Participants:
Series Code: FGW
Program Code: FGW210046S
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00:29 Welcome to Focus on God's Word.
00:32 My name is Danny Malenkov 00:33 and I am blessed to be leading out in another message, 00:38 looking at this all important topic of Noah, 00:42 the story of Noah from the Book of Genesis. 00:46 And so if you are joining us for the first time, 00:48 I wanna give you a big warm welcome 00:50 wherever you may be joining us from, 00:51 whether it be somewhere here in Australia 00:54 or around the world, a big warm welcome to you. 00:58 I wanna welcome our studio audience here 01:01 at 3ABN in the beautiful lake Macquarie region 01:05 of New South Wales, 01:07 where we are filming this program from. 01:10 It's great to see each and every one of you. 01:13 And today is the third presentation 01:15 or the third message in this series on Noah, 01:19 the overall theme "Noah: Another Storm is Coming." 01:21 And today's message is entitled, 01:24 "She'll be Right, Mate." 01:28 Now, if you're an Australian, 01:29 you full well understand what that term is 01:32 or a New Zealander, but for some of you out there, 01:35 you may be thinking, she'll be right, mate, 01:37 what on earth does that saying communicate. 01:42 We'll be unpacking that as we go. 01:44 You see this saying, she'll be right, mate 01:46 is very much part of Australia's DNA. 01:49 It's built within our DNA from when we exit the womb. 01:55 What does it all mean? 01:57 In a nutshell, that means 01:58 that everything is going to be okay. 02:01 In the end, no matter what happens, 02:03 it's all going to turn out okay. 02:07 You see, in Australia we live in a land 02:11 that's very much laid back. 02:12 Wouldn't you agree? 02:14 We are very much laid back. 02:15 And if anyone's encountered Australians, 02:17 you'll know we're pretty laid back 02:19 it's because, you know, we are surrounded 02:21 by some 50,000 kilometers of coastline. 02:26 That's a lot of coastline, 02:28 we're the sixth largest nation on the planet. 02:33 Those 50,000 kilometers of coastline 02:35 contain 10,000 beaches. 02:40 So if you were to spend just one day 02:43 at every one of those 10,000 beaches, 02:44 you would need 27 years 02:46 to get through all of Australia's 02:49 10,000 beaches. 02:50 We are a nation that is focused very much on the beach. 02:55 Eighty five percent of our population 02:57 lives within 50 kilometers of the coastline. 03:00 So going to the beach and enjoying barbecues, 03:04 having a beer, taking your boat 03:07 is very much part of Australian culture 03:09 and the Australian laid back way of life. 03:13 Sadly, not much time for the Bible, 03:15 although we've got time for everything else. 03:18 So that's a little bit of what it means 03:21 when someone says to you, she'll be right, mate. 03:24 In fact, there's a technical term for it 03:26 I discovered, a technical term 03:28 for she'll be right, mate. 03:31 And this is the technical term, 03:34 it's called normality bias or normalcy bias. 03:40 And the definition for normality bias 03:43 or normalcy bias is, 03:45 a human tendency to respond to threat warnings 03:49 with disbelief or minimization, 03:51 and to similarly underestimate a disaster's deleterious, 03:56 that is causing significant harm or damage, 03:59 effects. 04:00 So that's what it means, this normalcy bias. 04:05 Or she'll be right, mate 04:07 as we like to say here in Australia, 04:08 and our politicians here in Australia 04:11 have been telling us over the last number of months 04:14 ever since COVID came to our town 04:16 and every town around the world 04:19 that we'll get to the other side, 04:20 isn't that right? 04:21 The prime minister, 04:23 our premiers have been getting up 04:24 and they've been reassuring the Australian public that yes, 04:27 life is difficult, it's challenging, 04:30 but you know what, she'll be right, mate. 04:32 We'll get to the other side and we'll come back 04:35 better and stronger as a nation. 04:38 That's the optimistic way of life 04:41 here in Australia. 04:43 And I guess that's what's made Australia what it is today 04:47 and why so many people from around the world 04:50 want to come to these land down under 04:54 that my parents certainly did all those years ago. 04:57 Well, what's this title she'll be right, mate 05:00 have to do with the days of Noah? 05:02 Thank you for asking. That's a good question. 05:04 I mean, you know, Danny, we're talking about 05:06 a very serious subject, the days of Noah. 05:09 Jesus said as it was in the days of Noah, 05:11 so it will be before I arrived. 05:13 What on earth has she'll be right, mate 05:15 have to do with the days of Noah? 05:17 In a word, everything, everything. 05:19 We're going to unpack 05:21 what the Bible has to say on this subject 05:23 and how Jesus described our day 05:28 better than we could even imagine. 05:30 But before that, what do we need to do 05:32 before we open up God's Word? 05:34 We need to pray. That's exactly right. 05:35 So let's pause and pray. 05:37 Father in heaven, 05:38 we're once again here seeking to understand 05:41 what Your Holy Word has to say to us. 05:44 So, Father, as we open up Your Holy Word, 05:46 open up our hearts and our minds 05:48 that we may be ready and willing to receive 05:51 what the Holy Spirit has to say to your people, 05:54 for this is our prayer in Jesus' name. 05:56 Amen. 05:59 I wanna go over the three main points 06:02 that we started off our series and as I pointed out, 06:05 this is our third message in this series of six. 06:09 And these are the three key points 06:10 of why the story of Noah 06:12 is especially relevant 06:14 to those who are living on the Eve of Jesus coming. 06:18 The story of Noah firstly, 06:19 clearly identifies earth's final generation, 06:22 and that's going to become even more clear as we go along. 06:25 Secondly, it enables us to know and understand 06:28 how we can be ready when the Son of Man returns. 06:31 And thirdly, it provides instruction 06:34 on how we can prepare others for Jesus' soon return. 06:38 These are the three key points that I have discovered 06:42 in the story of Noah as I've dug deep, 06:44 very deep into this story 06:46 because Jesus said it was of extreme significance. 06:49 So let's go to the words of Jesus 06:51 in Matthew Chapter 24. 06:53 This is our key passage, as we've pointed out at the end 06:56 of the signs of the times that Jesus gave in Matthew 24. 07:02 He brings the signs of the times 07:04 concerning His coming 07:06 and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. 07:09 These two events, He wove together 07:13 like a powerful beautiful tapestry. 07:16 And He brings the signs of His coming to a conclusion 07:21 with these words. 07:22 And I'm beginning in verse 36, Matthew 24:36, 07:26 Jesus says, "But of that day and hour no one knows, 07:29 not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 07:32 But as the days of Noah were, 07:34 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 07:37 For as in the days before the flood, 07:39 they were eating and drinking, 07:40 marrying and giving in marriage, 07:41 until the day that Noah entered the ark, 07:44 and did not know until the flood came 07:47 and took them all away, 07:49 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." 07:53 Jesus, crystal clear as it was in the days of Noah, 07:57 so it will be when He returns and life was going on, 08:01 it was just as it always was. 08:04 Now let's go to the passage there in Luke, 08:08 because in Luke there, 08:10 we have not only the days of Noah 08:12 described by Luke, 08:13 but he also adds what Matthew omits. 08:16 Matthew omits the story of Lot. 08:19 But Luke includes that 08:22 as he reflects on the words of Jesus. 08:24 So in Luke Chapter 17, 08:27 and we're picking it up in verse 26. 08:29 Luke 17: 26, 08:32 "And as it was in the days of Noah, 08:33 so it will also be in the days of the Son of Man: 08:37 They ate, they drank, they married wives, 08:39 they were given in marriage, 08:41 until the day that Noah entered the ark, 08:43 and the flood came and destroyed them all. 08:45 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: 08:48 They ate, they drank, they bought, 08:50 they sold, they planted, they built, 08:52 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom, 08:55 it rained fire and brimstone from heaven 08:58 and destroyed them all. 08:59 Even so will it be in the day 09:02 when the Son of Man is revealed." 09:04 Now I find it absolutely fascinating 09:06 that Jesus here in Matthew and in Luke, 09:10 as it's recorded by Matthew and Luke, 09:12 he does not zero in on the violence 09:16 as we've discovered the wickedness, 09:18 the evil, the corruption, 09:20 even the population explosion that we discovered in Genesis. 09:25 But instead He focuses on every day activities. 09:29 Now, is there anything wrong with eating and drinking? 09:33 Not necessarily, I guess it depends 09:34 what you're eating and drinking. 09:36 Is there anything wrong with getting married? 09:39 Well, once again, do I need to fill in the blank? 09:43 Well, it does matter who you're married, doesn't it, 09:45 as we discovered the flood 09:48 was the direct result of the sons of God, 09:51 the righteous marrying the unrighteous, 09:55 the daughters of men. 09:57 We discovered that in Genesis Chapter 6. 09:58 So it does make a big difference. 10:01 It does make a big difference, 10:02 but there's nothing wrong per se with marriage. 10:04 It comes from God. 10:05 God is the one that gave us food and drink. 10:07 God is the one that gives us marriage. 10:09 Is there anything wrong 10:11 with buying and selling, building and planting? 10:14 No, there isn't. 10:16 So why is Jesus honing in 10:19 on these every day activities? 10:24 There's a reason, a very important reason 10:27 why Jesus zeroes in 10:30 on the everyday activities. 10:34 A very good reason which we're gonna get to 10:37 in just a moment. 10:38 But before that, 10:40 we have been given these instructions 10:44 from Scripture. 10:45 We have been given the example of Noah 10:49 and of Lot by Jesus Christ Himself 10:52 in order that we may be prepared, 10:56 so that we too may not end up 11:00 as the antediluvians 11:03 and as the people of the days of Lot 11:05 who were sadly lost and destroyed. 11:08 George Santayana, 11:10 he's a famous Spanish born philosopher 11:13 who lived during the 19th and the 20th century. 11:16 He is most famous for the statement that he made. 11:21 He said, "Those who do not remember 11:23 the past are condemned to" do what? 11:27 "Repeat it." 11:28 Those who do not remember the past 11:32 are condemned to repeat it. 11:35 Jesus wants us to learn from the past. 11:39 That is why we have been given these two examples, 11:42 the days of Noah and the days of Lot. 11:44 And that is why Jesus zeroes in on everyday life. 11:49 So let's take a look 11:50 at what was happening in the days of Noah and Lot, 11:54 but especially Noah 11:55 as he is our focus 11:58 and compare it to what is happening today. 12:00 And let us see, let us see if we can see 12:04 our carbon copy to what was happening back then 12:08 to what is happening today. 12:10 Firstly, as we take a look at the days of Noah, 12:15 "As it was, so it will be," Jesus said. 12:18 The first thing that we discover 12:20 is that it was business as usual, 12:23 business as usual. 12:24 It was an attitude of business as usual. 12:29 Normal, everyday activities, buying, building, planting, 12:34 selling, eating, drinking, marrying, 12:37 they are normal everyday activities. 12:40 Have a look at what Jesus said in Matthew 24:40 12:44 regarding life going on business as usual. 12:47 Matthew 24, 12:49 sorry, Matthew 24 and I'm in verse 40 and 41. 12:55 Jesus here after He speaks of the days of Noah, 12:59 so it will be when I come. 13:01 He immediately continues on with these words in verse 40. 13:04 "Then two men will be in the field: 13:06 one will be taken and the other will be left. 13:09 Two women will be grinding at the mill: 13:11 one will be taken, the other will be left." 13:15 What's Jesus here trying to communicate? 13:17 He is communicating everyday life. 13:20 You see 2000 years ago in Jesus' day, 13:23 an everyday activity for men was to be where? 13:28 In the field, working in the field. 13:30 For the women an everyday activity 13:33 wants to be doing what? 13:35 At the mill, grinding, preparing food for the family. 13:39 It's interesting in Luke 17:34, 13:42 Jesus adds one more element that Luke includes. 13:47 He says, "I tell you, in that night," 13:50 speaking of His coming, 13:52 "there will be two men in one bed." 13:55 Okay, now we're not, let's not jump to conclusions, 13:59 like what Jesus here is saying is exactly, 14:02 there's gonna be two men, okay? 14:04 They're going to be sleeping, 14:05 not necessarily in the same bed, 14:07 but they're going to be two beds. 14:10 The one will be taken and the other will be left. 14:16 Sleeping, 14:17 is there anything wrong with sleeping? 14:20 No, that's an everyday 14:22 or should I say an every night activity. 14:25 So Jesus here, once again, 14:26 He's pointing out everyday activities. 14:29 One will be ready, one won't be ready. 14:33 Let's take a look at the second point. 14:35 The second point, the main focus in Noah's day, 14:40 in Lot's day 14:42 was on accumulating the goods of this world 14:45 rather than worshiping the Creator God 14:48 who provided the goods. 14:49 I like to refer to this in two words, 14:53 perilous priorities, perilous priorities, 14:57 focusing on the here and now 15:00 rather than on the things to come. 15:03 The kingdom of this world 15:05 and building up the kingdom of this world 15:07 rather than zeroing in and focusing on building up 15:11 the things that really matter, the kingdom of heaven. 15:15 Going back to Luke Chapter 17. 15:18 Fascinating words here from Jesus. 15:20 And I'm picking it up this time in verse 31. 15:22 So we've read about the days of Noah 15:24 and the days of Lot. 15:26 And Jesus continues in verse 31 of Luke Chapter 17. 15:29 "In that day, Jesus says, he who is on the housetop, 15:34 and his goods are in the house, 15:36 let him not come down and take them away. 15:39 And likewise, the one who is in the field, 15:42 let him not turn back. 15:44 Remember whose wife? 15:46 Lot's wife. 15:47 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, 15:50 and whoever loses his life will preserve it." 15:53 What is Jesus here saying? 15:56 Jesus is saying, don't get caught up 15:59 in the things of this world. 16:01 And just in case, we're not quite sure 16:04 what Jesus is referring to. 16:05 He says, remember who? 16:07 Remember Lot's wife. 16:10 Now what happened to Lot's wife? 16:13 Well, she turned into a pillar of salt. 16:16 Now, why did she turn into a pillar of salt? 16:18 That is because whilst Lot's wife left Sodom 16:23 with her husband and her two daughters, 16:27 while she left physically 16:30 her heart was still attached to Sodom 16:35 and she turned back. 16:36 She turned back and as a result, 16:40 she ended up a pillar of salt. 16:42 The angels clearly gave instructions to Lot 16:46 and his wife and his daughters do not look back, 16:50 run for your lives, do not look back, 16:53 and that's here what Jesus is trying to say. 16:55 Jesus is saying, don't look back at this world. 16:57 This world is perishing. 16:58 It's perishing. 17:00 It's due for destruction, instead look up, as Jesus said, 17:04 look up as your redemption is drawing near 17:07 and that's in Luke Chapter 21. 17:10 Now, how should we respond? 17:13 Where should our focus be? 17:15 Noah is our example. Noah is our example. 17:17 Jesus said as it was in the days of Noah 17:19 so it will be when I come. 17:21 Notice we're reading Genesis 6:8-9. 17:25 "But Noah found" what in the eyes of the Lord? 17:28 "Grace in the eyes of the Lord." 17:29 In verse 9, "This is the genealogy of Noah. 17:33 Noah was a just man perfect in his generations. 17:36 And Noah walked with God." 17:38 Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 17:42 You and I need to be focused 17:47 on the things of eternity 17:49 and right at the very heart 17:51 of the things of eternity is what? 17:53 God's grace. 17:54 We've discovered in our previous presentation 17:58 that at the very heart of the story of Noah is what? 18:02 God's grace, God's faithfulness to Noah. 18:06 In fact, the very heart, the very center, 18:09 the very bull's-eye, 18:10 as we discovered in our previous message 18:12 of the story of Noah, is what, 18:15 is what chapter and what verse 18:16 in the story of Noah? 18:18 Genesis 8:1, 18:21 "And God remembered Noah." 18:25 Noah was an individual who experienced God's grace. 18:30 He embraced God's grace. 18:32 And then the Bible says, 18:33 he was a preacher of righteousness. 18:35 He was a preacher of God's grace. 18:37 He communicated God's grace to his family, 18:42 to his friends, 18:44 to all who were willing to hear about God's grace. 18:47 He was a man, according to the scriptures, 18:49 who was blameless, who was filled with integrity. 18:52 He walked with God, he walked and talked with God, 18:56 just like Enoch in Genesis Chapter 5. 18:59 So that is where our focus needs to be. 19:02 Jesus is saying, may your focus be 19:06 on the things of the kingdom of God, 19:08 not the things of the kingdom of this world. 19:11 Remember whose wife? 19:13 Remember Lot's wife. 19:14 And I think that's a... 19:16 I think that's something we ought to be doing 19:17 each and every day, don't you? 19:19 Each and every day 19:21 we ought to be remembering Lot's wife. 19:24 Why? 19:25 Because that helps us to focus on remembering our Creator God. 19:31 Not getting caught up in the goods of this world 19:35 and neglecting the God of this world 19:39 who has provided those gifts. 19:42 Thirdly, well, before we get to there, 19:45 Jesus spoke of where our focus ought to be 19:48 in Matthew 6. 19:50 Matthew 6:19-21 and onwards Jesus said, 19:54 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, 19:57 where moth and rust destroy 19:58 and where thieves break in and steal, 20:01 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 20:03 where neither moth nor rust destroys 20:06 and where thieves do not break in and steal." 20:09 He goes on, "For where your treasure is, 20:11 there your heart will be also." 20:15 Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. 20:18 He goes on in verse 31 and he says, 20:23 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' 20:26 Or what shall we drink?'" 20:28 What did Jesus speak of 20:29 as it was in the days of Noah they were eating and what? 20:32 Drinking. 20:35 "Or what shall we wear?" 20:37 He goes on, "For after these things, 20:39 the Gentiles seek. 20:41 For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things, 20:44 but instead seek," what? 20:45 "Seek first," what? 20:47 "The kingdom of God and His righteousness 20:50 and all these things shall be added unto you." 20:53 Noah was a man of righteousness 20:55 and Noah was a man who preached a message 20:58 of righteousness by faith. 21:01 And that is what God's plan is for each and every one of us, 21:05 for us to seek first the things of His kingdom. 21:10 In fact, Noah, he invested his resources, 21:14 all of his resources in the ark. 21:16 Isn't that right? 21:18 He invested all of his resources in the ark 21:20 and then someone once put it, his shares floated. 21:25 His shares floated, and they did indeed. 21:29 Everything else perished, 21:30 except for that which Noah invested, 21:32 and he invested everything in the work of God 21:35 and the salvation of humanity. 21:39 Number three, 21:41 things that we can learn from the story of Noah, 21:44 signs and warnings given, signs and warnings ignored. 21:50 Did God give ample signs and warnings 21:54 to the people of Noah's day? 21:56 Yes, indeed. 21:58 Let me put it to you in this way. 22:00 There is nothing more frightening, 22:03 there is nothing more scary to put it in simple language 22:09 than facing a stupendous crime unprepared. 22:13 Isn't that true? 22:15 There is nothing more, nothing more. 22:17 Whenever there's a major storm 22:21 or there's some major fire taking place, 22:25 we have our politicians 22:26 and people from the various authorities 22:30 come on TV and on the radio 22:32 and they give warnings, don't they? 22:33 They give warnings. 22:35 You know, we have cyclones especially up north. 22:37 I don't know if any of you have experienced the cyclone. 22:40 I've just seen it on the news and it looks terrifying, 22:42 but there are warnings given. 22:44 Warnings are given not to scare us, 22:46 but to prepare us. 22:49 God always gives a warning before any significant event 22:54 that impacts humans. 22:56 Notice what we find in Amos 3:7. 22:59 In Amos 3: 7, we read these words. 23:02 This is God speaking, 23:04 "Surely the Lord God does" how much? 23:07 "Nothing, unless he reveals His secret 23:09 to His servants the prophets." 23:12 In the days of Noah, 23:15 there were ample warnings that a flood was coming. 23:20 Let me give you just several. 23:22 Firstly, Noah preached for 120 years, 23:26 he preached for 120 years. 23:30 And by the way, 23:32 before we move on to the next point, 23:34 you know what I discovered? 23:36 Something, I didn't know before, 23:37 until I examined the story very closely. 23:41 And that is that God gave the message to Noah 23:45 that a worldwide flood was coming 23:47 and that he was to be the one 23:49 to give the message to the world. 23:52 When Noah was 480 years old, 23:56 the flood came in the 600th year 23:58 of Noah's life. 24:00 So it was 480 years. 24:04 Do you know that Noah, 24:06 according to the scriptures 24:08 only had his sons in the 500th year of his life? 24:14 Could it be that Noah 24:16 was without children for 480 years, 24:20 for 500 years without children? 24:23 There is no record of him 24:25 having any children prior to this. 24:28 Talk about a man of faith. 24:29 If that is the case, 24:30 we'll find out one day, for sure, 24:32 could it be that he was like Abraham, 24:34 who didn't have a child for so long 24:37 and in that day and age, and in that culture, 24:39 just like today in many cultures, 24:42 not to have children is a big deal, a very big deal. 24:45 And yet he was what? 24:47 Faithful to God. 24:48 He was faithful to God. 24:50 That's just a little aside, but a powerful point. 24:52 Noah preached for 120 years. 24:54 Noah built an ark or a boat that was clear evidence 24:59 that there was something on the way. 25:00 Number three, the Methuselah prophecy. 25:04 Now, what is the Methuselah prophecy? 25:07 You see Methuselah was the son of Enoch. 25:11 Enoch was the first prophet in the Bible. 25:13 And in fact, he prophesied concerning the coming of Jesus. 25:17 And you can read about that in the Book of Jude, 25:20 the last book before Revelation. 25:25 Methuselah, 25:28 his name is made up of two Hebrew words 25:32 and notice what those two words are in reference to. 25:36 "Methuselah," 25:37 and this is from Strong's Concordance, 25:39 "'to send a weapon or dart or his death sends.' 25:43 Possible meaning, 'when he dies, the weapon 25:45 or dart shall be sent, ' or when he dies, 25:48 it shall come to be or come to pass.'" 25:53 Here's another interesting observation 25:56 by Jeff Benner 25:58 from the Ancient Hebrew Research Center. 26:01 And this is what he says, 26:02 "It is interesting to note that the year Methuselah died, 26:06 something very big was sent, that is the flood. 26:09 Methuselah's name may be a prophecy 26:11 that on the day of his death, 26:13 'his death will send' the flood.'" 26:18 The year that Methuselah died was the year of the flood. 26:23 Have you ever asked yourself, 26:25 why did Methuselah live the longest? 26:28 He lived for 969 years. 26:32 There is no one in recorded history 26:34 that has lived that long. 26:36 He has lived the longest 969 years. 26:38 Why did Methuselah live for 969 years? 26:43 He died the very year of the flood. 26:46 And you can work that out by 26:48 taking a look at Genesis Chapter 5 26:50 and Genesis Chapter 7, the dates are all, sorry, 26:54 the times are all there. 26:57 Nine hundred and sixty nine years he lived 27:01 right up until the year of the flood and then he died. 27:06 His name was a prophecy. 27:08 So they had Methuselah in their midst 27:11 whose name when he dies, 27:13 it shall come to pass. 27:15 And what's Noah preaching? 27:16 Noah's preaching that a flood is coming 27:20 and God gave this message through Enoch, 27:25 through his son Methuselah 27:27 as an added warning, as an added evidence 27:31 that the flood was coming. 27:34 Fourthly, 27:37 the animals mysteriously make their way into the ark. 27:42 The mysterious animal parade two by two 27:48 of the unclean animals, 27:50 male and female, and seven pairs, 27:53 male and female of all the clean animals 27:56 making their way mysteriously into the ark. 27:59 Now, do you think if you saw that happening here, 28:05 where you live 28:06 down the main street of Cooranbong 28:08 or down the main street of Morisset, 28:10 if all of a sudden you saw animals, 28:14 male and female, two by two, 28:16 heading down the main road to the train station, 28:21 would you be wondering what on earth is going on? 28:25 I would. 28:27 They saw all this in the days of Noah 28:30 and yet they still chose to reject those warnings, 28:35 those clear warnings. 28:36 I mean, how much more clear could God have been? 28:40 How much clearer could God have been? 28:45 And then another point, 28:48 scoffers mockers and skeptics. 28:52 There were sadly scoffers mockers 28:54 and skeptics in the days of Noah. 28:57 Even though they had all this evidence, 29:00 they still scoffed at the warnings that Noah gave. 29:05 Notice what we read in 2 Peter 3:3-6. 29:10 He writes, 29:12 "Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in" 29:15 what days? 29:17 "In the last days walking according to their own lusts, 29:19 and saying, 29:21 'Where is the promise of His coming? 29:22 For since the fathers fell asleep, 29:24 all things continue 29:25 as they were from the beginning of creation." 29:29 Are we living in such a time as this? 29:31 Yes, indeed. 29:33 Are people scoffing 29:34 at the promise of the Second Coming of Christ? 29:37 Yes, they are. 29:38 Now notice what Peter goes on and says 29:40 and how he links the scoffers of the last days 29:44 to the scoffers back in the day of Noah. 29:48 Notice these words, we continue reading, 29:50 "For this they willfully forget, 29:52 that is scoffers in the last days, 29:54 "they willfully forget 29:56 that by the word of God the heavens were of old, 29:58 and the earth standing out of water and in the water. 30:02 By which the world that then existed perished, 30:06 being flooded with water." 30:08 So what Peter here is telling us 30:10 is we have the evidence from Scripture. 30:14 We have the evidence from Scripture 30:17 that once upon a time, 30:21 men and women scoffed at the warnings 30:26 given in love by a man called Noah, 30:29 who they thought belonged in the loony bin, 30:34 who needed serious psychiatric help. 30:37 They scoffed at his warnings of love. 30:42 And they perished. 30:45 Peter is saying those of you who live in the last days 30:50 don't follow in their footsteps. 30:53 What did George Santayana say? 30:56 Those who do not learn from the past are what? 31:00 Are condemned to repeat it. 31:02 We have been given this message 31:04 from Jesus Christ Himself 31:08 pointing us back to the days of Noah, 31:11 pointing us back to the days of Lot. 31:16 There's nothing more God could do. 31:19 Nothing more He can do. 31:21 Sadly, today we find ourselves living in what the Bible says 31:26 would be a time 31:28 such as this world has never experienced before. 31:31 We're living in the time of the end, 31:33 mentioned that in our previous message. 31:35 Since 1798, we've been living in the time of the end. 31:39 Since 1844, we've been living in the time of the end. 31:42 In fact, I've been watching these great series 31:44 that I just want to make note of from Dr. Allan Lindsay, 31:49 God's last message to the world. 31:52 I'd highly recommend. 31:53 If you haven't had an opportunity to view that, 31:56 that you do, it's on 3ABN. 31:58 You can order the DVDs or you can watch it. 32:02 And so I want to encourage you to watch 32:04 that because that really fits in 32:05 with the messages that we are looking at here 32:08 in this series of Noah. 32:10 And he unpacks the time of the end 32:12 and the judgment period, 32:14 and some of those all important events 32:15 that we don't have time to deal with in this series. 32:18 But we have now entered the time of the end. 32:20 And it's interesting to me that in the last 200 years, 32:24 we have the advent of atheism, 32:28 communism, Darwinism. 32:31 We have the advent of the age of reason. 32:34 We have the advent of this non-biblical worldview, 32:39 where people by and large 32:40 in the Western world scoff 32:42 and mock and ridicule the story of Noah. 32:46 Do you really believe that's a true story? 32:49 Come on. 32:51 How could that be a true story? 32:54 It's just legend. 32:55 It's just a myth. 32:57 It's a fairytale. 32:58 Do you really, really, really believe 33:01 that God created this world in six literal 24 hour days? 33:06 Do you really believe that? 33:09 Sadly today that's not only the view 33:13 of non-Christians 33:16 in our educational institutions, 33:19 amongst our scientific communities. 33:21 But sadly, today 33:23 that's the reality in many Christian churches. 33:26 Today, many Christian churches 33:27 have lost their biblical worldview. 33:31 It's gone out the window. 33:32 It is no longer to be seen anywhere. 33:36 That's the sad reality 33:37 where Christians today believe that 33:40 marriage can be whatever you want it to be. 33:42 That there is no such thing as a six day creation 33:48 that God created over long periods of time. 33:50 And ended up giving out this crazy term theistic evolution 33:54 as if you can combine atheism and God. 33:59 What are they thinking? 34:02 That there isn't such a thing 34:04 as a literal worldwide flood. 34:09 The story of Lot is also very instructional. 34:12 We go to the Book of Genesis 19:12-14, 34:16 there we discover the interaction 34:19 that Lot has with his family members 34:23 that he's desperately trying to save 34:26 because of the warning the angels have given him. 34:28 Notice the words in verse 12. 34:31 "Then the men said to Lot," that of the angels, 34:34 the two angels, "Have you anyone else here?" 34:36 That is in Sodom. 34:38 "Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters and whomever 34:40 you have in the city, take them out of this place! 34:44 For we will destroy this place because the outcry against them 34:47 has grown great before the face of the Lord, 34:50 and the Lord has sent us to destroy it." 34:52 And then verse 14. 34:53 "So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, 34:56 who had married his daughters, and he said, 34:59 'Get up, get out of this place, 35:01 for the Lord will destroy this city! 35:04 But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be" what? 35:08 "To be joking." 35:09 They we're like, are you serious old man? 35:13 This city filled with luxury, 35:17 filled with the best of the best, 35:20 this city being destroyed by fire. 35:24 Surely not, you gotta be joking. 35:29 The word here that is used is a very interesting word. 35:33 In fact, the King James picks it up 35:35 probably better than most translations 35:38 and the word there is mock. 35:40 They mocked him. 35:41 They made fun of him. 35:43 They made sport of him. 35:45 Sounds like normalcy bias to me, 35:49 if there ever was a time. 35:51 What's that phrase? 35:53 Normalcy bias, normality bias. 35:55 What does it mean again? 35:57 A human tendency to respond to threat 36:00 warnings with disbelief or minimization. 36:04 To underestimate a disaster, 36:07 serious significant effects. 36:10 Is that what was happening in the days of Noah? 36:12 Is that what was happening in the days of Lot? 36:14 Is that what is happening today all around us? 36:19 Yes, indeed. 36:21 She'll be right, mate. 36:23 It's okay Brother Lot. 36:26 It's okay, dad, it's going to be right, 36:29 she'll be right, we'll get to the other side. 36:30 Everything's gonna be hunky-dory, just chill, 36:33 take a chill pill and relax. 36:35 Don't get yourself all worked up. 36:37 You're gonna do yourself an injury. 36:42 She'll be right, mate, don't worry, be happy. 36:46 Don't worry, be happy. 36:50 Today we are 36:51 in a spiritual pandemic 36:57 that has impacted and affected 37:00 each and every one of us, 37:02 some of us more than others. 37:04 And I pray, Father, may this spiritual pandemic 37:08 of she'll be right, mate not be the disease 37:14 that impacts my life 37:17 and my walk with You. 37:21 Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die 37:24 is what they said once upon a time. 37:27 It's the most deadly disease, 37:30 the most deadly pandemic on the planet right now. 37:35 It's not COVID in case you were wondering 37:38 or any other physical disease or ailment. 37:42 The most deadly disease today on planet earth 37:46 is that of everything's going to be okay. 37:51 Just continue to eat and drink and be merry. 37:54 Go about your life, go about your business, 37:57 for everything's going to be okay. 37:59 There's time. There's time. 38:01 There's plenty of time. 38:03 Plenty of time. 38:06 I'm an optimist. 38:08 I'm an optimist by nature. 38:10 I really am. 38:11 I'm an optimist by nature. 38:12 I like to see things on the bright side. 38:14 I like to put on those rose colored glasses. 38:19 You know, those rose colored glasses are? 38:21 You know, when you look at life in a positive way, 38:25 except for when I have to have makeup put on me 38:27 here at 3ABN, 38:28 which has to happen at times all the time. 38:33 Apart from them, 38:34 and I'm to be positive about that, 38:36 I know, Rosemary. 38:37 I'm really trying to be positive about that. 38:38 And she's working on me 38:40 and I'm getting there by the grace of God. 38:41 I'm getting there bit by bit. 38:44 But I am coming to the conclusion 38:47 more and more each day, 38:49 that with everything that is going on around us 38:52 right now 38:53 that we have well and truly entered 38:56 the final significant stages of human history, 39:00 those final prophetic movements, 39:03 which we are told will be what? 39:04 Rapid ones are not that far off 39:09 in the distance. 39:10 I genuinely believe 39:11 and I'm not saying this to be an alarmist. 39:14 Last time I checked Noah 39:16 and Lot were accused of being alarmist. 39:19 So I don't mind being in that category though. 39:21 I don't really mind, 39:23 but I genuinely believe 39:25 that we are on the verge 39:27 of the stupendous crisis the Bible speaks of, 39:32 that Jesus spoke of. 39:34 And if ever there was a time for us 39:37 by the grace of God to pray that He pull us out 39:41 of this lukewarm apathetic, 39:43 she'll be right, mate pandemic it's today. 39:48 I need the vaccine for the spiritual pandeminia. 39:53 Is that a word? 39:55 That's a word from Danny, 39:57 that we are experiencing right now. 40:01 We need that heavenly virus 40:03 and the heavenly virus is the words of Jesus. 40:07 It's the message of Jesus, the message of His grace, 40:10 the message of His love. 40:12 The signs of the times are fast, 40:15 fulfilling all around us. 40:18 In the world of business and economy, 40:21 in the world of religion, the environment, 40:23 there's political polarization going on. 40:25 There are uprisings and protests, 40:27 social, cultural, ethnic divisions, 40:30 chaos, and confusion. 40:31 And the list could go on and on and on. 40:37 And so I should not have been surprised. 40:41 I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was, 40:45 but I shouldn't have been when COVID hit 40:50 and I was expecting my phone 40:53 to be running off the hook with family, friends, 40:58 people that had known me, 40:59 people that had heard these messages 41:00 that I've been preaching for the last 20 years. 41:03 Calling me saying, Danny, you were sharing this. 41:06 You were talking about the days of Noah. 41:09 You were talking about things all of a sudden are heating up. 41:11 You're talking about things rapidly increasing 41:15 when it comes to the signs of the times, 41:17 and now they hear 41:18 what do I need to do to be saved? 41:21 What do I do? 41:22 What do I need to do to connect with Jesus Christ? 41:24 I was hoping, and I was expecting 41:26 my phone to be ringing hot. 41:28 I was in lockdown like many of you at home 41:32 not much do waiting for the phone to ring 41:35 and guess what? 41:37 The phone never rang or barely rang. 41:42 I'm like, Lord, what's going on. 41:44 I mean, can't people see 41:45 that the world's been tipped upside down. 41:47 Can't people see that what Jesus said 41:49 that this world before the end of time 41:51 will be tipped upside down 41:52 and we're and the life as we know what? 41:55 Will change. 41:57 There's going to be a new normal. 41:59 And aren't we talking about that anyway? 42:01 You know we want things to go back to normal, don't we? 42:04 We're talking about normal, 42:05 but we're saying it's a new normal. 42:09 We want things to go back to normal. 42:12 She'll be right, mate. 42:14 And so, boy, oh boy, 42:16 I've got a reality, a reality shock. 42:20 It's true what Jesus said, 42:22 regardless of what is going on in the world 42:24 people are still going to continue 42:27 to hold on to this normalcy bias, 42:31 this she'll be right, mate. 42:34 And that brings us to my final point 42:37 that I believe Christ wants us to learn from. 42:41 And this is the really, really big one. 42:43 The peril of not knowing. 42:45 Now, what do we mean by that? 42:47 What did Jesus mean by that? 42:49 Have a look at the words of Jesus. 42:51 Matthew 24:38-39. 42:57 Jesus says, "For as in the days before 43:00 the flood, they were eating 43:01 and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, 43:03 until the day that Noah entered the ark, 43:05 and notice, and did know," 43:07 what's that word? 43:09 What's that word? 43:10 "And did not know until the flood came 43:14 and took them all away, so also will the coming 43:16 of the Son of Man be." 43:17 Hang on a minute. 43:19 Hang on a minute, timeout. 43:22 They did not know that a flood was coming, 43:26 but we have just discovered 43:29 that they had warning after warning. 43:31 Noah was building a boat. 43:33 He was preaching for 120 years. 43:35 The animals were mysteriously making 43:36 their way into that. 43:38 Methuselah was a sure sign that a flood was coming, 43:42 when he dies it shall come to pass. 43:44 I mean, they had all the signs. 43:48 What do you mean they did not know Jesus? 43:51 I'm scratching my head. 43:53 I'm wondering and then it hit me. 43:57 Then it hit me when I read this statement, 44:00 this powerful insight from the book 44:02 Patriarchs and Prophets, Ellen White writes 44:05 under inspiration these powerful words. 44:08 Notice these words, 44:10 "The period of their probation was about to expire. 44:13 Noah had faithfully followed the instructions 44:16 which he had received from God. 44:17 The ark was finished in every part 44:19 as the Lord had directed, 44:21 and was stored with food for man and beast. 44:25 And now the servant of God made his last solemn 44:28 appeal to the people. 44:29 With an agony of desire that words cannot express, 44:33 he entreated them to seek a refuge 44:35 well it might be found. 44:37 Again, they rejected his words 44:40 and raise their voices in jest and scoffing. 44:43 Suddenly a silence fell upon the mocking throng. 44:46 Beasts of every description, 44:49 the fiercest as well as the most gentle, 44:51 were seen coming from mountain 44:53 and forest and quietly making their way toward the ark. 44:57 A noise as of a rushing wind was heard, and lo, 45:00 birds were flocking from all directions, 45:03 their numbers darkening the heavens, 45:04 and in perfect order, they passed to the ark. 45:08 Animals, obeyed the command of God, 45:10 while men were disobedient. 45:13 Guided by holy angels, 45:15 they went in two by two unto Noah into the ark, 45:19 and the clean beasts by sevens. 45:22 The world looked on in wonder, 45:24 some in fear. 45:25 Philosophers were called upon to account 45:27 for the singular occurrence, but in vain. 45:29 It was a mystery which they could not fathom." 45:33 And then notice these words. 45:34 I have them highlighted. 45:36 "But men and women, it's in the generic sense, 45:39 had become so," what's that word? 45:42 "Hardened by their persistent rejection of light 45:44 that even this scene produced but a momentary impression. 45:49 As the doomed race beheld the sun shining in its glory, 45:52 and the earth clad in almost Eden beauty, 45:55 they banished their rising fears 45:57 by boisterous merriment," 45:59 sounds like they're eating and drinking, 46:01 they're marrying and the given in marriage 46:03 and so on and so forth, 46:05 "and by their deeds of violence they seemed to invite 46:09 upon themselves the visitation 46:11 of the already awakened wrath of God." 46:14 Wow! What an insight. 46:17 What an insight. 46:19 It sounds like they were living out 46:23 that she'll be right, mate. 46:26 Everything's going to be hunky-dory 46:28 and carrying on scoffing and mocking the final message 46:33 of love from God 46:35 through his servant Noah. 46:39 And they did not know, they did know, 46:42 but their hearts had become so hardened, 46:45 so hardened they had grieved away 46:48 the Holy Spirit, our only hope. 46:52 Make no mistake, 46:54 the Holy Spirit is our only hope. 46:59 If we reject and grieve away the Holy Spirit, 47:02 there is no hope. 47:04 The Holy Spirit alone leads us to Jesus Christ. 47:09 He alone leads us to Jesus Christ. 47:14 If we refuse the light, 47:17 God will allow us to experience the darkness. 47:21 Notice what Jesus said in John 3:19-21, 47:25 Jesus said, "And this is the condemnation, 47:28 that the light has come into the world, 47:30 and men loved," what? 47:32 "Darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." 47:36 It goes on, 47:38 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light 47:40 and does not come to the light, 47:41 lest his deeds should be exposed. 47:45 But he who does the truth comes to the light, 47:47 that his deeds may be clearly seen, 47:49 that they have been done in God." 47:51 We've got two choices according to Jesus, 47:54 either we can embrace 47:55 and accept the light from above, 47:58 or we will perish in darkness. 48:02 There's only two choices 48:03 as there was in the days of Noah, 48:05 as there was in the days of Lot, 48:07 only two choices, salvation or destruction, 48:11 only two choices. 48:15 If you want to believe the lie, 48:17 if you want to remain in this land 48:22 called she'll be right, mate. 48:24 Everything's going to be okay. 48:25 Eat, drink, and be married, no need to worry. 48:29 Then you will experience 48:31 what the Apostle Paul speaks of 48:33 in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. 48:36 Notice what he says. 48:38 He says, "And for this reason 48:40 God will send them strong delusion, 48:42 that they should believe the," what? 48:45 "The lie that they all might be condemned, 48:48 who did not believe the," what? 48:50 "The truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, 48:54 had pleasure in unrighteousness." 48:57 Wow. 48:59 If we choose not to accept the truth, 49:04 which is what? 49:06 God's Word. 49:07 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." 49:10 In John 17:17 Jesus said, 49:12 "Sanctify them by thy word." 49:14 Thy word is what? Truth. 49:17 Thy law is truth according to the Psalmist 49:20 in Psalm 119:142. 49:23 If we do not accept God's truth, 49:27 His word, there is only one other option. 49:29 And that is for us to be taken in by the enemy 49:32 whose name is evil with a capital D 49:36 into his snares of lies 49:38 and deception and ultimate destruction. 49:42 The Bible says something very fascinating 49:44 about the days of Noah. 49:46 In Genesis 7:16, it says, 49:49 "So those that entered male and female of all flesh, 49:52 went in as God had commanded him, 49:54 and the Lord shut him in." 49:56 The Lord, shut him in. 49:59 Most people don't realize, 50:01 but it did not rain immediately after the door was shut. 50:06 It didn't rain immediately. 50:08 If you read the text, you'll discover 50:09 that it only began to rain. 50:13 Maybe rain is not the right word 50:15 because the heavens literally opened up 50:17 the springs of 50:21 and the fountains of deep erupted, 50:23 or maybe it was something 50:24 that you and I cannot even begin to fathom. 50:26 That only, that only happened seven days 50:29 after Noah entered the ark. 50:33 So for seven days, for seven days, 50:37 that the antediluvians 50:40 who were lost had no idea that they were lost. 50:45 For seven days, they were partying, 50:46 having a great time. 50:48 They were enjoying life. 50:49 I can imagine all the barbecues. 50:51 I can imagine all the beer. 50:53 I can imagine all the fun 50:55 and the mocking and the scoffing, 50:57 and the jesting and the laughing 50:59 that would have been going on 51:00 and all the knocking on Noah's door and on the ark. 51:05 All the knocking 51:07 during that week long period. 51:12 Could it be that Jesus is saying 51:15 that we also can face that same serious situation 51:20 whereby we find ourselves lost 51:26 because we have grieved away the Holy Spirit. 51:29 And we think everything is okay. 51:32 We continue on with life, 51:33 partying and having a great time. 51:36 So what's our only hope? 51:37 Our only hope is to turn to Christ. 51:38 Our only hope is to seek Him with all our heart. 51:42 Our only hope is to pray the prayer that David prayed, 51:46 search my heart, oh God. 51:47 And see if there is any wicked way 51:49 and lead me in the way of everlasting. 51:51 And that's in Psalm 139:23-24. 51:56 So how do we respond? 51:58 How should we respond? 52:01 What did Jesus say in Matthew 24:42-44? 52:05 "Watch therefore, for you do not know 52:07 what hour your Lord is coming. 52:08 But know this, that if the master of the house 52:10 had known what hour the thief would come, 52:13 he would have watched and not allowed his house 52:15 to be broken into. 52:17 Therefore you also be" what? 52:19 "Be ready for the Son of Man 52:21 is coming at an hour you do not expect." 52:23 Watch and be ready. 52:25 Watch and be ready. 52:28 That's the message, continually be with Christ, 52:32 continually be surrendered to Him. 52:35 Don't wait for a better day. 52:38 In fact, 52:39 this is what Hebrews 3:7-8 says 52:44 in concerning you know, 52:45 when is the best time to respond. 52:47 In Hebrews 3:7-8, 52:50 "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says," 52:52 so who's speaking now? 52:54 It's the Holy Spirit speaking, 52:56 the one who inspired the scriptures. 52:59 It's the Holy Spirit speaking. 53:01 So we ought to be paying attention. 53:02 Amen? 53:04 We ought to be paying attention 53:05 because the Holy Spirit is the only one 53:07 as we have discovered 53:08 that will lead us to Jesus Christ. 53:10 In fact, in the days of Noah, God said, 53:13 My Spirit, My Holy Spirit 53:16 will not strive with men forever, 53:19 but 120 years. 53:23 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says today," when? 53:27 "Today, if you will hear his voice, 53:30 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, 53:33 in the day of trial in the wilderness," 53:35 speaking of the children of Israel. 53:37 So don't go down that road. 53:38 Today, why not tomorrow? 53:41 Why not tomorrow? 53:44 Tomorrow may never come. 53:45 We only have today, today, today. 53:50 In fact, that word today appears five times, 53:53 five times in Hebrews 3 and Hebrews 4. 53:58 Five times with a reference 54:00 to today is the day of salvation. 54:05 In fact, the Apostle Paul goes one step further. 54:10 He goes beyond today 54:11 and notice the words that he uses 54:13 in 2 Corinthians 6:2 he says, 54:17 "For, he says," he's speaking of God now. 54:19 He's quoting from the Old Testament 54:21 once again, 54:22 "In an acceptable time, I have heard you, 54:24 and in the day of salvation I have helped you. 54:27 Behold," when is the accepted time? 54:31 "Now is the accepted time, behold," 54:34 he repeats, "now is the day of salvation." 54:37 So not just today, but when? 54:40 Right now, because that's all we have. 54:43 The reality is we have right now, 54:45 we don't even have the rest of the day. 54:47 We do not have the rest of the day. 54:49 Forget about tomorrow, 54:50 forget about the rest of the week. 54:52 We only have the right now. 54:56 I'll never forget watching images on the news 55:01 and watching a video 55:03 that had been taken on people's phones 55:06 of that tragic blast explosion 55:11 that took place in Beirut. 55:13 Do you remember that blast? 55:14 People were on their phones, you know, 55:18 recording this fire that had broken out there 55:21 at the port in Beirut. 55:24 They were just recording this fire that was happening. 55:26 I mean, fires happen all the time. 55:28 We get out our phones 55:29 and we film a fire, be it a car, 55:32 be it a house, be it whatever we just, 55:34 we're just filming. 55:36 And they're filming and all of a sudden 55:37 that fire ignited that which was there, 55:42 all that ammonium, 55:43 I think it was just tons and tons of it. 55:45 And the explosion, 55:47 you could literally see the explosion 55:50 coming waves, and it came like this. 55:53 It just came within seconds. 55:57 There was a wedding going on and that wedding man alive. 56:02 That wedding was just tipped upside down 56:05 in a matter of seconds. 56:06 Things can change suddenly, suddenly, suddenly. 56:11 I wanna encourage you as we end 56:14 to put your faith and trust in Jesus today. 56:17 Today don't wait. 56:19 Don't wait 56:20 for a she'll be right, mate moment. 56:24 Today's the day, now is the day of salvation. 56:27 Wherever you're watching from, my friend, 56:29 I wanna encourage you 56:30 today to put your faith and trust in Jesus. 56:33 Today, respond to His invitation to come, 56:37 come into the ark of His arms of salvation. 56:42 Come, come, come. 56:45 It's Jesus. He's inviting you to come. 56:47 Let's pray together. 56:49 Father, in heaven we wanna thank You for Jesus. 56:51 We wanna thank You for His love. 56:53 We wanna thank You for His mercy, for His grace. 56:55 We wanna thank You for the story of Noah. 56:58 We wanna thank You for the messages of love 57:01 and warning that Jesus Himself has given us. 57:04 Oh, Father, may we take these messages to heart. 57:07 May we share this with others like Noah, 57:10 to prepare others also for Your soon return. 57:13 Bless us, Father, and prepare us today. 57:15 Prepare us now for Your sake 57:18 and for the sake of Your kingdom. 57:19 We pray in Jesus' name 57:20 and everybody said amen and amen. |
Revised 2021-06-10