Sermon Tone Analysis

Noah: A Successful Father

 

When you sit down at night and turn on those “family” shows on TV have you ever noticed how fathers seem to be portrayed?

They’re weak, not too bright, they’re slobs, they don’t have a clue as to what’s going on in the family and they are belittled and beaten down by their wives-subservient to them.

This isn’t the way it is supposed to be.

God shows us what a man is supposed to be.

The lives of his People, our forefathers, shows us how these men the really manly men  should behave.

One such example is none other than Noah-the father of all us fathers today.

In Genesis six and seven we read about Noah and his life and those things which he did that show us that he was a great father.

So, what was life like back then?

There were no modern day conveniences.

No cars, no microwaves, no computers, no ipods.

NO INDOOR PLUMBING.

All the things that we take for granted did not exist.

All the little gadgets and gizmos that we have to make our lives easier were non-existent.

So they lacked our advanced technology.

What else?  Noah and his family were living in a time that was much worse than today.

Chapter 6  describes “that the wickedness of man/ was/ great in the earth, and/ that/ every imagination of the thoughts of his heart/ was/ only evil continually…The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”.

Imagine, living in a society where nothing but evil prevails.

A society where cruelty and corruptness are the social norm.

Now in the midst of all this evil, there is one who is found to be just and full of integrity.

That man is Noah.

In the middle of all that bad stuff going on here is a good man.

But that man is not alone for he has a family.

That family also bears the image of Noah’s integrity.

In everything that this evil world had to offer Noah and his family, Noah led his family in their integrity, in their faith, and in the end their very lives.

So what made Noah a successful father in such a difficult time?

First, Noah walked with God.

Verses 8 and 9 attest to this “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

These/ are/ the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man/ and/ perfect in his generations,/ and/ Noah walked with God.”

So what does this tell us about Noah?

We learn that the Holy Spirit was working in man’s life, but the only one who was listening was Noah.

From this Noah began to seek God.

We know this because he found what he was looking for—He found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

That means that he was shown how to escape from a sin cursed world, and according to Hebrews 11:7 he was by faith warned of the coming flood.

By faith.

We know that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.

With that said Noah’s faith reveals his salvation, because faith comes from Jesus.

If Noah has faith then he has Jesus.

If he has Jesus then he is saved.

As a result of Noah’s salvation we read that he was indeed a just man.

He “…became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

And he had a wholehearted relationship with God.

This lifestyle led to a consistency in devotional and daily living.

Noah walked with God.

Now we know that Noah walked with God.

Also.

Noah witnessed to others.

In 2 Peter 2:5 Peter describes Noah as “a preacher of righteousness”.

Who did he preach to?

We suspect that as a man of God he preached to everyone that was in ear shot.

He had to preach on the coming judgement of God and the sins which were so prevalent in the society of the day.

He had this big barge on his front lawn.

It was a testimony of God’s coming judgement.

He “prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world”.

Sadly, Noah had no converts with the exception of his family.

It must have been discouraging for Noah not to see one person, one neighbor repent of their evil ways.

Nevertheless, Noah stayed the course and remained faithful.

He continued to do the work that God had called him to do.

His faithfulness was a wonderful testimony to his family.

So rich was Noah’s testimony that his family followed his faithful walk.

Noah walked with God, Noah witnessed to others, and Noah won his family.

In chapter 7 verses one and seven we read “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.”

We know that his family got saved because God let them on the boat.

God saw that righteousness was in them.

They were Noah’s only converts.

Above all else, this father led by example.

He lived the life that he passed down to his children and their wives who in turn passed their faith down to their children.

Generation after generation.

Now fathers, what can we learn from Noah?

We can learn that a father must have a right relationship with God.

Because in the end, we want God to save us from complete destruction.

We want God to tell us that we can go in his ark to be safe from the floods.

In essence the ark today is none other than Jesus Christ.

Only though him can we come to the father.

Only on the ark will we not drown.

What else can we learn from Noah?  Noah was the head of his household.

Not only in title, but in respect and in leadership.

Did you know that in Ephesians 5:23 it says “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Guys, this means that you are the head of the household.

You are the God called leader, responsible for whatever happens in your household.

Remember, there is a difference between a leader and a ruler.

You are not a dictator in your house making other people bend to your every whim, no.

You are a leader.

You guide people and encourage them and help them grow.

But you also set the standard.

Because your standards should be Godly standards not Norman standards or Stanley standards or Tony standards.

Godly standards.

Nor should they be the standards of your wives.

Think about it.

Are you the leader God calls you to be?

How do you lead your family?

You lead them by walking uprightly.

Your faith is the evidence of God working in your life.

Faith produces works and as Colossians 3:17 states “whatsoever ye do in word or deed,/ do/ all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

What you do, you do to glorify God, not to glorify yourself, your wife, your child or your hobby.

Romans 8:28 says “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to/ his/ purpose.”

Men this is your purpose.

Another way you lead is by your speech.