GOD’S GRACE FOR DESPERATE TIMES

Application: To show that regardless of the circumstances, God’s grace is sufficient.

Scriptures to Read:

Text: Genesis 6:1-8

Related Scripture: Genesis 19:19-22; Exodus 33:12-17; Psalms 37:21-26; 84:11; 119:21; Proverbs 3:34; Jeremiah 1:5; Amos 5:15; Luke 1:30; Acts 2:41-47; 4:33; 14:26; Romans 5:15-20; 6:14; Galatians 1:15,16.

Devotional Readings: Paul Found God’s Grace To Be Sufficient, II Corinthians 1:5-11

Introduction:

God’s grace. What is this theme that will be the focus of these lessons? One definition of grace is God’s favor bestowed on those who are undeserving. The Old Testament word comes from a root that means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior. Since the subject is God’s grace, the idea presented is of the infinitely superior God stooping down to offer His favor to those who are undeserving. The New Testament word implies being happy and well-off. Here, the picture if of one who had cone nothing to deserve the favor of another; yet, the one who is greater grants kindness to the lesser. God certainly was not required to offer grace to a created race of beings, but He is so loving and kind that He willingly offered to humanity something it could never deserve. This is His grace being bestowed on those who are less than He.

Often, grace is only applied to teaching on salvation. While God’s grace definitely has its part in salvation, it does not stop there. His grace is necessary for every aspect of life. An example of this came in the life of Paul. He had been called by God to be a missionary, but Paul had a physical ailment. He called it “a thorn in the flesh” (II Corinthians 12:7). This thorn was so difficult that he compared it to “the messenger of Satan to buffet me” (verse 7). Paul prayed to God for the removal of his problem, but God answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (verse 9). God would not remove the difficulty but would help Paul succeed in his work in spite of the problem. God’s grace would direct the glory to Him, not Paul.

People often do not recognize the hand of God in their lives when life is smooth and without care. God’s grace is needful in the good times and the bad times. It is during the bad times when people recognize their need and cry out to God for help. God’s grace is available during these desperate situations. God’s people should never fail to approach Him for help. He has promised, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

1. THE SINFULNESS OF HUMANITY – Genesis 6:1-5
   1. Adam created in innocence.
      1. Adam had the capacity to make the decision to sin or not sin.
      2. This does not mean that God created a sinful person.
      3. God gave man the ability to choose.
   2. The time for choosing came.
      1. Adam could have chosen not to partake of the forbidden fruit.
      2. Adam rebelled against the commandment of God.
      3. Adams act of rebellion cast all of his descendants into a state of sin.
      4. Rebellion has been initiated into the spiritual DNA of everyone born.
   3. As time went by the population of the earth increased.
      1. Some of Adam’s descendants had chosen to follow the path God had selected for them.
      2. The offspring of Seth chose to “call upon the name of the Lord” according to (Genesis 4:26).
   4. This has the ability to have two meanings.
      1. One meaning could be – they began to call themselves by God’s name much like people today call themselves Christians.
      2. Here is what a true saved person does – They began to call out to God in prayer and worship.
      3. Seth’s descendants endeavored to worship God and serve Him properly.
      4. This was not true of all the people.
      5. The descendants of Cain did not have the spiritual outlook they needed.
   5. Therefore, the people of earth were divided into two groups.
      1. Here is where we stray. The attraction of the world.
      2. We find that those whose minds were focused on God began to notice the physical attractiveness of those who pursued worldly things.
      3. The sons of God became so distracted that many began acting and living like the daughters of men.
      4. We find that eventually God was left out of the equation of living.
   6. Worldly activities have taken the place become so attractive that many focus on those activities.
      1. Therefore going to church falls behind the attractions of the world.
      2. Children sacrificed to entertainment rather than the service of God.
      3. The reaction of God during Noah’s day lets us know how God feels about this.

2. THE JUDGMENT OF GOD – Genesis 6:3, 6, 7
   1. Even when facing a time of judgment, humanity still has the offer of God’s grace.
      1. The lord looked down from heaven and saw their rebellious lives.
      2. His Spirit shall not always strive with man.
         1. This is not a physical struggle.
         2. This indicates that the spirit does strive or convict man of his wickedness and need for a Savior.
         3. Also demonstrates that men can resist the Spirit.
         4. This also reveals that there is a point of no return. A point where the Spirit will no longer convict or try to persuade a person to repent and turn to the Savior.
      3. 120 years later the flood came on the earth.
         1. A witness to the rebellion of man is Noah, a righteous man.
         2. The building of the Ark was the witness of the calamity to come.
   2. As God continued to watch His creation, He “saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (verse 5).
      1. People turned their backs upon the Lord and did not care for his ways.
      2. Only evil continually shows their focus.
      3. Therefore God stood ready to judge.
      4. God’s mercy and grace was sufficient to continue convicting and drawing people to Him.
      5. God does not want any to continue in rebellion against Him.
      6. If they do not respond then judgment comes.
   3. The warning issued by the Lord:
      1. God gives warnings – “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; foe it repenteth me that I have made them.
      2. God’s mercy has a limit.
      3. When people continually refuse His offer of grace, the time will come when they will no longer have the opportunity to be saved.
      4. This is a warning for people to stop trying the patience of the Lord.
      5. They need to come to Him now.

3. THE MAN OF GOD – Genesis 6:8
   1. God Found a man.
      1. God approved of the life and habits of this man.
      2. Noah found grace in the eyes of God
         1. Gen. 5:29 – And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
         2. This a prophecy
         3. His Father Lamech prophesied this character of Noah
      3. In the very next verse we fine three descriptions of Noah.
         1. Just man.
            1. Lawful, – God’s law
            2. righteous, – Looking to the righteousness of the coming Saviour.
            3. Faithful – “The Just shall live by faith” – Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38
         2. Perfect in his generations.
            1. Morally
               1. Principles of right and wrong
               2. Conforming of standards of behavior.
            2. Integrity – a completeness of standards established.
            3. Truth – a quality of speaking correct things. Not lying. Accuracy in speaking.
            4. Sincere – solemnly earnest in all good things.
            5. Upright – good and just.
            6. Complete – Highly skilled – having all necessary qualities
         3. Walked with God
            1. According to God’s will.
            2. Walked in truth
            3. Walked in Righteousness
            4. Walked in a manner that was pleasing to God.
            5. Walked in communion with God.
   2. Often people consider Biblical characters as spiritual giants.
      1. Noah was a just man that was committed to God.
      2. We can be just and committed to God.
      3. Noah wanted his life to be pleasing to God.
      4. We should desire that our life is pleasing to God.
      5. The problem for many is that they choose the way of the world over God.
      6. Because of this their lives do not please God.
      7. For some that is why their lives are falling apart.
      8. Galatians 6:7 says “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”
      9. This is not a mere possibility, this is a certainty.

CONCLUSION:

• Noah faced difficult, even desperate days.
• He had a special work to do.
• He would be ridiculed and mocked.
• He was preparing for judgment that was coming.
• He was the man that God wanted for the job.
• He was faithful and true.
• We need this kind of man, this kind of woman that will prepare for the judgment of God.