Genesis 7 Remain Faithful - Revision history

Wakefien: /* 40 days of rain, 150 days of the water prevailing over the earth. I can't even last a day int he house. */

2024-10-06T01:59:20Z

‎40 days of rain, 150 days of the water prevailing over the earth. I can't even last a day int he house.

Wakefien at 13:25, 2 October 2024

2024-10-02T13:25:57Z

Wakefien at 13:25, 2 October 2024

2024-10-02T13:25:43Z

Wakefien at 13:25, 2 October 2024

2024-10-02T13:25:01Z

Wakefien at 13:24, 2 October 2024

2024-10-02T13:24:43Z

Wakefien: /* Faithfulness is not Fleeting - it often demands patience (17-24). */

2024-10-02T13:23:52Z

‎Faithfulness is not Fleeting - it often demands patience (17-24).

Wakefien: /* MTR: Ask yourself, is my faithfulness full-blown, or am I embracing a sort-of, kinda approach to faithfulness? */

2024-10-02T13:20:23Z

‎MTR: Ask yourself, is my faithfulness full-blown, or am I embracing a sort-of, kinda approach to faithfulness?

Wakefien: /* Faithfulness is Divinely-Finished - a work of God in the life of the willing (11-16) */

2024-10-02T13:20:12Z

‎Faithfulness is Divinely-Finished - a work of God in the life of the willing (11-16)

Wakefien: /* Noah's complete faithfulness put him in an awkward position of waiting for God to act (6-10). */

2024-10-02T13:16:03Z

‎Noah's complete faithfulness put him in an awkward position of waiting for God to act (6-10).

Wakefien: /* Faithfulness involves complete obedience (2-5). */

2024-10-02T13:13:38Z

‎Faithfulness involves complete obedience (2-5).

@@ Line 141: / Line 141: @@
 ===After the excitement wanes, faithfulness requires patience (24).===
-====40 days of rain, 150 days of the water prevailing over the earth. I can't even last a day int he house.====
+====40 days of rain, 150 days of the water prevailing over the earth. I can't even last a day in the house.====
 What's more, faithfulness requires patience. Eventually, the rain stopped, but that did not mean Noah could start his new life. No! Noah was stuck in the ark. The text states that the water prevailed over the earth for 150 days. For five months, Noah floated along, forced to faithfully trust God. I can only imagine what that must have felt like. Noah had to be incredibly patient. I can't go a single day stuck up in the house!

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:25, 2 October 2024
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	When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience. Instead of becoming frustrated or giving up, use this time to deepen your relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking guidance from mentors.		When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience. Instead of becoming frustrated or giving up, use this time to deepen your relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking guidance from mentors.

−	===The Lord's Supper is a memorial and an encouragement to be faithful. 1 Cor. 11:23-26.===	+	==The Lord's Supper is a memorial and an encouragement to be faithful. 1 Cor. 11:23-26.==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:25, 2 October 2024
Line 165:		Line 165:
	When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience. Instead of becoming frustrated or giving up, use this time to deepen your relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking guidance from mentors.		When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience. Instead of becoming frustrated or giving up, use this time to deepen your relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking guidance from mentors.

−	==The Lord's Supper is a memorial and an encouragement to be faithful. 1 Cor. 11:23-26.==	+	===The Lord's Supper is a memorial and an encouragement to be faithful. 1 Cor. 11:23-26.===

@@ Line 164: / Line 164: @@
 ===MTR: When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience.===
 When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience. Instead of becoming frustrated or giving up, use this time to deepen your relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking guidance from mentors.
 ==The Lord's Supper is a memorial and an encouragement to be faithful. 1 Cor. 11:23-26.==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:24, 2 October 2024
Line 164:		Line 164:
	===MTR: When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience.===		===MTR: When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience.===
	When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience. Instead of becoming frustrated or giving up, use this time to deepen your relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking guidance from mentors.		When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience. Instead of becoming frustrated or giving up, use this time to deepen your relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking guidance from mentors.
		+	==The Lord's Supper is a memorial and an encouragement to be faithful. 1 Cor. 11:23-26.==

@@ Line 125: / Line 125: @@
 ===Faithfulness is often exciting at the start (17-19).===
 I love a good thunderstorm. I love going out in the rain. I love listening to the thunder. I love watching the lightning, and I love the power of the wind. Often faithfulness is really exciting at the start. God asks you to step out and take a new job—it's exciting. God asks you to take a step and begin a new ministry—wow! When we step out in faith, we often encounter some of the most exciting events we will be part of.
 Think about it: when we first started worshiping in the fellowship hall, we had a ton of energy. After a year, I was certainly ready to be back in the sanctuary.
-===Faithfulness is rare enough that it can be lonely (20-23).===
+====In [https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Mt13.5 Matthew 13:5], Jesus warns about faith that springs up only to quickly succumb to the scorching sun and wither.====
 Not only does the excitement wane, but real faithfulness is often pretty lonely. Noah and his family were all alone. Noah's faithfulness had led to his salvation, but Noah and his family were alone in that salvation. Every living thing on the land perished! Everybody Noah ever knew besides his immediate family was gone. Noah, as the leader of the family, was all alone.
 Here is a reality that you may one day face: most people will not be faithful. Sorry to tell you that, but it's true. When I was growing up, I remember hearing that only about 20% of people in the United States were actually born-again, true Christians. I am confident that number is even smaller now. When you go to work, to your neighborhood, really just about anywhere, the odds are that the people around you are not faithful to God.
 If you tell someone that you are skipping the football game because you have church, you will get the oddest looks. If you refuse to participate in an activity on Sunday, you will be met with dismissal and derision. Larry and I were talking a few weeks ago about the fact that Sundays and Wednesdays used to be protected, and children's sports were not played or practiced on those days. Guess what? That is no longer the case. I know that some of you have determined that your kids will not play if a game takes you away from church. What you have probably noticed is that you are alone in that decision. Faithfulness can be lonely.
 ===After the excitement wanes, faithfulness requires patience (24).===
 What's more, faithfulness requires patience. Eventually, the rain stopped, but that did not mean Noah could start his new life. No! Noah was stuck in the ark. The text states that the water prevailed over the earth for 150 days. For five months, Noah floated along, forced to faithfully trust God. I can only imagine what that must have felt like. Noah had to be incredibly patient. I can't go a single day stuck up in the house!
 If you step out in faithfulness to God, you are going to be confronted with a lot. You will find that things are not as exciting as they were at the start. You will find that you are sometimes alone, and you will find that things never seem to move as fast as you want. Faithfulness is not a sprint; it is a marathon. Faithfulness is not easy; it takes time. Faithfulness is nothing short of faithfulness.
 When we talk about faithfulness, we often treat it like a fleeting task that is required in the moment. No, faithfulness requires nothing short of faithfulness.
 ===Image: Construction projects, ministry projects.===
-When we did the remodel, I was reminded of faithfulness. It was fun the first few weeks, then it was hard, then it required patience.
+<p>When we did the remodel, I was reminded of faithfulness. It was fun the first few weeks, then it was hard, then it required patience.
-The musician Steve Green had a song called "Find Us Faithful." The chorus goes:
+The musician Steve Green had a song called "Find Us Faithful." The chorus goes:  <p>
-*May all who come behind us*
+*May all who come behind us
-*Find us faithful,*
+*Find us faithful,
-*May the fire of our devotion*
+*May the fire of our devotion
-*Light their way.*
+*Light their way.
-*May the footprints that we leave,*
+*May the footprints that we leave,
-*Lead them to believe,*
+*Lead them to believe,
-*And the lives we live*
+*And the lives we live
-*Inspire them to obey.*
+*Inspire them to obey.
 Faithfulness is not found in a fleeting moment. Faithfulness is found in a lifetime of commitment.
 ===MTR: When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience.===
 When facing challenges or waiting for prayers to be answered, remind yourself that faithfulness requires patience. Instead of becoming frustrated or giving up, use this time to deepen your relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking guidance from mentors.

@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 ===MTR: Ask yourself, is my faithfulness full-blown, or am I embracing a sort-of, kinda approach to faithfulness?===
 How?
 In your personal life, you might find yourself being partially faithful in your spiritual disciplines, such as prayer or Bible reading. Counter this by setting aside specific, uninterrupted time each day to commune with God through prayer and study His Word. Cultivate a habit of consistency in seeking the Lord wholeheartedly.
 At work, you might struggle with being partially faithful in your duties or relationships with colleagues. To address this, strive to be diligent and trustworthy in your tasks, going above and beyond what is required. Be a beacon of integrity and reliability in the workplace, demonstrating faithfulness in all your professional interactions.

@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
-The commencement of the flood and the closing of the ark's door by God Himself illustrate that it is God who finishes faithfulness. This act of closing the door emphasizes exclusivity and divine initiative in our redemption.
+<p>The commencement of the flood and the closing of the ark's door by God Himself illustrate that it is God who finishes faithfulness. This act of closing the door emphasizes exclusivity and divine initiative in our redemption.</p>
 ===It is God who demonstrates the value of faithfulness (11-15).===
 Noah was faithful, and Noah waited. Let me remind you that Noah spent decades building the ark, obedient to the extreme and faithful. But it was God who demonstrated the value of that faithfulness. Old man Noah, 600 years old, after waiting patiently in the ark for seven days, witnessed God's provision of salvation when the foundations of the earth gave forth.
 [https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Mt24.37-39 Matthew 24:37-39] tells us a lot about the world at the time of the flood: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."
 The world continued as if nothing was happening until, all of a sudden, everything changed. Subterranean waters erupted from the ground, and the heavens began pouring down rain. Then the rain kept coming. For forty days and forty nights, the rain poured on the earth. Noah, his family, and the animals were preserved in the ark. God honored His promise to Noah. God demonstrated that faithfulness is worth it. While everyone else perished, Noah and his family were saved.
 ===Noah stepped out in faith, and God completed the work (16).===
-[https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Ge7 Genesis 7] is not really written in chronological order but rather as a sort of logical explanation of things that happened. Verse 16 is one of my favorite verses. You see, it was God who closed the ark.
+====[https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Ge7 Genesis 7] is not really written in chronological order but rather as a sort of logical explanation of things that happened.====
 Noah had worked hard. Noah had obeyed, but it was God who would finish the work. God is the one who finishes the work, and this is a good thing. God puts His stamp of approval on the work.
-===Image: The difference between an A&amp;P and an IA===
+===Image: The difference between an A&P and an IA===
-In the world of aviation maintenance, every airplane has to go through an inspection program. For many airplanes, the program is called the annual inspection. Every year, the airplane must be inspected with a fine-tooth comb. Here's the trick: that inspection has to be signed off by someone with inspection authority. So, someone may have an airframe and powerplant certificate, A&amp;P, to be able to perform maintenance on the airplane, but at the end of the day, it is someone with inspection authority who must make the final signature. It takes a special level of knowledge, experience, and training to say this inspection is truly complete.
+In the world of aviation maintenance, every airplane has to go through an inspection program. For many airplanes, the program is called the annual inspection. Every year, the airplane must be inspected with a fine-tooth comb. Here's the trick: that inspection has to be signed off by someone with inspection authority. So, someone may have an airframe and powerplant certificate, A&P, to be able to perform maintenance on the airplane, but at the end of the day, it is someone with inspection authority who must make the final signature. It takes a special level of knowledge, experience, and training to say this inspection is truly complete.
-God invites us to serve Him, and we should do so faithfully, but ultimately, it is God who finishes the work. When God shut the door of the ark, I really see this as God signing His name in the logbook. Everything met God's approval. Our faithfulness is divinely finished.
+====God signed his name on the logbook by shutting the door.====
-[https://ref.ly/logosref/BibleNIV.Heb12.2 Hebrews 12:2] is a beautiful passage: "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus is the one who perfects our faith. He is the one who divinely finishes our faith. Faithfulness ultimately is about a willingness to submit oneself completely to God and allow Him to complete the work.
+God invites us to serve Him, and we should do so faithfully, but ultimately, it is God who finishes the work. When God shut the door of the ark, I really see this as God signing His name in the logbook. Everything met God's approval. Our faithfulness is divinely finished.
 ===MTR: Ask God to transform your heart to make you completely faithful to Him.===
 When you find it challenging to remain faithful in your relationships, take time daily to pray and surrender yourself to God. Ask Him to transform your heart and empower you to love and serve others selflessly.
 When faced with ethical dilemmas or temptations in the workplace, pause and seek God's wisdom. Allow His Spirit to convict and enlighten you, guiding you to make choices that honor Him.
 If you feel like your faith is compromised by the demands of your job, intentionally integrate moments of prayer and reflection throughout your workday. Let your actions and words reflect the love of Christ.
 In social settings where it's challenging to live out your faith authentically, pray for courage and boldness. Ask God to help you represent Him well and share His love with those around you.
 ==''Faithfulness'' is not ''Fleeting'' - it often demands patience (17-24).==

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 ===Noah's complete faithfulness put him in an awkward position of waiting for God to act (6-10).===
-Have you ever stepped out in faith and then thought, "Okay, now what?"
+====Have you ever stepped out in faith and then thought, "Okay, now what?" ====
-Notice the text of verses 6-11. After following God's directions, Noah and his family enter the ark and wait for seven days. I can only imagine the conversations that must have taken place. "Dad, we have been in the ark for a whole day now, are you sure that God is really going to send rain?" "Dad, it is starting to stink in here; can we open the door and go out to get some fresh air? I don't think this rain thing is going to happen." I wonder what Noah's wife said. "Noah, are you sure that you understood God correctly?"
+=====Notice the text of verses 6-10. After following God's directions, Noah and his family enter the ark and wait for seven days.=====
-Here is what it really comes down to: sometimes full-blown faith will demand that you step out in faith! It sounds ridiculous, but I know myself. There are times when my faith is about 5 seconds long. I step out in faith, and when it doesn't happen immediately, I immediately begin trying to figure out a way to go back. No, our faithfulness must be full-blown. When we go to shore, we burn the ships behind us.
+<p>I can only imagine the conversations that must have taken place. "Dad, we have been in the ark for a whole day now, are you sure that God is really going to send rain?" "Dad, it is starting to stink in here; can we open the door and go out to get some fresh air? I don't think this rain thing is going to happen." I wonder what Noah's wife said. "Noah, are you sure that you understood God correctly?" </p>
 ===MTR: Ask yourself, is my faithfulness full-blown, or am I embracing a sort-of, kinda approach to faithfulness?===

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 ===Faithfulness involves complete obedience (2-5).===
-God provided some important details for Noah to follow. Noah was to bring two of every type of animal onto the ark. However, of some, he was to bring seven pairs. Why seven? Because these clean animals were animals that could be sacrificed and would also be allowed to be eaten. As God repopulates the earth, it is striking that He does so with careful planning and intentionality.
+<p>God provided some important details for Noah to follow. Noah was to bring two of every type of animal onto the ark. However, of some, he was to bring seven pairs. Why seven? Because these clean animals were animals that could be sacrificed and would also be allowed to be eaten. As God repopulates the earth, it is striking that He does so with careful planning and intentionality.  </p>
 ====Image: Sometimes kids don't know best====
 There are times when I am working with a nephew on some project and they come up with some bad ideas. Richard and I were working on the steps to their deck, and one of the boys comes up with a drill and states, "Do you think we should drill a hole here?" Ummm, no! I don't think we should. "Well, I do," he responds. "Well, that is nice, but we are not drilling a hole there." That hole makes no sense… I wonder how often I sound like that with God. I tell God how I want to do something, and He tells me, "No, that is not how we are doing it; your idea makes no sense."
-Noah had to completely obey God; Noah did not get to choose to take an extra cow or leave behind a sheep. Noah was called to obediently, faithfully follow God's directions.
 ===Noah's complete faithfulness put him in an awkward position of waiting for God to act (6-10).===