Thankful

Notes: Thankful

Genesis 6

1 Corinthians 11

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

Thursday, November 19, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

We are being attacked, the end times seem to be upon us.

The Muslim terrorist that we are seeing are getting worse and worse.

Russia is stepping in and they are, even more amazingly, partnering with Iran. The book of Ezekiel describes that relationship in the last days.

Matthew 24:37-39 NLT

[37] "When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. [38] In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. [39] People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

Jesus confirms there was Noah and a flood. He is also speaking of what will happen in the last days.

Genesis 6:5-7 NLT

[5] The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. [6] So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. [7] And the LORD said, "I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing-all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them."

The wickedness had reached the highest degree. Sometimes we wonder when wickedness is rampant, why won't God stop it.

Genesis 6:6 NLT

[6] So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.

Ezekiel 33:11 NLT

[11] As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?

Genesis 18:25 NLT

[25] Surely you wouldn't do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn't do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?"

Isn't God just to take action?

If we love someone isn't it normal that we hate the things that threaten them?

Genesis 6:8 NLT

[8] But Noah found favor with the LORD.

Noah was found by God like a rare gem.

The word grace is "Gods unmerited love"

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 NLT

[7] "The LORD did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! [8] Rather, it was simply that the LORD loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the LORD rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

Embrace God's love for you.

Things a Last Days believer should do:

1. Noah walks with God.

Genesis 6:9 NLT

[9] This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

What does it mean to walk with God?

Amos 3:3 NLT

[3] Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?

The objective to walk with someone is to keep pace with them.

2. Noah worked for God

Genesis 6:14 NLT

[14] "Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior.

Hebrews 11:7 NLT

[7] It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

3. Noah was a witness for God

2 Peter 2:5 NLT

[5] And God did not spare the ancient world-except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God's righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.

Noah never had one concert.

God requires faithfulness not success.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 NLT

[6] I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. [7] It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow.

The door is open for people to believe.

God said "come into the ark" indicating that He was in the ark already waiting for Noah.

Philippians 1:6 NLT

[6] And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

God always finishes what He begins.

Genesis 8:20 NLT

[20] Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose.

4. Noah worshipped God

Hebrews 11:7 NLT

[7] It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

God remembered Noah and Noah remembered God.

Things you can do to show thanks to God:

1. Saying Grace over a meal

Matthew 15:35-36 NLT

[35] So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. [36] Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.

Jesus Christ gave thanks before He had a meal.

God gave you everything that you have.

Deuteronomy 8:18 NLT

[18] Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

Jesus gave thanks before He raised Lazarus from the dead.

We too should thank God that He hears our prayers.

2. Faithful giving of our finances

Proverbs 3:9-10 NLT

[9] Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. [10] Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

Some will give everything to God except their checkbook.

There is great joy in giving!

3. Taking time each day for prayer and Bible study.

Psalm 5:3 NLT

[3] Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

You make time to go.

4. Giving thanks when things are hard.

Daniel 6:10 NLT

[10] But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

Daniel was in the habit of giving thanks to God.

We must give thanks because the Lord is good and He is working all things for good.

In everything give thanks.

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 NLT

[23] For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread [24] and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me." [25] In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people-an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it."

Hebrews 12:12 NLT

[12] So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.

When Jesus went to the cross, he was thinking of you.

He died for you and He bled for you because He loves you!