DAYS OF NOAH

 

1 Peter 3:18-22

Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey,

 

 

 

1.      Peter in this passage gives a clear picture of salvation or redemption.  First, he explains that Jesus suffered for the sins of all once and for all.  His sacrifice was more than enough to free all mankind from sin.  No other sacrifice is needed.  It is by grace you are saved and not of yourself.  Jesus’ broken body, shed blood, death, burial and resurrection was once and for all.  As it says here a righteous man for the unrighteous.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.   This explains why Jesus suffered.  The universality of his sacrifice and why a righteous man had to suffer on our behalf. 

2.      Peter says that this happens in order to bring us to God.  Sin is an eternal problem and manmade problem.  So only an eternal man could solve it.  He came from glory to earth, was incarnated as a man, then suffered, died, was buried and lastly rose from the dead.  This is so you and I could come to God.  Jesus is the bridge over troubled waters.  He made a way where there was no way.

3.       He was put to death in the flesh.  Jesus died.  The Roman authorities certified him dead.   He was put into a borrowed tomb but he was alive in his spirit.  Jesus in Luke 16:19-31, gives us a picture of hell.  There was a righteous and unrighteous compartment.  There was a gulf between them.  Old Testament saints were on one side the unrighteous dead on the other.  Both were transported there, Lazarus by an angel.  Both were conscious, alive and both knew why they were there. 

4.      When Jesus died he went to the righteous compartment he stayed there for three days then he went to the edge of the gulf and made a proclamation to the unrighteous dead.  He told them they would stay there until the Day of Judgment.  Then he lead as Paul states captivity captive and took all the righteous dead out of hell to heaven.  The righteous compartment is now empty.  Now when a person dies they go right to the presence of the Lord.  The lost still go to hell

 

When God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

 

1.      Peter reveals the patience of God during the time of Noah.  It took Noah a hundred years to build the ark.  During that time we know he preached for people to come in the ark.  The people had a visible warning that judgment was coming.  Unfortunately only eight people were saved.  They were saved through water. 

2.      Here are some facts about the time of Noah.  Everyone followed every evil in their heart.  There was no standard for morality no one was blameless.  There was intermarriage between the Sons of Seth and the daughters of Enoch and this caused  compromise, then acceptance, and finally participation. 

3.      The earth was corrupt and full of violence.  People were married and given in marriage.  We can learn some lessons from Lot.  First, he chose to settle near Sodom, then he moved into Sodom, next he became an elder of the community.  Then he had to be prayed for, rescued and the end result was he ended up in an incestuous relationship with his daughter.

4.       Today evil has become good and good become evil.  If you stand for righteousness you will be cursed, shamed, mocked, labelled as a bigot, racist, narrow minded, not up with the times.  You will be intimidated, legislated, fined, arrested, prosecuted and eventually jailed.  People are losing everything for righteousness. 

5.      This is the exhortation and description given by Paul to Timothy in 1 Tim 3, “You must understand that in the last days there will come times of much trouble. 2 People will love themselves and money. They will have pride and tell of all the things they have done. They will speak against God. Children and young people will not obey their parents. People will not be thankful and they will not be holy. 3 They will not love each other. No one can get along with them. They will tell lies about others. They will not be able to keep from doing things they know they should not do. They will be wild and want to beat and hurt those who are good. 4 They will not stay true to their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think too much of themselves. They will love fun instead of loving God. 5 They will do things to make it look as if they are Christians. But they will not receive the power that is for a Christian. Keep away from such people.

6.      Our Response!

a.      Keep away from such people. 

b.     You are to watch and pray.  You are to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of your testimony and not love your life until death. 

c.      Pick up your cross and follow Jesus.  Keep yourself from being polluted by the world. 

d.     Walk in love acceptance and forgiveness. 

e.      Be a light.  Live ready.  Remember Jesus can come back at any time.  Get ready. 

 

QUOTES FOR FEB 28, 2026

 

OUTLINE OF DANIEL

 

In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes,  (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

 

     These first three verses are the background for the prayer of Daniel.  These three verses establish the time, place and reason why Daniel prayed.   It was the first year of Darius son of Xerxes.  Darius was crown prince of the Persian Empire. He was the eldest son of the Persian king Xerxes I and his wife Amestris, the daughter of Onophas. His younger brothers were Hystaspes and Artaxerxes, and his younger sisters were Rhodogyne and Amytis.  He was a Mede by descent.  So this is the time of the Medo Persian empire.  He was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom.  The Medo Persian empire at the time was the largest empire at the time.  It ran from the Mediterranean to India and 127 provinces.  Daniel was in charge of the Babylonian portion. 

 

     So here is Daniel in the first year of Darius’ reign, looking over the scriptures and the word of God.  He is reading the scroll and writings of Jeremiah.  He was reading Jeremiah 25:11, where God tells Jeremiah that Jerusalem would be empty, uninhabited and desolate for 70 years.  You see God had Spent 400 years telling Israel and Judah to repent, turn from idols, being immoral and unjust.  He sent prophet after prophet and in time they refused and judgment came.  Daniel had been part of that judgment.  Nebuchadnezzer was that hand of judgment.  Daniel was among the Jewish nobles who had been transported to Babylon with Jehoiakim,  Scholars put Daniel at 15-18 when he was taken the Babylon.  In Daniel 9, he is in his late eighties or nineties. 

 

     Daniel was pouring over the Jeremiah 25:11, meditating, seeking the meaning, wanting to understand how  and why it could happen.  Daniel does 6 things which are at characteristics of intercessory prayer. 

 

1.            He turned or sought the Lord. 

2.            Pleaded with him

3.            Daniel was in prayer

4.            He petition God

 

5.            Daniel fasted.  There are four types of fasting. 

 

a.            The Normal Fast which is a short fast for one or two day.  Going without food

b.            The Absolute Fast which can be from 3 days to 40.  Usually just water or liquids

c.            The Partial Fast.  Going without some type of food for a period of time.

d.            The Rotational Fast.  Skipping meals one or two a day for a period of time to prayer.

 

We do not know which one Daniel did.  But here are ten benefits to fasting

 

Benefits of Fasting and Prayer

2.1 1 – Deeper Intimacy with God

2.2 2 – Answers to Fervent Prayer

2.3 3 – Develop Humility before God

2.4 4 – Gain Wisdom and Understanding

2.5 5 – Authority over Demonic Strongholds

2.6 6 – Repentance and Salvation

2.7 7 – Personal Victories in Your Life

2.8 8 – Gaining Heaven’s Perspective

2.9 9 – God’s Protection and Help

2.10 10 – Commissioned to Ministry

 

6.    He put on sackcloth and ashes. 

 

      We need to have that same experience.  Our nation is turning from God.  We are seeing this right now.  This is urgent church.  We are on a knife edge.  Our nation is on a rapid descent to destruction.  If we do nothing God will hold us accountable.  This is our moment.  I know I cannot stand idly by.  We must pray.  God revive the church, bring revival heal and restore our land.  Next, week we will start looking at the first of five part of the prayer of Daniel.   I encourage you to join me over the next five weeks to pray for ourselves, family, church, city, province and nation. 

 

JESUS IS THE CORNERSTONE

 

Isaiah 28:16-17

 

So, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

 

1.      Today we are talking about of namesake.  A cornerstone is a stone laid at the corner to bind two walls together and to strengthen them. It is also a symbol of strength and prominence. In the Bible, the cornerstone is often applied to rulers or leaders, and especially to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the first and most important stone in the foundation of God's kingdom, and everything finds its meaning in him.

2.      Jesus is the anchor in the storms of life.  When we secure our lives in Him and trust in Him, he can calm the storm with just a word.

3.      We are encouraged by Jesus to build the house of our lives on Him so when the gales, winds and storm of life come which they will.  Our life, marriages, and home will stand strong.  Foundation is everything.  When you build something on the sand which shifts and moves with the elements it will not stand but fall. 

4.      Through the Bible the Lord is know as a strong tower, fortification, refuge, and place of safety.  We must anchor our lives on four realties to be strong in the societal, educational, educational, cultural, media, and political pressure everyone is facing.  We need to be like Billy Graham and say, “The Bible says.” 

5.      The promise, benefits, and blessing here is that because the Lord is a sure and firm foundation two things happen.  First, you rely, depend, lean, hinge, turn, hang, and rest upon it.  It is a promise and agreement given.  Secondly, you will never stricken, troubled, affected, afflicted, struck, hit, injured, wounded or deeply affected. 

6.      Instead of fear, you will have, love, power, and a sound mind.  This is solidified, hardened and completely in the Lord. 

 

17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.

 

1.      This next verse is sobering and assuring at the same time.  For those who base their lives on the Lord through Jesus Christ in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit this is a powerful promise and assurance. 

2.      Justice shall become the measuring line.  A measuring line is a tool used to measure the length of an object or the distance between two points. It is commonly used in construction, engineering, and other fields that require precise measurements.  You can measure the Lord’s justice.  You can see it. 

3.      In the Bible justice means doing what is right, what should be done, and doing it consistently, without partiality or prejudice.  Holding individuals accountable for their own wrongdoing.

Acknowledging our culpability, accepting the consequences, and attempting to correct the damage.  Fairness.  This is something only God can do with perfection because He is pure, holy, all knowing, perfect and all powerful.  That is why He tells us to let Him fight our battles and let Him settle the scores. 

4.      Righteousness will be the plumbline.  What is Righteousness?  Righteousness is an attribute that belongs to God and is manifested in His laws. It is a God-given quality imputed to man upon believing in the Son of God. Righteousness is “rectitude of the divine nature by virtue of which God is infinitely righteous in Himself”. God acts righteously when he performs saving deeds for his people and thereby in delivering them places them in a right relation to himself.

5.      A plumb line is a tool used to determine the verticality of an upright surface or the depth of water. It consists of a line with a weight attached to it, known as a plumb bob 12. When the plumb bob is suspended from the line, it hangs vertically due to gravity, and the line indicates a straight vertical line. The plumb line is used in construction, carpentry, and other fields where verticality is important. 

6.      God will give to us the ability to think, talk and live ethically and morality according to His character, essence, and nature.  You will be able to measure it.  Righteousness and justice will be shown in our lives.  You will see it how it.  Jesus said it will give us fruit and this fruit shall remain. 

7.      In Gal 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

8.      The last two statements are a warning.  Hail will sweep away you refuge.  The lie.  If you base your life on anything else but the Lord you are living a lie, untruth, deception, and fantasy.  It will not stand.  Everything will believe, rely, and stand on will be tested.  Sooner later your resources, abilities, power, wealth, status, and popularity will run out. 

9.      Water will overflow you hiding place.  Your go to place.  It could be a thing or person.  You will be swamped sometime.  Stress, anxiety, and fear.  That safe place.  It will be overflowed than what?

That us why the Lord gave this promise and warning. 

 

QUOTES FOR FEB 26. 2026

 

POWER OF FORGIVENESS

 

CONSEQUENCES OF ANGER

 

7 Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.

 

Daniel is now in the second part of his prayer.  He first of all declared an attribute of God.  He is righteous.  This means that God's character or nature always leads Him to do that which is right.  The Hebrew word means straight.  It means that God’s sets the standard.  God showed the Jew what the standard was.  They had the commandments and the law.  Their refusal to do so had two consequences.  First, they were covered with shame.  Shame is an unpleasant self-conscious emotion associated with a negative evaluation of the self; withdrawal motivations; and feelings of distress, exposure, mistrust, powerlessness, and worthlessness.   Our message is consequence.  It means there will always be a consequence to what we do or do not do.  In this case the Jews they were scattered among the nations all because of their unfaithfulness.  They were the people of God and they went after the gods and idols of the world.   The direct result of their unfaithfulness was deportation and destruction of Jerusalem and Judah.  Sin always has a high price.  Often it is fatal.  Daniel was praying but this also is recorded as a warning to others.  Prayer often clarifies what we are going through, why it happened and the results.  Prayer and the word are the lenses that God uses to help us see things clearly.

 

8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.

 

Daniel makes it clear in this verse that the responsibility for what has happened is clearly on the leadership of the land.  The kings, princes and ancestors are covered with shame.  They were well aware what was required but chose not to heed the warnings.  Sin in the bible also states that when we sin against God we also injure others.  What we do affect others.  These leaders knew what was right and did not and the whole nation suffered.  This is absolute selfishness.  A side note parents this is also a lesson to learn in the family.  What we do or do not do affects our kids.  You will never be forgiven until you admit your sin.  Daniel is deeply affected by what he is praying and often we are as well.  True intercession always feels the pain of others. 

 

9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;

 

Daniel here reveals four things about God. 

 

1.      He is Lord

2.      He is God. 

3.      God is merciful. 

4.      He is forgiving.  God is wanting, and willing to forgive us.  Daniel is amazed at the character, essence and nature of God. 

 

We have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.

 

Now Daniel strikes a very important lesson here.  We often like to blame others for what has happened to us.  This is a victim mentality which is prevalent in our age.  Today it seems everyone is playing the victim.  You will never be a victor if you keep playing the victim.   People refuse to take responsibility for what they have done.  Things are not fair.  Complaining and playing the victim does not change it.  Taking our own responsibility does.  Each person made their own decision.  We have consequences to what we think say and do.  The sooner you take ownership of the thing the quicker the solution.  Daniel makes it clear why they were where they were.  Prayer gives such clarity.  .

11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

 

Daniel closes off our time together by revealing three things all Israel had done.  They had transgressed.    Next, they turned away.  Lastly, they refuse to obey God.  Let us pray as we hurdled toward chaos, destruction and nationwide consequences for God’s mercy, love, grace and forgiveness.  It is in ours hands.   Let us pray while there is yet time.