Sermon: Finding Favor

FINDING FAVOR
Gen. 6:5-14, 22
A message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 14 March 2010

Lessons from Noah’s Ark (Gen. 6)
1. Don’t miss the boat.
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead…it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
4. Stay fit…when you’re really old, someone may ask you to do something really BIG.
5. Don’t listen to critics…just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety’s sake, always travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn’t always an advantage…the snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When you’re stressed, float awhile.
10. Remember…the ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.
11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

THE THREE HEARTS
6:5 … that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
6:6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain
6:8-9 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.

I.  GOD’S FAVOR ALWAYS FOLLOWS FAITH

“By faith Noah …” (Heb. 11:7).

Noah TRUSTED GOD above all else

Trusting God is no small matter. But trusting God completely means expecting him to keep his promises, expecting him to help with your problems, and expecting him to do the impossible, when it is necessary.

It’s time to step out in faith.
When have we taken a risk for God?
What have we sacrificed for Him?
You’ll never truly believe God until you attempt to do something that can’t be done in your own power.

LIVING IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF FAITH
God wants to give you his far and beyond favor. Look for Him in everything. Seek Him. Trust Him. In every circumstances there is favor to be found!

II.  GOD’S FAVOR  ALWAYS FOLLOWS OBEDIENCE

“Thus DID Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so DID he.” (6:22)
Noah OBEYED GOD above all else.

OBEDIENCE = Doing exactly what you are told … immediately … with a happy heart!

James 2:24 tells us that we please God not only by what we believe but also by what we do.

Are you willing to pay the price, to take the steps to see the release of God’s favor in your life?
Obey God’s command immediately even when you don’t understand it.

Thus did Noah; according to ALL that God commanded him, so did he.” (6:22)

How BIG was Noah’s Ark?
The ark’s volume was 1,518,000 cubic ft! The ark could hold about 40,000 sheep sized animals in about 33% of its capacity.  This would leave more than two-thirds of the ark’s interior for other uses.  Probably far less than this amount of animals was loaded on board the ark.  In reality the ark was probably too big!

Favor, Rainbows & Promises
And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. – Genesis 8:4

Obedience to God brings the favor of God

Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord
By Obedience
Through Faith