The Triumph of Godliness — Des Evans

Noah as a Historical and Scriptural Figure

Genesis chapter 6, we found that their character was absolutely corrupt and their common conduct was incredibly violent. Tonight I want us to look at the triumph of godliness, the tragedy of godlessness and the triumph of godliness.

I pray Lord Jesus that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart shall be acceptable to you. I ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. As one looks at the life of Noah, one gets the idea that he is nothing more than a fictitious character or some fairy tale from the old.

Or it's just the indication of some goody-goody story where right conquers over wrong. It seems to me that I accept Noah in a different context to that. And there are about five things I want to share with you about the life of Noah.

First of all I want to briefly touch upon the fact of Noah. History records anything about people of old. It certainly has a great record about Noah. Not only is it scriptural because the Bible is quite eloquent with regard to him.

It's referred to in the book of Isaiah chapter 54 verse 9 in the Old Testament and certainly in the New. 1 Peter 3, 20 talks of him. 2 Peter 2, 5. Hebrews 11 verse 7. Even the Lord makes reference to good old Noah.

In Matthew 24 verse 36 and 7. As far as I'm concerned, because my commitment to the things that the Lord says, I accept it. But not only is it scriptural but it's also scientific. No other incident demands so much time or accent in history or tribal literature than that of the flood.

From the writings of China, even through the American Indian population, you find that all the ancients write of some characteristic event which they speak of with the mystery and the dynamic of what we call the flood.

Each have attached some weird myths and traditions to it. But the fact is nevertheless there that somewhere, somehow, sometime, in some way, there was a catastrophic event which was manifested in a form of flood.

I believe that what the tribal people are talking about, whether you go to the hieroglyphics of Egypt or to the weird scrolls or writings of primitive people in the Pacific of our day, you find that they keep on talking that something happened.

We don't know what caused it to happen. From some folk who would explain that there was an explosive activity upon Earth, that something emerged which caused the Pacific basin to be caused and shattered the covering over Earth, which had been of a kind of an ice ball which made the climate of man to be quite Pacific and pleasant, and that in the breaking of this canopy that suddenly all the killer rays, the sun, were manifested to man.

And therewith man began to live in a duration of shorter periods of time. To that people think that the Earth swayed on its axis, and Isaiah 24 verse 17 through 20 relates that it's going to happen again in the near future.

I do not know what happened. I do not know how it happened. But I do know it did take place. That in the infinite majesty of our God, in an act to judge the world, a flood took place. And we call that flood, we relate it to Noah.

Noah's Righteousness, Humanity, and Walk with God

But in the fact of Noah, there are three things that I want you to take note of him as I hurriedly go through it. One, he was a righteous man. Chapter 6 verse 9 says he was just in all of his dealings to all of his generations.

Noah was a righteous man. It also says that he was a real man. The word used is perfect. This is not speaking of moral perfection. Rather it's a physical attribute. He was a real guy. And I'm so grateful that in the day in which we live for people who are righteous, for people who are real.

That they exhibit an evidence, their true makeup in the grace of God that men are real men and girls are real girls and nothing in between. But not only was he a righteous man. Not only was he a real man, he was also a related man.

Because he also walked with God. The more that I've looked at this pastor's scripture, the more challenging it becomes to me. Because Enoch walked with God and he was not. Because God took him out of the mess.

Noah walked with God and got landed with a job to clean up the mess. And there are some things in God, friend, that you can't explain. As much as we'd like to. As much as there are times we're intimidated and think we ought to.

There are some things we just cannot explain. God is still God and has the right to rule in whatever way, in whatever fashion, in whatever manner he so desires. And so, Enoch was taken out. But Noah was taken through.

And both had that delightful experience of walking with him. So some of his ways are beyond understanding. But the God who takes out is the same God who takes through. And the grace that gives us an exit is the same grace that gives us the ability to face it with dignity and to come out gloriously triumphant.

This is why it's important to be related. And so just because you see one brother escape, there's no guarantee that the rest are going to escape. But you can be sure of this. That the God who pulls the string for one is the same God that protects the ark through the waters for another.

He will not ever exhibit himself less than God to those who are related to him. I think you want to hear that again. Because of God's nature, he will never manifest himself less than God to those who are related to him.

Progressive Revelation and the Renewal of the Church

This is part of the strategy of renewal in the grace of God. God does not reveal himself in a lesser manner than that which he has already revealed himself to the church. This was the tragedy of the church in the dark ages.

It had lost the revelation of God totally. That the church was buildings, righteousness was religion, and heaven was nothing more than the escape of purgatory. And so God began a new expression of revelation.

And so to Luther, let it be seen of justification. To the Westleys, he built upon justification to sanctification. And so on through. And friends, the next move of the spirit, whatever it may be, will take us further still.

For in this context, Hebrews 1 .1 is not only an indication of what God was. It's also a prophetic indication of what God is still doing. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spake of the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days kept that revelation by the exhibition of himself, is doing that today to the church.

That slowly line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little, he is building back the fullness of revelation. But that will be exhibited in the fullness of time when Jesus once again is manifested to us.

The fact of Noah, he is more than a bedtime story. He's a challenge to our lives that we too shall be righteous in an unrighteous world. That we too shall be real in a very phony world. And that we can be related in a divorced world.

Noah's Favor and the Grace That Preserves

But then also I notice the favor of Noah. The Lord says, but Noah in the eyes of the Lord. I don't know what this means to you, I don't know what it does for you. If it does anything at all, Noah was attractive to God.

Now for a variety of reasons, different people are attractive to others. Beautiful girls are very attractive to angry boys. Noah was very attractive to God. Now I can understand God being attractive to Noah.

Because of the criteria of Noah's life. Because he was a man that loved righteousness. It is only evident and natural that he would love the absoluteness of righteousness. He is God himself. But here with the absolute God, with the perfection of righteousness, findings have been drawn to a man called Noah.

Pictures of men who have the Bible, who have this unusual character. But they have the ability to fascinate God. It says of Simeon, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. In Luke chapter 2 verse 26 onward.

I was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. That sounds so simple in a charismatic context. Because God is upon everybody today. In fact it is almost the exception rather than the rule to hear someone speak rather unkindly about the flow of the Holy Spirit.

Because everybody is involved and taken up and blessed and touched by the Spirit of God. But Simeon was living in the days of what theologians called the time of the grieved spirit. But God had been silent for 400 years.

In fact one of the prophets of old happened to say these words. That if a father should hear his son say that God had spoken to him. That that son was to be severely whipped. And if necessarily even stoned.

Because God was not speaking to Israel. It was to be a period of silence. Yet here was a man that the word of the Lord simply says who was just. That's his relationship with his fellow man. He was devout.

That's his relationship to God. And this man was so attractive in the eyes of God. That the Holy Spirit came to him. I think if I have an ambition in my life. I want to be attractive to God. I want to fascinate him.

I want his eyes to look again. When he looks over the world and sees me. I have no men like that. My mentor in Oxford was a man like that. Professor C .L. Parker. Was a man who as far as the academic world was concerned was absolutely brilliant.

He spoke some like 15 languages fluently. He was a Don. Here that means he occupied a chair of authority. Also a place of policy. In the University of Oxford. Yet he was a man that he was so sensitive to the presence of the Lord.

That when godly people would walk by him. It would force him to want to praise the Lord. I've seen him. I've stood by him. On a street corner. When a person walked by. He said, oh dear, there goes a godly man.

Now do you know? He said, I sense the aura of God in that person. I go running up and say, excuse me sir, do you know God? He said, what made you ask that question? I said, well, I've got a quack over there.

I've got the foggiest thing. Doesn't have the foggiest idea what's taking place. But he has the sensation that you could be religious. And every time the response was, no, I'm not a religious man. And then they talked about the relationship with the Lord.

America is poorer because it was not exposed to the ministry of Dr. Walter Buechler. Buechler was a teacher. They sent him to God Bible College in Greenland, Pennsylvania. But because he was so much of a mystic, he couldn't find a place to minister in the summer on his vacation.

So he spent every vacation on the foreign mission field. Speaking of people, he was a man born out of due season. Buechler was this kind of a man. Wherever he went, he seemed to attract the presence. I would hope that the day will not be too far where, ah, for truth, his church would be like that.

That whether it be large, whether it be small, whether it be in the glorious country of America, or whether it be in the primitive areas of the world, that such would be the nature of his church. That would be attractive to him.

Christ's Admiration of the Church

We know this is going to happen eventually. Because Paul, speaking of the occasion where the church is presented to him, goes on to say, and he shall be admired in us. It always reminds me of a wedding.

I guess I've conducted hundreds of weddings. In fact, I know I have. Some, kind of cutely, in jungle country, where everybody in the ceremony was stark naked. Which is interesting. Ah, no, with the exception of one, I wasn't.

I better qualify that, otherwise folk will burn records. I've been in some sophisticated weddings, and boy, we've had some elaborate weddings here at Bethesda. I've been in some very simple weddings. But you know, I am yet to see a bride who is not beautiful.

Oh, I've seen some very, very young and excited. I've seen some very, very old ones and very, very nervous. But I am yet to see a bride who does not have that something which you call magic, which exudes from her.

You look at her and say, oh, she's beautiful. In fact, I have a happy habit of talking to the party when it's done before me. It is very, very easy to say, wow, very beautiful. Because she is. And other folk look on and say, boy, he's lucky.

Look what he's got. And then they say, poor girl, look what she's got. I don't know. I want you to know, Church, that that is what Paul says about the presentation. But the church to Jesus. Not that we should be admired because of him.

I can understand that. Lord was absolutely wonderful. Lord was absolutely all glorious without it within. The Lord that in the picture of Solomon's song. What is your beloved more than my beloved? Well, he said, I've got an hour to spend because my beloved is the fairest of them all.

He's more sweeter than the lily of the valley. More radiant than the star of the morning. Do you want me to talk to you about my beloved? And the guy said, no, I think I've heard enough. You're crazy over him.

I can understand the church receiving that about the Lord. But what boggles my mind is this. Paul is not saying that we shall be admired because of him. But that he shall be admired because of us. In the presentation of the church to him.

Angels, I don't say this literally, but it's a figurative language. The angels will whistle because of us. I can't explain it. I don't understand it. To be attracted out of all the millions of desires, out of all the drives.

All the yearnings of heart. I pray that the church will yearn to be attractive. Not to the Lord, but to him. Was attractive to the Lord. And for this reason he found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Let me hurry.

It was this grace that saved him from the corruption of the world. As the world was literally going to part. Here was no welcome to God. It was this grace which steered him from the course of the world.

The walk with the Lord changed him and spoiled him. The humanity. It is this grace which spared him from the condemnation of the world. As God looked down he said. I'm going to clobber them. I can't do it to no one.

No one was the exception to the rule. In the eyes of God. Because of his attractiveness in grace. But having noted. I also want you to note with me. Not only the fact of Noah. And he is a real life character.

Not only the favor of Noah. But I want you to look at the faith of Noah. I submit to you. That we need to re-evaluate. What faith is all about. In the criterion of his faith. I notice his faith was formed.

Faith Formed by the Word of God

In the living word of the Lord. Even as we hear in Paul speaking to the church of Rome. When he says faith cometh. And hearing by the word of the Lord. Faith is not established in an emotional setting.

Faith is not really even based in existentialism. It is the outworking that you have heard. Distinctively. Directly. It is what charismatic theologians call the differentiation. Between the reamer and the loggers.

Pentecostals do not subscribe to this. But they can't be right all the time. For rationale. Or for the basic principle of life itself. Jesus. In his coming to earth. Was essentially that. He was the expression.

Of every divine principle. Actualized in human form. Is that personalized expression. Individual. We know that God sees all things. But that is not of much comfort to us. If we find ourselves in a jam.

We want to cry out like Hegel. Although God sees me. We know that God hears all things. But when you are in a congregation of several thousand. And everybody is babbling at the top of their voice. And you have a desperate need in your heart.

You want God to hear you a personal cry. So it is in the expression. Of the economy of God. It's not simply an omni-presence. It's a manifest presence. It's not merely a generalized word. It becomes a personalized word.

By the living of His spirit. In which you know without a shadow of a doubt. That God has spoken to you. You come to grips. With that personalized expression. There is no alternative. No matter what anybody else says.

No matter what anybody else does. You have heard it with the hearing of your word. You have sensed it. With your spiritual faculty. What anybody else does. No one. Definitely. A friend in a day in which you live.

The ability of man is continuously growing. The faculty of brilliance is continuously being exhibited. It is a tragedy that the church. Seems to be so deaf. When it comes to the hearing of the Lord. Saying this year.

Because that personalized expression. Is the thing which is going to release dynamic faith. It's not enough for me to go and simply say. Well I can do this. Because of what God has said to Brother Leonard.

Now I'm grateful that God has talked to Leonard. But if I'm going to do something. I better let God talk to me. His faith is not going to see me through. My hour of need. Though His prayers will be greatly appreciated.

No one. Got an actualized expression. Of what He wants to do. It had already been evidenced. What He actually was. In the sight of the Lord. Church. Speaking. It's not contradicting. The canon of scripture.

But in many cases. It's an enlargement of it. Or it's the personalizing of it. So that your life. Becomes suddenly dynamically altered. Because of what has been deposited. Within your life. The criterion.

Of His faith. There comes a moment. In the life of an individual. When you not only. Become aware. Of sounds. But you begin to identify yourself. With that sound. And you commit yourself to it. There are many people.

Commitment to Heaven, Hell, and Revealed Truth

In the world that. They don't want to go to hell. Nobody wants to go to hell. In fact part of the tragedy of America today is. So many people think that they're living in hell. They don't want to go way down below.

But they're not all that anxious to go. Way up above either. They just want to find a happy medium. You should always strike a happy medium. It might take you to court. In some instances. You missed it.

Okay. You are looking for an easy way out. Every time you ask for faith. You will be challenged to commit yourself to it. The sharing of the word. Continuation and development in the sharing. Of truth.

Will depend upon your commitment. In conduct. To the last expression of truth. The church. Can stop the flow of revelation. Simply through disobedience. In Noah's case. It would have been obvious. If he didn't listen.

If he did not commit himself. To do what the Lord had told him to do. He would have drowned with the rest. Even though he was the most attractive man. On the face of God's earth. Even though he drew the attention of God to him.

And God walked with him over and over again. The very fact. That when you share truth. If you do not commit yourself to it. You have peaked. As far as understanding. And revelation is concerned. And this is the tragedy of denominations.

From Message to Denomination and Movement

Denominationalism. In the western world. Is an indication. God did speak to them. And that's it. Every monument. Because the way of digression. In religious circles. First of all there is a message. Whatever that message is.

To Luther it was. The just shall live by faith. It was evangelize. The world. With a burning flame of purity. Whatever that message is. In the Pentecostal church. It was basically related to this. These signs.

Shall follow them. We began to enter into the arena of speaking in tongues. And prophecy. And interpretation. Every time you see a denominational church. Which is boxed in. To a primitive revelation. You know that God has.

Many many many years ago. It starts with a message. That message is not abstract. So that message has to be embodied. In something which is flesh and blood. Even when Jesus became incarnate. The manifestation of God on earth.

So the message has to be incarnate. And so you have men. So it's only natural. That the message. Begins to be identified with men. So when you talk the faith message. You think of Kenneth Hagen. Or Ken Copeland.

When you think of. Let's see. When you think of faith. You think of. When you think of healing. You think of men like Branham. Or F .F. Bosworth. When you think of holiness. You think of. Brother Oral.

When you think of holiness. You think of Leonard Ravenhill. When you think of. The enlargement. You think of. But when you take it back. To it's primitive days. Now we got millions of Lutherans around.

But you still go back to him. When you talk of. The orderliness. In the church. Which is a systematized. Of holiness. You think of the Methodists. But it started in Wesley. A truth must be embodied. In a person.

And so a message. It's not long before men. Evidence of their habits. And so. There were lots of people. When they began to look around. And saw the way Oral prayed for the sick. And so they did it. Raise your hands.

Tap on the forehead. Bang. Because there were other men who simply said. Oh. If you're going to bring it out. You cough it out. And so everybody brought their. Air sickness bags with them. To church because that was the way.

Their brothers also did it. And so that's the way we're going to do it. So we had the gagging services. Remember brother? And so. Message. Became embodied in men. But now became evidenced by Methods. And so it is no longer the message which is important.

No longer was the mind so important. As long as this Method. Was carried on. And so you have. A lot of Orals going around. I don't want to sound disrespectful. You have a lot of men who copy Oral. Going around the place.

You have men who try to copy Derrick Prince. So that would be quite difficult. Going around the place. You have men who. Copy. They emulate us. That's all. And so the students of. I will come to that.

I will come to that. I don't mind Derrick Prince praying for me. But if I got a headache. I don't want to start my chores. You know I can't start it at the other end. Because you may get tired. Never get to the other end.

And I've still got a problem. And so you move from a message. Come to men. Come to a Method. When you have a Message. When you have enough people. Function in a Method. You get a Movement. Of course we don't call it that.

We call it Fellowship. And the only reason why we have a Fellowship. Is because they're all like us. And so we believe a little differently. To everybody else. And so we become secure. Cloistered in. In our little Fellowship.

It's our Movement. Now unless that Movement. Is going to stop there. I think. It is time for us. To go back. To hear again from God. To have another Message. In which He lifts up other men. Who will evidence other Methods.

Will become nothing more. Nothing less than a Monument. A simple indication. God. Has spoken. And He has. To every organization. That you see. Which is Christian. God. Is in the past. That's not what.

The Lord has intended. The Lord wants to continue. And so to come out. Of the. Form. I have. Decided. The light of the revealed. Truth of God. And. How many of you know. That God accentuates. Different things to different people.

At different times. It's just like when you go to. A grade. I forget the way you. Identify the things over here. There was a time when. He did certain truth. And you think. Praise God. I've mastered that.

I can add up to ten. Now if that's all. That you're going to graduate from. Friend you're not going to go very far are you? The present day truth. Is the progression. Of the revelation of this person.

And of his grace. And the pursuit. Of the church. Is to grow with him. The church should be. A little more like him. Tomorrow than it was. This time last year. Growing in him. The faith of know. The criterion of faith.

Faith Fixed in the Will and Furnished in Works

That it's formed in the word. And fixed in the will. But it becomes furnished. In the work. Because not only. Must there be a commitment. Of the mind. It must be actualized. In conduct. Faith is not. A mental exercise.

Faith. Expenditure of energy. But I'm sure. That when Peter was in the boat. And feeling sorry. For most of the other guys in the boat. And John said they had rowed. About three miles from shore. And they had about ten miles to go.

To cross the Sea of Galilee. But no matter what they did. They were in a rough voyage. And they said. Have you been at sea? For what five hours? Every landlubber on board ship. Was in a terrible state.

He said he saw the Lord walking. By the ship. And he had a bit of fear. It seemed as though they were all hallucinating. And the Lord said. It is I. Be not afraid. That would have stabilized. Those disciples.

Because they'd heard a word. Peter thought. Oh that sounds great. He said Lord. Apparently Peter was now confronted with something. He had heard the word. First of all. Which was a generalized word. It then became a personal word.

Because of what had happened. Now he had to do something about it. He made up his mind. If he can stand in the waters. I can stand in the waters with him. He goes to the edge of the ship. And puts one leg over the side.

Puts the other leg over the side. And what do you think the rest of the people. On board the ship did? Peter and his brother. Come back in here stupid. What do you think you're doing? And every time we see Philip in John's gospel.

He's inquiring. Do you know what you're doing? Would you kindly explain to me. Where do you think you're going? Thomas. Fortunately has. Has a reputation for being a doubter. But before that occasion.

He was known as being quite a daring individual. I think Thomas said to Peter. Go on have a go. Before you find Thomas. Let's go introduce them. If he's going to die. Let's die with him. What a way to go.

Going out with the Lord. Go on Peter have a go. He took a step. Walking aboard. I think immediately that got a response from. One landlubber. Who had about 18 meals that day. Nine down nine up. And it wasn't until he was far enough away from the ship.

That he couldn't swim back. Because the intensity of the seas. That he was not quite far. Not quite close enough to Jesus. To feel secure. He gave a look around and said. My God. What on earth am I doing in this mess?

How did I get here? And the awesomeness. Of his predicament came to me. He says. Help. Methinks. Nathaniel. Who really was a question man said. I didn't think it would last. These kind of wonderful things never do.

Took him by the hand. To the ship. Peter climbed on board. With a quizzical look in his eye. And a smirky grin on his face. And no one wanted to look at him. When the Lord got on board the ship. And suddenly the winds.

Ceased. The waves became calm. The Lord said. What are we waiting for? And formed. Remember the name of it. How one was on the story of Noah. Here you got this. Noah. It's the Lord. I thought that's who it was.

In an ark. In this city block. And that's an awesome vessel. If you ever go to Long Beach California. Look at it. It's a great exercise. Working out. Because he received a personal word. Until he received another word.

To stop. Or until he changed his mind. This is why it is imperative. That the church. Sometimes walk. In the light. Of yesterday. Till the Lord sees fit. To give you. Further light. For the Lord is much more interested.

In the revelation. That he's given to you. Becoming a part of your character. And not merely being an exhibit. An exhibition. In your conduct. We are interested in conduct. He is interested. In character.

Because some people. Do things. Which is out of character. But if your character is set. Toward the excellence of God. You will outwork. These things. This is the criterion of faith. Look at the character of faith.

Prayer for Obedient Faith and Divine Guidance

God willing let's stand in his presence. I pray my father in Jesus name. That you will help us to be attractive. That in a day of advertising. Too many voices are being heard. Many ideas being promoted.

Ways being suggested. That we shall hear your voice. That we shall receive your word. To your ways. Not simply for the hearing. But that we might then. Find ourselves. Making up our minds. To follow you.

And to function in your grace. For the glory of God. I'm not embarrassed. Or intimidated to say. Speak Lord. For thy servants heareth. I pray for businessmen tonight. That they will. Share your word. Even as.

You shared with brother Leonard. So know what we ought to do. With regard to investments. With regard to decisions. Then give us the grace. To settle it in our hearts. Then the wisdom. To work it out.

So take us to our homes. Before we ask it in Jesus name. The people said. Amen.