Latest / Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast / #10127 - Even In Judgement There Is Mercy - Genesis 19:15-38

Transcript

#10127 - Even In Judgement There Is Mercy - Genesis 19:15-38 · 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.
0:32
Open your Bibles. Would you to Genesis chapter 19?
0:35
We're going to pick up where we left off in verse 15, in a Bible
0:39
study. I've entitled, even in judgment,
0:42
there's Mercy even in judgment. There's mercy, and we find
0:47
ourselves here in chapter 19, with focus upon the city of
0:52
Sodom, but more importantly upon lot and his wife and family.
0:57
Sodom is a city filled with wickedness, iniquities
1:01
immoralities. Perversities it's always
1:04
mentioning a negative light in the Bible because it represents
1:08
that that lifestyle of sin more than just the sexual sin of
1:14
homosexuality Sodom is known for its pride and it's arrogance.
1:21
Haughtiness, a city filled with abundance and idleness and all
1:25
of it. Contributed to its destruction,
1:28
notice with me, in verse 15, in chapter 19, when the morning
1:34
dawned and the angels urged lot to hurry saying arise, take your
1:39
wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed
1:43
in the punishment of the city and while he lingered Mark that
1:49
word while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his
1:54
wife's hand and the hands of his two daughters and is the Lord
1:58
Jehovah being merciful to him. They brought him out and set him
2:03
outside the city. So it came to pass when they had
2:06
brought them outside that he said, Escape for your life.
2:10
Do not look behind nor stay anywhere in the plane, escape to
2:14
the mountains. Lest you be destroyed?
2:18
And then lot said to them, please, no, my lords.
2:23
I want you to notice in verse 16, the lot is reluctant to
2:26
leave this city. T.
2:29
He is yet to see the full destruction that it's done in
2:32
his life, even even how God has sent in Messengers.
2:35
I think what a great contrast were learning in the book of
2:38
Acts recently where Philip receives an Angelic visitation
2:41
and he immediately obeys here, lot receives an indelicate
2:46
invitation and he continually resists even to the point of
2:50
lingering even to the point of begging that, the city would not
2:55
be destroyed that he would not have to lie.
2:58
Leave and I want you to mark this word, he lingered, the city
3:04
had invaded him, he wasn't just any longer, he was no longer
3:09
just a resident but he had made his home in Sodom.
3:15
And an important thing we need to remember in our lives is that
3:18
we are in this world but we're not of this world.
3:22
We have been delivered from this world, you know.
3:25
Lot. He had also been delivered from
3:27
this world because it Start out this way.
3:30
He didn't start out in Sodom he started out in great abundance
3:34
and blessing with Abraham but he was given the choice and instead
3:38
of following that place of respect and honor of Abraham and
3:42
saying no no I'm not going to choose where to live.
3:45
That's not the right order. You're my Elder you choose or
3:49
even you choose first or you choose for me.
3:51
None of that. He says, oh I get the first
3:53
choice and he immediately, it chose that, which caught his eye
3:58
the lust Of the flesh, the pride of life.
4:02
And we're reminded Again Church hear me out this word lingered.
4:08
The attitude of lot is will see continued.
4:10
The whole chapter is so such a sad chapter in the Bible but
4:14
we're reminded again. That Lots progression into
4:17
carnality is a warning for us. All I have found in certainly
4:22
you've probably seen it yourself.
4:24
That Christians rarely Christians rarely are captured
4:29
by the world quickly. It's a it's rare for for like
4:34
today. I just, if we were to take a
4:36
survey today, everyone's here that's taken an extra step of
4:39
their lives and investment of a cold evening to sit in.
4:43
Bible study to be available to the Holy Spirit to serve the
4:46
person that's next to you pray together.
4:48
I mean, just really press in understand the times desire,
4:52
great things from God willing to step in and go the extra mile
4:56
mean on and on you could say what a simple commitment to an
4:59
extra time of Bible. Say it's not just sitting here
5:01
too. To study the Bible.
5:02
You could do it at home with a hot chocolate, you know?
5:04
Listen on the radio, but you've taken even an extra step to be
5:07
with people to make yourself available.
5:10
If we were to take a survey and take your name and take your
5:12
number and just check on you, check in on you next week, just
5:16
next week. I doubt that anyone among us is
5:21
going to flip so quickly from stepping into and wanting to
5:26
worship God and then next week be.
5:28
So in love with the world that you're going to exist, an
5:30
Angelic visitation and sell your daughter's out in all.
5:34
I doubt that it's going to happen in a week and if it did
5:37
happen in a week, if by chance and our prayer is that, it
5:40
doesn't. But if it did happen on week, we
5:42
did a survey of everyone that's here right now.
5:44
We did a survey and go, okay? We're missing one, what
5:46
happened? Oh, you won't believe so.
5:48
So he went back into the world and he went back harder than he
5:51
did the first time and man we got to get in there and rescue
5:54
him do an intervention because it's so bad.
5:56
I'm like, bro, is just like seven days what happened?
5:59
And as we investigate we find out no it wasn't 7 days.
6:02
It was actually a very small but insignificant compromise after
6:06
compromise that actually was seemed insignificant but it was
6:09
extremely significant because it was over time that we just saw
6:13
it in seven days. Rarely do Christians, just jump
6:18
off. Off the edge in a week but
6:20
rather it starts by entering into places of danger with
6:26
little steps and what we might call small compromises and, you
6:31
know, with the law, most likely, it started for him in Egypt.
6:38
His time in Egypt, when they're with Abraham, the Allure of
6:43
power and unbelievable, opulent wealth, caught his eye.
6:50
And just perhaps that little thought that I want this to took
6:57
root in his heart and continue to grow and grow until he had
7:00
the opportunity, maybe not Egypt, but Sodom and Gomorrah
7:05
could fulfill that the world had invaded his heart.
7:07
I want you to see this hold your place in Genesis turn back or
7:11
flip on your phone. Your iPad over to 1st.
7:14
John Chapter 2, I want you to hear this.
7:17
See it. Read it cross-reference it It
7:20
with this section in Genesis 19, it's for us here.
7:23
Physically today, you guys listening on the radio watching
7:27
online podcasting this later that the Bible means what it
7:31
says. God means what he says and he
7:33
says, what he means, this is a truth of the scriptures first,
7:37
John chapter 2 and verse 15, don't dismiss it.
7:41
Don't account it to some pastor preaching from the, you know,
7:46
all legalistic on you and and coming down on you and Then you
7:50
and traumatizing you and all these words of it, like just
7:54
take it for what it says, receive it from God.
7:59
And this is God's word to you. Do not love the world or the
8:04
things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
8:10
love of the father is not in him for all that is in the world,
8:15
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of
8:19
life, Of life is not of the father, but is of the world and
8:25
the world is passing away and the lust of it and he who does,
8:30
but he who does the will of God abides forever.
8:35
This allowing the word of God to fill the room right now and go
8:37
forth. There are certainly people that
8:40
don't believe this. Maybe even here, you just don't
8:44
believe it. You think in your mind that it
8:48
is okay to love a part of the world, to take it into your
8:52
closeness into your bosom perhaps and and kind of Cottle
8:55
it and take it, it's not that bad, it's not that difficult as
8:58
not bad. As you say Pastor, I can handle
9:01
it, I have freedom, I've heard it all.
9:03
I've even made some of those sinful mistakes myself.
9:07
But the Bible is true in all of its words and let me just remind
9:11
you, you you know, this I repeat it over and over again
9:14
compromise, only leads to more compromise.
9:16
Let me give you another perspective on sinful compromise
9:19
and by the way, just by way of clarification, when we talk
9:22
about compromise, not all compromises bad.
9:27
So there is a compromise for example, when you are arguing
9:30
with someone and, and it's just something that you're just
9:33
butting heads continually and you both choose to meet in the
9:36
middle. Middle and compromise so that
9:38
you can resolve something that's not necessarily sinful.
9:41
It's not we're talking about here where you're working to
9:43
meet with someone dying to yourself.
9:45
That's not what the Bible means with compromise.
9:47
Not what I mean by compromised, what I speak of compromises
9:50
taking those little steps that seem insignificant but you know,
9:54
they're wrong or they're not quite right?
9:57
Or they are. They're just, you just know.
10:00
This is sin and you might get away with it.
10:02
Like, that's the central compromise.
10:04
That's what I'm talking about and compromise, even little
10:06
ones. It will lead to more compromise,
10:08
that's the path you choose. But now I want to add another
10:10
perspective to you. That seems simple enough but let
10:13
me just say it out loud compromise.
10:17
Will end in one of two ways. Your compromise will end in one
10:25
of two ways way. Number one, your compromise will
10:29
end. In Repentance and you will stop
10:34
and you will be rescued from further damage.
10:38
Who knows what the consequences might be.
10:40
Who knows what you might have, what God may be incredibly
10:44
merciful to you, and you will be rescued and you're just learn
10:47
your lesson compromise. Number one can end and should
10:51
end in Repentance, but number two is, we learned here in this
10:55
long road of lots life. The second way compromise ends
11:00
is Through destruction. That's when it went, you will
11:05
compromise until you destroy yourself.
11:08
You destroy your reputation. You destroy your character.
11:12
You destroy those that love you, the wages of sin is always
11:15
death. No way around.
11:18
That repentance will rescue you. Unrepentant will destroy you and
11:25
that's what we see with lot. Notice verse 19.
11:28
Where's 19? Indeed.
11:29
Now back in Genesis indeed. Now your servant has found favor
11:35
in your your servant has found favor in your sight and you have
11:38
increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life,
11:43
but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil
11:47
overtake, me and I die see. Now the city is near enough to
11:52
flee to. It's a little one, please.
11:55
Let me escape there. Is it not a little one and my We
11:58
shall live. Again, this is a Bible study in
12:00
and of itself, but this is a beautiful thing that God is
12:02
doing. Being merciful to lat.
12:04
He's calling him from the sinful city of Sodom to the
12:08
Mountaintop. And you Bible students know that
12:11
so often the mountain or the Mountaintop is a place where God
12:15
calls you to himself and meet you personally there, this was
12:19
an invitation from God. I want you to run to the
12:21
mountains. The city life is not for you lot
12:25
the city life, it's not just Sodom and it's not just Gamora.
12:28
It is the city life is not for you.
12:33
It is not going to help you, but notice lot.
12:35
He's like, I know, I can't have Sodom, but can I have something
12:39
smaller? Can I have a smaller version, I
12:42
think of the resistance and where his heart is, I know
12:46
you've been merciful to me. I know that you're rescuing me.
12:49
I know that you saved my life, but can you still give me what I
12:53
want, which is the exact opposite of what Jesus modeled
12:57
for us even in his own. On prayer, not my will but thy
13:03
will be done. I mean, studying the life of lot
13:08
is very sad. It's very difficult because
13:12
another thing we learned with W is, is that God has given him a
13:16
way of Escape. And he doesn't want to take it.
13:20
It says here in verse 19, Mark these words, but I cannot escape
13:25
to the mountains. And it reminded me that word
13:30
today or yesterday when I was putting his together, it
13:33
reminded me of a word Escape. Let me show you in the New
13:37
Testament again, turn over with me and First Corinthians chapter
13:41
10. First Corinthians chapter 10.
13:46
Because we find this word Escape is used here.
13:50
And I often find people being given the freedom in a way of
13:54
Escape responding the same way. Lot does, I cannot Escape.
13:59
But God is ready to help you escape ready to deliver you.
14:03
He gives you a way of Escape notice with me, in verse 13.
14:06
First Corinthians chapter 10, No temptation has overtaken you
14:11
except such as is common to man, but God is faithful Mark de.
14:16
God is faithful when You Face Temptations.
14:19
God is faithful. He is not Unfaithful when You
14:23
Face Temptations. He will not allow you to be
14:27
tempted beyond what you are able.
14:31
However, he will give you with the Temptation.
14:34
He will also make the way of what does your Bible say the way
14:38
of Escape? That you may be able to bear it.
14:44
With every Temptation, God makes the way of Escape.
14:49
And yet many times are responses.
14:51
I cannot Escape. God in his Mercy provides the
14:56
way of Escape. And we respond.
15:00
I cannot Escape. Now, in First Corinthians 10,
15:04
this is one of those verses that is often misunderstood and
15:08
misquoted in misused, you might have misquoted it this way.
15:12
You might have heard it Miss quoted in this used to you,
15:15
someone will come with the truth that we just learned and they
15:18
will share with you something like this.
15:20
God will never give you anything more than you can handle.
15:23
And then they'll quote, this, that's not what this verse is
15:27
saying. Number one, number two, it is
15:29
not true. God allows all the The time
15:34
things into our lives that we can't handle, he sends things
15:38
into our lives that we can't handle.
15:40
I mean, he makes things in our body involuntary because we
15:44
couldn't handle. Remember breathing every moment
15:47
of every day and we couldn't remember to have our heart keep
15:50
beating especially when we fall asleep.
15:52
Of course, there are things beyond our control and more than
15:55
we can handle. God will often allow things in
15:59
our lives. That will draw us away from the
16:01
weakness of Our Own Strength to his strength.
16:05
I mean, how else will God bring Brokenness into our lives?
16:08
How else would God bring greater humility into our lives?
16:12
How else would God bring true contrite.
16:14
Necess how will we ever to truly learn how to rest in him abide
16:18
in him, and trust in him, when everything around us are so out
16:21
of control, if there weren't things in our lives that are
16:24
beyond our control know this word of comfort isn't about
16:29
things that are God will never give us more than you can
16:32
handle. That's not it at all.
16:34
The word in this text is is when things are in your life,
16:37
including Temptation, that seems like you can't handle it.
16:42
God will give you the way of Escape so that you can God will
16:47
give you the way of Escape, you don't have to bear it.
16:51
He will deliver you. And yet you sound just like lat.
16:59
And I sound just like, lat, when I respond, I cannot Escape.
17:05
I can't help it. God has delivered you.
17:11
And it's not merely I cannot Escape it then becomes.
17:14
I will not Escape. I choose this.
17:20
I want this. I find coming back to Genesis
17:26
chapter 19, There's great Mercy even though a lot is still
17:32
wanting to choose for himself just like he did with Abraham.
17:36
Hey, there's a City close. And verse 21, he says, see I
17:40
have favored you concerning this thing also and that all not
17:43
overthrow this city for which you have spoken, hurry, Escape
17:46
there for. I cannot do anything until you
17:49
arrive there. And therefore, the name of the
17:52
city was called Zohar. God was even merciful, allowing,
18:00
he'll take whatever lot has to offer, like, God will work with
18:03
Woody, who give what you give him.
18:04
God will work with, even the smallest.
18:08
Even in resistance, God will work.
18:12
And I think that there is a And importance that we understand
18:20
the character and the nature of God here, where God does deliver
18:25
lot, he does get him out of the city before the Judgment God
18:30
does and is able to make a distinction between believer and
18:34
unbeliever. And that's an important
18:37
principle to learn in the scriptures, because We can
18:41
easily forget. That God is able to tell who
18:45
follows him and who doesn't? We don't always.
18:47
We can't always tell that but God is able to tell you remember
18:51
when God flooded the Earth he spared Noah and his sons when
18:57
hailstones fell in Joshua chapter 10 they didn't touch the
19:01
Israelites. God made a distinction over and
19:05
over. The Bible says Peter would put
19:07
it this way in second, Peter chapter 2 and verse 9.
19:10
Then the Lord knows how to deliver The Godly out.
19:13
Out of Temptations. What Paul writes in First
19:15
Corinthians and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the
19:20
day of judgment. And there is coming a day of
19:23
judgment on the earth. There is a day coming a day of
19:27
judgment, the Bible calls it, the Great Tribulation period.
19:31
The last 7 years of recorded human history the Old Testament.
19:36
You often hear it referred to as the time of Jacob's trouble or
19:40
the 70th week of Daniel which we've studied in Other Bible
19:43
studies, God will judge the world as he promised, but the
19:47
Bible says in the Great Tribulation, he will also make a
19:50
distinction there as well. And I think, you know, by now
19:53
both in study and by experience that Christians you and I we
19:57
suffer go through tribulations, go through difficulties, John
20:00
16:33 in this world, you have tribulation, but be of good
20:03
cheer. I have overcome the world.
20:05
We suffer in this world. We're not exempt to the
20:08
everyday, Trials of life, but in the Great Tribulation period.
20:13
It will be God, not the world will be the source of judgment
20:18
you. And I we suffer the judgement of
20:21
living in a sense, soaked world, we suffer the pain of our own
20:25
sin or the sin of someone else but in the Great Tribulation
20:28
period, it is referred to as the wrath of God or the Wrath of the
20:33
Lamb. And there is a distinction
20:36
between believer and unbeliever. God, according to his nature
20:40
will remove the righteous before he judges the wicked.
20:44
And again, I think these beautiful truths about God's
20:48
delivering power, God's ability to give the distinction of
20:53
believer and unbeliever God's willingness to show Mercy.
20:57
God's willingness to extend Grace, God's willing to deliver
21:01
even Rebels. I mean, because if there is a
21:04
difficult passage in the Bible to understand it would be and
21:07
we'll see in the rest of this chapter.
21:09
It would be Peters assertion that Rod.
21:11
Lot was righteous. And I think even in our modern
21:15
day we have a deficit definition of righteous.
21:17
That means you're just perfect and you're the best little
21:20
Christian and you say the right things and you do the right
21:22
things and you make all the right decisions and we certainly
21:25
know that's not true for any of us.
21:28
If that's the definition of righteous, there's not a
21:30
righteous one in the bunch today.
21:33
There's not a righteous one outside of this, like the body
21:35
of Christ that we're all still tainted by sin and difficulty.
21:38
So we know that the definition of righteous is different than
21:42
what we would assert and lot in all his failures somewhere.
21:48
Deep within had a true love for God.
21:53
And that's hard for us to really take sometimes because we get
21:57
really high minded. We get very condemning of
22:00
others. We can be very quick to judge
22:04
behaviors and outward things in people's lives.
22:09
And we start to impose upon others are definition of
22:11
righteousness and goodness. There'll be those listening
22:15
right now? Probably yelling at the on the
22:17
radio right now, then you're just going to makes any easy and
22:20
you're going to your teaching easy, believe ISM and I can hear
22:23
it already. And you just misunderstand the
22:26
grace of God. I'm not advocating sin, my whole
22:31
life has been spent begging people, not to sin.
22:35
My whole life has been helping people at least as a Believer
22:38
recover from the effects of sin. Trying to put pieces back
22:42
together. I'm a not at all advocating.
22:46
The Bible teaches easy believe is mm, I'm not at all advocating
22:50
that the Bible would teach, it's okay to sin.
22:52
I mean I can almost hear Paul yelling, you know, that and and
22:56
here resonating in my heart, shall we continue in sin.
22:59
So that Grace May abound certainly not, the Bible
23:02
couldn't be clearer but I'd ask you to step back and just
23:07
consider for a moment. If you've been missing the point
23:10
with someone because their behavior offends you If you've
23:15
been missing the point with someone, because I mean, I mean,
23:21
I'm re I read this chapter, I was reading it all day
23:23
yesterday. I read it again today, just kind
23:25
of saturating it. And I'm so mad at lat.
23:28
I don't know how I do. I'm just so upset with him.
23:31
How could you do this? I mean, why didn't you listen
23:34
before you had a bike you could go on and on and on and on.
23:38
But from God's perspective, he's showing Mercy a lot.
23:43
I mean, lots and eternity' he's like all right.
23:46
Now it's okay Ed. Everything's fine.
23:47
The Lord is good. He's faithful, he's gracious,
23:50
he's good. And I just think the navigation
23:56
what God is going to really use in the days, in which we live is
24:00
his agape. Love is going to break down
24:02
barriers, and people's lives, and is agape.
24:04
Love is going to be seen, not not just taught, but it's going
24:08
to be seen through you and me yielded and abiding in Christ.
24:14
We will have to deal with behaviors for sure and we will
24:18
need to bring a Biblical standard or a godly standard
24:20
into people's lives. Yes, But I think maybe you
24:24
reading this chapter, you get mad at lot, if you're not mad at
24:27
lot yet, stick with me. You stick with me, if you
24:32
weren't mad at lot for offering up his virgin daughters to be
24:36
raped by the men of the city. if that didn't get you angry, then
24:44
we've got a few more things for you to get angry with lot, but
24:47
didn't upset you, if the evil of this world doesn't upset you and
24:52
just go back into your prayer closet and ask God for a eyes to
24:57
see the pain, and the sorrow, and the children, and the people
25:02
being taken advantage of by the sin of this world.
25:05
But I'm reminded today in my own life.
25:08
That the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of
25:11
God. So it's one thing to be angry,
25:15
but my anger is not going to produce the righteousness of
25:18
God. I need to learn to yield myself
25:22
to the holy spirit so that I can deliver the truth in love.
25:28
And that's many times easier said than done.
25:33
God is able to make a distinction.
25:34
He will make a distinction. And again, I think all of these
25:38
beautiful attributes of God, get all they get set aside because
25:41
people want to argue about the Rapture and they want to argue
25:44
about where it is and when it happens.
25:46
And if it does happen and you could talk, you can hear people
25:50
and see people typing and posting, and they can go on and
25:53
on, and on arguing about the Rapture and forget about them,
25:55
Grace, and the mercy and the Deliverance of God, His offer
26:02
even today, we're not even in the Great Tribulation period.
26:05
The Rapture hasn't even happened yet.
26:08
And even today God's ready to show mercy on your life.
26:11
In This Moment, he's able to rescue you and give you the way
26:15
of escape and even still today. There are those listening I will
26:20
not. I cannot Escape.
26:22
I will not Escape. I want what I want.
26:28
Well, notice in verse 23. Then the sun had risen upon the
26:35
earth when lot innards or and the Lord rained Brimstone and
26:40
fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord, out of the heavens and
26:44
he overthrew those cities, all the plane, all the inhabitants
26:48
of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
26:55
But His wife. Looked back behind him and she
27:02
became a pillar of salt. Again, another passage of
27:09
scripture, the whole truth of Sodom and Gomorrah is a familiar
27:13
place where the Skeptics and the critics of the Bible like to
27:16
come too. But you know, archaeologists
27:18
have found great evidence of pitch and Sulphur throughout the
27:21
plains of Zoar even Josephus and his writings.
27:24
He wrote that God sent a thunderbolt to the city to set
27:27
it on fire, probably the burning sodium sulfate, the brimstone
27:31
and fire that was raining down on what was covered in
27:35
destroying that City. And as the city is destroyed.
27:39
Exactly what God Said, as God withheld judgment until this
27:44
until lot was delivered. Another great picture of the
27:46
Rapture judgment will come after the righteous delivered.
27:51
You have verse 26. But then there's lots wife.
27:56
We've learned about what's happening with his daughters but
27:58
then there's lots wife. You see?
28:05
She looked back. So what was attractive?
28:09
And perhaps looking back with longing eyes, like my house, my
28:15
car, my life, my position of status member lot, sat in the
28:20
city Gates, he was a Authority there, he was in a preposition
28:24
of prestige. She sought to save her life, but
28:29
just like Jesus teaches those who seek to save their life,
28:32
will what lose it. And she was Judge severely for
28:36
looking back. I mean think of lot here and
28:41
we're not even done with the chapter yet.
28:44
Remember back? How this all started?
28:47
He had so much. That his servants were fighting
28:51
with Abraham servants who had so much.
28:55
He was riding the coattails of blessings of what God was doing
28:59
in Abraham's life. It wasn't his own effort, his
29:02
whole life was Grace, he was there with Abraham and he was
29:06
enjoying it all. He was living the high life and
29:10
in the friction in the difficulty it was Abraham.
29:12
That said we can't have this anymore, we've got a separate.
29:16
So you go ahead and choose and lot.
29:19
He chose the area of Sodom and he took everyone with him and
29:23
all of his stuff. And now we're here.
29:28
And what happened in Lots life, all that lot gain by living in
29:31
Sodom was lost. It doesn't say, took anything
29:36
out with the exception of his family.
29:39
His daughters, at least the ones that came not the ones that
29:42
other daughters that were married in the sons of laws,
29:45
they didn't come because they had lost credibility with them,
29:47
so they were judged, he lost them.
29:50
Lost all of his servants, no mention of them.
29:52
Coming out all of his stuff, all gone.
29:56
Burned up. In an instant, couldn't take it
30:01
with him. And he lost not only his
30:06
credibility, but he lost his wife.
30:10
And if you're taking notes, I just want to give you a few
30:12
things about Some lessons from Lot's wife things that we need
30:17
to consider before we move on to the rest of the text.
30:20
Number one in your life. We learn from Lot's.
30:24
Wife in your life. Don't look back.
30:30
That seems simple enough really doesn't need much in, not
30:35
explanation. But for the sake of our time
30:37
today, just remember what Jesus said.
30:39
No one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit
30:44
for the kingdom of God. Don't Look Back.
30:48
Put your hand to the plow. You're on a mission on a
30:52
straight and narrow path. New Creations in Christ.
30:55
Nothing in value. In the lives.
30:58
We left behind. We now live for Or, and we now
31:01
live in, and we now, live by Jesus.
31:05
Don't look back to your old habits.
31:07
Don't look back to your old ways.
31:09
Don't look back to your old friends.
31:11
Don't look back to the old things in the life that you want
31:13
to live. Look forward to that upward
31:16
onward. Crawl of Christ Jesus and the
31:19
will of God in your life. Number two, Something else we
31:23
learn from Lot's wife, husbands. In particular, your decisions
31:31
affect your wives. And I know we can make
31:34
applications wives. Your decisions, affect your
31:36
husband's, in such your parents. We've already talked about
31:39
parenting, you can make that, but I want to make in particular
31:43
husband's your decisions, affect your wives.
31:48
We've already talked about raising children, but husband's
31:51
your the spiritual leader of their home and yeah, you might
31:54
be more mature than your wife and you can handle something.
31:56
But, but can your wife handle it?
31:59
Like, you know, I can handle it, but can your wife handle it?
32:02
You know, a lot was Livered. So was his wife but she needed
32:06
one more. Look, Lord wanted a compromise
32:09
in another city, but she just wanted one more look, because
32:12
she couldn't handle it. She accommodated herself, she
32:16
followed her husband. She did what, but she couldn't
32:18
handle it. She lost her life, as a result
32:22
of lots in you go, wait a minute.
32:24
Ed, what about her personal responsibility?
32:26
Yes, she had a personal responsibility. but if you
32:29
think, Just trying to make excuses here.
32:33
If you think that your wife will not be affected by your own
32:37
spiritual decisions, Remember Lot's, wife.
32:45
Ladies wives, you are responsible, God isn't
32:48
relieving, you of your responsibilities.
32:52
But God has placed the leadership of the home upon the
32:54
husband, and there is no good reason, or excuse, for us to be
32:58
bad husbands in the home, especially with the power of the
33:02
holy spirit in us, thirdly, what do we learn from what?
33:05
Lot's wife? We learn.
33:10
The important principle don't seek to save your life.
33:15
Let me show you what I mean. In, Luke chapter 17, turn over
33:18
to Luke. If you want, I'll just turn
33:19
there and read it to you. Luke chapter 17 and verse 29.
33:28
It says it really in verse 28 likewise as it was in the days
33:32
of lot. They ate, they drank.
33:33
They bought, they sold, they planted, they built.
33:36
But on the day that lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and
33:38
brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all, even so it
33:42
will be in that day when the son of man is revealed that he was
33:47
on the housetop and his Goods or in the house.
33:49
Let him not come down to take them away.
33:52
Likewise, there's one who is in the field, let him not turn
33:55
back. Remember Lot's wife Jesus says
34:00
and then he says, whoever seeks to save his life will lose it.
34:03
Whoever loses his life will preserve it.
34:05
Don't forget, that verses in the context of Lot's wife forever.
34:10
Remember that he says, don't seek to save your life because
34:17
Lot's wife. Again, since you're in Luke, he
34:21
want to turn over, just over to Matthew chapter, 16.
34:25
The pathway of discipleship, is a great reminder here.
34:28
We just stay on the narrow path, in Matthew, 16 verse 24, Jesus
34:32
said to his disciples. If anyone desires to come after
34:35
me, here's the key. Let him deny himself, take up
34:39
his cross and follow me for whoever desires to save his
34:42
life, will lose it and whoever loses his life.
34:45
For my sake, will find it for what is a man profited?
34:49
If he gains the whole Whole world but loses his own soul.
34:53
And what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
34:58
Well, let's read on. Come back to Genesis.
35:02
Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he
35:04
had stood before the Lord and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah
35:07
verse 28, and toward all the land of the plain and he saw and
35:10
behold the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of
35:14
the furnace. And it came to pass.
35:15
When God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered
35:19
Abraham and sent lot out of the midst of of the overthrow.
35:23
And when he overthrew the cities in which law had dwelt, and
35:27
remember earlier, Abraham was pleading with God and Praying
35:31
for the city and praying for about.
35:33
Hey, will you judge the city? And he went through all those
35:35
numbers of righteous people, the destruction of Sodom and
35:39
Gomorrah. With the exception of law, his
35:41
wife and his daughters just goes to show you.
35:43
There wasn't even ten righteous people in Sodom.
35:49
Because the Judgment came not even 10.
35:54
Well, verse 29, excuse me, verse 30, then lot went up out of
35:58
Zohar and dwelt in the mountains and his two daughters were with
36:02
him. For he was afraid to dwell in
36:05
zoo. Our he's all caught up in
36:06
himself. Thought that would be the right
36:08
place to be. It's all caught up and he and
36:10
his two daughters dwelt in a cave.
36:13
And the firstborn said to the younger, our father is old.
36:16
There's no man on the earth to come into us.
36:18
As is the custom of all the Earth come let us make our
36:21
father, drink wine and will lie with him that we may preserve
36:25
the lineage of our father. So they made their father, drink
36:28
wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with
36:31
her father. And he did not know when she lay
36:34
down or when she arose and it happened on the next day.
36:37
The firstborn said to the younger, Indeed, I lay with my
36:41
father last night, let us make him drink wine tonight.
36:44
Also and you go in and lie with him that we may preserve the
36:47
lineage of our father, they made their dream father, drink wine
36:50
that night. Also, the younger arose lie with
36:52
him. He did not know when she laid
36:54
down or when she arose. Lot lost his wife to sin,
37:01
physically, literally to death. And now we see he lost his
37:05
daughters. And they follow right along and
37:10
Mom and Dad's footsteps. And this sinful Twisted plan to
37:15
keep the family line. I don't want again I don't want
37:18
you to forget where lot came from.
37:19
He came from a great place of blessing and honor in the shadow
37:23
of his uncle Abraham and now he's depressed and drunk in a
37:27
cave. That's what he's been reduced
37:30
down to, he's lost everything and now he's depressed and drunk
37:34
in a cave, and I want to be careful here.
37:38
I don't think the new King James does the right translation with
37:42
this phrase. They made their father, drink a
37:46
better translation for this Greek language would be.
37:48
He got drunk with them or the NIV translates verse 33 that
37:55
night. They got their father to drink
37:57
wine. So the new King James, Ends of
37:59
my kind of makes it a passive, you know, step on Lots, but
38:03
wasn't passive. Obviously he wasn't leading his
38:07
daughters and here they are bummed out and he's just going
38:11
to get more bummed out. That's you know, that's the lie
38:13
about alcohol and drugs for the most part you know you start in
38:16
your all bummed out and you think alcohol is going to get
38:18
you out of it. Only to know if some of you
38:20
study just a little bit, if you just Google it you'll find out
38:23
that alcohol is a depressant. So if you step into alcohol and
38:26
you're already feeling bummed out, it's just gonna Jack you up
38:29
more. It's not going to take you out
38:30
of it, is just going to reduce your inhibitions make you sadder
38:34
and lead you to do bad. Worse things than when you were
38:37
beforehand. Now again jot it down just for
38:40
the sake of taking notes but back in Genesis chapter 9 and
38:45
verse 20, we that's the first mention of drunkenness.
38:49
Remember who it was? Say it out loud.
38:51
Noah gets off the Hark and plants a Vineyard and he gets
38:56
drunk and it leads to all kinds of bad stuff if you recall.
39:00
And there is an important principle in interpreting the
39:02
scripture, it's known as the law of First mention.
39:06
So the first time something is mentioned in the bible like
39:09
genesis has a lot of first mentions.
39:13
The first time a word or a phrase is used in the Bible is
39:15
very key. Because the rest of the Bible
39:19
almost always will follow in the same pattern, not exclusively,
39:23
but most of the time and it's usually the first mention of
39:27
something usually is an important key in understanding.
39:31
The same thing later on in the revelation of scriptures and
39:37
when we study the life of Noah, we found that there is a close
39:40
relationship between intoxication and iniquity and we
39:45
learned back then that there's a close Should ship between
39:48
drunkenness and debauchery. Noah became naked which the
39:52
implication is there was a perversity about it.
39:55
You know, his son comes in exposes him, it's a horrible
39:59
situation when a person begins to lose their normal, faculties
40:02
through alcohol, all inhibitions and restraint, go out the door,
40:07
drinking, the Press has a person lowers inhibitions.
40:12
I mean, really if you think about it, you have a hard day at
40:15
work. You just want to come home and
40:17
you Want to wind down and have a beer.
40:19
Well, one of the reasons why you want that is because you knows
40:23
the effect of what it will do. And again, we don't need to
40:28
rewrite the Bible. The Bible does not say that
40:30
drinking is a sin. Having a beer or a glass of
40:34
wine. That's not what the Bible
40:35
teaches drunkenness is clearly a sin.
40:39
However, is it wise? That's the real question to ask.
40:45
Is it wise? Is it wise what you're choosing
40:49
to do? Even though the got Bible
40:50
doesn't forbid it or condemn? It Is.
40:53
It wise is it the right thing to do?
40:57
Can you go without it and here this particular drunkenness and
41:04
you know from my perspective you know where I come from.
41:07
I I almost why did destroy my life God rescued me but alcohol
41:11
repped me. And that's why he's a lot of
41:15
people just dismissing me. Well, you know, it's not as bad
41:17
for me. I didn't, you know, that's your
41:18
problem. You destroy?
41:19
Yeah, but the alcohol Rex, a lot of people trunking this ruins.
41:24
A lot of lives, so it's not just a net thing.
41:26
But from my perspective where I sit where I stand for the rest
41:30
of my life, I will beg you not to drink.
41:34
I won't judge you, if you do, that's not my business.
41:36
As I don't want to judge you. And I want to condemn you,
41:39
that's between you and Laura, but I will beg you.
41:41
And if it's not for you, it's for your kids.
41:44
Do your kids really need that example?
41:45
And let me ask you this, which of your kids because you know,
41:48
the responses are I can handle my alcohol, I believe you.
41:52
There's a lot of people I hung out with that could handle their
41:54
alcohol, I couldn't. But a lot of guys are hung out
41:57
with they could. So you could say I can handle
42:00
it. Okay, let me ask you this which
42:01
one of your kids can't handle alcohol.
42:05
And your answer will probably be, I don't know and you'd be
42:08
right and then my response to you is and I don't want to find
42:11
out either. If my kids ever get into
42:14
something, I don't want it to be because of my example.
42:18
To the best of my ability. Certainly not perfect in areas,
42:21
but I don't want it to be my example.
42:23
I don't want anyone to experience the pain that I went
42:25
through or I don't want anyone to have to look someone in the
42:29
eye and see them cry or be in jail or whatever, whatever it
42:34
might be. The first mention of
42:37
drunkenness. There's naked NE sand
42:38
perversity. And now with lat, it's worse.
42:46
Just stay away from him. You can live without it.
42:49
You can even go to my website. I wrote an article on this
42:52
because it was such a big deal when I wrote that and I think I
42:56
titled it. Something like his drinking
42:58
wise. Or is it a sin?
43:00
I think it's drinking a sense at Taylor dot-org and I lay out in
43:06
a much more detailed way that the right question to ask is not
43:10
as drinking a sin but is drinking wise and then I make a
43:14
case of just how wise it is. Unwise, it is, I should say of
43:18
just staying away from Get you, you know, you're not going to
43:21
you're not going to, there's not going to be any sense.
43:23
Staying away from alcohol but the possibilities.
43:28
I mean again, who's the determination of drunkenness,
43:31
anyways, at you Is it me? Is it the state of Colorado .08?
43:37
Is it another state .10? Like one who determines what
43:40
drunkenness is anyways. Let the Lord lead you on this
43:44
sentence, so dis grading, and don't leave room for a.
43:48
Don't give any provision for the Flesh and this is what it says.
43:55
They're in a cave all alone. I mean he at one time couldn't
44:01
find enough room for himself and his Livestock in all that land
44:04
Genesis 13. And now he's confined to a hole
44:08
in a hill, a cave where he had hardly had room to turn around
44:13
with nothing but his two daughters that are twisted in
44:15
their thinking and they've come to conclude that.
44:18
Remember, this is very similar. The thinking is memory, Elijah
44:22
was in a cave depressed and discouraged because of what
44:26
Jezebel had said, remember what he said.
44:28
He said, Said that I'm all alone, it's only me and now,
44:34
Lots daughters. And this is Elijah will be
44:36
later. But here, previous to Elijah W
44:39
daughters, they're in a cave, going.
44:41
We're the only ones here. We're the only ones that can
44:45
create and lead and continue the lineage of our dad because
44:49
everything we lost is in Sodom including mom.
44:55
Caves discouragement depression. Alcohol.
45:02
They just all mixtures for sin, notice what happens in verse 36.
45:09
Thus, both of the daughters of lot were with child by their
45:11
father. They both were in such Ali
45:14
impregnated, the firstborn, bore a son and called his name, Moab.
45:20
He's the father of the moabites to this day.
45:24
And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name.
45:27
Been a me, he's the father of the people of Ammon to this day
45:32
and you Bible students know that the moabites and the ammonites
45:35
will fight Israel. The rest of their lives They
45:39
gave birth to enemies. But again, you guys that are
45:43
Bible students, you can see the grace of God in this because you
45:47
remember a famous moabite asst. Her name is Ruth.
45:55
And so even so as we talk about such things and were forced to
45:59
face our past or maybe even are present today, something you
46:02
need to repent of and you look at your life and you go look at
46:06
what I've done. I'm beyond repair, I'm beyond
46:12
God. Even loving me and caring for
46:14
me. And what am I doing in church?
46:16
And what am I? Why do I have a?
46:18
But why do I even? I am beyond.
46:21
No, no, even in the worst of sin, God can intervene.
46:26
And bring something good, he can work all things together for
46:32
good. And you can't undo the things of
46:37
the past. But you also don't have to live
46:40
in the past. God is ready to deliver you, if
46:44
you would just take the way of Escape, just take the way of
46:47
Escape, even with the Temptation right now to condemn yourself,
46:50
there is therefore now no condemnation in Christ take the
46:53
way of Escape. Even the Temptation is all know,
46:56
God will never love me know. There is a way of Escape.
46:58
God does love you. Sent his only begotten son to
47:01
die for you. So your sins might be forgiven.
47:03
You can live a life free of guilt free of Shame.
47:06
And when the enemy comes against you to try to throw it again,
47:09
Just you and throw it back at you.
47:10
You can hide in Christ and say no, that was the old.
47:15
That was the old you. I'm a New Creation in Christ old
47:20
things have passed away. Behold.
47:21
All things have become new. and even in this whole rific,
47:27
horrific sin of lot of where his family ends up, There is still
47:33
hope. There is still hope in Christ.
47:37
Can I show you what I mean by that?
47:38
Would you turn over to 1st Corinthians?
47:39
13, and Henry, and the team can come back up.
47:43
Just want to read this as they're coming up here.
47:45
Let's just remember the gossip a Love Of Christ.
47:49
Let's just remember if we need to attach this section.
47:52
First Corinthians 13 to a person.
47:55
We need to attach these truths to our own lives.
47:58
We need to put them the banner, over our life.
48:01
The enemy's been condemning you pressing in against you.
48:05
You got drunk and party. Last night, you found yourself
48:08
in trouble because you decided to go that way.
48:10
And this way, listen, this is what the word of the Lord says,
48:14
in verse 4. First Corinthians, 13, love
48:18
suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy.
48:22
Love does not parade itself. Is not puffed up.
48:26
Verse 5. Love does not behave.
48:27
Rudely does not seek its own is not provoked and thinks no evil.
48:32
Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the
48:35
truth. And listen, verse 7, love bears,
48:38
all. Things believes all things and
48:40
read those next one with me hopes, all things.
48:43
I mean, I'm going to lead you up to that.
48:45
I want you to read that phrase with me, Bears, all things
48:47
believes all things. Say it all out.
48:49
Hopes all things, endures all things, love, never fails.
48:56
So, let that resonate in you today, whether you need it now
48:58
or in the future, love hopes, all things.
49:02
You're not Beyond repair the blood of Jesus Christ could
49:06
forgive even that. And if you have yet to send like
49:10
maybe you're planning something right now, you know, you're
49:12
planning sin, you're planning your thinking about what you can
49:15
get away with how close to the edge you can, before you fall
49:18
off. Listen, repent.
49:20
Now just stay away from the edge.
49:24
Come back seek to lose your life.
49:27
So you might gain it in Christ and let lat you let lot be a
49:32
warning to you but also obey Jesus.
49:35
Okay you remember, Lot's wife. Jesus doesn't say remember lot
49:42
says, you remember, Lot's wife. And from Lot's wife, you'll be
49:46
able to remember that whole family, knowing that God is
49:50
abundantly gracious and merciful even in judgment.
49:53
There's mercy. So father I pray for those that
49:55
might be experiencing the consequences of their sin right
49:58
now that even in consequences, there's Mercy I think of the
50:03
Judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah and yet even in the Judgment
50:06
there's Mercy. I think of a lot going to Seoul
50:10
or and then he finally gets to the mountains and he hides in a
50:13
cave and there's all of the drunkenness.
50:16
All. I mean they didn't have
50:17
anything, but they found money for for alcohol. and, and all of
50:24
that word, I just Even in judgment there's Mercy because
50:30
even with the moabites you could turn it around with Ruth.
50:37
So, I just pray for that work. God, that turning things around
50:41
and not even not even just this rank sin, like w, but the
50:44
Believers Among Us, That that are compromising that are
50:49
holding back on you Lord that are withdrawing or resisting or
50:55
walking away running away. Wandering away from you.
51:00
I pray that you would bring them back with your cords of love.
51:05
Just just in a real way. God, real substantive change.
51:11
Not just because we got busted Lord, not just because you know
51:17
we had some Bible study. But because of your love for us,
51:22
you're worthy of our surrender and sacrifice to you.
51:27
And Lord, even those it, nobody needs to get busted to make
51:31
great change. Nobody needs to be in a place,
51:38
or a position. Of guilt and shame to repent.
51:44
And so, if you're here tonight, I would just invite you to
51:46
repent, believe on the Lord. Jesus Christ, for the
51:50
Forgiveness of your sins. Give him your life. this theme
51:56
we've been since the last weekend, two weeks ago, we
51:59
introduced that song re surrender It's like a word that
52:03
replaces rededicate really, I like it better than rededicate.
52:08
That sense of Risa render offering yourself to the Lord.
52:12
Presenting yourself a Living Sacrifice.
52:15
I mean, it's a word. If you want to see Revival, it's
52:17
going to start on our own hearts.
52:20
If we want to see what God wants to revive your walk with him, he
52:23
wants to revive your marriage. He wants to revive your
52:26
singleness, he wants to revive your faith.
52:29
He wants to revive your Purity. You think about what needs and
52:33
the life that had life before and he like he is ready.
52:37
Are you ready to surrender and to re surrender and to press in
52:42
and to choose to obey him don't respond.
52:45
I cannot don't respond. I will not but rather respond.
52:51
Here I Am Lord. I've sent.
52:56
Against a holy and righteous God.
53:01
I've sinned, David said not. I cannot, I will not, but I've
53:05
sent Freedom or in those words. Anyone here?
53:10
That would say, yes said I need to follow Jesus, would you just
53:15
stand to your feet? I want to pray with.
53:16
You want to pray that the Holy Spirit you would respond to the
53:21
work of the Holy Spirit. God bless you guys.
53:23
I recognize on the radio on on the online or downstairs I don't
53:27
see you so you don't get a God bless you or an acknowledgment
53:29
but I'm telling you God acknowledges you and he sees
53:33
you. But we like to acknowledge in
53:35
the room, just see, you know, the holy spirit is moving even
53:38
when there's nobody responded, God is always moving.
53:41
He's always at work and God just loves you so much.
53:45
He's drawing it to himself. It's time to come.
53:49
It's time to obey its tight like because you can leave here and
53:52
do the same old religious nonsense.
53:54
You've been living all this time and get to the same end, but it
53:57
gets worse, doesn't it? It gets worse.
54:01
It just doesn't get better without substantive repentance
54:05
and change Godly sorrow and so you guys are responding bless
54:12
you as well. Just just ask God to forgive you
54:15
if you re surrendering just say it or I'm back, I wear what's
54:19
happening. I'm back if you prayed to
54:21
receive Jesus for the first time that admit that you've sinned
54:23
against him, say God, I've sinned against you and ask you
54:27
to forgive me of all of my sins, I believe you sent Jesus to
54:31
live. And died for me.
54:33
He rose again from the dead. I follow him with all of my
54:37
life. And just affirm that in your
54:42
life. God, this is a high and holy
54:43
moment and so Byron. You're over here.
54:47
Can you pray for them? Who else?
54:50
Andy right here? And then I just need one more,
54:53
one, more person, one more person.
54:55
Someone Randy, come on up. I see you.
54:58
So there's three right here. You guys are downstairs.
55:00
Come up after the service because we can't see you down
55:03
there. And I'm just going to
55:06
acknowledge everyone, that's by a distance.
55:09
I just want you guys. I feel, I feel a real burden
55:12
that you need to know physically, you're not alone.
55:16
So there's a hand on your shoulder or there's a presence
55:18
next to you. Physically, you're not alone.
55:21
It's not just spiritually, but it's physically.
55:25
Like, maybe I just feel I just get this picture.
55:27
Like, some of your, some of the difficulty in your life, has
55:30
been because of people. And so, God is a speaking to
55:33
you. Right now, I got this like this
55:35
vision of, you know, a time when it was just Barren and empty and
55:41
nobody was there. And now it's just filled with
55:44
people, like maybe it was, it's a room, just filled with people
55:49
but you're in that room. So, just let the tangible Touch
55:53
of that Pastor, that older Minister T right now.
55:59
And those of us just need to be reminded of the touch of the
56:03
Lord, in our lives, his faithfulness, his care and
56:08
concern for us, we pray that you've been encouraged by this
56:12
Bible. Study delivered live from the
56:14
sanctuary of Calvary Church for prayer, call us at 877, 30
56:19
Grace. That's eight 77304, 2:53 to
56:26
listen to this message in its entirety, or to join us for our
56:29
Live stream Services. Visit us online at Calvary Co
56:33
dot church or download our free Calvary Church app be blessed as
56:38
you worship Jesus this week. Live stream Services.
56:30
Visit us online at Calvary Co dot church or download our free
56:36
Calvary Church app be blessed as you worship Jesus this week.