When God Remembers His People | Rev Dr. S.O. James

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Gen 6-9

In the history of the world, there have been several pandemics and other global tragedies. None of this has been devastating like the account in Genesis 8-9. The world is experiencing another pandemic and there is lockdown ushering a new world order and a new normal.

By favour God singled, Noah out from among all men. The Lord will single you out for favour this year. Favour not only singles a man out; it does more!

• What favour does: The example of Esther

• Somebody Will be lifted

(Est.1:10-11): Favour brought Esther, an orphan to the throne. The truth remains that, the favour was at work. Somebody was about to be lifted, and somebody must come down!

• All Protocols Are Suspended! (Esther 4: 10 – 5:3)

Esther approached the King without being called against the tradition that whosoever would go into the inner court to the king must be called. Death was the price of approaching the king without been called (Est. 4:10-11).

• Book of Remembrance is Opened! (Esther 6:1-3)

The king could not sleep, just because somebody who had been long ago forgotten was about to be remembered. The book of the records of the chronicles which had been put in the royal archive was sought for and read before the king! Favour at work! There was a discovery of an unrewarded act of kindness, courtesy of Mordecai!

• Table Turns Against the Evil Plotters! (Esther 6:4-7)

Favour turns the table! Arrow of death hit back on the shooter! Haman was hanged instead of Mordecai. The same strategy he devised in bringing Mordecai down worked against him (Est.7)!

Prophetic Declaration: You will find favour in this time of crisis

• The forgotten ones are remembered

Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer forgot Joseph for two full years (Gen.40:23)

• He Spared Noah and his family Despite the Great Devastation – Gen. 7:20-24

– The flood destroyed all living things everywhere on the planet earth

– It destroyed the economic and social life

– The water flooded the earth for one hundred and fifty days- Gen. 7:24

– Gen. 7:7; “And Noah and his sons and his wife and his son’s wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flock”

• They were locked down totally in the ark for approximately a year!

• Heeding divine warning: They remained in the ark until the water dried off from the face of the earth.

Note the example of Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah: Gen. 19

Even the raven sent out kept flying back until the environment was conducive – Gen. 8:7-9

• Gen. 8:6- Noah open the window

Prophetic Declaration: Windows of life opportunity and breakthrough will open for a year everywhere there was a lockdown.

• He sent a wind over the earth and the water receded steadily- Gen. 8:1b, 3.

• He closed the springs of the deep and the floodgates of heavens and stopped the rain

Prophetic Declaration: God will close up the source of the pandemic. He will close up every source of affliction and problem in your life.

– “The ark came to rest on the mountains of Arafat.” – Gen. 8:4

NOTE: God can give you rest on every side- 2Samuel 7:1; 1Kings 5:4; 2Chron. 14:7

Prophetic Declaration: I declare, you are entering a new season. God will grant you rest on every site. You will live above the storm and trouble of life.

What Noah did after his lockdown experience:

a. Vs 20 Noah built an altar

– It is time to build an altar for your God after this lockdown; build an altar of prayer and praise

b. He offered a burnt offering of a sweet aroma

– He took off every beast and every clean fowl. He was not stingy; he offered many animals and he offered the best

– Do not be like Lot (Genesis 19:29-36) or Cain (Gen. 3:3-8)

– Be like Abraham, David, Solomon etc

What God Did for his people after the Lockdown:

a. Vs 21 The Lord smelled a sweet savour

b. Vs 21-22 The Lord made a new covenant

c. Gen 10:1 God blessed Noah and his family