Virtual Church Consulting

We’re continuing our “Kingdom Rebellion” series. Previously, we discussed Genesis chapters 7 to 9, focusing on the flood narrative and identifying Jesus as our means of salvation, akin to Noah’s ark. This session will explore the events following the flood, emphasizing biblical patterns.

Genesis 8:15–19 (NIV)
15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” 18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another.

Just as Adam and Eve were tasked in Genesis 1 to populate the earth, Noah and his family received a similar mandate post-flood.

Genesis 9:1 (NIV)
1 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.

Unfortunately, a bad situation is repeating itself: once again, nakedness and shame are in a garden.

Genesis 9:18–25 (NIV)
18 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the whole earth. 20 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21 When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said, “Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.”

This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we’ll delve into this garden episode, highlighting the significance of recognizing patterns throughout the Bible and encouraging everyone to engage with scripture regularly.

Psalm 19:7–14 (NIV)
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

God has given us His word, enabling us to comprehend everything He desires us to know about Himself and His redemptive work in Jesus. As we said last week, there is no other vessel for salvation. It is by placing our faith in His Son, who at the cross and in the resurrection has defeated the power of sin and the power of death so that in Him we might be reconciled to God.

We urge everyone to reverence God by immersing themselves in the Bible, understanding its messages, and living by its guidance, motivated by love for God and one another. Dedicate yourself to reading, studying, memorizing, and reflecting on the Bible. The scripture is the tool through which God influences us, guiding our desires and actions towards living by doing the next right thing.

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.

In our “Kingdom Rebellion” series, we previously explored Genesis Chapter 6, discussing the Nephilim, elohim, and overcoming life’s giants. This week, we’ll delve into the flood narrative, a pivotal event symbolizing a cosmic reset through water.

Genesis 6:8–12 (NIV)
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.

The flood in Genesis 6 is a critical moment in His Story. This event occurs in a world overrun by violence and corruption, prompting a divine intervention to cleanse the earth with a flood. This act of cleansing signifies a return to the way things were in Genesis 1:1-2 to rectify the moral degradation of society.

In this account, water is more than a destructive force; it symbolizes a deep cleansing, washing away corruption and setting the stage for a fresh beginning. The flood’s aftermath sees the establishment of a covenant between God and Noah, marking a new phase in the relationship between God and His human family.

Genesis 7:1–5 (NIV)
1The LORD then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 2Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, 3and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. 4Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.” 5And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.

Within this narrative, the Ark represents a floating Eden, a sanctuary preserving life amidst chaos. It’s a microcosm of divine creation, ensuring the continuity of life post-flood. This vessel secures survival and embodies a sacred space of refuge and divine presence, like the Garden of Eden. The gathering of animals into the Ark reiterates the theme of preservation and the promise of a renewed creation.

This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we’ll dig deeper into the flood story and draw parallels between the Ark and the cross, so be sure to join us in person or online.

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.

We’re currently exploring a series titled “Kingdom Rebellion.” In our previous session, we delved into Genesis Chapter 5, discussing Seth and his lineage as the offspring of the woman. We also looked at Enoch, who notably walked with God. This session will introduce us to Noah, another exemplary figure who walked with God, and we’ll also explore the topics of giants and the flood.

Genesis 6:1-4 (NIV)
1 When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days–and also afterward–when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

At the beginning of Genesis Chapter 6, we encounter the Nephilim, often translated as ‘giants’ in various versions of the text. The passage describes the sons of God observing the beauty of human women and choosing to sire their offspring, aiming to create beings in their own image. This act signifies a deviation from embracing God’s creation, attempting instead to forge a separate lineage, one not of family but of servitude.

Genesis 6:5-6 (NIV)
5 The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

Genesis 6:5-6 reveals how bad things have gotten, stating that human thoughts were persistently evil. This observation invites deep reflection on the state of humanity, diverging from God’s vision and deeply affecting Him. God’s response was not anger but one of profound sorrow, witnessing His creation’s fall into continuous wickedness. This sorrow stemmed from the misuse of free will, leading to a decision for a cosmic reset through the flood, aimed at eradicating the sin escalated by the corrupt beings.

This weekend at church we will look deeper into these ideas as well as looking at confronting our personal ‘giants.’ Over the last few weeks, we have addressed temptation, highlighting the various forms it takes and the empowerment through the Holy Spirit to make righteous choices and keep in step with God. Today, we will look at how fear, often manifesting as ‘giants’ in our lives, serves the enemy’s purpose of disrupting our peace and joy.

These ‘giants’ may differ in form but share a common goal: to diminish our serenity and happiness, acting on the enemy’s behalf to wreak havoc. Despite the enemy’s persistence, we’re reminded that Jesus surpasses any challenge we may face. The enemy’s tactics include making us forget the magnitude of our God, thereby amplifying the threat of these ‘giants.’

Often, we think we have to deal with the giants in our lives in our strength. You must never forget to keep God in the equation of your life.

Philippians 4:12–13 (NIV)
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Moreover, the importance of preparing for spiritual battles through prayer and the armor of God, as discussed in Ephesians 6:10–18, cannot be overstated. This is a timely reminder to revisit and reinforce our understanding of these spiritual defenses.

Ephesians 6:10–18 (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.