A Lot of Trouble - Part 1

Introduction

Have you ever been terrified?

Last week Gracie was bored, played hide and seek with Vanessa

Gracie went first, was found in 8 minutes

Vanessa hid, and it went 35 minutes!

Show hidden picture

As they played, they took a video on their phones

I’m going to show you Vanessa’s

But first! There’s something I want you to listen for...

Vanessa finally gets sick of waiting, and turns to scare Gracie

My favorite part is Grace’s second scream - she sounds like a stuck pig!

Show Gracie getting scared video

That is pure terror church!

Gracie was so terrified Vanessa thought there was something seriously wrong!

Here’s the best part - take a look at Gracie’s face!

Show Gracie’s screenshot

That is the look of someone who thinks they are about to die...

Now, that’s funny right there!

As funny as scared people can be, there is a serious side to fear

When we think of Sodom and Gomorrah, it’s easy to dismiss is as a story

YouVersion: A Lot of Trouble - Part 1

We’re in Genesis 19:1-22

Next two weeks we’re talking about Lot

You might think, “Wait, isn’t this series about Abraham?”

Yes, but this relates to Abraham in two important ways

This is what Abraham was negotiating with God about last week

Abraham is going to check out the damage at the end of all this

We’re here now, so we may as well study it!

Last week we ended with two men headed toward Sodom while Abraham talked with God

If God finds 10 righteous people, He won’t destroy the cities

Let’s see how this goes:

Genesis 19:1–3 (ESV)

1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

For the first time, we get confirmation these two men are actually angels

Lot is in an interesting position

At first, he’s trying to follow God with Abraham

Then he leaves Abraham’s side and goes to Sodom

Then he’s kidnapped, but still chooses to go back

Now, he’s sitting at the gate

This is important - the gate of an ancient city was like city hall

Disputes would be heard, decisions on entrance (like customs), city meetings

Essentially, Lot was some sort of civic leader

Lot is torn between seeking the Lord, and being a part of this sinful city

How do we know?

2 Peter 2:7–8 (ESV)

7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);

Lot actually sets a good example for us here:

Be in the world, but not of the world

That’s our job

And it begins like lot, acknowledging and grieving sin

When we look at the world around us, we see tons of sin

When we see gratitude over broken marriages, sexual perversion being normalized, abortion being praised - that should grieve us

We’re tempted to say, “Oh well, you do you, I’l do me...” but we should actually grieve over it

Sin coming into the world is not good

Am I saying we should attack people over it, no… but we should be sad

And we should share hope with people who need to turn from their sin

John 17:15–16 (ESV)

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

We are meant to live lives here, sharing hope with people, until the final day of judgement comes

We see a picture of that here now too

Smith Wigglesworth: The reason the world is not seeing Jesus is that Christian people are not filled with Jesus. They are satisfied with attending meetings weekly, reading the Bible occasionally, and praying sometimes. It is an awful thing for me to see people who profess to be Christians lifeless, powerless, and in a place where their lives are so parallel to unbelievers’ lives that it is difficult to tell which place they are in...

It’s our job to be little Christ’s in the world around us

We should look distinctly different because as we open ourselves to God so He can change us

We should look radically different from how we looked when the world was our beacon

Here, Lot sees these angels and invites them to his house

He’s kind, hospitable, concerned for their welfare

Is that how the rest of the city is? Let’s find out...

Genesis 19:4–5 (ESV)

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”

Let me make something absolutely clear: the men of sodom wanted to homosexually rape these angels

The bible makes it clear, homosexual conduct is a sin

Leviticus 18 and 20 both say it’s an abomination

And if you want to say the OT doesn’t count, check out Romans 1

Romans 1:26–27 (ESV)

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

That’s pretty clear to me

Jesus also talks about it, but indirectly

In Matthew 15 Jesus discusses sexual immorality

That would be anything outside of what Jesus describes in Matthew 19

It’s clear that sex is meant to be between 1 man and 1 woman within the context of marriage ONLY

Anything outside that is sexual immorality

That includes homosexuality, rape, incest, bestiality, fornication, adultery, pornography, and so on

And I’ll say this, if you have homosexual feelings, I feel bad for you

I don’t know how it works with the nature versus nurture thing - were you born this way… but it doesn’t matter

Whether you’re gay or straight, we all have attractions we should not act on

That fact that you desire something sinful, whether it’s your fault or not, doesn’t mean it’s okay to act on it

If my wife came home and found me in bed with another woman… how well would it go if I said, “I can’t help it! I was born with attractions to other women!”

Would that make it not a sin? Of course not!

The whole problem with sin since the beginning of mankind is that we naturally want to do things we shouldn’t do

So, if you act on homosexual feelings, it is a sin

If that’s you, I’d love to sit down and be in prayer with you

The feelings may never go away, but you can learn to set those things aside and seek God

It would be the same if you had a porn addiction, or anger issues, or you were an alcoholic

I understand you may not like it, but homosexuality is a sin

I don’t enjoy saying it, but it is absolutely true...

It is also the thing that the Sodomites are trying to do here, but even worse because its rape

I want to make sure we understand this too:

God isn’t destroying Sodom just because they were gay

That is a part of it:

Jude 7 (ESV)

7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

But there was way more than just that:

Ezekiel 16:49–50 (ESV)

49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. 50 They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.

Sodom’s sins were lengthy and outrageous

So now, gang-raping angels is just another Tuesday in Sodom...

Why are they doing this?

They don’t know who this is, they haven’t done anything, they’re not even visible - they’re inside!

They saw someone go in there and they all show up because it’s someone new they can sin against...

The world may attack without provocation

Sometimes the world lashes out against the church because of something we’ve done

But sometimes it’s simply because of the darkness of man

John 15:18 (ESV)

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

That means that it’s just something we have to accept

It’s not because it’s fair - there’s nothing more unfair than hating the Son of God - but it happens

We do our best to live peaceably with the world

But if the world chooses to attack, we have a choice to make

Do we continue to stand for what is right, or do we give in and fight dirty?

Let’s see what Lot chooses:

Genesis 19:6–9 (ESV)

6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down.

When people are wicked, how often do they respond to requests to stop being wicked?

You think these people cared about what was right or wrong as they’re trying to rape these angels?

Let me ask you this: if we abandon God’s standard, whose standard will we follow?

Just our own - that’s a terrifying thought...

And now this crazed mob is trying to get in Lot’s house, and what does Lot say?

“Take my daughters and do whatever you want to them...”

And the Father of the Year award goes to...

Granted, in those days a prized guest was supposed to be valued more than your own family...

But come on man… Really? Your daughters?

Make no mistake, what Lot is doing here is sin as well

What I see is a man in a tough spot, and he’s desperate to find a solution, so he turns to sin

Honestly, I’ve done that

Never given up my daughter to a vicious mob, but I have turned to sin to get out of a predicament

I’d love to tell a story or two, but I’m ashamed of them...

Attacks against God are not reasons to sin

How often does sin get addressed, and the response is, “But they did it first!”

That guy cut me off so I had to tailgate him to show him how mad I am!

Then you rear end him, who is at fault? You are!

The fact that someone mistreats you doesn’t give you permission to do wrong

Romans 12:17–19 (ESV)

17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Thank God they don’t take Lot up on his offer

They just mock him

Dude, you came to live here and now you want to judge us? Now we’re going to deal even worse with you!

The an entire crowd of angry rapists push in on Lot at the door

Then this happens:

Genesis 19:10–11 (ESV)

10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.

This first part was probably a tiny miracle in itself

The door that was being pressed on opens and Lot slips through

Suddenly, poof - the lights go out

All of them are made blind, but look at their behavior

They keep groping for the door

It’s like “Night of the Living Dead” out there...

Totally blind, but still groping at the door until they were exhausted

At this point, the angels saw all they needed to see - it was time for the next part

Genesis 19:12–14 (ESV)

12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

The angels ask an important question: Is there anyone else here?

Makes me think of something we should be doing too

Charles Spurgeon: “‘Have you anyone else here?’ The question shows the concern we should have for the salvation of not only ourselves, but our whole house.”

It’s important to reach everyone you can before destruction comes

As the world around us looks more and more like Sodom and Gomorrah

Someday, maybe 5 years, maybe 100, maybe 1,000, maybe even today, the end will come

It’s easy to think we have plenty of time - but what if we don’t?

When it comes to sharing the gospel, we have to think like the angels

Is there anyone else here who needs to be saved before that last day comes...

Then, Lot gets the same reaction a lot of us do:

They think it’s a joke...

So many people think that God’s wrath is a joke

They think God Himself is a joke

And we have to respond to that

I saw this quote from Satan on Twitter:

“If it’s 1 or 1000 sins you’re still getting sent to Hell. So why not go for 1,000,000 sins and come down here a legend?”

The responses?

I've already booked my trip, I'm just trying to negotiate a better seat.

Threatening me with a good time works. Upping my sin game pronto.

Pretty sure I have doubled that number

The question is, do we lean on compassion and concern for their soul… or do we get mad?

Have fun in hell then, losers!

I stopped and prayed for all those commenters...

They think the idea of hell is funny, God is a joke

But we know better, we know they will face Him someday

They won’t think it’s funny anymore, and they will have an enormous amount of regret

That’s what happens to Lot’s family too:

Genesis 19:15–16 (ESV)

15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.

I wonder how many people don’t know Jesus because we linger...

I don’t want to guilt you into sharing the gospel

But I think it’s important that we stay aware

Complacency is an enemy of the gospel

According to the Gospel Coalition, 35% of unchurched people say they would go if invited

And 37% of mid-western people haven’t invited a single person in 6-months

33% of people when asked, “why?” said, “I don’t know...”

Who are the people around you open to coming to church, even once as a favor?

Who is the person around you that God wants to pull close for a Jesus-like disciplemaking friendship?

Christianity is in decline in the US

It’s not because we don’t have enough politicians to make Christian laws...

We don’t have enough people willing to share the gospel...

Simple question: Are you willing?

Instead of lingering like Lot, my prayer is that we would look like the angels

Spurgeon notes something interesting about the angels

They take them by the hand to pull them to safety

There are four hands between the two of them, and they grab Lot, his wife, his two daughters

They did everything they could - they had no more hands to grab people

And God’s mercy shows up right here

Last week, Abraham asked God is He would save the city the for the sake of ten righteous people

Now, we see there isn’t ten, there’s four, and even then it’s a bit shaky

That’s why this is God’s mercy and not His justice

Honestly, every person who ever lived deserves to be left in Sodom and it was destroyed

Thank God for His mercy, not just for Lot, but for all those who call on the name of the Lord!

Genesis 19:17–22 (ESV)

17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Zoar gets it’s name here - Zoar means, “small, or insignificant.”

If Lot isn’t a picture of humanity

The angels are in a hurry to save Lot and his family - Run! God’s wrath is coming!

Lot is like, “Eh, let’s stop and bargain for a second...”

Dude, quit messing around and flee!

Scripture tells us several times to flee from sin - run and don’t turn back!

And when we do become saved, how often do we try to bargain with God?

“God, maybe I could just keep a little bit of sin? Do I have to change everything…?”

Lot’s says, “Do I have to go to the hills? Can’t I just go to that little city?”

Thank God He is merciful

If I was God, I’d be like, “Man, I told you to run to the hills! Go now or I’ll light you up!”

But, mercifully, God spares Zoar and let’s Lot go there

God even says, “Hurry up, because I’m not going to do anything until I know you’re safe…”

I find comfort in that… God has unfathomable mercy for us

He loves us, and He is willing to forgive

He has incredible patience for the things we mess up

But church, God is a just God

The destruction of this world is coming one day

Your death is coming one day, and you will stand before the King

How many days did the people of Sodom continue in their sin?

Day after day after day, God gave them a chance to repent and seek Him

Ultimately, they chose not to and God did what He had to do

But not before He rescued those who were ready to be rescued

To all of you, please don’t believe that God is a joke

If you already know that, please don’t be complacent with who you are sharing with

If you’re uncomfortable or scared, don’t worry

You don’t have to become Billy Graham by this afternoon

Get with someone who will encourage you to become a better disciple of Christ

Let Him work on you, and you will see amazing things

Prayer