HOW TO BUILD AN ARK… FOR THE SAVINGS OF GENERATIONS, Part 2
13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark.” —Genesis 6:8-14
7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.” —Hebrews 11:7
4 WAYS YOU CAN BUILD AN ARK FOR YOUR FAMILY
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 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; 39 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.” —Matthew 24:37-39
Jesus promises problems in our lives.
Jesus promises protection to those who obey His Word.
Jesus promises failure to every person and family that disobeys His Word.
“5 And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. 6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. 7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.” —2 Peter 2:5-10
1. KEEP SURRENDERING your life and your family to Jesus and His Word.
“God told Noah, ‘Build a boat… Then Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.” —Genesis 6:14-22 (NLT)
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” —Isaiah 53:6
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” —Matthew 7:24–27
2. KEEP TRUSTING God as your Heavenly Father to provide for all that you need.
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:19
“24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” —Matthew 6:24-32
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
3. KEEP THINKING GENERATIONALLY regarding the effects of your behavior and plan accordingly.
“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” —Proverbs 13:22
“For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” —Deuteronomy 5:9–10
4. KEEP BUILDING by staying planted in God’s Word and with His people so that you can flourish.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Your friends are your future.” —Hebrews 10:24–25“12The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.” —Psalm 92:12-13
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” —1 Peter 4:10
“13 That very day Noah had gone into the boat with his wife and his sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and their wives… just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door behind them.” —Genesis 7:13-16
Key Thought—> Like Noah, you can build an ark to save your family if you keep surrendering, keep trusting, keep thinking generationally & keep building.