And See the Promise of God

In our text today we have two men, Abraham and Lot; Both followers of God. As they are traveling together scripture tells us that those who worked for them to care for their individual herds began to fight over the land they were using to graze their animals.

To remedy the situation and perserve their relationship, Abram asked Lot take his herds one way, and Abram would take his herds in the opposite way; he even gave his Nephew the first option of which way to go. He chose to go East to he lush plain of Jordan with plenty of water and food for his herd. And Abram went west to Canaan.

If you have been in church any amount of time you know the outcome of Lot’s Choice. Verse 12 tells us the Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom”. Eventually we know that he moves into Sodom with all of its wickedness, Sitting in the Gate at Having a house in that city ().

2 Peter 2:7–8 KJV 1900

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Daily he would look at the depravity of Sodom, but he continued to live there. Eventually leading to the destruction of his family in the death of his wife as they fled the judgment of God, and the moral destitution of his daughters who got their father drunk and commited incest with him.

The word vexed

On the other hand we have Abram. A man who followed God instruction and recieved the promise of God - who walked in faith and was used greatly of the Lord.

What does this have to do with our daily walk with Christ? How can something that happened thousands of years ago help us today in 2020.

Out Theme this year is “Lift Your Eyes”. This phrase in some fashion or another is scattered throughout scripture and we will take some time and look at many of them through the following months. The Goal behind all of this is to help us keep our eyes on Jesus Christ.

We are beginning here in Genesis because it is the first place it is mentioned and I think It will help set the stage for this coming year.

Scripture tells us that both of these me “Lifted their eyes” to see what was around them with completely different outcomes. One family destroyed, the other used of the Lord to eventually bring about the Messiah, Jesus Christ, The fulfillment of the promise of God.

Lot Lifted Up His Eyes to See The World’s Distractions

Eyes filled with Lust

When Lot looked to see which way he and his would go - It was the watered plane of Jordan that stood out to him. Maybe he was thinking of how the land would fill all the needs of his people and herds. It was described as being like the Garden of Eden.

Lust Promises Prominence But Delivers Lowliness

1 John 2:16 KJV 1900

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Proverbs 29:23 KJV 1900

23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: But honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Prov 29:

Lust Promises Plenty But Delivers Leanness

Psalm 106:15 KJV 1900

15 And he gave them their request; But sent leanness into their soul.

Psalm 106”

Leanness speaks of a disease that causes us to get emaciated and weak.

A Heart That Led To Disaster

When our eyes are focused on the World - our heart will lead us into destruction

It will Consume But Never Satisfy

James 4:3 KJV 1900

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Proverbs 18:7 KJV 1900

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 10:14 KJV 1900

14 Wise men lay up knowledge: But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

It Will Condemn and Never Justify

This isn’t just talking about what comes out of the mouth in communication - though it is true that the words of the foolish lead to destruction.

It is also talking about what they hunger after. While wise men hunger and thirst after righteousness, the fool hungers for the things passions of this life only to find that they never satisfy

Genesis 13:12–13 KJV 1900

12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

Proverbs 30:15–16 KJV 1900

15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, Yea, four things say not, It is enough: 16 The grave; and the barren womb; The earth that is not filled with water; And the fire that saith not, It is enough.

It will Condemn and not

1 John 3:20 KJV 1900

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV 1900

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah

Abram Lifted His eyes to See God’s Promise

Genesis 13:14–17 KJV 1900

14 And 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: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 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. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Eyes Filled With Faith

A number of years ago a noted artist was working on a great mural. This was to be a great work of art which he intended to be the masterpiece of his life. He had erected a scaffold and was standing upon it, putting in the background of the picture. A friend suddenly came into the studio and stood quietly in the rear of the room, looking at the work. The artist was slapping on the gray tones and deep blues all across the canvas for the background. Then he wished to view his work from a better perspective so he descended the ladder and stepping back, with his eyes on the canvas, he backed right into his friend without seeing him. Enthusiastically he said, "This is going to be the masterpiece of my life! What do you think of it? Isn't it grand?" His friend replied, "All that I see is a great dull daub." Then said the artist, "Oh, I forgot. When you look at the picture you see only what is there. Now, whenever I look at it, I see what is going to be there."—H. A. Ironside.

Faith Pursues God’s Presence

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith Perceives God’s Hand

H

Hebrews 11:10 KJV 1900

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Faith Presumes God’s Faithfulness

2 Corinthians 5:1–8 KJV 1900

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

2 Cor 5:

A Heart Filled With Worship

Genesis 13:18 KJV 1900

18 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.

Gen

If you follow Abram’s Journey from the time He left Ur of the Chaldees at the command of God forward - you find him building at-least 4 altars.

If you look at these 4 altars as they follow Abraham’s journey of faith - You can watch as his heart grew in His worship of God.

An Altar of Promise

1 at the Plain of Moreh ()

This alter was built right after Abraham left his home with his wife and nephew and followed God’s Calling. God had made a Promise to Him and this alter represented his surrender to follow God and realize that promise.

This is the worship where our spiritual journey begins. Setting out on the promise of Salvation - of being called out of the world into the family of God.

An Altar of Prayer

1 on a Mountain between Bethel and Hai ()

As Abraham traveled he went up into a mountain. This mountain was situated between two towns - Bethel (The House of God) and Hai (Heap of Ruins).

This is where he called upon the name of the LORD

An Altar of Vision

1 on the Plain of Mamre ()

This alter is built when God had Abraham look out upon the promise

LIFT YOUR EYES

An Altar of Sacrifice

1 on Mount Moriah ()

This is the alter where he would lay his promised son in obedience to God -

LORD I WILL FOLLOW YOU - Salvation

LORD I WILL CALL ON YOU - Dependence

LORD I WILL TRUST YOU - Vision

LORD I WILL GIVE YOU - Obedience

These are all acts of Worship - it shows a progression in Abraham’s Journey of Faith and it can show a progression in ours.