Bible In One Year – Day 8 (January 8, 2014)

God started a clean-up process of wickedness in chapter 7. In the lineage of Cain, there was not a dot of righteousness hence the lineage was terminated. Adam had another son after Abel was assassinated by his brother; his name was Seth (Gen4:25). It was in the time of Seth that men began to call on the name of Lord (v26). His ability to start calling on the name of the Lord was counted as righteousness and his lineage continued. As the wickedness of men increased on the face of the earth, God was grieved in His heart and summed up to destroy men for wickedness to cease, Gen 6:5-7. Noah was of the lineage of Seth and the fruit of righteousness was found in him; he found grace before the Lord.

Genesis 6:8 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

It is good for us to note that Noah was not born righteous and, again, he wasn’t a saint but a sinner by inheritance; corruption was in him by birth. Noah was part of the men mentioned in Gen6:5;

Genesis 6:5 “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.”

Noah had his weakness also, however, the difference was that he learnt to walk with God in his weakness and that was counted for him as righteousness. He could draw strength from walking with God; he relied totally on God for strength to take care of his weakness. If a man realized his weakness and the weakness kept him on his knees seeking the face of the Lord, then, that weakness is no more in the negative (i.e. weakness) but positive (i.e. strength) and it could be counted as righteousness because he has faith and trust in the Lord for help, i.e. sowing the weakness in prayer.

1 Corinthians 15:43 “It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:”

Apostle Paul had his weakness which kept him on his knees praying for God to remove it, but God’s response was that His grace was sufficient for him.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Our weakness should not take us far from God but keep us walking with Him. Therefore, grace is for those who acknowledge their weaknesses but look unto God for strength; they are always raised in power. Seth knew the defeat in his flesh which moved him to start the process of calling upon the name of the Lord; and anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Noah’s weakness was evident in his drunkenness; perhaps that was his struggles. Our salvation is not by the works of righteousness but by His grace alone;

Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

GRACE is what makes us to be complete in Christ. Noah walked with God with his heart in his weakness; he was the first person to build an altar to the Lord and  offered a clean sacrifice to the Lord, Gen8:20-22. This gesture was pleasing to the Lord and consequently invoked the blessing of automatic multiplication. It became a law backed up by a covenant symbolized by the rainbow. The history of the church started from here. From the altar to the temple, to synagogue, then the heart; the church is the gathering of children of God, not the building. A pure heart is that which reverence, worship and adore God in love. It is not about the church attendant, but about a pure heart, Ez36:24-30. Your heart must be an altar for the Lord. Any praise from a clean and pure heart is a soothing aroma to the Lord. Those who praise God with a good heart of thanksgiving and deep appreciation will ever have God meeting them at the very point of need. Supplies are well calculated and timely. To such, every season yields profitably, Gen8:22. Noah sowed his weaknesses in prayer and he gained power;

Genesis 9:1-3 “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”

The question is “what is your weakness?” Don’t let it push you out of God’s presence but into His presence. Don’t ever imagine that you could take care of it within your human effort. Wickedness has increased like never before and divine direction is the only panacea.

Proverbs 3:5-8 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”

I pray that you will find grace in the eyes of the Lord, in Jesus name. We are reading, today, Genesis 10-12. There are two characters I would like you to pay attention to; Abram and Lot. Keep the fire burning and alive on the altar of LOVE.