God's Favor in a Wicked World (Genesis 6)
This sermon delves into the biblical account of Noah, a man who stood apart from a world overcome by sin. It invites listeners to consider what it means to live a life marked by God's favor in challenging times.
In a world overwhelmed by widespread wickedness, God seeks righteous individuals who listen, trust, and obey Him. Noah's story exemplifies how faithfulness to God leads to divine favor and salvation amidst judgment.
Overview
The sermon begins by exploring the deep sorrow God felt over humanity's profound wickedness and continuous evil thoughts, as recorded in Genesis. The preacher draws a parallel to the rapid moral decline observed in recent generations, making God's decision to destroy the world understandable in light of escalating sin.
Amidst this universal corruption, one man, Noah, found favor in the eyes of the Lord. He is described as righteous, blameless in his time, and someone who walked with God. This distinction led God to choose Noah and his family for salvation from the impending global flood.
Noah's unique relationship with God was characterized by three essential qualities: he listened to God, he trusted God, and he obeyed God. The preacher emphasizes that true obedience has "sharp edges," requiring full commitment without compromise, contrasting it with a common tendency to rationalize or partially follow God's commands.
The sermon concludes by challenging listeners to reflect on their own lives. It asks if they, like Noah, would be recognized as godly individuals who listen, trust, and obey God, highlighting that the world expects Christians to live differently and that God's promises, demonstrated by the rainbow and the cross, are entirely trustworthy.
Key points
- Before the Flood, humanity's wickedness was great, and every thought of the human heart was continually evil, leading to God's grief.
- Noah found favor with God because he was righteous, blameless in his time, and walked with God.
- Noah's salvation, and that of his family, resulted from his consistent listening, trusting, and obeying God.
- The sermon stresses that obedience to God must be complete and without compromise, having "sharp edges."
- God established a covenant with Noah, signified by the rainbow, promising never again to destroy all life by a flood.
- Believers today are called to exhibit the same characteristics as Noah: listening to, trusting, and obeying God, thereby standing out in a sinful world.
- God's promises are dependable, and His ultimate love is demonstrated through the cross, offering salvation and eternal life.
In Charles Stanley's words
“Every intent of the thought of his heart was only evil continually.”
“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”
“Obedience has sharp edges, very sharp edges. I do or I not do. I do what He says or I don't do it.”
Outline
- I. The Greatness of Human Wickedness
- A. God's sorrow over His creation (Genesis 6:5-7)
- B. Comparison of past and present generations
- II. Noah: A Man Who Found Favor
- A. Noah's righteous character (Genesis 6:8-9)
- B. God's decision to save Noah and his family (Genesis 6:11-13)
- III. The Three Essential Qualities of Faith
- A. Listening to God
- B. Trusting God
- C. Obeying God
- IV. The Call to Live a Godly Life Today
- A. Standing out in a corrupt world
- B. The world's expectation for Christians
- V. God's Enduring Promises and Demonstrations of Love
- A. The covenant of the rainbow (Genesis 8:20-22, Genesis 9:11-13)
- B. The cross as the ultimate proof of God's love
- VI. A Daily Decision to Listen, Trust, and Obey
Scripture references
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
Insights
God is grieved when human hearts are continually set on evil.
Favor from God is found by those who walk differently.
Listening, trusting, and obeying God shapes one's path.
Questions & answers
Why did God destroy the world in Noah's time?
The sermon explains God destroyed the world because human wickedness was great, and every thought of the human heart was continually evil. God was grieved and sorry He had made humanity.
What made Noah different from others in his time?
Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time, and he walked with God. He listened to, trusted, and obeyed God amidst widespread sin and violence.
What three qualities did Noah demonstrate that Christians should have?
Noah demonstrated listening to God, trusting God, and obeying God. These qualities are presented as essential for finding favor and salvation.
What is the significance of the rainbow in this sermon?
The rainbow is presented as a sign of God's covenant with humanity, promising that He will never again destroy the earth by flood. It reminds us that God always keeps His promises.
How does the sermon connect Noah's story to contemporary life?
The sermon challenges listeners to consider if they are living a godly, righteous life, listening to, trusting, and obeying God, thereby standing out from a world that increasingly moves away from God.
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Unofficial AI summary for study purposes. Watch the full sermon on In Touch Ministries. Sermon Insights is not affiliated with or endorsed by the pastor or church.