Sermon
An Invitation to an Ark Encounter
Publisher transcript
Transcript
-
Welcome to the Reams Town Church of God podcast.
-
Wherever you're listening from, we hope you are blessed by
-
today's message. Genesis Chapter 7 verse #1 And
Genesis 7 chapter mention
-
we're going to read that one verse.
-
Then the Lord said to Noah, come into the ark, you and all your
-
household, because I have seen that you are righteous before me
-
in this generation. Let's pray.
-
Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask you to anoint God the
-
Speaking of your word. Your word is anointed, but it's
-
ours that need the help. And so we pray in the name of
-
Jesus for that special equipment, that a special
-
anointing of your Holy Spirit to minister your word in the way
-
that it pleases you and to hear it and to respond to it the way
-
you desire. In Jesus name we pray.
-
Amen. You may be seated.
-
I want to speak to you today on this thought.
-
An invitation to an ARC encounter.
-
An invitation to an ARC encounter.
-
How many of you have been to the ARC encounter in Kentucky?
-
There is a lot of you. God bless you.
-
I am sure that was one awesome experience to go to.
-
What is a replica, as best that man could do, a replica of what
-
the Ark was actually like and they call that place in Kentucky
-
the Ark Encounter. Well, I want to talk to you not
-
about that Ark Encounter in Kentucky, but the original Ark
-
Encounter that Noah had when God invited him on an Ark Encounter
-
and said come and all your house, you and all your
-
household because I have seen you righteous before me in this
-
generation. You know, Jesus said that there
-
would be some things that would happen in the end times that
-
would be very much like what happened when Noah lived and
-
when Noah was invited to 1st build the ark and then secondly
-
to occupy the ark during a worldwide flood that would
-
literally destroy all of humanity.
-
But Jesus said there are going to be some things in the last
-
days that replicate what happened during that time.
-
It also says that about Lot's day as well.
-
But let me read about Noah's day in Matthew 2436.
-
Jesus said but of that day and hour no one knows, not even the
-
angels of heaven, but my Father only.
-
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son
-
of Man be. For as in the days of Noah
-
before the flood, they were eating and drinking, and
-
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered
-
the ark, and did not know. They did not know until the
-
flood came and took them all away.
-
So also will the coming of the Son of Man be so.
-
The Bible says there were people living in the time of the flood
-
who had no idea what was about to happen.
-
Not that they didn't have an opportunity to know, but they
-
simply went on with life as if though everything would always
-
be the way that it was. But the Bible says as it was
-
then you will find the same attitude, the same concepts, the
-
same way of looking at things when Jesus is about to come.
-
And I believe that is soon and very soon.
-
So I want us to look at a few of the parallels of the day of Noah
-
and the day that you and I are living in right now.
-
What was it about that day that we see similarly today that is
-
going to cause the coming of the Lord and it's going to mean that
-
it is near at hand? Well, let's look at what the
-
Bible says about that day in Genesis chapter 6, verse 5.
-
It says Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great
-
in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his
-
heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he
-
had made man on the earth, and he was grieved in his heart.
-
So the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I've created from the
-
face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds
-
of the air. For I am sorry, I can't even
-
grasp that that God who is obviously he is a God, who is
-
providentially God all the time, knows everything.
-
But he actually said that I am sorry that I have made them.
-
You can take that one home with you and think about it.
-
But Noah, thank God, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
-
This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in
-
his generations. Noah walked with God and Noah
-
begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
-
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was
-
filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth and
-
deed. Indeed, it was corrupt, for all
-
flesh had corrupted their way as or or on the earth.
-
And Jesus said in Matthew, as it was, so shall it be as it was in
-
the days of Noah. You will see that again in the
-
days of the coming of the Son of Man.
-
And so the Bible teaches us that at that particular time violence
-
and wickedness had raised itself to a level like never before.
-
All mankind had corrupted themselves, that there was
-
violence everywhere, there was evil everywhere.
-
And the Bible said that even the thoughts of a man's mind were
-
evil continually. They were always thinking about
-
something evil, something new to invent, something new to do that
-
would be in contrariness to the will of God and the ways of God.
-
And the Bible said that is the way that it will be before the
-
coming of the Son of man. So I asked you today, are there
-
any signs like that in the world in which we're living right now?
-
Well, in that day, all of of humanity had corrupted itself.
-
We're not at that point. Thank God that all of all have
-
done that. But there are there are examples
-
of it everywhere, as I did. Just a little looking around, I
-
realize that things that are going on right now, like mass
-
shootings that are taking place even in our country.
-
Old Dominion University other day.
-
How about the synagogue that was attacked in Michigan?
-
What about all kinds of hate crimes and terrorist attacks and
-
domestic violence in homes? There's gang violence there, as
-
I mentioned, there are. There are absolute hate crimes
-
going on in America. There are assaults even during
-
civil unrest. There are so-called
-
demonstrations and protests that have turned violent.
-
Man seems to be bent on wickedness and violence.
-
There's online related violence, things that start there and
-
there are things going on all around us.
-
Do I need to mention Epstein Island, human trafficking,
-
children being trafficked, all of those things that are
-
happening in the world in which we live And also all around the
-
world there is a rise in persecution against
-
Christianity. People who are believers.
-
I was looking at, did some research and realized how many
-
countries right now in our world persecution of Christians is
-
widespread. Place is where anti-Semitism is
-
alive and well. North Korea, Christianity is
-
illegal. Believers who are discovered
-
with the Bible can be executed or sent to labor camps just for
-
having this. In Somalia, conversion from
-
Islam is extremely dangerous. Christians have to worship
-
secretly. In Yemen, civil war and
-
extremist groups make Christian practice almost impossible.
-
In Libya, in Sudan, in Nigeria, and particularly Pakistan,
-
blasphemy laws are often used against Christians.
-
In Iran, where we see all of that conflict, converts from
-
Islam, often arrested and imprisoned.
-
Hopefully those people will gain some freedom.
-
Afghanistan Christians have to live completely underground.
-
And I read that around the world.
-
You are a believer. I'm a believer in Christ that
-
one out of every 7 believers in the world is living under a very
-
strict persecuted place where they are absolutely
-
discriminated against. One in seven Christians.
-
So there is wickedness in the world, there is evil in the
-
world everywhere that we look. And the Bible said that's the
-
way it was in Noah's day before the flood.
-
And then it was said it would be like that again today.
-
And that's where we're living. The Bible said that violence had
-
had filled the earth. Every intent, as I mentioned, of
-
the thoughts of man's heart was evil continually, every
-
invention of man. Do you realize that everything
-
we have was first a product through the mind, no matter what
-
it is, If it's if it's this floral arrangement, someone had
-
that in their mind and created that.
-
The coat that I'm wearing, the clothes you're wearing, it
-
started in the mind and that then became material and real.
-
When men think evil, when men think wicked, they create evil
-
and they create wicked. And that's what it was like.
-
And God said it is so bad. He said that I am sorry that I
-
even made man think about that corruption.
-
And the Bible said as it was, so it shall be.
-
But then I want you to realize that there was another parallel
-
because God actually pronounced judgment then.
-
And this is something we don't hear a lot about because we know
-
that God is love and we understand that.
-
But how many know God is a just God?
-
How many know that God is a God of judgment?
-
And he said destruction will come upon these people.
-
And, you know, we can get caught up sometimes and think about
-
this in the fascinating details of of the Ark, for example, and
-
we can think about its construction and how fascinating
-
and it truly was how that thing was built.
-
And I've never been to the Ark Encounter you that have been you
-
could do a better job with this part of my message than I can.
-
And it's it's unbelievable, the marvel of just the ark itself.
-
And then we can get so caught up when we think about how these
-
animals came and walked up the gangplank and twos and sevens,
-
and all of the things that were accoutrements in that ark, how
-
it was all built and done. But we should never forget why
-
they even there even had to be an art.
-
Why was there ever an art to be built?
-
It was because that the Bible said the wickedness of man was
-
so great that God said, I will bring judgement upon the earth.
-
Are you with me? Judgment will come upon this
-
earth. Don't forget, we would have
-
never needed that ark had man been obedient to God.
-
And the Bible said, as it was, so shall it be.
-
And God gave a word, and that word was, I will send a flood
-
upon the earth. Well, we know now that this
-
earth will never have a flood that destroys all of it, because
-
God gave us that promise. But the earth will be eventually
-
destroyed. Listen to what Peter says in
-
second Peter 310 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in
-
the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great
-
noise. Then the elements will melt with
-
fervent heat. Both the earth and the works
-
that are in it will be burned up.
-
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what
-
manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and
-
godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day
-
of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being
-
on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat.
-
Talk about global warming. This is global warming.
-
The Bible says the elements will melt with fervent heat.
-
But oh thank God, there's a better word for believers
-
because the next verse says, nevertheless, we according to
-
his promise, we look for new heavens and the new earth in
-
which righteousness dwells. So God doesn't just pronounce
-
judgement, but he pronounces a way of escape and a way out, and
-
he promises something much greater.
-
Thank God there's something better coming.
-
Church, something better is on its way.
-
But the people, they were oblivious to it all and they
-
just continued life as usual. They were eating and drinking
-
and marrying and giving and marriage and they were very
-
socializing people and, and, and they acted as though they would
-
live forever. There were, there were going to
-
be no consequences for the way they live their lives, no
-
consequences for the wickedness, none whatsoever.
-
They were living and saying things have always been this
-
way. We've heard a lot, but we've
-
never seen anything. So life continues on.
-
We don't worry about that. Just eat, drink and be merry.
-
Just go about life. Peter talks about this also in
-
second Peter chapter 3 verse 3 says knowing this first that
-
scoffers will come in the last days walking according to their
-
own lust and saying where is the promise of his coming?
-
You people keep saying the Lord is coming.
-
Well, where is it? For since the fathers fell
-
asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of
-
creation. For this they willfully, they
-
willfully, they willfully forget that by the word of God the
-
heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water, and
-
in the water by which the world that then existed perished,
-
being flooded with water. So God is saying in his word
-
that people will be scoffers and they'll say, where's the promise
-
of his coming? You people have been talking
-
about it forever. Nothing ever changes.
-
But the Bible said they have willfully forgotten, They have
-
chosen to forget that the world that then existed was destroyed
-
by water, but the heavens and the earth, which are now
-
reserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day
-
of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
-
I know this is different, but it's the word of God, is it not?
-
I'm preaching to you from the New Testament as well as the old
-
what? What it means is that careless
-
attitudes prevailed. People didn't care.
-
They live any way they want to live, do what they want to do,
-
and I'm going to be all right. They will lukewarm.
-
As I mentioned, they were the eat, drink and be merry crowd.
-
You remember the story that Jesus told in Luke 12 was a
-
parable. It was a parable about a rich
-
fool and I'm using the Lord's words a rich fool because the
-
Bible said there was a rich man that fared sumptuously every
-
day. And he was he was just blessed
-
and everything he had was turning to gold as it were.
-
And he said I've got so much, I don't even know what to do with
-
it. He said I'm I'm going to tear
-
down my barns, my warehouses. I'm going to build bigger
-
warehouses. I'm going to fill up.
-
I have got so much. I'm just going to sit back.
-
I'm going to retire. I'm just going to sit back.
-
Take it easy. I'm going to eat, drink and be
-
merry. I'm going to be good for a lot
-
of years. I don't need anybody.
-
I don't need anything. I got not at all.
-
And then a voice came. Thou fool, this night your soul
-
should be required of you. So here was a man who was
-
prepared for retirement but not prepared for death.
-
Say it again, I will. There's a man prepared for
-
retirement. Good thing to do, but not
-
prepared for death. Bad thing to miss out.
-
Just going on with life. Everything is everything is
-
good. He didn't prepare to know how
-
many know life is fragile. We could be here today.
-
I'm standing here preaching to you.
-
I could be gone tomorrow or even the same day.
-
I hope not. But if good could be gone.
-
But the Bible says Noah found grace.
-
I'm so glad we have a God who in the midst of judgment, in the
-
midst of his wrath, and he was angry.
-
And the Bible says that God is angry with the wicked every day.
-
But even in that anger and even in that wrath, grace and mercy
-
are always present. Did you hear what I'm saying?
-
Grace and mercy are always, always, always present.
-
And a way of and a way of escape is going to be prepared.
-
Genesis back to chapter 6 and God said to Noah, the end of all
-
flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with
-
violence through them, and behold, I will destroy them with
-
the earth. Make yourself an ark of Gopher
-
wood. Make rooms in the ark, cover it
-
inside and outside with pitch. In the midst of the wrath and
-
judgment of God, there would be a way of escape.
-
There would be grace as I mentioned and mercy shown.
-
God said I'm going to make a way for you.
-
You don't have to die in this flood.
-
You don't have to perish. Thank God.
-
Now listen, there was only one way though.
-
There was only 1 arc. Only one one way.
-
How many realize that we are blessed that there's anyway, you
-
know, people get frustrated sometimes and they'll say I just
-
like you Christian, because you're narrow minded.
-
Well, I guess so. Matthew 713, Jesus said enter by
-
the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
-
leads to destruction. And there are many who go in by
-
it. So I would have to tell you that
-
it was Jesus who said in John that I am the way and the truth
-
and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.
-
And I would. I definitely tell you that I do
-
believe in a narrow way, but I am so thankful that there is
-
some way. I am so thankful that God didn't
-
leave me without any way how that I can be saved, that I can
-
be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
-
But the Bible said why? It is that road that leads to
-
destruction and there are many who go in by it.
-
So what is happening? God is saying to that generation
-
and to ours, sin will destroy you.
-
We can, can I, can I say this and I want every Christian to
-
take this home with you because sometimes it's so misunderstood.
-
You know, when we, when we have to, when we do have to preach
-
and God does call us to preach. The Bible talks about the whole
-
counsel of God. The whole council of God is good
-
stuff, fluffy stuff, sweet stuff, but it's also bitter
-
stuff sometimes. But we bring that word because
-
we love people. I just want you to know that
-
when we preach and we we might call out particular kind of
-
major types of of sinful behaviors, etcetera, that is not
-
a sign that we don't love you. It is actually a sign that we do
-
love you. And I can tell you now that I
-
have preached from this pulpit. I have preached words that I
-
knew because I knew what was going on in certain situations.
-
I knew it was wrong. I had to preach not because I
-
was wanting to point anyone out. I don't want to ever do that,
-
but it was a part of the Word and I knew it.
-
But I was just as quick to go after a service and embrace a
-
person and tell them I love them because I want to tell you.
-
It's not personal. I'm trying to bring the Word of
-
God because it's what God, I'll tell you, if I had my way, it
-
might would be totally different, but I can tell you
-
it's not my way and it's not the highway, it's God's way.
-
But if we truly, if we truly love people, yes, we will
-
definitely call out sin. We have to do that.
-
The Bible tells us, but we will also love those people.
-
We will also because they are worth everything to Jesus.
-
Can you hear what I'm saying? Those that are disobedient to
-
God are still loved by the Lord, Amen.
-
That's better preaching than you're responding right now.
-
But anyway, I'll let you all for that, OK.
-
A day of grace was given. That's another parallel.
-
It was extended and I want you to think about Noah's because he
-
was a preacher of the Bible. Said Bible called him a
-
preacher, said he was a preacher of righteousness.
-
But do you realize that outside of his family and it's
-
estimated, we don't know. The Bible doesn't give us exact
-
number of years that he preached.
-
But based on the fact that he was 500 years old when his sons
-
were born in 600 years when he went in the ark.
-
And, and if you do all of the the math and all of the the
-
possibilities, it looks like he could have preached because
-
there was a warning given about 120 years.
-
God said so he could have preached as long as 120 years
-
and he had no converts. Someone said, I heard someone
-
recently say that Noah was the most unsuccessful preacher in
-
the world. I, brother Jarrett call me
-
yesterday afternoon, believe it was and he was at Hope Rescue
-
Mission in Reading on Friday night and brought the word of
-
God. I believe brother Jose was with
-
him providing music. He brought the word of God and
-
three people got saved. He was so excited about that,
-
and so was I. Brother Jarrett, do you realize
-
that you had more success in one Friday evening than Noah had in
-
120 years? You did a good job, my brother.
-
You know, we judge everything by numbers today.
-
It's a big mistake because if you judge by numbers, Noah was
-
totally a failure. Listen to what it says about
-
him. Second, Peter, we were still in
-
the New Testament, chapter 2, verse 4.
-
For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them
-
down to hell and delivered them into changes of darkness to be
-
reserved for judgment, and did not spare the ancient world, but
-
saved Noah, one of eight people, eight people, a preacher of
-
righteous. What did he preach?
-
Righteousness. He preached righteousness,
-
bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly and turning
-
the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to
-
destruction, making them an example to those who afterward
-
would live ungodly and delivered righteous Lot.
-
Lot comes into this now. He was oppressed by the filthy
-
conduct of the wicked. For that righteous man dwelling
-
among them, tormented his righteous soul from day-to-day
-
by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds.
-
Then the Lord, I love this. Then the Lord knows how to
-
deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the
-
unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.
-
Thank God that those that are saved are not appointed to
-
wrath, but are appointed to receive mercy.
-
Can you say, man, I got to hurry here, people?
-
You're not going anywhere though, are you?
-
People had an opportunity as that art was being built.
-
They could have come in. They watched it being how could
-
you miss it, you that have been to the Ark, and how could you
-
miss it? Who in the world in his right
-
mind is building this monstrosity of a, of a motorless
-
sail, the ship on dry ground? What in the world?
-
I am sure that there was a lot of people going by seeing that
-
thing. Somebody said he's a religious
-
fanatic. He's just a religious fanatic.
-
And did you know that the Bible even goes on to say that after
-
Noah was in the ark, it was 7 more days before the rain
-
actually started? And it's estimated, again, the
-
Bible doesn't give us specifically, and I don't know
-
what they say, the Ark Encounter, but that he probably
-
took at least 60 years, maybe 70 years to build this thing.
-
Can you imagine working on something like this for 60 to 70
-
years? And who?
-
Who do you have to help him? He had three sons, Shem, Ham,
-
and Japheth. Sounds like a later version or
-
earlier version to Three Stooges, doesn't it?
-
Shem, Ham and Japheth. There was a Shem in there,
-
wasn't it? Or a Shep or something.
-
But, but I can imagine people going by.
-
So what this whole preacher doing here?
-
This old preacher, what? What's his kids do?
-
What do they do for fun? You don't ever see him at the
-
wild parties. They're not drinking and
-
drugging. They're missing out on life.
-
What do they do? Sunday school, youth group,
-
winter fast, youth camp, whatever.
-
This missing out on everything. Can I say something to you young
-
people and young adults? You're not Jesus in your life.
-
You're not missing out on anything.
-
That is good. Somebody, somebody said that old
-
man is preaching that it's going to rain.
-
By the way, if you don't know this, there never been any rain
-
yet on the earth because the Bible says in Genesis, too, that
-
God watered the earth from beneath.
-
There had been no rain. Here's an old preacher telling
-
you that something's coming. That's never happened before.
-
It's going to rain. What's rain?
-
Rain is water coming from the sky.
-
He said it. They're laughing it off.
-
It's not going. It's never happened before.
-
You can talk about a rapture all you want.
-
You can talk about a Christ coming near.
-
That's never happened. It's never going to happen.
-
But he said it. He preached it, water's coming.
-
It's laughable. Why would God allow so much
-
time? Second Peter 38 says, But
-
beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one
-
day is as 1000 years and 1000 years as one day.
-
The Lord is not slack concerning his promises.
-
Some count slackness, but it's long-suffering toward us, not
-
willing, no willing God that any should perish, but that all
-
should come to repentance. Forget it if you think God has
-
condemned you to hell, He wants you saved.
-
Second, our first thesauts 5 and one.
-
But concerning the times and the seasons, brother, you have no
-
need that I should write to you for yourselves.
-
Know perfectly the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the
-
night. For when they say peace and
-
safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains
-
upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape.
-
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day
-
should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and
-
sons of the day. We're not of the night nor of
-
darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as
-
others do, but let us watch and be sober after seven more days
-
after Noah went into the ark. Chapter 7, verse one we read in
-
verse 11, in the 600th year of Noah's life, in the second
-
month, the 17th day of the month.
-
On that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up in
-
the windows of heaven were open. I wondered what that was like.
-
Noah's now in the ark, his family's in the ark.
-
The doors closed. Somebody is walking down the
-
road. What is that?
-
Strange. I just felt a drop of water.
-
Oh, pitter patter, pitter patter.
-
What is happening? All of a sudden the rings are
-
coming from heaven and the Bible says even the fountains of the
-
deep are opened up. Things are happening.
-
It never happened before. The old preacher.
-
Maybe he was right. Maybe he was right.
-
Let's get down to the ark. Let's get to the ark.
-
No, I can see them beating on the side of that ark.
-
No, we've changed her mind. Open the door, let us in.
-
Genesis 716 says. So those that entered, male and
-
female of all flesh, went in as God commanded him, and the Lord
-
shut him in. You're asking Noah to open a
-
door that he never shut. Are you with me?
-
I said. You're asking Noah to open a
-
door that he never shut. God shut the door.
-
And when God shuts the door, no man opens.
-
The Bible says it wasn't that they didn't have opportunity.
-
We can say, well, that isn't that terrible.
-
No, it's not because God gave every warning possible.
-
He gave every opportunity, but man ignored his warnings.
-
And people are living their lives today in so many places
-
that they feel like, well, I'll just live my life and sow my sow
-
my wild oats. And later I'll come to the Lord.
-
Later I'll get saved. I'll get saved on my deathbed.
-
You have no guarantee of your deathbed.
-
You have no guarantee of tomorrow.
-
Why are you preaching this, this Sunday?
-
I don't know, but I'm preaching it.
-
This is what the Lord laid on my heart.
-
What I'm saying is that there is a day of grace, but there is an
-
end to the day of grace. Second Corinthians 62, Paul
-
says. For he says, in an acceptable
-
time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have
-
helped you. Behold, now, when is now, when
-
is now, is now Monday is now to tonight or is now now?
-
Is it right now in this place that this right now is the
-
acceptable time? Behold, now is the day of
-
salvation. We're just going to mess around.
-
We're just going to do what we want to do, and we hope that we
-
get in before it's too late. They couldn't get in.
-
The rains came. The old preacher was right.
-
Here's one more, one more parallel, and that is it.
-
Of all the people, only one family was saved.
-
Only one family got saved. We read from Genesis 618.
-
But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall go into
-
the ark, You, your sons, your wife and your son's wives with
-
you. The Bible said Noah found grace
-
in the sight of the Lord for about a year.
-
I think if you do the math again with the scripture, the art, you
-
know, we think 40 days and 40 nights, That's just the rain.
-
They stayed in that thing for a year, about 300 and 73171 days
-
they were in that ark. Can you imagine what that was
-
like? Brother Hugo and Becky, please.
-
I don't see Sister Becky. Is she here?
-
I see you. I'm so sorry I didn't recognize
-
you sooner. Thank you for being back safely
-
from Columbia, South America. God bless you.
-
We love you. Forgive me for my failure to see
-
you, but but I'm. I'm thinking about because you
-
work at sight and sound. I'm thinking about, you know,
-
when I went to see Noah, I thought I was in the thing for a
-
year and it seemed like that thing was never going to end,
-
you know, So I'm just saying that they're in a boat.
-
Get this daughter in You can't tell me that they went a year
-
without an argument that somebody wasn't upset with
-
somebody. Do you not realize that they're
-
in there with all these animals? It probably stinks, probably
-
smells. But here's what I can tell you.
-
I would rather be in a smelly ark than a devastating flood.
-
Can I tell you that there was only one family saved and
-
there's still only one family that's going to be saved, and
-
that's the family of God. Hallelujah.
-
I said the family of God is the only family that will be saved.
-
People who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, listen to
-
what it says. Think about this.
-
It tells us something wonderful. Think, I just want you to think
-
about again and can I make a comparison?
-
You're in the church. The church can get smelly
-
sometimes too. We're not perfect, are we?
-
We get on each other's nerves sometimes and we can get, we
-
can't even get hurt sometimes. But I would tell you it's better
-
to be in something secure, hurt and to be in a world that's
-
going to hell. You hearing me because I can
-
tell you that thank God in the midst of all of it and we you
-
can have broken relationships, but thank God, Jesus, like a
-
good neighbor Jesus is there. Amen.
-
I said like a good neighbor, Jesus is there always to help us
-
and the Bible tells us want something wonderful about that
-
and I'm going to close set the 1st combat worship team or I
-
might not ever close first. Peter chapter 2 verse 6 says
-
therefore it is also contained in the scripture.
-
Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone elect precious, and
-
he who believes on him will by no means be put to shame.
-
Therefore, to you who believe he's precious, but to those who
-
are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become
-
the chief cornerstone and a stone of stumbling and a rock of
-
offense. They stumble being disobedient
-
to the word to which they also were appointed.
-
But now listen to these next words, because these are the
-
most encouraging you're going to hear.
-
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
-
nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the
-
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his
-
marvelous light, who once were not a people.
-
But you are now the people of God who had not obtained mercy.
-
But now you have obtained mercy. You're in the body of Christ,
-
washed in the blood, safe. And we don't have a boat any
-
longer. That's our ark.
-
But our ark is the old rugged cross.
-
And thank God, in that cross we are safe.
-
In the blood of Jesus, we are saved in the sacrifice of the
-
Lamb of God. We are saved by the glorious
-
gospel of Jesus Christ. Are you in the ark?
-
That final parallel for them was when God shut the door, but
-
until that door was shut, they could have come in, they could
-
have come in again, Paul tells us in 2nd Corinthians 6.
-
We then as ambassadors or workers, together with him also
-
plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain, for he
-
says in an acceptable time I've heard you, I've heard you, and
-
in the day of salvation I've helped you in God.
-
Good. He said the day of salvation, I
-
have helped you. He said two things.
-
I've heard you and I've helped you.
-
How many can say Amen to both of those?
-
God heard us when we said God be merciful to me, a Sinner, and he
-
helped us when we fell, when we fell short.
-
I don't know about you, but I've fallen short.
-
But thank God, he has helped us, I've helped you.
-
He said, behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of
-
salvation. Thanks for joining us today.
-
If you'd like to connect, visit us at Reams Town
-
churchofgod.org, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and
-
subscribe to this podcast so you never miss an episode.