Hi, I'm Darrell Bailey. Thank you for tuning in for Wednesday in the Word as we get into old foundations for a new world. Thank you for tuning in tonight as we'll get over into the book of Genesis. Genesis chapter nine, verses one through 29 here, June the 18th, 2025, the 22nd of Savan, 5785 of the Hebrew calendar. Thank you for tuning in with us tonight. As we get into the wonderful word of God, here we'll be talking about old foundations for a new world. You know, it begins with a boy because every one of us, as we're young, we get older. We're bright eyed, barefoot. We're running down a dusty path with a slingshot in our back pocket and a future too big to understand. But time is a friend then, but an invisible playmate running just behind him, never catching up. You know, as I reflect back when I was younger, you know, I thought about how the days were long. Summers feel like years. Bruises would heal overnight. The body's a tool, a toy, eager, untamed, tireless. Dreams are still wet paint. Nothing seemed impossible back then when I was younger. But sometimes, and somewhere in the distance, the clock begins to whisper. Manhood arrives not like a storm, but like fog. Slowly, quietly, you wake up one day, and your slingshot's gone from your back pocket. And all of a sudden, there's a wallet now. A ring, a key to the house, that's more responsibility than freedom. Strength still lingers, but now it has purpose. You hold babies in your arms. You build things that matter. Time walks beside you now, not behind you. You're aware of it. You measure it in paychecks, you measure it in birthdays, and you measure it in longings. The world begins to take more than it gives. Your hair thins, your back stiffens, you laugh less often and you pray more deeply. The mirror becomes a report card and you begin to see your father's face in it. Then one morning you wake up older, not old but just older. The knees complain, the eyes squint, the sugar in your blood is stubborn now and your heart skips like a scratched record. You take pills that you can't produce. You start saying, back when I was younger, without meaning to. And the world seems louder and faster while your own hands grow slower and quieter. You're still trying to catch your breath from the race you didn't know you were running. Your body that once was a sword is now a cane. And then time steps ahead of you. You no longer chase it. You watch it with respect. Friends disappear. Children grow up and call you grandpa. You realize your name has become a story in their mouths. And though you can't build barns or bench press like before, you've grown wiser. You've seen enough tears to know how to comfort. You walk enough valleys to know where the shepherd is. And you lived enough years to understand that this greatest strength, it isn't in muscle, but in memory, and the greatest legacy isn't in labor, but in love. And now with hands less steady, but a heart more full, you lift what matters most, not weights, but worship. Time is not stolen from you, it has revealed you. The boy that had energy, the man that had duty, but the elder, he has wisdom. And if that wisdom, weathered by years and wrung from pain, is poured back into the lives of the young people that are around us today. Listen to me, that time was never lost, it was invested. So in these senior years, when the fire becomes a warm glow rather than a roaring flame, don't retreat, redeem. Use every breath you've got left in your lungs, every chapter of your story, every ounce of your experience for the honor and the glory of God. That's what this message is about. Because age isn't a closing chapter, It's the preface to eternity. Before time ever began, God had already established a perfect system, a divine order that required no revision, no repair, no replacement. And when we look at old foundations for a new world, it's not about outdated ways, but about eternal truths. And what God designed before the foundation of the world, it still stands today, unchanged. unshaken and unstoppable. His original plan didn't need fixing then and it doesn't need fixing not tonight. God has judged the earth. The flood had wiped away all that opposed his holiness and now Noah and his family step into a brand new world. But though the world was new, God gave old commands, eternal truths, and ancient expectations. In a time when everything around them changed, what remained the same was God's covenant, His character, and His commandments. Remember that. Old foundations for a new world. In with the old, they say sometimes the oldest things are the truest things. Jeremiah would always say, in Jeremiah chapter 6, verse 16, Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths. I want you tonight to look at three timeless truths from Genesis chapter 9 that still matter in our brand new world today as I talk to you about old foundations for a new world. Take your Bibles with me to the book of Genesis. Let's get into the wonderful Word of God tonight. First of all, one of the first things that I see out of one of the first timeless truths from Genesis chapter 9 that still matter in a brand new world today is, first of all, the foundation of God's new world. In Genesis chapter 9, verses 1 through 7, the Word of God says, And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, and upon all that moves upon the earth, and upon all the fish of the sea. Into your hand are they delivered. Every morning thing that lives shall be meat for you, even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall you not eat. In verse 5, and surely your blood of your lives will I require at the hand of every beast will I require it and at the hand of man and at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. In verse 6, who so sheds man's blood by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man. And you, be you fruitful, and multiply, bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. You know, as we look at this, we see the foundation of God's new world. God didn't leave Noah without instructions. He laid a foundation down. a foundation of blessing, a foundation of responsibility and accountability. One of the first things that we see of the foundation of God's new world is a commission that was given. Because we read in verse one, and God blessed Noah and his sons and he said unto them, be fruitful and multiply. You know what? This is the same commission given to Adam. God reaffirms the value of family, fruitfulness and responsibility. In a world chasing new trends today, the blessing of raising godly children is still one of the highest callings moms and dads could ever have. And so a commission was given in verse one. But in verse two, there was a fear that was established, and the fear of you shall be upon every beast. God gave man dominion again, but not without reverence and responsibility. You know, a hunter once said, I may carry a gun, but I still respect the wilderness. God's dominion isn't for abuse, it's for stewardship. And so the foundation of God's new world, a commission that's given in verse one, a fear that's established in verse two, and then in verse four, a boundary that has been drawn. Because he said, but flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat? Even as God gave new permission to eat meat, he also gave boundaries. Life is sacred. And because man was made in the image of God, and so Noah and the new beginning, God established a new world order for man. And that we see. that he tells us in verses 1 through 7. Remember, Noah's emotional state, his state of mind as God began to speak to him and his son, Noah had witnessed the terrifying judgment of God upon the whole earth, the volcanic eruption of the subterranean waters, the torrential downpour of a worldwide storm that lasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Noah had been cooped up in the ark for 370 days, knowing that he and his dear family, only eight souls, were the only living survivors left upon the earth. Noah had just stepped out upon some peak in the mountains of Ararat, and what he saw was horrifying. The utter devastation of the earth, a barren earth with debris scattered all over its surface. Here and there, bones that had been buried by the erosion from the receding waters. And then, most likely, he saw water still rushing and receding from the valleys below. Noah had been so gripped by the power and the judgment of God, so stricken with reverence and fear for God, that he immediately turned to God in worship. The very thing that he did after disembarking was to build an altar and offer a sacrifice to God. But he did not sacrifice one animal. He sacrificed dozens of animals, one of every kind or species of animal. Noah was so thankful to God for saving him and so fearful of God's awesome power and terrifying judgment, so appreciative, so fearful that he just lifted up his heart to God time and time again. Noah did just what genuine believers have often done even today. He recommitted his life to God and he begged God to forgive his sins and to accept the praise of his difference. And so the praise of his heart for so great a deliverance and salvation. There was one difference, though, however, between Noah's worship and all of us who have succeeded him. Noah was driven to worship God because he had been an eyewitness of the awesome power and terrifying judgment of God. He was stricken with an intense fear and a reverence for God unparalleled in human history. This was Noah's emotional state, his state of mind. He and his dear family, only eight souls were the only survivors upon the earth, and the earth was barren, totally devastated. He had no idea what lay ahead. The future was uncertain. He felt what any of us would have felt, insecure, restless, unsure, hesitant, wondering, questioning what to do. As stated, what Noah did was he turned to God. He cast himself totally upon God. He offered the largest sacrifice ever made to God. Noah wanted God to know that he was totally dependent upon him and that he trusted God explicitly to instruct and to guide him as he made a new beginning upon this earth. This God did. God knew Noah's needs. He knew his state of mind. He knew his fear and uncertainty. But God also knew Noah's dependence and trust upon him. And so, therefore, God met Noah and instructed and he had guided him. And that is what this is all about. Old foundations for a new world. I'm glad that it's the old things that never get too old. I'm glad that we can say in with the old. God's covenant of blessing, a reaffirmed favor, a renewed fellowship and a reminder of purpose. He said, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, a sacred alignment. A legacy and a stewardship. A strategic restoration. A spiritual responsibility. Amen. We see God's appointment of authority. Man's dominion over creation. And the fear of you shall be upon every beast. Here was a delegated rule. Humanity is crowned with authority. Not as tyrants, but as stewards. A distinct order. Creation respects man because man reflects God. A divine design. This fear instinct preserves harmony even after the fall, and so God's provision for survival was a gift of substance. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you. In verses three and four, a widened menu, a post-flood permission to eat meat, mark a new era of grace, a warning that's given, blood represents life, God establishes reverence for it, and a witness to the creator. Even in diet, God reveals his will and wisdom. So God's institution of justice, preserving order in a fallen world. And surely your blood will I require. In verse five, There's the moral standard that's set. God institutes human government to restrain evil. A message of accountability. Human life is sacred because it bears God's image. And a measure of justice. Capital punishment as a deterrent and a divine directive. And then we see God's protection of life. The value of every soul. for in the image of God made he man in verses 5, 6, and 7. Here's that sacred identity. Life is not just biological, it is theological, a serious charge. Shedding blood unjustly is an offense against God himself and a sovereign reminder that God's protection of life is rooted in his love for man. And so I'm glad that we look and we see in verses 1 through 9, that were absolutely correct. My apologies. I'm going to tell you something, because when we look and realize that we see the emotional state and the mental state of Noah and what he had in mind and intended for each and every one of us. Amen. I'm glad that it teaches us the unity of humanity and equality. Praise God. as we look at it and we begin to resolve and see the mandates for laws in government, obedience to authority. And I'm glad that each and every one of us, we look and we see how God established an order for all things, old foundations for a new world. Boy, I'm glad that there's some things that don't need to be changed and what God had put down What God had done, the old foundations for a new world, are the things that still matter today more than anything else. And so I'm glad through that protection of life and possessions that we look and realize the protection of life for man, amen, the accountability for bloodshed, the basis for capital punishment, the reiteration of the mission that he said, be fruitful and multiply, bring forth abundantly. The command from Genesis 9, 1, that he reemphasizes the importance of repopulation and the continuality of humanity under this new world protected by God and established laws that we see. And so the first timeless truth from Genesis chapter 9 is the foundation of God's new world in verses 1 through 7. But in verses 8 through 17, we see the faithfulness of God's covenant. Hallelujah. In a world cleansed by judgment, God makes a promise that holds through all generations. And I'm glad that when we look at it, we see how God speaks unto Noah and to his sons with him saying, And verse 8, but in verse 9, And I behold, I establish my covenant with you and with your seed after you and with every living creature that is with you of the fowl, the cattle of every beast of the earth with you from all that go out of the ark to every beast of the earth. And verse 11, I will establish my covenant with you. Neither shall all flesh be cut off anymore by the waters of the flood. Neither shall there be any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said in verse 12, this is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for perpetual generations. In verse 13, I do set my bow in the cloud, talking about the rainbow, and it shall be a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass when I bring a cloud over the earth that the bow, other words, the rainbow, shall be seen in the cloud. In verse 15, And I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. In verse 16, And the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. In verse 17, And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. And so we see the faithfulness of God's covenant. First of all, we saw the foundation of God's new world in verses 1 through 7. But secondly, in verses 8 through 17, we see the faithfulness of God's covenant and we see a covenant that is originated because he said in verse nine, and I behold, I will establish my covenant with you and with your seed after you. You see, this is not just with Noah, but with every generation. God is a covenant keeping God, a covenant that is originated in verse nine, but also in verse 13, a confirmation that is provided. I do set my bow in the cloud for a token of a covenant. That rainbow was not aimed at man, but a reminder to God and a comfort to us. The rainbow reminds us of God's promise like a wedding ring reminds us of our vows, men and women. It isn't just a decoration. It is a declaration. Listen, I'll say that again. It is not just a declaration, but is a declaring that we declare To each and every one, when they see our hand, we've made a vow to someone that is the love of our life. And so, a covenant originated in verse 9. A confirmation provided in verse 13, but in verse 12, a continuance that's declared. For perpetual generations, he said, God's not seasonal. His promises are eternal. And no matter how far we fall or how wicked the world becomes, His covenant will stand. And so I'm glad that the flood was the most horrible of all tragedies. Every living thing upon the earth was wiped out except one small family, eight souls and a boatload of animals and the trauma of witnessing such a scene. must have been one of the most terrifying experiences possible. Imagine the trauma of living through a torrential rain that lasted 40 days and 40 nights. Never a break in the rain, a rain so heavy and thick that a person could see his hand in front of his face. Imagine the trauma of experiencing all of the subterranean waters breaking loose from volcanic eruption after a volcanic eruption and the crust of the earth bursting loose, shooting upward, rushing madly about flooding the earth, And imagine the trauma of gradually dawned upon Noah and his dear family, a family, the only survivors upon earth. All else had perished because they had cursed God, rejected and rebelled against him and refused to follow and obey him. And imagine the trauma of living upon a boat for a whole year, of having a whole year to think about the righteousness, the sin, the death and the judgment of God. Imagine the trauma of knowing that you're a sinner and that God judges sin, and beyond any question, Noah knew this. How then could he know that God would not rise up and judge him and his dear family when they sinned in the future, and judge them as he had just done all the other sinners? The trauma of such an attacking thought must have stricken the survivors all with terror. left only to themselves. Noah and the survivors would have been terrified. They'd lived in constant fear and terror, but they were not left to themselves. God was with them. And God loved Noah as well and his dear family. And he loved them because they had trusted him and they were true followers of God. God cared about them, about their needs. God knew about their apprehension and their fear. He knew about the uneasiness, uncertainty, the insecurity. And so, his dear family needed one thing above all else, assurance. The assurance that the terrifying tragedy of the flood would never again take place. They needed to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they and their seed would survive, replenish the earth, and the assurance is just what God gives. This is that great subject when we look at old foundations for a new world. Amen. And so I'm glad what God promises he performs because he cannot lie. And so the initiator of the covenant, God steps toward man and God spake unto Noah and to his sons with him saying in verse eight, there was a divine initiation. God doesn't wait for man to seek him. He reveals himself a covenant by grace, not earned, not bargain freely offered by the Lord, a timeless pattern. Every true covenant in scripture begins with God's voice. The scope of that covenant, a promise to all flesh, you and your seed, and every living creature. In verses 9 and 10, a family blessing. God includes not only Noah, but his descendants. A creation that's wide with mercy. The covenant covers birds, beasts, and humanity. A future of facing God. The promise that was made to all of us in mind long before we were ever born. And so the heart of that covenant, preservation, not destruction. He said in verse 11, neither shall all flesh be cut off, neither shall there be any more be a flood in verse 11. And so there was a pledge of peace that Noah was given Never again, with global judgment, come by water. And we see that permanent restraint that he gives us. A picture of redemption. The covenant points to a greater one in Christ. The symbol of that covenant, the rainbow in the cloud. That he said in verses 12 down to verse 16, I do set my bow in the cloud. A visible reminder that God's promises are not abstract, they're displayed. A warrior's bow turned upward, a symbol of peace, not war. Judgment withheld, a sign to all generations. Every rainbow is a sermon from the sky that God remembers. And so the guarantee of that covenant, God's word is final. He said in verse 17, and God said, this is a token of that covenant. A God that cannot lie. His word is his bond. A covenant remembered by God. He doesn't forget and he doesn't fail. A faith anchored in faithfulness. If he kept this covenant, he'll keep everyone. And so Noah, as we look and realize from the trauma of the flood, of all that he began to experience, amen, And all that he dealt with through the years, amen. The covenant itself, the promise never to destroy earth with a universal flood ever again, amen. And so these are the new orders that he's begin to give, amen. The assurance against a universal disaster, assurance of a promised seed, assurance of eternal life, amen. And so I'm glad that a sign that is for all generations set by God in the clouds, the origin of the rainbow, the purpose of the sign, a provoke of a remembrance that God remembers his covenant with the rainbow appears, amen. And so I'm glad every one of us can ask ourselves, are you standing on what God has promised? Or are you sinking in what the world has proposed? Because as we look at the timeless truth, the first one was a foundation of God's new world in verses 1 through 7. In verses 8 through 17, we saw the faithfulness of God's covenant. But thirdly, in closing, we see a failure of man's nature. In verses 18 all the way down to verse 29, the word of God says, and the sons of Noah, in verse 18, that went forth of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth. And Ham is the father of Canaan. These are the three sons of Noah. And of them was the whole earth overspread. And Noah began to be a husbandman, and he planted a vineyard. And he drank of the wine and was drunken, and he was uncovered within his tent. In verse 22, And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. In verse 23, And Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it upon both their shoulders, went backwards, covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. In verse 24, And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. In verse 25, And he said, Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be. under his brethren, in verse 26, and he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem and Canaan shall be a servant. God, in verse 27, and God shall enlarge Japheth and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem and Canaan shall be a servant. In verse 28, Noah lived after the flood 350 years. In verse 29, and all the days of Noah were 950 years and he died. Well, when we see the failure of man's nature in verses 18 through 29, even after divine rescue and flesh beginnings, the old nature of sin rears its ugly head right off the bat. We see a sin that's revealed in verse 22, and Ham saw the nakedness of his father. Sin didn't drown in the flood, it sailed on the ark and the hearts of all the family members. Ham mocked what should have been covered. You can clean a pig, but it'll still find the mud. And God saves us, but we must choose to walk in the spirit and not the flesh. And so the failure of man's nature, a sin is revealed to this very day. A shame that's responded to because and Shem and Japheth went backward and covered the nakedness of their father in verse 23. True love doesn't expose, it covers. Grace is always walking backward with a blanket, not forward with a finger. And so sin is revealed, a shame responded to in verse 23, but in verse 25, cursed be Canaan. There's a sentence declared. The generational consequences of the sin, but God's grace always make a way to rise above your raising. Our legacy doesn't come from our victories, but how we handle our people's failures. And so, after this event in scripture took place, years after the great flood, probably several decades later, we know this because Canaan, the son of Ham, had already been born. And when Noah and his three sons disembarked from the ark, the sons had no children. Canaan was the fourth son of Ham in Genesis chapter 10, verse 6. And he's already old enough to have apparently chosen to live an ungodly life. He was probably an adult, for it's unlikely a child would be cursed for irresponsible behavior. A child is usually corrected and taught, not cursed. And so in Genesis chapter 9, verse 25, all this points to this prophecy of the human race taking place during this latter years of Noah's life. Noah stood at the head of the human race. He had produced the branches that were to bring forth all the races of the earth. This is the captivating subject of the passage because when we look and realize old foundations for a new world, we see the roots of humanity, one family, many nations. Because in verses 18 and 19, the sons of Noah, of them was the whole earth overspread. There's a common ancestry. Every race, tribe, and tongue traces back to Noah's sons. There's a global dispersion. God's design was diversity, not division. And that was a reminder of unity. We are all different in culture, but identical in origin. And so the repetition of sin, a righteous man, but a regrettable moment. And Noah began to be a husbandman and he drank of the wine in verses 20 down to verse 23. Here's a sad scene. because the preacher of righteousness succumbs to drunkenness. There's a shameful response because Ham exposes what love should have covered. A sacred standard, Shem and Japheth honor their father and honor God. And so the future of the nations are prophetic words from a father's lips. You know, a lot of people make this scripture out to be a horrible thing, but by looking upon nakedness is enough era in itself of sin. The future of the nations, we see, cursed be Canaan. Blessed be the Lord God of Shem. In verses 24 down to verse 27, a curse on Canaan. It's not racism, but a rebuke of rebellion and dishonor is what it's about. A blessing on Shem, though Shem would come would come, Abraham, Israel, and the Messiah, we see the tents of grace for Japheth. Gentile nations included in the plan of redemption through Japheth. And so the reality of death, even the godliest, must die. Because in verse 29, in all the days of Noah were 950 years and he died. A final breath. After the ark, after the altar, after the vineyard, Noah died. A universal truth. It's appointed that a man wants to die in Hebrews 927. But there's a call to readiness. Noah's death reminds us what matters is not how long you live, but how well you walk with God. And so though the flood washed the earth, it did not wash away the sin in man's heart. Noah walked with God, but even the best of men are still men at best. And from Noah's vineyard to our own failures, we're always in need of grace. But the covenant still stands to tell you that. The rainbow still shines, and Jesus, the seed of Shem, still saves. And so I'm glad that when we look, this event occurred years, likely decades after the great flood. Canaan, Ham's fourth son, in Genesis chapter 10, verse 6, was already born, already an adult, indicated an ungodly life choice. And so Noah's prophecy unfolds in later years. The branches of the human race are given. Noah's three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And so they're the progenitors of all races and peoples on earth. And all people and nations originate from a single source, creating a universal brotherhood in mankind. And this union should eliminate prejudice, discrimination, and class divisions. And so that we see the foretelling of this, we see that even a godly man can fall, despite being righteous, blameless, and severe consequences, that Ham's sin resulted in a curse, and Noah's life seemed to have no further good recorded after this event. The consequences of sin are always terrible. Sin in old age, and so 350 years after the flood, a potential spiritual lapse, and so a neglect of spiritual disciplines. Noah liked neglecting prayer. He liked worship. He neglected his watchfulness against temptation. Daily, daily, we've got to seek God constantly in our prayer. And so when we look and realize that he saw the nakedness, the Hebrew can imply looking on that other, but When we look in this, what his younger son had done to him could not refer as we look at it later. These facts point to scripture does not really explicitly state it as such, but the severity of the curse suggests a transgression. And so the dishonor of a father is what we're talking about. Ham gazed upon Noah's nakedness. And so showing that ill will and disrespect and refusing to cover him is what it's about. The scorn, the ridicule, and the contempt that Ham told his brothers were like mocking his father, hoping to spread ill will. That's what it's all about. Many people make this out to be more than it should be, but you know what? It's a serious offense to dishonor our parents. Honor your father and your mother is a commandment of God. People today don't think that that's a big deal. God can shorten kids' lives just for that very thought. And so, when we dishonor parents, it's a serious sin. According to Deuteronomy chapter 21, verse 18, and verses 20 and 21, Exodus chapter 21, verse 15, and Matthew chapter 15, verse 4, when you dishonor your parents, it's a serious sin. And so, in previous times, We turn away from our faith. Ham's behavior suggested he had rejected his father's faith in God. True believers did not show such dishonor and scorn. And so, the contrast with Shem and Japheth, they showed respect by walking backward to cover Noah, highlighting the severity of Ham's dishonor. And so, when we look at all of this, why Canaan alone of Ham's sons? Some say the curse applied only to Canaan and his descendants, while Ham's other sons remain historically insignificant. But there's an argue about the curse of all of this. Many argue many different things. Why Canaan and not Ham? Canaan was already living an ungodly sensual life, following his father's footsteps and denying Noah's faith. And so parental influence, genes and behavior is strong, though individuals can choose differently. Noah observed Canaan's evil and prophesied his course. And so as we come to a close, when we bring the old into the new, Our old foundations for a new world, just like Noah, you and I are walking through a changing world today. But God's truth has never changed. The blessing still flows from obedience. The covenant still stands through grace. The sin still demands accountability and covering. Malachi chapter three, verse six, for I am the Lord, I change not. So friend, don't be afraid to be old fashioned in a modern world today. Old time praying still works. Make you an altar in your house, out behind somewhere and get down every day and keep that relationship going with the Lord. Old time preaching still convicts. Praise God, glory, hallelujah. Old time holiness still pleases God. Old time worship still touches heaven. In with the old, because the God of Noah is still the God of today. Old foundations for a new world. Listen, as I close out, Have you abandoned the old paths that Jeremiah talked about when I started out? Or are you more influenced by culture than covenant? Listen, will you come tonight? Will you kneel at the altar and say, Lord, bring me back to the old ways, the holy way, the covenant way, the obedient way. If you're not saved, Jesus is that arc of safety. He's the flood of judgment that's coming again, not with water, But with fire, will you enter in? As I look back and I see 2 Peter 3, verse 7, but the heavens and the earth are reserved under fire against the day of judgment. Tonight, will you step into grace? Will you step into Ark? Will you step into Jesus tonight? Because each and every one of us, when we look and we realize the branches of the human race that are given, and all that are out there for each and every one of us to see. Though the flood washed the earth, it did not wash away the sin in man's heart. Noah walked with God, but even the best of men are still men at best. And from Noah's vineyard to our own failures, we are all in need of grace. But the covenant still stands, the rainbow still shines, and Jesus, the seed of Shem, still saves. Will you? Will you tonight, as we look and we realize that old foundations for a new world are still the most needed thing more than ever before today. Will you pray with me? I'm glad that we have God's blessings in a new world. The rainbow is God's covenant, the failure that followed the deliverance, but we can walk in the old paths of Jeremiah 6, 16. As you pray with me tonight, Lord, thank you for the foundation of God's new world, the faithfulness of God's covenant, the failure of man's nature. You are still in control. Lord, where sin was revealed, where shame responded, and a sentence was declared. Help us tonight to be more like you. Forgive us. Let the old past be our way today. In our churches, in our homes, raising our families, the old songs are hard to beat. Lord, as we grow older every day, as we look in the mirror and see that the new man is no longer a young man, but hopefully with the wisdom that will not turn to sin and abandon the covenants of God like Noah did in his old age, but will stay with the old paths. our church, our preachers, our pastors, our young people that we raise today. May we stay in the old paths, walk in the old paths, and all that we do, we give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. God bless you tonight. I hope and pray that you got something out of our message, Old Foundations for a New World. Thank you.