Hebrews chapter 11, verse 7. Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 7. This is the verse I did not get to on the Lord's Day, so figured we'll just cover this here tonight since it'll be a little shorter Bible study. By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, notice, 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. Now, we're familiar with the story. but I believe there's some doctrinal background of this here in verse seven that I think is very important to take notice of. I want for us to break this down phrase by phrase and take a look at what Noah had to go through by faith. Notice, first of all, by faith, Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet. And of course, the word warning is a very powerful, strong word. It means to be cautioned against danger, to be admonished of approaching evil, And what I thought was interesting, one of the definitions in Webster's 1828 Dictionary is to be notified. All right, so literally, Noah is being notified of the things that are coming, and even as we see here, things not seen as yet. And what I think is very interesting is you read through Genesis chapter six, and I've heard preachers say this over the years, you know, God shows up to Noah and says, you know, it's gonna rain. What's rain? It's gonna flood. What's a flood? You don't find any of that. I don't find any questions. No one was told by God, I'm going to judge the world. And you think about the reality of that. He just says, okay, God, what you tell me, I'll do. I don't see anything in Genesis 6 of questioning what God means by all of these things. Also, I think what's interesting in Genesis 6, God gave Noah the exact plans for building the ark. I've mentioned this before, but I believe that's a very important application for us. God does not just tell us to do things. He tells us how we're going to do them, how we're supposed to do them for us as a church in the New Testament epistles and so on. But even an example of music that we're visiting about after church a little bit on the Lord's Day, you think about how many churches are changing their music for pragmatism, for practical reasons. Well, it attracts a crowd. So they think, well, we're doing a good thing by using something to attract a crowd. Well, I want you to consider that just because it attracts a crowd does not necessarily mean that God has that as far as his plan is concerned. You know, what produces results is what we will do. There's a lot of churches who base things not on what they find in the New Testament scriptures, based on what produces results. Well, this big church over here is doing it, so it works for them, so I'm going to do this. And that's what's behind all of these mailings, you know, everyone sends, you know, all these companies send out, you know, we have this conference coming up, we have this and that and so on. You know, you come and, you know, we almost can guarantee you'll grow your church through these things. So again, as you think about that, the reality of that, God did not just tell Noah that it was coming, But he said, here's how I want you to do it, and he gave exact plans and details of how the ark was to be built. What I think is very interesting in that context of Genesis chapter 6, God is looking for obedience, not full understanding. Because again, you notice here the statement that's made in Hebrews 11, 7, by faith Noah being warned of God, Genesis chapter 6, of things not seen as yet. Noah could not have understood that. And remember, up until the time of the flood when the fountains of the great deep and the the vapor canopy essentially, the firmament. I was looking for the other F word there. The firmament, as that water was collapsing and the earth was being flooded, it wasn't just the rain. But I want you to consider that Before that time there was just this mist that watered everything. I mean it's almost like the grocery store, you're reaching to get some lettuce or whatever off the shelf and all of a sudden the mist is coming down on you. God was watering everything because of the vapor canopy, the high humidity, the increased oxygen levels and all those things. So this was something totally different. And it reminds you that it was 1600 years like 1,656 years after the time of creation that the flood happened. So 1,600 years, there was no rain. So this is something that was totally foreign to that day. Now, I want you to think about the fact that there's times when we do not understand, and so God is just telling us to obey Him. Notice with me Psalm 73. I wanna show you something here as far as understanding. There's a lot of things I don't understand as far as this, time in which we live. I believe the Bible predicted those, prophesied those things. God showed us by way of Jesus Christ what would happen in the last days. I believe these things have been building and growing and being fulfilled the last hundreds of years. But notice it says here, Psalm 73 verse 1, truly God is good to Israel. even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." So the question I want to ask with this passage is, where's our focus? was moved with fear of things, he was warned about things that he had never seen before, so there's things that we do not understand, and here Asaph is writing this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and how many times I've heard this, you know, why do the wicked prosper? Why don't they have immediate judgment? Why doesn't God deal with them right then and there? For there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Bill Gates and George Soros and all these wealthy men, these big bankers and all of these big government dictators, they seem to get away with it. Why are they not dealt with? Therefore, pride compasseth them about as a chain. Violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness. They have more than heart could wish. I mean, Bill Gates just made millions off the COVID vaccines, so-called vaccines. Yeah, he really needed that, didn't he? They are corrupt. They speak wickedly concerning oppression. They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither, and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? How is their knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world. They increase in riches. Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain. He's saying, I don't understand something here, Lord. I've cleansed my heart in vain. I've washed my hands in innocence for all day long. I've been plagued and chastened every morning while they seem to prosper and have no problems. If I say I will speak thus, behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. Notice this, when I thought to know this, it was too painful for me until I went into the sanctuary of God. Then understood I their end. Surely thou did set them in slippery places. Thou castest them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation as in a moment? They're utterly consumed with terrors." Drop down to verse 28. But it's good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works. Notice the key to understanding is found in verse 17. until I went into the sanctuary of God, then understood I therein." And when you think about the sanctuary, I think, first of all, you know, what we commonly, at least we used to do this, you know, when I was growing up, they called this, instead of an auditorium, they called it a sanctuary. There were certain ways that people, young children and so on, were to act once they walked into the sanctuary. This was not an activity place. This was a sanctuary. This was a place where we met to worship the Lord and so on. So we were told we were never to run in the sanctuary and all those kinds of things. And so then we had a VBS at a church when I was on staff and they were bouncing this big ball back and forth and so on during the opening time of VBS and all that. I'm thinking, well, I'm struggling with this. Why don't we do these activities outside? But here's the point, though. The sanctuary. So as we hear the word of God, God will give us understanding. But also we think about as far as a sanctuary, I believe this is a reference to our time with God. In fact, it's very interesting. I was doing some reading in the Psalms here this morning, and David talked about praying toward his holy temple. I thought Solomon was the one who built the temple. Obviously, David is talking about praying towards the heavenly temple, God's holy temple in heaven. So you think about our time with God as we look into God's word and we pray to God and allow Him to speak to us through His word. In the sanctuary, we can get understanding. I wanna point out and remind you that no one can understand when the Lord is coming. I don't understand what people don't get about that. Jesus himself said, no man would know the hour. And yet all kinds of people are talking about all these signs of the time showing, yeah, Jesus has to be coming soon, and all of these things, setting dates and all of that. That is contrary to scripture. Notice we're in Matthew chapter 24. Again, some things that we cannot understand, but we accept by faith, even as Noah did, He was warned of God of some things that he had not yet seen. Notice we got Matthew 24, familiar passage, but here we have an application of Noah and the preparation, the final stages before the flood came. Matthew 24, verse 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels in heaven, but my Father only. How much clearer could Jesus be in all this? So there should be no date setting, signs of the times and all of those things. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. Well, we need to wait until after we make sure there's no flood. No, they're marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark. Noah had been announcing 120 years, 120 years, even on the day of the flood, people had weddings scheduled. That's the way I read this passage. Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered in the ark. And knew not until the flood came, notice, even on the day, and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. This is gonna take most people by surprise. As we think about people of Noah's day, they did not know exactly when, even though God gave them a warning. 120 years. God also said, by the way, of the name of Methuselah. His name means, when he dies, it shall come. I mean, God gave them clues to understand that Noah was telling the truth. But again, the people of Noah's day did not prepare for Judgment Day. I think of 2 Peter 3, we looked at it here recently, so I'll just mention this. But remember the scoffers in the last days will come and they'll deny creation, they will deny the global flood and all those things. But basically they'll say, just like they are today, where's this coming? You've been talking about this for 2,000 years, where's this coming? Again, they're not going to prepare, they're not gonna listen to the warnings. Also in Hebrews chapter 11, I want you to notice it says, by faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet. Notice this next statement I think is very interesting. By faith, we take all of this together, he moved with fear. By faith, he moved with fear. I believe there's two aspects of that fear. First of all, a fear of God, and also a fear of judgment. Notice with me Isaiah chapter 26. There was a couple of interesting passages about this fear that I want you to see. Isaiah 26, notice verses eight through 11. What I think is interesting, it does not matter, we're talking about even economists or whatever. People can give warnings. You better pay attention, give warnings and warnings and warnings, but people still don't listen. Well, that's for somebody else besides me. Isaiah 26, verse eight. Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee. The desire of our soul is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night. Yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early. For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Notice that. When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Let favor be showed to the wicked. Notice this, let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness. I think of Romans chapter two, the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. Notice, in the land of uprightness, will he deal unjustly. Even though he's had favor, he will not learn righteousness and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see. but they shall see and be ashamed for their envy at the people. Yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. Judgment would come, but they would not pay attention. Notice also something else here about this fear in Isaiah 66. Isaiah chapter 66. Verses one and two about this matter of fear. It's another aspect of this. Notice it says, verse one, thus saith the Lord, the heaven is thy throne, my throne, I should say, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord. But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." Notice this. So poor and contrite spirit, notice, and trembleth at my word. When I read through the Old Testament prophets in particular, I tremble in fear for our country. If God destroyed His chosen nation, sent them into captivity, who are we to think that He's not going to destroy America if we continue to exalt our folly and our wickedness? Back in Hebrews chapter 11, notice something else here. He prepared an ark. Noah prepared an ark to the saving of his house. I've read different estimates. Some find it hard to believe that the world would be as large as the population of today's world. I believe it very likely could have been larger for two factors in particular, longer lifespans and larger families. Before the flood, I believe, of course, you talk about 969 years, even an average lifespan of 700 years, Think about how many generations are overlapping with that. So I believe there are estimated billions of people before the flood. Yet out of all those billions, only Noah and his immediate family were ready. That is amazing. So I was doing some checking on that just to make sure I was remembering right. First of all, his father Lamech, It says that he lived 595 years after Noah was born, and Noah was 600, so you do the math. His father Lamech died five years before the flood. So that's very interesting as you think about that. So Lamech died five years before the flood, and then when you figure out grandfather Methuselah, Dying shortly before the flood because you have 187 years plus 182 years plus Noah being 600 when the time of the flood comes. You add that up, guess what? You have 969 years. I really believe Methuselah died probably within weeks before the flood came. Think about this, for 120 years. He's not dead yet, Noah. He's not dead yet. Yeah, because the judgment's not coming yet. Consider all of Cain's lineage died in the flood. But what I think is interesting about this as well, all of Noah's extended family died in the flood. His father and grandfather, and I'm assuming his mother and grandmother had died also. I'm assuming that is the case. But when you think about all that, Noah's extended family died in the flood as well. because it was only his sons and their wives that got onto the ark. I believe there was plenty of space for others to get into the ark with him, but nobody had faith like Noah did to prepare themselves. So by faith, he prepared an ark to the saving of his house. I believe there's a powerful application for us today. We need to stand guard over our families in a wicked, wicked day, very wicked day. Also, notice that Noah condemned the world. It's very interesting, 2 Peter 2.5 calls him a preacher of righteousness. It says here, he moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the witch. All right, so his actions there, by the witch, he condemned the world. He condemned the world. Stop judging me. We hear that all the time in Christianity today. true Bible Christianity, they will say, stop judging me. You're judging me. Who are you to judge me? I have a feeling that's probably some of what the kind of thing that Noah experienced as a preacher of righteousness. You know, he was preaching probably similar to Enoch, talking about all the ungodliness, their ungodly speeches, which ungodly sinners proclaimed. You know, the Bible tells us in Genesis chapter six, it was very violent and wicked in those days. a preacher of righteousness. 1 Peter 3, verses 18 and following, tells us that the Spirit, Jesus, I should say, by the Spirit, through Noah, preached before the flood came. It's very interesting. We study that out, and that's the context where it says, baptism doth now also save us. Not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but an answer of a good conscience toward God. But Noah condemned the world as a preacher of righteousness, because he was ready and his household was prepared for the judgment that God was sending. Proverbs 22.3 says, a prudent man foreseeeth the evil. And in many cases, the word evil in scripture, especially in the Old Testament, speaks of judgment and calamity even, and not just wickedness. But a prudent man foreseeeth the evil and hideth himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. Think about all these people who did not see, by faith, the judgment that God was sending. And they were all punished. And I wonder how many of them wish they had gotten onto the ark with Noah and his family as God's judgment. I mean, you think about this. All of the fountains of the deep were broken up, and the firmament broke loose. We're not just talking about rain coming down. We're talking about deluge. water flooding quickly the earth. I believe they were quickly drowned all around the ark. Last of all, notice, Noah became heir of the righteousness, which is by faith. God says of Noah in Genesis 7-1, thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Notice with me Romans chapter four, Romans chapter four, almost finished here, Romans chapter four, verses one through five. There's a very interesting statement, the heir of righteousness, which is by faith. We see here Paul developing this thought with the example of Abraham. Romans chapter four, verse one, what shall we say then that Abraham, our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. For what saith the scripture, Abraham believed God, Genesis 15, 6, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. And to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, notice, his faith is counted for righteousness. Very clear statements here related to this righteousness, which is by faith. So I believe there was not just an obedience faith there that Noah was expressing, but obviously as one that walked with God, he was also saved by the righteousness, which is by faith as well. Romans 9, verse 30. Romans 9 and verse 30. So this is the application for us Gentiles related to this. shall we say then that the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness," by the way this is in the context of Romans 9-11 talking about Israel and faith and why natural Israel was not saved because they did not have the righteousness of faith. Because you notice it says here, the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness, The Gentile nations were not righteous. They did not have the law of God and so on, except written in their hearts, their conscience, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, a self-righteousness, we could say, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore, why is that the case? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone, as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of a fence, and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." A quote from Isaiah 28 and also Isaiah 8. Now as we close, notice in Ezekiel chapter 14. Ezekiel chapter 14. So was Noah a perfect man? Obviously not, because the last event of his life shows that he got drunk, all that kind of situation. So he was not a sinlessly perfect man, but he was righteous before God. Notice it says here, Ezekiel 14, verse 14. It's very interesting how Ezekiel presents this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it. They should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord. Well, in case you didn't get it the first time, notice verse 20. though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it. As I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter. They shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. Young people, let me remind you. I know you've heard this before. Can I remind you, you're not going to escape the judgment of God because of your parents' faith, your grandparents' faith. Noah had to have his own faith before God. His grandfather's faith, Methuselah, was not enough for Noah. His father's faith, Lamech, who named Noah in such a way, recognizing that Noah would be a man that brings about deliverance, would be a blessing. Think about that. Lamech's faith was not enough for Noah. Noah, by faith, did all these things. And I believe by faith we also can be righteous before God, even as Noah. Father, I pray that you'd help us in these last days. Lord, we don't know how much time we have. It's wrong for us, biblically, to set dates and emphasize these things. So Lord, help us by faith to always be ready. And Lord, someday there is, at your second coming, there's going to be a judgment. Lord, I pray that you'd help us to be prepared, and I pray, even as parents and grandparents, that you'd help us to reach the next generation. For thy glory, I pray in Jesus' name, amen.