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Introduction:
One of the greatest tragedies in all the Word of God is the story of Lot and his family. I think this story has some of the strongest lessons for us of anything in the Word of God.
Sermon on worldliness are rare these days. The new word is secularism --
I am convinced that many people who call themselves worldly Christians are not Christians at all. Christ said -- My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. (Jh 10:17) A sheep may fall into a mud hole but is not satisfied to stay there. “The Lord knoweth them that are his.” (II Tim. 2:19) and I am glad that he does, otherwise some of them would be pretty hard to identify.The same verse goes on to declare “that all who claim to be the Lord’s should depart from iniquity.”
“When I see a bird that talks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, paddles in the water like a duck, and prefers the company of ducks, I conclude that it must be a duck.” You see birds of a feather flock together, and where we feel most at home is where we will be and where we belong.
I. LOT “LOOKED” TOWARD SODOM, Gen. 13:10-13
A. He beheld the watered plains -- vs. 10
B. He choose the watered plains -- vs. 12
C. He dwelt in this place of wickedness and degradation!
1. His choice was based on the eye-gate, or what he saw.
2. His decision was based on what looked appealing, desirous
Compare with -- Achan who -- saw, coveted, took;
Eve -- who saw, desired, took
Moses -- who saw, rejected the world for he had his eyes upon God
(Heb. 12:1-2; I Jh 2:15-17)
II. LOT “LEANED” TOWARD SODOM: vs. 12
Moving that direction, he pitched his tent toward Sodom. He moved gradually toward dwelling there. He must have known what God said about it; “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.” 13:13
His thoughts were such that he probably gradually talked himself into the idea. “It isn’t really that bad. We can live there, get the best out of it and not be effected. We are reminded of Peter’s downward steps..... boastful, neglected prayer, ignored Christ’s warning. .. followed afar off.... was in bad company and denied His Savior
III. LOT “LIVED” IN SODOM: 14:12
A. Sodom suited Lot, but not God. He was willing to have his righteous soul - vexed from day to
day (II Pet. 2:7-8) Lot gradually dabbled with sin and compromise.
B. Lot probably desired - position, prestige (mayor) business opportunities, gain, (19:1 -- )
C. You will notice -- there was --
1. no altar, compared with 13:18 -- Abraham,
2. no sacrifice, no worship,
3. no love for God like his uncle Abraham
4. God spoke to Abraham... special blessing, 13:14-18
IV. LOT “LOST” HIS TESTIMONY: 19:14
PARENTHESIS -- God (chap 18) let Abraham know that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham interceded for Lot’s sake.
A. God commanded Lot and family to leave Sodom: 19:12-26
God was going to destroy the city, area... for evil that was lived there.
B. Lot lived there at least 16 years -- did not have a witness, never won anyone! Lost testimony
C. Lost joy -- vexed soul -- Lot tormented!
D. Lost his whole family ; lost his honor!
1. Abraham quit praying at 10 for he felt surely Lot - his wife, children, married, etc., there would be more than 10 -- and God would spare it for Lot’s sake.
2. Lot’s children -- “But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.”
3. The angels urged them to hurry -- to flee -- 19:15-17
E. Lot was powerless --
1. no influence over the people of Sodom,
2. no influence over his married children,
3. no power or influence to save his wife,
4. no influence over any of his family.
V. LOT “LEARNED” SIN IN SODOM: 19:30--
A. Fell into sin in Sodom; He fell into habits and practice of evils of Sodom;
B. Left behind the fruit of his own backsliding;
1. compromised with the world
2. compromised with sin, ( sordid story of his two single daughters -- in cave, etc.)
3. Where would they get wine-- in a cave --had to have brought it with him.
C. Lot had absorbed the world’s life-style:
1. He embraced the world in his heart, For he did not have a yielded eye --heart --no purified affections.
2. Lot’s HEART -- Prov. 4:23; I Jh 2:1-517
a. He was not right and his affections were not controlled by the Lord,
b. what he was inside -- was manifested by what he lived;
c. worldliness was already there before he arrived at Sodom and Gomorrah and that is why he went there.
e. The crisis with herds with his uncle Abraham revealed what was in his heart. There we see his priorities, his values, his goals for his purposes of life are clearly seen.
VI. LOT “LOST” EVERYTHING GOOD IN SODOM:
A. He lost all that he lived for --
1. materialism - things - honor - riches,
2. position - fame - fortune,
3. family, wife, children - grand-children.
B. He left Sodom with only his salvation:
I Pet 1:3-5; he was saved so as by fire... with nothing...
VII. LOT “LESSONS” TO US -- AS GIVEN BY CHRIST:
A. We have been saved out of the world -- Jh 17:6; Gal. 1:4; I Jh 2:15-17
B. We are still in the world -- Jh 17:11
1. So we still live in its house, trades in its stores, mix with its people.
2. He would keep us from evil -- 17:15 -- while we are in the world. Christ associated with the world but had no fellowship with it. He is an example for us! He commands us to
come out of the world. Consider also I John 2:15-17.
C. We are not to be of this world (John 17:14, 16)
1. He repeated this.
When the boat is in the water -- that is one matter but when the water is in the boat, that is something else. To be in the world is one thing but the for the world to be in us... its priorities, purposes, etc. controlling us is quite another thing. Especially serious is worldly living. (See II Corinthians 6:14-17.)
2. We are not to be conformed to this world! Rom. 12:1,2
3. James 1:27 tells us to keep yourselves unspotted from the world.
4. We are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness -- Eph. 5:11
5. We are to deny ungodliness and worldly lust... live soberly, righteously, godly in this present
world... Titus 2:12
Alexander McLaren said; “The measure of our discord with the world is the measure of our accord with Christ.
Gypsy Smith said: “If you are in with God, you are at outs with this world.”
Dr. G. Campbell Morgan said: “The world hates Christian people, that is, if they see Christ in them. The measure in which the world agrees with us and says we are really a fine type of Christian., is the measure in which we are unlike Christ.” Christ said -- Jh 15:18-19
D. We are sent into the world -- to be a witness,to be salt and light -- to lead others to Christ.
1. We are to sanctify ourselves -- Jh. 17:17; II Cor. 7:1; compared with Joshua 3:5
2. We are to yield to Christ as Lord -- Rom. 14:9. 6:13; II Cor. 5:14-15
Sermon by Dr. Edward Watke Jr.---- Revival in the Home Ministries, Inc.