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NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!
WHERE IS YOUR TENT PITCHED?
GENESIS 13:1-13
INTRODUCTION
Life is made up of decisions.
Some decisions are minor and affect our lives very little.
(What will we wear? What will we eat?)
Some decisions are major and have a great impact on our lives.
(What will we do with Jesus? Where will we go to college? Who will we marry?)
Each decision that we make has a bearing on our future.
Each of us can look back at decisions that changed our direction in life.
Some of those decisions were right decisions–Trusting Christ.
Some of those decisions were wrong decisions.
Many times we look at decisions that need to be made and ponder as to what the outcome will be.
Our Decisions Are Determined By Our Desires.
Exp–When choosing what kind of food to eat our desires determine our decisions.
1. Is my desire for taste?
2. Is my desire for health?
What about conflicting desires? The stronger desire will usually win out.
Our Desires Are Determined By Our Devotions.
Exp–
1. Am I committed to enjoy life right now? or
2. Am I committed to long-term good health?
The life of Lot stands out to remind us of the importance of decision making and the error of leaving God out of our decision making process.
I. LOT WAS WEAK IN HIS DEVOTIONS.
A. Lot’s Soul Was Saved By Grace Through Faith.
1. Peter calls Lot “That righteous man. . .”
I don’t know about you, but when I think of the life of Lot, righteous is not exactly the word that comes to the forefront of my mind.
2. Peter says that Lot “vexed his righteous soul. . .”
3. Lot was no doubt taught by Uncle Abraham the ways of the Lord.
Genesis 15:6 says of Abraham –“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
Lot had to have come to the LORD by faith in the same way because the Scripture plainly teaches in Hebrews 11:6–“But without faith it is impossible to please Him.”
4. At some point in his life Lot was saved the same way Uncle Abraham was saved and the way each of us is saved--that is, by grace through faith!
Titus 3:5–“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost”
Lot’s Soul Was Saved By Grace Through Faith.
B. Lot Was Self-Sufficient And Self–Devoted. (Genesis 13:3-5)
1. The Scripture Declares That Abram Had An Altar And Called On The Name Of The LORD. (Vs 3-4)
a. Abraham Was Dependent On The LORD.
God had promised to bless him and he rested in those promises not on his own choices.
b. Abraham Was Devoted To The LORD.
1. Abraham had an altar in verse 4 before Lot departed.
2. Abraham had an altar in verse 18 after Lot departed.
2. There Is No Mention About Lot Having An Altar Or Calling On The Name Of The Lord.
a. Where Was Lot’s Dependence?–On Self! (Verse 10-11)
We see no prayer about the decision, only selfish reasoning!
We need to be careful about making decisions with our flesh!
Paul said in Romans 7:18–“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth not good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
b. Where Was Lot’s Devotion?–To Self!
We see no acknowledgment of God, only selfish desire!
Could it be that Lot equated earthly prosperity with being in God’s will?
Psalm 37:4–5
LOT WAS WEAK IN HIS DEVOTIONS.
II. LOT WAS WORLDLY IN HIS DESIRES.
His choice of direction in life was guided by his senses when it should have been directed by the LORD!
His philosophy was similar to the “If it feels good, do it!” philosophy of our day.
A. Lot Lifted Up His Eyes, But Not High Enough! (Vs 10)
1. He Beheld The Material Things.
He saw what satisfied his desires–The Plain Of Jordan.
The plain of Jordan appealed to Lot’s desire–worldly prosperity.
Lot made a financial decision not a spiritual decision.
2. He Should Have Beheld The Spiritual Things.
He should have lifted his eyes up to God to find God’s will for his life.
B. Lot Chose For Himself. (vs 11)
1. He no doubt thought he was choosing success.
2. He had the wrong definition of success.
According to Joshua 1:8 and Psalms 1:2-3, true success and prosperity are found in delighting in, meditating in, and obeying the Word of God.
3. He left out the One Who alone could help him succeed.
C. Lot Pitched His Tent Toward Sodom. (Vs 12-13)
Lot’s problem was that he didn’t hate evil like he should have.
Amos 5:15–“Hate the evil, and love the good”
Romans 12:9–“. . .Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
III. LOT WAS WRONG IN HIS DECISIONS.
Lot Was Wrong To Selfishly Choose For Himself.
Lot Was Wrong To Separate From Abraham.
Lot Was Wrong To Pitch His Tent Toward Sodom.
Lot Was Wrong To Eventually Move To Sodom.
His Wrong Decisions Caused Him To Wrong Others:
A. He Wronged God.
When we sin, it is primarily against God!
1. He Wronged God In Not Seeking His Counsel. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
2. He Wronged God By A Poor Testimony.
B. He Wronged Abraham.
Lot had the blessings of God in his life because of Abraham.
Lot was wrong to separate himself from the righteous influence that brought him to the LORD.
C. He Wronged His Family.
He eventually took his family out of Sodom, but he couldn’t take Sodom out of his family. The influence lived on.
1. His Wife. (Genesis 19:17, 26)
2. His Children. (Genesis 19:31-38)
If you give your children over to the world, the flesh, and the devil while they are young, most likely you’ll reap dividends of heartache, sorrow, and woe.
D. He Wronged Himself. (2 Peter 2:7-8)
1. 2 Peter 2:7–“vexed” means to wear down with toil.
He was spiritually worn down. He was no match for the world.
2. 2 Peter 2:8–“vexed” means to torment.
We as Christians cannot remain comfortable living under the influence of the world and its wickedness–God won’t allow it.
E. He Wronged Sodom (The World). (Genesis 19:9, 14)
Sodom had more influence on Lot than Lot had on Sodom.
Lot lost his testimony because of his wrong decisions.
Conclusion
Where is your tent pitched Mom and Dad?
Wrong decisions are based on wrong desires, wrong desires are based upon wrong devotions.
What or who are you really devoted to?
Job?, Hobbies?, Recreation?, Possessions? Self? Or,
Jesus Christ, The Bible, Church.
Tell me what you do with your time, talent, and treasure and I’ll tell you what you are devoted to.
Where is your tent pitched Young People?
Wrong decisions are based on wrong desires, wrong desires are based upon wrong devotions.
What or who are you really devoted to?
Friends?, Pleasure?, Self?
Galatians 6:7-8--“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!