Guest Speaker - Dewayne Payton

Main Theme: Faith is proven through obedience. Dewayne Payton’s message focused on Noah’s faithfulness and obedience in building the ark — even when he had never seen rain. The sermon emphasized trusting God’s Word above logic, walking in His will regardless of circumstance, and leading others (especially family) to salvation through consistent faith. Introduction and Context Dewayne opened with prayer, thanking God for His Word and for the congregation’s hunger to grow. He returned to Genesis 6–8, reviewing Noah’s story as an example of unwavering faith and obedience in a corrupt world. “Noah was faithful in all that God commanded him — can we say the same?” The Call of Noah and the Power of Obedience (Genesis 6:11–22) The world was corrupt and filled with violence, yet God chose Noah because of his righteousness and obedience.God gave specific instructions for building the ark — exact measurements, placement of the door and window, and even how to seal it with pitch.Dewayne noted that every command had a reason — even when Noah didn’t understand it. “Faith doesn’t question — it builds. Noah didn’t argue with God; he just obeyed.” Key Point: Believing in God is not the same as believing God. “It’s one thing to believe in Him; it’s another to take Him at His word.” The Test of Waiting and Believing Noah believed God’s warning about a flood, even though rain had never fallen before.God gave 120 years before judgment — time for obedience, preparation, and patience.Dewayne reminded that God often asks believers to wait:Noah waited seven days in the ark before the rain started — a test of faith.Waiting reveals whether we still believe after obedience. “When God gives you a word, the devil will try to show you the opposite — to test if you really believe God.” God’s Control Over Creation and Salvation Dewayne illustrated how animals came to Noah by divine instinct, comparing it to migration patterns of geese, whales, and turtles.The lesson: if God can guide animals, He can direct your path. “It’s never the animals that are the problem — it’s us.” God told Noah, “Come into the ark,” implying His presence was already inside. Salvation is being with God in the place of safety. The Door of Salvation Genesis 7:16 — “And the Lord shut him in.”Dewayne highlighted this as symbolic of God’s control over salvation:Noah didn’t close the door; God did.“It’s not our place to decide who’s too far gone — only God shuts the door.” Once God shuts the door, judgment begins — a parallel to the coming judgment of the world. “Today is the day of salvation. Once the door closes, it’s closed.” The Flood as Judgment and Picture of the Rapture The flood waters lifted the ark above judgment — a prophetic symbol of the church’s rapture.Noah waited seven days (one shabua, or period of seven), just as believers will be with Christ for seven years before returning with Him. “Judgment came, but the righteous were lifted up. That’s what God will do for His church.” Lessons in God’s Sovereignty and Human Limits Dewayne taught that even during chaos, God was in full control:He started and stopped the rain.He set boundaries for the flood.He sustained Noah and the animals — possibly even through hibernation. “When you’re in God’s will, you’re never in danger. When you step out, that’s when trouble comes.” He used a simple illustration: a stick figure walking on God’s path is safe even in storms, but danger comes when we wander into our own way. The Raven and the Dove (Genesis 8:6–12) The raven represents the flesh — feeding on death and corruption.The dove represents the Spirit — finding no rest in the world, returning to Noah. “There’s no rest for the believer in this world. Rest only comes when you’re in Christ.” The dove’s return with an olive leaf signified peace and restoration — God’s renewal of the earth and reconciliation with mankind. Worship and Sacrifice After Deliverance Noah’s first act upon leaving the ark was worship — he built an altar and sacrificed clean animals.Dewayne noted how costly this was — there were only seven pairs of clean animals. “True worship costs something. If it doesn’t cost you, it’s not an offering — it’s convenience.” God responded with mercy, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood and sealing His promise with a rainbow — a symbol of grace that the church must reclaim. “It’s time for the church to take back the rainbow. It belongs to God.” The Call to Faithful Witness Just as Noah’s obedience saved his family, believers today are called to lead others to Christ. “Noah built an ark for 120 years to save his family. What are we willing to do to save ours?” We no longer build wooden arks — we build spiritual ones through evangelism, prayer, and witness.The closing call was urgent:Judgment is coming...