Latest / Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast / #10126 - The Slow and Determined Drift toward Sin - Genesis 19:1-14

Transcript

#10126 - The Slow and Determined Drift toward Sin - Genesis 19:1-14 · Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast

0:04
Welcome to the study of God's word with pastor and author.
0:08
Ed, Taylor recorded live at Calvary Church in Aurora,
0:11
Colorado to learn more about the many resources available,
0:14
through abounding Grace Media or to tune into our live stream
0:17
Services. Visit us online at Calvary, Co
0:21
dot church or download our free Calvary Church app.
0:25
Now, here's Pastor Ed to take us into our study.
0:30
Amen. Amen, open your Bibles to two
0:33
places would you Ezekiel chapter 16 and Genesis chapter 19,
0:40
Ezekiel chapter 16 and Genesis chapter 19.
0:46
And I've entitled our Bible study the slow and determined
0:51
drift toward sin. We are seeing here.
0:58
The city of Sodom about to be judged, it's a city filled with
1:03
people and the people are filled with immorality and perversity
1:09
wickedness and iniquity, and the perversity has gotten so bad
1:13
that it's reached the god of the heavens.
1:17
And at this time in Bible, History, Genesis 19 were only
1:22
about 400 plus maybe 450 years. Since the flood and you remember
1:28
the flood came because of the increase of sin.
1:31
So now 450 years later, we see the sin of man is increased upon
1:37
the Earth, and Sodom is a Sodom, and Gomorrah is a hot-button,
1:43
topic, or hot-button, city names in culture today.
1:48
And even unfortunately, among the church six times, Sodom is
1:51
referred to in the Old Testament four times in the New Testament.
1:55
That traditionally there's even excavations right now it's known
2:00
that Sodom was at the South Bay of the Dead Sea.
2:05
And each time it's mentioned it's mentioned in a negative
2:07
light, one, that reflects the corruption and sinful
2:12
perversity, that overtook it. And by the way, perversity in
2:15
its substance, you know, in its Essence, simply means to be
2:18
twisted. So when something is perverse,
2:21
it takes something that's something that's real and it
2:24
gets twisted. Into something that's ugly.
2:27
You know something beautiful. What's meant for beautiful?
2:29
When it's perverse, it's twisted into something ugly and a city
2:35
that so perverse. It didn't happen overnight.
2:38
Now I want to draw your attention to Ezekiel.
2:40
We want to start in Ezekiel chapter 16 because in the
2:45
discussion surrounding homosexuality and all of the
2:48
perversions connected to it, some may take you to Ezekiel 16
2:54
and want to argue you with you, from the Bible, using the text
2:58
before us, that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was actually not
3:02
sexual in nature but rather pride and gluttony and other
3:08
things. And I'll show you what I mean.
3:10
When you get fine, Ezekiel 16, go to verse 46 with me, Ezekiel
3:16
16 Verse 46. The Bible says, your elder
3:19
sister is Sumeria, who dwells with her daughter's to the north
3:23
of you and your younger sister. Who draws to the south of you is
3:27
Sodom and her daughter's. You did not walk in their ways
3:32
nor act according to their Abominations, but is as if that
3:36
were to little, you became more corrupt than they, in all your
3:42
ways. First 48, as I live says, the
3:45
Lord, God, neither your sister Sodom, nor her daughters have
3:48
done as you and your daughters have done.
3:51
Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom.
3:56
He and her daughter had Pride fullness of food and abundance
4:01
of idleness. Neither did she strengthen the
4:04
hand of the poor and the needy and they were haughty and just
4:09
pause there for a second. Almost always in the argument
4:12
that there is that pause there and the conclusion that the real
4:17
issue with Sodom and Gomorrah was that they were just dealing
4:21
with having more than enough. They were filling filled with
4:24
luxury. Fullness of food.
4:26
They had an abundance of idleness.
4:28
You could say, they weren't a great, a place of great success.
4:31
They didn't strengthen care about the poor and eater needy
4:34
and they were pride and many will pause there.
4:37
And say that is the problem. You're misreading the Bible, the
4:41
problem with Sodom and Gomorrah is that they had issues of, you
4:45
know, everybody has these same issues, it wasn't what the Bible
4:48
clearly teaches. And if they if you ever come to
4:51
someone that would share that with you and try to use the
4:53
Bible, they need to continue reading and We also went
4:56
backwards. So they remember the key to any
4:58
text is context and notice it says in verse 50, they were
5:04
haughty or another word for pride and committed Abomination.
5:09
Before me, don't let anyone leave that out.
5:13
They committed Abomination. Before me, this is the second
5:16
time. The word Abomination is used to
5:19
describe Sodom here in Ezekiel. As you remember back in verse
5:22
47, they were they were filled with abomination.
5:25
Ends and the sin of Israel was that they went worse.
5:28
They were worse than Sodom and so wasn't merely abundance, and
5:33
it wasn't merely haughtiness. It wasn't merely idleness.
5:37
It was this condition that contributed to the continual sin
5:43
in their life. Now, I have to say that I don't
5:47
miss can be a big danger haughtiness and pride can be a
5:51
big danger in and of themselves. Abundance can be a Danger in and
5:57
of themselves. It's true.
5:59
Idleness combined, with abundance can often lead a very
6:03
strong, healthy follower of Christ, down the road of
6:07
Destruction, I want you to put it in contrast to times of great
6:11
need. When you are living in, I'm
6:13
living in times of great need times of great, desperation, Our
6:16
Lives. Reflect that.
6:17
We're pressing into the things of God, or finding ourselves and
6:20
wanting to be in Fellowship. More were pleading more were
6:23
praying more, we're reading more.
6:25
We are drawing our lives away from desperation looking for any
6:30
kind of relief seeking the Lord he honors that casting our cared
6:35
being together but when things are going well for a prolonged
6:39
period of time, something the Temptation at least flips in our
6:45
minds that we don't need God as much.
6:47
I mean, after all, what do we need him for?
6:49
Things are great bills are being paid, families doing well, I've
6:53
got all that I've ever wanted and so there's a Slow drift and
6:58
is determined drift towards sin, you know, when your things are
7:02
going, well, there's no need to draw near because you have that
7:07
self deception, that I don't need God.
7:11
I'm exactly where I need to be. And I don't miss is something
7:15
that we pray for in our fellowship from time to time.
7:19
It's one of the reasons why we really like to see activity
7:23
happening throughout the week opportunities.
7:26
Whether it's home Bible studies or, you know, our life groups,
7:29
whether it's small groups, whether it's special events,
7:32
Outreach, has all sorts of things that are Jesus, endured
7:36
because one of the greatest challenges, as we look to Sodom
7:39
and Gomorrah one of the greatest modern day, 21st century
7:42
challenge is this Shimmer ISM that has invaded our lives where
7:47
everything surrounds us and our desires.
7:50
And I mean, it really requires you and requires me to come
7:54
clean before the Lord in those areas where I do live my life to
7:58
be served instead of to serve where we're at.
8:02
Whether it's a season of tiredness or I don't miss or
8:05
whatever it may be, where we aren't following in the
8:08
footsteps of Jesus, we're not following in the footsteps of
8:11
self-sacrifice or demanding our rights, Right, were demanding
8:15
our desires. We're going after them and
8:19
finding ourselves not surrounding.
8:22
Like the Hub of Our Lives is not self.
8:25
The Hub of Our Lives, is intended to be our faith in
8:28
Christ. That is the where the spokes
8:31
come out from? The wheel must be what will
8:35
please my father. How is the spirit of God leading
8:39
me? Where should I be tonight?
8:41
I mean, that's a great question to ask every night.
8:43
Where do you want me tonight? Where do you desire?
8:46
Where should I be? And then wherever I am, I know
8:49
the Lord wants me there and we're not interested in just
8:52
doing things for doing things. We're not interested in trying
8:55
to keep up with the church down the street that has 100
8:57
Ministries or this. That's not our motive but our
9:00
motive is to provide Avenues and opportunities where we as a
9:04
church family can You everything is a discipleship moment and we
9:10
can disciple you to learn in a very small way where God can
9:14
then broaden it in your life, how to die, to yourself and live
9:18
to Christ. Even if you show up to a
9:19
gathering or to an event for the sake of serving, someone else,
9:23
think of how many times collectively, how many little
9:26
times you think I'm going to serve someone else?
9:28
I'm gonna sir before, you know, you don't even think about it
9:30
anymore. That's the manner of your life.
9:32
Because I don't miss and isolation can do great damage
9:37
and Sodom the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, they experienced the
9:40
grace of God. We've already learned that in
9:43
our study here in Genesis, you remember back when the fight
9:47
teens captured, the cities of the plain and took them captive
9:51
and God, used and answered, the prayers of Abram as he sent out,
9:54
318 to Armed Warriors and rescued them, and then their
10:00
King witnessed with his own eyes.
10:01
The Beautiful Exchange. Age between Abram and
10:04
Melchizedek but no Hearts were changed.
10:07
And the city went right back into their ways of idleness and
10:11
ease and comfort. And before, you know, it there,
10:16
they had witness after witness, but their hearts only grew
10:20
harder and that's why I appreciate our prayer time today
10:24
where they were just prayers for the heart.
10:28
Because the last thing we need is all the right activities
10:31
outwardly but have very hard Hearts.
10:34
We have to keep our hearts off toward the things of God and his
10:37
Direction in our lives. Because a hard hearts are among
10:43
us now. Hard-hearted toward a situation
10:48
hard-hearted to our family. Member hard-hearted tour Church
10:52
to a pastor to a friend to a past.
10:55
Acquaintances to a boss. You named hard heart toward God,
10:59
ultimately Lord help us, help us be in a position where we are
11:06
soft towards you. Now, in our Study, last time,
11:10
come to me, come with me to Genesis in our Study.
11:13
Last time Abram is begging God. It was revealed to him with
11:19
these visitors that judgment was coming and Abram pleads with the
11:24
Lord. He desires.
11:28
That God show mercy. And then if there are 50 if
11:32
there's 45 if there's 40 30, ten twenty or Twenty ten righteous,
11:37
would you spare the city and we gain valuable Insight in the
11:41
nature of God last time that he would not destroy the righteous
11:46
with the unrighteous and Uncle Abraham knew lot was there and
11:50
couldn't bear to see his nephew destroyed.
11:54
Lot is in the condition. Now of what we would call today
11:59
in the New Testament, the New Covenant he is backslidden and
12:02
we'll get a little insight in his life in this study in the
12:05
next time. But he's backslidden, he has
12:08
made a series of small decisions that have really wrecked his
12:12
life that in the decisions in and of themselves, you could
12:17
easily rationalize that this is, okay, this is okay for a
12:21
Christian, you may even hear them.
12:23
Say well, I have freedom, You know, whenever you have to
12:26
assert your freedom on something that is a good cause to pause
12:31
and not saying you don't have the freedom but if you need to
12:34
justify it in such a demonstrative way.
12:37
And you have to just really all I have the freedom and some
12:40
brother, some sisters sharing with you.
12:42
I don't think it's good for you. I don't think it's the best
12:45
thing for you. I know you may have freedom but
12:47
it may not be the most helpful for you and you just like, come
12:50
back with all. I have freedom, I'm just telling
12:53
you as your friend is a foe. brother, as app as your pastor,
12:57
that is time for great concern because lot operated in the
13:02
freedoms that he had in making all these decisions and it Rex's
13:06
life, And it wrecks, his girls and it creates Havoc for all his
13:13
descendants. Just from that little decision.
13:16
Remember that little decision, lat, look around, and choose, I
13:21
don't want Strife, it was an attempt by his uncle to create
13:25
peace among the families and the servants.
13:29
And instead of deferring to Abram that Abraham not Abram
13:32
back then that was you know, that was probably the wrong
13:34
first, wrong decision deferring to his Elder.
13:37
He took advantage of that offer and so the I want the
13:40
best-looking area, I want the bright lights and the big city
13:44
is what we would. A today, he's backslidden and
13:48
it's easy to look at Sodom and Gomorrah, you know, there's a
13:51
lot of Pastor jokes. As soon as I mentioned Sin City
13:55
immediately you think of Las Vegas.
13:58
That's a big joke. Oh Sin City.
14:00
But I want you to think since City Aurora and Denver and
14:05
Elizabeth and Lyman and every other city that's listening to
14:10
me on the radio right now. Sin is everywhere.
14:14
It's not just not one city has, has the market, you know, on
14:19
sin. Hey maybe some are more given
14:22
over to sin and mint demonstrative ways.
14:25
But wherever there are Fallen lost people, they're going to be
14:28
sin and wherever their Sin Cities are filled with sin,
14:33
large cities, big cities, small cities, towns townships, it
14:37
doesn't matter. We can point our finger at lot
14:40
and we can even Point our finger at Las.
14:41
I guess if you will and go, oh, look, send City, but the warning
14:45
of Jesus is to you. and to me, The warning of Jesus.
14:50
Very clearly. I want you to see this hold in
14:53
Genesis go over to Luke with me. I want you to see this because
14:56
the warning of Jesus, the Simplicity of the teaching of
14:59
Jesus is powerful. In its Simplicity, notice with
15:04
me, and Luke 21. I want you to mark this.
15:08
I want you to see the again. We're not going to develop this
15:10
but I want you to see it. Maybe read about it, read it
15:13
later, pray through the chapter, but listen to what Jesus teaches
15:17
us. Studying tonight today, Sodom
15:22
and Gomorrah, take heed to your selves.
15:27
Lest your hearts. Be weighed down with carousing.
15:33
And drunkenness. Pause there for a second.
15:36
He says, I want you. I want to warn you that you
15:38
don't get caught up in the sinful lifestyle of the city in
15:41
which you live. You could say it that way, I
15:43
don't want you be living the party scene.
15:46
I don't want you to be drunk. I don't want to be hanging out
15:48
at the bars and the clubs it's not for you.
15:52
It is not going to help you. And then you know, most of us,
15:56
most of us would would give a hearty.
15:58
Amen. That's my past.
16:01
I don't want anything to do with that right now.
16:03
I mean, it's pretty obvious. You don't need belong, you don't
16:05
belong in a bar party. You don't belong in the club
16:08
scene, that is not the place where good prayer and bible
16:12
study is going to take place, you know, it's going to be
16:14
tempting, it's going to to appeal to your flush.
16:17
It's just not the wise place to be and we all the Believers say,
16:20
Amen. But Jesus says something more
16:23
probing, he talks about carousing and drunkenness.
16:27
And then what does he say? The cares of this life?
16:31
Do you know getting caught up in the cares of this life?
16:35
Have the same effect of the party Lifestyle, the drunken
16:39
Lifestyle the cares of this life.
16:42
He says, you get caught up when these things the day will come
16:44
upon you unexpectedly or come like a snare.
16:47
He says for all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth
16:51
and he says, watch therefore and pray, always that you might be
16:57
counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to
17:01
pass and to stand before the son of men.
17:03
Pray that Euro real believer, not a fake believer as we've
17:06
learned in our Bible, study through the book of Acts being
17:10
introduced to Simon, don't be Believer or make believer live a
17:14
real life. Now come back with me now, as we
17:18
look at these first few verses in chapter 19 of Genesis says,
17:23
now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening and lot was
17:27
sitting in the gate of Sodom and when lot saw them Heroes to meet
17:31
them and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
17:35
And he said here, now my lords, please turn into your Servants
17:38
house and spend the night, wash your feet.
17:40
That you may rise early and go on your way, and they said, no,
17:44
but we will spend the night in the open Square.
17:46
Are notice Lots response. He insisted strongly.
17:51
So they turn into him and entered his house.
17:54
And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread.
17:57
And they ate, I don't want you to miss this.
18:00
It's easy to read over. It almost immediately.
18:03
We can skip to the insistent lot, not wanting them to sleep
18:07
in this city gate. We'll get to that in a second.
18:09
We don't want to read over the words here, where the two angels
18:14
verse 1, come to Sodom and where is lat He's sitting in the gate
18:19
of Sodom that's very noticed notable because that is not how
18:24
lot started. This is the progression of his
18:28
life. Lots relationship with this
18:32
sinful City started back in Chapter 13 of Genesis when he
18:37
lifted up his eyes and was attracted to the City by what he
18:41
saw. The people the pleasures the
18:44
prosperity, the power and the Bible says in chapter 13 verse
18:49
11, the Second Step was not only number one, looking lifting up
18:53
his eyes. But secondly, in verse 11 it
18:55
says lot chose for himself. He chose for himself.
19:02
He took the bait in chapter 14 and verse 12.
19:05
We next fine. Lot dwelling in Sodom so he
19:09
became a part of the community. He dwelt there it had become his
19:14
home, his Hangout. He was captured in a war but
19:18
quickly returned to come home. He wanted to be home.
19:22
And now the next step is lauded as sitting at the gates.
19:26
Why is that important? Because sitting in the gates is
19:30
a reference to political power. He is now in a position of power
19:36
in this city, he's not seeing is not just hanging out there, but
19:40
he has power, he has clout. He's sitting in the gates, the
19:45
gates of judgment in ancient times, the gates of a city had
19:49
benches that lined it. And the rulers of the city, what
19:52
we might call today, the mayor and the city council, they would
19:56
sit at the gates and do their judgments and rulings in public
20:01
and you would bring your problems to them and they would
20:03
rule there. And the place of sitting in the
20:05
gates was a place of power, but referred to today's political
20:11
power. And so In First Kings chapter
20:14
22, verse 10. We find a reference here to the
20:18
king of Israel. In Jehoshaphat the king of
20:21
Judah. Having put on their robes, sat
20:23
each on his throne at a threshing floor at the entrance
20:27
of the Gate of Samaria and jot it down again.
20:30
And I am as 5:15, another reference to Justice.
20:34
He says establishing Justice at the gate.
20:38
So at this point sitting at the gates, you could say it this
20:42
way. Yeah, you could say that lot was
20:45
as Sodom was as much part of lot at this point, then lot was a
20:50
part of Sodom and there's a progression.
20:55
The warning of God for us today is there's a progression into
20:59
carnality for all of us. Rarely, I'm not saying, never,
21:07
but rarely are believers captured by the world
21:11
immediately and instantly you rarely.
21:16
Do you find a brother or sister with us here?
21:19
One week? And then just in the next
21:21
moment, they're gone. There's a progression.
21:26
Entering into places of dangers with little steps and small
21:31
compromises. And and I emphasize the word
21:33
little and small you could even use the word in seemingly
21:38
insignificant justifiable defensible decisions all in the
21:46
realm of Christian freedom and sometimes even die grow
21:49
Rebellion, but it's small, its small Rebellion.
21:53
Where you are heading in One Direction before but now these
21:55
small almost imperceptible, rebellious decisions, resistant
22:01
decisions, almost like sometimes, you get this sense.
22:04
I find this with our young people, I find this with the
22:08
young people that are even have grown up in the church.
22:11
They've grown up in this church and they go through Sunday
22:13
school, they go through our Junior High, and then as they
22:16
get to that age and their teams, what we would often refer to, as
22:19
teenage years, they begin to have this Independence about
22:22
I'm, which is very natural. There's a natural sense of.
22:25
I feel like I'm getting older, I want more responsibility.
22:29
I want to make morbid decision on my own and then when there's
22:33
a little bit of resistance from their parents, or their
22:35
grandparents saying, no, I think it's not time yet, you've
22:38
trusted me to this age. Trust me.
22:40
Now again and whether it's hourly or just inwardly, there
22:45
may be the outward, okay? Mom.
22:47
Okay, Dad but inwardly not okay. I don't really agree with you
22:52
and there's really no conversation.
22:54
It could be a difficulty with a parent could be difficulty with
22:57
the kit. But before, you know, it little
22:59
by little by little and then they start hiding things, making
23:04
decisions that on their own, they're dabbling and things that
23:07
they shouldn't be hanging out. They know it's not good for
23:10
them. They know.
23:11
And before you know, it a little by little they just they have
23:13
transformed And they don't even see it.
23:19
Until it's too late and then what happens and I see as with
23:22
adults to, it's not just the illustration is one thing, but
23:25
as see what the adults to what happens is they come to their
23:29
senses but then Pride kicks in. That's why I think haughtiness
23:34
is mentioned with, Sodom Pride, kicks in and pride becomes this
23:38
huge wall that they protect. With all their Force.
23:44
It's not even about the issue anymore.
23:46
It's now, I got to defend myself, I don't want to be
23:49
embarrassed, you don't understand what I'll lose, what
23:51
about my friends, and now they're fighting for the pride
23:54
and it's almost impossible to break through the wall.
23:56
Private requires a work of the Holy Spirit to break down those
23:59
walls of Pride and you will even communicate that.
24:03
You know what brother you know what sister, you just really
24:04
prideful and what happens, it gets a more angry and they
24:07
become more prideful. And then their hearts get harder
24:14
and with hard Hearts they sin more.
24:17
Not less hard Hearts will lead to worse decisions, not better
24:22
decisions. And it's a cycle.
24:24
I see over and over again till like in, for example with the
24:29
Prodigal, Son of Jesus teaching, Jesus taught us that really
24:32
required him to come to the end of himself.
24:36
God humbled him and it was in that.
24:39
Leti that he came home a Broken Man.
24:44
He came home a dependent man. He came home.
24:47
Not no longer trifle and Hardy, I want to go live my own life
24:50
and do my own thing. All of that caught up with him.
24:55
And he said, I would rather be the condition of my life right
24:58
now compared to the servants in my dad's house.
25:03
I'd rather just be a servant. I'll give up my rights as a son.
25:08
In order just to be a servant and of course you know God would
25:11
never require you to give up your rights as a daughter or a
25:14
son you will always be a daughter and son so just come
25:17
home. Just come home, don't sort out,
25:21
trying to figure it out. Don't sort out how much you've
25:24
going to have to change. And how many Apollo don't don't
25:27
let the enemy continue to hold you and grip you with your
25:32
haughtiness and pride. Do you want to break through
25:36
break that issue in your life that is holding you back then?
25:40
Humble yourself before the mighty hand of God and he will
25:44
lift you up. If you choose not to, it will
25:47
get harder, it will become more difficult.
25:49
For court, but you will be humbled because that's the place
25:52
that God desires for each of us. That's where lot is a grown man
25:57
with a family, a grown, man, with a wife, and kids, and
26:01
servants, and success. I mean, if you were to look at
26:04
him, you might look at La Tengo. That's the pathway.
26:06
I want to follow lat. And, you know, the strange thing
26:10
about what the the ironic thing biblically is that he really did
26:15
love God. He really did, the Bible
26:18
describes him as a righteous, man that the irony of it all is
26:22
there? Like that's lot is, not the kind
26:24
of guy that we would describe his righteous but the way we
26:27
would describe him is he is a righteous man who's chosen a
26:30
backslidden life. And that's where he's at sitting
26:34
at the gates, this is his City. These are his people, but I want
26:39
you to contrast lot who the world has invaded, his heart,
26:44
and he swallowed in Hook Line & Sinker.
26:47
I want you just for a moment to contrast that is the Bible does
26:50
with Abraham in James chapter 2 verse 23.
26:54
Again, you have Abraham and lot but in James 2 23, the Bible
26:58
says the scripture was fulfilled which says Abraham believed God.
27:02
It was accounted to him for righteousness and then it says
27:05
in verse 24 and he was called the friend of God I don't want
27:10
you to miss that Abraham is the friend of God.
27:12
But right now lot is the friend of the world.
27:16
There is a contrast You can either be called a friend of the
27:20
world or a friend of God, but you're not going to get both.
27:25
They're not going to come together.
27:27
I think it's a great title to have that you're a friend of
27:29
God. And it's not a great title to be
27:32
a friend of the world, the world will eat you up and destroy you
27:35
and use you. Lot, love the world.
27:39
He loved the parties. He loved the politics.
27:41
He loved the power. He loved the prestige because he
27:44
chose for himself. You want to choose for yourself.
27:47
You go the same path when you choose for yourself.
27:50
It's the same path you can do it as a Believer.
27:54
Many of us did it before we got saved, it's painful.
27:57
Nonetheless, the Bible says that the world is Antichrist, It has
28:04
nothing for us and we could easily have.
28:08
We can have regular testimony nights as we do from time to
28:10
time. And those are wonderful and
28:12
great of what God is doing in your life.
28:14
But we could also have and even put it on the radio, put it out
28:18
on social media and say, we're gonna have a special testimony
28:20
night but we only want to hear from people that were believers.
28:24
They got beat up in the world from their backslidden ways.
28:27
The place would be full. We would have plenty of
28:29
testimonies, some of you would be in line to Share that, you
28:32
know? Yeah.
28:33
And I know, I went that pathway. I made those choices but I'm
28:36
back. We say yes.
28:38
And amen. Welcome back.
28:41
And anyone that's not back yet. Listen to me right now, kind of
28:44
listening from a distance. The father is calling you home,
28:48
and we will welcome you and help you and point you in the right
28:52
direction and we will pray for you and we will pray for God's
28:55
mercy. Like God, if it was just 50, if
28:59
it was just 40, if it was just 10 just to Lord show Mercy.
29:04
Even just to well, I want you to we skipped over verse 3.
29:09
We didn't mention it but I want to get there in verse 3 notice
29:11
when they said they wanted to sleep in the city Square, what
29:15
is what is lot say? He insisted strongly.
29:19
Well, you insisted strongly, they come in the house because
29:23
in the house would be more safe than be in the open Square y,
29:26
because a lot new is City. If they weren't, he wasn't
29:31
afraid for them, staying in the open Square because of idleness.
29:36
And he wasn't afraid of them, staying in the open Square
29:39
because of abundance. He wasn't afraid or concerning
29:43
insisting, get in my house for the night, and then leave very
29:46
quickly because of their haughtiness.
29:50
He knew that the city was filled with sexual perversity and
29:54
Abominations. He knew it, and still Wouldn't
29:59
evacuate still wouldn't leave, you can just jot that down.
30:03
I have a little note here, from a Bible study a long ago.
30:06
Lot new And can I just say Church some of you know and you
30:12
still won't make the change? You could say that on the banner
30:16
of your life, you know, you don't need a pastor, you don't
30:19
need mom telling you, you don't need, you know. with that
30:24
knowledge, God would have you to make the right decision because
30:28
you know, you're not in ignorance.
30:32
You know, it's like w here verse for now.
30:36
Now, before they lay down the men of the city, the men of
30:38
Sodom both old and young, all the people from every quarter
30:43
surrounded, the house, and they called a lot and said to him,
30:46
where are the men? Who came to you tonight?
30:49
Bring them out to us. That we may know them carnally.
30:54
And soul. I went out to them through the
30:56
doorway and shut the door behind them and said, please my
30:58
brethren do not do so, what does your Bible say?
31:02
Wickedly. Again, don't let anyone drop the
31:06
Ezekiel passage on you and pause at the right place.
31:09
Ezekiel was describing the Prelude to where they are.
31:14
They both go, they complement one, another, they don't
31:16
contradict each other and lot knew that they wanted to do
31:20
great sexual damage. He wanted to rape these
31:23
visitors, they wanted to rape them now and then NIV translates
31:28
Genesis 19 5, they called to lat.
31:31
Where are the men? Who came to you tonight?
31:33
Bring them. Out to us so that we may have
31:35
sex with them. That's awesome.
31:39
That's what we're dealing with. If you had any doubts to the
31:42
corruptness of this city, this section shatters all those
31:46
Notions and it says that they came from every quarter.
31:49
The city was filled with perversity wasn't just a few
31:53
people here. And there, this was the city,
31:56
the sin and perversion had so corrupted that even the young
31:59
ones were involved and the city leaders like law.
32:06
Again a reminder for us as parents and grandparents, maybe
32:09
even great-grandparents that the Bible is very clear that we're
32:13
to train our children in the way that they should go.
32:16
And when they are old, they won't depart from it.
32:18
Proverbs 22:6, the word train literally means to dedicate, or
32:24
to consecrate can also have the meaning of teach.
32:27
We might use the Bible word disciple.
32:30
A disciple is a learner so when you disciple someone you teach
32:34
them the ways of Jesus so they can follow him.
32:38
It has the idea of preparation of teaching and leading them
32:43
both in Word. And indeed.
32:48
Two important. Why?
32:50
Because Lots kids, at whatever age they are.
32:53
Lots of kids were watching, dad. Lots of kids were watching dad.
33:00
They were he was modeling for them.
33:02
What it was to backslide. The again for a context of the
33:07
21st century, there wasn't one life when you are headed to
33:12
church or to a church event and then a whole other life, when
33:15
you're nowhere near the property, there isn't a life
33:19
where you come home and, and you just spill out just Vemma knit,
33:23
venomous gossip and lies and, you know, just stuff your talk
33:28
like you are. You could say that.
33:30
In order to fulfill Proverbs 22, you just have to walk the walk.
33:35
Not perfect because they need to also see mistakes because
33:38
they're making mistakes. They need to see in their
33:40
parents that we make mistakes, too.
33:42
But they also need to have it modeled, how you handle your
33:45
mistakes, how you handle sin, how you visibly demonstrate to
33:52
them? What it means to repent.
33:55
And one of the ways to do that is to have family prayer time
33:59
where you are praying together out loud, talking to God.
34:03
There's no model No no specific language to you lose, but when
34:08
you find yourself pretty good, you'll God.
34:09
Please forgive me because I yelled at my boss today you know
34:14
you don't have to stop the prayer and say okay son this is
34:16
it this is hot. Like you're just living your
34:18
Christian Life. You don't need to make a big
34:22
Bible study out of it. but you're honest before God in
34:26
front of your kids, or If their kids are little or whatever
34:32
size, they might be. But I remember the first time I
34:33
ever did this never modeled for me in my life, I don't, I can't
34:38
not because my memory might not be what it needs to be, and I
34:42
might be wrong. I'll find that out because my
34:44
parents have gone home to be with the Lord, so they're
34:45
waiting in heaven right now. I did do it, but I don't
34:48
remember. I don't it wasn't model for me,
34:51
but I remember the first time and would be the first of many,
34:54
with my son, and my next son, and my daughter to get down on
34:58
my knees. And look, my son in the eye and
35:02
literally Ask a kid to forgive me.
35:06
For what I said or what I did. I was listening to a Bible study
35:10
and the Pastor said that you should apologize to your kids
35:13
when you fail them. And so I did.
35:17
And it was a lot to follow. But it also honored my son.
35:22
My kids, my boys, and my daughter.
35:24
It honored them of the human beings.
35:27
They are created in the image of God.
35:30
They're not subhuman. They're not Almost Human.
35:34
They are loved by God as much as you are.
35:37
And it's important that we model these things so that they see
35:41
the successes and the failures and they see what it looks like
35:45
to live a life. It's not simply going to work
35:48
that you preach at your kids. It's I'm going to work.
35:52
They will shut you down and shut you off.
35:56
In the early days, when the kids are young, they will do what
35:58
they what you tell them to do, mostly because you're a giant to
36:03
them and they're just little guys, okay?
36:05
Okay, I'll do it. But eventually things change,
36:09
especially if you're disrespectful towards your kids.
36:13
If you harm your kids with your mouth or with your hands, your
36:17
verbally, abusive, if you're physically abusive, like you,
36:20
you must repent. Children are to be logged and
36:25
trained up in the admonition of the Lord.
36:27
Not to be abused in any way. That's not okay.
36:32
And maybe it wasn't modeled for you in the home.
36:36
Maybe you were modeling and you grew up into abusive home and
36:39
you know, the damage because you live with it.
36:42
You're still hurt and traumatized.
36:45
And you know there's this false Bible Doctrine about
36:49
generational curses which people can actually hide behind.
36:52
Well you know, it's just a generational curse.
36:54
No, it's actually your generation send because you're
36:57
the one sending. It's not your mom's fault that
36:59
you're sinning against your kids or grand.
37:01
It's your fault that you can repent from and change its not a
37:05
generational curse. It might be a generational habit
37:09
that was handed down to you. And I know, we're spending some
37:13
time on this and you wonder, well, where is this?
37:15
You need to read ahead. Read ahead in this chapter and
37:18
the next and see the wreckage that comes from Lots family.
37:23
This is serious stuff. And at any time he could have
37:26
changed, it could have repented, but it just got worse and worse.
37:29
Hannah down into his daughters, as will study.
37:31
They got worse and worse. And and saw him just took
37:36
resident in this family. And an in this and this is where
37:43
will wind down today. But in this, we see in this
37:47
section, a clear denunciation of the sin of homosexuality in all
37:54
its forms. I know that they keep creating
37:57
more and more and more and we don't need to list all of them
38:00
and all of them forms. The Bible says that all sexual
38:04
relations outside of marriage and marriage is clearly.
38:10
In one man, one woman, one lifetime, that's God's ideal all
38:14
sexual relations outside of marriage is sin.
38:17
This is not a bigoted narrow-minded, hateful view, it
38:23
is God's design for his creation. it is God's design for
38:29
you, and for me, Many times in the Bible, the sexual sin of
38:34
homosexuality is condemned as is fornication.
38:38
As is adultery. And by the way, judging from
38:43
Just observational e anecdotally, the sins of
38:46
idolatry fornication and internet.
38:49
Pornography far outweigh the sin of homosexuality in the church
38:53
and in the world today. Far outweigh it.
38:57
But one particular sin gets a lot of attention because of
39:01
agendas and people pushing in and they get a lot of attention.
39:05
But let me tell you something, I could speak about that sin week
39:08
after week after week and it wouldn't hit many buddy and many
39:11
hearts, but fornication and adultery every week.
39:16
Every week whether a physically or in the mind sexual sin will
39:20
wreck your life. And who are we to stand in a
39:24
position of some kind of superiority over one particular
39:27
sin or the other. We just need to pray for the
39:30
mercy and the grace of God to help rescue people from sin.
39:34
That's our hearts desire. It's not hateful and bigoted to
39:38
tell someone the truth. But at the same time Church
39:41
let's learn how to teach tell the truth and love.
39:44
Let's learn how to Value humans as we speak about truth.
39:49
I know it's not politically correct, but our desire no
39:53
longer is politically correct, because that's always shifting.
39:56
We never really want to be politically.
39:58
Correct, we desire to be biblically correct, but to be
40:02
biblically, correct, not just in a wooden way where we quoting
40:06
verses and Do people but biblically correct with the
40:09
heart and the love and Grace of Jesus?
40:13
He was able to do it and he dwells in US.
40:17
By the Holy Spirit lot tries to stop this and it doesn't work.
40:22
Look at look at where lot is. This is lot is so far gone.
40:27
Look at verse 8. See now I have two daughters who
40:32
have not known a man. Please let me bring them out to
40:35
you that you made a do to them. As you wish only do nothing to
40:39
these men. Since there is a reason they
40:41
have come under the shadow of my roof.
40:46
Are you convinced yet? Of what sexual sin will do to
40:49
you. How to wreck your head and
40:53
you're thinking it's almost like a verse that needs no
40:56
commentary. Here are my daughters, like what
41:00
what has happened to you law? What happened?
41:06
What are you thinking? I mean, is he half-hearted here?
41:12
Is he less than half hearted I don't know.
41:15
But man, he's gone. That's why within the church,
41:23
our church in a church. Men.
41:28
We need to be men of God. For the lots that are around us.
41:35
It may not be this dramatic, but we need to help strong men need
41:40
to help the weak men. Coming alongside character
41:45
integrity, we need to help one another.
41:49
We hear some weird thing from a guy we need to learn how to come
41:52
on. Hey lot.
41:53
Nah bro you're out of your mind man.
41:57
That is not the way of the Lord. and even stepping in, To protect
42:03
the innocent. The ones that would be taken
42:05
advantage of. I couldn't think of any stronger
42:09
words, that could be recorded. So I wrote in my notes, lot is
42:13
downright disgusting right now. That's about as far as I can go
42:18
with the language and I can only put it in the backdrop of my
42:21
family. I love my family and I will
42:24
protect my family at all costs. Especially my wife and my
42:30
daughter. At all cost, including my own
42:33
life. I would lay down my life.
42:38
For my kids and my wife in a heartbeat, I would do whatever
42:43
it takes. If it's somebody intrudes in my
42:47
house. Nah, not today, I would do
42:50
whatever it takes, I don't know. The old Ed would come back.
42:53
I'm not sure. I haven't seen him in a long
42:55
time. But I am you know I'm not the
42:59
best believer in the room either, but I'm not lot and I
43:03
hope you can say the same thing. I may not be the perfect example
43:07
of everything that I need to be and what God's doing in my life.
43:11
But I can look you in the eye and say I'm not lat.
43:14
I'm the exact opposite of lot here and that's what I come into
43:17
you men and women we know that women weren't held in high
43:22
regard in the first century in the or in the Biblical times, we
43:25
get that but God has never demean a woman.
43:29
Man, may do that but that's not God's heart that is not with the
43:33
way God intended. From the beginning, Eve is the
43:37
prototypical woman created in the image of God to be a
43:41
companion to be cared for to be covered to be taken care of
43:46
period. This is Sin Sin.
43:53
And worsen it's clear that Sodom rubbed off on lat.
43:58
He thought like they thought he acted like they acted and now he
44:02
does what they did and this is what happen when you hang out
44:05
with centers you're going to start acting like them, you're
44:07
going to start talking out and what I mean by that is not that
44:10
you pull yourself away from interacting with a sinful world.
44:13
I mean, you go into the parties. You start doing drugs, you start
44:17
hanging out in those play, you will become like them.
44:21
They will not become like You. The Bible teaches that.
44:27
The Bible warns us not to be unequally yoked together with
44:31
unbelievers. The Bible says that evil company
44:35
corrupts good habits and I know there's that desire because we
44:37
want to reach the Lost. They're like, well, you know, I
44:39
want to reach the lost, but when you're hanging out there going
44:43
to change you, you're not going to change them, it would be the
44:46
equivalent of done this illustration, many times.
44:49
Come on up Brother. Come on up.
44:50
So I stand here, I hope you guys can see.
44:52
You can't see it on the radio but it would be the similar
44:55
similar here. I'm a Believer.
44:57
I'm in a reach. My I'm going to reach my
44:58
neighbor. I'm going to go hang out with my
45:00
friends and I'm going to pull him up.
45:05
Not going to happen, he's not moving, but if he wanted to pull
45:08
me down, don't do it. Don't do it, but kind of do it,
45:11
but don't do it. Okay?
45:12
It's not going to take much. He all you have to do is Yank on
45:14
me. Thank you all.
45:15
Yes hello hello don't leave me hanging.
45:17
Don't leave me hanging bro. There we go.
45:20
It doesn't take much for him to pull me down and imagine 345 on
45:23
all green. Come on up to my level, come up
45:26
to the level cry. Come up, I'm gonna go hang out
45:28
with you because I'm going to win you to Christ.
45:30
Now it's seconds before I'm down.
45:33
And maybe never bring him up. That's not to say, we don't have
45:36
a heart for the Lost. We do, we have to be wise.
45:39
It's a wisdom decision, and God will give you the wisdom trust
45:43
in the Lord, with all your heart and lean not on your own
45:45
understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways.
45:47
And what he will direct your paths, he will show you how to
45:51
reach that group. But I'm telling you you evil
45:54
company corrupts good habits and you have lat as an example.
45:58
One more thing if you choose to compromise with sexual, Then or
46:03
perversion of any kind in the end, it will always turn on you.
46:08
And destroy you. Here are his friends, his
46:12
co-workers his fellow City dwellers and when the chips are
46:17
down, notice they say in verse 9 stand back.
46:23
And they said this one came to sojourn and he keeps acting as a
46:25
judge. Now we'll deal worse with you
46:28
then with them. Now they've threatened to rate
46:30
to rape lat. They turn on him.
46:33
Very, very fast, it's not what happened with The Prodigal, Son.
46:37
Exactly what happened is friends were around while they had the
46:40
money when the money was gone. So his so-called friends, And he
46:46
was left, feeding takes. They turn on him so quickly, the
46:50
meet the men, verse 10 reached out their hands.
46:53
Hold lot into the house with them and shut the door.
46:57
And they struck the men who are at the doorway of the house with
46:59
blindness both small and great so that they became weary trying
47:03
to find the door. The men told Lat have you anyone
47:08
else here verse 12, son-in-law your son's, your daughter's
47:11
whoever you have in the city take them out for.
47:14
We will destroy this place because the outcry against them
47:17
is growing great before the face of the Lord and the Lord has
47:19
sent us to destroy it. So a lot went out and spoke to
47:22
his son-in-law who had married his daughters and said, get up,
47:26
get out of this place. For the Lord will destroy this
47:28
city and check it out. This is his testimony with the
47:31
sons-in-laws, his sons and loss thought he was joking.
47:35
Didn't even take them serious. Come on man.
47:39
Seriously, and this is where we're going to end because sin
47:44
caused him to lose. All his credibility will get to
47:46
the rest next time but what a contrast contrast to Abraham, a
47:51
contrast and Noah. These guys laugh at lat, where
47:55
Noah, they follow him into the ark, whatever you say he was a
47:59
preacher of righteousness. So father, we pray as we look at
48:02
these this text. A very delicate topic, a very
48:07
difficult topic, but the truth will set men and women free God.
48:12
And our hearts desires to reach the Lost.
48:16
Our hearts desire is not to you know, none of us can reach out
48:21
with clean hands or pure hearts except for what you've done in
48:24
our lives. So we step in with Grace, And we
48:29
move forward in Mercy and we need to learn God how to speak
48:33
truth and love. And not to Value.
48:37
You know, I just, I just pray against this thought.
48:41
No, the, how in the church that is so much.
48:44
Like we've got to tell the truth and we can't call her eyes a
48:46
word and, and there's just like, the truth is the truth.
48:52
What we need to master in his love.
48:56
I just know when we walk in love will never die Agape, Love.
48:59
Never dilutes the truth ever. I remember what you said, God
49:08
through. Paul the Apostle, he said, don't
49:09
you know that it's the goodness of God that leads to repentance.
49:15
And so may we be agents and men and women first captivated by
49:20
your love and goodness and extending it to others in Jesus
49:24
name. Amen, we pray that you've been
49:28
encouraged by this Bible. Study delivered live from the
49:30
sanctuary of Calvary Church for prayer.
49:33
Call us at 877, 30 Grace. That's eight 77304, 2:53 to
49:42
listen to this message in its entirety or to join us.
49:45
Or our lives dream Services. Visit us online at Calvary.
49:49
Co dot church or download our free Calvary Church app be
49:54
blessed as you worship Jesus this week.
49:45
Or our lives dream Services. Visit us online at Calvary.
49:49
Co dot church or download our free Calvary Church app be
49:54
blessed as you worship Jesus this week.