1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,640 Welcome to the Reams Town Church of God podcast. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,360 Wherever you're listening from, we hope you are blessed by 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:12,640 today's message. Genesis Chapter 7 verse #1 And 4 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,640 we're going to read that one verse. 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:21,880 Then the Lord said to Noah, come into the ark, you and all your 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:26,920 household, because I have seen that you are righteous before me 7 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,960 in this generation. Let's pray. 8 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:35,080 Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask you to anoint God the 9 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaking of your word. Your word is anointed, but it's 10 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,080 ours that need the help. And so we pray in the name of 11 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,400 Jesus for that special equipment, that a special 12 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,520 anointing of your Holy Spirit to minister your word in the way 13 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:55,680 that it pleases you and to hear it and to respond to it the way 14 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,760 you desire. In Jesus name we pray. 15 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,360 Amen. You may be seated. 16 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:03,600 I want to speak to you today on this thought. 17 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:07,240 An invitation to an ARC encounter. 18 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,000 An invitation to an ARC encounter. 19 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:16,000 How many of you have been to the ARC encounter in Kentucky? 20 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,160 There is a lot of you. God bless you. 21 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:24,480 I am sure that was one awesome experience to go to. 22 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:29,680 What is a replica, as best that man could do, a replica of what 23 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:35,160 the Ark was actually like and they call that place in Kentucky 24 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,760 the Ark Encounter. Well, I want to talk to you not 25 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:43,880 about that Ark Encounter in Kentucky, but the original Ark 26 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:50,680 Encounter that Noah had when God invited him on an Ark Encounter 27 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,320 and said come and all your house, you and all your 28 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:59,200 household because I have seen you righteous before me in this 29 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,880 generation. You know, Jesus said that there 30 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,520 would be some things that would happen in the end times that 31 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:11,440 would be very much like what happened when Noah lived and 32 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:15,960 when Noah was invited to 1st build the ark and then secondly 33 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,320 to occupy the ark during a worldwide flood that would 34 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,360 literally destroy all of humanity. 35 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,280 But Jesus said there are going to be some things in the last 36 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:31,400 days that replicate what happened during that time. 37 00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:35,000 It also says that about Lot's day as well. 38 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:39,560 But let me read about Noah's day in Matthew 2436. 39 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:44,800 Jesus said but of that day and hour no one knows, not even the 40 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,920 angels of heaven, but my Father only. 41 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:53,840 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son 42 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:57,240 of Man be. For as in the days of Noah 43 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,560 before the flood, they were eating and drinking, and 44 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,280 marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered 45 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:10,640 the ark, and did not know. They did not know until the 46 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:14,240 flood came and took them all away. 47 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:19,160 So also will the coming of the Son of Man be so. 48 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,240 The Bible says there were people living in the time of the flood 49 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:27,080 who had no idea what was about to happen. 50 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,560 Not that they didn't have an opportunity to know, but they 51 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:34,680 simply went on with life as if though everything would always 52 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:39,480 be the way that it was. But the Bible says as it was 53 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:44,240 then you will find the same attitude, the same concepts, the 54 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:48,640 same way of looking at things when Jesus is about to come. 55 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,000 And I believe that is soon and very soon. 56 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:56,880 So I want us to look at a few of the parallels of the day of Noah 57 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,360 and the day that you and I are living in right now. 58 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:06,080 What was it about that day that we see similarly today that is 59 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,280 going to cause the coming of the Lord and it's going to mean that 60 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,920 it is near at hand? Well, let's look at what the 61 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,920 Bible says about that day in Genesis chapter 6, verse 5. 62 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:21,680 It says Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great 63 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,960 in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his 64 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:33,640 heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he 65 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:36,920 had made man on the earth, and he was grieved in his heart. 66 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:41,960 So the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I've created from the 67 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:45,960 face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds 68 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:49,880 of the air. For I am sorry, I can't even 69 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:55,200 grasp that that God who is obviously he is a God, who is 70 00:04:55,280 --> 00:04:58,680 providentially God all the time, knows everything. 71 00:04:58,840 --> 00:05:04,480 But he actually said that I am sorry that I have made them. 72 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,680 You can take that one home with you and think about it. 73 00:05:08,280 --> 00:05:14,600 But Noah, thank God, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 74 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:20,600 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in 75 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,400 his generations. Noah walked with God and Noah 76 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,440 begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 77 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,880 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was 78 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,680 filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth and 79 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:38,960 deed. Indeed, it was corrupt, for all 80 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:43,240 flesh had corrupted their way as or or on the earth. 81 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:49,000 And Jesus said in Matthew, as it was, so shall it be as it was in 82 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,080 the days of Noah. You will see that again in the 83 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:55,040 days of the coming of the Son of Man. 84 00:05:55,320 --> 00:06:00,280 And so the Bible teaches us that at that particular time violence 85 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:04,840 and wickedness had raised itself to a level like never before. 86 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:09,160 All mankind had corrupted themselves, that there was 87 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,480 violence everywhere, there was evil everywhere. 88 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,400 And the Bible said that even the thoughts of a man's mind were 89 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,720 evil continually. They were always thinking about 90 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:24,360 something evil, something new to invent, something new to do that 91 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:29,040 would be in contrariness to the will of God and the ways of God. 92 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:33,560 And the Bible said that is the way that it will be before the 93 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,040 coming of the Son of man. So I asked you today, are there 94 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:41,560 any signs like that in the world in which we're living right now? 95 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,640 Well, in that day, all of of humanity had corrupted itself. 96 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,600 We're not at that point. Thank God that all of all have 97 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,640 done that. But there are there are examples 98 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:56,840 of it everywhere, as I did. Just a little looking around, I 99 00:06:56,840 --> 00:07:00,840 realize that things that are going on right now, like mass 100 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:04,000 shootings that are taking place even in our country. 101 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,000 Old Dominion University other day. 102 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,600 How about the synagogue that was attacked in Michigan? 103 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:13,960 What about all kinds of hate crimes and terrorist attacks and 104 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:18,040 domestic violence in homes? There's gang violence there, as 105 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:20,960 I mentioned, there are. There are absolute hate crimes 106 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,040 going on in America. There are assaults even during 107 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,320 civil unrest. There are so-called 108 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:32,000 demonstrations and protests that have turned violent. 109 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:36,280 Man seems to be bent on wickedness and violence. 110 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:41,240 There's online related violence, things that start there and 111 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,560 there are things going on all around us. 112 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:48,480 Do I need to mention Epstein Island, human trafficking, 113 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,800 children being trafficked, all of those things that are 114 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,960 happening in the world in which we live And also all around the 115 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,280 world there is a rise in persecution against 116 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:01,960 Christianity. People who are believers. 117 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,240 I was looking at, did some research and realized how many 118 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,800 countries right now in our world persecution of Christians is 119 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:12,720 widespread. Place is where anti-Semitism is 120 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,360 alive and well. North Korea, Christianity is 121 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:18,880 illegal. Believers who are discovered 122 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:23,720 with the Bible can be executed or sent to labor camps just for 123 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,840 having this. In Somalia, conversion from 124 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,520 Islam is extremely dangerous. Christians have to worship 125 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,600 secretly. In Yemen, civil war and 126 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,440 extremist groups make Christian practice almost impossible. 127 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:43,240 In Libya, in Sudan, in Nigeria, and particularly Pakistan, 128 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,400 blasphemy laws are often used against Christians. 129 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:50,840 In Iran, where we see all of that conflict, converts from 130 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,920 Islam, often arrested and imprisoned. 131 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,720 Hopefully those people will gain some freedom. 132 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:00,480 Afghanistan Christians have to live completely underground. 133 00:09:00,680 --> 00:09:02,560 And I read that around the world. 134 00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:05,160 You are a believer. I'm a believer in Christ that 135 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:10,720 one out of every 7 believers in the world is living under a very 136 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:15,160 strict persecuted place where they are absolutely 137 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,920 discriminated against. One in seven Christians. 138 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,400 So there is wickedness in the world, there is evil in the 139 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,960 world everywhere that we look. And the Bible said that's the 140 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,720 way it was in Noah's day before the flood. 141 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:32,200 And then it was said it would be like that again today. 142 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,640 And that's where we're living. The Bible said that violence had 143 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,960 had filled the earth. Every intent, as I mentioned, of 144 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,720 the thoughts of man's heart was evil continually, every 145 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,120 invention of man. Do you realize that everything 146 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:49,560 we have was first a product through the mind, no matter what 147 00:09:49,560 --> 00:09:53,400 it is, If it's if it's this floral arrangement, someone had 148 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,000 that in their mind and created that. 149 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,720 The coat that I'm wearing, the clothes you're wearing, it 150 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:03,400 started in the mind and that then became material and real. 151 00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:08,080 When men think evil, when men think wicked, they create evil 152 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,600 and they create wicked. And that's what it was like. 153 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:14,920 And God said it is so bad. He said that I am sorry that I 154 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:19,000 even made man think about that corruption. 155 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,440 And the Bible said as it was, so it shall be. 156 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,800 But then I want you to realize that there was another parallel 157 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,480 because God actually pronounced judgment then. 158 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:33,200 And this is something we don't hear a lot about because we know 159 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:34,760 that God is love and we understand that. 160 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:36,560 But how many know God is a just God? 161 00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:40,960 How many know that God is a God of judgment? 162 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:45,600 And he said destruction will come upon these people. 163 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,680 And, you know, we can get caught up sometimes and think about 164 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:53,160 this in the fascinating details of of the Ark, for example, and 165 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,800 we can think about its construction and how fascinating 166 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,720 and it truly was how that thing was built. 167 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:02,280 And I've never been to the Ark Encounter you that have been you 168 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,040 could do a better job with this part of my message than I can. 169 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:09,720 And it's it's unbelievable, the marvel of just the ark itself. 170 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,240 And then we can get so caught up when we think about how these 171 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:17,200 animals came and walked up the gangplank and twos and sevens, 172 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:21,520 and all of the things that were accoutrements in that ark, how 173 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,280 it was all built and done. But we should never forget why 174 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:27,280 they even there even had to be an art. 175 00:11:27,560 --> 00:11:29,840 Why was there ever an art to be built? 176 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,880 It was because that the Bible said the wickedness of man was 177 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:38,080 so great that God said, I will bring judgement upon the earth. 178 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:41,400 Are you with me? Judgment will come upon this 179 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,280 earth. Don't forget, we would have 180 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:47,560 never needed that ark had man been obedient to God. 181 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,760 And the Bible said, as it was, so shall it be. 182 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:54,880 And God gave a word, and that word was, I will send a flood 183 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:59,600 upon the earth. Well, we know now that this 184 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:04,040 earth will never have a flood that destroys all of it, because 185 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:09,840 God gave us that promise. But the earth will be eventually 186 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,240 destroyed. Listen to what Peter says in 187 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,800 second Peter 310 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in 188 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:20,400 the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great 189 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:22,200 noise. Then the elements will melt with 190 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,480 fervent heat. Both the earth and the works 191 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:25,960 that are in it will be burned up. 192 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,040 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what 193 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:32,600 manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and 194 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:36,320 godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day 195 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,920 of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being 196 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,920 on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. 197 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,320 Talk about global warming. This is global warming. 198 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,560 The Bible says the elements will melt with fervent heat. 199 00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:53,440 But oh thank God, there's a better word for believers 200 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,000 because the next verse says, nevertheless, we according to 201 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:00,560 his promise, we look for new heavens and the new earth in 202 00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:04,080 which righteousness dwells. So God doesn't just pronounce 203 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:08,040 judgement, but he pronounces a way of escape and a way out, and 204 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:09,880 he promises something much greater. 205 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:12,320 Thank God there's something better coming. 206 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:18,560 Church, something better is on its way. 207 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:23,880 But the people, they were oblivious to it all and they 208 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:27,720 just continued life as usual. They were eating and drinking 209 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:31,040 and marrying and giving and marriage and they were very 210 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:35,680 socializing people and, and, and they acted as though they would 211 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:37,600 live forever. There were, there were going to 212 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,720 be no consequences for the way they live their lives, no 213 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,320 consequences for the wickedness, none whatsoever. 214 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:47,200 They were living and saying things have always been this 215 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,320 way. We've heard a lot, but we've 216 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,240 never seen anything. So life continues on. 217 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,800 We don't worry about that. Just eat, drink and be merry. 218 00:13:55,040 --> 00:14:00,800 Just go about life. Peter talks about this also in 219 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:04,520 second Peter chapter 3 verse 3 says knowing this first that 220 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:08,840 scoffers will come in the last days walking according to their 221 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:12,280 own lust and saying where is the promise of his coming? 222 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,280 You people keep saying the Lord is coming. 223 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,840 Well, where is it? For since the fathers fell 224 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,720 asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of 225 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,120 creation. For this they willfully, they 226 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:32,720 willfully, they willfully forget that by the word of God the 227 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,640 heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water, and 228 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:40,360 in the water by which the world that then existed perished, 229 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,920 being flooded with water. So God is saying in his word 230 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,320 that people will be scoffers and they'll say, where's the promise 231 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,360 of his coming? You people have been talking 232 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:51,320 about it forever. Nothing ever changes. 233 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,360 But the Bible said they have willfully forgotten, They have 234 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:59,000 chosen to forget that the world that then existed was destroyed 235 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,440 by water, but the heavens and the earth, which are now 236 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:08,120 reserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day 237 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,320 of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 238 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,440 I know this is different, but it's the word of God, is it not? 239 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,080 I'm preaching to you from the New Testament as well as the old 240 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,080 what? What it means is that careless 241 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,720 attitudes prevailed. People didn't care. 242 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:26,360 They live any way they want to live, do what they want to do, 243 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:30,000 and I'm going to be all right. They will lukewarm. 244 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:34,400 As I mentioned, they were the eat, drink and be merry crowd. 245 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,160 You remember the story that Jesus told in Luke 12 was a 246 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,880 parable. It was a parable about a rich 247 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:45,360 fool and I'm using the Lord's words a rich fool because the 248 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,440 Bible said there was a rich man that fared sumptuously every 249 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,080 day. And he was he was just blessed 250 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,600 and everything he had was turning to gold as it were. 251 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,520 And he said I've got so much, I don't even know what to do with 252 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:58,960 it. He said I'm I'm going to tear 253 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,040 down my barns, my warehouses. I'm going to build bigger 254 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,000 warehouses. I'm going to fill up. 255 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,160 I have got so much. I'm just going to sit back. 256 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,160 I'm going to retire. I'm just going to sit back. 257 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:13,400 Take it easy. I'm going to eat, drink and be 258 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,880 merry. I'm going to be good for a lot 259 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:17,960 of years. I don't need anybody. 260 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:19,720 I don't need anything. I got not at all. 261 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:25,320 And then a voice came. Thou fool, this night your soul 262 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:28,720 should be required of you. So here was a man who was 263 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:32,000 prepared for retirement but not prepared for death. 264 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,080 Say it again, I will. There's a man prepared for 265 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:40,880 retirement. Good thing to do, but not 266 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,560 prepared for death. Bad thing to miss out. 267 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:49,160 Just going on with life. Everything is everything is 268 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,320 good. He didn't prepare to know how 269 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:56,040 many know life is fragile. We could be here today. 270 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:57,600 I'm standing here preaching to you. 271 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,320 I could be gone tomorrow or even the same day. 272 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,680 I hope not. But if good could be gone. 273 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,960 But the Bible says Noah found grace. 274 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:15,760 I'm so glad we have a God who in the midst of judgment, in the 275 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:17,720 midst of his wrath, and he was angry. 276 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,520 And the Bible says that God is angry with the wicked every day. 277 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:28,200 But even in that anger and even in that wrath, grace and mercy 278 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:32,600 are always present. Did you hear what I'm saying? 279 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:37,800 Grace and mercy are always, always, always present. 280 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:42,880 And a way of and a way of escape is going to be prepared. 281 00:17:44,360 --> 00:17:51,280 Genesis back to chapter 6 and God said to Noah, the end of all 282 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:56,960 flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with 283 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:00,840 violence through them, and behold, I will destroy them with 284 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,480 the earth. Make yourself an ark of Gopher 285 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,800 wood. Make rooms in the ark, cover it 286 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:11,960 inside and outside with pitch. In the midst of the wrath and 287 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,560 judgment of God, there would be a way of escape. 288 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,080 There would be grace as I mentioned and mercy shown. 289 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:21,960 God said I'm going to make a way for you. 290 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:24,720 You don't have to die in this flood. 291 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,680 You don't have to perish. Thank God. 292 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:30,560 Now listen, there was only one way though. 293 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:38,120 There was only 1 arc. Only one one way. 294 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:43,760 How many realize that we are blessed that there's anyway, you 295 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:46,440 know, people get frustrated sometimes and they'll say I just 296 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,640 like you Christian, because you're narrow minded. 297 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:53,960 Well, I guess so. Matthew 713, Jesus said enter by 298 00:18:53,960 --> 00:19:01,200 the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that 299 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:06,680 leads to destruction. And there are many who go in by 300 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,680 it. So I would have to tell you that 301 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:15,320 it was Jesus who said in John that I am the way and the truth 302 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,880 and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me. 303 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,720 And I would. I definitely tell you that I do 304 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,040 believe in a narrow way, but I am so thankful that there is 305 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:26,640 some way. I am so thankful that God didn't 306 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:30,800 leave me without any way how that I can be saved, that I can 307 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,200 be washed in the blood of the Lamb. 308 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:36,160 But the Bible said why? It is that road that leads to 309 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:39,440 destruction and there are many who go in by it. 310 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:46,120 So what is happening? God is saying to that generation 311 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,920 and to ours, sin will destroy you. 312 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,160 We can, can I, can I say this and I want every Christian to 313 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:57,480 take this home with you because sometimes it's so misunderstood. 314 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,040 You know, when we, when we have to, when we do have to preach 315 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:04,160 and God does call us to preach. The Bible talks about the whole 316 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,280 counsel of God. The whole council of God is good 317 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,400 stuff, fluffy stuff, sweet stuff, but it's also bitter 318 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:14,400 stuff sometimes. But we bring that word because 319 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,360 we love people. I just want you to know that 320 00:20:17,360 --> 00:20:23,720 when we preach and we we might call out particular kind of 321 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:28,400 major types of of sinful behaviors, etcetera, that is not 322 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:34,160 a sign that we don't love you. It is actually a sign that we do 323 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,160 love you. And I can tell you now that I 324 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,200 have preached from this pulpit. I have preached words that I 325 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:44,080 knew because I knew what was going on in certain situations. 326 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,040 I knew it was wrong. I had to preach not because I 327 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:50,160 was wanting to point anyone out. I don't want to ever do that, 328 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,840 but it was a part of the Word and I knew it. 329 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,800 But I was just as quick to go after a service and embrace a 330 00:20:56,800 --> 00:21:00,120 person and tell them I love them because I want to tell you. 331 00:21:00,120 --> 00:21:02,840 It's not personal. I'm trying to bring the Word of 332 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:07,000 God because it's what God, I'll tell you, if I had my way, it 333 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,240 might would be totally different, but I can tell you 334 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,760 it's not my way and it's not the highway, it's God's way. 335 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,880 But if we truly, if we truly love people, yes, we will 336 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,680 definitely call out sin. We have to do that. 337 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,360 The Bible tells us, but we will also love those people. 338 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,240 We will also because they are worth everything to Jesus. 339 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:28,720 Can you hear what I'm saying? Those that are disobedient to 340 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:33,840 God are still loved by the Lord, Amen. 341 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:36,960 That's better preaching than you're responding right now. 342 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:40,400 But anyway, I'll let you all for that, OK. 343 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:47,120 A day of grace was given. That's another parallel. 344 00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:51,800 It was extended and I want you to think about Noah's because he 345 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:54,720 was a preacher of the Bible. Said Bible called him a 346 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,960 preacher, said he was a preacher of righteousness. 347 00:21:58,360 --> 00:22:03,760 But do you realize that outside of his family and it's 348 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,120 estimated, we don't know. The Bible doesn't give us exact 349 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:07,600 number of years that he preached. 350 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,800 But based on the fact that he was 500 years old when his sons 351 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,480 were born in 600 years when he went in the ark. 352 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:17,120 And, and if you do all of the the math and all of the the 353 00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:20,160 possibilities, it looks like he could have preached because 354 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,680 there was a warning given about 120 years. 355 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:26,600 God said so he could have preached as long as 120 years 356 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:34,840 and he had no converts. Someone said, I heard someone 357 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,800 recently say that Noah was the most unsuccessful preacher in 358 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:43,920 the world. I, brother Jarrett call me 359 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:48,360 yesterday afternoon, believe it was and he was at Hope Rescue 360 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:51,280 Mission in Reading on Friday night and brought the word of 361 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:53,320 God. I believe brother Jose was with 362 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,680 him providing music. He brought the word of God and 363 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:59,400 three people got saved. He was so excited about that, 364 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:04,440 and so was I. Brother Jarrett, do you realize 365 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,480 that you had more success in one Friday evening than Noah had in 366 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:11,800 120 years? You did a good job, my brother. 367 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,160 You know, we judge everything by numbers today. 368 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,920 It's a big mistake because if you judge by numbers, Noah was 369 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:28,160 totally a failure. Listen to what it says about 370 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:29,920 him. Second, Peter, we were still in 371 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,240 the New Testament, chapter 2, verse 4. 372 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,120 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them 373 00:23:35,120 --> 00:23:38,000 down to hell and delivered them into changes of darkness to be 374 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:42,240 reserved for judgment, and did not spare the ancient world, but 375 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:50,600 saved Noah, one of eight people, eight people, a preacher of 376 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:52,000 righteous. What did he preach? 377 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,080 Righteousness. He preached righteousness, 378 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,320 bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly and turning 379 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:01,480 the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to 380 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,840 destruction, making them an example to those who afterward 381 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,360 would live ungodly and delivered righteous Lot. 382 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:11,240 Lot comes into this now. He was oppressed by the filthy 383 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:14,360 conduct of the wicked. For that righteous man dwelling 384 00:24:14,360 --> 00:24:17,520 among them, tormented his righteous soul from day-to-day 385 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,880 by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds. 386 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:24,360 Then the Lord, I love this. Then the Lord knows how to 387 00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:28,160 deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the 388 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:31,040 unjust under punishment for the day of judgment. 389 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,520 Thank God that those that are saved are not appointed to 390 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,960 wrath, but are appointed to receive mercy. 391 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:41,160 Can you say, man, I got to hurry here, people? 392 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:42,760 You're not going anywhere though, are you? 393 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:48,240 People had an opportunity as that art was being built. 394 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,920 They could have come in. They watched it being how could 395 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:57,440 you miss it, you that have been to the Ark, and how could you 396 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,000 miss it? Who in the world in his right 397 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,600 mind is building this monstrosity of a, of a motorless 398 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:09,200 sail, the ship on dry ground? What in the world? 399 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:14,680 I am sure that there was a lot of people going by seeing that 400 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,440 thing. Somebody said he's a religious 401 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:20,920 fanatic. He's just a religious fanatic. 402 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:26,600 And did you know that the Bible even goes on to say that after 403 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:30,840 Noah was in the ark, it was 7 more days before the rain 404 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:35,160 actually started? And it's estimated, again, the 405 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:36,960 Bible doesn't give us specifically, and I don't know 406 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,440 what they say, the Ark Encounter, but that he probably 407 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,520 took at least 60 years, maybe 70 years to build this thing. 408 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,560 Can you imagine working on something like this for 60 to 70 409 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:49,760 years? And who? 410 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:54,160 Who do you have to help him? He had three sons, Shem, Ham, 411 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:57,240 and Japheth. Sounds like a later version or 412 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,080 earlier version to Three Stooges, doesn't it? 413 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,480 Shem, Ham and Japheth. There was a Shem in there, 414 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:03,800 wasn't it? Or a Shep or something. 415 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:08,120 But, but I can imagine people going by. 416 00:26:08,120 --> 00:26:10,480 So what this whole preacher doing here? 417 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,680 This old preacher, what? What's his kids do? 418 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:17,480 What do they do for fun? You don't ever see him at the 419 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,440 wild parties. They're not drinking and 420 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,480 drugging. They're missing out on life. 421 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:27,560 What do they do? Sunday school, youth group, 422 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:33,520 winter fast, youth camp, whatever. 423 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:38,120 This missing out on everything. Can I say something to you young 424 00:26:38,120 --> 00:26:41,480 people and young adults? You're not Jesus in your life. 425 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:43,440 You're not missing out on anything. 426 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:49,200 That is good. Somebody, somebody said that old 427 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,160 man is preaching that it's going to rain. 428 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,120 By the way, if you don't know this, there never been any rain 429 00:26:54,120 --> 00:26:57,240 yet on the earth because the Bible says in Genesis, too, that 430 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,840 God watered the earth from beneath. 431 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,680 There had been no rain. Here's an old preacher telling 432 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:06,760 you that something's coming. That's never happened before. 433 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:08,640 It's going to rain. What's rain? 434 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:10,960 Rain is water coming from the sky. 435 00:27:11,120 --> 00:27:13,080 He said it. They're laughing it off. 436 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:15,840 It's not going. It's never happened before. 437 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,200 You can talk about a rapture all you want. 438 00:27:18,360 --> 00:27:20,640 You can talk about a Christ coming near. 439 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,040 That's never happened. It's never going to happen. 440 00:27:28,530 --> 00:27:32,320 But he said it. He preached it, water's coming. 441 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:37,600 It's laughable. Why would God allow so much 442 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,680 time? Second Peter 38 says, But 443 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:44,200 beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one 444 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,080 day is as 1000 years and 1000 years as one day. 445 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:49,680 The Lord is not slack concerning his promises. 446 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:52,680 Some count slackness, but it's long-suffering toward us, not 447 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:56,920 willing, no willing God that any should perish, but that all 448 00:27:56,920 --> 00:28:00,080 should come to repentance. Forget it if you think God has 449 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,600 condemned you to hell, He wants you saved. 450 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:09,840 Second, our first thesauts 5 and one. 451 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:12,920 But concerning the times and the seasons, brother, you have no 452 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,360 need that I should write to you for yourselves. 453 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:18,000 Know perfectly the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the 454 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:19,680 night. For when they say peace and 455 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:24,160 safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains 456 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:27,240 upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape. 457 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,200 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day 458 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:33,800 should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and 459 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,680 sons of the day. We're not of the night nor of 460 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:39,000 darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as 461 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:46,680 others do, but let us watch and be sober after seven more days 462 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:50,840 after Noah went into the ark. Chapter 7, verse one we read in 463 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,200 verse 11, in the 600th year of Noah's life, in the second 464 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:55,880 month, the 17th day of the month. 465 00:28:55,880 --> 00:29:00,560 On that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up in 466 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:05,040 the windows of heaven were open. I wondered what that was like. 467 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:08,680 Noah's now in the ark, his family's in the ark. 468 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:13,320 The doors closed. Somebody is walking down the 469 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:16,120 road. What is that? 470 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:19,840 Strange. I just felt a drop of water. 471 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:26,360 Oh, pitter patter, pitter patter. 472 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:32,080 What is happening? All of a sudden the rings are 473 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:36,320 coming from heaven and the Bible says even the fountains of the 474 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:40,760 deep are opened up. Things are happening. 475 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:44,120 It never happened before. The old preacher. 476 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:49,960 Maybe he was right. Maybe he was right. 477 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:53,200 Let's get down to the ark. Let's get to the ark. 478 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:57,480 No, I can see them beating on the side of that ark. 479 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:06,480 No, we've changed her mind. Open the door, let us in. 480 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:13,560 Genesis 716 says. So those that entered, male and 481 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:18,000 female of all flesh, went in as God commanded him, and the Lord 482 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:23,480 shut him in. You're asking Noah to open a 483 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:27,560 door that he never shut. Are you with me? 484 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:30,840 I said. You're asking Noah to open a 485 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:34,360 door that he never shut. God shut the door. 486 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:37,880 And when God shuts the door, no man opens. 487 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:42,240 The Bible says it wasn't that they didn't have opportunity. 488 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:43,880 We can say, well, that isn't that terrible. 489 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:47,320 No, it's not because God gave every warning possible. 490 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:51,240 He gave every opportunity, but man ignored his warnings. 491 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,200 And people are living their lives today in so many places 492 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:58,400 that they feel like, well, I'll just live my life and sow my sow 493 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:01,480 my wild oats. And later I'll come to the Lord. 494 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:04,280 Later I'll get saved. I'll get saved on my deathbed. 495 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:06,040 You have no guarantee of your deathbed. 496 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:07,920 You have no guarantee of tomorrow. 497 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:10,920 Why are you preaching this, this Sunday? 498 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:13,280 I don't know, but I'm preaching it. 499 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:16,800 This is what the Lord laid on my heart. 500 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:22,960 What I'm saying is that there is a day of grace, but there is an 501 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:28,000 end to the day of grace. Second Corinthians 62, Paul 502 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,320 says. For he says, in an acceptable 503 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:34,800 time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have 504 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:41,000 helped you. Behold, now, when is now, when 505 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:46,760 is now, is now Monday is now to tonight or is now now? 506 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:50,800 Is it right now in this place that this right now is the 507 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:56,400 acceptable time? Behold, now is the day of 508 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:59,680 salvation. We're just going to mess around. 509 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:05,960 We're just going to do what we want to do, and we hope that we 510 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:10,280 get in before it's too late. They couldn't get in. 511 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:12,720 The rains came. The old preacher was right. 512 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:19,120 Here's one more, one more parallel, and that is it. 513 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,320 Of all the people, only one family was saved. 514 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:31,160 Only one family got saved. We read from Genesis 618. 515 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:35,160 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall go into 516 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:40,400 the ark, You, your sons, your wife and your son's wives with 517 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:43,520 you. The Bible said Noah found grace 518 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:49,880 in the sight of the Lord for about a year. 519 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:54,360 I think if you do the math again with the scripture, the art, you 520 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:57,000 know, we think 40 days and 40 nights, That's just the rain. 521 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:03,920 They stayed in that thing for a year, about 300 and 73171 days 522 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:06,920 they were in that ark. Can you imagine what that was 523 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:14,880 like? Brother Hugo and Becky, please. 524 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:17,480 I don't see Sister Becky. Is she here? 525 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:20,360 I see you. I'm so sorry I didn't recognize 526 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:23,240 you sooner. Thank you for being back safely 527 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,200 from Columbia, South America. God bless you. 528 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:30,040 We love you. Forgive me for my failure to see 529 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:33,440 you, but but I'm. I'm thinking about because you 530 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:36,480 work at sight and sound. I'm thinking about, you know, 531 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:40,200 when I went to see Noah, I thought I was in the thing for a 532 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:42,800 year and it seemed like that thing was never going to end, 533 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:47,680 you know, So I'm just saying that they're in a boat. 534 00:33:49,120 --> 00:34:01,400 Get this daughter in You can't tell me that they went a year 535 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:04,960 without an argument that somebody wasn't upset with 536 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:07,120 somebody. Do you not realize that they're 537 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:11,679 in there with all these animals? It probably stinks, probably 538 00:34:11,679 --> 00:34:14,840 smells. But here's what I can tell you. 539 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:20,560 I would rather be in a smelly ark than a devastating flood. 540 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:25,040 Can I tell you that there was only one family saved and 541 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,199 there's still only one family that's going to be saved, and 542 00:34:28,199 --> 00:34:30,400 that's the family of God. Hallelujah. 543 00:34:30,639 --> 00:34:36,159 I said the family of God is the only family that will be saved. 544 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:41,239 People who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, listen to 545 00:34:41,239 --> 00:34:43,320 what it says. Think about this. 546 00:34:43,679 --> 00:34:47,120 It tells us something wonderful. Think, I just want you to think 547 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:50,560 about again and can I make a comparison? 548 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:53,840 You're in the church. The church can get smelly 549 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:58,400 sometimes too. We're not perfect, are we? 550 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:05,600 We get on each other's nerves sometimes and we can get, we 551 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:10,520 can't even get hurt sometimes. But I would tell you it's better 552 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:20,080 to be in something secure, hurt and to be in a world that's 553 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:26,400 going to hell. You hearing me because I can 554 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:29,880 tell you that thank God in the midst of all of it and we you 555 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:33,240 can have broken relationships, but thank God, Jesus, like a 556 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:37,640 good neighbor Jesus is there. Amen. 557 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:42,520 I said like a good neighbor, Jesus is there always to help us 558 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:45,520 and the Bible tells us want something wonderful about that 559 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:48,240 and I'm going to close set the 1st combat worship team or I 560 00:35:48,240 --> 00:35:51,120 might not ever close first. Peter chapter 2 verse 6 says 561 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:53,720 therefore it is also contained in the scripture. 562 00:35:53,720 --> 00:35:58,960 Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone elect precious, and 563 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:02,120 he who believes on him will by no means be put to shame. 564 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:06,080 Therefore, to you who believe he's precious, but to those who 565 00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:09,080 are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become 566 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:12,640 the chief cornerstone and a stone of stumbling and a rock of 567 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:14,800 offense. They stumble being disobedient 568 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:17,640 to the word to which they also were appointed. 569 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:20,400 But now listen to these next words, because these are the 570 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:22,040 most encouraging you're going to hear. 571 00:36:22,240 --> 00:36:27,680 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy 572 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:31,960 nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the 573 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:35,760 praises of him who called you out of darkness into his 574 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:38,400 marvelous light, who once were not a people. 575 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:43,200 But you are now the people of God who had not obtained mercy. 576 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:49,160 But now you have obtained mercy. You're in the body of Christ, 577 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:53,720 washed in the blood, safe. And we don't have a boat any 578 00:36:53,720 --> 00:36:55,200 longer. That's our ark. 579 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:57,880 But our ark is the old rugged cross. 580 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:01,000 And thank God, in that cross we are safe. 581 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:05,360 In the blood of Jesus, we are saved in the sacrifice of the 582 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:08,400 Lamb of God. We are saved by the glorious 583 00:37:08,720 --> 00:37:11,680 gospel of Jesus Christ. Are you in the ark? 584 00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:20,160 That final parallel for them was when God shut the door, but 585 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:23,720 until that door was shut, they could have come in, they could 586 00:37:23,720 --> 00:37:28,720 have come in again, Paul tells us in 2nd Corinthians 6. 587 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:32,920 We then as ambassadors or workers, together with him also 588 00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:37,920 plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain, for he 589 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:42,600 says in an acceptable time I've heard you, I've heard you, and 590 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:46,840 in the day of salvation I've helped you in God. 591 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:51,320 Good. He said the day of salvation, I 592 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:54,080 have helped you. He said two things. 593 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:56,480 I've heard you and I've helped you. 594 00:37:56,960 --> 00:37:58,800 How many can say Amen to both of those? 595 00:37:59,560 --> 00:38:03,840 God heard us when we said God be merciful to me, a Sinner, and he 596 00:38:03,840 --> 00:38:07,120 helped us when we fell, when we fell short. 597 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:09,960 I don't know about you, but I've fallen short. 598 00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:14,200 But thank God, he has helped us, I've helped you. 599 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:17,080 He said, behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of 600 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:20,160 salvation. Thanks for joining us today. 601 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:22,640 If you'd like to connect, visit us at Reams Town 602 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:26,680 churchofgod.org, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and 603 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:29,680 subscribe to this podcast so you never miss an episode.