Lot's Road to Destruction

Lot’s Road to Destruction

Genesis 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we [be] brethren. 9 [Is] not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if [thou wilt take] the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if [thou depart] to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it [was] well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [even] as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched [his] tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom [were] wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

I. Lot started out by Looking toward Sodom (Gen. 13:10) Daniel 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

A. No Altars: The Bible does not record Lot to use a single altar while he was in Sodom. We know he was a believer because Peter calls him a just or a righteous man. But he got into trouble because he did not worship God out there on his own.

B. No Accountability After he left Abraham, Lot had no accountability to help him stay on the right path. So, it was easy to fall into foolishness in Sodom. Too many young people leave their homes before they should and get out there alone. They don't even realize that that is exactly where Satan wants them, outside the protection of their family. The Bible says that the time to leave home is when you get married. Too many leave too soon.

II. Leaned toward Sodom. When you look in a certain direction, you will lean that way. (Gen. 13:12) Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].

A. Fortify (put on the armor) God's answer in Rom. 13:14 is to put on Jesus Christ. The only way to win against fleshly temptation is to clothe ourselves with the character of Jesus.

B. Flee (run away) You are not strong enough to fight fleshly temptations. You must run. That is how you fight them. . . run!

C. Fulfill God’s desires (not fleshly desires) But it is not enough to only run from temptation. You need to run to God in His service. When you are serving God, there is a lot less temptation that when you are just sitting around. "Idle hands are the Devil's playground."

III. Living in Sodom You look, then you lean, you will eventually live there. (Gen. 14:12) Genesis 14:11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

A. Real Practicalities in the World The fact is that we live in the World. We cannot change that. But we must not live like the World. We are in the World but not of the World. John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

B. Reliance on Power of the World. Lot began to rely on Sodom. This drew him closer and closer to sin and farther and farther from the Savior. Genesis 14:11-12

C. Reluctant Punishment of the Worldly Christian God punished the people of Sodom for their wickedness. He was trying to warn them before the final destruction came. Even though Lot was not like them in his sin, he was so close to them that he got in trouble with the Sodomites. They were all taken hostage by the war.

D. Repentance and Purity from Worldliness God called Lot out of Sodom, because he was not like them. He was a believer. True believers in God really do not mix with the unbelievers. But Lot did not realize that God had been calling Lot out of Sodom long before the fire fell. Today and in the future, the call of God is still the same to the carnal Christian. Come out from her and be ye separate saith the Lord. Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

IV. Leading Sinners Lot thought he could influence Sodom for good by leading them. But that did not work.

A. Expected Leadership Lot was in the Gate because he was acting like a judge. This was where the judges of the day sat. Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

B. Rejected Leadership When it came down to it, the world always rejects the child of God. Genesis 19:9 And they said, Stand back. And they said [again], This one [fellow] came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, [even] Lot, and came near to break the door.

He was trying to lead the wrong people.

Instead of leading the family that God gave him, he was trying to lead the world’s fools.

November 20, 2009sn

by Pastor Andrew Grosjean