4. Noah and His Boat

4. Noah and His Boat - for Notes

4. Noah and His Boat - PP

Hebrews 11 in the JSV

  
Through [full assurance of] faith, Noah, having been warned [by God] concerning the things not yet perceived, having been moved with caution, constructed an ark for the salvation of his household; through which he condemned the world and became heir of the just innocence that is according to faith (Hebrews 11:7).

The key thought in this story is “the salvation of his household.” And the truth is, despite all the visible destruction, that was the primary thought for God during the actual event.

It’s not the destruction, but the saving.

Applied to Us. Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37). Jesus was referencing the unexpected removal of the wicked (not the righteous), in agreement with Solomon, that the wicked are removed and the righteous remain.

Jesus’ point, then, was, “You also be ready.”

Nonetheless, we enlarge this prophetic word to define our present day, in the same way that the writer of Hebrews did. In the same chapter, Jesus said that the servant who is feeding the household of God during this present difficulty is the one who is blessed.

Safety and Provision. Let’s put these two thoughts together, then – “for the salvation of his household,” and “feed My household.” And we see that they are saying the same thing as this. – And the woman escaped into… a place having been prepared by God, so that they should nourish her there (Revelation 12:6).

Safety and provision in the midst of destruction all around. This is the “third witness” of Christ. And this is our primary thought in this lesson.

Let’s start first, however, with Noah’s setting.

An Altered Solar System. The geological evidence of a world-wide flood having occurred several thousand years ago, as well as the historical evidence, is overwhelming. In fact, much of this hard evidence has long ago falsified the theory of “long geological ages.”

Those who teach the electrical theory of the universe, whose number continues to grow, accept fully, by both kinds of evidence, that the surface of the earth as well as the entire solar system was altered almost unrecognizably within the last several thousand years.

We no longer live inside the natural realm for which our bodies were designed, that’s why we die so young.

The Miracle of Life. The miracle is that the human race survived that solar-system wide destruction and the alteration of an environment of life to one now that barely supports life. Before the great flood, what we now call “the sun” existed as a binary star, and the earth orbited proto-Saturn as it’s “sun,” as referenced by many historical accounts.

It is inconceivable that humans and life on earth could continue to live when our planet switched its orbit from Saturn to what we now call “the sun.” Yet here we are.

More than that, I speculate that a similar, though lesser solar-system altering event will occur again in our day.

Noah’s Ark. Solar-system-wide electrical storms are common occurrences across the short span of human history, though it has been quieter since Roman times.

If or when it occurs again, we will see what we are beginning to see today, a mindless outburst of emotional accusation and whole people-groups marching to war.

Consider the ark that Noah built, however. If the videos depicting the huge boat-shaped “fossil” on Mt. Ararat are accurate, then Noah’s ark was designed by modern engineering standards and materials were used that were more advanced than what we have today.

As a Metaphor. Noah’s ark is a metaphor for us of this “place prepared by God” for the salvation of His Church.

The first point, then, is that this “place” coming out from you and me right now, is safe and strong and capable for the sake of all whom the Father has given to Jesus.

Let’s back up, however, and look at Father’s Heart. – Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent [and design] of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Genesis 6:5-6).

The Father’s Pain. That word “grieved” also includes pain, that human actions filled God with great personal and inner pain. That is, every hurt by one human against another causes more pain inside of God than humans can experience.

The same thing is happening today. There is a mindlessness that is taking over, an emotional drive that has no place for reason or actual facts. We are seeing this in Christians and in non-Christians alike, though towards different emotional triggers.

And the rest… did not change their minds out of their killings nor out of their drugs nor out of their pornography nor out of their thefts (Revelation 9:21).

Seeing Both. The darkness is real; nonetheless, it has no real power. Let me attempt to explain how we see both God and the darkness, that is, how we hold both in our understanding.

Noah, having been warned [by God] concerning things not yet perceived, having been moved with caution, constructed an ark… Very specifically, we see the darkness, we see God, and we have a job to do.

I would suggest a YouTube video for you that contains a prophetic dream concerning this year, 2020. I will comment on some things the brother shares.

Placing Prophetic Words. First, he shows the accuracy of his dream last December, depicting events thus far, which caused him to take seriously his present dream concerning events later this year.

We must know how to place such “prophetic words.” First, it is evident that this is a good brother, with a pastor’s heart and a careful humility. The problem is that God can speak only inside of any person’s own paradigm of thinking. This is why we must be careful inside that whole “prophetic” realm, because they don’t really know what God is doing.

Consider this one short line the Lord spoke in his second dream, however, “Part Two, Part Two.”

I Saw Tabernacles. When he said that, I saw Tabernacles, the fulfillment of the fullness of Christ through us, that is, God manifest in the flesh, part two.

Yet nothing else in his sharing spoke of Tabernacles because the brother has no idea what is really happening.

“Having been moved with caution,” is where we place the awful things happening, but “constructed an ark” is what we do. And we are building this ark through faith in agreement with the Lord Jesus in the sending forth of the Spirit, that is, we work in absolute confidence.

Faith Always Rises. This is why Romans 8:28-30 must rule over every thought process and every definition. – Synergeoing with God, symmorphosed with Jesus, already complete. God does nothing apart from us; we do nothing apart from Him. This utter entwining with our Father through Jesus is the only way we think.

Faith rises to meet the moment; faith always rises to meet the moment.

Inside of Jesus, you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God inside the sphere of Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).

Whosoever Will. The ark (the temple) is to carry God; the ark is to carry those whom God has given to Jesus. Same thing.

And that brings us to our next point – for the salvation of his household. – And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life (7:15).

To understand God’s metaphors, we do not look at a comparison of surface details, but at the deeper meaning, just as the writer of Hebrews did. Here is God’s definition of those who must enter this place of safety that is Tabernacles – whosoever will may come.

The Fulfillment of Tabernacles. Who will that be? Who will enter this place of safety?

Now, I intend to set forth God’s view of the authority He gave to us. But before we can do that, we must understand this “place of safety,” a “place prepared by God,” the ark of Noah in our day. I am speaking of the overwhelming fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles in the life of the Church.

The Church is His body, the full meaning that is Christ, who fills full all inside of all (Ephesians 1:23). A Tabernacles Church is a Church that KNOWS that God is telling us the truth.

I Will Know You. When I made a covenant with God at the age of twenty-two, I had no idea of Tabernacles, but only of what I required of God in my desperation. “God, I will know You in this age and on this earth, and I will walk with a people who know You.”

Let me define Tabernacles in its simplest essence. “God, I know You, and I walk with a people who know You.” God manifest in the flesh; God seen and known through “love one another.”

You and I are synergeoing with God, sharing the same form with Jesus, in preparing this place of safety right now.

Father with You. A sister shared her distress in caring for her autistic son. As you know Father sharing not only your distress with you, but every aspect of your life, so you stand with Father in the expectation that your shared travail is working for the sake of others, that this place might be prepared.

I haven’t got there yet in A Highway for God, but the key to everything is EXPECTATION OF FAITH, our confidence that God-Is coming through.

So, who and how many do we call into this place of safety, that is, into our hearts that we share with Father? Consider God’s attitude towards our authority.

Never Limit God’s Willingness. I had you read an incident in Abraham’s life and an incident in Elisha’s life.

Abraham asked God to spare Sodom. God was immediate in responding to Abraham’s request, but Abraham did not have the faith to continue all the way through. Moses did have that kind of faith, however. Then, Elisha was angry with King Joash because Joash limited God with him.

The point of both stories is that we never limit God’s willingness to move by our authority inside of the humility of Christ.

Ask. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. – If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

– You did not choose Me, but I chose you… that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. – And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

– In that day you will ask in My name, and …the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me.

Ask and Believe. In this evening before His death, Jesus is bearing His heart and the depths of His intention to His disciples. Inside of that fervency, He instructs them SEVEN times to ASK. And every one of these “asks” is predicated on His earlier statement – “Believe you have received what you ask.”

God cannot make His Desire to move into our world through our unlimited authority clearer to us. Expect that God is always moving through your shared life with Him, in every direction and in all ways.

I had never noticed that Jesus said, “Ask,” seven times. Let all those lines dwell fully inside your knowing.

Extending Our Hearts. And so I extend my heart out over others inside the expectation of God in two concentric circles. The larger circle is out over all those across the earth who call upon Jesus in some way, regardless. And then, inside that larger circle, a smaller circle defined as “all whom the Father has given to Jesus in this present season.”

And I root this confidence in God into these words “he constructed an ark for the salvation of his household.”

The Church of Christ belongs to me, as Paul said, “Besides these outer things, the tumult coming on me every day, my care for all the churches. Who is weak and I am not also weak? Who is ensnared and I do not burn inwardly?”

Not I, But Christ. Now, do I “feel” this way? NO! Rather, I am filled with the One who does feel this way over His people. And as I acknowledge the passion of Christ inside of me, so He gives me a small taste of that same desire over His Church.

Symmorphy – I share Jesus’ great desire with Him. If it’s talking about Him, then it’s talking about me.

HOWEVER, inside of this expectation of faith and the confidence in which we stand, there is a clear limiting set in place by God, and that limiting is “each in their season.” In John 17, Jesus said, “I do NOT pray for the world.”

Condemning the World. We do not understand the full meaning, of course, but we do recognize that it is of supreme importance to God to set the salvation of Christ in unmistakable distinction against the perfidy of this world.

And that is the other part of Noah and his boat. – Through which he condemned the world and became heir of the just innocence that is according to faith.

The word “condemned” is katacrisis, or “down judgment.” Here is the best way to express it. Many will say, “We did not know,” but God will reply, “No, you did not want.” And this will include many who appear now as Christians.

We Require of God. We live in a world far worse than we have any ability to survive. We are utterly vulnerable and entirely incapable.

And so I do the only thing I know to do. I stand upon that covenant I made with God when I was 22, that He will do what I require. “God, I will know You, and I will walk with a people who know You.” – The fulfillment of Tabernacles, the completion of Christ.

You are that “people,” yet much more, rather. Indeed, I see you as with me towards that people. Let’s build this boat together for the sake of our Church.

Next Reading. For the next lesson, read all of Genesis 12 and 13 as well as Hebrews 11:8-16.