Witnessing to the Wonders of God – From His Word to the World In 2015 Acts 1:8

BUT YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ON YOU, AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES…

WHO IS YOUR BIBLE HERO ?

A WORKING WITNESS TO FAITHFULNESS, AGELESSNESS, GOD’S CALLING, AND TIME June: Witness #6: Noah, a Working Witness for God

Today’s Scriptures: (NIV) Genesis 6:5-8;12-14 – The L ORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The L ORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the L ORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the L ORD. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 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 of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. Nehemiah 4:22 - At that time I also said to the people, Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve as guards by night and as workers by day. Matthew 24: “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of Matthew 24: “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. John 9:4 - As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Hebrews 11:38 - …the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. I Peter 2: I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

TODAY: A WILLING WORKER IN A WICKED WORLD

1. OUR WORLD HAS WICKEDNESS AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH… EVERY INCLINATION OF THE HUMAN HEART WAS ONLY EVIL ALL THE TIME.

Genesis 6: 5-1 – The L ORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The L ORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the L ORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the L ORD. 9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. II Timothy 3: 1-5 – But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self- control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. Nehemiah 4: 6-9 – So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. 7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

Christians be aware of these Sins: Idolatry, Godlessness, Self-Centeredness, Hatred.

2. NOAH(S) FIND FAVOR IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.

Genesis 6:8;12-14 – But Noah found favor in the eyes of the L ORD. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 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 of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. Matthew 24: 9-13 – “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 25: – The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ I Corinthians 3:8-9 – The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co- workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

BEING FAITHFUL LEADS TO: GOD’S FAVOR, GOD’S CALLING, MISSIONS, FRUITFULNESS, AND REWARD.

3. BEING FAITHFUL MEANS NOT LIVING LIKE THE WORLD OR BY IT’S SUB- STANDARDS. (SEE 1B)

Isaiah 13: 11 – I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. John 16: 33 – I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I John 2: – Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life— comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. Titus 2:12-14 – It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

BEING FAITHFUL MEANS: STAYING IN A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD, KNOWING AND DOING GOD’S WILL, AND NOT INDULGING IN SIN.

4. THE DAILY QUESTION OF MY LIFE: WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE IN THIS WORLD?

Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Luke 9: – Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. John 9:4 – As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. I Peter 2: – Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. I Peter 1:16 – for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

BE LIKE JESUS ! BE LIKE NOAH ! A WILLING WORKER IN A WICKED WORLD. BE LIKE JESUS ! BE LIKE NOAH ! A WILLING WORKER IN A WICKED WORLD.