Send us Fan Mail Click here to support Talk About It! For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com Click here to Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake Welcome back to Season 11! This week, Pastor Don continues our journey through Hebrews 11 by examining one of the most remarkable stories in Scripture—Noah. Hebrews 11:7 tells us that Noah, "when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family." Noah's faith demonstrates what it means to commit to the seemingly impossible. Imagine being told to build a massive boat—450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high—in a land that had never seen rain. Imagine spending 75 years on a project while people mocked you, all because God told you judgment was coming. Noah's faith wasn't passive; it was active, persistent, and unwavering. And his example challenges us to trust God even when His commands don't make sense to the world around us. In This Episode, Pastor Don Explores: 1) Noah Was Warned Genesis 6:9-22 reveals that Noah was "a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." God chose Noah because of his righteousness—which came through faith. Noah was close to God, and that closeness enabled him to live righteously in an unrighteous world. God warned Noah of the coming judgment and told him exactly what to do. Noah obeyed. When God gives us warnings—through His Spirit, through uneasiness, through circumstances—we have a choice: heed them or ignore them. Noah also became a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5), warning others of what was coming. Our faith should compel us not only to heed God's warnings but also to share them with others. 2) Noah Was Moved by Holy Fear This wasn't a paralyzing fear; it was reverence and respect for God and His Word. Noah's faith enabled him to trust what God said and act on it. The task was impossible by human standards: Nothing like this had ever happened beforeNo one had ever built a boat this massiveIt took roughly 75 years to completeTwo of every animal species would have to find their way to the arkYet Noah's "holy fear" told him, "I believe what God said is going to happen, so I better prepare." God's Word was all Noah had, and God's Word was all Noah needed. For 75 years, that Word kept him dedicated. As Pastor Don shared, Dr. Percy Ray obeyed God's call to dig footings for a large assembly hall in Mississippi—and God provided when a man from Memphis was led to give a large donation. When we have a healthy fear that reveres God and His Word, we will have the faith to believe and act upon the impossible. 3) By His Faith He Condemned the World Noah's words and actions condemned the world—not because he had authority to judge, but because his faith was a living testimony. Every day he built, he was preaching. Every hammer strike was a warning. 1 Peter 3:20 tells us God waited patiently while the ark was being built, giving people time to repent. God is still patient today. 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that the Lord is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." When we grow impatient waiting for the Lord's return, we should remember that His delay is actually mercy—giving more people time to come to Him. 4) Noah Became an Heir of the Righteousness That Comes by Faith Righteousness comes through faith, not works—but true faith is always accompanied by action. Romans 1:17 tells us, "The righteous will live by faith." Noah lived out his faith, and he inherited the blessing of righteousness. Pastor Don asks us to reflect: How often do we grasp the magnitude of being among the "few" who find the narrow road? Matthew 7:13-14 warns that many will follow the broad path to destruction. Do we grieve over the lost, as Jeremiah and Jesus did? Do we rejoice when one sinner repents, as heaven does? A faith that declares us righteous also produces a heart that cares about what God cares about. 5) It Takes Faith to Believe the Impossible We will all face challenges that seem impossible—moments when faith demands we believe what the world considers foolish. Pastor Don shared how stepping into the sole ministerial role of his church seemed impossible, but God made a way. Noah faced 75 years of jeers, second-guessing, and temptation to quit. But he stood firm and completed his mission. And while the world called him crazy, history proved him right. Today, we still have the same evidence Noah had—God's Word. We have fossilized fish in mountains, the Grand Canyon, and other evidences, but the ultimate authority is Scripture. Until someone can undeniably prove the Bible false, we will believe everything within its pages. The Application for Us We don't have to worry about those who reject or criticize what God has called us to do. We just need to stay true to the task we've been given and persevere until the end. The Lord will provide authenticity to His truth; He will silence the foes. We just need to have the faith that Noah possessed and continue to build our ark. Key Takeaways: God warns us—we must listen and sometimes share those warningsHoly fear produces reverence that leads to obedienceFaith believes and acts on the impossibleTrue faith condemns the world by its witnessRighteousness comes through faith and produces actionGod's Word is sufficient evidence for what He has promisedPerseverance in faith honors God, no matter how long it takesA Question to Ponder: What "ark" is God asking you to build—and are you willing to commit to it for the long haul? "The righteous will live by faith." — Romans 1:17 Next week, we continue our study of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. Don't miss it! 📖 Key Scriptures: Hebrews 11:7, Genesis 6:9-22, 2 Peter 2:5, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 1:17, Matthew Support the show