A Sunday Message Take-Away

Genesis 6:5 - Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of MAN was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

History is repeating itself. We need to understand and believe this. God showed us, He warns us, the signs are out there. I went to a church in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan two Sundays ago with some girlfriends in Christ. This preacher was not subtle in his sermon, which I like. 

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of MAN was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will DESTROY man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

The EARTH also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on 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.”

(‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5-7, 11-13‬)

An ark was made. All who entered were saved by the great flood. Those people were eight in number...a remnant of believers. This small family left behind family and friends for their belief in their God. It will happen again. 

Like the whole account of Noah’s ark and the great flood, Jesus said He is the Door. The ark had only one door. There is only one way to the Father to obtain salvation. Jesus saves. Works do not, government does not, nothing else does. One way: “I am THE way, THE truth, THE life.” In Noah’s day only that handful survived and were saved. It’s a picture of what will happen again.  laugh it off, don’t pooh-pooh the idea. Don’t be one of the end-time scoffers. It should not be 

Anything that goes against the Word of God is rebellion. One biblical definition of "rebel” is that one refuses to come under the authority of someone who is above them. Or, man rebelling against a human king or God. I'm thankful, however, that when we repent of this rebellion and turn to God, whether it is the first time or another, He will forgive. If not...

Psalm 107:10-13 -Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons--b

ecause they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, t

herefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. 

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 

Just Like in Noah's Day

Genesis 7:1 - Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation." 

We are familiar with the story of Noah and the ark. We have known it since childhood. But how many believe it? Was it just a story? I believe it because the Bible "told me so." I also believe that history repeats itself...nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). 

If you remember the Noah story, you know that the reason for the ark was to save the lives of Noah, his family and anyone else who wished to be saved from a flood that was to occur. Of course, no flood had ever happened before, so Noah pretty much had to have faith in God alone and in that which was not seen. (Hebrews 11) So we are to believe also.

The world had turned corrupt (Genesis 6:11) Man had turned wicked and every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil. God was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Genesis 6:5-6). So He decided to destroy all living things, except those that would enter into the ark He asked Noah to build. He chose Noah because of his righteousness, his trust and devotion to God.

If history repeats itself, could it be this might happen again? I so totally believe this because I've read the Bible and I know how the end of the story will take place! God may not ask another earthly man to build yet another, greater ark, but I know a Man who became the ark. His name is Jesus.

After the flood, life began again...and again it became corrupt and evil, as evidenced throughout His Word. This time God sent His only Son to be born to become that ark in which all mankind would be allowed to enter into, into a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. Enter into Christ and be saved. Repent, admit your sin and weaknesses and enter into a life of righteousness, like Noah, and no longer have fear of what the evil in this world dishes out. 

Trust in the one true God. Commit your ways to Him. Share the Gospel and do it without being ashamed. Let your light shine in the world. Listen for the prompting of His Holy Spirit. This is all available for anyone who is willing to submit to the Lord. Our religion can't save us. Our goodness can't save us. But Jesus can. He is the Way, Truth and Life (the Door...to the ark). No one goes to the Father but by Him (John 14:6).

I know this hard for some to believe. But read Genesis 6 and 7 for yourself. It's an easy read! See what happened to the people who did not choose to enter into the ark. Jesus saves! Enter in. If you've balked all your life, it's not too late. He will not reject a heart willing to seek Him now. Just as Noah walked with God, so can we all...through Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah! Do you trust God and believe with all your heart? This is for you:

Romans‬ ‭10:8-11‬ ‭- But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Is That Right?

1Chronicles‬ ‭13‬:‭2-4‬ - And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.” Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

I listened to an old sermon by  evangelical writer and teacher, DeVern Fromke, a site of whose sermons someone from our church posted on Facebook. It was called Discerning God's Ways. Mind you, this was preached in 1981. It so spoke to today's Church and, of course, us.

I knew nothing about DeVern Fromke so I did a search and came across this which was not connected to the sermon I listened to, yet suggested the gist of the sermon: Fromke seeks to restore balance and bring the church back to viewing everything from God's perspective--not ours. Spiritual growth and maturity in Christ is often hindered by wrong teaching and emphasis in today's ministry. This author desires to use his influence to help correct misunderstanding and wrong-centered teaching, in order that the child of God may grow and mature in the way God intended.

So in the scripture David sees a need...that the Ark be back in their land so they can worship in God as they once had. The Ark was where the presence of God resided. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel. (‭Exodus‬ ‭25‬:‭21-22‬)

The Ark had been taken by the Philistines and eventually returned to their country when they believed it was bringing curses instead of blessings (because improper use). (1Chronicles14-16)

David calls for the Ark to be brought back from Kirjath Jearim in the northern part of Israel to Jerusalem. David believed that was its rightful place and all agreed. But as Fromke points out, just because all are in agreement doesn't make it right.

Today we have majorities and minorities in society. Often the majorities rule...but that doesn't necessarily make it right. We can see that in government, jury duty, the workplace, cultures and religions. As he also pointed out, sometimes a unanimous vote is secured just to be done with a thing!

So when a church or denomination sees a need, develops a plan, a vision for something and a decision comes about, it may not always be God's will. It seems good. And often if a vote IS taken, it may not be unanimous but a majority...and the majority rules. Not even unanimous...

David was right in believing it was good to have the Ark in its rightful place but it still didn't mean it was God's will...yet. God has His own time schedule. At the same time without this account we have no good lesson to learn and maybe it was God's plan! 

At any rate, we need to seek God first. We look to Him for the answers, not all the people, not others. Him alone. He will bring confirmation of the thing we desire to do. How often 
will a church step out to do because they believe they have heard from God? Like building a church...the stance that if we build it, they will come. They will stand in faith believing it will be in God's will. I've seen this turn into failure. It was not a confirmation of word received from God. It was man's will with the hope He will step in.

Later in chapter 14 we see that the Ark was being carried on a cart by cattle. It hit a rough spot and it looked as though the Ark would fall. A man called Uzza reached out his hand to settle it and was killed instantly by God because no one was allowed to touch the Ark. God's anger was placed upon Uzza. God has certain ways of doing things and while David's heart for this Ark was in the right place, by cart with cattle was wrong method...and he should have known this. Exodus 25:10-15 goes into detail. As Fromke states, the equipment was wrong! And how often do we use the wrong equipment: say or do the wrong things to achieve what we believe is right? God just might intervene and kill the plan.

We cannot rush God. We cannot step in and do for Him. We must wait for Him. We must seek Him until He gives us an answer. Sometimes we can do nothing. We wait for an answer or confirmation. When it's done God's way it is successful. Don't we like success?

In the end, said Fromke, this Old Testament story points to Jesus...the right Way. Through the right Way who is Jesus we receive salvation, learn truth and gain proper wisdom. Seek Him, seek His ways and while the road won't always be smooth, all will be well in the end. 

Psalm 25:12-13 - Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and 
He will show them His covenant.