The Trip to Sodom. B. They were going there to give the people of the city one more chance

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Jeremy Simmons
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1 The Trip to Sodom I. Introduction and review A. As we left chapter 18, the two angels who had come with Jesus to visit Abraham were on their way to the city of Sodom B. They were going there to give the people of the city one more chance C. But that is not the trip with which we need to concern ourselves D. The trip of which we will speak first starts in chapter Consider 2. Abraham and Lot separate (as God had instructed Abraham from the very first) 3. Lot pitches his tent and his fortunes toward the city of Sodom (living out side of the gates) 4. Does he know who they are and what they do? 5. Read again verse 13, they both knew E. Then the trip continues in chapter Consider 14:12 2. Now Lot and his family are living in the city of Sodom II. The final leg of this trip is found in Chapter 19 A. Then look at verse 1 1. They found Lot sitting at the gate of the city 2. What does that mean? 3. The gate of the city was where civil disputes were settled, governmental Page 1 of 9

2 decisions were made, real estate records were kept, where important business transactions were completed or closed. 4. It appears that Lot was involved in some or all of these activities 5. Consider verse Lot was going to allow his daughters to marry from among the men of Sodom 7. What a great father B. Why would Lot allow himself and his family to become involved to this extent 1. Some combination of: money, position, power or prestige 2. Consider: 2 Peter 2:7-8 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men 8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), 3. There s an old Scottish proverb that says: its hard to lure a mouse out of the corncrib, as long as there s still corn in there. C. Now consider Psa. 1:1 1. We ve looked at this before 2. There is a progression from walking, to standing, to sitting with the unrighteous 3. At each step you become more involved and drawn into the morass of sin 4. Consider what Lot did: a. he first lived near Sodom b. then he moved into the city Page 2 of 9

3 c. then he became involved with its city government 5. Did it have any effect on Lot s morality a. Consider verse 8 b. What kind of a father does that c. Some say that this offer was made with Lot knowing they would reject it so his daughters were not really at risk d. If that is what he thought, what purpose was there in making such an offer D. How do we prevent that in our own lives and those who we can effect 1. Recognize what Lot did this is a warning sign 2. He compromised on spiritual issues and values 3. At each opportunity he would compromise a little more 4. How can you avoid compromise 5. By having the strength of faith to say no to compromise 6. Is it quantity or quality when it comes to faith 7. Consider Heb. 11:1 a. What are the two key words in that passage b. Assurance and conviction c. Assurance (1) u`po,stasij hupostasis {hoop-os'-tas-is} (a) Meaning: 1) a setting or placing under 1a) thing put under, substructure, foundation 2) that which has foundation, is firm 2a) that which has actual Page 3 of 9

4 existence 2a1) a substance, real being 2b) the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing 2c) the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution 2c1) confidence, firm trust, assurance (b) origin: i) i[sthmi histemi {his'-tay-mee} Meaning: 1) to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set 1a) to bid to stand by, [set up] 1a1) in the presence of others, in the midst, before judges, before members of the Sanhedrin; 1a2) to place 1b) to make firm, fix establish 1b1) to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place 1b2) to stand, be kept intact (of family, a kingdom), to escape in safety 1b3) to establish a thing, cause it to stand 1b31) to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything 1c) to set or place in a balance 1c1) to weigh: money to one (because in very early times before the introduction of coinage, the metals used to be weighed) 2) to stand 2a) to stand by or near 2a1) to stop, stand still, to stand immovable, stand firm 2a1a) of the foundation of a building 2b) to Page 4 of 9

5 stand 2b1) continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared 2b2) to be of a steadfast mind 2b3) of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver ii) u`po, hupo {hoop-o'} Meaning: 1) by, under (2) assurance : the state of being assured: as a : security b : a being certain in the mind <the puritan's assurance of salvation> c : confidence of mind or manner : easy freedom from self-doubt or uncertainty; also : excessive selfconfidence : brashness, presumption : something that inspires or tends to inspire confidence <gave repeated assurances of goodwill d. Conviction (1) e;legcoj elegchos {el'-eng-khos} (a) Meaning: 1) a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested 2) conviction (b) Origin: from evle,gcw elegcho {el-eng'-kho} Meaning: 1) to convict, refute, confute 1a) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted 1b) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose 2) to find fault with, correct 2a) by word Page 5 of 9

7 (a) 1 Kings 18:36-37 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. 37 "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again." (5) What happened to the prophets of Baal after the fire descended? (6) What would have happened to Elijah if it had not? c. Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. (1) Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (2) What were they convinced of? (a) their God was real Page 7 of 9

8 (b) (c) they were in His service He had the power and the resources to enable them to overcome any challenged placed before them d. Peter and John (1) Acts 4: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-- by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. 12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." 13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. (2) the same convictions Page 8 of 9

9 e. Now let s consider us: (1) do you have that same assurance and conviction? (2) Lot was willing to do what was necessary to gain the financial and prestige goals he sought after and so he compromised. (3) he did not have the assurance and conviction to say no to the world s allure. (4) do we, how deep are our convictions? Page 9 of 9

1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus