Then God Spoke

Then God Spoke

Genesis 8:15-19 New King James Version

15 Then God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. 19 Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark.

Noah waited, and then, on the first day of the first month, in the 601st year of his life, removed the covering from the ark. He could see that the surface of the earth was dry; but it was not till the 27th day of the second month, 57 days, therefore, after the removal of the roof, that the earth was completely dried up. Then God commanded him to leave the ark with his family and all the animals. As the flood commenced on the 17th of the second month of the 600th year of Noah’s life, and ended on the 27th of the second month of the 601st year, it lasted a year and ten days.

Scripture does not record that Noah even heard from God for a year’s time. Yet, Noah waited faithfully while God was silent. He was silent through the screams of drowning people and silent when all living things died. For over a year, God kept silent leaving Noah to float, not knowing the hour or the day in which he would step out of the boat.

Would God ever speak to Noah again? Would He leave Noah to just float aimlessly? What thoughts penetrated Noah’s mind? When the land dried, what would Noah do? What did this new world look like? What was expected of him? These are questions I would be asking. 

Then God spoke. What beautiful words!

Have you ever been in a season of silence? It is draining and weary. You begin to question and doubt God, or at least question that you are doing what He asked of you. I can tell you there were some seasons in ministry that I felt like heaven was shut up with an iron door. I cried out to the Lord to hear nothing. I just kept plowing and plowing and plowing. Sometimes not even sure if I was where He wanted me or doing what HE wanted me to do.

Then God spoke and it was like water in the desert to a wandering and thirsty man.

I want to encourage you tonight that whatever season you are in- God will speak! Here are a few things we need to know-

Noah waited. 

As Noah had a command to go into the ark, he waited for a command to go out of it again. 

Waiting is never, ever fun. Waiting can often be a long, tedious season. But we are commanded to wait before we move. We do not take matters into our own hands. WE must wait on God.

Waiting feels like a circling plane that never lands- flight from Dallas to Killeen

Waiting is HARD. (pause) but not waiting is harder

Learn to wait well. Let the wilderness generation of Israel be an example for us.  I talked about this very thing in bible study yesterday, not even realizing I had written this message last week.

1 Corinthians 10:1-11  Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us [a]tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now [b]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our [c]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Your words matter! Do not grumble, murmur and complain like that generation did. 

Proverbs 18:20-21 New King James Version

20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

 

If we could see into the spiritual the real power of our words- you will eat the PRODUCE of your lips. 

What if Noah had complained? God seems to like the number 40-  maybe He would have added 40 more 40’s to his time in the Ark.  Think it is safe to assume that Noah kept his mouth while he was waiting. Abraham taking matters in his own hands, David’s sin was recorded, Saul’s and Samson, along with the priest Eli and every other person in Scripture who messed up. We see with the Israelites that God hates complaining, so I believe it would have been recorded. 

Noah was a faithful man. Imagine floating in a boat with only your family members and a bunch of animals. And not complaining. 

The antidote for a complaining heart is a heart of gratitude. I imagine that Noah had a few things he could have complained about but a million things to be grateful for. 

Waiting is a time of preparation for something greater

Isaiah 40:31 New King James Version

31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

 

God is preparing us in the waiting to go and do greater things.

Psalm 27:14 New King James Version

14 Wait[a] on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

 

Guard against discouragement. Waiting on God to speak can become discouraging if we do not guard our hearts and our minds. Keep your mind fixed on Him and His promise. Keep your face to the window in expectation of His Word. Keep out all discouraging and disparaging voices. SHUT down the voice of discouragement! 

 

Get thee behind me Satan! You are not wanting the goodness of God! Either believe with me for good, or shut up!

 

Waiting on the Lord is a reoccurring theme in Scripture and a promise that as we wait on Him, He will strengthen us and supply all we need for the journey.

 

God’s time is the best time. (2nd part of waiting)

In the waiting, remember that God knows the right time. As Noah was to remain in the Ark for an extended period of time, God knows how long that we should remain in any position, place or role. 

Waiting is all about the right timing. God has perfect timing for all things. He knows what He is doing. He knows the right season to plant the right seeds in.

Seeds are planted in different seasons based on the plant’s needs for heat, cold, and time to maturity; spring is best for cool-season crops like peas, radishes, and leafy greens, while late spring and summer are ideal for heat-loving plants such as beans, corn, and tomatoes, and fall is suitable for certain hardy flowers and winter crops like rye. 

WE can google what crops to plant in which season- but spiritual seeds can only be planted in the season of God’s choosing. Only He knows

Ask anyone who has stepped out a head of God’s time, they were met with closed doors.  Ask them how when they waited on God, HE had a time that seemed very odd and inconvenient, in the natural but brought forth a beautiful harvest.

We tried to plant this church almost a year before the right season. Every door was shut in our face. We had to step back and reevaluate. Instead of trying to move forward to plant, we waited and prayed. 

Ps Mugi started his real estate business in March of 2020. 

This would be the most unrealistic and unnatural time to start a new business, specifically in our area. But Ps Kevin heard from the Lord and stepped out in faith trusting the Lord’s timing.

When that door opens, you run through it. Whether it is convenient or inconvenient. God’s timing is not according to any worldly good or timeclock. HE sees things we do not see. He knows things we do not know. Like Noah, He knows when we are clear of danger and the season is good and right to plant seeds.

God told Noah, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth”

HE knows the season with the most favorable conditions for you to be the most fruitful!

 

Noah knew God’s voice.

THIS IS A MUST! It is important to recognize the voice of the Lord- or you may miss it. Not every thought, or every voice that comes across your head is the Lord! 

God still speaks! There is a whole camp of theology that tells you that God doesn’t speak anymore, except through His Word. 

We have the Holy Spirit. He leads with urgings and promptings.

Jesus speaks-

John 10:27 New King James Version

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

 

His voice requires that we know Him. We know His ways. We know His nature and character. We must be acquainted with these things in order to hear clearly. I can distinguish my husband’s voice even when it is muffled because I know how he thinks. I know what he likes and dislikes. I can order for him at a restaurant and I can pack his suitcase for a trip. I know what he would do or say in most cases. I have been walking closely with my husband for 27 years.

You must know the Lord like this in order to hear accurately. This takes lots of time in prayer and in the Word of God. Noah walked with God. We must too, walk with God.

Stop always saying God told me. You are damaging your witness and marring the power of a mighty and wonderful God. It is often a manipulative tactic to either get people to do what you want them to do, or a defensive tactic to never have anyone challenge you.

One of the most asked questions I get is: “How do I know it is the voice of the Lord?”

There are many voices out there, including your own inner voice. You have to learn to recognize His voice above all others, specifically in things that are not clearly covered in Scripture.

If you are praying, “Should I marry this person?” and they are not a believer, or equally yoked with yourself, meaning you are around the same place in your walk, etc. then you do not need to hear from God. His answer is NO.

If you are called into ministry and they don’t want anything to do with ministry- the answer is no.

You do not need to pray about things that are clearly articulated in Scripture.  I do not know why this is so hard for people. God requires love, forgiveness, humility, to prefer others better than you, serve, give, tithe, cover their sins, etc. People are always trying to find the loopholes, and so take God names in vain by saying, “God told me”

Now, in things that are not covered in Scripture, it can be a little harder. But God will give you peace. Follow the peace.

Ex: God told me to quit school. I wrestled with the Lord until I quit. In the natural this made no sense. I was chastised by my peers. I was greatly humbled.

Wrestling with God and fighting the enemy are not the same. Sometimes you have to fight for your blessings. The Lord has spoken and you move forward only to face opposition. The enemy is not just going to let you take his ground. You will battle. Think of Joseph, Abraham, Moses, David, Paul- the enemy is not going to just pave the way for you to accomplish that which God has given you to accomplish. But you will have the peace of God that passes all understanding. God will confirm His Word by the witness of others and the Holy Spirit. But wrestling God- no peace, day or night

God’s voice is not the author of confusion. He is not going to tell you something one day and something different the next. Noah built for 120 years on the same assignment, quite possibly not hearing from God for 120 years. Moses was told to go before Pharoah, he had some excuses, but God didn’t change His mind just because it would be hard. He sent Aaron to go with Moses, but He didn’t change the assignment. Stay on assignment.

You can always recognize the enemy’s voice. It will be in the form of questioning the Word of God, “Did God really say?” The enemy will always twist and manipulate the Word. Satan causes doubt, worry and fear. 

Spend time with God in prayer and in His Word to recognize His voice.

 Then Noah obeyed.

God finally spoke and Noah immediately obeyed. Praise the Lord! When God speaks it is a beautiful sound. It is better than riches and gold. Specifically when you are in a tough season.

Then we obey. Obedience is HARD. (pause) but disobedience is harder.

Obedience is for our benefit. God is not some cosmic task-master demanding our allegiance and obedience. No. Our obedience is for our good. God doesn’t need u to obey to make Himself feel good or pump up His ego. No. He wants us to obey so He can open up the window of heaven and shower down upon us good things.

Obedience is always for our good and His glory.

God commands are for our benefit, rather than our desires; He knows what is good for us better than we do for ourselves.

John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Acts 5:29 – But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

1 John 5:3 – For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Isaiah 1:19 – If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

Luke 6:46 – “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

Obedience is for our protection. We must in all our ways acknowledge God, and set Him before us in all our endeavors. Only those  who follow God’s direction, and submit to Him, remain under His protection.

Exodus 19:5-6 New King James Version

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

 

Obedience is a path to spiritual growth and maturity and a deeper relationship with God, rather than just a means to an end. He is building in us not only faith and trust in Him, but endurance to run our race to the end.

Revelation 14:12 New King James Version

12 Here is the [a]patience of the saints; here[b] are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

 

Obedience brings beautiful and bountiful blessings!