One More Lick?

WHY SODOM? WHY US?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT: Ezekiel 16:49 and Genesis 18 and 19

Sin is a lot like the icing Mom used to make.

I would sneak a lick out of the icing bowl, and it

tasted so good, I would just have to get another lick. Then mom would catch me and I would get my hands smacked.

Sin will take you farther than you planned on going.

Sin will cost you more than you intended on paying.

Sin will keep you longer than you planed on staying.

Sin leaves terrible scars.

I. TYPE --- A FRIEND OF GOD --- FOCUS ON ETERNAL.

Abraham was God’s man. Abraham is a friend of God.

Every where that Abraham went there is a note that he built an altar.

Abraham is the first record of tithing. Abraham is known as a GIVER.

Abraham received a PROMISE from God.

As the norm, there is a PROMISE from God

--- followed by a series of PROBLEMS

--- then follows THE DIVINE PROVISION.

II. TYPE --- EARTHLY MINDED --- FOCUS ON TEMPORAL

Nephew Lot is not on record as a giver.

Lot could not control eyes nor could he control his desires.

There are records that record Lot visited his Uncle Abraham’s altars,

but I find no record that Lot built or valued God’s altars.

III. GOD NEEDS THOSE TO STAND IN THE GAP, INTERCEDER

A. Gen. 18 Abraham has 3 visitors. One of the visitors appears to be the Lord.

Abraham sought mercy. God please spare for 50 Righteous?

45? --- 40? --- 30? --- 20? Don’t Be Angry, God! Please have mercy for 10?

B. Judgment is sure. Come, Jesus --- Gen. 19

Two Angels dispatched to destroy the city of Sodom

Lot entertains, men of city endanger Lot and his family.

The men are twice blinded, blinded by sin, and are blinded to judgment.

IV. HEED THE WARNING!

Angels warn --- Lot and his family are clearly warned.

Gen. 19:14 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.

V. HOW SOON CAN LIFE TURN?

Laughter turns to Spine chilling, blood curdling CRIES!

Listen to the sounds in Sodom? Inhale, what do you smell?

Watch with your eyes? The judgment of God is a terrible thing.

But remember God does not bring judgment, people bring judgment on themselves.

It is a matter of choices.

Gen. 19:24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and it from the Lord out of heaven. 25: And he overthrew those cities and all the plain,

and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

26: But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 28: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

Smoke and destruction is seen for many miles as the twin-sister cities burn.

Smell - sulfur, human charred flesh. Sound - terrible screams, cry

See - family suffering. Taste/touch - remains.

VI. Why Sodom? Why Gomorrah? WHY??

I’ve heard, and this is partially true? If this was the whole true, why not just send aids?

Let’s see what sins destroy a society?

Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of my sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

50: And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Sin #1 PRIDE -

vanity, conceit, exalted opinion of self, lower of others, over concern own appearance or accomplishments

A. Pride involves rebellion

B. Pride puts others down.

C. Pride is selfish, self-centered

Sodom was rich, fat, powerful Army, education, people of pleasure

Pride goes before the fall, God is the #1 Priority.

Sin #2 - FULLNESS OF BREAD

"Belly god" Phil 3:19 End is destruction "Their god is their belly."

A. Slave to appetite.

B. Drunk - no longer in control

Sensual - Devoted to Pleasing Senses

If it feels good, do it.

Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. (11 Tim. 3)

Gluttony - excessive

Watch your eyes, watch your eyes, What they see.

Sin #3 - ABUNDANCE OF IDLENESS

IDLENESS - idle not useful, doing nothing, not employed, not willing to work

- Habit to avoid work, move slow or aimless

God is not against resting on the 7th day, but the primary reason is worship.