Intro: I can remember growing up, every night at 7:00 PM we would all come into the living room and gather around the TV. Bob Barker -- before the Price is Right was around -- would come on a show called “Truth or consequences.” He would get contestants who had to answer three riddles, and if they couldn’t give the answer, they would pay the consequences and have to do some ridiculously funny stunts. We laughed a lot while watching that show, but the truth remains, that for every action in our lives, there are consequences. And they are not always funny.
God speaks about that in Galatians 6:7. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Now, I’ll have to admit, I’ve questioned that verse. You see, a year ago, I planted some squash, and I planted some cantaloupe. Yet, what ended up being produced was a mix of something in between. Yet, I guess in all actuality, God’s word was still right, for I planted squash and cantaloupe, and that’s what I got, squash and cantaloupe.
This morning, my question for each one of us is this: what are we planting in our lives, and what will be the consequences. I’ve share with you before, the perfect garden to plant. But, I’ll share it again.
For best results, this garden should be planted every day:
Five rows of “P”eas:
Preparedness,
Promptness,
Perseverance,
Politeness,
Prayer,
Three rows of squash:
Squash gossip,
Squash criticism,
Squash indifference,
Five rows of lettuce:
Let us love one another,
Let us be faithful,
Let us be loyal,
Let us be unselfish,
Let us be truthful.
Three rows of turnips:
Turn up for church
Turn up with a new idea,
Turn up with the determination to do a
better job tomorrow than you did today.
What are we planting in our lives. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” This morning, as we talk about Abraham, we want to talk about consequences.
I. Consequences of Hospitality - READ Genesis 18:1-16
We see Abraham was a man of great hospitality. But we see that there was a cost involved for him. He had to pay a price for his hospitality. And so will we.
A. The Cost -
*he had to give up his free time / relaxation - in verse 1, we see that God comes while Abraham is sitting in the entrance of his tent. He was sitting down relaxing. In our culture, he might have been kicked back in his Lazy Boy recliner, had his shoes off, and a cup of iced tea in his hand.
-sometimes we don’t like showing hospitality because it interferes with our own agendas. There are so many other things we want to do for ourselves, that we don’t like to think about doing nice things for others. Yesterday, as we went shopping, Ronda said to me, “Let’s see how many people we can show kindness and the love of Christ to as we go shopping today.”
*he had to give up his convenience - not only was this cutting into his free time, but it was in the hottest part of the day. It was time for a siesta. Nobody was up moving around. No wonder he was lying down in his tent. It was hot! We think it gets hot here, but think what it’s like in the heat of the day in Israel! Yet Abraham was willing to get up to show hospitality.
-did you ever notice how company shows up when you don’t have anything extra prepared. You have just enough steaks for your family, and here comes someone right about supper time. No one comes to visit when you’ve got a big bowl of vegetable soup. Yet, showing hospitality means being willing to go the extra mile to minister to the needs of others.
*It involved an urgency on Abraham’s part - vs. 2 - as soon as Abraham sees them, he hurries to meet them. If a visitor comes to church, do you rush to be the first to greet them, or do you figure sooner or later someone else will introduce them to you so you don’t need to worry. Abraham shows urgency in providing hospitality.
*It also involves servanthood - Abraham humbles himself before them and makes himself their servant. Hospitality is not about inviting others over to your house so you can brag about yourself. A good host always spends much time in conversation about the guest. You want your guest to know you really care about them.
*It involves an invitation. Sometimes we have the idea that if anyone wants to stop by our house they’re always welcome. Yet, people won’t stop by unless they’re invited. You could say, “why every Sunday we always fix two extra portions.” Unless you make the invitation, no one will benefit from the hospitality. Abraham offers water, food, and rest.
*It involves going the extra mile. Look at verse 16. Now, sometimes we excel at seeing people on their way. But that’s not always good! Abraham could have let them go their way, but he goes with them a short distance. He extends the hospitality a little longer than necessary.
Now, you might think that our sermon for this morning is on hospitality. And partially it is, if that’s an area where you need to improve. But it’s really about consequences. What consequence does Abraham reap for his hospitality?
B. Consequences - Look first of all at verse 10 -
*blessing - Abraham is promised a son
*knowledge - look at verse 17-18 - God gives special information to Abraham.
Why does Abraham receive these special blessings? In part, because he is a righteous man and loves God. Yet, I think his receiving them on that particular day have a direct relationship to his hospitality. If he had not been hospitable, these angels might have gone right past him without stopping. After all, they are on their way to Sodom, not just coming to visit Abraham.
What blessings will you miss if you fail to be hospitable? There are many people who have much to offer to us in the way of friendship, encouragement, support, and blessing, but they never open up to us in public; it takes a more intimate setting. Often it’s not until we have people relaxed in our homes that they can let down their guards and be themselves. There are great blessings for our lives for having hospitality.
II. Consequences of Intercession -
Do you know what it means to plead with God? Abraham did. Let’s read 16-33.
Abraham knows Lot, his nephew, is in Sodom, and he pleads for the protection of the city.
A. The cost - what is the cost? It is a willingness to question God. Abraham is bold enough to ask God if he might change his plans. Throughout his pleadings, Abraham appeals to the justice of God. Abraham asks him to act in accordance with his character.
So often when we plead with God, we end up asking for God do do things against his character. We pray, God, won’t you please give me a new sportscar. I know it probably isn’t good for me, but just this once!” What does God tell us - to ask according to his will.
Rather, when we pray, we need to plead based on the mercy and justice of God. “God, please give me another chance to witness to my unsaved neighbor.” God, I know I blew it with my boss today. Please let the opportunity come for me to apologize and share a witness of my faith.” Yet, often we don’t want to pray that way.
*It also costs Abraham persistence. He wasn’t about to give up. He asks God 6 different times for God to lower the minimum number of godly followers needed to spare the city. He goes from 50 - 45 - 40 - 30 - 20 - 10. He finally thought, well Lot’s got a wife, two daughters, son’s in law - he must surely have had an influence on two or three others in that town.
B. The Consequences - As a result of Abraham’s pleading, God agrees to spare the city if 10 righteous people could be found. Sodom is not destroyed because it was a terribly wicked city. Rather it is destroyed because Lot had not convinced his family to follow the Lord and he had not influenced a handful of others. It would have been spared if just 10 godly people were found.
*What is the consequence of Abraham’s pleading? God is merciful to Lot because of his uncle Abraham. Look at 19:29 - It is because of Abraham he receives mercy.
III. Consequences of Bad Influences -
In chapter 19, we see the account of the angels coming down, meeting Lot, and going into his house. The men of the city all come out, and the angels strike them with blindness, and warn Lot to gather his family and flee the city.
*The change - What is the change that has come about as a result of bad influences.
We touched on this a little bit two weeks ago. Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan for himself, and at first he pitched his tent towards Sodom. Now he has moved into the city, and he has a house there. We see also in this chapter that he is sitting in the city gates as a judge. He has gotten into the local politics, although the people of the city resent him for it.
Yet, look at the men of this city. All the men come out to do unnatural things with these visitors to Lot’s house. Not only is there a perversion of sexual relationships in this city, but look at the low integrity of Lot. In verse 8 he offers his daughters to them. In verse 14, we see Lot has lost integrity with his sons in law - they think he is only joking.
-we see Lot is slow to obey God. Even though he still follows God, look in verse 16 - the angels literally have to pull him away so he is not destroyed.
-we see also he argues with God’s mercy. He is to flee to the mountains so he will not be destroyed, but he even complains about that. He says “that’s too far.” And God gives in.
##woman - son taken in Tornado - prays - son plopped down - “He had a hat too!”
Lot has been influenced by living in Sodom too long.
B. The consequence - As a result of it’s wickedness, we see God’s judgment falls. Remember that people had been crying out against the city. God doesn’t always bring judgment right away, but sooner or later, judgment comes. The city is overthrown. The entire plain is destroyed and the vegetation as well. Lot’s wife is destroyed because she fails to obey the commands of the angels.
*The consequences of sin are great.
##What sin is their in your life this morning? You might not have faced the judgment yet, but it is only a matter of time. I would encourage you to think what’s coming and to quickly repent and seek the forgiveness of the Lord.
IV. The Consequences of a poor family life.
We already alluded to some of the failure Lot made in his family. Remember he raised his family in a wicked town. And he did not make a great spiritual impact on his children.
If you are too busy for your kids, I guarantee you that Satan will be glad to give them all the time in the world. And I remind you that our job as parents does not end when they move out of the house. It continues as long as we or they are still alive.
A. Choices - Let’s see what Lot’s daughters learned.
-Situation Ethics - 19:8 - they see their father is willing to sacrifice their purity for the sake of appeasing the townspeople. What a dad!
-19:30 - they flee to the mountains, for they are afraid to stay in Zoar. Lot realizes his choices with the angel were not good, and now he leaves the town he had asked to stay in.
-19:31 - Lot’s daughters want to be like the “customs” of others. They don’t find their truth from God, but from the customs of everyone else. Do you know anyone like this -- the basis of decision making is “what is everyone else doing?”
-19:33 - they choose to manipulate their father for their personal benefit. They get him drunk, have sex with him, and then repeat the act again.
B. Consequences - As a result, two sons are born: Ammon and Moab. These were the fathers of the Moabites and Ammonites people groups. These were wicked nations that were commanded to be destroyed. In 1 Kings 11 we see they were idolatrous nations - On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites.
*Do you remember back in January we talked about Molech - the idol that was worshipped by parents throwing their living babies into a burning fire as a living sacrifice.
-what is the consequence of Lot’s daughters sin: a people who plague the Jews by their sinful, idolatrous actions and eventually come back to bring that sinfulness into the nation of Israel.
Concl: There are consequences for every action. Sometimes we fail to admit it. Sometimes God is gracious and does not judge us at once. Yet, sooner or later judgment will come. Remember we started off with the example of Abraham. Blessing is the consequence of obedience. And with Lot we see, judgment is the consequence of sin.
This morning, would you like a life of blessing or judgment. I remind you of the verse in Galatians 6:7. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
What are you sowing? What will you reap?
Prayer - Altar Call
