I Set My Rainbow In The Cloud

Check out the youtube version here: https://youtu.be/OsKwluaL6j0?si=WeXiG1L0Ky9G9AbO

2-18-24

Hoonah-Hadley

Genesis 9:8-17

Call to Worship Psalm 25:1-10

Daily Verse Genesis 9:13

Genesis 9:8 “Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying ‘And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you.’”  This is massive! First things first, God is speaking to Noah and his sons who are present in this conversation, but He, God, is also speaking to Noah’s descendants that are yet to come, that are not present, that’s us, and He is speaking to us today, those that are present today.  Those around the globe that worship Him in spirit and truth. Those that have ears to hear. Those that search for Him, draw near to Him. Those that hunger and thirst for righteousness. Those that are chosen, elected, predestined. Those that are consecrated, set apart. Those whose names are in the Book of Life. Those who are called to be the fragrant offering. 2 Cor. 2:14-16 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”  Another massive statement from God’s word! “Always leads us in triumph in Christ.”  Always. There is victory in Jesus. God’s knowledge has a fragrance, and it is through us that He spreads that fragrance everywhere, among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 1 Cor. 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” 

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Fact: there are those who are being saved, and those who are not. There are names in the book of life and there are names that are not in the book of life, we are constantly in the presence of both. The fragrance of His knowledge is in every place. Revelation 17:8 “…And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world.”  Phil. 4:3 “…whose names are in the Book of Life.” Luke 10:20 “…but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”  Mark Driscoll: “The bible is the dividing line between the church (the body of Christ), which is connected to heaven, and the world (flesh) which is connected to hell. As soon as we remove the word of God we bring hell up.” There is a dividing line, there is a heaven and a hell, choices and voices.  Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life.”  This is the voice of God and He is giving us a choice.  There are not words to describe our eternal dwelling, be it heaven or hell, just know this, it is eternal.  Webster’s 2 New Riverside University Dictionary, heaven: The abode of God, the angels, and the souls of those granted salvation.  Hell: The abode of devils and condemned souls…a place of evil, misery, discord or destruction…anguish, torment.  Harper Collins Bible Dictionary describes heaven as “the true home of those who believe in Christ—they are aliens on earth (1 Peter 2:11); their citizenship is in heaven.” (Phil. 3:20) Hell: A place of eternal punishment, torment…a fiery furnace, an unquenchable fire. Matt. 5:29 in its simplicity, it is better to go through life maimed or blind than to be thrown into the fires of hell. Among other things, we know this about hell, there is no water, no light and no rest. Imagine our eternal dwelling being determined by the simple

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statement, “Lord I believe, help me in my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31) Our eternal dwelling rest upon a choice, a simple utterance from our lips that takes but a few seconds.  John 12:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”  2 Cor. 7:10 “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation…but the sorrow of the world produces death.”  Among the first words of Christ’s ministry, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) It only takes a couple seconds to turn, change our direction and therefore our eternal destiny.  Lord have mercy on our stubborn, hard heartedness.  Let us move on to vs. 10 “and with every living creature that is with you…every beast of the earth.”  For those concerned about their cats and dogs, here you go, “every beast”.  A Christian couple moved out of town and left their dog “Blue” behind.  The caretaker looking for a home for our furry friend said, “He is house broken, and besides, he’s a Christian dog.”  Blue really does have a wonderful spirit, surely God’s covenant applies to him.  Vs. 11 “…never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”  The good news, bad news.  2 Peter 3:10 “…the elements will melt with fervent heat, both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”  Either way, we prepare for these things by repentance. Vs. 12 “…This is the sign of the covenant which I made between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you (including Blue) for perpetual generations.”  God repeats Himself several times in these verses.  Biblical repetition is like the flashing highway signs that warn you of what is to come. 

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Vs. 13 “I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”  This is the beginning of recorded history as we know it.  Herein God set His rainbow, “I set My rainbow.”  God is the author and founder of the rainbow, He created the circumstances that lend themselves to this display of awesome wonder.  You can study God’s rainbow to gain a better understanding of it, my knowledge is limited, but God’s rainbow is a “sign”, and it is specific in nature less we mistake it for something else.  According to experts, all rainbows are “doubles”, that is, there are always 2, though the second one can not always be seen.  Rainbows cannot be painted.  They are arches or bows, not flags or straight lines.  There are 7 colors in God’s rainbow, red always being at the top.  If there are not 7 colors and red is not at the top, it is not from God.  Rainbows have become a popular theme lately for many different reasons.  Most of these have 6 colors and red is at the bottom, these ones are not from God, or of God, His is set in the cloud as a sign “of the “covenant” between Him “and the earth”.  Covenant: A binding agreement made by two or more parties, a contract.  Revelations 22:18-19 “If anyone adds to these things, God will add to them the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of this book, God shall take away their name from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”  One of the first thing God does is set a rainbow as a sign, an agreement between Him, us, and Blue.  Rev. 4:3 “…and there was a rainbow around the throne…”  10:1 “…And a rainbow was on His head…”  One of the last things that God does is remind us of His agreement with us and tells us not to add to or take away from it.  2 rainbows, one with 7 colors, one with 6.  Our eternal dwelling rests upon which one we sign a contract with. 

Amen.