh to me, I
will in no wise cast out. Noah built an ark as God commanded. He believed God. He obeyed God. What did the scripture say of
God's people? Listen to just a few of these.
To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God. Scripture says this, believe
on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If thou shalt confess
with thy mouth If thou shalt confess, if we confess our sins,
he is faithful. Ho, everyone that thirsteth.
What? Come. Come. God is sovereign. Yet man is responsible. Noah did as he was commanded. Oh, that we would, that we would
confess him, that we would come to him. Is God going to save
his people? He said, you look at me, you
say, that's a foolish question, isn't it? Is God gonna save his
people? In 2 Corinthians it says, we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive the things
done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it
be good or bad, knowing therefore the terror of the Lord. We persuade men. We are made manifest unto God,
and I trust made manifest in your consciences." Has he revealed anything to you
of his judgment, of his glory? You know, Jacob wrestled with
him. He said, he said, Lord, I'll not let you go. Think about
that. A man wrestled with God. I will
not let you go till you bless me. You know, prior to that, God
had met with Jacob and he said this, he said, I'm the Lord God
of Abraham, thy father, the God of Isaac, the God, he said, the
land that we're on you last. He was there sleeping, he had
his head laying on a rock as a pillow. He said, the land we're
on thou last, to thee. I'm going to give it to thee.
Did he bless Jacob? I'm going to give you the land,
and to thy seed, and thy seed shall be the dust of the earth. I'm going to bless your future generations. You'll spread abroad to the west
and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in thy
seed shall all families of the earth be blessed. Is God going
to bless Jacob? He's already determined to do
so, hadn't he? Behold, I am with thee. I'll
keep thee in all places, whither thou goest, and I'll bring thee
again to this land. For I will not leave thee. He's promised to never leave
nor forsake his people. until I've done all that I have
spoken to thee of." God is absolutely sovereign. Is God going to bless Jacob?
Before he wrestled with him, before Jacob wrestled with God,
before God met with Jacob out in the desert, before Jacob was
ever born, What'd God say? Jacob. Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated. Oh Lord, give me an interest
in thy kingdom. Give me an interest in salvation
from sin. Give me an interest in knowing
the Lord Jesus Christ. in having my sin taken away. Cause me. Cause me to seek Him. Cause me to cry after Him. Cause
me to forsake all and follow Him. Deliver me. As you did know,
deliver me from condemnation. caused me to give diligence to
make our calling and our election sure. Knowing the terror of the Lord,
we persuade. We persuade men. Look back in the scriptures at
what men and women did to just get to Him. They knew he could save. They
knew he was able. Oh, I just got to get to him.
I'd have to have him. Bartimaeus, how long did he sit
out there by the roadside begging? Have mercy on me. He made a fool of himself doing
it, didn't he? Those around him were like trying to hush him,
trying to just be quiet, Bartimaeus. What did he do? He cried out
the louder. That woman with the issue of
blood, she crawled through that crowd just to touch the hem of his
garment. Zacchaeus, he climbed up that
tree just to catch a glimpse of the master as he walked by.
There were a group of men. Think about this, the building
was so crowded they couldn't even get in through the door.
So they, I don't know how far they went up, but they climbed
to the top of that building and made an opening and lowered that
fella in. Just to see him. There was a leper. Came to him
on his knees, begging. Lord, if you will, you can make
me whole. There was a woman who came, a
woman who was a sinner. The whole town knew she was a
sinner. Those at that party knew she
was a sinner. What did she do? She washed his feet with her
tears and dried them with the hairs of her head. I must have him." Jacob and Mesau. Who's going to get that blessing? Jacob deceived his own brother
to get it, didn't he? It was his all along. God determined it. Almighty God
determined it. Seek Him. Oh, let's seek the
Lord. Let's seek Him with our whole
heart. Let's come boldly before the
throne of grace. Have you been warned? Have we
been warned? Do you believe this, that God
is going to judge this world in righteousness? Seek Him. Seek the Lord. Well, last we read of Noah's
deliverance. Noah was delivered, wasn't he?
By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as
yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house,
by the which he condemned the world and became the heir of
righteousness, which is by faith. In me, in me, in this flesh dwelleth no good thing. Yet, Scripture says this, the
man who seeks, he'll find. That one who knocks
the door will be open to those who ask, they'll receive. And yet, those he saves are those that it has been decreed
that he will save. No man. No man can come to the
Father except that He draw him. No man
can come to Christ except the Father draw him. If I continue
in my sin, in my rebellion, in my unbelief, if I continue to
reject Christ as my Lord and Savior, I'll die in my sins, and it's a condition that I deserve. I'll get my due reward. I'll
get what I have earned, death and hell. It'll be my responsibility, but if the Lord's pleased to
save me and take me to glory, to live with Him forever on high, it'll be the result of his work
alone. Salvation is of the Lord. Death, eternal separation from
God, that's the result of a deliberate effort on my part. But salvation and eternal life. is the result of a deliberate
effort on his, on God's part. Scripture says, he saved us and
called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace, which was given in
Christ Jesus, when? before the world began. Eternal wrath, condemnation,
the just wage of my sin and guilt, but eternal life and salvation
is the free gift of God's grace in Christ. By faith, by faith,
Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear
prepared an ark to the saving of his house by which he condemned
the world and became the heir of the righteousness which is
by faith. I ask you, how was Noah saved?
How was he saved? Just as every believer is saved.
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Sovereign. Sovereign grace. I read this week that a horse at the Kentucky
Derby won, and that horse's name was Sovereignty. Now, I don't
know about naming a horse Sovereignty. There's but one. There is but
one that is sovereign. That's Almighty God. But I tell
you this, He is always victorious. All right.