Sunday, September 13, 2015

Silently Faithful - Pastor Dan Cravillion


Silently Faithful
9-13-2015


Genesis 8:13-20

13 In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth had dried out. 15 Then God said to Noah, 16 "Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth." 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark. 20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Flood: Christians are not removed or spared tribulation but are preserved and tested throughout it.
            Noah was purified by the same judgment that was designed to punish the lost.
            The time in the ark was another opportunity for Noah's faith to be tested.
            -they stayed in the ark 7 days before the flood actually came…when did it start to rain?
            -entering ark > ark rested on Ararat = 157 days + 221 days until the were able to exit the ark.
            They stayed over a year in a house (ark) & were always together with no end in sight.

God told Noah when the flood was coming, not when flood was going to end.
·      Impression: If God has not spoken in over year since he said “get on board”.
o   At times Noah, like us, probably FELT forgotten by God.But God never abandons His children but rather teaches us during the silent times to wait and hope on Him. Isa. 49:14-16, 2 Cor 4:17-18, 1 Pet 1:6b-7
o   Faith that grows when God seems silent is foundational to trusting in Him during critical times in life.
o   If you’re in trying a situation & it SEEMS God forgotten you: wait patiently, think about your salvation & remember Lord’s past faithfulness….
            Noah in midst of God’s provision (ark) & blessings. Noah was not only receiving the blessings of God’s past provision (ark) but unknowingly he already had received God’s provision for the future.  Gen 7:2-3, 9:3, 8:20
o   There were additional clean animals for food until crops grew & animals multiplied.
o   Our faithful God is presently providing for all our future needs.
·      Noah’s burnt offering was a beautiful picture of the New Testament doctrine of Christ’s propitiation for our sins & a proclamation of his total dedication to God’s will.
                        Dedication = offering was totally consumed, kept nothing for himself.
                        Though he was tired and busy once on dry ground: Noah remembered the Lord 1st by building altar & offering sacrifices. Ps 31:22-24, 1 Pet 1:3-7, Heb. 13:15
            It is easy for us to get busy with life & forget the Lord… we should start/fill day with worship…have a Quiet Time.

Express thankfulness & if you FEEL forgotten by Lord reflect on the great salvation Christ has granted us; trust in His daily provision & hope in His promises for future. God is always faithful even during the silent times.

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