Sermon Central
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Losers Never Win
Contributed by Craig Benner on May 18, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: You don't have to be a loser. Unfortunately, many choose this route as a way of life. They never really become overcomers. Make the right choices, as hard and sacrificial as they may be. Remember Lot and Lots' wife.
Central Text---Gen. 13:7-14
Lu 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Lu 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Lu 17:32 Remember Lot's wife
2Pe 2:7 ¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:.
Lucas 17:28-32
28 Asimismo, también será como pasó en los días de Lot: Comían, bebían, compraban, vendían, plantaban y edificaban;
29 pero el día en que Lot salió de Sodoma, llovió del cielo fuego y azufre, y los destruyó a todos.
30 Así será en el día en que se manifieste el Hijo del Hombre.
31 En aquel día, el que esté en la azotea y sus cosas estén en la casa, no descienda para tomarlas. Asimismo, el que esté en el campo, no vuelva atrás.
32 Acordaos de la mujer de Lot.
2a Pedro 2:7
y si rescató al justo Lot, quien era acosado por la conducta sensual de los malvados
Lot the Loser
I. He had a WEAK Devotion toward God
As long as Lot ran with Abraham, he seemed to do okay. He depended on Abraham to do the praying, to make the spiritual decisions, etc.
He does not show any inclination to being spiritual on his own.
Abraham was a builder of altars to God (Gen. 12:7)
We never read of Lot building an altar.
Decide to be a spiritual man, with or without someone to prod you on.
II. Lot CHOSE to depart from godly influence
It began with division. Some of the workers of Lot and of Abraham had a quarrel. Instead of seeking restitution, Lot accepted separation. Since he never had a strong devotion to God before, now there was no one to encourage him on.
His own weakness enticed him to make a bad decision for him and his family.
He only looked at the "wrapper" and not the "gift" inside the package. You can't judge a book by its cover. A person who is not spiritual has very shallow discernment.
The Degression of Lot
1. He looked the wrong way---Gen. 13:10
2. He chose wrong (by sight)---Gen. 13:11a
3. He started journeying that direction----Gen. 13:11b
4, He made Sodom his dwellingplace---Gen. 13:12
5. Lot became a citizen of Sodom---Gen. 19:1
III. Lot intermingled with the wicked and godless
Every day on every corner the citizens of Sodom openly practiced their hideous sins.
It had to be a slow process for Lot and his family to feel comfortable in Sodom. This was stark contrast to travelling with the pious Abraham.
In fact, they became so comfortable that they had no desire to leave, even when God sent angels to warn them of destruction.
Gen. 19:12-14
12 ¶ Aquellos hombres dijeron a Lot: --¿Tienes aquí a alguien más? Yernos, hijos, hijas; cualquiera que tengas en la ciudad, sácalos de este lugar. (SRVA)
12 ¶ And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: (KJV)
13 Porque vamos a destruir este lugar, por cuanto el clamor de ellos ha llegado a ser grande delante de Jehovah. Por eso Jehovah nos ha enviado para destruirlo. (SRVA)
13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. (KJV)
14 Entonces salió Lot y habló a sus yernos, los que habían de casarse con sus hijas, y les dijo: --¡Levantaos, salid de este lugar, porque Jehovah va a destruir la ciudad! Pero a sus yernos les pareció que bromeaba. (SRVA)
14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. (KJV)
Lot barely escaped with his life and two daughters. But look at all that he lost.
1. He lost his wife.
Gen. 19:26
26 ¶ Entonces la mujer de Lot miró atrás, a espaldas de él, y se convirtió en una columna de sal. (SRVA)
26 ¶ But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (KJV)
2. He lost friends and relatives in Sodom---at least his sons-in-law.
3. He lost possessions--all that he had accumulated over his years living there.
4. He lost his Integrity-----no one could point to Lot as an example to follow.
Luke 17:27, 28 tell us that the times of Noah and of Lot are the same kind of times that will usher in the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are living in such time. Get serious and get ready. He is coming back just any day now.
