1. Never Relax Your Moral Standards If I could learn just one thing from: Noah Genesis 6-9

2. Dangerous Phrases  There are certain phrases in the human language that should come with a skull- and-crossbones label.  Regardless of where we are in the world, there are people saying things to us that will ultimately get us into trouble.

3. Just this once won’t hurt…  This one is to get you to try something you know is not good for you.

4.  “Everybody else is doing it…” This one is to try and justify something you know you shouldn’t be doing anyway.

5.  I’ll be the only one of my friends not going!  For kids, this is the one to play on your parents’ sympathies, because nobody wants their kids to be left out.

6. Each of these statements have one thing in common. We want to be ACCEPTED by those around us. We want to do the things others are doing. We want to fit in. Sometimes that’s okay. But many times it’s horribly wrong. Let’s consider today what happens when people of great morality join in with people of the world.

7. Extreme Peer Pressure

8. The state of Noah’s world: Genesis 6:1-4 Epitomized by the existence of the Nephilim The word means “the fallen ones” Not a case of angels and mortals having offspring. Provides a case study in what happens when godly people intermix with ungodly people.

9. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

10. God’s Evaluation Of The State of Creation Genesis 6:5-7 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them."

11. Can You Imagine Living In Such A World?

12. One Righteous Man and His Family Genesis 6:9-13

13. Remaining Righteous Alone

14. What was it like to be Noah? He had to face the daily pressure of absolute wickedness – without giving in! Noah lived 500 years in that situation before giving birth to his children. Noah was 600 years old when he entered the ark. It could have been as much as 100 years in the building of the ark. At very least Noah had to face the temptations of daily life while still trusting in the Lord.

15. Noah had to completely trust the Lord Demanded complete obedience from Noah in every detail of building the ark. When we obey God completely, we will be able to observe the amazing activity of God in our lives. Noah saw that amazing activity in the building and stocking of the ark – because he remained righteous at all times.

16. Can We Remain Faithful? Can we remain faithful to God when we are pressured for wickedness?

17. Yes we can! “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” 1 Peter 4:3-5

18. Dropping Your Moral Guard  The post flood sinless world  Only 8 righteous souls inhabited the earth  God renewed His covenant with mankind and made promises  Noah built an ark and worshipped God, renewing the proper relationship between creature and Creator

19. A Short-lived Peace  Noah planted a vineyard and became drunk From the seed comes the vine from the vine comes the grape from the grape comes the wine from the wine comes the drunk from the drunk comes the sin  So sin entered again into the world

20. The Cursing of a Nation

21. Never Relax Your Moral Standard Noah foolishly believed that one episode of passing out drunk wouldn’t hurt anybody.

22. What happens when I relax my moral standards?  A moment of relaxed moral guard can result in a lifetime of disappointment and pain.  Ephesians 5:1 -- Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

23. How Holy Am I To Be?  1 Thessalonians 5:5-7 -- You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.  We must be ever vigilant, ever faithful, ever true.

24.  Practical applications  I have to know God’s way before I can keep God’s way.  I have to love God’s, and His way, more than I love those around me and their ways.  I have to care more what God thinks about me, than I care what others think about me.  I have to want to do God’s will more than I want to do what I want to do.  I have to believe that eternity is worth it!