Sermon Central
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How The End Begins
Contributed by Monte Brown on Oct 25, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: There is a danger when we get to close to sin. It all starts when we pitch our tents toward Sodom.
Introduction
How does a person end up with their lives in a mess.
They feel that they have failed.
Their marriage is ruined.
Their finances are in trouble.
They have lost their job.
They feel all alone.
If you throw a ball straight up in the air when does it start to come down?
If a nation begins to build an empire, when does that empire begin to decline?
When does the Sun or the Moon begin to set?
When does the wind blowing from the east reach the west?
When does power begin to dissipate?
When does desire turn to lust and lust to sin?
Turn with me to Genesis 13:5-12 as we stand and I read from the Word of God.
Scripture
5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; 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.
Prayer
I. Pitching His Tent Toward Sodom
This made good sense, to the natural mind.
Plenty of provisions but a discernable distance between he and the world.
You have to interact with the World.
His position toward Sodom would place him in position to be a witness to the inhabitants.
As God blessed him, the world would be able to see it, and would come and ask How and Why giving him great influence with the people.
He could demonstrate that being one of God’s does not make one a dangerous extremist.
Just look at all the people I could lead to the Lord!
II. Pitching His Tent Toward Sodom
This allowed the brilliant prospects of the immediate to blind him to the ultimate and unavoidable conclusion.
He thought that he was strong enough to withstand the temptations.
He thought he could protect his children from their influence.
III. Pitching His Tent Toward Sodom
This began Lot’s decline.
His wife was a pillar of salt in the valley below.
All of his earthly goods, his home, his wealth, his flocks, his prestige lay buried in the ashes of fire and brimstone.
One day he woke up on the side of a mountain from a drunken stupor.
Each of his daughters carried his child.
Now there was going to be two nations that would rise up against God’s promised nation.
And it all started on the day when he pitched his tent toward Sodom.
He had had it all!
IV. Application - We are No Different from Lot.
A. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we go to church for spiritual
things but go to the world for entertainment.
B. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we go to church for spiritual
advice but go to the world for other advice.
C. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we go to church to get
spiritual and to the world to get fashionable.
D. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our Message from the
Bible but our Method from the World.
E. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our vision from the
Bible but our Priorities from the World.
F. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our focus from the
Bible but our motivation from the World.
G. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we set our standards from the
Bible, but our behavior from the Flesh.
H. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our Commission from
the Scriptures but our Resources from the flesh.
I. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our song lyrics from
