NOAH’S FAITH

“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith!” (Heb. 11:7 NKJV).

Noah had great faith in God. His life of faith is summarized in this one verse here in the great faith chapter of Hebrews 11. Thus we want to note the protection of faith, the proof of faith, and the purity of faith.

Protection of faith – “By faith Noah, being divinely warned.” Faith is the best protection that we can have. If Noah did not had faith in God, he would have perished in the flood. Today we hear much about insurance and the need to be protected. However we hear little about faith which will protect us where we need it the most and where no earthly insurance can protect us. The world takes exception, and ridicule faith in God; but this does not change the fact that it is the best protection we can have for our lives.

Proof of faith – “Moved with godly fear, prepared an ark.” Some folks will say that they have great faith, but their lives do not evidence it. Noah gave great evidence of his faith by his actions of building an ark. We give evidence of our faith by our conduct, by how we behave. The world was fully aware of Noah’s faith, for they saw him building the ark. Does your faith show in your walk, or is it nothing but talk?

Purity of faith – “By which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” One of the great products of faith is purity. This fact is seen in the last few words of our verse which says, “Righteousness which is according to faith.” The reason our world is so wicked is because it is deficient in faith in God. The reason so many church members are carnal is because their faith is deficient. A strong vibrant faith produces virtue not vice. Unbelief does not produce holiness; unbelief produces evil which destroys societies.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“True faith rests upon the character of God and asks no further proof than the moral perfections of the One who cannot lie!”

Aiden Wilson (A.W.) Tozer (1897 – 1963)

American Pastor, Theologian and Author

Word Study

Foolish

In Titus 3:3 we read, “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another” (NKJV).

“Foolish” is the Greek word anóētos (ἀνόητος = an-o'-ay-tos). It is made up of two words: “a” the alpha-negative, and “noéo” from nous which means mind, intellect, understanding, thought. Thus, anóētos literally means not having a mind, or not thought of. It describes a person without understanding. It’s an unwillingness to use one’s mental faculties to understand. It is not a lack of intelligence as much as it is mental laziness and carelessness. In classical Greek, anóētos means unintelligent, foolish, and describes one who thinks, speaks, and acts haphazardly, without discretion, and who is governed by foolishness. In the Septuagint anóētos also means foolish and describes one who is lacking in judgment. In the New Testament, anóētos carries the idea of foolish, lacking the power of perception, unwise. Anóētos frequently conveyed the idea of a wrong attitude of heart, a lack of faith that clouds one’s judgment. The Lord Jesus used anóētos to describe the disciples on the road to Emmaus as foolish who did not believe all the prophets had written about Him. By using the word foolish, the apostle Paul is saying that, no matter how advanced one might be in education and intellectual accomplishments, if you refuse to recognize God and trust in Him for deliverance from the penalty of sin which is death, then you are foolish concerning the most important truth in all eternity.

Did You Know…

Both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus began their ministries proclaiming the same message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (cf. Matt. 3:1-2; Matt. 4:17).

Bible Quiz

How many stones did David place in his bag when he went to fight the giant Goliath?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

How long was Daniel inside the lions’ den? All night (Dan. 6:18).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

Unrepentant death of the Betrayer (Psalm 55:15; c.f. Matt. 27:3-5; Acts 1:16-19)

"Let death seize them; let them go down alive into hell, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them” (Psalm 55:15 NJKV).

In context, the Psalmist David was not praying for personal vengeance but for justice on those who live evil lives. This imprecatory verse must be understood in light of the Lord Jesus’ teaching to pray for our enemies (Matt. 5:44). In fact, while on the cross, the Lord Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). So, while we pray for our enemies, we do so knowing that the day of just judgment will come on all who have not trusted in God for reconciliation and transformation. Evil may seem to go on without interruption for a time, but sooner or later the judgment of God will strike quickly. When others do their worst, we need to leave it with God. He will meet our needs and use us to glorify Himself.

Did You Know – Christian History

Down with King James II - February 13, 1689

Henry Highland Garnet was born into slavery on December 23, 1815, in Chesterville, (then New Market), Kent County, Maryland. He was an American abolitionist, minister, educator, orator, and diplomat.

James II, a Catholic monarch, ascended to the throne in 1685. His attempts to promote Catholicism and his disregard for parliamentary authority led to widespread discontent among his predominantly Protestant subjects and the political elite. In 1688, a group of English nobles, known as the “Immortal Seven,” invited William of Orange, a Protestant and the husband of James II’s Protestant daughter Mary, to intervene and assume the English throne. This invitation was motivated by fears of a Catholic succession and James II’s perceived absolutist tendencies.

William landed in England in November 1688 with a substantial force, an event often referred to as the “Glorious Revolution” due to its relatively bloodless nature. James II, facing little resistance and losing support, fled to France in December 1688. In January 1689, a Convention Parliament was convened to address the political crisis. After extensive debates, it declared that James II had effectively abdicated by fleeing the country and that the throne was vacant.

On February 13, 1689, William and Mary were formally offered the crown by Parliament. They accepted the Declaration of Rights, which later became the Bill of Rights 1689, outlining the constitutional and civil rights of the people and limiting the powers of the monarchy. This political concept was also a major influence in the composition of the U.S. Bill of Rights, composed almost exactly a century later. William and Mary were crowned as joint sovereigns on April 11, 1689, solidifying their rule and the constitutional changes that had been set in motion.

The settlement that followed, including the Bill of Rights and later the Toleration Act, did not make a nation righteous, and it did not remove every injustice. Yet it opened space for Scripture to be read, the gospel to be preached, and congregations to live with less fear. God sometimes grants His church “quietness” through imperfect rulers, not so believers can grow comfortable, but so they can bear faithful witness with steady courage, thankful hearts, and unwavering hope in Christ alone.

A Little Humor

A little boy whispers to his dad, “How long is the sermon?” Dad replies, “About 10 minutes.” Two hours later, the boy says, “Were those 10 minutes in heaven time?”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“If more hell was preached in the pulpit, there would be less hell in the community!”