Genesis chapter 13 now and we were last week in Genesis 12 where where there
were the blessings promised to Abram and we saw that that rather than being
inherited by followers of some weird Christ rejecting religion whether
claiming endless genealogies or not those blessings are inherited by
believers yeah with Genesis 3 9 saying so then they which be of faith a blessed
with faithful Abraham okay and the New Testament's clear about that isn't it
and it's very odd how many people are so off on that Abram was meant to go to
Canaan if well at least well in fact let me correct that Abram was meant to go
somewhere and the Lord was going to guide him and it was ultimately going to
be Canaan not that he knew that but it ended up in Haran and that wasn't
necessarily where he was meant to end up for probably several years although he
did say that it was possibly on the way if you wanted a sort of non-desert route
there or maybe they just kind of went the kind of north what is it West rather
than where they should have gone which was directly West but either way he end
up in Haran but but now with his father dead and at 75 years of age he then left
Haran and made his way into Canaan then in verse 7 it said there in Genesis 12
and the Lord appeared unto Abram and said unto thy seed will I give this land
and there builded he an altar unto the Lord who appeared unto him and he
removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent
having Bethel on the west and Hayi on the east and there he builded an altar
unto the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord and for me this is a point
of Abram's salvation and I gave a few reasons why I believe that is the case
I'm not going to re-preach that now but we also looked at the doctrine of calling
on the name of the Lord of putting your faith trust Jesus Christ sacrificed as
being payment for your sins that's what you do you call on the name of the Lord
that's believing on the Lord Jesus Christ it's the same thing and after
that there were there was a famine after that point Abram went down into Egypt
and then he comes up with this crazy idea to basically pretend that Sarah is
not his wife but is actually sister now just to add to that is he does later on
try and excuse this the second time he does is to say well she is actually my
sister and and possibly to some degree this you know we don't really know
because it never actually explains to us what the clear family relation is but it
might just be more lies anyway either way he's clearly lying okay because in
terms of it's his wife yeah and there was and it was weird was it like we're
saying what was gonna happen she was being taken into Pharaoh to possibly be
married I mean this is a pretty wicked wicked lie wasn't it the result though
of that was wealth it seemed because during that says and he entreated Abram
well for her sake okay so because of this lie Pharaoh's entreating him well
and he had sheep and oxen and he asses and men servants and maid servants and
she asks and camels it said in verse 16 but that's not a blessing and a lot of
people confuse wealth with the with a blessing don't know it wasn't a blessing
and we're going to see in this chapter the result of that okay and what kind of
happened further down the line because of all this money coming to them now
Pharaoh gets plagued because of having Sarah I and being about to marry her and
kick some all out of Egypt Egypt for me picture in the Exodus as well but we're
gonna work we're gonna continue from verse 18 there where it says and Pharaoh
called Abram and said what is this that thou has done unto me why did so not
tell me that she was thy wife why said thou she is my sister so I might have
taken her to me to wife now therefore behold thy wife take her and go thy way
and Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him and they sent him away and his wife
and all that he had then Genesis 13 verse 1 starts with an Abram went up out
of Egypt he and his wife and all that he had and lot with him into the south I'd
like to pray before we continue father thank you for your word thank you for
this great chapter of the Bible help me to preach here just clearly and
accurately and boldly now Lord film with your spirit how everyone have attentive
ears help me to just preach you know the messages that I've kind of taken out
of this today just in a concise and clear manner where people would be able
to just apply it into their lives and just known for all this amen okay so
remember back in Genesis 12 5 it said that and Abram took Sarah his wife a lot
his brothers sons and all their substance that they had gathered and the
souls that they had gotten in Haran and they went forth to go into the land of
Canaan and into the land of Canaan they came so they were already building up a
bit of a team of works and wealth weren't they it seems but by the next
chapter and if you did jump forward we're not going to Abram has 318 trained
servants that were born in his own house so look he's got a bit of an army it
seems by this point by the time of the next chapter and if Abram shouldn't have
been in Haran having been told back in Ur to get thee out of thy country and
from thy kindred and from thy father's house and to a land that I will show
thee well he probably shouldn't have been in Egypt either I think or at least
he shouldn't have treated his wife like that whilst he was there so I know there
was a famine in the land but was it right to go into Egypt when he was told
to go where God led him maybe God led him there maybe I don't know okay but I
would assume maybe not I'm not sure but he also gained wealth there so he gained
wealth in Haran okay where I don't think he was meant to be because he was told
we saw to get him from his kindred from his father's house however his father
took him into Haran now he then he goes to Egypt where he also gains wealth
somewhere there I don't think or at least he shouldn't be behaving how he
was there and he gained wealth as a result of that and it seems to me that
Abrams wealth as a believer came when he wasn't in God's will wouldn't you say so
at least the start of his wealth or I would say what kick-started all all this
world came when he wasn't in God's will verse 2 says and Abram was very rich in
cattle in silver and in gold and what would many people said ago well look how
blessed he was but was it a blessing because it certainly wasn't for Lot okay
this was not a blessing for Lot look at verse 3 and he went on his journeys from
the south even to Bethel unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning
between Bethel and Hayi unto the place of the altar which he had made there at
the first and there Abram called in the name of the Lord and Lot also which went
with Abram had flocks and herds and tents so they've both got a lot of
substance is another you know way they described it here sheep cattle tents for
their staff you'd imagine they're back in the land of Canaan back where Abram
was in in Genesis 12 8 where it said and he removed from thence unto amounts on
the east of Bethel and pitched his tent having Bethel on the west and Hayi on
the east then there he builded an altar unto the Lord and called upon name the
Lord verse 3 where we are says and he went on his journeys from the south
even to Bethel unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning between
Bethel and Hayi unto the place of the altar which he had made there at the
first and there Abram called the name the Lord what does verse 3 mean at the
beginning it traveled by the way hundreds of miles from Haran you would
imagine he would have stopped multiple times wouldn't he so why is he saying at
the beginning verse 4 says at the first and for me that's because it's a
significant point in his life because for me it's the point when he got saved
okay that's what I believe I think this is a very significant time but verse 6
then says and the lamb was not able to bear them that they might dwell together
for their substance was great that they could not dwell together so they've got
large flocks and herds and there's obviously not enough pasture for them
all okay that's the point here and verse 7 it says and there was a strife
between the herd men of Abrams cattle and the herd men of lots captain the
canine and the parasite dwelled then in the land now you you can imagine it
becoming an issue just separating their cattle wouldn't you say that would have
been a bit of a problem how to work it out obviously they've got their own
cattle that they consider theirs so trying to then graze in the same areas
would have been a problem wouldn't it driving them towards a good pasture but
then so's the other guys driving their lot towards that pasture as well and
then it's well who takes it who needs to go further somewhere else or to the not
so good pass you can imagine right there's going to be these sorts of
problems and issues then on top of that you've got the Canaanites and
Perizzites around too and by the way just a point on the Perizzites when we
went through the table of nation chapter 10 the Perizzites aren't mentioned are
they being the land of Cain you'd assume they're a tribe of the Cainites but
their exact origins aren't clear I don't know what the reason is for that maybe
maybe you do but I don't let me know if you've got any ideas of that but not now
after the sermon that is start shouting out but okay but don't don't forget that
the Canaanites were cursed through Noah weren't they and end up being a pretty
wicked bunch several hundred years later and look you definitely don't you
basically you don't want to be concentrating on fighting between each
other when you're dwelling amongst the Canaanites and the Perizzites that's
what I believe okay that's why it's mentioned here as well there's strife
between them but you've also got the Canaanites and Perizzites in the land
this isn't a good situation verse 8 says and Abram said unto Lot let there be no
strife I pray thee between me and me and between my herd men and I heard men for
we be brethren and look that's something that we should remember as
brethren here shouldn't we okay there's a great message you can take from that
here strife just hinders God's work doesn't it really okay now now and again
there are reasons when strife's needed okay but the vast majority of the time
it's not but the carnal mind can't resist it a lot of the time okay we don't
all have to be best friends in a church but we want to avoid strife don't we want
to avoid vendettas we want to avoid feuds we want to where possible avoid
that stuff and often it comes just from people's own egos isn't it that's often
why these things go on now sometimes these things happen but then it's can
they just be dealt with no often they just continue that the inflated pride a
lot the time causes a problem that they'll then consider their contention
more important than unity amongst brethren right now we're seeing an
example of Abraham not thinking that right however so often that's the case
with people isn't it and I'm not just talking about in it in church that'll be
in the workplace other places people they just you know get it in families
don't you we're like someone might speak to the family member in your sort of X
amount of years later you're like was it really worth it what what exactly have
you really achieved and it's like how they did this they said that they
whatever it is and but it what is it really it's pride isn't it's pride it's
like just move on who really gains from that it's nuts but but you'll see it in
church and we'll see it as we go forward in church as well we'll have these
situations and and where possible we just want to be able to just move on we
want to be able to bury this stuff yeah you look you know it's not that you have
to just be so happy if someone wrongs your crosses your whatever you consider
offends you or something however when you continue strife really you're
basically saying my pride my ego is more important than unity right now Abram is
for me is a great example here but you know there's a verse that when I was
looking at this it made me think of that where Proverbs 13 10 says only by pride
cometh contention but with the well advised is wisdom because you know if
you're applying it to kind of life you know our lives to church life to work
life to family life or often it's the pride that just won't accept that we've
behaved badly so often it's by pride that the contention comes we won't
accept our own fault so what we do is we blame it on someone else don't we so a
lot of the time if you've noticed when you have a feud between two people or
more it's not that one person is just I just so want to be friends and the other
a lot of the time they're both just sigh you know because and a lot of the time
it says both the prides up isn't it but but surely it'd be easy just to move on
from that and and look we need to in the church drop the pride to seek unity okay
just like Abram here look at Abram here it says it said and Abram said unto lot
let there be no strife I pray thee between me and they and between my
Herdman and thy Herdman for we be brethren now by the way Abrams talking
to someone who's basically a son to him in essence so lot is father died
Abrams taking him on he's his uncle and there's clearly a kind of father-son
relationship here but he's the one saying to him look please can we just
not have any trouble he could have just kind of put the lay down the log on I'm
I'm bait I'm your uncle you do as you told you know get out of fear or stop
the stuff no he said said no he then says in verse 9 it's not the whole land
before thee separate thy separate thyself I pray thee for me if thou wilt
take the left hand and I will go to the right or if thou depart to the right
hand then I will go to the left so he's humble he's giving lot the choice where
to go even though he would have had just as much right to choose himself in fact
more wouldn't he yeah he's a superior there he's the elder there but he just
says look you choose you choose I'll go the other direction and he could have
said he could have said to him could he could have said after all I've done for
you lot I took you in after your dad died he could have said you wouldn't
have it you wouldn't have all these herds if it wasn't for me because I'm
guessing they were blessed in Egypt where he took he could have gone if it
wasn't for me telling those whoppers about Sarah you wouldn't have had any of
this you know he could have done all of that but instead he wants to go their
separate ways amicably doesn't he rather than it becoming some big bust up which
would do what weaken them against the Canaanites and the Perizzites and that
often what is what happens doesn't it so when it comes to God's children and
God's people and stuff the bust ups the rows all that stuff well then if it gets
out of hand we can you against what are we trying to do we're trying to reach
the lost aren't we we already got enough enemies so he wants to do it amicably
and I hope that's something look I hope in the future as we deal with this as
we go into the future in this church and as we grow as a church the people
remember these sort this sort of messages sort of example from Abraham
Abraham here and he's a broom at this point because you know when it comes to
some crossed words yeah some offense taken against each other if you can just
move on right isn't it just better to move on where possible to remember the
bigger picture like Abram here yeah that's what we should do shouldn't we
okay and Abram just yeah for me this is just a great example he's like look
let's not deal with this stuff let's just you you decide we'll move on from
that and that's the great stance to take is it what's lots response and lot lifted
up his eyes and beheld all the plane of Jordan that it was well watered
everywhere before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah even as a garden of
the Lord like the land of Egypt as I come a son to Zohar so so like the land
of Egypt as I come as under Zoe's referring to the fertile northern Egypt
okay so lots look at this well-watered plane obviously pre-firing brimstone
time that's what it's saying here before that then lot chose him all the plane of
Jordan and lot journeyed east and they separated themselves the one from the
other so lot is traveling east away from the land of Canaan that that God
had led Abram to okay so he's going the other way so where they are right now
where he travels he's going to basically be moving away from that whole region
had he gone north south or west he would have you know for quite a long time
still been in the promised land because if he'd gone west he would have ended up
on the coast but still been in that Canaan area if he got north or south
because right now they're pretty central in what was Canaan but he goes
east which is basically the first way out of there okay after a bit of
traveling what was his decision based on what was lots decision based on the
plane being well watered that's what it said here he said that he the that he
lift up his eyes beheld all the plane of Jordan and it was well watered
everywhere basically that meant that his cattle would thrive more didn't it it was
a business decision okay lots decision was a business decision lot went away
from the land that God had led Abram to for financial reasons and this is a
common theme amongst Christians okay always has been sadly always will be
because of money because of the lure of money it's a business decision rather
than a spiritual decision in life right and here are some I some some kind of
examples of this that I thought of moving areas for a job yeah many people
will move areas for a job but somewhere where there's no decent church well my
jobs taken me there we'll see what's there when we get there or in fact I
know there's nothing decent there but don't worry I'll make something work a
lot of people do that right now a lot of people will stay in an area with no
church and no believers around and no way of ever building a church it seems
again for financial reasons won't they but is that what we should be doing as
believers no way you get those that may be moved to some cheap area to whether
it's renting or owning a home that is nowhere near to a church what happens
with the midweek services what happens as the years go by and that travel just
starts getting a little bit more tiring a little bit longer starts to you know
that the wear and tear on the cars and everything else it starts to become a
problem some people will stay in those areas even though there's maybe an
option to move closer again because of the fact that it's cheaper and you go
well maybe that's all they can afford sometimes it's not because of that is it
sometimes it's not taking a job that stops you making church for example a
job which maybe has you have to work every other Sunday or once a month on
the Sunday or whatever it is or maybe it's a midweek maybe it's they have to
work later on a Wednesday well yeah there is that job I could take and then
I'll be able to make that midweek service and look you know obviously I'm
not too harsh about this stuff because I understand that we look we're a church
that's that does have people that come from afar okay and most people that are
here obviously don't live hours and hours and hours away yeah that can come
on a midweek service however I would hope and pray that for those that are
serious about things of God their goal would be to find a way to make midweek
services because it's important isn't it are we just here ticking a box because
you look the midweek services make a difference and it ain't the same online
everyone knows that everyone here is sat there watched it online and be in a
service praising worshiping God it's not forsaking the assembly ourselves
together not forsaking the listing of preaching is it okay it's the whole
thing isn't it it's being together it's encouraging each other it's being part
of that worship to God it's then also listening to the word preach and the
word read in church together it's a there's a big difference there isn't
there and it is important it really is important again I don't hammer it
because I understand how things are it's not like we're a local church somewhere
where there's just church to everyone everyone is nearby and people are just
choosing not but if you choose a job or even if you're not thinking well can I
work out a way to not have to work this job so I don't have to forsake Church
it's a kill it clear come on from God isn't it and you could go well yeah but
come on who said that it has to be more than once a week is the Sunday morning
that's not forsaken churches I got a Sunday morning I disagree because we
only running we're only running three services a week it's not that we're
running them every single day then you could go okay that could be a bit tough
brother in okay making every evening services a little bit rough yeah we
can't actually do I don't think I could physically do that but we're not we run
a midweek and we run a Sunday morning and so and in fact we make it easy make
it Sunday afternoon so you don't have to find something to do for kind of eight
hours in between the services you know and really it's important and it makes
the difference isn't it and those you that are like three to thrive week in
week out and borrowing obviously there'll be times when you can't and
times in life of Caesars of things where there'll be difficulties however those
you that are three to thrive it's different isn't it it's a lot different
and and you'll grow spiritually stronger with that then those that are
kind of once a week on a Sunday every now and again right and obviously you
get everything in between you got those and again so often shall tell you the
truth of what it is so often it's financial decisions that's really what
comes down to it's a financial decision to stay in something where they're not
to take a job where okay well it doesn't matter as long as I can kind of make a
Sunday or it doesn't really matter I'll see if I can make church find a church
something else depending on where I am and and but it can also be other ways
it could be things that stop you so winning maybe maybe there's a job that
well okay well I've got to go like every I've got to work every evening of the
week I've got to do this got to do that but however hey ho at least I can make a
Sunday church service but then I'm so tired I've got so much to do that I
can't really so win on Sunday that's all one is important isn't it and again I
look you know you have different everyone will have different opinions
and how much is acceptable with that but what you can fit in and is and and
works well you know and you can fit into your lifestyle how about how about
staying in a job or career that affects you that that maybe affects you making
church or maybe compromising in other ways so how about how about a job which
maybe people will take anywhere else stay in when they're working providing
our colder people but is that is that okay and a lot of the time why do they
stay in a job is because they love providing alcohol in whatever job it is
or maybe it's because they've got a good pay packet there or maybe it's some other
sin maybe it's a job where they have to be dishonest but there's a lot of them
around aren't there jobs where people have to be dishonest where they have to
lie their boss expects them to lie they end up lying deceiving they have you
know a false balance or something else in the job however they stay in the job
why financial decisions is it again that's the problem isn't it that's make
your decision based on money instead of God and there are many ways people do
so another one I think you as well and again not for those that can't don't
have the option but those that then start to understand what the Bible says
start to see the school system and still choose I'm not I'm gonna keep sending my
kids to school because then for example the mum can go to work and you see that
a lot don't you and then it's money it's a financial decision where I mean now
especially I mean Wow what is even going on in those schools now I mean you'd be
mad when yeah again unless you don't have the choice and when you don't have
the choice we don't have the option there look issues in life where where
where you don't have that choice okay I'm not preaching about that but turn to
Matthew 6 another one while you turn there is tithing as well a lot of people
will make a financial decision with tithing but the principle is clear
isn't it in the Bible I preach a sermon on that at the beginning of the year
from long before the law okay Cain and Abel offering Noah offering Abraham
tithing in the next chapter long before the law okay so these people are only
the law no there's offerings and and tithing long before throughout the
timeless book of wisdom Proverbs you know so we get to Proverbs and again
honor the law with the first fruits of all light of all thine increase yeah so
shall thy bonds be filled etc right thy presses shall burst out with new wine
it's a clear principle of the Bible to give our first fruits to God for our own
good yet yet how many not just Christmas how many independent fundamental
Baptist will put money first they've put money here and they've put God there now
Jesus warned us what what happened what then happens in Matthew 6 24 when in
those various different ways we put we put money ahead of God he said this in
Matthew chapter 6 and verse 24 no man can serve two masters for either he will
hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the
other ye cannot serve God and mammon mammon is is the god of money okay it's
basically serving money serving money as a god because look and you'll get people
that will look at a verse like this go well I moved areas for a better paid job
but I don't hate God for example yeah I miss services from my job but I still
love God still love God but do you really though do you really have you
ever thought about that what does that really mean do you love God when he says
through the author of Hebrews 10 26 after warning us not to forsake Church
for if we sin willfully off that we've received the knowledge of the truth
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins do you love that verse when you're
missing Church for to make extra money or do you love God when he says through
Paul in 1st Timothy 6 10 for the love of money is a root of all evil which while
some coveted after they have heard from the faith and pierced selves through
the many sorrows do you love verses like that those that put money up here and
God down here I bet they don't do you really love God or are you starting to
despise certain verses do you love it when the preacher preaches about putting
God up here and money down here or do you start to go understand you know he's
and start to find reasons and anger towards towards you know the man of God
preaching it do you start to despise the Christian that then does make every
service that moves closer to church that changes jobs that forsakes wealth do you
start to get an irritation towards them a little bit of hatred towards them a
little bit of goody two-shoes type attitude you know even though first John
4 20 says if a man say I love God and hated his brother he is a liar for he
that loveth not his brother whom he have seen how can he love God whom he hath
not seen you're hating your brother assists in Christ really because they're
doing what you should be doing things start to change and when you set your
sights of money when money is more important than the things of God you
start to resent God and his people and that might not be straight away but it
comes with time and the more you hear the preaching on it the more the
resentment starts to grow and the more you start to hate either the preacher
either the brother or sister who's doing what you should be doing or you start to
really hate the Word of God and you don't like those words you don't like
those passages and you swerve them and you try and fob them off and everything
else and when that happens shall tell you what happens then you start to
become more sympathetic to wickedness to the filth of the world the things which
should repulse you they should repulse look at verse 11 back in Genesis 13 then
lot chose him all the plain of Jordan and lot journeyed east and they
separated themselves the one from the other verse 12 Abram dwelled in the land
of Canaan and lot dwelled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward
Sodom now what does it mean that he pitched his tent towards Sodom it
basically means he started heading that way okay that's the direction he's going
in and you you know maybe I don't think anyone here would say this but some
might go well maybe it was a pleasant place right I don't think I think we've
probably preached enough about this stuff here to not think that but you
never know maybe they had some well-meaning you know well-meaning
misunderstood regular folk just like you and me but just born attracted to
the same gender exactly the same in every other way they just happen to be
attracted to the same gender no no verse 13 says but the men of Sodom were wicked
and sinners before the Lord exceedingly exceedingly they were wicked and sinners
exceedingly oh but that was back then wasn't it oh no no nothing to see there
that was back then I was before the 21st century right when we realized how
everyone has been wrong about that because now we know better don't we you
know oh yeah that's that Old Testament stuff thank God for Holly weird a and
the rest of the mainstream me I've just you know at least he's now kind of
helped us to see because God's probably allowed all that to happen isn't he for
us to see that actually things have changed now right is it to eat he's
allowed them to set the record straight showing us fictional harmless sodomites
yeah and and to help us see things more correctly now yeah is that what's
happened thank for thank God for the majority of churches around this town
around this nation around where we're going to move into South End when
they've got literal pro sodomite churches thank God for all of those
showing us that God's Word was actually wrong and they're right yeah thank God
for that stuff isn't that the Old Testament wasn't it but when oh no that
was the Old Testament when they were goat herders in the desert isn't that
the one they try and come out with you know that was the old stuff they don't
they didn't understand then right well Romans 132 you know Romans in the in the
New Testament that says that they which commit such things are worthy of death
oh that was 2,000 years ago and that's the New Testament that was post Christ
in Jude and verse 7 it says that sodomites surrounding cities are set
forth for an example fancy that right they're an example to all and here in
Genesis 13 it said but the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord
exceedingly and the reason look you know you obviously the nowadays this stuff
needs preach a lot but people try and criticize our sorts of churches for
preaching this stuff don't they they're now can't see and they'll try and say
you're trying to your put your you're trying to put a limit on salvation or
come out with this one right or they'll say your you know you just keep
preaching about that stuff for whatever reason it is what they try and do they
got they must be closet homosexuals for preaching it right they try on this one
they try any angle they can to try and attack men of God for preaching stuff
but it's not just any old cynicism it's wickedness it's exceeding sin according
to this verse here Leviticus 2013 calls it an abomination according to God's
law it's punishable by death so the point is is is that when when normal
people okay and no in fact not just normal people when when water should be
normal people then have the Holy Spirit in them and understand what the Bible
says and try and get in step with God when they see the reverse they see it
being celebrated they see it being encouraged they see it being pushed on
children they see the open attempts to recruit children in many different ways
they see these sorts of people adopting children they see the access being given
to children they see all this crazy stuff them trying to promote and push
what is an abomination what is what what is something where the men were
described as wicked and sinners exceedingly when you see all that that
should be vexing shouldn't it okay that should be vexing to that should be
vexing to a normal person let alone a man of God let alone a woman of God let
alone a child of God that should vex you shouldn't it that that should that that
should vex you to the point where maybe you start to get maddened by it to some
degree where you should if you're right with God you should be looking at what's
going on there looking at this and going that is wicked
shouldn't you it just that I mean surely that's the only result if you Christ
like yeah isn't the goal to be more Christ like and and what did Jesus
Christ the Word of God say about this stuff he said that they're wicked and
sinners before the Lord exceedingly he said that they're worthy of death he
said it's an abomination he said they're an example to others to never do this
wickedness he called them dogs he called them brute beasts he he he makes it so
clear I want to be more Christ like I hope everyone here wants to be more
Christ like and if you're more Christ like you should you should be angered by
this stuff shouldn't you now it doesn't mean you have to go around just
screaming and shouting about that that's probably not a very wise thing to do but
it should vex you shouldn't it and when I see a Christian in inverted commas
that isn't bothered by this stuff I see it the least a carnal Christian when I
see someone who claims to have faith he claims to believe who then claims it's
just kind of water off a duck's back whatever we'll let them do what they
want to do that's that's at the least a very carnal Christian isn't it okay
that's someone not at all in the spirit that's someone who's not Christ like
that's someone who's not lockstep with how God thinks that's someone who thinks
that they know better thinks that they're kinder more forgiving more
loving more merciful more open-minded anything else then God I tell you what
they are they're wicked right that's wickedness isn't it you think you're
somehow better and that is a vast majority of preachers pastors around
this nation around the world who somehow who are inviting these sorts of dogs
these animals into their churches to be around the children who are giving them
jobs in Sunday schools and things who are basically trying to say we want them
here and putting signs up outside their church going all-inclusive bring them in
that is absolutely wicked isn't it isn't it that's not Christ like that's the
opposite now they're either completely carnal or they're completely wicked it's
it's one of the it's one of the other isn't it a lot here is a carnal
Christian okay lots of carnal Christian now how do we know that well number one
he pitched his tents towards Sodom and the way it's written here but the men
of Sodom are wickedness in is it's kind of like it's not this isn't a secret is
it I can imagine that kind of got around pretty quickly that it's full of a bunch
of flaming queers and people probably gave the place a wide berth yeah kind of
like how most of us here wouldn't go let's go for a nice day out to Brighton
and I don't think that's probably on the level yet of Sodom maybe is I don't know
like most people here wouldn't go let's go and hang out I'm going to the u.s.
where should we go let's go into San Francisco and hang out in in San
Francisco most people wouldn't do that so in the same way a lot here is making
a decision here and it's a financial decision but we also know that he's
making a financial decision and putting finances here and God here which shows
he's carnal and that's my point at the beginning is that look when you start
making those decisions you start putting money here and God down here then
everything starts to reverse a little bit doesn't it because it's a slippery
slope because suddenly what God says isn't of most importance it's what what
you know where the where where is the money at and and that will be look of
those look the but let's be honest in this nation there's very few safe
churches but I'm sure there are churches around the world where they have safe
people and they have the gospel but they're still trying to be sympathetic
to them why financial decision isn't it get more people in we don't want to it
might not be them it might be well hopefully when I have them but at least
we won't put off the people that are that are at least you know have the
queer the queer uncle have the the queer cousin the queer friend at least we're
not going to preach hard on that and at least they'll come in and we'll have
some you know more money in the offering or something like that and it's so
often it's financial isn't it but we've got to be careful like that's a because
it's so easy if you start putting God down here putting money up here where
else are you going to compromise lot ends up pitching his tent toward the
filthiest just what what a horrible place I mean unbelievable what we're
going to see in a few chapters time verse 14 says the Lord said unto Abram
after that lot was separated from him lived up now thine eyes and look from
the place where thou art northward and southward and eastward and westward so
it before I'm going to finish that in a second but verse 14 says says that it's
after lot was separated from him so for me there is so it's kind of like God
wants that separation doesn't he as well before he then starts kind of giving him
some more revelation here look lot lot lot was saved okay we know that lot was
saved but second Peter 2 7 refers to him as just lot okay that's justified lot
okay and as the only thing that was just about lot was was through the blood of
Jesus Christ okay he weren't just any other way if you look at his life in a
few chapters time and what goes on there and offering out his daughter and all
this sort of just madness right but look he was a he God wanted that separation
because for me this is a carnal guy and then we see the results of that we see
the results of their wealth which was a precursor to this we see the results of
him with that wealth wanting more money and wanting to chase more money and
going towards Sodom and and then we're gonna see in a few chapters time just
how bad that ended up and that's a that should be a sobering story for us as
well and you got the opposite example you got Abraham who's hasn't got the
pride he's humble yeah he's made some mistakes isn't he I mean he made a
whopping great mistake earlier but he said he just going downhill off that
instead he makes this kind of he's trying to avoid the strife he's trying
to be a nice humble guy to him and just go look you know you do what you need to
do etc and lot ends up making a bad decision doesn't it based on money let's
keep going so verse 14 says the Lord said unto Abram after that lot was
separated from him lift up now thine eyes and look from the place where thou art
northward and south and east and westward so that that separation by the way was
commanded back in her according to Stephen in Act 7 if you if you listen
last week in Act 7 we see that in fact he was told that back in her of the cow
dees and it was recorded in Genesis 12 1 which said in Genesis 12 1 now the Lord
had said unto Abram get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from
thy father's house unto a land that I will show thee so I Abram I think was
told early on to separate from lot wasn't he from my father's house and
from my kindred lots his kindred isn't it why well perhaps he was already a
covetous guy now he got saved at some point like we said he was described as
just lot but that doesn't mean that Abram should have been yoked up with it
okay look just because someone saved it doesn't mean okay well it's all cool
yeah there are saved people that we're told to stop fellowship with aren't there
now look obviously if someone is not like clearly in something late if
someone's clearly in for example the first Corinthians five disqualifying
sins then you if you're like just cutting someone off from church for
example and not coming and telling me about that yours you're you're as part
as much of a problem for that little leaven leavening the whole up right
because that's gonna be a problem for everyone else who doesn't realize right
so obviously look if you if you're gonna make a decision to separate from someone
to that point well that needs to be a church thing right but however there are
those are on in our church aren't there we have many people here probably have
saved family friends people they know who are probably into some wicked stuff
stuff which says that you shouldn't be fellowshiping with them and I know I
would say now there's two ways of looking at that verse in first there's a
few verses first Corinthians 5 but verse 11 says but now I've written on to you
not to keep company of any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or
covetous and idolatry or a railer or a drunken or an extortionary such and one
no not to me and I have heard people say look a brother or and you would add
sister is someone that you're at church with some and again you know some people
would argue that and go so this isn't necessarily a family member or someone
outside of church and those people it's not saying that however I look if their
brother in Christ is because even if you take that interpretation and go look I
don't have to just cut this person out of my life they're not this isn't talk
about Church discipline because it's clearly here is talking about Church
discipline however I look I would still say you don't really want to be
fellowshiping with save people who are drunkards save people that are
fornicators covetous idolaters railers extortioners that's that's that's not
gonna be good for you is it okay that's gonna be a bad that's gonna be an
unequal yoking that's gonna be a problem and I think here he's well look I would
say lots probably on the covetous I think I might be wrong okay and it might
just be made that some people make sure someone here might make a financial
choice and put finance here and God here doesn't mean they are what you'd
describe as covetous that's it get them out of the church right oh they didn't
give up their you know their midweek their midweek job their cover does get
them out okay it's covetous is someone that has an inordinate affection it's
clearly what's in their mate you could clearly see that they're a covetous
person and there is evidence of that like we talked before about trading in
church all that sort of stuff is clear signs of that however yeah there's a
couple of ways of looking at either way I would say that's not the sort of people
you want to be fellowshipping with okay and and I think that's probably why he's
told to get up and away from him as well but he's with him for a while and then
at this point then lot goes that way towards Sodom but it's once they've
separated that the Lord seems to start explaining more to Abram so he said in
verse 14 the Lord said unto Abram after that lot was separated from him lift up
now thine eyes and look from the place where thou art northward and southward
and eastward and westward for all the land which thou seest to thee will I
give it and to thy seed forever so he tells Abram that he's given the land to
him and into his seed forever and there's some sort of initial physical
fulfillment okay obviously the children of Israel later at the end of David's
reign after sort of like killing everyone around pretty much and then
continue through Solomon's reign and then you would say after that there's
kind of problems with it with the kind of continuing Kings after that but but
turn to Hebrews 11 which shows that ultimately the country in the city
promise is an eternal one okay so if you turn to Hebrews chapter 11 and while you
turn there I'm gonna read Galatians 3 16 which which we did read last week which
said now to Abraham Abraham and his seed were the promises made he saith not and
to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ so these
promises here and elsewhere to Abraham seed are fulfilled in Jesus Christ and
then by those who are Christ gave Galatians 3 29 while your turn to Hebrews
11 says and if you be Christ's then are ye Abraham seed and heirs according to
the promise okay so that's all believers today okay clear as day Galatians just
clear as day however you know with that in mind those promises if I went down to
Israel now and so started doing a synagogue of Satan's settler star land
grab yeah yeah we're just settling we're just kind of settling in this area so
get out I'm taking you home I don't think it would go down too well and I
don't think that's what God's calling me to do is it I don't think he's saying
well all Christians need to get on the plane over to Israel and just start
beating up Palestinians kicking them out of their homes at gunpoint and take it
even though the synagogue of Satan are doing that okay that's not what
believers are called to do are they okay so what what's so then how do those
promises work right well Hebrews 11 and from verse 8 shows us for me that the
real fulfillment is in the heavenly Jerusalem okay that's what the
fulfillment is the ultimate fulfillment it says in verse 8 but by faith Abraham
when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for
an inheritance I bade and he went out not knowing whether he went by the way
so like I said earlier on he didn't actually know exactly where he's meant
to go he was just kind of led by it way he followed by faith by faith he so
journeyed in the land of promise as in a strange country now so journey isn't
permanent is it okay it as in a strange country dwelling in tabernacles with
Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise that talk about they
also did the same yeah for he looked for a city which have foundations whose
builder and maker is God so he was looking for something else right through
faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed and was
delivered of a child when she was when she was past age because she judged him
faithful who had promised there therefore sprang there even of one and
him as good as dead so many as the stars of the sky multitude and as the sand
which is by the seashore innumerable who are these these are believers he's all
died in faith okay that's why it was innumerable not having received the
promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and
embrace them and confess that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth so
they didn't receive the promises but they did see them afar off okay they
were persuaded them embrace them however they were strains of pilgrims on the
earth so there wasn't a physical fulfillment for they that say such
things declare plainly that they seek a country and truly if they'd be mindful
of that country from whence they came out they might have had opportunity to
have returned okay but that wasn't the country but now they desire a better
country that is an heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their
God for he has prepared for them a city and and it's that city that eternal city
New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21 which eternally fulfills the promise
doesn't it okay that's what it's talking about there and again we're not going to
for the sake of this sermon but you gotta go to Revelation 21 and see that
New Jerusalem and I'm quite looking forward to that yeah it looks pretty
amazing right and that's what it's talking about that's the eternal
fulfillment of that okay go back to Genesis 13 though Genesis 13 and verse
16 says and I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth so that if a man can
number the dust of the earth then shall thy seed also be numbered and that's
because it's through faith in Christ right and look I know it does feel like
it's and it is a narrow way right it's a straight and a narrow way but it's been
the straight and this is that same straight and narrow way well ever since
the beginning of time okay it's either been faith in the coming Christ or faith
faith in the current Christ or faith in the having already come Christ yeah yet
to come back again a second time okay so over well six thousand odd years that's
a lot of people right that's a lot of people and obviously here you know it
you know that it says that if a man can number the dust of the earth anyone want
to fancy trying that that's pretty tough right he said arise walk through the
land and the length of it and in the breadth of it for I will give it unto
thee so that's a physical fulfillment then Abram removed his tent and came and
dwelt in the plain of Mamre which is in Hebron and built there an altar unto the
Lord so this is between Jerusalem and Beersheba in the south okay it was sort
of halfway halfway between and why did he build an altar because he was
sacrificing animals right they've been sacrificing that's giving and offering a
sacrifice to God before there was something for it to be used for it's
still just giving of your of your abundance to the Lord that's what we're
seeing every time for me we're seeing all to see it so look there's some
interesting stuff in that chapter the overriding message and you could just
preach a whole sermon on that you preach ten sermons on that it is lot pitching
his tent towards Sodom because he looked at the well-watered plains okay
that financial decision and there's so much to go from there and what a
contrast to then Abram who was just like look you know he was a good example he
just didn't want the strife just wanted to move on right and and you know
there's obviously some some other stuff we can learn there but that's the great
stuff there I think yeah I think there's a great message there and hopefully we
could all learn from that that was Genesis chapter 13 we're gonna finish
up in prayer only father thank you for well for the great examples we get for
men of God like Abraham you know and examples not to follow like like those
like lots and you know what a contrast there and really you know in it and for
for us for what we can see clearly it came down to covetousness it came down
to just putting the you know putting money putting riches putting wealth
above the things of God to move away from where God had wanted Abram at least
and going towards such a wicked place just for money help us to just get our
priorities straight Lord to get our priorities right to just want to put
your you know put you and the things you know that you want us doing first to put
the Word of God to put church to purchase all these things first and and
not focus on money it's not that you know we know that some people will have
money some people won't have as much money and and none of that is it is you
know is wicked in either way however it's what we focus on it's what we set
our heart on love our love on what we put our you know our focus on in life
and and you know help us to just get that right Lord help us to to you know
get home safe and sound tonight to get out soul winning if we can before Sunday
service and then to get back on Sunday Lord and safe and sound in Jesus name
for all this Amen