The Integrity of Enduring Obedience, Part 3

Can you imagine what it was like for no one's assignment was to fill his man-made wooden vessel with escapees, both human and animal seeking refuge from the great flood onlookers stopping old patriarch lost his mind today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll searches the Scriptures for details. In the process will admire the way Noah ignored those who mocked him, never wavered from God's command. Ultimately, though his character was salvaged. He was right all along. Let's pick up the message.

Chuck started last week titled the integrity of enduring will be in your Genesis chapter 6 verse five really it's a frightening scene look for yourself. The Lord observe the extent of human wickedness on the earth. He saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil so the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. The new living translation says it broke his heart. The Hebrew text says literally.

He agreed unto his heart.

Here is earth that is wholly given to evil.

God saw that the inhabitants of the earth only evil continually Hebrew text reads evil the whole day is not an interesting way to put it all alright every day every week every month every year constantly habitually evil words. So begins turn our attention to God's plan, which he tells us about before he even tells Noah so the Lord was sorry verse seven he goes on to say, I will wipe the human race. I have created from the face of the earth. That's his right. Since he is sovereign first time the word grace appears in the Scriptures is in this eighth verse of the Genesis 6 Noah found grace. It's really a play on the word is the consonants in reverse. The Hebrew term is and it's translated grace.

Noah found the Lord's grace how good of God to notice when you're reading your Bible and you see the word like but Noah found grace read on and you'll see why because he was a righteous man. He was blameless as a person living on earth at the time.

Amazing. What is corrupt.

Violence is everywhere evil at every turn, but no. But no, not what integrity the entire world situation does not in any way turn his head or draw him into it. His focus is clearly fully and constantly on the Lord is God fact, not only is declared, not sinless but blameless before the Lord, and he walks in close fellowship with God. He's the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Three sons, not God saw the earth was corrupt and filled with violence. He observed all the corruption of the world. So God said up till now Noah has no idea of what we already realize because we were the ones from the narrative, who were brought into the story not know this is Noah's first occasion to hear God's plan and the Lord says to him, I decided to destroy all living creatures for their fill the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with your no pushback from know what no resistance, no argument.

Noah silent truck stays silent for chapters in the account so the Lord goes further. Verse 14 he is a rescue plan. Rescue is available to any who will get him to it.

Build a large boat from Cyprus would waterproof it with tar inside and out, then construct Dixon stalls throughout it. Amazing plan for escape wherever Noah built it got the attention of everyone think about. Furthermore, boats weren't built in that area was in the boatbuilding area for the board never rained water came up from within the earth until the flood, so they're not been writing. Therefore, there never been a flood and then never seen a boat like this we can you imagine the mockery you imagine people who have been described for us rather vividly in verses six, seven and eight of this passage is they would yell at Noah, not one convert when a person is a preacher of righteousness.

He is faithfully declaring the good views. There is hope beyond this life that there is a way of escape, and so when the door was put into place. I am certain that Noel would take advantage of that moment and remind those who are watching with their mouths open.

By now that this door is the way to escape the flood that's coming. But of course they doubted there would be a flood. No reason to believe they thought Bill was losing it. After all of the time the marketability 600 years old. He's getting up in years and they're thinking it's starting to happen. Usual Noah still pounding away on his boat. Not one convert in Noah's case, he told him. In fact in the last verse of this sixth chapter reveals why I called him Amanda enduring obedience integrity of enduring obedience. So no, I did everything exactly as God commanded exactly.

There are many people like that on the planet. The passage goes on to describe how he would take the animals on board two of each that there would be excess animals for the purpose of sacrifice and food for those on board including animals so all of it was thought through and Noah faithfully and consistently decade after decade did everything exactly as God commanded. He's a preacher who stayed at it is not a shipbuilder. He is meticulous and following instructions and he finishes the task and he and his family come on board verse seven of chapter 7 and they escape the flood. He and the wife the sons and their wives with them. With all the various kinds of animals.

Everyone else perished not one convert before you think that is just absolutely remarkable. It's true, some of you have heard the gospel again and again and again you have heard, as with the art. There is one door one door you've argued with it in your mind thinking surely one person cannot die for the sins of the world will that your plan and since you're not in charge under the believe the one who is and he says he who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God through him. There is one God and one media, one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the father but me one door and reread it as the commander got our verse 16 ends God closed the door behind, never to be opened again until the floods are abated of the flood is. It's amazing how this whole story lived on, not only for people to read it.

Just as were doing today in the 21st century, but also as they did with Noah for others to mock. This is one of the most mocked stories by skeptics in all Scripture.

There is a field day with Noah and the ark of the universal flood change the whole geographical use of geological strata of the earth. Trees old measurement of time. The flood chain and the plates within the earth shifted in the waters burst forth the waters rose and rose 40 days and 40 nights. Torrential rains and water from within the until above the highest mountain would be the Himalayas waters covered all of the all. No one, not one convert had believed and so when I turn ahead to the first century, I read the words of Peter turned to his second letter is a very interesting wrap up if you will, to the story of Noah and the Ark and the flood.

I don't want you to miss this. Peter is writing to those in that day and he says in verse three. Most importantly, of chapter 3 were the very end of Peter second letter.

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires, they will say and not Peter quotes them. What I have another promise that Jesus is coming again. If you heard that one. Surely you have it show up last night did he come before your mother died versus promise, implying he's not coming so the mockers all say were the promise of his coming for before the times of our ancestors. Everything is remained the same since the world was first created. Nothing changes all unfolding. There's no interruptions, no climbing of Jesus computer says the wrong there was an interruption verse five. In fact, he says they deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command that he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then look at this reference to the flood.

Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood but the same word the present heavens and the earth have been stored up for fire in the future will not be water it will be fire. It will be some kind of cataclysmic event that will destroy earth describe here in this first century language there being kept for the day of judgment when ungodly people will be destroyed, but you must not forget this one thing, dear friends assured me. Don't forget this day is like a thousand years to the Lord of thousand years like a D. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think watch closely. He's being patient for your sake, you can put your name literature without Christ. He's so he's waiting patiently, giving you one more night to think on this one more day.

He does not want anyone to be destroyed. So before you paint God is dreadfully cruel. Remember they were given 120 years, you're given a lifetime. You hear the truth, the gospel is offered the crosses raised up. You're told that there is one way to reach God, and know him and be in his heaven forever and you continue the resisted it's your call, no one here will embarrass you or force you or courting you and make you look foolish though it is a stupid thing to ignore your only hope of rescue they could come into the ark, but no no further mock the building of it. He does not want anyone to be destroyed. He wants everyone to repent.

The day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief in the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise. The very elements themselves will disappear. There it is again in fire in the earth and everything in it will be found to deserve judgment. He made earth is ever right to do with it as he pleases. So he goes a little further since everyone around us is going to be destroyed like this.

What holy and godly lives. You should live. Speaking to the believer now looking forward to the day of God and in hurrying along that day. He will set the heavens on fire and the elements will melt away in the flames, but we are looking forward to the new heavens and the new word he's promised, a world filled with God's righteousness is like Noah lived just like Noah walked with God. That is an enough reminder so dear friends, while you were waiting for these things to happen make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are poor and blameless in his sight.

Talk about a witness and remember our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved my privilege as a minister of the gospel is to assure you that God tells the truth that there is hope that the door still open. There was one door you may come into that door.

By faith in Jesus. Christ and in coming in, you will be rescued from this kind of future you may choose not to.

Which means you will not be rescued and you will answer to the God who made you who did not want you to perish, but you made that call. You may be the one convert that needed to hear this today and today is your day to trust Christ and with that I rest my case it's valid together.

Please close your eyes and for a few moments.

Examine your heart.

The real question is, what have you done with Jesus Christ.

If you call on him for eternal salvation. If so, your saved your safe. You will be rescued. If you have not, at whatever time the Lord chooses an invalid column and you will be left longing for another opportunity that will not come so knowledgeable believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

You will be saved.

The message of salvation message of hope for you to believe if you've relieved when you're in Christ.

Your challenge is to live a life marked by harmony and peace. Godliness and integrity turn to him now in faith, dear father. We trust you to always tell us the truth and to do so in a way that prevents it to us. Thank you for keeping it simple, declaring it as it is and as it will be and then leaving the result.

The decision with us. I pray that you will cause those who reject the message to know restlessness and misery and a disruption of lifestyle until they find peace with your son Jesus and then having done so they they know the joy of sins forgiven and the hope of eternal life with you in the name of Christ, pray.

Everyone said as you listen today. Perhaps you come to realize you've never taken the step. Chuck Swindoll just described.

Will Insight for living is prepared to help you learn more please.

While God is prompting you to draw near to him take a few minutes to stop by our website to find a variety of helpful resources@insightworld.org. Our topic today the integrity of enduring obedience.

It's the second message in a brand-new teaching series from Chuck Swindoll and right now I'd like to give you a preview of what's ahead because you be pleased to learn Chuck's current series will help us understand how to navigate the days in which we live a chuckle address the subject to maintaining integrity when tempted to compromise to build his case. Chuck will look at one of our biblical heroes Joseph Joseph.

You may remember, was seduced by his bosses wife and refused to submit under pressure and a lot of this relevant topic appoint you to an excellent resource. Chuck wrote a fascinating biography about Joseph called Joseph a man of integrity and forgiveness you or perhaps your book club are looking for an inspirational book to guide your journey this year. We highly recommend Joseph, the man of integrity and forgiveness to purchase a copy.

Call us if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight on or/offer these daily visits with Chuck are made possible through your voluntary donation to give a contribution today go to insight.org/donate or call us listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8880 numbering more than ever insight for living ministries is determined to serve as a lavish garden for people all around the world long to smell the aroma of God's matchless a safe place where imperfect, sinful people were forgiven toward the truth and redeem there's a simple and effective way to leverage your supportive Chuck's Windows ministry become a monthly companion in this emotionally charged heroes were shouting matches were commonplace for people feel voiceless and overlooked and even would you be among those who give generously so that we can spread the fragrance of God's grace to those just a second chance become a monthly companion today.

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Let's introduce people to God says grace all power. This, again, if you're listening in the United States. Call 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/monthly companion join is when Chuck Swindoll talks about the integrity of moral purity Tuesday on insight for living. The preceding message the integrity of enduring obedience was copyrighted in 2021 and 2022 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2022 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved.

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