Hearing God: Noah's Legacy of Faith and Obedience

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound legacy of Noah, a man who stood out in his generation for his righteousness and intimacy with God. Noah's story is a testament to the power of hearing God and acting on His instructions, even when it seems irrational to the world around us. Noah was forewarned by God about the impending flood and, in holy fear, heeded the divine warning to build an ark for the salvation of his family. This act of obedience was not just a testament to his faith but also a demonstration of his deep relationship with God.

Noah's ability to hear God was rooted in his habitual fellowship with Him. This daily communion with God allowed Noah to recognize His voice amidst the noise of a corrupt world. It is a reminder that intimacy with God is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of walking with Him. This intimacy is what enables us to hear God when it matters most, providing us with direction and purpose in our lives.

The message also emphasized the importance of aligning our gifts and actions with God's vision. History will not remember our gifts but what we did with them, and heaven will not applaud our talents but our alignment with God's purpose. As believers, we are called to be faithful servants, using our gifts to serve God's purposes in our generation.

Furthermore, the message challenged us to examine the hindrances to intimacy with God, such as sin, disobedience, and a wrong image of God. It encouraged us to cultivate a heart that is soft and receptive to God's voice, ensuring that we are not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Ultimately, the message is a call to live a life of purpose and legacy, grounded in a deep, intimate relationship with God. It is about being a generation that hears God and acts on His word, leaving a legacy of faith for future generations.

Key Takeaways:

- Intimacy with God is Key: Noah's ability to hear God was rooted in his habitual fellowship with Him. This daily communion allowed him to recognize God's voice amidst the noise of a corrupt world. Intimacy with God is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of walking with Him, enabling us to hear God when it matters most. [55:01]

- Aligning with God's Vision: History will not remember our gifts but what we did with them, and heaven will not applaud our talents but our alignment with God's purpose. As believers, we are called to be faithful servants, using our gifts to serve God's purposes in our generation. [49:27]

- Overcoming Hindrances to Intimacy: Sin, disobedience, and a wrong image of God can hinder our intimacy with Him. We must cultivate a heart that is soft and receptive to God's voice, ensuring that we are not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. [01:04:32]

- Purpose-Driven Life: Noah's life was driven by his ability to hear God. In a world that was corrupt and evil, he found purpose in God's instructions. Our purpose is found in our relationship with God, and it is this purpose that drives us to live a life of legacy. [57:25]

- Hearing God in Our Lives: We are designed to hear God's voice, and we can be confident in His ability to lead us. It is not about our ability to follow Him perfectly but about trusting in His ability to guide us. Our walk with God is about surrendering to Him and trusting in His guidance. [01:28:37]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [45:04] - Introduction to Legacy
- [46:32] - Noah's Legacy and Faith
- [49:27] - Hearing God When It Matters
- [51:41] - Noah's Righteousness and Mockery
- [55:01] - Intimacy with God
- [57:25] - Purpose-Driven Life
- [58:11] - Positioning to Hear God
- [01:00:13] - Spiritual Disciplines
- [01:01:39] - Protecting the Inner Life
- [01:04:32] - Guarding Our Hearts
- [01:05:58] - Hindrances to Intimacy
- [01:08:10] - Loving God and Others
- [01:24:15] - Assurance of Hearing God
- [01:28:37] - Walking with God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Legacy of Noah

Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 11:7 - "By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household."
2. Genesis 6:9 - "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God."
3. Genesis 7:1 - "Then the Lord said to Noah, 'Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.'"

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Hebrews 11:7, what motivated Noah to build the ark, and what was the outcome of his actions?
2. How does Genesis 6:9 describe Noah's character and his relationship with God?
3. In Genesis 7:1, what specific instruction does God give to Noah, and what does this reveal about Noah's standing with God?
4. What were some of the challenges Noah faced from his generation while building the ark, as mentioned in the sermon? [51:41]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Noah's faith and obedience in building the ark serve as an example for believers today? [46:32]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of hearing God's voice in our lives, and how can this be achieved? [49:27]
3. How does the concept of "habitual fellowship" with God, as seen in Noah's life, apply to modern-day believers? [55:01]
4. What are some hindrances to intimacy with God mentioned in the sermon, and how can they be overcome? [01:05:58]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was speaking to you. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can you improve your ability to hear God's voice in the future? [49:27]
2. Noah was described as righteous and blameless in his generation. What steps can you take to cultivate a similar reputation in your community?
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of aligning our gifts with God's purpose. Identify one gift you have and discuss how you can use it to serve God's vision in your life. [46:32]
4. Consider the distractions in your life that might be hindering your intimacy with God. What practical steps can you take this week to minimize these distractions? [55:01]
5. How can you cultivate a "habitual fellowship" with God in your daily routine? Share specific practices you can implement to deepen your relationship with Him. [55:01]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of guarding our hearts against sin. What strategies can you employ to protect your heart and maintain a soft, receptive spirit towards God? [01:04:32]
7. Reflect on the legacy you are building. What changes can you make today to ensure that your life leaves a lasting impact on future generations? [01:28:37]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing God's Voice Through Intimacy
Noah's ability to hear God was deeply rooted in his habitual fellowship with Him. This daily communion allowed him to recognize God's voice amidst the noise of a corrupt world. Intimacy with God is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of walking with Him, enabling us to hear God when it matters most. In a world filled with distractions and competing voices, cultivating a close relationship with God is essential for discerning His guidance and direction. This intimacy is built through consistent prayer, meditation on His Word, and a heart open to His presence. [55:01]

"And the Lord said to Moses, 'Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.'" (Leviticus 18:1-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you create space in your daily routine to listen for God's voice amidst the noise of your life today?


Day 2: Aligning Our Gifts with God's Purpose
History will not remember our gifts but what we did with them, and heaven will not applaud our talents but our alignment with God's purpose. As believers, we are called to be faithful servants, using our gifts to serve God's purposes in our generation. This means actively seeking God's vision for our lives and aligning our actions with His will. It requires a willingness to surrender our own ambitions and desires to embrace the greater plan God has for us. By doing so, we become instruments of His love and grace in the world. [49:27]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What specific gift or talent do you feel God is calling you to use for His purpose today, and how can you take a step towards aligning it with His vision?


Day 3: Overcoming Barriers to Intimacy with God
Sin, disobedience, and a wrong image of God can hinder our intimacy with Him. We must cultivate a heart that is soft and receptive to God's voice, ensuring that we are not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. This involves a conscious effort to examine our lives for anything that might be blocking our relationship with God and taking steps to address these issues. By seeking forgiveness and striving for obedience, we open ourselves to a deeper connection with Him. [01:04:32]

"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.'" (Hebrews 3:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where sin or disobedience might be hindering your relationship with God. What practical step can you take today to address this barrier?


Day 4: Living a Purpose-Driven Life
Noah's life was driven by his ability to hear God. In a world that was corrupt and evil, he found purpose in God's instructions. Our purpose is found in our relationship with God, and it is this purpose that drives us to live a life of legacy. By listening to God's voice and following His guidance, we can live lives that are meaningful and impactful, leaving a legacy of faith for future generations. [57:25]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can align your daily actions with God's purpose for your life, ensuring that you are living a life of legacy?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Guidance
We are designed to hear God's voice, and we can be confident in His ability to lead us. It is not about our ability to follow Him perfectly but about trusting in His ability to guide us. Our walk with God is about surrendering to Him and trusting in His guidance. This trust is built through a relationship with Him, where we learn to rely on His wisdom and direction rather than our own understanding. [01:28:37]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a current decision or challenge you are facing. How can you actively trust in God's guidance and surrender your own understanding to His wisdom today?

Quotes

"And we looked at, and we'll look again at Hebrews 11 verse 7. And it says this, By faith, Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence, prepared an ark for the salvation of his household. Just in that one part of a sentence alone, it's loaded with truths that we can break down. I love it. In the Amplified, and it says, Prompted by faith, Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently, or other versions say, in holy fear. Another one says, moved with godly fear. Wow." [00:46:32]

"History is not going to record my gift, your gift, your gift, only what you and I do with our gifts. Okay. So history won't record our gift, only what we did with it. And heaven won't applaud our gift, only whether we aligned it with the heavenly vision. That's the only, that's the only role that you and I have, is to be faithful servants." [00:48:44]

"As a leader, we have to remember that the greatest gift that we can give to God is to ourselves and to those around us, as leaders, is to hear God when it matters most. Okay? And it gives us inner assurance to people who are following. And we'll see that by the last week. We'll see, as we continue to drill down and dig into who Noah was and what he, how he operated his life, we're going to see that he had incredible credibility with the generation that was following him, his own kids." [00:49:50]

"Because the Bible tells us that this man knew God. He knew God. This man had intimacy with God. Yeah. And we can only recognize a voice that we're familiar with. Intimacy equals recognition. It's like if I was in a huge crowded room, and the lights were off, and I could hear all these different voices, but if Bram spoke, I would know my husband's voice. If he laughed, I would know that's his laugh." [00:53:42]

"So I think we're starting to see the reason now. How did he achieve and maintain this intimacy? Well, he walked in habitual fellowship with God. Remember, we read earlier that in reverence and diligence and holy fear, he prepared the ark of salvation for his family. So this guy, he didn't just suddenly have this epiphany about God. No, he walked in habitual fellowship with God. That's a daily experience." [00:55:09]

"And yet we are expected to walk in this habitual fellowship with God. But guys, that is the only thing. That is the only thing that will keep us strong. That is the only thing. Remember this guy heard God when it mattered most. You and I need to hear God when it matters most. Brahm and I need to hear God. All of us need to hear God when it matters most. It's crucial." [00:56:11]

"But here's a man who was very purpose-driven. Now, is that because he had an incredible, strong will? Well, probably. Is it because he was a bit bored and had to do something with his life? No, this guy heard God. He was driven by the fact that he was hearing God. And I want to really hone in on this, and it'll be great as you guys really break all this down over this coming year." [00:57:25]

"Praying in the Holy Spirit. Building ourselves up in our most holy faith. Worship as we worship. That's our highest form of warfare. Like, we all know this. We learn this in DMS, don't we? Reading the Word of God. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit takes a hold of the sword of the Word of God when it's in our hearts. But if we're not putting it in, the Holy Spirit hasn't got anything to hold onto." [00:58:11]

"Guarding our hearts will maintain intimacy because that's what keeps a soft heart. It protects us from hearing deception. Hebrews 3, 13 says this, and I love this because Calvin was sort of touching on some of these things earlier in his communion. Exhort one another daily. Encourage one another daily. While it is still cold today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Yeah? Sin deceives us." [01:04:32]

"See, what happens when we are disobedient, we set ourselves up as the final authority and not God. And what the scripture is referring to is this illegitimate use of authority where we use our own selves and our own will as the final authority in our lives instead of surrendering to God. And so that disobedience, it causes sin. It causes a hardness of heart. So it's hard to be evil. It's hard to be intimate with God in our hearts." [01:05:58]

"Intimacy equals fruitfulness, guys, and intimacy equals direction. I love the scripture in Daniel 11 32 the people who know their God okay they know their God not just know about their God but they know their God can we say here today that we know God yeah yeah we can the people who know their God are the people who know their God are the people who know their God are the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits." [01:11:13]

"That scripture, I memorized that as a baby Christian saying, God, I want you to see me. I want you to see my heart. I want to know that my heart is totally yours. That it's completely yours. I want you to see me. I want you to see me. I completely surrender to you because I know that's the only thing that will get me through this life. I don't want to be pulled by people over here." [01:24:24]

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Transcript
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