Welcome to Focus on God's Word. 00:00:29.79\00:00:32.56 My name is Danny Malenkov 00:00:32.59\00:00:33.93 and I am blessed to be leading out in another message, 00:00:33.96\00:00:38.40 looking at this all important topic of Noah, 00:00:38.43\00:00:42.00 the story of Noah from the Book of Genesis. 00:00:42.04\00:00:46.11 And so if you are joining us for the first time, 00:00:46.14\00:00:48.51 I wanna give you a big warm welcome 00:00:48.54\00:00:50.15 wherever you may be joining us from, 00:00:50.18\00:00:51.68 whether it be somewhere here in Australia 00:00:51.71\00:00:54.55 or around the world, a big warm welcome to you. 00:00:54.58\00:00:58.62 I wanna welcome our studio audience here 00:00:58.65\00:01:01.59 at 3ABN in the beautiful lake Macquarie region 00:01:01.62\00:01:05.69 of New South Wales, 00:01:05.73\00:01:07.40 where we are filming this program from. 00:01:07.43\00:01:10.17 It's great to see each and every one of you. 00:01:10.20\00:01:13.03 And today is the third presentation 00:01:13.07\00:01:15.94 or the third message in this series on Noah, 00:01:15.97\00:01:19.27 the overall theme "Noah: Another Storm is Coming." 00:01:19.31\00:01:21.81 And today's message is entitled, 00:01:21.84\00:01:24.35 "She'll be Right, Mate." 00:01:24.38\00:01:28.35 Now, if you're an Australian, 00:01:28.38\00:01:29.95 you full well understand what that term is 00:01:29.98\00:01:32.85 or a New Zealander, but for some of you out there, 00:01:32.89\00:01:35.56 you may be thinking, she'll be right, mate, 00:01:35.59\00:01:37.76 what on earth does that saying communicate. 00:01:37.79\00:01:42.26 We'll be unpacking that as we go. 00:01:42.30\00:01:44.03 You see this saying, she'll be right, mate 00:01:44.07\00:01:46.23 is very much part of Australia's DNA. 00:01:46.27\00:01:49.44 It's built within our DNA from when we exit the womb. 00:01:49.47\00:01:55.41 What does it all mean? 00:01:55.44\00:01:57.38 In a nutshell, that means 00:01:57.41\00:01:58.75 that everything is going to be okay. 00:01:58.78\00:02:01.78 In the end, no matter what happens, 00:02:01.82\00:02:03.69 it's all going to turn out okay. 00:02:03.72\00:02:07.36 You see, in Australia we live in a land 00:02:07.39\00:02:11.29 that's very much laid back. 00:02:11.33\00:02:12.69 Wouldn't you agree? 00:02:12.73\00:02:14.06 We are very much laid back. 00:02:14.10\00:02:15.43 And if anyone's encountered Australians, 00:02:15.46\00:02:17.60 you'll know we're pretty laid back 00:02:17.63\00:02:18.97 it's because, you know, we are surrounded 00:02:19.00\00:02:21.64 by some 50,000 kilometers of coastline. 00:02:21.67\00:02:26.31 That's a lot of coastline, 00:02:26.34\00:02:28.48 we're the sixth largest nation on the planet. 00:02:28.51\00:02:33.01 Those 50,000 kilometers of coastline 00:02:33.05\00:02:35.88 contain 10,000 beaches. 00:02:35.92\00:02:40.52 So if you were to spend just one day 00:02:40.56\00:02:42.99 at every one of those 10,000 beaches, 00:02:43.02\00:02:44.96 you would need 27 years 00:02:44.99\00:02:46.80 to get through all of Australia's 00:02:46.83\00:02:48.96 10,000 beaches. 00:02:49.00\00:02:50.87 We are a nation that is focused very much on the beach. 00:02:50.90\00:02:55.54 Eighty five percent of our population 00:02:55.57\00:02:57.94 lives within 50 kilometers of the coastline. 00:02:57.97\00:03:00.78 So going to the beach and enjoying barbecues, 00:03:00.81\00:03:04.61 having a beer, taking your boat 00:03:04.65\00:03:07.28 is very much part of Australian culture 00:03:07.32\00:03:09.88 and the Australian laid back way of life. 00:03:09.92\00:03:12.99 Sadly, not much time for the Bible, 00:03:13.02\00:03:15.56 although we've got time for everything else. 00:03:15.59\00:03:18.59 So that's a little bit of what it means 00:03:18.63\00:03:21.76 when someone says to you, she'll be right, mate. 00:03:21.80\00:03:24.63 In fact, there's a technical term for it 00:03:24.67\00:03:26.63 I discovered, a technical term 00:03:26.67\00:03:28.94 for she'll be right, mate. 00:03:28.97\00:03:31.04 And this is the technical term, 00:03:31.07\00:03:34.18 it's called normality bias or normalcy bias. 00:03:34.21\00:03:39.98 And the definition for normality bias 00:03:40.02\00:03:43.69 or normalcy bias is, 00:03:43.72\00:03:45.72 a human tendency to respond to threat warnings 00:03:45.75\00:03:49.52 with disbelief or minimization, 00:03:49.56\00:03:51.86 and to similarly underestimate a disaster's deleterious, 00:03:51.89\00:03:56.53 that is causing significant harm or damage, 00:03:56.56\00:03:59.30 effects. 00:03:59.33\00:04:00.67 So that's what it means, this normalcy bias. 00:04:00.70\00:04:05.61 Or she'll be right, mate 00:04:05.64\00:04:06.98 as we like to say here in Australia, 00:04:07.01\00:04:08.64 and our politicians here in Australia 00:04:08.68\00:04:11.01 have been telling us over the last number of months 00:04:11.05\00:04:14.38 ever since COVID came to our town 00:04:14.42\00:04:16.75 and every town around the world 00:04:16.79\00:04:19.09 that we'll get to the other side, 00:04:19.12\00:04:20.59 isn't that right? 00:04:20.62\00:04:21.96 The prime minister, 00:04:21.99\00:04:23.32 our premiers have been getting up 00:04:23.36\00:04:24.96 and they've been reassuring the Australian public that yes, 00:04:24.99\00:04:27.93 life is difficult, it's challenging, 00:04:27.96\00:04:30.47 but you know what, she'll be right, mate. 00:04:30.50\00:04:32.77 We'll get to the other side and we'll come back 00:04:32.80\00:04:35.77 better and stronger as a nation. 00:04:35.80\00:04:38.91 That's the optimistic way of life 00:04:38.94\00:04:41.74 here in Australia. 00:04:41.78\00:04:43.31 And I guess that's what's made Australia what it is today 00:04:43.35\00:04:47.88 and why so many people from around the world 00:04:47.92\00:04:50.05 want to come to these land down under 00:04:50.09\00:04:54.09 that my parents certainly did all those years ago. 00:04:54.12\00:04:57.63 Well, what's this title she'll be right, mate 00:04:57.66\00:05:00.66 have to do with the days of Noah? 00:05:00.70\00:05:02.30 Thank you for asking. That's a good question. 00:05:02.33\00:05:04.50 I mean, you know, Danny, we're talking about 00:05:04.53\00:05:06.60 a very serious subject, the days of Noah. 00:05:06.63\00:05:09.20 Jesus said as it was in the days of Noah, 00:05:09.24\00:05:11.57 so it will be before I arrived. 00:05:11.61\00:05:13.44 What on earth has she'll be right, mate 00:05:13.48\00:05:15.31 have to do with the days of Noah? 00:05:15.34\00:05:17.01 In a word, everything, everything. 00:05:17.05\00:05:19.88 We're going to unpack 00:05:19.91\00:05:21.25 what the Bible has to say on this subject 00:05:21.28\00:05:23.28 and how Jesus described our day 00:05:23.32\00:05:27.99 better than we could even imagine. 00:05:28.02\00:05:30.96 But before that, what do we need to do 00:05:30.99\00:05:32.83 before we open up God's Word? 00:05:32.86\00:05:34.20 We need to pray. That's exactly right. 00:05:34.23\00:05:35.56 So let's pause and pray. 00:05:35.60\00:05:36.97 Father in heaven, 00:05:37.00\00:05:38.43 we're once again here seeking to understand 00:05:38.47\00:05:41.84 what Your Holy Word has to say to us. 00:05:41.87\00:05:44.04 So, Father, as we open up Your Holy Word, 00:05:44.07\00:05:46.68 open up our hearts and our minds 00:05:46.71\00:05:48.18 that we may be ready and willing to receive 00:05:48.21\00:05:51.35 what the Holy Spirit has to say to your people, 00:05:51.38\00:05:54.82 for this is our prayer in Jesus' name. 00:05:54.85\00:05:56.89 Amen. 00:05:56.92\00:05:59.75 I wanna go over the three main points 00:05:59.79\00:06:02.12 that we started off our series and as I pointed out, 00:06:02.16\00:06:05.49 this is our third message in this series of six. 00:06:05.53\00:06:09.13 And these are the three key points 00:06:09.16\00:06:10.83 of why the story of Noah 00:06:10.87\00:06:12.87 is especially relevant 00:06:12.90\00:06:14.60 to those who are living on the Eve of Jesus coming. 00:06:14.64\00:06:18.07 The story of Noah firstly, 00:06:18.11\00:06:19.94 clearly identifies earth's final generation, 00:06:19.97\00:06:22.74 and that's going to become even more clear as we go along. 00:06:22.78\00:06:25.21 Secondly, it enables us to know and understand 00:06:25.25\00:06:28.35 how we can be ready when the Son of Man returns. 00:06:28.38\00:06:31.59 And thirdly, it provides instruction 00:06:31.62\00:06:34.29 on how we can prepare others for Jesus' soon return. 00:06:34.32\00:06:38.83 These are the three key points that I have discovered 00:06:38.86\00:06:42.00 in the story of Noah as I've dug deep, 00:06:42.03\00:06:44.43 very deep into this story 00:06:44.47\00:06:46.57 because Jesus said it was of extreme significance. 00:06:46.60\00:06:49.64 So let's go to the words of Jesus 00:06:49.67\00:06:51.31 in Matthew Chapter 24. 00:06:51.34\00:06:53.58 This is our key passage, as we've pointed out at the end 00:06:53.61\00:06:56.95 of the signs of the times that Jesus gave in Matthew 24. 00:06:56.98\00:07:02.45 He brings the signs of the times 00:07:02.48\00:07:04.65 concerning His coming 00:07:04.69\00:07:06.22 and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. 00:07:06.25\00:07:09.62 These two events, He wove together 00:07:09.66\00:07:13.09 like a powerful beautiful tapestry. 00:07:13.13\00:07:16.56 And He brings the signs of His coming to a conclusion 00:07:16.60\00:07:21.07 with these words. 00:07:21.10\00:07:22.44 And I'm beginning in verse 36, Matthew 24:36, 00:07:22.47\00:07:26.34 Jesus says, "But of that day and hour no one knows, 00:07:26.37\00:07:29.34 not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 00:07:29.38\00:07:32.41 But as the days of Noah were, 00:07:32.45\00:07:34.78 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 00:07:34.82\00:07:37.42 For as in the days before the flood, 00:07:37.45\00:07:39.05 they were eating and drinking, 00:07:39.09\00:07:40.42 marrying and giving in marriage, 00:07:40.46\00:07:41.86 until the day that Noah entered the ark, 00:07:41.89\00:07:44.93 and did not know until the flood came 00:07:44.96\00:07:47.70 and took them all away, 00:07:47.73\00:07:49.16 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." 00:07:49.20\00:07:53.13 Jesus, crystal clear as it was in the days of Noah, 00:07:53.17\00:07:57.37 so it will be when He returns and life was going on, 00:07:57.41\00:08:01.94 it was just as it always was. 00:08:01.98\00:08:04.91 Now let's go to the passage there in Luke, 00:08:04.95\00:08:08.65 because in Luke there, 00:08:08.68\00:08:10.05 we have not only the days of Noah 00:08:10.09\00:08:12.39 described by Luke, 00:08:12.42\00:08:13.76 but he also adds what Matthew omits. 00:08:13.79\00:08:16.26 Matthew omits the story of Lot. 00:08:16.29\00:08:19.86 But Luke includes that 00:08:19.89\00:08:22.36 as he reflects on the words of Jesus. 00:08:22.40\00:08:24.63 So in Luke Chapter 17, 00:08:24.67\00:08:27.00 and we're picking it up in verse 26. 00:08:27.04\00:08:29.64 Luke 17: 26, 00:08:29.67\00:08:32.01 "And as it was in the days of Noah, 00:08:32.04\00:08:33.68 so it will also be in the days of the Son of Man: 00:08:33.71\00:08:37.41 They ate, they drank, they married wives, 00:08:37.45\00:08:39.58 they were given in marriage, 00:08:39.61\00:08:41.18 until the day that Noah entered the ark, 00:08:41.22\00:08:43.32 and the flood came and destroyed them all. 00:08:43.35\00:08:45.45 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: 00:08:45.49\00:08:48.59 They ate, they drank, they bought, 00:08:48.62\00:08:50.63 they sold, they planted, they built, 00:08:50.66\00:08:52.73 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom, 00:08:52.76\00:08:55.20 it rained fire and brimstone from heaven 00:08:55.23\00:08:57.97 and destroyed them all. 00:08:58.00\00:08:59.60 Even so will it be in the day 00:08:59.63\00:09:01.97 when the Son of Man is revealed." 00:09:02.00\00:09:04.21 Now I find it absolutely fascinating 00:09:04.24\00:09:06.81 that Jesus here in Matthew and in Luke, 00:09:06.84\00:09:10.55 as it's recorded by Matthew and Luke, 00:09:10.58\00:09:12.38 he does not zero in on the violence 00:09:12.41\00:09:16.12 as we've discovered the wickedness, 00:09:16.15\00:09:18.25 the evil, the corruption, 00:09:18.29\00:09:20.79 even the population explosion that we discovered in Genesis. 00:09:20.82\00:09:25.36 But instead He focuses on every day activities. 00:09:25.39\00:09:29.80 Now, is there anything wrong with eating and drinking? 00:09:29.83\00:09:33.23 Not necessarily, I guess it depends 00:09:33.27\00:09:34.80 what you're eating and drinking. 00:09:34.84\00:09:36.50 Is there anything wrong with getting married? 00:09:36.54\00:09:39.07 Well, once again, do I need to fill in the blank? 00:09:39.11\00:09:43.65 Well, it does matter who you're married, doesn't it, 00:09:43.68\00:09:45.68 as we discovered the flood 00:09:45.71\00:09:48.38 was the direct result of the sons of God, 00:09:48.42\00:09:51.19 the righteous marrying the unrighteous, 00:09:51.22\00:09:55.96 the daughters of men. 00:09:55.99\00:09:57.33 We discovered that in Genesis Chapter 6. 00:09:57.36\00:09:58.76 So it does make a big difference. 00:09:58.79\00:10:01.10 It does make a big difference, 00:10:01.13\00:10:02.46 but there's nothing wrong per se with marriage. 00:10:02.50\00:10:04.17 It comes from God. 00:10:04.20\00:10:05.53 God is the one that gave us food and drink. 00:10:05.57\00:10:07.87 God is the one that gives us marriage. 00:10:07.90\00:10:09.37 Is there anything wrong 00:10:09.40\00:10:11.07 with buying and selling, building and planting? 00:10:11.11\00:10:14.58 No, there isn't. 00:10:14.61\00:10:16.41 So why is Jesus honing in 00:10:16.44\00:10:19.28 on these every day activities? 00:10:19.31\00:10:23.99 There's a reason, a very important reason 00:10:24.02\00:10:27.39 why Jesus zeroes in 00:10:27.42\00:10:30.13 on the everyday activities. 00:10:30.16\00:10:34.23 A very good reason which we're gonna get to 00:10:34.26\00:10:37.17 in just a moment. 00:10:37.20\00:10:38.53 But before that, 00:10:38.57\00:10:40.80 we have been given these instructions 00:10:40.84\00:10:44.41 from Scripture. 00:10:44.44\00:10:45.77 We have been given the example of Noah 00:10:45.81\00:10:49.14 and of Lot by Jesus Christ Himself 00:10:49.18\00:10:52.58 in order that we may be prepared, 00:10:52.61\00:10:56.42 so that we too may not end up 00:10:56.45\00:11:00.92 as the antediluvians 00:11:00.96\00:11:02.99 and as the people of the days of Lot 00:11:03.02\00:11:05.96 who were sadly lost and destroyed. 00:11:05.99\00:11:08.50 George Santayana, 00:11:08.53\00:11:10.37 he's a famous Spanish born philosopher 00:11:10.40\00:11:13.10 who lived during the 19th and the 20th century. 00:11:13.13\00:11:16.77 He is most famous for the statement that he made. 00:11:16.81\00:11:21.51 He said, "Those who do not remember 00:11:21.54\00:11:23.75 the past are condemned to" do what? 00:11:23.78\00:11:27.25 "Repeat it." 00:11:27.28\00:11:28.85 Those who do not remember the past 00:11:28.88\00:11:32.05 are condemned to repeat it. 00:11:32.09\00:11:35.96 Jesus wants us to learn from the past. 00:11:35.99\00:11:39.69 That is why we have been given these two examples, 00:11:39.73\00:11:42.86 the days of Noah and the days of Lot. 00:11:42.90\00:11:44.93 And that is why Jesus zeroes in on everyday life. 00:11:44.97\00:11:49.10 So let's take a look 00:11:49.14\00:11:50.91 at what was happening in the days of Noah and Lot, 00:11:50.94\00:11:54.14 but especially Noah 00:11:54.18\00:11:55.91 as he is our focus 00:11:55.94\00:11:58.05 and compare it to what is happening today. 00:11:58.08\00:12:00.45 And let us see, let us see if we can see 00:12:00.48\00:12:04.65 our carbon copy to what was happening back then 00:12:04.69\00:12:08.22 to what is happening today. 00:12:08.26\00:12:10.26 Firstly, as we take a look at the days of Noah, 00:12:10.29\00:12:15.46 "As it was, so it will be," Jesus said. 00:12:15.50\00:12:18.37 The first thing that we discover 00:12:18.40\00:12:20.40 is that it was business as usual, 00:12:20.44\00:12:23.34 business as usual. 00:12:23.37\00:12:24.84 It was an attitude of business as usual. 00:12:24.87\00:12:29.44 Normal, everyday activities, buying, building, planting, 00:12:29.48\00:12:34.65 selling, eating, drinking, marrying, 00:12:34.68\00:12:37.29 they are normal everyday activities. 00:12:37.32\00:12:40.96 Have a look at what Jesus said in Matthew 24:40 00:12:40.99\00:12:44.23 regarding life going on business as usual. 00:12:44.26\00:12:47.86 Matthew 24, 00:12:47.90\00:12:49.70 sorry, Matthew 24 and I'm in verse 40 and 41. 00:12:49.73\00:12:55.27 Jesus here after He speaks of the days of Noah, 00:12:55.30\00:12:59.04 so it will be when I come. 00:12:59.07\00:13:01.11 He immediately continues on with these words in verse 40. 00:13:01.14\00:13:04.68 "Then two men will be in the field: 00:13:04.71\00:13:06.58 one will be taken and the other will be left. 00:13:06.61\00:13:09.22 Two women will be grinding at the mill: 00:13:09.25\00:13:11.75 one will be taken, the other will be left." 00:13:11.79\00:13:15.39 What's Jesus here trying to communicate? 00:13:15.42\00:13:17.96 He is communicating everyday life. 00:13:17.99\00:13:20.20 You see 2000 years ago in Jesus' day, 00:13:20.23\00:13:23.43 an everyday activity for men was to be where? 00:13:23.47\00:13:28.27 In the field, working in the field. 00:13:28.30\00:13:30.47 For the women an everyday activity 00:13:30.51\00:13:33.58 wants to be doing what? 00:13:33.61\00:13:35.14 At the mill, grinding, preparing food for the family. 00:13:35.18\00:13:39.81 It's interesting in Luke 17:34, 00:13:39.85\00:13:42.68 Jesus adds one more element that Luke includes. 00:13:42.72\00:13:47.26 He says, "I tell you, in that night," 00:13:47.29\00:13:50.13 speaking of His coming, 00:13:50.16\00:13:52.29 "there will be two men in one bed." 00:13:52.33\00:13:55.20 Okay, now we're not, let's not jump to conclusions, 00:13:55.23\00:13:59.83 like what Jesus here is saying is exactly, 00:13:59.87\00:14:02.14 there's gonna be two men, okay? 00:14:02.17\00:14:04.11 They're going to be sleeping, 00:14:04.14\00:14:05.47 not necessarily in the same bed, 00:14:05.51\00:14:07.08 but they're going to be two beds. 00:14:07.11\00:14:10.95 The one will be taken and the other will be left. 00:14:10.98\00:14:16.38 Sleeping, 00:14:16.42\00:14:17.75 is there anything wrong with sleeping? 00:14:17.79\00:14:20.19 No, that's an everyday 00:14:20.22\00:14:21.99 or should I say an every night activity. 00:14:22.02\00:14:25.43 So Jesus here, once again, 00:14:25.46\00:14:26.80 He's pointing out everyday activities. 00:14:26.83\00:14:29.40 One will be ready, one won't be ready. 00:14:29.43\00:14:33.54 Let's take a look at the second point. 00:14:33.57\00:14:35.74 The second point, the main focus in Noah's day, 00:14:35.77\00:14:40.81 in Lot's day 00:14:40.84\00:14:42.18 was on accumulating the goods of this world 00:14:42.21\00:14:45.51 rather than worshiping the Creator God 00:14:45.55\00:14:48.28 who provided the goods. 00:14:48.32\00:14:49.95 I like to refer to this in two words, 00:14:49.98\00:14:53.15 perilous priorities, perilous priorities, 00:14:53.19\00:14:57.79 focusing on the here and now 00:14:57.83\00:15:00.36 rather than on the things to come. 00:15:00.40\00:15:03.47 The kingdom of this world 00:15:03.50\00:15:05.23 and building up the kingdom of this world 00:15:05.27\00:15:07.50 rather than zeroing in and focusing on building up 00:15:07.54\00:15:11.94 the things that really matter, the kingdom of heaven. 00:15:11.97\00:15:15.11 Going back to Luke Chapter 17. 00:15:15.14\00:15:18.38 Fascinating words here from Jesus. 00:15:18.41\00:15:20.32 And I'm picking it up this time in verse 31. 00:15:20.35\00:15:22.95 So we've read about the days of Noah 00:15:22.98\00:15:24.82 and the days of Lot. 00:15:24.85\00:15:26.19 And Jesus continues in verse 31 of Luke Chapter 17. 00:15:26.22\00:15:29.69 "In that day, Jesus says, he who is on the housetop, 00:15:29.72\00:15:34.10 and his goods are in the house, 00:15:34.13\00:15:36.73 let him not come down and take them away. 00:15:36.77\00:15:39.40 And likewise, the one who is in the field, 00:15:39.43\00:15:42.10 let him not turn back. 00:15:42.14\00:15:44.27 Remember whose wife? 00:15:44.31\00:15:46.57 Lot's wife. 00:15:46.61\00:15:47.94 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, 00:15:47.98\00:15:50.51 and whoever loses his life will preserve it." 00:15:50.55\00:15:53.55 What is Jesus here saying? 00:15:53.58\00:15:56.12 Jesus is saying, don't get caught up 00:15:56.15\00:15:59.05 in the things of this world. 00:15:59.09\00:16:01.56 And just in case, we're not quite sure 00:16:01.59\00:16:04.23 what Jesus is referring to. 00:16:04.26\00:16:05.59 He says, remember who? 00:16:05.63\00:16:07.73 Remember Lot's wife. 00:16:07.76\00:16:10.73 Now what happened to Lot's wife? 00:16:10.77\00:16:13.30 Well, she turned into a pillar of salt. 00:16:13.34\00:16:16.40 Now, why did she turn into a pillar of salt? 00:16:16.44\00:16:18.57 That is because whilst Lot's wife left Sodom 00:16:18.61\00:16:23.71 with her husband and her two daughters, 00:16:23.75\00:16:27.45 while she left physically 00:16:27.48\00:16:30.52 her heart was still attached to Sodom 00:16:30.55\00:16:35.06 and she turned back. 00:16:35.09\00:16:36.93 She turned back and as a result, 00:16:36.96\00:16:40.00 she ended up a pillar of salt. 00:16:40.03\00:16:42.10 The angels clearly gave instructions to Lot 00:16:42.13\00:16:46.10 and his wife and his daughters do not look back, 00:16:46.13\00:16:50.61 run for your lives, do not look back, 00:16:50.64\00:16:53.17 and that's here what Jesus is trying to say. 00:16:53.21\00:16:55.18 Jesus is saying, don't look back at this world. 00:16:55.21\00:16:57.38 This world is perishing. 00:16:57.41\00:16:58.75 It's perishing. 00:16:58.78\00:17:00.38 It's due for destruction, instead look up, as Jesus said, 00:17:00.42\00:17:04.75 look up as your redemption is drawing near 00:17:04.79\00:17:07.66 and that's in Luke Chapter 21. 00:17:07.69\00:17:10.49 Now, how should we respond? 00:17:10.53\00:17:13.26 Where should our focus be? 00:17:13.29\00:17:14.96 Noah is our example. Noah is our example. 00:17:15.00\00:17:17.63 Jesus said as it was in the days of Noah 00:17:17.67\00:17:19.43 so it will be when I come. 00:17:19.47\00:17:21.24 Notice we're reading Genesis 6:8-9. 00:17:21.27\00:17:25.87 "But Noah found" what in the eyes of the Lord? 00:17:25.91\00:17:28.51 "Grace in the eyes of the Lord." 00:17:28.54\00:17:29.88 In verse 9, "This is the genealogy of Noah. 00:17:29.91\00:17:33.21 Noah was a just man perfect in his generations. 00:17:33.25\00:17:36.18 And Noah walked with God." 00:17:36.22\00:17:38.39 Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 00:17:38.42\00:17:42.96 You and I need to be focused 00:17:42.99\00:17:47.60 on the things of eternity 00:17:47.63\00:17:49.23 and right at the very heart 00:17:49.26\00:17:51.47 of the things of eternity is what? 00:17:51.50\00:17:53.40 God's grace. 00:17:53.44\00:17:54.87 We've discovered in our previous presentation 00:17:54.90\00:17:58.17 that at the very heart of the story of Noah is what? 00:17:58.21\00:18:02.01 God's grace, God's faithfulness to Noah. 00:18:02.04\00:18:06.28 In fact, the very heart, the very center, 00:18:06.31\00:18:09.52 the very bull's-eye, 00:18:09.55\00:18:10.89 as we discovered in our previous message 00:18:10.92\00:18:12.92 of the story of Noah, is what, 00:18:12.95\00:18:15.52 is what chapter and what verse 00:18:15.56\00:18:16.93 in the story of Noah? 00:18:16.96\00:18:18.66 Genesis 8:1, 00:18:18.69\00:18:21.56 "And God remembered Noah." 00:18:21.60\00:18:25.77 Noah was an individual who experienced God's grace. 00:18:25.80\00:18:30.21 He embraced God's grace. 00:18:30.24\00:18:32.21 And then the Bible says, 00:18:32.24\00:18:33.58 he was a preacher of righteousness. 00:18:33.61\00:18:35.28 He was a preacher of God's grace. 00:18:35.31\00:18:37.25 He communicated God's grace to his family, 00:18:37.28\00:18:42.72 to his friends, 00:18:42.75\00:18:44.09 to all who were willing to hear about God's grace. 00:18:44.12\00:18:47.42 He was a man, according to the scriptures, 00:18:47.46\00:18:49.59 who was blameless, who was filled with integrity. 00:18:49.62\00:18:52.49 He walked with God, he walked and talked with God, 00:18:52.53\00:18:56.26 just like Enoch in Genesis Chapter 5. 00:18:56.30\00:18:59.70 So that is where our focus needs to be. 00:18:59.73\00:19:02.34 Jesus is saying, may your focus be 00:19:02.37\00:19:06.47 on the things of the kingdom of God, 00:19:06.51\00:19:08.51 not the things of the kingdom of this world. 00:19:08.54\00:19:11.38 Remember whose wife? 00:19:11.41\00:19:13.52 Remember Lot's wife. 00:19:13.55\00:19:14.95 And I think that's a... 00:19:14.98\00:19:16.32 I think that's something we ought to be doing 00:19:16.35\00:19:17.69 each and every day, don't you? 00:19:17.72\00:19:19.82 Each and every day 00:19:19.85\00:19:21.19 we ought to be remembering Lot's wife. 00:19:21.22\00:19:24.23 Why? 00:19:24.26\00:19:25.69 Because that helps us to focus on remembering our Creator God. 00:19:25.73\00:19:31.40 Not getting caught up in the goods of this world 00:19:31.43\00:19:35.50 and neglecting the God of this world 00:19:35.54\00:19:39.21 who has provided those gifts. 00:19:39.24\00:19:42.01 Thirdly, well, before we get to there, 00:19:42.04\00:19:45.48 Jesus spoke of where our focus ought to be 00:19:45.51\00:19:48.38 in Matthew 6. 00:19:48.42\00:19:50.02 Matthew 6:19-21 and onwards Jesus said, 00:19:50.05\00:19:54.76 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, 00:19:54.79\00:19:57.26 where moth and rust destroy 00:19:57.29\00:19:58.83 and where thieves break in and steal, 00:19:58.86\00:20:01.40 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 00:20:01.43\00:20:03.77 where neither moth nor rust destroys 00:20:03.80\00:20:06.10 and where thieves do not break in and steal." 00:20:06.13\00:20:09.14 He goes on, "For where your treasure is, 00:20:09.17\00:20:11.37 there your heart will be also." 00:20:11.41\00:20:15.74 Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. 00:20:15.78\00:20:18.91 He goes on in verse 31 and he says, 00:20:18.95\00:20:23.18 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' 00:20:23.22\00:20:26.19 Or what shall we drink?'" 00:20:26.22\00:20:28.12 What did Jesus speak of 00:20:28.16\00:20:29.62 as it was in the days of Noah they were eating and what? 00:20:29.66\00:20:32.83 Drinking. 00:20:32.86\00:20:35.26 "Or what shall we wear?" 00:20:35.30\00:20:37.00 He goes on, "For after these things, 00:20:37.03\00:20:39.90 the Gentiles seek. 00:20:39.93\00:20:41.30 For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things, 00:20:41.34\00:20:44.37 but instead seek," what? 00:20:44.41\00:20:45.94 "Seek first," what? 00:20:45.97\00:20:47.58 "The kingdom of God and His righteousness 00:20:47.61\00:20:50.41 and all these things shall be added unto you." 00:20:50.45\00:20:53.11 Noah was a man of righteousness 00:20:53.15\00:20:55.88 and Noah was a man who preached a message 00:20:55.92\00:20:58.65 of righteousness by faith. 00:20:58.69\00:21:01.16 And that is what God's plan is for each and every one of us, 00:21:01.19\00:21:05.36 for us to seek first the things of His kingdom. 00:21:05.39\00:21:10.03 In fact, Noah, he invested his resources, 00:21:10.07\00:21:14.84 all of his resources in the ark. 00:21:14.87\00:21:16.84 Isn't that right? 00:21:16.87\00:21:18.21 He invested all of his resources in the ark 00:21:18.24\00:21:20.78 and then someone once put it, his shares floated. 00:21:20.81\00:21:25.11 His shares floated, and they did indeed. 00:21:25.15\00:21:29.18 Everything else perished, 00:21:29.22\00:21:30.59 except for that which Noah invested, 00:21:30.62\00:21:32.65 and he invested everything in the work of God 00:21:32.69\00:21:35.96 and the salvation of humanity. 00:21:35.99\00:21:39.86 Number three, 00:21:39.89\00:21:41.43 things that we can learn from the story of Noah, 00:21:41.46\00:21:44.57 signs and warnings given, signs and warnings ignored. 00:21:44.60\00:21:50.24 Did God give ample signs and warnings 00:21:50.27\00:21:54.24 to the people of Noah's day? 00:21:54.28\00:21:56.68 Yes, indeed. 00:21:56.71\00:21:58.11 Let me put it to you in this way. 00:21:58.15\00:22:00.55 There is nothing more frightening, 00:22:00.58\00:22:03.69 there is nothing more scary to put it in simple language 00:22:03.72\00:22:09.26 than facing a stupendous crime unprepared. 00:22:09.29\00:22:13.40 Isn't that true? 00:22:13.43\00:22:14.96 There is nothing more, nothing more. 00:22:15.00\00:22:17.73 Whenever there's a major storm 00:22:17.77\00:22:21.57 or there's some major fire taking place, 00:22:21.60\00:22:25.04 we have our politicians 00:22:25.07\00:22:26.81 and people from the various authorities 00:22:26.84\00:22:30.68 come on TV and on the radio 00:22:30.71\00:22:32.05 and they give warnings, don't they? 00:22:32.08\00:22:33.72 They give warnings. 00:22:33.75\00:22:35.08 You know, we have cyclones especially up north. 00:22:35.12\00:22:37.95 I don't know if any of you have experienced the cyclone. 00:22:37.99\00:22:40.22 I've just seen it on the news and it looks terrifying, 00:22:40.26\00:22:42.62 but there are warnings given. 00:22:42.66\00:22:44.59 Warnings are given not to scare us, 00:22:44.63\00:22:46.63 but to prepare us. 00:22:46.66\00:22:49.16 God always gives a warning before any significant event 00:22:49.20\00:22:54.20 that impacts humans. 00:22:54.24\00:22:56.87 Notice what we find in Amos 3:7. 00:22:56.91\00:22:59.47 In Amos 3: 7, we read these words. 00:22:59.51\00:23:02.28 This is God speaking, 00:23:02.31\00:23:03.98 "Surely the Lord God does" how much? 00:23:04.01\00:23:06.98 "Nothing, unless he reveals His secret 00:23:07.02\00:23:09.35 to His servants the prophets." 00:23:09.38\00:23:12.75 In the days of Noah, 00:23:12.79\00:23:15.26 there were ample warnings that a flood was coming. 00:23:15.29\00:23:20.03 Let me give you just several. 00:23:20.06\00:23:22.10 Firstly, Noah preached for 120 years, 00:23:22.13\00:23:26.94 he preached for 120 years. 00:23:26.97\00:23:30.34 And by the way, 00:23:30.37\00:23:32.57 before we move on to the next point, 00:23:32.61\00:23:34.91 you know what I discovered? 00:23:34.94\00:23:36.34 Something, I didn't know before, 00:23:36.38\00:23:37.71 until I examined the story very closely. 00:23:37.75\00:23:41.18 And that is that God gave the message to Noah 00:23:41.22\00:23:45.15 that a worldwide flood was coming 00:23:45.19\00:23:47.16 and that he was to be the one 00:23:47.19\00:23:49.42 to give the message to the world. 00:23:49.46\00:23:52.43 When Noah was 480 years old, 00:23:52.46\00:23:56.36 the flood came in the 600th year 00:23:56.40\00:23:58.83 of Noah's life. 00:23:58.87\00:24:00.20 So it was 480 years. 00:24:00.24\00:24:04.57 Do you know that Noah, 00:24:04.61\00:24:06.54 according to the scriptures 00:24:06.57\00:24:08.58 only had his sons in the 500th year of his life? 00:24:08.61\00:24:14.48 Could it be that Noah 00:24:14.52\00:24:16.48 was without children for 480 years, 00:24:16.52\00:24:20.92 for 500 years without children? 00:24:20.96\00:24:23.69 There is no record of him 00:24:23.73\00:24:25.06 having any children prior to this. 00:24:25.09\00:24:27.96 Talk about a man of faith. 00:24:28.00\00:24:29.33 If that is the case, 00:24:29.36\00:24:30.70 we'll find out one day, for sure, 00:24:30.73\00:24:32.27 could it be that he was like Abraham, 00:24:32.30\00:24:34.84 who didn't have a child for so long 00:24:34.87\00:24:37.67 and in that day and age, and in that culture, 00:24:37.71\00:24:39.74 just like today in many cultures, 00:24:39.77\00:24:42.11 not to have children is a big deal, a very big deal. 00:24:42.14\00:24:45.88 And yet he was what? 00:24:45.91\00:24:47.25 Faithful to God. 00:24:47.28\00:24:48.62 He was faithful to God. 00:24:48.65\00:24:49.98 That's just a little aside, but a powerful point. 00:24:50.02\00:24:52.79 Noah preached for 120 years. 00:24:52.82\00:24:54.52 Noah built an ark or a boat that was clear evidence 00:24:54.56\00:24:59.09 that there was something on the way. 00:24:59.13\00:25:00.93 Number three, the Methuselah prophecy. 00:25:00.96\00:25:04.57 Now, what is the Methuselah prophecy? 00:25:04.60\00:25:07.80 You see Methuselah was the son of Enoch. 00:25:07.84\00:25:11.27 Enoch was the first prophet in the Bible. 00:25:11.31\00:25:13.94 And in fact, he prophesied concerning the coming of Jesus. 00:25:13.98\00:25:17.48 And you can read about that in the Book of Jude, 00:25:17.51\00:25:20.08 the last book before Revelation. 00:25:20.12\00:25:25.49 Methuselah, 00:25:25.52\00:25:28.06 his name is made up of two Hebrew words 00:25:28.09\00:25:32.33 and notice what those two words are in reference to. 00:25:32.36\00:25:35.96 "Methuselah," 00:25:36.00\00:25:37.33 and this is from Strong's Concordance, 00:25:37.37\00:25:39.03 "'to send a weapon or dart or his death sends.' 00:25:39.07\00:25:43.30 Possible meaning, 'when he dies, the weapon 00:25:43.34\00:25:45.67 or dart shall be sent, ' or when he dies, 00:25:45.71\00:25:48.38 it shall come to be or come to pass.'" 00:25:48.41\00:25:53.25 Here's another interesting observation 00:25:53.28\00:25:56.75 by Jeff Benner 00:25:56.79\00:25:58.69 from the Ancient Hebrew Research Center. 00:25:58.72\00:26:01.42 And this is what he says, 00:26:01.46\00:26:02.79 "It is interesting to note that the year Methuselah died, 00:26:02.82\00:26:06.26 something very big was sent, that is the flood. 00:26:06.29\00:26:09.26 Methuselah's name may be a prophecy 00:26:09.30\00:26:11.60 that on the day of his death, 00:26:11.63\00:26:13.50 'his death will send' the flood.'" 00:26:13.54\00:26:18.11 The year that Methuselah died was the year of the flood. 00:26:18.14\00:26:23.78 Have you ever asked yourself, 00:26:23.81\00:26:25.15 why did Methuselah live the longest? 00:26:25.18\00:26:28.82 He lived for 969 years. 00:26:28.85\00:26:32.09 There is no one in recorded history 00:26:32.12\00:26:34.66 that has lived that long. 00:26:34.69\00:26:36.02 He has lived the longest 969 years. 00:26:36.06\00:26:38.93 Why did Methuselah live for 969 years? 00:26:38.96\00:26:43.67 He died the very year of the flood. 00:26:43.70\00:26:46.53 And you can work that out by 00:26:46.57\00:26:48.27 taking a look at Genesis Chapter 5 00:26:48.30\00:26:50.91 and Genesis Chapter 7, the dates are all, sorry, 00:26:50.94\00:26:54.74 the times are all there. 00:26:54.78\00:26:57.55 Nine hundred and sixty nine years he lived 00:26:57.58\00:27:01.48 right up until the year of the flood and then he died. 00:27:01.52\00:27:06.02 His name was a prophecy. 00:27:06.05\00:27:08.89 So they had Methuselah in their midst 00:27:08.92\00:27:11.33 whose name when he dies, 00:27:11.36\00:27:13.83 it shall come to pass. 00:27:13.86\00:27:15.33 And what's Noah preaching? 00:27:15.36\00:27:16.70 Noah's preaching that a flood is coming 00:27:16.73\00:27:20.54 and God gave this message through Enoch, 00:27:20.57\00:27:25.31 through his son Methuselah 00:27:25.34\00:27:27.51 as an added warning, as an added evidence 00:27:27.54\00:27:31.55 that the flood was coming. 00:27:31.58\00:27:34.95 Fourthly, 00:27:34.98\00:27:37.12 the animals mysteriously make their way into the ark. 00:27:37.15\00:27:42.79 The mysterious animal parade two by two 00:27:42.82\00:27:48.53 of the unclean animals, 00:27:48.56\00:27:50.00 male and female, and seven pairs, 00:27:50.03\00:27:53.50 male and female of all the clean animals 00:27:53.54\00:27:56.17 making their way mysteriously into the ark. 00:27:56.20\00:27:59.84 Now, do you think if you saw that happening here, 00:27:59.87\00:28:05.45 where you live 00:28:05.48\00:28:06.82 down the main street of Cooranbong 00:28:06.85\00:28:08.85 or down the main street of Morisset, 00:28:08.88\00:28:10.92 if all of a sudden you saw animals, 00:28:10.95\00:28:14.76 male and female, two by two, 00:28:14.79\00:28:16.62 heading down the main road to the train station, 00:28:16.66\00:28:21.26 would you be wondering what on earth is going on? 00:28:21.30\00:28:25.07 I would. 00:28:25.10\00:28:27.64 They saw all this in the days of Noah 00:28:27.67\00:28:30.21 and yet they still chose to reject those warnings, 00:28:30.24\00:28:35.04 those clear warnings. 00:28:35.08\00:28:36.41 I mean, how much more clear could God have been? 00:28:36.44\00:28:40.62 How much clearer could God have been? 00:28:40.65\00:28:45.45 And then another point, 00:28:45.49\00:28:48.62 scoffers mockers and skeptics. 00:28:48.66\00:28:52.36 There were sadly scoffers mockers 00:28:52.39\00:28:54.30 and skeptics in the days of Noah. 00:28:54.33\00:28:57.93 Even though they had all this evidence, 00:28:57.97\00:29:00.24 they still scoffed at the warnings that Noah gave. 00:29:00.27\00:29:05.34 Notice what we read in 2 Peter 3:3-6. 00:29:05.37\00:29:10.85 He writes, 00:29:10.88\00:29:12.21 "Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in" 00:29:12.25\00:29:15.55 what days? 00:29:15.58\00:29:17.15 "In the last days walking according to their own lusts, 00:29:17.19\00:29:19.62 and saying, 00:29:19.65\00:29:20.99 'Where is the promise of His coming? 00:29:21.02\00:29:22.66 For since the fathers fell asleep, 00:29:22.69\00:29:24.49 all things continue 00:29:24.53\00:29:25.86 as they were from the beginning of creation." 00:29:25.89\00:29:28.96 Are we living in such a time as this? 00:29:29.00\00:29:31.60 Yes, indeed. 00:29:31.63\00:29:32.97 Are people scoffing 00:29:33.00\00:29:34.34 at the promise of the Second Coming of Christ? 00:29:34.37\00:29:37.11 Yes, they are. 00:29:37.14\00:29:38.47 Now notice what Peter goes on and says 00:29:38.51\00:29:40.88 and how he links the scoffers of the last days 00:29:40.91\00:29:44.38 to the scoffers back in the day of Noah. 00:29:44.41\00:29:47.98 Notice these words, we continue reading, 00:29:48.02\00:29:50.29 "For this they willfully forget, 00:29:50.32\00:29:52.15 that is scoffers in the last days, 00:29:52.19\00:29:54.72 "they willfully forget 00:29:54.76\00:29:56.26 that by the word of God the heavens were of old, 00:29:56.29\00:29:58.76 and the earth standing out of water and in the water. 00:29:58.79\00:30:02.70 By which the world that then existed perished, 00:30:02.73\00:30:06.17 being flooded with water." 00:30:06.20\00:30:08.54 So what Peter here is telling us 00:30:08.57\00:30:10.51 is we have the evidence from Scripture. 00:30:10.54\00:30:14.08 We have the evidence from Scripture 00:30:14.11\00:30:17.01 that once upon a time, 00:30:17.05\00:30:21.02 men and women scoffed at the warnings 00:30:21.05\00:30:26.92 given in love by a man called Noah, 00:30:26.96\00:30:29.96 who they thought belonged in the loony bin, 00:30:29.99\00:30:34.00 who needed serious psychiatric help. 00:30:34.03\00:30:37.70 They scoffed at his warnings of love. 00:30:37.73\00:30:42.20 And they perished. 00:30:42.24\00:30:45.21 Peter is saying those of you who live in the last days 00:30:45.24\00:30:50.45 don't follow in their footsteps. 00:30:50.48\00:30:53.52 What did George Santayana say? 00:30:53.55\00:30:56.42 Those who do not learn from the past are what? 00:30:56.45\00:31:00.22 Are condemned to repeat it. 00:31:00.26\00:31:02.79 We have been given this message 00:31:02.82\00:31:04.59 from Jesus Christ Himself 00:31:04.63\00:31:08.86 pointing us back to the days of Noah, 00:31:08.90\00:31:11.47 pointing us back to the days of Lot. 00:31:11.50\00:31:13.87 There's nothing more God could do. 00:31:16.94\00:31:19.31 Nothing more He can do. 00:31:19.34\00:31:21.14 Sadly, today we find ourselves living in what the Bible says 00:31:21.18\00:31:26.51 would be a time 00:31:26.55\00:31:28.62 such as this world has never experienced before. 00:31:28.65\00:31:31.52 We're living in the time of the end, 00:31:31.55\00:31:33.66 mentioned that in our previous message. 00:31:33.69\00:31:35.62 Since 1798, we've been living in the time of the end. 00:31:35.66\00:31:39.06 Since 1844, we've been living in the time of the end. 00:31:39.09\00:31:42.63 In fact, I've been watching these great series 00:31:42.66\00:31:44.87 that I just want to make note of from Dr. Allan Lindsay, 00:31:44.90\00:31:49.64 God's last message to the world. 00:31:49.67\00:31:52.14 I'd highly recommend. 00:31:52.17\00:31:53.88 If you haven't had an opportunity to view that, 00:31:53.91\00:31:56.04 that you do, it's on 3ABN. 00:31:56.08\00:31:58.11 You can order the DVDs or you can watch it. 00:31:58.15\00:32:02.35 And so I want to encourage you to watch 00:32:02.38\00:32:04.22 that because that really fits in 00:32:04.25\00:32:05.89 with the messages that we are looking at here 00:32:05.92\00:32:08.49 in this series of Noah. 00:32:08.52\00:32:10.56 And he unpacks the time of the end 00:32:10.59\00:32:12.59 and the judgment period, 00:32:12.63\00:32:13.96 and some of those all important events 00:32:14.00\00:32:15.33 that we don't have time to deal with in this series. 00:32:15.36\00:32:18.07 But we have now entered the time of the end. 00:32:18.10\00:32:20.74 And it's interesting to me that in the last 200 years, 00:32:20.77\00:32:24.24 we have the advent of atheism, 00:32:24.27\00:32:28.28 communism, Darwinism. 00:32:28.31\00:32:31.51 We have the advent of the age of reason. 00:32:31.55\00:32:34.12 We have the advent of this non-biblical worldview, 00:32:34.15\00:32:39.05 where people by and large 00:32:39.09\00:32:40.62 in the Western world scoff 00:32:40.66\00:32:42.56 and mock and ridicule the story of Noah. 00:32:42.59\00:32:46.83 Do you really believe that's a true story? 00:32:46.86\00:32:49.53 Come on. 00:32:49.56\00:32:51.73 How could that be a true story? 00:32:51.77\00:32:54.47 It's just legend. 00:32:54.50\00:32:55.84 It's just a myth. 00:32:55.87\00:32:57.21 It's a fairytale. 00:32:57.24\00:32:58.57 Do you really, really, really believe 00:32:58.61\00:33:01.18 that God created this world in six literal 24 hour days? 00:33:01.21\00:33:06.31 Do you really believe that? 00:33:06.35\00:33:09.62 Sadly today that's not only the view 00:33:09.65\00:33:13.66 of non-Christians 00:33:13.69\00:33:16.16 in our educational institutions, 00:33:16.19\00:33:19.43 amongst our scientific communities. 00:33:19.46\00:33:21.93 But sadly, today 00:33:21.96\00:33:23.37 that's the reality in many Christian churches. 00:33:23.40\00:33:26.10 Today, many Christian churches 00:33:26.13\00:33:27.87 have lost their biblical worldview. 00:33:27.90\00:33:31.11 It's gone out the window. 00:33:31.14\00:33:32.54 It is no longer to be seen anywhere. 00:33:32.57\00:33:36.34 That's the sad reality 00:33:36.38\00:33:37.71 where Christians today believe that 00:33:37.75\00:33:40.12 marriage can be whatever you want it to be. 00:33:40.15\00:33:42.92 That there is no such thing as a six day creation 00:33:42.95\00:33:48.02 that God created over long periods of time. 00:33:48.06\00:33:50.73 And ended up giving out this crazy term theistic evolution 00:33:50.76\00:33:54.60 as if you can combine atheism and God. 00:33:54.63\00:33:59.07 What are they thinking? 00:33:59.10\00:34:02.14 That there isn't such a thing 00:34:02.17\00:34:04.67 as a literal worldwide flood. 00:34:04.71\00:34:09.28 The story of Lot is also very instructional. 00:34:09.31\00:34:12.38 We go to the Book of Genesis 19:12-14, 00:34:12.41\00:34:16.92 there we discover the interaction 00:34:16.95\00:34:19.95 that Lot has with his family members 00:34:19.99\00:34:23.73 that he's desperately trying to save 00:34:23.76\00:34:26.76 because of the warning the angels have given him. 00:34:26.80\00:34:28.63 Notice the words in verse 12. 00:34:28.66\00:34:30.97 "Then the men said to Lot," that of the angels, 00:34:31.00\00:34:34.37 the two angels, "Have you anyone else here?" 00:34:34.40\00:34:36.87 That is in Sodom. 00:34:36.91\00:34:38.24 "Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters and whomever 00:34:38.27\00:34:40.68 you have in the city, take them out of this place! 00:34:40.71\00:34:44.51 For we will destroy this place because the outcry against them 00:34:44.55\00:34:47.82 has grown great before the face of the Lord, 00:34:47.85\00:34:50.29 and the Lord has sent us to destroy it." 00:34:50.32\00:34:52.42 And then verse 14. 00:34:52.45\00:34:53.86 "So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, 00:34:53.89\00:34:56.83 who had married his daughters, and he said, 00:34:56.86\00:34:59.23 'Get up, get out of this place, 00:34:59.26\00:35:01.56 for the Lord will destroy this city! 00:35:01.60\00:35:04.07 But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be" what? 00:35:04.10\00:35:08.17 "To be joking." 00:35:08.20\00:35:09.74 They we're like, are you serious old man? 00:35:09.77\00:35:13.51 This city filled with luxury, 00:35:13.54\00:35:17.85 filled with the best of the best, 00:35:17.88\00:35:20.65 this city being destroyed by fire. 00:35:20.68\00:35:24.82 Surely not, you gotta be joking. 00:35:24.85\00:35:29.29 The word here that is used is a very interesting word. 00:35:29.32\00:35:33.09 In fact, the King James picks it up 00:35:33.13\00:35:35.86 probably better than most translations 00:35:35.90\00:35:38.67 and the word there is mock. 00:35:38.70\00:35:40.54 They mocked him. 00:35:40.57\00:35:41.90 They made fun of him. 00:35:41.94\00:35:43.27 They made sport of him. 00:35:43.30\00:35:45.77 Sounds like normalcy bias to me, 00:35:45.81\00:35:49.51 if there ever was a time. 00:35:49.54\00:35:51.81 What's that phrase? 00:35:51.85\00:35:53.38 Normalcy bias, normality bias. 00:35:53.42\00:35:55.88 What does it mean again? 00:35:55.92\00:35:57.39 A human tendency to respond to threat 00:35:57.42\00:36:00.32 warnings with disbelief or minimization. 00:36:00.36\00:36:04.16 To underestimate a disaster, 00:36:04.19\00:36:07.50 serious significant effects. 00:36:07.53\00:36:10.93 Is that what was happening in the days of Noah? 00:36:10.97\00:36:12.93 Is that what was happening in the days of Lot? 00:36:12.97\00:36:14.77 Is that what is happening today all around us? 00:36:14.80\00:36:19.91 Yes, indeed. 00:36:19.94\00:36:21.54 She'll be right, mate. 00:36:21.58\00:36:23.88 It's okay Brother Lot. 00:36:23.91\00:36:26.68 It's okay, dad, it's going to be right, 00:36:26.72\00:36:28.98 she'll be right, we'll get to the other side. 00:36:29.02\00:36:30.65 Everything's gonna be hunky-dory, just chill, 00:36:30.69\00:36:33.39 take a chill pill and relax. 00:36:33.42\00:36:35.92 Don't get yourself all worked up. 00:36:35.96\00:36:37.66 You're gonna do yourself an injury. 00:36:37.69\00:36:42.06 She'll be right, mate, don't worry, be happy. 00:36:42.10\00:36:46.87 Don't worry, be happy. 00:36:46.90\00:36:50.17 Today we are 00:36:50.21\00:36:51.94 in a spiritual pandemic 00:36:51.97\00:36:57.61 that has impacted and affected 00:36:57.65\00:37:00.22 each and every one of us, 00:37:00.25\00:37:02.15 some of us more than others. 00:37:02.18\00:37:04.19 And I pray, Father, may this spiritual pandemic 00:37:04.22\00:37:08.86 of she'll be right, mate not be the disease 00:37:08.89\00:37:14.46 that impacts my life 00:37:14.50\00:37:17.10 and my walk with You. 00:37:17.13\00:37:21.14 Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die 00:37:21.17\00:37:24.11 is what they said once upon a time. 00:37:24.14\00:37:27.84 It's the most deadly disease, 00:37:27.88\00:37:30.95 the most deadly pandemic on the planet right now. 00:37:30.98\00:37:35.32 It's not COVID in case you were wondering 00:37:35.35\00:37:38.15 or any other physical disease or ailment. 00:37:38.19\00:37:42.46 The most deadly disease today on planet earth 00:37:42.49\00:37:46.36 is that of everything's going to be okay. 00:37:46.39\00:37:51.13 Just continue to eat and drink and be merry. 00:37:51.17\00:37:54.60 Go about your life, go about your business, 00:37:54.64\00:37:57.11 for everything's going to be okay. 00:37:57.14\00:37:59.07 There's time. There's time. 00:37:59.11\00:38:01.64 There's plenty of time. 00:38:01.68\00:38:03.31 Plenty of time. 00:38:03.35\00:38:06.25 I'm an optimist. 00:38:06.28\00:38:08.32 I'm an optimist by nature. 00:38:08.35\00:38:10.02 I really am. 00:38:10.05\00:38:11.39 I'm an optimist by nature. 00:38:11.42\00:38:12.75 I like to see things on the bright side. 00:38:12.79\00:38:14.82 I like to put on those rose colored glasses. 00:38:14.86\00:38:18.99 You know, those rose colored glasses are? 00:38:19.03\00:38:21.53 You know, when you look at life in a positive way, 00:38:21.56\00:38:25.00 except for when I have to have makeup put on me 00:38:25.03\00:38:27.47 here at 3ABN, 00:38:27.50\00:38:28.84 which has to happen at times all the time. 00:38:28.87\00:38:33.31 Apart from them, 00:38:33.34\00:38:34.68 and I'm to be positive about that, 00:38:34.71\00:38:36.04 I know, Rosemary. 00:38:36.08\00:38:37.41 I'm really trying to be positive about that. 00:38:37.45\00:38:38.78 And she's working on me 00:38:38.81\00:38:40.15 and I'm getting there by the grace of God. 00:38:40.18\00:38:41.52 I'm getting there bit by bit. 00:38:41.55\00:38:42.88 But I am coming to the conclusion 00:38:44.95\00:38:47.79 more and more each day, 00:38:47.82\00:38:49.72 that with everything that is going on around us 00:38:49.76\00:38:52.49 right now 00:38:52.53\00:38:53.86 that we have well and truly entered 00:38:53.90\00:38:56.06 the final significant stages of human history, 00:38:56.10\00:39:00.30 those final prophetic movements, 00:39:00.34\00:39:03.10 which we are told will be what? 00:39:03.14\00:39:04.77 Rapid ones are not that far off 00:39:04.81\00:39:09.04 in the distance. 00:39:09.08\00:39:10.41 I genuinely believe 00:39:10.45\00:39:11.78 and I'm not saying this to be an alarmist. 00:39:11.81\00:39:14.12 Last time I checked Noah 00:39:14.15\00:39:16.35 and Lot were accused of being alarmist. 00:39:16.38\00:39:19.22 So I don't mind being in that category though. 00:39:19.25\00:39:21.12 I don't really mind, 00:39:21.16\00:39:23.76 but I genuinely believe 00:39:23.79\00:39:25.73 that we are on the verge 00:39:25.76\00:39:27.53 of the stupendous crisis the Bible speaks of, 00:39:27.56\00:39:32.13 that Jesus spoke of. 00:39:32.17\00:39:34.47 And if ever there was a time for us 00:39:34.50\00:39:37.11 by the grace of God to pray that He pull us out 00:39:37.14\00:39:41.31 of this lukewarm apathetic, 00:39:41.34\00:39:43.81 she'll be right, mate pandemic it's today. 00:39:43.85\00:39:48.12 I need the vaccine for the spiritual pandeminia. 00:39:48.15\00:39:53.62 Is that a word? 00:39:53.66\00:39:54.99 That's a word from Danny, 00:39:55.02\00:39:57.79 that we are experiencing right now. 00:39:57.83\00:40:01.26 We need that heavenly virus 00:40:01.30\00:40:03.93 and the heavenly virus is the words of Jesus. 00:40:03.97\00:40:07.30 It's the message of Jesus, the message of His grace, 00:40:07.34\00:40:10.51 the message of His love. 00:40:10.54\00:40:12.64 The signs of the times are fast, 00:40:12.67\00:40:15.04 fulfilling all around us. 00:40:15.08\00:40:18.31 In the world of business and economy, 00:40:18.35\00:40:20.98 in the world of religion, the environment, 00:40:21.02\00:40:23.05 there's political polarization going on. 00:40:23.08\00:40:25.25 There are uprisings and protests, 00:40:25.29\00:40:27.56 social, cultural, ethnic divisions, 00:40:27.59\00:40:30.06 chaos, and confusion. 00:40:30.09\00:40:31.76 And the list could go on and on and on. 00:40:31.79\00:40:37.03 And so I should not have been surprised. 00:40:37.07\00:40:41.20 I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was, 00:40:41.24\00:40:45.51 but I shouldn't have been when COVID hit 00:40:45.54\00:40:50.95 and I was expecting my phone 00:40:50.98\00:40:53.78 to be running off the hook with family, friends, 00:40:53.82\00:40:58.15 people that had known me, 00:40:58.19\00:40:59.52 people that had heard these messages 00:40:59.55\00:41:00.96 that I've been preaching for the last 20 years. 00:41:00.99\00:41:03.96 Calling me saying, Danny, you were sharing this. 00:41:03.99\00:41:06.80 You were talking about the days of Noah. 00:41:06.83\00:41:09.13 You were talking about things all of a sudden are heating up. 00:41:09.16\00:41:11.67 You're talking about things rapidly increasing 00:41:11.70\00:41:15.34 when it comes to the signs of the times, 00:41:15.37\00:41:17.04 and now they hear 00:41:17.07\00:41:18.41 what do I need to do to be saved? 00:41:18.44\00:41:21.11 What do I do? 00:41:21.14\00:41:22.48 What do I need to do to connect with Jesus Christ? 00:41:22.51\00:41:24.78 I was hoping, and I was expecting 00:41:24.81\00:41:26.72 my phone to be ringing hot. 00:41:26.75\00:41:28.75 I was in lockdown like many of you at home 00:41:28.78\00:41:32.25 not much do waiting for the phone to ring 00:41:32.29\00:41:35.19 and guess what? 00:41:35.22\00:41:37.69 The phone never rang or barely rang. 00:41:37.73\00:41:42.43 I'm like, Lord, what's going on. 00:41:42.46\00:41:44.47 I mean, can't people see 00:41:44.50\00:41:45.83 that the world's been tipped upside down. 00:41:45.87\00:41:47.74 Can't people see that what Jesus said 00:41:47.77\00:41:49.70 that this world before the end of time 00:41:49.74\00:41:51.47 will be tipped upside down 00:41:51.51\00:41:52.87 and we're and the life as we know what? 00:41:52.91\00:41:55.68 Will change. 00:41:55.71\00:41:57.05 There's going to be a new normal. 00:41:57.08\00:41:59.41 And aren't we talking about that anyway? 00:41:59.45\00:42:01.78 You know we want things to go back to normal, don't we? 00:42:01.82\00:42:04.55 We're talking about normal, 00:42:04.59\00:42:05.92 but we're saying it's a new normal. 00:42:05.95\00:42:09.29 We want things to go back to normal. 00:42:09.32\00:42:12.39 She'll be right, mate. 00:42:12.43\00:42:14.23 And so, boy, oh boy, 00:42:14.26\00:42:16.43 I've got a reality, a reality shock. 00:42:16.46\00:42:19.97 It's true what Jesus said, 00:42:20.00\00:42:22.44 regardless of what is going on in the world 00:42:22.47\00:42:24.94 people are still going to continue 00:42:24.97\00:42:27.51 to hold on to this normalcy bias, 00:42:27.54\00:42:31.01 this she'll be right, mate. 00:42:31.05\00:42:34.75 And that brings us to my final point 00:42:34.78\00:42:37.95 that I believe Christ wants us to learn from. 00:42:37.99\00:42:41.12 And this is the really, really big one. 00:42:41.16\00:42:43.49 The peril of not knowing. 00:42:43.53\00:42:45.96 Now, what do we mean by that? 00:42:45.99\00:42:47.93 What did Jesus mean by that? 00:42:47.96\00:42:49.30 Have a look at the words of Jesus. 00:42:49.33\00:42:51.10 Matthew 24:38-39. 00:42:51.13\00:42:54.57 Jesus says, "For as in the days before 00:42:57.84\00:43:00.34 the flood, they were eating 00:43:00.38\00:43:01.71 and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, 00:43:01.74\00:43:03.61 until the day that Noah entered the ark, 00:43:03.65\00:43:05.88 and notice, and did know," 00:43:05.91\00:43:07.65 what's that word? 00:43:07.68\00:43:09.52 What's that word? 00:43:09.55\00:43:10.89 "And did not know until the flood came 00:43:10.92\00:43:14.22 and took them all away, so also will the coming 00:43:14.26\00:43:16.32 of the Son of Man be." 00:43:16.36\00:43:17.69 Hang on a minute. 00:43:17.73\00:43:19.86 Hang on a minute, timeout. 00:43:19.89\00:43:22.60 They did not know that a flood was coming, 00:43:22.63\00:43:26.63 but we have just discovered 00:43:26.67\00:43:29.44 that they had warning after warning. 00:43:29.47\00:43:31.81 Noah was building a boat. 00:43:31.84\00:43:33.31 He was preaching for 120 years. 00:43:33.34\00:43:35.24 The animals were mysteriously making 00:43:35.28\00:43:36.88 their way into that. 00:43:36.91\00:43:38.25 Methuselah was a sure sign that a flood was coming, 00:43:38.28\00:43:42.82 when he dies it shall come to pass. 00:43:42.85\00:43:44.79 I mean, they had all the signs. 00:43:44.82\00:43:48.06 What do you mean they did not know Jesus? 00:43:48.09\00:43:51.43 I'm scratching my head. 00:43:51.46\00:43:53.29 I'm wondering and then it hit me. 00:43:53.33\00:43:57.17 Then it hit me when I read this statement, 00:43:57.20\00:44:00.34 this powerful insight from the book 00:44:00.37\00:44:02.70 Patriarchs and Prophets, Ellen White writes 00:44:02.74\00:44:05.71 under inspiration these powerful words. 00:44:05.74\00:44:08.58 Notice these words, 00:44:08.61\00:44:10.35 "The period of their probation was about to expire. 00:44:10.38\00:44:13.28 Noah had faithfully followed the instructions 00:44:13.31\00:44:15.98 which he had received from God. 00:44:16.02\00:44:17.75 The ark was finished in every part 00:44:17.79\00:44:19.89 as the Lord had directed, 00:44:19.92\00:44:21.26 and was stored with food for man and beast. 00:44:21.29\00:44:25.16 And now the servant of God made his last solemn 00:44:25.19\00:44:28.46 appeal to the people. 00:44:28.50\00:44:29.83 With an agony of desire that words cannot express, 00:44:29.86\00:44:33.17 he entreated them to seek a refuge 00:44:33.20\00:44:35.54 well it might be found. 00:44:35.57\00:44:37.81 Again, they rejected his words 00:44:37.84\00:44:40.61 and raise their voices in jest and scoffing. 00:44:40.64\00:44:43.95 Suddenly a silence fell upon the mocking throng. 00:44:43.98\00:44:46.88 Beasts of every description, 00:44:46.92\00:44:49.12 the fiercest as well as the most gentle, 00:44:49.15\00:44:51.65 were seen coming from mountain 00:44:51.69\00:44:53.96 and forest and quietly making their way toward the ark. 00:44:53.99\00:44:57.26 A noise as of a rushing wind was heard, and lo, 00:44:57.29\00:45:00.90 birds were flocking from all directions, 00:45:00.93\00:45:03.06 their numbers darkening the heavens, 00:45:03.10\00:45:04.87 and in perfect order, they passed to the ark. 00:45:04.90\00:45:08.44 Animals, obeyed the command of God, 00:45:08.47\00:45:10.91 while men were disobedient. 00:45:10.94\00:45:13.51 Guided by holy angels, 00:45:13.54\00:45:15.08 they went in two by two unto Noah into the ark, 00:45:15.11\00:45:19.38 and the clean beasts by sevens. 00:45:19.41\00:45:22.18 The world looked on in wonder, 00:45:22.22\00:45:23.99 some in fear. 00:45:24.02\00:45:25.35 Philosophers were called upon to account 00:45:25.39\00:45:27.42 for the singular occurrence, but in vain. 00:45:27.46\00:45:29.96 It was a mystery which they could not fathom." 00:45:29.99\00:45:32.99 And then notice these words. 00:45:33.03\00:45:34.40 I have them highlighted. 00:45:34.43\00:45:35.96 "But men and women, it's in the generic sense, 00:45:36.00\00:45:39.60 had become so," what's that word? 00:45:39.63\00:45:41.97 "Hardened by their persistent rejection of light 00:45:42.00\00:45:44.77 that even this scene produced but a momentary impression. 00:45:44.81\00:45:49.48 As the doomed race beheld the sun shining in its glory, 00:45:49.51\00:45:52.88 and the earth clad in almost Eden beauty, 00:45:52.91\00:45:55.65 they banished their rising fears 00:45:55.68\00:45:57.79 by boisterous merriment," 00:45:57.82\00:45:59.35 sounds like they're eating and drinking, 00:45:59.39\00:46:01.39 they're marrying and the given in marriage 00:46:01.42\00:46:03.22 and so on and so forth, 00:46:03.26\00:46:05.86 "and by their deeds of violence they seemed to invite 00:46:05.89\00:46:09.40 upon themselves the visitation 00:46:09.43\00:46:11.03 of the already awakened wrath of God." 00:46:11.07\00:46:14.34 Wow! What an insight. 00:46:14.37\00:46:17.74 What an insight. 00:46:17.77\00:46:19.71 It sounds like they were living out 00:46:19.74\00:46:23.71 that she'll be right, mate. 00:46:23.75\00:46:26.01 Everything's going to be hunky-dory 00:46:26.05\00:46:28.58 and carrying on scoffing and mocking the final message 00:46:28.62\00:46:33.36 of love from God 00:46:33.39\00:46:35.29 through his servant Noah. 00:46:35.32\00:46:39.39 And they did not know, they did know, 00:46:39.43\00:46:42.23 but their hearts had become so hardened, 00:46:42.26\00:46:45.87 so hardened they had grieved away 00:46:45.90\00:46:48.57 the Holy Spirit, our only hope. 00:46:48.60\00:46:52.44 Make no mistake, 00:46:52.47\00:46:54.34 the Holy Spirit is our only hope. 00:46:54.38\00:46:59.95 If we reject and grieve away the Holy Spirit, 00:46:59.98\00:47:02.82 there is no hope. 00:47:02.85\00:47:04.55 The Holy Spirit alone leads us to Jesus Christ. 00:47:04.59\00:47:09.09 He alone leads us to Jesus Christ. 00:47:09.12\00:47:14.26 If we refuse the light, 00:47:14.30\00:47:17.40 God will allow us to experience the darkness. 00:47:17.43\00:47:21.50 Notice what Jesus said in John 3:19-21, 00:47:21.54\00:47:25.17 Jesus said, "And this is the condemnation, 00:47:25.21\00:47:28.68 that the light has come into the world, 00:47:28.71\00:47:30.65 and men loved," what? 00:47:30.68\00:47:32.95 "Darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." 00:47:32.98\00:47:36.95 It goes on, 00:47:36.99\00:47:38.32 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light 00:47:38.35\00:47:40.56 and does not come to the light, 00:47:40.59\00:47:41.92 lest his deeds should be exposed. 00:47:41.96\00:47:45.13 But he who does the truth comes to the light, 00:47:45.16\00:47:47.43 that his deeds may be clearly seen, 00:47:47.46\00:47:49.36 that they have been done in God." 00:47:49.40\00:47:51.90 We've got two choices according to Jesus, 00:47:51.93\00:47:54.27 either we can embrace 00:47:54.30\00:47:55.67 and accept the light from above, 00:47:55.70\00:47:58.37 or we will perish in darkness. 00:47:58.41\00:48:02.04 There's only two choices 00:48:02.08\00:48:03.55 as there was in the days of Noah, 00:48:03.58\00:48:05.41 as there was in the days of Lot, 00:48:05.45\00:48:07.12 only two choices, salvation or destruction, 00:48:07.15\00:48:11.39 only two choices. 00:48:11.42\00:48:15.12 If you want to believe the lie, 00:48:15.16\00:48:17.89 if you want to remain in this land 00:48:17.93\00:48:22.06 called she'll be right, mate. 00:48:22.10\00:48:24.27 Everything's going to be okay. 00:48:24.30\00:48:25.73 Eat, drink, and be married, no need to worry. 00:48:25.77\00:48:29.87 Then you will experience 00:48:29.90\00:48:31.34 what the Apostle Paul speaks of 00:48:31.37\00:48:33.71 in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. 00:48:33.74\00:48:36.64 Notice what he says. 00:48:36.68\00:48:38.55 He says, "And for this reason 00:48:38.58\00:48:40.78 God will send them strong delusion, 00:48:40.82\00:48:42.85 that they should believe the," what? 00:48:42.88\00:48:44.99 "The lie that they all might be condemned, 00:48:45.02\00:48:48.12 who did not believe the," what? 00:48:48.16\00:48:50.23 "The truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, 00:48:50.26\00:48:54.10 had pleasure in unrighteousness." 00:48:54.13\00:48:57.40 Wow. 00:48:57.43\00:48:59.27 If we choose not to accept the truth, 00:48:59.30\00:49:04.67 which is what? 00:49:04.71\00:49:06.04 God's Word. 00:49:06.07\00:49:07.41 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." 00:49:07.44\00:49:10.05 In John 17:17 Jesus said, 00:49:10.08\00:49:12.51 "Sanctify them by thy word." 00:49:12.55\00:49:14.65 Thy word is what? Truth. 00:49:14.68\00:49:17.42 Thy law is truth according to the Psalmist 00:49:17.45\00:49:20.12 in Psalm 119:142. 00:49:20.16\00:49:23.79 If we do not accept God's truth, 00:49:23.83\00:49:27.06 His word, there is only one other option. 00:49:27.10\00:49:29.70 And that is for us to be taken in by the enemy 00:49:29.73\00:49:32.70 whose name is evil with a capital D 00:49:32.73\00:49:36.00 into his snares of lies 00:49:36.04\00:49:38.67 and deception and ultimate destruction. 00:49:38.71\00:49:42.21 The Bible says something very fascinating 00:49:42.24\00:49:44.15 about the days of Noah. 00:49:44.18\00:49:46.31 In Genesis 7:16, it says, 00:49:46.35\00:49:49.72 "So those that entered male and female of all flesh, 00:49:49.75\00:49:52.49 went in as God had commanded him, 00:49:52.52\00:49:54.29 and the Lord shut him in." 00:49:54.32\00:49:56.26 The Lord, shut him in. 00:49:56.29\00:49:59.33 Most people don't realize, 00:49:59.36\00:50:01.63 but it did not rain immediately after the door was shut. 00:50:01.66\00:50:06.60 It didn't rain immediately. 00:50:06.63\00:50:07.97 If you read the text, you'll discover 00:50:08.00\00:50:09.84 that it only began to rain. 00:50:09.87\00:50:13.54 Maybe rain is not the right word 00:50:13.58\00:50:15.18 because the heavens literally opened up 00:50:15.21\00:50:17.65 the springs of 00:50:17.68\00:50:21.02 and the fountains of deep erupted, 00:50:21.05\00:50:23.15 or maybe it was something 00:50:23.18\00:50:24.52 that you and I cannot even begin to fathom. 00:50:24.55\00:50:26.59 That only, that only happened seven days 00:50:26.62\00:50:29.59 after Noah entered the ark. 00:50:29.62\00:50:33.36 So for seven days, for seven days, 00:50:33.40\00:50:37.17 that the antediluvians 00:50:37.20\00:50:40.87 who were lost had no idea that they were lost. 00:50:40.90\00:50:45.11 For seven days, they were partying, 00:50:45.14\00:50:46.94 having a great time. 00:50:46.98\00:50:48.44 They were enjoying life. 00:50:48.48\00:50:49.81 I can imagine all the barbecues. 00:50:49.84\00:50:51.65 I can imagine all the beer. 00:50:51.68\00:50:53.45 I can imagine all the fun 00:50:53.48\00:50:55.25 and the mocking and the scoffing, 00:50:55.28\00:50:57.62 and the jesting and the laughing 00:50:57.65\00:50:59.45 that would have been going on 00:50:59.49\00:51:00.86 and all the knocking on Noah's door and on the ark. 00:51:00.89\00:51:05.09 All the knocking 00:51:05.13\00:51:07.03 during that week long period. 00:51:07.06\00:51:12.07 Could it be that Jesus is saying 00:51:12.10\00:51:15.34 that we also can face that same serious situation 00:51:15.37\00:51:20.91 whereby we find ourselves lost 00:51:20.94\00:51:26.05 because we have grieved away the Holy Spirit. 00:51:26.08\00:51:29.38 And we think everything is okay. 00:51:29.42\00:51:32.15 We continue on with life, 00:51:32.19\00:51:33.69 partying and having a great time. 00:51:33.72\00:51:36.06 So what's our only hope? 00:51:36.09\00:51:37.43 Our only hope is to turn to Christ. 00:51:37.46\00:51:38.93 Our only hope is to seek Him with all our heart. 00:51:38.96\00:51:42.76 Our only hope is to pray the prayer that David prayed, 00:51:42.80\00:51:46.00 search my heart, oh God. 00:51:46.03\00:51:47.70 And see if there is any wicked way 00:51:47.74\00:51:49.44 and lead me in the way of everlasting. 00:51:49.47\00:51:51.07 And that's in Psalm 139:23-24. 00:51:51.11\00:51:56.24 So how do we respond? 00:51:56.28\00:51:58.11 How should we respond? 00:51:58.15\00:52:01.12 What did Jesus say in Matthew 24:42-44? 00:52:01.15\00:52:05.52 "Watch therefore, for you do not know 00:52:05.55\00:52:07.29 what hour your Lord is coming. 00:52:07.32\00:52:08.92 But know this, that if the master of the house 00:52:08.96\00:52:10.86 had known what hour the thief would come, 00:52:10.89\00:52:13.40 he would have watched and not allowed his house 00:52:13.43\00:52:15.90 to be broken into. 00:52:15.93\00:52:17.27 Therefore you also be" what? 00:52:17.30\00:52:19.57 "Be ready for the Son of Man 00:52:19.60\00:52:21.00 is coming at an hour you do not expect." 00:52:21.04\00:52:23.27 Watch and be ready. 00:52:23.30\00:52:25.14 Watch and be ready. 00:52:25.17\00:52:28.64 That's the message, continually be with Christ, 00:52:28.68\00:52:32.48 continually be surrendered to Him. 00:52:32.51\00:52:35.68 Don't wait for a better day. 00:52:35.72\00:52:37.99 In fact, 00:52:38.02\00:52:39.35 this is what Hebrews 3:7-8 says 00:52:39.39\00:52:44.39 in concerning you know, 00:52:44.43\00:52:45.76 when is the best time to respond. 00:52:45.79\00:52:47.90 In Hebrews 3:7-8, 00:52:47.93\00:52:50.77 "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says," 00:52:50.80\00:52:52.90 so who's speaking now? 00:52:52.93\00:52:54.90 It's the Holy Spirit speaking, 00:52:54.94\00:52:56.27 the one who inspired the scriptures. 00:52:56.30\00:52:59.37 It's the Holy Spirit speaking. 00:52:59.41\00:53:01.18 So we ought to be paying attention. 00:53:01.21\00:53:02.64 Amen? 00:53:02.68\00:53:04.01 We ought to be paying attention 00:53:04.05\00:53:05.38 because the Holy Spirit is the only one 00:53:05.41\00:53:07.28 as we have discovered 00:53:07.32\00:53:08.78 that will lead us to Jesus Christ. 00:53:08.82\00:53:10.92 In fact, in the days of Noah, God said, 00:53:10.95\00:53:13.62 My Spirit, My Holy Spirit 00:53:13.66\00:53:16.46 will not strive with men forever, 00:53:16.49\00:53:19.19 but 120 years. 00:53:19.23\00:53:23.57 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says today," when? 00:53:23.60\00:53:27.94 "Today, if you will hear his voice, 00:53:27.97\00:53:30.41 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, 00:53:30.44\00:53:33.04 in the day of trial in the wilderness," 00:53:33.07\00:53:35.08 speaking of the children of Israel. 00:53:35.11\00:53:37.28 So don't go down that road. 00:53:37.31\00:53:38.95 Today, why not tomorrow? 00:53:38.98\00:53:41.78 Why not tomorrow? 00:53:41.82\00:53:44.25 Tomorrow may never come. 00:53:44.29\00:53:45.72 We only have today, today, today. 00:53:45.75\00:53:50.86 In fact, that word today appears five times, 00:53:50.89\00:53:53.86 five times in Hebrews 3 and Hebrews 4. 00:53:53.90\00:53:58.20 Five times with a reference 00:53:58.23\00:54:00.47 to today is the day of salvation. 00:54:00.50\00:54:05.37 In fact, the Apostle Paul goes one step further. 00:54:05.41\00:54:10.21 He goes beyond today 00:54:10.25\00:54:11.88 and notice the words that he uses 00:54:11.91\00:54:13.48 in 2 Corinthians 6:2 he says, 00:54:13.52\00:54:17.39 "For, he says," he's speaking of God now. 00:54:17.42\00:54:19.69 He's quoting from the Old Testament 00:54:19.72\00:54:21.06 once again, 00:54:21.09\00:54:22.42 "In an acceptable time, I have heard you, 00:54:22.46\00:54:24.46 and in the day of salvation I have helped you. 00:54:24.49\00:54:27.60 Behold," when is the accepted time? 00:54:27.63\00:54:31.43 "Now is the accepted time, behold," 00:54:31.47\00:54:34.00 he repeats, "now is the day of salvation." 00:54:34.04\00:54:37.21 So not just today, but when? 00:54:37.24\00:54:40.34 Right now, because that's all we have. 00:54:40.38\00:54:43.24 The reality is we have right now, 00:54:43.28\00:54:45.75 we don't even have the rest of the day. 00:54:45.78\00:54:47.78 We do not have the rest of the day. 00:54:47.82\00:54:49.35 Forget about tomorrow, 00:54:49.38\00:54:50.72 forget about the rest of the week. 00:54:50.75\00:54:52.55 We only have the right now. 00:54:52.59\00:54:56.62 I'll never forget watching images on the news 00:54:56.66\00:55:01.46 and watching a video 00:55:01.50\00:55:03.67 that had been taken on people's phones 00:55:03.70\00:55:06.70 of that tragic blast explosion 00:55:06.74\00:55:11.67 that took place in Beirut. 00:55:11.71\00:55:13.04 Do you remember that blast? 00:55:13.07\00:55:14.94 People were on their phones, you know, 00:55:14.98\00:55:18.88 recording this fire that had broken out there 00:55:18.91\00:55:21.95 at the port in Beirut. 00:55:21.98\00:55:24.25 They were just recording this fire that was happening. 00:55:24.29\00:55:26.76 I mean, fires happen all the time. 00:55:26.79\00:55:28.12 We get out our phones 00:55:28.16\00:55:29.49 and we film a fire, be it a car, 00:55:29.52\00:55:32.79 be it a house, be it whatever we just, 00:55:32.83\00:55:34.66 we're just filming. 00:55:34.70\00:55:36.03 And they're filming and all of a sudden 00:55:36.06\00:55:37.67 that fire ignited that which was there, 00:55:37.70\00:55:42.50 all that ammonium, 00:55:42.54\00:55:43.87 I think it was just tons and tons of it. 00:55:43.91\00:55:45.94 And the explosion, 00:55:45.97\00:55:47.31 you could literally see the explosion 00:55:47.34\00:55:50.85 coming waves, and it came like this. 00:55:50.88\00:55:53.85 It just came within seconds. 00:55:53.88\00:55:57.52 There was a wedding going on and that wedding man alive. 00:55:57.55\00:56:02.36 That wedding was just tipped upside down 00:56:02.39\00:56:05.06 in a matter of seconds. 00:56:05.09\00:56:06.90 Things can change suddenly, suddenly, suddenly. 00:56:06.93\00:56:11.93 I wanna encourage you as we end 00:56:11.97\00:56:14.87 to put your faith and trust in Jesus today. 00:56:14.90\00:56:17.91 Today don't wait. 00:56:17.94\00:56:19.27 Don't wait 00:56:19.31\00:56:20.64 for a she'll be right, mate moment. 00:56:20.68\00:56:24.45 Today's the day, now is the day of salvation. 00:56:24.48\00:56:27.28 Wherever you're watching from, my friend, 00:56:27.32\00:56:29.28 I wanna encourage you 00:56:29.32\00:56:30.69 today to put your faith and trust in Jesus. 00:56:30.72\00:56:33.42 Today, respond to His invitation to come, 00:56:33.46\00:56:37.43 come into the ark of His arms of salvation. 00:56:37.46\00:56:42.63 Come, come, come. 00:56:42.66\00:56:45.33 It's Jesus. He's inviting you to come. 00:56:45.37\00:56:47.77 Let's pray together. 00:56:47.80\00:56:49.14 Father, in heaven we wanna thank You for Jesus. 00:56:49.17\00:56:51.14 We wanna thank You for His love. 00:56:51.17\00:56:52.97 We wanna thank You for His mercy, for His grace. 00:56:53.01\00:56:55.14 We wanna thank You for the story of Noah. 00:56:55.18\00:56:58.05 We wanna thank You for the messages of love 00:56:58.08\00:57:01.28 and warning that Jesus Himself has given us. 00:57:01.32\00:57:04.75 Oh, Father, may we take these messages to heart. 00:57:04.79\00:57:07.49 May we share this with others like Noah, 00:57:07.52\00:57:10.83 to prepare others also for Your soon return. 00:57:10.86\00:57:13.43 Bless us, Father, and prepare us today. 00:57:13.46\00:57:15.83 Prepare us now for Your sake 00:57:15.86\00:57:18.13 and for the sake of Your kingdom. 00:57:18.17\00:57:19.50 We pray in Jesus' name 00:57:19.53\00:57:20.87 and everybody said amen and amen. 00:57:20.90\00:57:22.80