Abraham: Playing with Fire

As I approach this message today I have to confess that father’s day sermons are some of the hardest for me. There are numerous personal reasons and there is also the overwhelming request each year that comes asking for “an encouraging message not one that is convicting”. Well over 20 times this last week individuals approached me with this statement.

I never intend to bring you God’s Word playing with emotions

If there is conviction, that should be the Spirit’s work in you not me

If there is encouragement, that is the work of the Lord

I am required by God to be faithful to His TRUTH, no matter how uncomfortable it is for me to deliver

I do feel that as men we tend to be fixers, doers, check things off a list type as a whole

Therefore we approach messages more often as what do I need to do or fix in my life

Today we are looking at Genesis 19…(best known for Sodom & Gomorrah’s destruction) this has been scheduled from the beginning of this series through Genesis and I was perplexed as I looked at this chapter and as to how I would apply this to our lives as a church first off, then as Fathers in the church.

As I studied it closer I found this chapter to be very applicable!!!

I have titled it PLAYING w/ FIRE:

From childhood I have been fascinated with fire. Truth be told I really like to play with it too!

FIRE IS MESMERIZING… (watching flames dance in burn building )

FIRE IS POWERFUL… (Watching a forest consumed in a matter of minutes)

FIRE WILL BURN… (Pile of branches… burning them with gas)

My friend and I were burned eye lashes, arm, eyebrows

Truth is that it can be fun… it can also be dangerous or deadly

Fire approached cautiously and with regard for the danger, one can benefit from it, but let your guard down and it becomes dangerous quickly! As we look at chapter 19 the fire with witch I will be alluding to is the world system and desires.

Chapter 19 “Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah”

The two angels go down to visit

The town is evil Genesis 19:4-5

Genesis 19:4–5 NASB95

Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.”

Lot is introduced as one sitting at the city gates

Tries to protect the two visitors

Offers his daughters in place of the men in a mixed approach to protecting Genesis 19:8

Genesis 19:8 NASB95

“Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof.”

Escapes with his wife and two daughters

God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah and surrounding valley

Fire and brimstone

Lot struggles to leave Genesis 19:15-16

Genesis 19:15–16 NASB95

When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.

Lot wants to keep “a little” Genesis 19:19-20

Genesis 19:19–20 NASB95

“Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved.”

Lot’s wife wants more… looked back (Pillar of Salt)

Lot’s daughter’s want babies… had sex with their drunk father

Abraham watches and observes God deal out justice

TODAY let’s look at these two men as we consider manhood and fatherhood...

Manhood & Fatherhood

These roles in our nation and society are under attack. A God fearing man who leads his home and a father who raises his children according to God’s Holy Word is almost despised and looked down upon in our world today.

Dennis Rainey states this about men today… Think of what it must be like for young boys growing up today. Media outlets and educational elites attacked the traditional roles of men and claim that a man who seeks to be a leader in his family is actually oppressing his wife and children. Our culture is permeated with sexuality where children are exposed to explicit messages and distorted images at a far younger age than their parents were… Boys are increasingly medicated because their parents don't know how to channel their masculinity, adventure, and drive. Is it any wonder that boys grow up so confused? In the wake of these storms lies a generation of men who don't know how to be men. They don't know how to have real relationships with women, with their children, or with other men. And many grow up with what I call a courage deficit. They have little idea what courage looks like in a man or what types of courageous choices they need to make as they move through their lives. (Dennis Rainey “Stepping Up A Call To Courageous Manhood” pg. 33)

I COMMEND THE MEN HERE TODAY… who braved the culture today to bring your family to fellowship with the family of God, to hear and learn from, and engage with God’s Word. Thank you for your courage!!!

We have some amazing men of God in our churches, God honoring, courageous, willing to stand for what God has stated in His Scriptures… I find it fascinating after reading this chapter and earlier records of Lot’s life that Peter declares Lot a RIGHTEOUS Man!? 2 Peter 2:6-9

2 Peter 2:6–9 NASB95

and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (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), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,

Righteous Lot

This is an amazing passage! We see Lot living in this depiction of evil on earth yet tormented… What happens when we allow ourselves to get too close to the flames of this world?

Lot made the choice to live there… drawn by its appeal and pleasures

Lot raises his family there, now away from Abraham and others following God

Lot knew God but does not pass this on to his family

Lot has allowed his moral compass to shift (daughters to the men verse 8)

1 Corinthians 15:33 NASB95

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

He failed to protect his children!!!

What messages are we sending them by what we are willing to allow?

Lot has not taken the spiritual lead in his home (son-in-laws think he is a joke verse 14)

What evil and sins did he overlook for his daughter to be husbands???

Lot is having a difficult time leaving… (this world should NOT feel like home! Verse 16)

He wants to hold on to it just a little…ZOAR=small

It was difficult to get Lot out of Sodom and Sodom out of his family

As husband he failed to lead in the marriage (Wife falls behind… longingly looks back! Verse 26)

Lot had allowed the influences of Sodom and Gomorrah to take hold of his children

Justified sexual relations, deception, drunkeness

Sodom was reborn in the cave

Lot no doubt in his regret allowed drunkeness to come

The Ammonites and Moabites would be evil nations against Israel as they enter the Land

THIS WOULD BE LOT’s LEGACY…

Righteousness & Justice

Men / Fathers… it is time we take command of our homes… CONSIDER what God stated in the last chapter Genesis 18:19

Genesis 18:19 NASB95

“For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”

What God did, what we have recorded in scripture is to be an example and a warning for us! Men we are called to lead our homes spiritually. IT IS NOT ENOUGH to follow Him just yourself! Teach your family the WAYS of the Lord:

James 4:4 is a warning for us

James 4:4 NASB95

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:14-17 is crystal clear directives men...

1 John 2:14–17 NASB95

I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

John later states that greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world!

Rainey puts it well when he states: “God designed men to be generational messengers sending messages of character values and visions through other men to a time beyond our horizon. We were made to outlive ourselves, generally speaking, by men mentoring younger men.”

Paul did this for 2 Timothy 2:1-2

2 Timothy 2:1–2 NASB95

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

An older saint as he writes Psalm 71:17-18 declares...

Psalm 71:17–18 NASB95

O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.

2 Men & 2 Choices

Dad’s men we need to share the stories and our faith to our children, grandchildren, share your testimony, share answered prayers, share this amazing God you serve… DO NOT ASSUME THEY JUST KNOW!!!

What an honor

What a challenge

What an amazing Heavenly Father!!!

We close chapter 19 summarizing two men, over two chapters, who made two choices… both declared righteous by scripture ONE DECLARED THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL!

Lot chose to allow himself to live investing in folly

Abraham chose to invest in his Faith

Will those you lead, wife, children, others find you faithful?