Enoch

The epistle to the Romans for a first reading, chapter 5, at verse 8, please, Romans 5, verse 8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement, the truth of reconciliation. The little expression I want to lead off with there in verse 11, that expression, we also joy in God. How marvelous the goodness of God to us, and the blessing, and of course, the apostle is writing not only of God's love, the gift of his Son, his death on our behalf, and the beauties and blessings we receive.

I want to link with this an Old Testament character, Enoch, and a few portions that is mentioned. So go back to Genesis 5, three times we read of Enoch in our scriptures. Genesis 5 is the many men who lived hundreds of years, and yet they died.

But come down to verse 21, Genesis 5, and Enoch lived sixty and five years, and beget Methuselah. And Enoch walked with God after he beget Methuselah three hundred years, and beget sons and daughters. And all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years, and Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

The second reading concerning Enoch, Hebrews chapter 11, for many of us these readings are well known as believers. Hebrews 11, and reading that verse 5, By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death, and was not found, because God had translated him. For before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. A few pages ahead to the little book of Jude, and looking down at verse 14. Prior to this, Jude has been writing of those that disobeyed, and acknowledged not God, and were deceived, and the wickedness prevailing.

And therein, verse 14, And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and all their hard speeches with which ungodly sinners is spoken against them. Down to verse 21, sorry, verse 20. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Now that's a bit of reading, but I trust for a few minutes. How wonderful the Holy Scriptures can bring a life's whole lifetime as we think of Enoch. And though he walked with God 300 years, nevertheless, there are truths that have been given to us by the Holy Spirit to encourage us even in this our day.

The wickedness that abounds in the world grieves us. But on the other hand, we're thankful for the mercy of God. And everyone here say, by the grace of God, how much we do owe, as mentioned again and again in prayer this morning.

And so a man who walked with God, and from the book of Hebrews, we learn that before his translation, he had carried a testimony. And he walked with God and that he pleased God. And so at the age of 65, he began that day communing with God.

And he understood that as Jude records, as he viewed surrounding the wickedness increasing. The actual flood would be 900 years prior or coming later. Methuselah, I understand his name means and he was the son of Enoch.

When he is gone, it shall be sent. And so as you ponder, as I remember a dispensational chart, Mr. Oliver Smith, who known the older ones here lived in and labored in Iowa and other areas. And he would go over those half circles and he's preaching often even in the gospel.

From Adam to Noah was approximately sixteen hundred and fifty years. By the time even when Enoch, as we consider the book of Jude, of the wickedness of false men, as it were, teachers, and they were totally rejecting God. Peter picks up in the second epistle of men who are willingly ignorant.

And they determined to oppose God and his truth. But in that day, Enoch had heard and knowledge of God. It may very well be that Adam was alive as yet, at time of Enoch's life, for part of it.

And thus he would have told in the line of faith coming down through Enoch the seventh from Adam, that wickedness abounds and God will have it out with men in their unbelief. But Enoch had a change. There was a family now after he begets sons and daughters after Methuselah was born.

It seemed ever apparently that he came to grips with what he had to enjoy in coming to know God. And of course, as Jude writes, he speaks of Enoch also knowing the Lord is going to come. So as we began the ministry today, we're pondering what a privilege you and I, some of us are older.

We're glad for all are here, younger or older. And for a day of salvation in your life and for the privilege now to seek to please God. Apart from knowing Christ, we could never please him.

But in thinking of Enoch and no mention is made of the wise of these dear men. But here they are left on the pages of Holy Scripture, a life of opportunity. And you and I, as we think of the fact that one day Enoch was missing, he was not found.

Hebrews 11 would seem to indicate they likely were looking for him. The man that walked with God suddenly was taken. What do you and I have to anticipate? As we consider the times and we consider the age in which we are allowed is cast these last days.

But the Lord Jesus told his own as he was coming to seen soon of Calvary. If I go away, he says, the spirit of God will come. But he says that since I'm going, I will come again.

And that promise could be fulfilled at any instant. What a hope, what a prospect living now in these days. And as you ponder the words even of Jude and according to some brethren commentaries, Jude and the writer of the Epistle to the James likely were half brothers in the flesh to the Lord Jesus, the sons of Joseph and Mary.

But they don't mention that fleshly relationship. They both seek to serve God servants. So it's your lot and mine.

And this this day in which we're cast, not only walking with God, but obviously if that testimony is the writer to the Hebrews expresses was pleasing to God. It's been mentioned already a number of occasions in prayer. What a privilege to be obedient to God's truth.

Sixty four years next month, if the Lord be not come, I was received into fellowship at the Western Avenue Gospel Hall. But it was a company of believers gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. You know, you ponder God's goodness and you think of his faithfulness.

And while Peter reminds us that God is long suffering to us, we're not willing that any should perish the high privilege of being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus. And knowing him bearing now his reproach in this world, we may think at times. I've been mentioned occasionally whenever I visit Hinkley, Minnesota, some years back covering the little town with invitations to meetings.

And a lady says, oh, you're inviting us down to that little place on the south side of the tracks. The brethren had converted a house to a meeting place. To the north was an establishment building, five hundred thousand dollars.

This goes back 20 years or more. And two Lutheran churches, a Catholic church and a Methodist. But, you know, that little place, I didn't contradict anything she had to say, but I was glad in my heart I could be identified with that little place.

You see, to honor the Lord Jesus, that's a God given privilege for you and I as believers. So you can see Enoch not only had a conversion, he had a conviction. How can two walk together except to be agreed? He was submitting himself into the truth of God and to work it out in his life.

Surrounded by evil on every hand. And you come to know his day, Genesis six, the thoughts and imaginations of men was only evil continually. Not only was there conviction, there was that confidence.

He walked with God and before him as he thought of the world around. That little expression in Jude, he prophesied and foretold that the Lord would come with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment. That's coming.

We're looking for the rapture. It's our blessed hope. And there's been loved ones of saints laid away this week.

And they're absent from the body present with the Lord. But alas, to think of the day in which we're cast. There's been prayer requests for dear ones that we as far as we know are not saved.

Oh, that God would reach them. And so as he labored and lived and thinking of our life, you know, it's God's desire that you and I live for the honor of his son. When our Lord was here, he said to the people, to his own disciples, he that has seen me has seen the father.

I am the father of one. Perfect deity. Perfect humanity.

And here we are. We're thankful for every believer gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you're saved and outside the fellowship, unless there's scriptural reason, God would have you.

That life of obedience and encouragement to honor him. And so as we think of a commitment. As we think of his course of life.

As we think of the very fact that day by day. He had God in view. Old Testament.

Situation, of course. How wonderful what we enjoy. New Testament times.

You remember at the very beginning, as Peter stood with a brethren there and asked to. He proclaimed the death, burial and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those believers, they realized that not only to know and trust him.

They honored the Lord in baptism. A step of obedience. And to realize I'm dead to the world that once claimed my interest as far as selfish interest.

We have the old nature in us, of course. But there they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine in the breaking of bread and prayers. What an honor given to us.

And I have no way of knowing how many local assemblies are represented here today. We thank God for testimonies. And amidst all the times of discouragement will come.

How good it is to draw nine to come together to look up. To realize our redemption draw nine when we'll be spirit, soul and body in his presence. But in the meantime.

We have a testimony to bear. You know, those who know us best are those that are linked with us closest. Our own loved ones.

All they might realize we trust that we'll leave in their minds that which will give evidence. We love the Lord amidst our failing and shortcomings. And so I'm thinking of any three times mentioned in the scriptures.

And yet, as we noted some Hebrews 11, without faith, it's impossible to please God. Might we take encouragement today as we think of being gathered together? How wonderful. And the opening hymn that was expressing.

I bow to the will of God to be submissive. To realize that while we're human, on the other hand. We have a God to honor.

We have a Christ to seek his glory. We have the fellowship not only of the father and the son. We're glad for fellowship one with another.

And to appreciate these mercies. So I trust a little word in the opening will be that which will grant. And further encouragement as the word of God is opened.

That we might leave realizing whatever time we have. As far as what's to come before us. That it might be that which would be pleasing to God.

To the glory of his son. And to encouragement to one another for his name's sake.