Faith Passing the Test
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Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. But the land was unable to support them as long as they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they could not stay together, and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.)
So Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
Lot looked out and saw that the entire plain of the Jordan as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden and the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose the entire plain of the Jordan for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities on the plain and set up his tent near Sodom. (Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely against the Lord.)
After Lot had separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west, for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width, for I will give it to you.”
So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord.
We all know that money can’t buy us everything.
How many family fights have been caused by the love of money? You see it in the news all the time about families battling over inheritance or lottery winnings.
People that once loved each other and enjoy each other begin to attack each other just to get money.
But money cannot buy the blessings that families freely give.
We saw the past couple of Wednesday’s were Abraham failed the first two tests, Circumstances and People, but he passed this third one with flying colors.
This was not an easy test, because it involved land and wealth, but Abraham is the example that every believer should do when there are disputes about material things.
Abraham determined to be a peacemaker and not a troublemaker.
What was the issue between Abraham and Lot?
The problem was not caused by the land, the famine, their wealth (both were very wealthy), or even their herdsmen
and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.)
The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart.
Lot’s heart was focused and centered around wealth and worldly achievement, while Abraham wanted only to please the Lord,
Can two walk together
without agreeing to meet?
Amos
It was bad enough that they had a dispute between themselves, but what was even worse is that all the people of the land were watching and listening
and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.)
When Christians have disputes, it hurts the testimony of the Lord.
Christian unity is fragrant and fruitful
A song of ascents. Of David.
How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
It is like fine oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down Aaron’s beard
onto his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon
falling on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord has appointed the blessing—
life forevermore.
But disunity turns that fragrance into a stench and the garden into a desert.
Lot was a troublemaker and not a peacemaker you can see that in .
Lot had a “heart trouble” He followed the wisdom of this world (Like his uncle Abraham did in Egypt) and not God’s wisdom.
He was at war or odds with Abraham because he was at war with himself, and he was at war with himself because he was at war with God.
The worlds wisdom and the world’s wealth seem satisfying, but they ultimately bring us disappointment.
Covetousness — an insatiable appetite for more things — leads to all kinds of evil
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
In order to get more money people will
Lie:
Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist, a pursuit of death.
Mistreat others:
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.
Cheat:
Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.
Prov
and even trouble their own families:
The one who profits dishonestly troubles his household,
but the one who hates bribes will live.
Robert South wrote’ “Covetousness is both the beginning and the end of the devil’s alphabet, the first vice in corrupt nature that moves, and the last which dies.”
Abraham cause trouble in Egypt because he was out of place, and lot caused trouble in Canaan because he was out of place: His heart was really in Egypt.
Gen
Lot looked out and saw that the entire plain of the Jordan as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden and the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
There are only three kinds of people in the world, according to ,
the natural (unsaved)
the carnal (saved but living for the world and the flesh)
the spiritual (devoted to God)
We can find all three in :
the natural (v. 13)
(Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely against the Lord.)
the carnal (Lot)
the spiritual (Abraham)
Lot was a righteous man () but not devoted to the Lord.
and if he rescued righteous Lot, distressed by the depraved behavior of the immoral (for as that righteous man lived among them day by day, his righteous soul was tormented by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—
He could not walk with Abraham because Abraham was a friend of God
He could not walk with Abraham because Abraham was a friend of God
Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
2 Chon 20:7
But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
descendant of Abraham, my friend—
Isa
and Lot was a friend of the world
You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God.
This is how many church splits and family fights are caused by carnal Christians who are not walking with God or with other believers.
Abraham lived for Others, not for self.
Remember, while Abraham was in Egypt he thought of himself first, but when when he returned to Canaan,he put God first and others next.
Being the elder of the camp, Abraham had every right to decide the issues and tell Lot what to do, but he gave Lot first choice.
Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Outdo one another in showing honor.
The spiritual Christian does not insist on his or her own rights but gladly yields to others.
Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Abraham gave thanks to God.
Abraham lifted his eyes and look
After Lot had separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west,
and lifted up his feet and walk
Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width, for I will give it to you.”
but he also lifted up his heart and worshipped God and thanked Him for His gracious blessings.
Abraham pitched his tent from place to place as God led him, and he also built his altar of witness and worship.
The people of Sodom were proud of their affluence,
Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had pride, plenty of food, and comfortable security, but didn’t support the poor and needy.
but Abraham had spiritual wealth that they knew nothing about.
He was walking in fellowship God, and his heart was satisfied.
Satan wants to use circumstances, people and things to tempt us and bring out the worst in us, but God wants to use them to test us and bring out the best in us.
Abraham failed the first two tests because he resorted to faith in man’s wisdom instead of faith in God’s Word.
But he passed the third test with great distinction because he let God take control.
because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
In the “school of faith” you will never know what may happen next.
God wants us to mature in every area of life, but that maturity doesn’t come easily.
there can be no growth without challenge, and there can be no challenge without change.
If circumstances never changed, everything would be predictable, and the more predictable life becomes, the less challenge it presents.
When you walk in the light (),you can see what is going on, and you experience variety in your life. But the darkness, everything looks alike.
The life of faith presents challenges that keep you going — and keep you growing!
