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Ordinary People – Extraordinary Lives: Noah

Pastor Scott Applegate

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

What made Noah’s ordinary life extraordinary?

 

  • The motivating power of obedience (He built the Ark) 

“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Genesis 6:22 NIV

“If you love me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15 NLT

 

  • The motivating power of trust (He entered the Ark) 

“So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him.” Genesis 7:5 NLT

 

  • Noah had to get in the Ark to escape the judgement of God 

“After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” 1 Peter 3:9-22 NIV

  • God’s judgement is never arbitrary
  • God always warns of His judgement
  • God always grants time for repentance
  • God always keeps His word

(See 1 Peter 3:3-13)

  • The flood says God is just, the Ark says God is graceful and merciful
  • Noah had to shut the door behind him once he was in the Ark

“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”                 Luke 14:33 NIV

 

  • The motivating power of faithfulness (He endured the Ark) 

Noah was on the Ark for 375 days (see Genesis 7:11 and 8:14) after waiting 120 years

 

  • Faithfulness is not always fun and easy 
  • Faithfulness now is a deposit into the future

 

  • The motivating power of worship (He came out of the Ark and built an altar) 

 

“So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.” Genesis 8:18-20 NIV