IN THE WORD DAILY

with Brother Rick

Genesis 8: 20, 21

  And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

V- 21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour;

We saw in our devotion yesterday how God in his infinite wisdom and loving compassion has set before us an atonement for our sin. The ark is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in Christ, therefore we will escape the coming judgment for our transgression against God and his word. The Lord Jesus Christ is our escape. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. Romans 5: 10, 11 says, “For, if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but also joy in God through our  Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” My sins are forgiven and I am in Christ. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”, Romans 8: 1. I don't just know who Jesus is, I am in Christ and he is in me. John 17: 20, 21 says, “Neither pray I  for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word: That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Noah shows us two things in the text that give record that he has been delivered. Once in the ark, he was spared the judgment of God. Once we are in Christ, we are spared the judgment of God. Yes, we as believers will stand at the judgment seat of Christ, but we will not receive the judgment we deserve. Christ has paid the sin debt in full and we will be judged as children for our stewardship. How's that working our for you? Are you a good steward with the gift God has given you?

Noah shows us the fruit of deliverance. We see in the text, the first thing Noah did when he walked off of the ark was find the best musicians in the land and began to praise and worship God; Not quite!! Doesn't sound like a such a bad idea, but that is not what the Lord is looking for. Noah didn't start any false ministries, he didn't publish any perversions of God's word. He didn't set himself up as a king or a prophet. Noah built an altar. Noah had one thing on his mind, he gave to God. No! That is not a dirty word. We love to receive from God, when was the last time you gave to God. Where is your altar? Romans 12: 1, 2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” You cannot offer your body as a living sacrifice, when you are conformed to this world. The offering becomes unacceptable. Notice in the text, and this is the second point, Noah offered only the CLEAN beast, and the CLEAN fowl. God got the very best Noah had to offer. Can you see it? Don't you get it? God deserves our very best, not the leftovers. Noah stepped off of the ark with one thing in mind; To give God the very best he had. If you ever discover the magnitude of the gift of grace that God has given you, by offering up his only begotten Son, friend, you will never be the same. You WILL give God what he deserves.

It is a mockery to God, when we call him LORD, and walk with the world. It is a shame, when we profess Jesus and then offer up the sacrifice of rock and roll in the house of the LORD. I am against it. God deserves better than that. It's a disgrace when we call on the Lord and offer him worldly things. HE DON'T WANT IT. God gave up on the flesh and the world, when he sent the flood. God wants separation. God wants dedication. God wants sanctification. God wants purification. 1 John 3: 3 says, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” God is not interested in your spare time, Gods wants the best you have to offer. Have you built an altar in your heart, a place where only God can go? Have you offered up the clean beast and the clean fowl for a sacrifice? Most of us only give a SMALL portion out of our abundance. God gave all.

Don't short change the Lord, build God an altar and offer up the best you have.

Have A Blessed Day!!!   

IN THE WORD DAILY

with Brother Rick

Genesis 7: 1

  And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

During the days of Noah, we see that judgment has come upon the earth and every living creature. If we study the Bible as a whole, we will find that there are two sins that bring the swift judgment of God. One is idolatry, and the other is sexual perversions; mainly sodomy, adultery and fornication. We see in the text, “that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose”, Genesis 6: 2.  Verse 5 says, “And God 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.” Why do the heathen rage? Why do we seek out wickedness? Why do we thrive on bad news? Why does the media push for the evil stories and push the good in our society to the back page, it’s because we love the bad. We get off on the evil that men do. Today at 5pm, if you turn on your TV and look at the evening news, you will find 10 evil stories to one good story. People prefer the bad over the good. Not much has changed since Noah's day.

The “sons of God” mentioned in the previous verse are angels who were part of the third of heavenly host cast out of heaven with Lucifer. 2 Peter 2: 4- 6 says, “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;” We also see these “sons of God” (angels) in Job 1: 6, the verse says, “Now there was a day when the “sons of God” came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.” These “sons of God” are not men, they are angels.

God saw that men preferred evil over good and they do that now. Men preferred sodomy over their natural God given affection and men do that now. Men preferred drunkenness over sobriety and men do that now. Men preferred the opinions of heretics over the Word of God, and they do that now. Men preferred pleasures over holiness, and they do that now. Men preferred NASCAR, football, golf and fishing over worship on the Lord's Day, and they certainly do that now. In other words, men did what they wanted to do then, and men do what they want to do now.

Our text shows the longsuffering of our God. He is watching us, and he is offering us a way out. No one is trapped in their sin. No one is completely without hope. 2 Peter 3: 9 says, “The Lord in not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God told Noah to build an ark and escape the judgment to come. It was up to Noah to build the ark, get his family on board, and climb aboard himself. God didn't force him onto the ark. God didn't threaten him to get aboard the ark. God gave Noah a free will, just like he gave Adam, and just like he gave you and me. Look around, friend, can't you see the similarities of men's hearts today compared to men's hearts in Noah's day. Judgment is coming. But, the difference is that God will not flood the earth again, Genesis 9: 11. And God is not calling for us to build an ark. The ark is already available. Unless you put on the Lord Jesus Christ, you will perish with the wicked. I'm not talking about church membership, church attendance, good works or Bible degrees. I'm talking about trusting Jesus for your salvation. I'm talking about repenting of your sins, bowing before a holy God, and begging him for forgiveness. Only Jesus can save you now. There will be no more arks built with the hands of man. Jesus is your ark now, Won't you come on board? Noah found grace in the eyes of God, and you have too. God is giving us one last chance, don't pass it up for a few minutes of pleasure. The end is near, choose Jesus now. The ark is loading and getting ready to sail. I've punched my ticket, how about you?

Have A Blessed Day!!!

IN THE WORD DAILY

with Brother Rick

Genesis 4: 25, 26

  And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

V- 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos; then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

We find in the text, the bloodline of the Lord Jesus Christ. Later on we see that this genealogy will eventually lead to Noah, who will replenish the earth and carry on the heritage. At this time, God has made two Covenants, the Edenic Covenant, Genesis 1: 28, where God gives Adam and his wife free reign of the earth. “God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:” and the Adamic Covenant, Genesis 3:14, which conditions the life of fallen man. Also, we are now in the second dispensation, The first was the Dispensation of “Innocency”. Adam and Eve were perfect in their creation, and the earth was perfect, without sin, without disease, without pain or suffering. Adam had the perfect life. Then sin came and slew him. This plunged mankind into the second dispensation, which is the Dispensation of Conscience. Because of pride, sin was introduced and man has embraced his own desires since that day.

In the text, God gave Adam another son. Seth's blood line would carry us to Noah, then to Abraham, who would eventually take us to David and then to the Lord Jesus Christ. You can find this genealogy in Luke, chapter 3. We see in the text, Seth has a son named Enos, and the Bible says, “then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” Each and every one of us have family that God has entrusted to us. Our descendants and those who we are accountable for at the Judgment seat, need a path in which to follow. How many times have your children or your family seen you on your knees calling on the name of the LORD? How many times have your children or your family seen you praise God with a pure heart? How many times have your children or your family seen you give back what God has given you? We know that Adam worshiped God, we know that Abel worshiped God, but it wasn't until Enos came, when we see men calling on the name of the LORD. I sit here this morning and read about these Bible characters, and I desire to be remembered as they are. I want my life to mean something.

I had an acquaintance who died on Monday. He left this world in shame and disgrace. His own family will not attend his funeral, he was 46, lost without hope, friends, or heritage. What a wasted life. Several times, given the opportunity, my family tried to witness to him about Jesus, we helped him get to church on several occasions, but no response. His sin was too deep rooted, and he chose not to get out. What will be your testimony when you leave this life? What does the future hold for you and yours. Friend, you had better start calling on the name of the LORD. I say this a lot, and I'll say it again, don't wait for the government to encourage to your spiritual needs. Don't wait on family to carry you into heaven. Don't depend on the public school system to lead your children in the right direction. Don't expect the world to lead your people toward God. Our society is stooped to a level where Bible believing Christians have become the enemy. If we condemn sodomy, as God does, we are labeled criminals. What about the BIBLE? If we condemn fornication, drunkenness, and adultery, we are labeled heretics. What about the BIBLE?

At this time, in our Bible study, men began to call upon the name of the LORD. God gave Eve another son in the place of Abel, his name was Seth. Enos did what his daddy, Seth, taught him to do, he praised God. Your hard work will provide the material needs for your family, but only God can give eternal life. Only God can give peace in the storms. Only God can give joy in this life. Only God can give assurance when all seems lost. At what point will your family begin to call upon the name of the LORD? Will it start with you, your son, your daughter, your grandchildren? NO friend, you better start calling on the name of the LORD, NOW.

January 9^th, 2015, men began to call upon the name of the LORD. It's never too late. Don't let another year pass you by!

Have A Blessed Day!!!