Introduction
How does a person end up with their lives in a mess.
They feel that they have failed.
Their marriage is ruined.
Their finances are in trouble.
They have lost their job.
They feel all alone.
If you throw a ball straight up in the air when does it start to come down?
If a nation begins to build an empire, when does that empire begin to decline?
When does the Sun or the Moon begin to set?
When does the wind blowing from the east reach the west?
When does power begin to dissipate?
When does desire turn to lust and lust to sin?
Turn with me to Genesis 13:5-12 as we stand and I read from the Word of God.
Scripture
5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we be brethren.
9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Genesis 13:5-12
Prayer
I. Pitching His Tent Toward Sodom
This made good sense, to the natural mind.
Plenty of provisions but a discernable distance between he and the world.
You have to interact with the World.
His position toward Sodom would place him in position to be a witness to the inhabitants.
As God blessed him, the world would be able to see it, and would come and ask How and Why giving him great influence with the people.
He could demonstrate that being one of God’s does not make one a dangerous extremist.
Just look at all the people I could lead to the Lord!
II. Pitching His Tent Toward Sodom
This allowed the brilliant prospects of the immediate to blind him to the ultimate and unavoidable conclusion.
He thought that he was strong enough to withstand the temptations.
He thought he could protect his children from their influence.
III. Pitching His Tent Toward Sodom
This began Lot’s decline.
His wife was a pillar of salt in the valley below.
All of his earthly goods, his home, his wealth, his flocks, his prestige lay buried in the ashes of fire and brimstone.
One day he woke up on the side of a mountain from a drunken stupor.
Each of his daughters carried his child.
Now there was going to be two nations that would rise up against God’s promised nation.
And it all started on the day when he pitched his tent toward Sodom.
He had had it all!
IV. Application - We are No Different from Lot.
A. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we go to church for spiritual
things but go to the world for entertainment.
B. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we go to church for spiritual
advice but go to the world for other advice.
C. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we go to church to get
spiritual and to the world to get fashionable.
D. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our Message from the
Bible but our Method from the World.
E. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our vision from the
Bible but our Priorities from the World.
F. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our focus from the
Bible but our motivation from the World.
G. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we set our standards from the
Bible, but our behavior from the Flesh.
H. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our Commission from
the Scriptures but our Resources from the flesh.
I. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our song lyrics from
the Bible and our Music from the World.
J. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we get our Assignments from
the Holy Ghost and our Excuses from our world
K. We Pitch Our Tent Toward Sodom - When we want our children to serve
the Lord after we have educated them to succeed in the World.
There is an old gospel song that speaks about the city of God.
We’re marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion; We’re marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God.
We need to re-direct our lives and focus on Zion the city of God. Our march should be upward and forward toward that beautiful city of God.
My plea for you today is: let down those tent flaps, pull up the tent stakes, fold up your tent and pitch your tent toward Zion, the beautiful city of God.
V. Application - We are Different from the World.
A. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We go to church for spiritual
things and don’t go to the world for entertainment.
B. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We go to church for spiritual
advice and don’t go to the world for other advice.
C. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We go to church to get
spiritual and forsake the world’s idea of being fashionable.
D. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We get our Message from the
Bible and flea from the Methods of the World.
E. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We get our vision from the
Bible and set our Priorities from the principals of God’s Word.
F. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We get our focus from the Bible
but our motivation from the Holy Spirit.
G. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We set our standards from the
Bible, but our behavior from being Christ-like.
H. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We get our Commission from the
Scriptures but our Resources from the body of Christ.
I. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We get our song lyrics from the
Bible and our Music from the Spirit of God.
J. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We get our Assignments from the
Holy Ghost and our Excuses are diminished by the power of God.
K. When We Pitch Our Tent Toward Zion- We want our children to serve
the Lord so, we have educated them in the precepts of God’s Word.
Conclusion/Invitation
Where are you pitching your tent? That is to say where do you spend most of your time, who are your friends and what are your priorities?
Are you pitching your tent toward Sodom or is it toward Zion?
You have to choose one or the other.
You cannot straddle the fence.
You will either love one or hate the other. You cannot serve to masters.
Will you choose the Word or God, what will your answer be?
