#223 Noah The Preacher

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P.O. Box 416, Gravette, AR 72736 501-787-6026 Dr. Arnold Murray, DRE

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Newsletter #223 - May 1997 @ 1997 SCN

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those of you that have said at one time "I I d or a,not h er, try to p ant seeds an pass ." God s Word on to others, but no one wants to hsten. We will learn that Noah was a preacher. How successful was Noah as a preacher? There were only eight that boarded the ark. Let's not be too quick to judge Noah, or others for that matter. We are going to begin our study in II Peter.

GENESIS 6:1·2 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them. Z That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

The sons of God are the angels which left their habitation to take wives of the daughters of Adam. Satan knew Messiah would come through the seedline of Adam.

But there were false prophets also among the People, even as there shall be false teach· ers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord That bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

GENESIS 6:3·4 And the LORD said, "My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." ~ There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Over the last several decades, we have seen many "new religions" spring forth. Beware of religions that do not align with God's Word.

The offspring of the "nephi lim " and the daughters of Adam were giants, "geber" in the Hebrew language.

/I PETER 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

GENESIS 6:5 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.

Pernicious means evil. False prophets twist Scrip­ tures to suit their "new religions". Do you remember how Satan tempted Jesus Christ in the wilderness?

The influence of the "nephilim" on man was damaging. How easily man is influenced by something new?

/I PETER 2:1

/I PETER 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Feigned means fabricated or to represent by a false appearance. Their damnation does not sleep, because God is the Judge. He keeps very good records. 11 PETER 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement;

Jude 1:6 tells us the angels that sinned are the "nephilim" which left their habitation to take wives of the daughters of Adam as we will see in a moment. 11 PETER 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in tile flood upon the world of the ungodly;

The word "preacher" in the verse is translated from the Greek word "kerux" (kay-roox). The Greek word means to herald a divine truth. In Noah's case, he heralded, or warned, of a flood. Imagine how Noah and his family must have been mocked and ridiculed. Are you beginning to see how much we have in common with Noah? You see, we are also warning of a flood, the flood of lies that will flow from antichrist's mouth. Let's continue our study in Genesis.

GENESIS 6:6·7 And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. 1 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."

This is prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled; however, it will be fulfilled when Christ returns at the seventh trump. All will be changed from flesh bodies to spiritual bodies (1 Cor. 15:51·54) at that point. GENESIS 6:8·9 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. B THESE are THE GENERATIONS OF NOAH: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

The Hebrew prime of the word "generations" in this verse means pedigree. The women of Noah's family had not been seduced by the angels. The word "perfect" in this verse is from the Hebrew word "tamiym" (taw-meem'). It means without blemish. It was necessary for this seed line through which Christ would come to be without blemish. Noah wasn't taken in by the miraele performing supernatu­ ral fallen angels. Will you be taken in by the miracles performed by antichrist and the fallen angels, when Michael boots them out of heaven and back onto earth? We have much in common with Noah. Let's turn to Matthew 24. Most of you are very familiar with this Chapter. The disciples ask Christ about His return.

MA TTHEW 24:36-37 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 3Z But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Noe is the Greek name Noah. The events leading to the second advent will be exactly as in the days of Noah prior to the flood. MA TTHEW 24:38-39 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, ;JJ1 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; So shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Many will be taken away with the flood that occurs prior to Christ's return, the flood of lies pouring from Satan's mouth. MA TTHEW 24:40-41 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 111 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Christ Himself tells us in verse 26 of this chapter not to believe anyone that tells you He is here or there. Stay in the field working and watching. MATTHEW 24: 42-43 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. ~ But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

The point is that no one that knows what hour a thief would come would be surprised and allow their house to be broken into. They would be ready.

I PETER 3:14-15 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; !Ii But sanctify the LORD God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear:

With reverence and meekness, we should always be ready to testify of the hope, Jesus Christ, that is in us. I PETER 3:16-17 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conver­ sation in Christ. 1Z For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing.

It is a badge of honor to suffer for well doing. I PETER 3:18-19 For Christ also hath for sins, the Just for the unjust. that he to God, being put to death in the flesh, by the Spirit: !Ii By which also he went unto the spirits in prison,

once suffered might bring us but quickened and preached

Jesus Christ did nothing but good, and He suffered for you on the cross. Who are these prisoners? I PETER 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Let's skip to Chapter 4 for more on these prisoners. I PETER 4:4-5 Wherein they run not with them to the same evil of you: ~ Who shall give ready to judge the quick and

think it strange that ye excess of riot, speaking account to Him That is the dead.

The word "quick" means living. MA TTHEW 24:44-45

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. ~ Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

I PETER 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

The faithful and wise servant gives his household· the meat of God's Word so they are prepared for the season of antichrist. Noah might not seem to have been a successful preacher to some; however, I don't know of anyone that would argue that he wasn't faithful. While we are on the subject, let's go to Chapter 25 for one verse.

What is the point? At the time of Noah, Christ had not yet been crucified on the cross. Christ went to those that had died before His sacrifice to offer them the same salvation available to those that pass away after the crucifixion. Christ preached the gospel and gave them an opportunity to wash their sins in His biood.

MATTHEW 25:21 His lord said unto him, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.'

Was Noah a successful preacher? How many of the spirits in prison that Noah had preached to in the flesh were saved? The Bible states "many". Some of those saved probably said, "Wow, old Noah knew what he was talking about". Don't worry that people won't listen to you. They didn't listen to Noah. Plant seeds, and allow God to do the rest. As some of you are delivered up to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you, the seeds you planted before will begin to grow. Don't count those seeds out. It "ain't" over until Satan sings in the lake of fire. Keep planting those seeds. Don't become discour­ aged.

Jesus doesn't say anything about successful. This is one thing you sure want to have in common with Noah. Noah set the example for you. Remain faithful to the Lord as we prepare for the flood of this generation. In closing let's tum to I Peter. Think about the seeds that you have planted that you think didn't produce fruit as we study the next scripture. PETER 3:12-13 For the eyes of the LORD are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the LORD is against them that do evil. 1;1 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? I

No one! We have power over all of our enemies.