0005SP Personal effort
0005SP
Personal Effort worth it?
I. Introduction
A. Outnumbered
1. I am not qualified to offer advice but goalè encourage in God given role
1.1. Continue to make take time for o kids n lead by a good examplen keep up!
1.2. Raising f. according Biblical std. has many challenges n can’t allow everything
1.3. Decisions: Allowed to participate o. notn take a stand or let it go n the hardest part is, decisions definitely not based on majority rules n
1.4. Seem alone swimming against tide n only ones.. discouraging all of us.
2. Faced with fact that we are the minority n same t. have privilege & duty to shine J.C.
2.1. To make a difference n to show an alternative n stand strong n not give up
2.2. We: Pray for lost soulsn envite peoplen come to prayer meetingn do my best to being a good example for children n but no much seems to improve…
2.3. Take a step back look the big pict. We ask: It my personal effort even worth it?
2.4. After all, I am only one person n face in the crowd n what can I do?
3. In eyes of world, we certainly are in minority: But G. doesn’t see it that way.
3.1. Not concerned about numbers, n one against thousands doesn’t matter.
3.2. All he needs is one father n personn that is obedient and trust in HIM.
3.3. Look at a fathers personal effort he Individually made n End results for family
II. Noah an example for us
A. The time in which he lived
1. Gen.6:4-7 What a heart wrenching statement G. who is L n merciful n patient
1.1. I am sorry that I have made them. nThat’s how bad/far way fr G.
1.2. G. spoke èwouldn’t listen n gave them chance to repent è didn’t heed
1.3. It was not just one town or city n whole world was evil in eyes of L.
1.4. G: I will destroy everything from face of earth!!
2. Think of Elijah once thought it was so bad: I am the only one left over n give up
2.1. But there G: no, there are 7K left over that are serving me! n its not as dark
2.2. Here G: Its bad n I can’t do nothing with pn need to start over n a clean start
3. Question comes n world was so dark any chance anyone could stand against the tide? V8But N. found grace in the eyes of the L n one f. and his family..
3.1. One little shining light n the whole earth was evil n G. couldn’t stand anymore n but G. noticed the effort & life of one f. and his family.
3.2. Out of millions of people that had death penalty over them fr. G.
3.3. Noah found grace n one man n one family n G. noticed their efforts..
B. His life
1. Even though time bad n wonderful testimony of the f V9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.n
1.1. Among unrighteous He stood out nwas righteous ndidn’t follow lust of flesh
1.2. G. saw N. keeps his word n doesn’t sheet when making deals n doesn’t treat anybody unfair n he is a just man!! n regardless if he has support or not..
2. Perfect in his generation AMP blameless in his [evil] generation
2.1. G. looked at l of N. and saw nothing that isn’t according to my W. n does all he can to please me
2.2. N. listens to my spirit n doesn’t ignore me like rest nfollows my guidance
2.3. can imagine N was classified as fanaticnlaughed at nignored npushed to side
2.4. But N. didn’t give up personal effort continued to do the best he could
3. N. walked w. G. n Short statement but powerful n close connection between G.
3.1. doesn’t say: walked behind from a distance n didn’t run ahead making own w
3.2. N. walked with L n N. stayed close to the L n close that he could hear G. commands & warnings.
3.3. Wonderful picture N. among p. that were evil n there was on f. who was just n blamelessn walked w L.
3.4. Think about it!! He was only father left on earth and still didn’t give up personal effort for G. n didn’t let guard down and go with flow n
3.5. Can you imagine? We often feel alone but tonight have a big group friends and across country and globen N. hard to fathom only family
C. His effort
1. G. had decided to wipeout everything on earth n people & animals n what about N. and family?
1.1. V17-18 G. noticed him n to HIM N. wasn’t just face in crowd n number
1.2. N. stood out as one to walk with G. n one who found grace in face of big catastrophy n because of his personal effort..
2. G. made plan for the one family left & gave a special offer n a way out n not get destroyed with rest of world
2.1. V13-14 . description nG. rewarded N. for his just life nfor walking with HIM n G: build and arc è saved
3. G. didn’t s: go sit on mnt and watch until I am done n N. had a task to do.
3.1. build arc nwas hard labor nHuge!! 420ft L x 73ft W. 44ft. H. n 3 decks
3.2. Rem. N. didn’t see any water yet n life went on around them as normal
3.3. Imagine: N. sons said: f. this doesn’t make sense n dry n sun goes down comes up n you speak of destruction don’t see any change n
3.4. People are laughing at us they don’t believe it n don’t follow invitation
4. Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
4.1. Not looking aroundn not relying on logic but on G.W with Godly fear..
5. Scripture also tells us he proclaimed the message to p. n2Pe 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
5.1. For yrs. N. worked on arc & preached to p n after all that effort n beside family how many listened? n Not ONE!!
5.2. But G. saw him n G. noticed the one father who walked with HIM
5.3. G. never s: N. how come p aren’t listeningn G. acknowledged like he once said to woman that anointed his feet Mar 14:8 She has done what she could. n what I told him to do he did n that all I ask..
6. G. sent what He promised n water came higher than all mountainsn
6.1. every living creature on earth was wiped out n except what was in arc n imagine sons: f. thank you that you listened to G.
6.2. We didn’t understand why we had to work n….
D. End result
1. 8:15-18..Everyone else dead n N. & family are alive walking on a new earth
n a new beginning.
1.1. Ask obvious Q. Was their personal effort worth it? n All yrs sweat building arc n taking upon them laughter when preaching n inviting over and over even though no one came? YES it was!!
1.2. It was worth it because N. walked with L. n G. on his side. n N. did what he could n his best n obedient to G. nG. took care of him è rewarded his personal effort richly.
III. Encouragement for us
A. Worth it!
1. We can relate to time N. lived in n no matter where we look p aren’t listening to G. n W.G is being laughed at mocked n
1.1. G:a coming judgement over all that have ever lived n All that haven’t entered arc J.C. n didn’t believe they needed to enter è perish
1.2. We see p and judgement, in tears ask: why m effort so ineffective? n why won’t p listen to invitations & Bible n is personal effort worth it?
1.3. Dear f. & m. your personal effort doesn’t go unnoticed by H. F n
1.4. He sees we want to server him n sees our goal to be example to coming generations n he sees our effort! n don’t get discouraged even if all alone n like N. 1 of 8 p on entire planet n keep it up!!
2. Personally I thank G. for many fathers before us who didn’t spare p effort
2.1. They didn’t give up when the logical mind said its useless! n didn’t quit when people said: don’t bother n don’t waste energy..
2.2. Because of personal effort of f & m before me kept on spreading W.G. I was able to hear about J.C. and enter into arc. n effort isn’t in vain..
2.3. We don’t know who will be/is reached through our effort n eternity
3. Will we convert the world? n convince them to enter into arc J.C. n not all of them n didn’t list to N. nJ.C himselfn J:servant not bigger master
3.1. But that’s not what J. will judges us on n our personal effort out of Love for HIMn living just n walking with G. in obedience n done what he could
4. F. & m. and all children of G. n In eyes of our G. you personal effort is worth it n don’t’ give up!