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Biblical Sexuality (A Response to Canadian Bill C-4) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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If you have your Bible in your hands today, would you meet me
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in the book is second? Peter chapter 2?
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2nd, Peter chapter 2. And just place a marker at verse
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7 for now. And join with me in prayer, one
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more time. Lord, we need your help.
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We need your help unpacking and understanding your word.
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We ask that you would help us. To comprehend your mind in your
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heart. You're perfect.
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Unchanging will Lord, humble us sober.
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Us, equip us, encourage us warn us.
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Whatever is necessary for your people to be more like your son.
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we ask Lord that those who are here who might have objections
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or stand in opposition to your rule that they would sense the
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weight of the truth and it would cause them To turn to you.
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We ask, oh, God. That you would Encourage your
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people in these days. So that we would feel bold and
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courageous to stand for you, Lord, we trust in you, we love
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you. You are everything to us.
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And we pray o God, that this word would be translated into
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obedience as we respond to it. In Jesus name, we pray.
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Amen. Some of you may not be aware but
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today we join with the efforts of many pastors around North
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America, who have decided to dedicate this Lord's day to
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Proclaim, what the word of God says about the will of God
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concerning sexuality and identity.
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The reason for this collaborative initiative is to
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respond to a recent law that has been passed in Canada.
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Which not only attacks the biblical standard for sexuality,
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but it even threatens those who would persuade others to believe
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it. Here's why what we're doing
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today is very important. This bill known as bills C4 has
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been passed and it essentially claims that the belief in God's.
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Unmistakably clear? And holy standard for sexuality
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is a myth, and that is not a word.
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I am using, that's a word that they have used.
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And I just want to read to you a portion of the Preamble of this
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legal document, quote, whereas conversion therapy causes harm
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to society because among other things, it is based on and
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propagates myths and stereotypes about sexual orientation.
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Gender identity and gender expression, including the myth
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pay attention, including the myth.
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That heterosexuality cisgender, gender identity, and gender
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expression that conforms to the sex assigned.
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To a person at Birth are to be preferred over other sexual
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orientations gender identities, and gender Expressions.
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Let me translate that if you believe that.
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Sexual relations. Should be exclusively expressed
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and experience between a man and a woman within the confines of
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marriage or that your gender is assigned to you.
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At Birth, you are adhering to a myth.
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This is an attack on the truth. This is an assault on God's
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decree, and his design for his creation.
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Additionally, this law criminalizes what is labeled as
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conversion therapy now, when the majority here, conversion
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therapy, what their imaginations race to is.
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Generally some grossly used methods that can be labeled even
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as torturous means such as shock treatment or some kind of drugs
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that are given and some kind of strange methods to try to change
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someone's Behavior. We are in agreement that if
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there's any inhumane way to coerce somebody to be something
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else that's wrong. That is wrong because no other
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means no other method. No other two on other
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instrument, other intimidation or manipulation can truly
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change. Someone we as a gospel people
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believe, only Christ can change. You only the gospel can change
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you. And so we are in agreement that
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if you're To force yourself or for someone else to bend them
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into shape that is not right? And that is not what Christians
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stand for. But that is not what this bill
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is trying to make illegal. and if it is, then they have done an
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extremely poor and irresponsible job to Define it.
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Because when you see the description of conversion
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therapy in the legal documents, it is so Broad and so vague, it
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can easily include pastoral counseling Preaching of the word
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of God. Evangelizing, or even one on
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one. Witness Through the Bible to win
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a heart to Christ. And you even have some parents
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now in that Nation who are greatly concerned that they can
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be in trouble for trying to do their Duty as a parent and teach
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them what the word of God says about who they are.
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What marriage is really about and what is Honorable to God.
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Concerning sexuality, And so today with all that being said,
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we want to clarify what the culture May deem as a fairy
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tale, is actually God's perfect and unchanging will for his
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creation. And this is not just a flex from
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the government. There is a penalty, there is a
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penalty of your actions. If your activity Fits under
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their description of conversion therapy.
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You want to know what it is to 25 years in prison?
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And so either they clarify what they mean, or they are
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deliberately making this a broad description so that so that
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Christians among others? Can be silenced against the
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narrative. That is trying to be pushed into
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a generation. At first we thought that we were
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going to have to pause in our series and second Timothy to
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address this which we were willing to do.
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But by God's Providence this subject I realized fits
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perfectly with our main text as we are going through second
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Timothy together. Because we've been hearing week
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after week after week. Paul, telling Timothy that as we
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approach the return of Jesus Christ, there will be greater
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times of difficulty because there will be an increase and
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intensifying of immorality and unrighteousness.
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And we spent one message. If you've been to this church
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long enough, you know, that we have addressed this subject
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head-on multiple times, there was one morning, where we spoke
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on the objections, the main objections that people bring up
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concerning our belief that since such as homosexuality is, in
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fact, a sin. And we spend another day
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together, discussing how this crazy behavior, and these
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beliefs is not disconnected but Deeply connected to God's
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passive wrath on a society that has continually rejected him as
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Supreme and sovereign. But I want to come to this
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subject with a different angle. I want to come to this subject
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mainly to address what the attitude of Believers should be,
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and what our actions should be, as we are moving faster and
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faster into a world. That is not only upholding
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corruption. but will now persecute those who are
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consecrated unto Christ, Remember what Paul said and
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warned about last week that as we come to those final minutes
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of the last hour of the last day, there will be a greater
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absence of heartfelt Thanksgiving to God.
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That there will be an absence of gratitude to the source of all
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good and perfect things and amazingly enough after speaking
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about those who would be ungrateful, he says that there
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will be also an increase. Of those who would be Unholy.
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And that's the portion where we find ourselves today as this day
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is dedicated to speak about a real life illustration for you
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and I about how unholiness will spread will spread into the
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mainstream. And how Unholy is will not only
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be tolerated, but it will be praised and not only will it be
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praised, but it will threaten those with persecution who would
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stand against it from the highest form of human authority.
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That we know this is not a light thing.
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This is a serious thing and this demands us as a people who have
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been called the Salt and Light to know how to appropriately
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respond. Two things that are coming to
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this nation sooner than later. And so I want to speak briefly
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about the attitude of the believer and we're going to look
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here in 2nd Peter chapter 2 beginning in verse 6.
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If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he
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condemned them to Extinction. Making them an example of what
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is going to happen to the ungodly and if he rescued
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righteous lot greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the
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wicked for as that righteous man lived among them day.
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After day, he was tormenting his righteous Soul over their
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Lawless Deeds that he saw and heard.
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These verses describe to us that the annihilation of Sodom and
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Gomorrah which is recorded in great deal in the Book of
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Genesis was not merely mentioned so that we can have in a
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historical account of how God and his righteousness displays
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his wrath against iniquity. No, no Sodom.
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And Gomorrah represent. Way more than that, Sodom and
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Gomorrah according to these verses. the Holy Spirit teaches
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us that it serves it serves as an example of what will come to
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Future Generations that even though sin may be legalized and
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even though it may be normalized, The wrath of God,
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for those who praise it and practice, it is imminent.
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Is imminent, Sodom and Gomorrah stand, as Memorials of societies
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and Nations and cities that would uphold that which is
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perverted and twisted and corrupt, it stands as a warning.
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To people who would look back at this document, who would look
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back at this unchanging word and say, this is what God will do
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and the Lord Jesus himself on more than one occasion.
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Has reference to Sodom and Aura in order to teach and illustrate
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about the final judgment. In fact, let me take it further.
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The Lord, Jesus Christ himself was at Sodom and Gomorrah and
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gave approval of God's wrath upon those cities.
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Sodom and Gomorrah sobering, reminder that.
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Those sinful societies may be distracted by sophisticated
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planting and building marrying and selling God's righteous.
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And holy judgment is on its way. But that's not the reason why
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we've come to this text this afternoon.
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That's not the main point. Our purpose is to examine why
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rather how lot is mentioned. That in the midst of this sin
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soaked city called Sodom. There was a man by the name of
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lat. Who's actually righteous and
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interestingly enough. The righteousness of lot is not
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defined To Us by his deeds, but it is described to US based on
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his inner attitude, concerning the evil around him.
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In other words, his righteousness is given to us.
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It's told to US based on what he felt Because how your heart
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reacts and responds and what your thoughts say reveal what
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Christ has done to it. And what do we see here that he
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was greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked
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and he was tormenting his righteous Soul over their
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Lawless Deeds. Now, if you've read the Genesis
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depiction of lot, this this is kind of troubling because lot
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made Monumental mistakes while. Living in Sodom that would make
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it very difficult for anybody to be convinced to even call them a
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good person. Never mind crowning him as
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righteous three times as Peter does here.
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And as difficult as this may read a scene though, may seem
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irreconcilable. We have to understand that the
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Apostle here is not trying to convince us that lot was
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morally. Perfect.
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But what he is trying to tell us is that he was not completely
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contaminated by the dominating sin of his day. one way that is
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proven is by the hospitality that lot shows to those heavenly
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guest in contrast to the gang of men that wanted to rape them
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instead, Yeah, he was influenced.
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There was a level of compromise but through this commentary, we
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understand that this man was not totally lost to the degree that
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he could not determine what was right and what was wrong.
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And although many people use lot to point to a negative example,
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to point as an example of a worldly Christian here.
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I see and we should see together that there is some positive
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instruction that we can gain from the life of lat.
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Here's my question to This afternoon.
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May I ask you today, what the sin around you is doing to your
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soul. Are we as God's righteous people
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broken over? The lostness that our generation
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is swimming in. Is there a sense of concern of
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the coming judgment? That will be poured out on those
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who bury themselves in greater and deeper Darkness as Bill see
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four layers, another blanket of iniquity upon the nation of
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Canada, Are we stirred to watch a people swimming in their filth
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as God's forgiveness stands on the shore of Grace?
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Pleading for them to come and experience his life and his
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favor. By simple Act of Faith.
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Do we feel pain this afternoon or we know I'm going to get to
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that in a moment? Do we feel pain?
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Because we are witnessing a people who are blindly walking
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towards a cliff, with their fingers in their ears, as God
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has through many faithful, people crying through them to be
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healed of their blindness, in to turn from self-destruction.
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Is there any any sense of disturbance?
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Because you see lot made a lot of mistakes.
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He made a lot of disappointing decision in his life, but we are
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told according to this text that there is one thing.
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He did not allow himself to get to and that is to be completely
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desensitized to the evil around him.
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This man did not become numb because lawlessness was normal.
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There was a sense of excruciating, agitation and deep
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trouble, while living in Sodom. And the reason why I bring this
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before us this afternoon, I want to let you know ahead of time
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that this message is not going to answer the objections to the
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common arguments against what we believe.
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This is going to be intensely practical and a call for us to
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Simply Be in tune with the heart of God.
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You see what we discover about our thoughts, what we discover
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about our internal attitude, concerning the outrageous
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behavior, and beliefs that is being promoted is an indicator
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of the health of our souls. Let me tell you, let me tell you
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this way, I know of people and I have read already of comments of
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professing Christians, that would be much more angry about
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what I am preaching on today than about the sin that will Dan
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people for eternity. So let me say something that may
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shock you if our Spirits are not stirred, if we're not Disturbed,
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if this, if this kind of news, if this plunging into deeper sin
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is not something that shakes us to a certain degree, then we
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might be one step closer to a warning that Paul gives to
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Christians. And that warning is found in the
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book of 1st Corinthians chapter 6, beginning in verse 9.
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And here is what Paul says to Christians.
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Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
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kingdom of God? Do not be deceived?
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Do not be deceived, neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters
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nor adulterers, nor men who practice, homosexuality, nor
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thieves nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers nor
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swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
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Here's the charge that the holy spirit gives to a church.
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Do not be deceived and the charge to be free from deception
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is twofold. The primary charge is for people
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who think that they can live in habitual.
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Unrepented sin, and still think that they are headed for heaven.
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Paul's charge here is to remind his readers that it is
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impossible to claim salvation in Jesus Christ, because that
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salvation will cause you to hate your sin, reject your sin and
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pursue all in the snow. You may fail along the way and
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it is impossible to say that you can embrace the cross while
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embrace your favorite sin. It doesn't work.
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It doesn't make sense that is either proof that you have not
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understood the gospel to begin with OR that your profession is
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false. And this scripture is deeply
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concerning to those who believe that you don't have to repent in
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order to be saved. Which is popular in our day.
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But moreover, this command to not be deceived to remain in the
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light to remain free from trickery and lies is not
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limited. It's not limited to the
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potential convincing and justification of my own sin.
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In other words though, we can be deceived and though we can
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justify particular habit or love for something of the flesh.
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We can also be deceived by the Fate about the fate of those who
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are promoting or defending their own particular sin.
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Because as celebrities come out as laws are implemented in order
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to soothe the consciences of Sinners and to silence the
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Heralds of righteousness. As family members and friends
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that we dearly love invite us to support their ungodly sexual
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Pursuits and beliefs. We got to guard our hearts.
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Because the normalization of such sins mixed with the
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pressures of persecution added with the conflict of The
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Emotional turmoil of not wanting to lose touch with people that
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we truly care about can make lies much more appealing.
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Yeah. Maybe maybe maybe I'm wrong
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about this whole understanding of sin.
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Some of the nicest people, I know are in monogamous same-sex
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relationships. In fact, people that identify as
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gay or nicer than most Christians.
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I know, Can God really reject the people who are only living
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by impulses that they feel like they have been born with.
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Is that just is that right? How can something?
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So pure like love and falling in love.
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Be deemed as evil and as an Abomination.
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I'm not sure. I'm not sure I can worship a God
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who believes that. So, I still believe in God, but
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I have my mental scissors out and I'm just going to cut out
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the parts that might contradict, or I would do a very great
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Injustice to the Bible, to convince my idea of who God is.
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You know what, my call to you. This afternoon is It's not to
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give you statistics from what psychologists say about the
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lifestyle of those who are living in skewed, sexual conduct
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is to Simply ask you to be careful and to charge you not to
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be deceived. Do not be deceived. because even
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a righteous man, like Loft with all of this praise concerning,
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what he felt was challenged even with this great righteousness
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roaring within him, even such a man Came to a low point in his
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convictions. And the only way you can see it
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is, when you go to the account for yourself.
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So turn to Genesis, 19 and fast-forward to verse 16.
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Genesis 19. Let's read from verse 15, rather
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as morning dawn, the Angels urge lot sang Up, take your wife and
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your two daughters. Who are here, lest you be swept
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away in the punishment of the city?
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This is astounding. This is like wow.
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If this in serve as a warning I don't know what will verse 16
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but he lingered But he lingered so the men seized him and his
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wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being
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merciful to him and they brought him out and set him outside the
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city. What's so disturbing about Lots?
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Hesitation is that this is not the first time he was told that
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judgment was coming. The Angels Came Today before the
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Angels arrived and told them before.
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The fact, in fact, the whole day passed by whole evening, a whole
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night, And he even witnessed Supernatural intervention from
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these angels, causing blindness to come about to these men who
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are at his door trying to receive these guests for their
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sensual Pleasures. Lot saw that with his own eyes
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and yet still, he feels this hesitation to leave.
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Sodom, can you imagine that? Can you imagine that?
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There's a man here, who is lingering, as there is sulfur
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ready to be rained, upon his own home.
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And the question to ask is why the hesitation, why are you even
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leering? Why are you even
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second-guessing, why are you not already left?
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The only way to get the the pure interpretation is to understand
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the sequence of events and right before this, right before we are
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told that he was lingering and waiting and contemplating and
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pacing back and forth wondering if he should do it. was that he
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tried to persuade his sons-in-law to join him and they
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rejected it He tried to convince him that judgment was coming.
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He tried to tell them that God's Wrath is going to be poured upon
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because the sin of Sodom has become a cry to the heavens.
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Would you join me to escape the wrath of God?
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Would you join me to know the mercy of God?
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You see, we see a man here who is lingering because he realizes
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some of his own family. Will not join him.
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He lingered. Because he knew that the
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decision to separate himself would cause him to Forfeit
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relationships and even the fortune that primarily attracted
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him to Sodom in the first place. This is why this man who do and
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Peter, we are told was stirred because of his sin around him
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also lingered because it really came close to home.
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And it challenged his emotional attachments, the history that he
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had with these people. And here we see an example of
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what can happen to even the righteous in Sodom.
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This is why I'm charging you to be careful because what we're
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hearing, as a preview with our neighbors up, north is just a
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glimpse of the aggression. And the persuasion that will
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come from an ungodly Folk. and my concern is, That this will
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cause a greater divide in the minds and hearts of those who
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claim to be professing Christians.
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There for my call this morning is simply this continue to
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Anchor yourself. Continue to align yourself and
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the posture of your heart to God's heart concerning
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concerning righteousness. Holiness his will and his
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purpose is for those who believe on his son, and those who reject
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his son, And God's attitude is not limited to abhorrence God's
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attitude towards even these grotesque sins.
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Is great affection for them to be saved.
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It's great affection for them to actually come to the knowledge
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of Christ. But no effective action can be
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made until we have laid the foundation of the right thoughts
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and attitudes about the whole thing to begin with.
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And I'm not here just to clarify that God condemns such Behavior
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because I can point that from Genesis to Revelation and I hope
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I hope all of us in here who love God's word already are
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convinced of that. But what I want to charge you is
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to be careful of the tide of deception that is coming.
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And it's already here. But also of the right attitude,
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not just the defensive but the offensive not just a hideaway in
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our bunkers. But to go out into the streets
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of Sodom so to speak and to bring out as many people as
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possible to escape God's Wrath and to know his embrace, And so
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the attitude that I'm charging you today is to be free from
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deception and to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as you, soak
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yourself in the word of God, surround yourself with the right
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people and continue to bring every opinion.
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Every law, every form of entertainment.
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Every popular coming out video every false, Christian to the
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scriptures, Because it's amazing.
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What we will see. When the temperature really gets
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hot. It's amazing to see where people
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will stand when there will be a price to preach this word.
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You've been warned. You have been warned.
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But I want us to retract. I want us to pull back from
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Genesis 1916 to see to see a few things about how we can not just
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Not just guard our hearts, which is vitally important, but also
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to win the hearts of others. Come back to verse 12 of Genesis
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19. Genesis 19 verse 12, we read
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that the men said to lot these angels.
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Have you anyone else here sons and lost Sons daughters, or
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anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place for
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we are about to destroy this place because the outcry against
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its people has become great before the Lord and the Lord has
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sent us to destroy it. You know, it's so amazing.
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The main point of lot story in Sodom is actually how God
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honors. The prayers and intercessions of
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his uncle Abraham, that's what is you come to the conclusion of
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this chapter and what you learn is that God was faithful to
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Abraham standing in the gap for his nephew.
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But in the midst of that main plot, we read here that lot
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himself receives a commission. He receives instruction, he
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receives a call. And before this moment in lot
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story he wasn't very exemplary and the way he related to a
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morally shattered City because when you come to verse 1, look
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how we are introduced to lat the two angels came to Sodom in the
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evening and lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom when lot saw
31:27
them Heroes to meet them and bowed himself with his face to
31:30
the Earth. There's no detail on the Bible,
31:32
that's my accident. The fact that we are told that
31:36
lot was sitting at the gate is much more significant than him,
31:40
maybe waiting for guest, that's not what's Happening Here.
31:43
The gate was much more than just the entrance and the exit from a
31:46
city, the gate, according to the Bible proves to us that this was
31:50
the location of cities where there will be transactions made
31:53
where legal things are done and were civil and religious
31:57
sometimes authorities will come to make such transactions or
32:01
deal. So, what does that tell us about
32:03
lot? Lot.
32:04
Did not just move to Sodom lot became over time.
32:07
A civil Authority. In Sodom.
32:11
He became a leader to a certain degree, he might have even been
32:13
elected to this position, which is deeply concerning, if this
32:17
man has righteous convictions because how is it that they're
32:21
allowing this man to be in the position of making and
32:24
determining decisions. When they stand in Polar,
32:27
Opposites concerning their worldview, So lat, yes, he was
32:34
righteous in his emotions, but lot here is showing a level of
32:38
compromise because he was able to blend in with the society.
32:44
And this is how we are introduced to him.
32:47
And then we come down to here and we realize that at this
32:51
point, his Outlook was Sanctified, it was transformed
32:56
and it was changed upon the revelation of Heavens
33:00
perspective and the Eternal understanding of what's
33:03
happening in Sodom, you understand.
33:07
This is where everything was altered from.
33:08
This is where everything really really change and put them into
33:11
a new gear. This is what launched him into a
33:14
new way of relating to those that he had no problem living
33:17
with to a certain extent. The fate of his co-workers, his
33:22
friends, his extended family, awakened him to reach out with
33:26
the truth and to no longer attempt to put all his efforts
33:30
to try to blend in as much as possible.
33:34
What changed him what God said about them?
33:38
What changed them and understanding of their future,
33:42
if they remain in a state of rebellion against God, what
33:45
stirred him? Truth.
33:51
And you see regardless of what kind of position he had in his
33:54
culture, no matter what, kind of even decisions he was making for
33:58
the apparent, well-being, for his people.
34:03
Lot proves here that he was governed by a Heavenly law.
34:08
Lot here proves that he was motivated and moved by
34:12
Constitution. Known as the word.
34:17
More than anything else and that is exemplary because I want to
34:21
tell you today that no matter how much the criminal code in
34:23
Canada changes and no matter what kind of developments may
34:26
happen in our own country. The mission and the message of
34:30
our faith will never change. Never I was talking to a friend
34:36
last night who is in Canada and we were discussing this this
34:39
bill and I had asked him well what's your local church doing?
34:43
What are the church? What are you hearing about the
34:44
churches? And how are they responding to
34:46
this? I know of some who are choosing
34:48
to preach behind the pulpit in order to even pay a price for
34:52
declaring God's word. But what's going on here?
34:54
Told me, well were there, but many of the pastors have come
34:57
together and have sent a letter to the government to clarify
35:02
what they mean by. Conversion there.
35:04
They want to know because it's just too ambiguous and so we're
35:08
waiting on their response. I said well that's wise and I'm
35:11
sure that's helpful. But in later on as I went to bed
35:13
late at night, I thought to myself.
35:16
Well, even if they get an answer, does it really matter?
35:19
It doesn't even if conversion therapy includes penalizing,
35:26
those who would declare the word of God or if it excludes it and
35:28
you can exercise your religious freedom, all you want, the
35:31
mission doesn't change, the message will never change
35:35
whether it's a legal or illegal God's word remains forever true.
35:41
So what does it matter? What does it matter?
35:45
And here we see that this man of a prominent position, dropped,
35:49
any cares or concerns about how he was going to be seen or what
35:52
kind of things were going to happen to him because he's been
35:55
convinced at this time through these Heavenly Messengers that
35:58
God's word is triumphant. No matter what kind of laws are
36:04
resistance, they come up with God's will will be accomplished
36:08
and no man can withstand it. And so, he moves.
36:13
And he moves forward to do what God told him to do.
36:17
And maybe this play the same faithfulness.
36:19
Moving forward made pulpits, be found faithful.
36:22
Make people the people of God be true to the witness of the
36:26
scriptures. So let it be known, let it be
36:28
known on this day. That God has created man in his
36:33
own image. Male and female he created them.
36:37
No one has the authority to dictate or alter the sex that he
36:41
or she has been assigned to at conception.
36:44
Such an attempt on any level is an assault on the sovereignty of
36:48
God. As we have been all intricately
36:51
woven in our mother's womb by his perfect, Divine wisdom as
36:56
our creator. And though the rampant campaign
37:00
of homosexuality and in a long spectrum of other expressions of
37:05
skewed, sensual conduct is becoming a norm and is trying to
37:11
attack marriage and sexuality. Let's go further understand that
37:16
this push for transgenderism and to be known as different things
37:20
that don't make sense, even to science and biology.
37:25
We're going to a new level, it's not just trying to alter
37:27
sexuality is trying to alter reality.
37:33
And here's the understanding. If there is anybody who is
37:38
living in a fantasy? It's not the Christian who has a
37:42
biblical worldview. It's the people who try to
37:47
believe something about themselves or others that is not
37:50
even consistent with science. And although the instructions
37:57
from the Heavenly Messengers, provide Insight of how God
38:00
clearly condemns such ways of thinking and how it is an
38:03
Abomination and is worthy of judgment, how it is a stink to
38:06
the nostrils of a holy God. It is also not void of Hope.
38:14
Because we were told here in verse 16.
38:18
That he lingered. Yes.
38:21
But early on he was told to go and rescue as many people as
38:25
possible before leaving You know what I find.
38:29
So amazing about that. Think very carefully about how
38:32
this story is written and given to us.
38:35
When these angels and verse 12 here say have you anyone else
38:39
here sons and lost Sons? Daughters are anyone you have in
38:42
the city, bring them out of the place, you know, what's so
38:44
incredible? There is an omission of a
38:46
certain quality. Because when Abraham interceded
38:51
for his son or rather his nephew and not just his nephew.
38:55
But for the righteous with his nephew and mind, he had been
38:58
pleading for who the righteous the righteous.
39:01
What if there's this amount of righteous?
39:03
What if there's that amount of righteous?
39:04
What if it comes down to this amount of a handful of
39:07
righteous, the righteous, the righteous, the righteous, and
39:10
God affirms, and confirms, I will Spirit, if there are this
39:13
many righteous this many righteous.
39:15
But then when these these representatives of God come they
39:19
tell Lat, have you anyone else here sons of lost Sons,
39:23
daughters or anyone? You have in the city?
39:25
I don't see the righteous. I see anyone who is willing to
39:30
escape the wrath of God. I see anyone who is willing to
39:34
take on the warning and apply it with sobriety and obedience.
39:38
I see God's grace here that it's not just the righteous who could
39:42
have escaped. But even those who would simply
39:44
by faith, trust in the message that lot would Proclaim And so,
39:49
yes, we must stand firm and clearly Define how the Bible is
39:53
against such things, but at the same time, we must also offer
39:57
the hope that change is possible.
40:00
A transformation is available. And here's the thing, when we
40:05
come to this, we realize that lot obeys that instruction, the
40:12
message of what's coming without compromise.
40:15
He was faithful in what he said. And what's so amazing here is
40:20
that it provides an example that we must have the balance of the
40:23
wrath of God in the glory of God in his goodness.
40:26
That marriage is so needed. And so I want to also say let it
40:31
be known that if there's anybody anybody that might feel trap
40:37
that might feel so overpowered by particular sin that, you
40:42
know, even in your conscious, God condemns There is hope for
40:47
you. That Jesus Christ.
40:50
Truly wants to see you saved forgiven and renewed by his
40:54
blood. and if you just but trust that what you are seat them,
41:00
what you are enjoying prematurely and what you think
41:03
is actually going to satisfy that void, If you just convince
41:08
yourself enough that this is wrong, and you see what God says
41:12
about it, you're one step closer to Hope and change.
41:17
And as you call upon Christ, not only will he deal with your
41:20
Eternal destination. He will transform you.
41:23
Now, he will Infuse you with the person of the Holy Spirit to
41:28
such a degree that you can Rise Above The Temptations and the
41:31
impulses of your flesh. This gospel is so powerful.
41:35
And so real, that it actually supernaturally, Alters your
41:39
reality. But you must repent and believe.
41:46
Stop trying to use and muster up all your strength to convince
41:50
yourself that God approves of it.
41:52
He doesn't approve of it, he disapproves of it, but he so
41:55
loves you that in that state, he is willing to save you.
42:00
And so throw yourself at his feet with whatever strength you
42:03
have left with whatever Measure of Faith that you have give it
42:07
to him. Instead of trusting in a false
42:10
lie that will damn you and even destroy you in this life.
42:17
Lat shows us that although he had failed in the past, he is in
42:22
this moment. Swimming Upstream while the rest
42:24
of the culture. His neighborhood is workplace
42:27
are headed in the other direction.
42:29
Don't be ashamed of the Gospel. But we see something else.
42:33
Not only does he prove to us that he was governed by a
42:36
Heavenly order by Heavenly law, by Heavenly perspective.
42:41
He was willing to engage others with the truth.
42:43
Notice, what he does here after he's told and asked if there's
42:47
anybody else in verse 14. So law went out and said to his
42:51
sons-in-law who were to marry his daughters up.
42:55
Get out of this place for the Lord is about to destroy the
42:58
city, but he seemed to his sons and law to be jesting.
43:04
Notice we're lot. First goes when he learns about
43:07
what God is about to do. His family was his first mission
43:12
field. He could have gone anywhere but
43:16
he goes to those who have married his daughters and though
43:18
the message may have been difficult to hear and though it
43:21
would have put a great risk to how they would have viewed him
43:24
and related him from this moment on this man was not convinced
43:28
about the temporal. He was operating by the eternal.
43:33
And so, he was compelled by a truth that he knew that they
43:37
needed. And so he visits them.
43:40
And you have many good-hearted Believers today who are
43:44
overwhelmed by even even the thought of approaching somebody
43:48
that they dearly care about that they love.
43:51
And to present them with the gospel because of this
43:54
particular sin being so sensitive to truth And that is
43:59
only because a culture is praising it and calling people
44:02
Heroes to those who would embrace it and declare it.
44:05
So it does make it a little bit more difficult, but I want to
44:07
tell you something, it's not as complicated as you're making it
44:10
seem to be. I have a hunch that if you saw
44:13
Paul preached the gospel to a homosexual, it wouldn't look
44:16
much different than how he would preach to a thief.
44:19
Because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of
44:21
God. All are in need of his grace.
44:25
Whether it's You jumping up from this, Cliff to this cliff and
44:30
you fall here or you fall there, it doesn't matter.
44:32
We all fall short of the glory of God.
44:36
And so though your personal history may be twisted and dark,
44:41
you know, how to preach the gospel to somebody who is
44:44
outside of Christ? It's the same message, it's the
44:48
same truth, it's the same remedy.
44:51
It's the same cure. The same cure for the drunkard,
44:55
the same solution for the South. Righteous Pharisee the same
45:00
direction the way for the person who is caught up in Pride, or
45:04
lust or Envy is the same thing for the homosexual for the
45:10
transgender, for the one who was lost in, how they even
45:12
understand their own bodies. It's no different.
45:16
So, this man communicates this truth, so plainly.
45:18
So clearly, But in Lots case, the tone of his delivery was
45:24
urgent and the theme of his message was judgement because at
45:27
any moment that sky was going to be lit up by Heavenly Fire.
45:33
And so it was very brief and very direct.
45:36
And though we should not shy away from judgment in our
45:40
presentation. And though we should not fail to
45:43
be urgent. There is also the importance of
45:47
including the present reality of what the gospel will do in your
45:51
life. Meaning, when you look back at
45:56
what Paul said to the Corinthians and that text that
45:58
we read that, those who practice, such things will not
46:01
inherit the kingdom of God, that's not where he ended it.
46:04
That's not where he put the period mark.
46:06
He did not just present the gospel.
46:07
Truth to those, including those in and strange sexual behavior.
46:12
He didn't just say, you're not going to go to heaven.
46:13
If you practice these things you come to verse 11.
46:15
Let me read in 1st Corinthians 6 and such were some of you.
46:21
And such were some of you but you were washed, you were
46:24
Sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
46:27
Christ. And by the spirit of God, And so
46:30
Paul sandwiches this truth. Yes, you can be deceiving thing.
46:34
You could hold onto your sin and inherit eternal life but he also
46:38
concludes by saying, but that is not who you are today.
46:42
He's speaking those who have been changed implying, what that
46:46
we have to tell people that Christ can actually change you.
46:52
We're not just telling people that if you don't stop, if you
46:55
don't change, you're going straight to hell.
47:00
We're telling people, this gospel is so unique, there's
47:03
nothing like it that upon Faith. You can actually receive a
47:07
supernatural strength that can alter your very desires.
47:12
That can cause you to love God to such a great degree that you
47:16
will love him more than what your flesh.
47:19
Craves for day in and day out. One of my first friends that I
47:24
have when I became a Believer confessed to me that he
47:26
struggled with same-sex attraction.
47:28
I mean, I was a brand new believer.
47:30
I was still figuring out simple Doctrine and this came to me and
47:33
I thought to myself, Lord, you threw me in the deep end.
47:39
But in that moment, there was a Grace.
47:40
Because, because why would I react to a certain way?
47:43
With this sin? When all sin is is going to be
47:47
condemned? And so, I just began to ask
47:50
honest questions to this person who I could not tell was
47:54
struggling with such things because he seems so righteous in
47:57
his convictions and his practice in his worship, and I asked him
48:01
honesty, why aren't you living there?
48:05
Because you're telling me that you can't wait to be married to
48:08
a woman and have children? Why?
48:10
Why is that the case? And he had told me without
48:13
hesitation, he told me without stuttering that my love for
48:17
Christ is greater than my love. Sin.
48:21
Jesus Christ is so beautiful to me.
48:23
He's so wonderful. He had saved me that the
48:26
satisfaction I have in knowing that I'm walking in his will is
48:29
greater than whatever lust can be quenched That's the gospel,
48:34
that's the gospel. And we have to be clear and so
48:39
let me be intensely practical here.
48:42
Do we have anything in our hearts?
48:46
That's prayerfully planning to sit down with people that we
48:49
know that we love to say, I got to tell you something that I
48:53
would tell anybody else, who is outside of the knowledge of
48:55
truth that has saved my soul. And do you know, have to kick
49:00
down the door open? Like a lot might have had and
49:03
panic lie. Tell them that they have to run.
49:07
Sometimes in certain occasions, that is necessary.
49:11
All I'm asking you to do and I can give you, I can't give you
49:14
actually five steps to how to do it.
49:15
I can't because every person is different.
49:18
Every situation is unique. Every Dynamic Demands.
49:24
A different kind of wisdom though.
49:25
The message is the same all I'm asking you today is why are you
49:29
so intimidated? Why are you so fearful to have a
49:32
conversation with that person? Because the most unloving thing
49:37
that lock could have done in response to this invitation to
49:40
see other people come with him, was to not say anything.
49:44
Let me just put this into perspective.
49:46
How would you feel about lat? If after reading verse 12, he
49:49
was told by these angels, the invitation is open, bring
49:53
whoever is willing to come. Go and judgment is delayed, so
49:57
that he can do this. How would you feel if he had
49:59
responded? I don't know. see my son's and
50:06
other kind of agree with that and they're married to my
50:09
daughters and I don't want to make it awkward.
50:14
I don't want it to be uncomfortable.
50:16
If they ask me, I will say something but I don't think I'm
50:18
going to introduce it because I don't want to step on anybody's
50:21
toes. And so I appreciate that but,
50:26
you know, I'm going to just trust God.
50:29
Can you imagine that? And the verses of Genesis 19
50:31
that being given to us? Be honest.
50:34
How would you feel about it? And so I extend extend that
50:40
lustration to examine our own Hearts.
50:43
Why are we so afraid of giving a truth that can supernaturally
50:47
transform somebody? Why can a people be so bold
50:52
about telling you and me and our children that there is 60,
50:55
something different gender identities without blushing.
51:00
Why can gay organizations go on YouTube and jokingly say we're
51:05
coming for your children but you and I we squirm when we think
51:09
about the idea of sitting across the table from somebody, we went
51:12
to school with this. I got to tell you about a truth
51:14
that changed me and it can change you.
51:19
If Canada and any other government is going to be, so
51:22
aggressive me the church in righteous fierceness.
51:28
Reach the Lost. And guess what?
51:34
The response of such people in our lives.
51:36
Whether stranger of familiar, friend is not our
51:40
responsibility. I want you to notice what they
51:43
say at the end of verse 14, but he seemed to his sons-in-law to
51:48
be jesting. What is sad?
51:52
Sad, sad conclusion. Here lot storms into this house
51:58
and he sits his sons-in-law. Then he goes, I got to tell you
52:00
what, I just learned judgment is coming.
52:03
This place is going to be turned into Ash.
52:06
And as they're listening, they start laughing.
52:10
And the reason why they're laughing is not because he
52:13
delivered it in a humorous manner, it's because what he was
52:17
saying that the content seems so absurd, so silly, so, out of
52:24
touch with reality that they thought it was a myth, Sound
52:31
familiar. That was a joke.
52:35
They thought it was void of any true substance.
52:40
And so they totally dismissed it and they even mocked and scorned
52:43
it welcome to 2022. You don't think Sodom and
52:47
Gomorrah as an example, just look up and see who our
52:50
neighbors have become. But the reason why they thought
52:59
he was jesting is important to understand.
53:02
You see a lot lived so long among them as one of them that
53:07
his testimony had no power. There is no weight to it.
53:12
This man here was so camouflaged with the sodomites and those who
53:20
lived in Gomorrah that when it came time to actually deliver
53:24
something of spiritual value. They could not even receive it
53:29
with a hint of seriousness. And so this is what I want to
53:33
tell us that if this world is going to criticize us for
53:36
believing something in the Bible to be a myth.
53:39
May they not criticize us. For being crazy and out of touch
53:45
because we don't practice what we preach.
53:49
Let them call us whatever they want to call us.
53:53
But may they criticize a consistent people?
53:58
May they criticize a people that apply this word in every area in
54:02
life and not just in a way in which you want to just manifest
54:06
your anger because you feel like there is a organization or a
54:09
narrative that's coming for your kids, for example.
54:13
It's a myth. We don't believe what you're
54:14
saying, because we don't believe you believe what you even
54:17
believe in? Because look at this, this and
54:19
this and that. So lot lost his testimony.
54:24
That is a great danger for many Believers today.
54:26
But I have to also say this that you would be amazed to know the
54:30
excuses that people will have in wanting to reject the truth and
54:34
you'd be amazed to know how desperate they will become an
54:36
even accusing you. Right?
54:38
And you accusing me I've being imperfect vessels, giving them
54:43
the permission to continue to live in their own way.
54:48
But lot here proves to us that faithfulness to God.
54:53
Is necessary despite the reaction response of those
54:57
around us. So I have two things for you
55:01
closing this message, and I have a feeling that there are going
55:04
to be a lot of questions, which is fine.
55:07
Could spend the next hour if you want answering them.
55:09
Now, But I have a very simple straightforward message for all
55:14
of us for ever is watching as well.
55:19
Let your heart remain soft. Let your heart remain in tune
55:24
with the heart of God. I've been told many years ago
55:30
that there was somebody. That wasn't coming to her youth
55:34
group at the time and when asked why they said well brother,
55:38
Daniel believes that abortion is a sin.
55:42
And that homosexuals are not right with God.
55:46
It's kid, I think was like 14. Stay in this book.
55:55
Fear God trust in his judgments no matter what is swirling
56:01
around you and secondly me that attitude by the grace of God.
56:06
Not cause us to be fearful but to be active in our faith.
56:11
And to see the signs of what's Happening including Bill C4, and
56:14
only for it to be a greater motivation to sit with people
56:17
and to preach the gospel. Even if they have to throw you
56:19
in jail for 5 years, You know, it's so amazing here in verse 16
56:27
that lot only added more injury to his testimony when he was
56:30
lingering. Can you imagine?
56:33
I mean it doesn't say but I can just imagine what his
56:35
sons-in-law thought. You just told us last night that
56:37
judgment was coming and you're hanging around here, sweeping
56:39
your floor. So that lost urgency could have
56:46
even affected his testimony even more.
56:48
And that is why I praise God for the pastors across North America
56:52
were behind pulposus. A, if that's how you're going
56:54
to, that's how you're going to criticize the word of God, that
56:56
will declare all the more Don't lose your urgency as as lot did.
57:03
Stay, prayerful, ask God for opportunities, and Open Hearts,
57:08
and just believe that the gospel is enough.
57:12
That there doesn't need to be tricks.
57:14
And there doesn't mean little things to try to manipulate
57:16
somebody's way of thinking just present Christ and watch him
57:20
change a desperate Soul, he has to be ready to answer objections
57:26
and you can find that message on YouTube.
57:28
Yes, be ready to give statistics if you need to, but the
57:31
substance of our message, the substance of the Christians
57:35
conversion therapy is Christ and Christ Alone.
57:41
Simple enough, but many Christians are making it
57:44
complicated. And many Christians are ready to
57:47
compromise. So may this church be found
57:51
faithful and whatever is coming down the pike.
57:54
Let's pray. Louis, thank you for how your
58:17
message encourages us to have a certain attitude.
58:21
And actions ready to be implemented.
58:26
In a day where people are being swept up into greater deception.
58:31
Lord, we ask that our own Hearts would not become numb.
58:37
Numb, in a way that it might cause us.
58:40
To be an active and we asked, oh God that no matter how close
58:45
this deception and people conforming to The Narrative of
58:50
this day, no matter how close it comes to home.
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May we love you more than our family.
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They would love you more than our friends may.
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We love them enough to pray fully present the truth as he
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would. Anybody else?
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That we know there's an O Christ.
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We asked oh Lord, that are watching world would see a
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church that. So believes what they preach
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that they're willing to pay a price for it.
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Especially for the nation of Canada.
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We ask the Lord if it's possible to extend the freedoms that they
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once enjoyed but Lord if that has has come to an end, we ask
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Lord that you would embolden ministers and congregations.
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That would show the world that we love you, too much to change
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this message. And we want you to come to the
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truth, even if we have to be punished for it.
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We asked, oh Lord. That is we feel the Temptations
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in the doubts that might creep into our hearts.
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That it would quickly be extinguished by the truths that
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we heard today, and the truths that we will discover, as we
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continue to study your word. Find his faithful find his true.
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Find us to be true, ambassadors of Jesus Christ.
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For we know that this world desperately needs it.
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We give you all the glory for your wisdom, this afternoon, and
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your name we pray. Amen.
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Can we stand and Worship the Lord together?