Intro:
1. Some things are slow starters. The first electric light was so dim that a candle was needed to see its socket; One of the first steamboats took 32 hours to chug its way from New York to Albany, a distance of 150 miles; Wilbur and Orville Writght's first airplane flight lasted only 12 seconds; and the first automobiles traveled 2 to 4 miles per hour and broke down often. Carriages would pass them with their passengers shouting, "Get a horse!"
2. That reminds me of Abram, it took him a while to get going in his walk with God - He leaves Ur only to get staled out for years in Haran; he leaves Haran and barely gets his tent up, when he heads for Egypt; he immediately betrays his wife and is forced out of Egypt by the morals of a pagan Pharoah.
But slow starters are not no-starters! And now we see Abram getting into gear and making some real spiritual progress.
3. Conformity of Abraham.
Trans: Gen. 13:5-18
I. FIRST, CONFORMITY DOES NOT ELIMINATE STRIFE. 5-8
A. The Strife with Lot. 5a
Lot also, who went with Abram - Lot caused Abraham a lot of strive. Notice Abram is now back in the will of God, yet that does not mean a strife free life.
The early church was a godly and growing church but it was not without it's strife.
"Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint..." Ac.6:1
Two godly men Paul and Barnabus understood strife, over John Marks carnality.
"39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God." Acts 15:39-40 (NKJV)
"1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body." James 3:1-2 (NKJV)
To dwell above with saints we love,
O that will sure be glory.
But to dwell below with saints we know,
Well, that's another story!
B. The Strife of an abundance of Livestock. 5b-6
5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. 6 Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together - we think prosperity would solve all of our problems and make our life problem free.
America has been obssessed with prosperity for years. In 2006, Japanese workers had higher rates of anxiety, mental illness, depression, and suicide than ever before.
In an attempt to globalize, corporate Japan adopted the working practices of the United States. The focus was on merit-based pay, promotions, and indiviualism.
This was a departure from the traditional Japanese emphases on seniority and teamwork.
The name of the game was individual accumulation of wealth and personal security.
The result was "60% of the workers suffered from high anxiety, and 65% of the companies reported soaring levels of mental illness.
Directors of the Japanese Mental Health Institution blamed the infiltration of Western values, for the rising levels of depression among workers and the country's suicide rate, which had doubled!
Prosperity is not all its cracked up to be - if the grass is green on the other side, you can bet the water bill is higher also.
"The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep." Ecclesiastes 5:12 (NKJV)
C. The Strife in their Livelihood. 7-8
7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. 8 So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren - strife can happen anywhere - on the job; in the family; at church; in your neighborhood.
Trans:Again as we have seen many many times you cannot eliminate problems in this life. There is and always will be something that agrivates us...even when we walk with God.
Job was a righteous man yet he confessed, ""My soul loathes my life; I will give free course to my complaint, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul." Job 10:1 (NKJV)
Even Solomon cried, "Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind." Ecclesiastes 2:17 (NKJV)
Sidenote - Abram shows us how to deal with strife:
(1) Abram Saw there was a problem. He admitted it existed. 13:7
You cannot solve a problem by ignoring it.
(2) He Shared the problem with Lot. The first step in dealing with strife is to talk about it. He took the first steps by going to Lot. 13:8
(3) He offerd a reasonable Solution to end the strife. He suggest that they might part ways. 13:8
(4) He Self-abased, not demanding and unreasonable. He let Lot have the first choice. 13:9 God has promised Abram this Land, he was willing to let God fulfill His promises to him. 13:9
Someone came up with the CLASP system.
C—Calm Down! Anger, violence, aggression doesnt help.
L—Lower your voice. Yelling is easier then Yielding but it solves nothing.
A—Acknowledge the feelings and mind-set of others.
S—State your opinion, say what's on your mind.
P—Propose a solution. The issue is not Who is right, but What is right.
II. FURTHERMORE, CONFORMITY ENCOURAGES SEPARATION. 9-13
A. From the Worldly believer. 9-12
How many of us have a Lot in our lives - a relationship with a person that God told us break off. Mt.18:15-17
"9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people [That is a believer, v. 1-2]. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world [lost person], or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person." 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
"But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us." 2 Thessalonians 3:6
"14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
This is not saying we only fellowship with perfect people - if that were true we would never be able to fellowship with anybody - including ourselves.
This talking about a person who is living in unconfessed blantant sin. Like living in an immoral relationship with someone; if you know a believer who uses filthy language; a believer who is going out to the bars; or a believer that has a carnal mind-set. etc.
Lot is a believer - 2 Pet. 2:7-8 but he is a worldly one.
1. He apparently has no Devotions - notice he never makes an altar or offers any kind of prayer.
2. Therefore, he lives by worldly Desires. 13:10
3. Therefore he make poor Decisions. 13:11
4. He makes a Downward progression - 13:12...14:12...19:1.
When we get serious about our walk with God, we will no longer be like Lot; and we will refuse to allow the Lot's to influence us. OUR CONTACT WITH THEM WILL BE TO TRY AND PULL THEM OUT OF THE WORLD; NOT TO JOIN THEM IN THEIR WORLDLY WAYS.
B. From the Wicked unbeliever. 13
As we have seen we cannot be totally separated from the wicked - we would have to leave the world. You may have to work with a drunk...but you dont have to join him in the bar after work!
Abram was separated from Sodom - so should we!
The Separation of the Believer from the ungodly is well established:
*Regardless if it's Decidedly popular - "You shall not follow a crowd to de evil." Ex. 23:2
*Those who are bent of Doing evil we reject - Psa.1:/ 119:115
*From those who are clearly Defiled - Ezra 6:21
*From marrying those who are in Disbelief - Eza.9:1/2 Cor. 6:14
*Devices that are unclean—2 Corinthians 6:17
*From those engaged in the works of Darkness—Ephesians 5:11
Dobie Gray has a song, "In Crowd"
When you're in with the in crowd
It's so easy to find romance
Any time of the year, don't you hear
If it's square, we ain't there"
The believer is never in with with the "in crowd!"
III. FINALLY, CONFORMITY OPENS THE DOOR TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS. 13:14-18
A. God's manifested Presence. 14a
And the Lord said to Abram after Lot had separated from him: - after the separation came revelation. God manifested Himself to Abram. Ja. 4:8
Spurgeon, "The nearer we come to God, the more graciously will He reveal Himself to us. When the prodigal comes to his father, his father runs to meet him. When the wandering dove returns to the ark, Noah puts out his hand to pull her in unto him...Come then, dear friend, let us draw nigh to God who so graciously awaits us, yea, comes to meet us.
Did you ever notice that passage in Isaiah 58:9?
"Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness." There the Lord seems to put Himself at the disposal of His people, saying to them, "Here I am."
How can we hesitate to draw near? God is nigh to forgive, to bless, to comfort, to help, to quicken, to deliver. Let it be the main point with us to get near to God. This done, all is done.
If we draw near to others, they may before long grow weary of us and leave us; but if we seek the Lord alone, no change will come over His mind, but He will continue to come nearer and yet nearer to us by fuller and more joyful fellowship."
Tozer, "Why aren't Christians the happiest, the most easeful people in all the world? Because we seek to have our rest in things. Things like our jobs; our material goods; position; or people.
Were not happy people because our mind-set is on things. We put our confidence in things and God. God and job; God and health; God and wealth; We place a plus sign after God instead of a period.
You ask me, "Don't you have things?" Sure I do. I have a lot of books. I have a wife, and some children, and grandchildren, and friends - I have all that.
But as soon as I set my hopes and comfort upon things and people, I'll lose something out of my heart. It msut be God and nothing else. Then, whatever else God gives us, we can hold at arms length.
If there's anything necessary to your eternal happiness, but God, you're not yet the kind of Christians that you ought to be. This kind of Christianity doesn't draw big crowds. It draws only those who have their heart set on God, and want God more than anything else in the world.
B. God's many Promises. 14b-17
..."Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you." - the thing that amuses me, is that, this included the very land that Lot ventured off too!
Abraham never received the Land in his day! Never! He lived his life in a tent, never owning this promised land. BUT ONE DAY HE WILL! HOW? During the Millenial Kingdom. But Abram is dead - no he is not! Years after his death God spoke to Moses saying, "I am the God of Abraham..." not I was!!! He is alive and He will enter that land in a glorified body!
It may sound strange to those who lack spiritual discernment, but the one, who ultimately owns, every foot of this world, is the believer! Everything Bill Gates or Donald Trump or who ever ownes - actually belongs to us! And we will one day possess it all!
"Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5 (NKJV) Do we really believe that?
"21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come--all are yours." 1 Corinthians 3:21-22
Paul says All Workers are yours; all the World is yours; the Whole of life and death; all the Wealth is yours -things present or to come; the Whatever! ALL ARE YOURS!
And it's greater then you think! What would you buy if you were a billionaire? Computer? Ipod? Boat? New car? Abraham was wealthy but he could not buy any of those because they did not even exit! There was no TV, no cars, etc.
So his wealth by todays standards meant very little - at best he could buy some more cows!
But out wealth today, is nothing compared to the wealth of eternity. You cannot buy glorified ears! You cannot buy a body that will travel through space without a space ship; you cannot buy a life without pain, bills, or death.
So the wealth today is nothing compared to the wealthy we will enjoy throughout all eternity! We simple cannot image how wonderful it will be.
We don't have to fight and fret and seek to get whats ours - just wait! God has literally promised the believer will one day we will have it all!
I think part of the problem is we know that we do not deserve, nor could we ever afford such mega-blessings.
Mike Herman, had a habit of collecting baseball cards. But as his college years began, he had to abandon his hobby because he did not have the resources to waste.
Later, he entered a career that allowed him to take up his hobby again. One of the enticements of the industry, is to insert rare cards inserted into packs of inexpensive cards.
Mike purchased one of these inexpensive packs and was amazed to find one of the rarest cards within.
Mike said, "It had a real autograph on it. It was one of those ser-en-dip-i-tous [it speaks of something most fortunate, coming from a character in a Persian fairy tale] moments, when I wasn't sure if this was really what I thought it was.
The shock eventually wore off, and the realization kicked in that I had found something I would have paid hundreds of dollars for if I had not found it in that $5.00 pack of cards."
God's promise is like that - it is like something out of a fairy tale! It is shocking in it's enormity and it is something that could not be purchased with all the money on the planet!
C. Being mindful that God is Propitiated. 18
Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD - there he goes again - an Altar!
You see that - Abram never ever get away from the substitutionary death of Christ. That is exactly what these sacrifices pointed too (Jn. 1:29).
You say Preacher must we hear about the blood of Christ every sermon! Yes sir! But it is greater then the blood that cleanses from all sin - it is the righteous life that is imputed to our account!
If someone shot a man stone dead, and you remove the bullet, the cause of death, will that bring the man back to life? No! It will not! He must have life! The cause of our death is sin - but we need more then just removing our sin.
And Christ did much more then merely forgive us our sin, He has given us newness of life; resurrected life; righteous life; and it takes imputed righteouness to satisfy, to propitiate God!
"For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)." Romans 5:17
One noted, "I began to pretent that God was really satisfied through the substitutionary death of Christ. I decided to just pretend that I was righteous, with Christ's righteousness, in God's eyes.
I didn't really believe this, mind you. But I pretended that the Lord accepted me - in Christ.
I started out pretending. But soon God moved in, and He simple astounded me; before long I found myself actually believing Him. Before my eyes, everything began to change - I went from pretending to actually believing. When I counted it true, the Holy Spirit made it true in my experience!" [I should know that person is me!]
Con:
1. Perhaps you are a slow-starter...I am! But as Willie Nelson says in a song, "Still, is still moving to me!" We may be slow but we do have our spurts of progress - and we should thank God for that.
2. When Pablo Casals reached 95, a young reported threw him a question: "Mr. Casals, you are 95 and the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice six hours a day?" And Mr. Casals answered, "Because I think I’m making progress."
We have to work at making progress - but the goal is not progress, but conformity to God's will for the glory of God! The only thing that progress, for the sake of progress is the cancer cell.
Johnny Palmer Jr
StrugglingThruScriptures.ning.com
