PLATEAU? CHOOSING TO LIVE IN ZOAR, THE PLACE OF LITTLE...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Thanks Garry Brackett for the trail to this lesson...
I USE RUBBER BANDS FOR THIS LESSON...
The real value of a rubber band is when you STRETCH IT.
Discuss how a rubber band must feel when it is stretched beyond it's norm?
LET US CONSIDER AGAIN WHAT IS THE ENEMY OF BEST?
WHAT KEEPS US FROM GETTING BETTER?
My opinion the enemy of GETTING BETTER, OR DOING THE BEST IS SIMPLY
GOOD... Once one gets good at something they probably will never progress any farther.
WILL WE SETTLE FOR THE PLATEAU ---???
A large flat area of land that is higher than other areas of land, or the period of time when
some one does not increase or advance any further... little change, stable...
TO STOP GROWING OR INCREASING, TO BE SATISFIED THE WAY YOU ARE...
GOD HAD A PLAN FOR ABRAHAM... GOD WILL STRETCH ABRAHAM FAR BEYOND HIS
PERSONAL LIMITS AND COMFORTS. TO STRETCH TO BETTER IT MIGHT REQUIRE
YOU TO GET OUT OF YOUR BOX... WE MUST CLIMB OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
LOT WAS SATISFIED WITH GOOD AND SEEMED TO BE LACKING IN A DESIRE TO
GET OUT OF THE BOX.
God had a PLAN FOR ABRAHAM --- Abraham get out of the BOX... LEAVE HARAN...
GOD HAS A BETTER PLAN...
YOU TALK ABOUT STRETCHING --- ABRAHAM WENT TO THE U-HAUL RENTAL STORE
AND RENTED A TRUCK...
CAN YOU IMAGINE ABRAHAM TELLING SARAH TO PACK THE STUFF.
WHERE WE GOING? SHE SAID: ABRAHAM SAID: I DON'T KNOW...
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy
kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee
a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all
families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him;
and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
ABRAHAM'S NEPHEW, LOT NEVER CONTRIBUTES OR GIVES AND IS ALWAYS TAKING.
LOT HAS A WAY OF GETTING INTO TROUBLE AND HE CAN NOT GET OUT OF IT...
ABRAHAM IS FOREVER BAILING LOT OUT OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
EVERY WHERE ABRAHAM TRAVELED WE FIND TWO THINGS...
1. ABRAHAM DUG WELLS --- Those that follow Abraham will drink at Abraham's wells.
2. Abraham was always BUILDING ALTARS to worship and praise God.
THERE IS NEVER A RECORD OF LOT IMPROVING OR DOING BETTER, HE JUST
STAYED GOOD.
THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM ---
LOT WAS SATISFIED WITH GOOD AND SEEMED TO BE LACKING IN A DESIRE TO
GET OUT OF THE BOX.
This difficulty and attitude problem was apparent all through LOT'S DAYS.
Abraham was the ELDER, BUT LOT DEMANDED HIS WAY AND SHOWS WHAT IS IN HIS
HEART. LOT MADE HIS CHOICE...
Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain,
and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
WHY IS THERE NO RECORD OF LOT IMPROVING HIMSELF OR HIS FAMILY?
There is no record of Lot building an ALTAR. There is no record of Lot digging a well?
Apparently LOT WAS SATISFIED WITH "WHAT WILL BE WILL BE!" QUE SERA, SERA...
LOT'S CHOICE REVEALS HIS HEART --- HE CHOSE TO GET HIS WAY OVER HIS
UNCLE.
LOT'S CHOICE WILL BE VERY COSTLY... COMPROMISED VALUES?
Genesis 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.
LOT'S FAITH AND WORKS WERE NEVER STRETCH ---
HE STAY GOOD, NEVER ADVANCING TO BETTER OR BEST...
SEEMS LOT WAS CONTENT WITH GOOD, AND THE ANGELS HAD TO FORCE LOT...
LOT'S FAITH WAS NEVER STRETCHED, AS A MATTER OF FACT WE CALL LOT:
LINGERING LOT --- LET ME PLAY A LITTLE LONGER...
GOD HAS A BETTER PLAN FOR LOT...
Genesis 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand
of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him:
and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17 And it came to pass, when
they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee,
neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
DON'T LOOK BACK?
WHY DO PEOPLE LOOK BACK?
Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
SISTER LOT HAD SOMETHING IN HER HEART ---
HER FAITH WILL NOT BE STRETCHED ---
Sister Lot is mentioned in the New Testament: A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A BAD EXAMPLE...
STRETCH YOUR FAITH --- CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN --- EFFORET DEMANDED...
GOD HAD A PLAN TO STRETCH LOT'S FAITH AND GROW HIM...
LOT WITNESSED HIS WIFE'S REFUSAL TO GO FROM GOOD TO BETTER...
Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said,
Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the
mountain, lest thou be consumed.
The instruction were very clear...
STRETCH YOUR FAITH --- CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN
You can see clearer from the mountain...
O, NO LORD ---I CAN'T ... DON'T STRETCH ME... CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN WILL
REQUIRE ME TO LEAVE GOOD AND GET BETTER... JUST COMPROMISE GOD'S
PLAN AND GIVE ME AN EASIER PLAN...
Genesis 19:18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy
mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the
mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
I WILL SETTLE FOR A LITTLE --- MY FAITH WILL NOT STRETCH, GOD YOU ARE
ASKING TOO MUCH OF ME... IT IS ON THE PLAIN --- I WILL NOT HAVE TO EXERT
MUCH EFFORT...
Genesis 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one:
Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
AS A RUBBER BAND HAS LITTLE VALUE UNTIL IT IS STRETCHED,
SO FAITH HAS LITTLE VALUE UNTIL IT IS STRETCHED BEYOND HUMAN ABILITY.
LINGERING LOT HAD COMPROMISED GOD'S DIVINE PLAN FOR HIM AND
ACCEPTED THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD...
UNDERSTAND THIS: YOU WILL FIND LITTLE PEACE AND JOY OUT OF THE
DIVINE WILL...
FEAR, WORRY, ANXIETY AND STRESS GROW FROM THE SPIRIT OF STAYING
THE SAME...
Genesis 19:30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two
daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and
his two daughters.
HOW SAD TO STAY GOOD AND NEVER REACH FOR BETTER ---
LOT'S GRANDCHILDREN WILL CALL HIM DADDY ---
THIS BATTLE GOES BACK TO THE NIGHT LOT PITCHED HIS TENT TOWARD SODOM...
GOD'S PLAN WILL STRETCH ABRAHAM OVER AND OVER ---
ABRAHAM GREW FROM GOOD --- TO BETTER --- TO BEST ---
AS AN OLD MAN ABRAHAM AND HIS SON CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN OF FAITH...
Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham,
and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
ABRAHAM CLIMB MOUNT MORIAH ---
Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt
offering: so they went both of them together.
CONCLUSION: Have you been on the plane or plateau and your faith and your works
stay the same old same old? Few people wanted to be stretched.
No sadder words of pen or tongue than the words WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
Most people never read then Bible or study their Sunday School lesson? Well, get real
most people never attend Sunday School.
WILL WE BE SATISTIFIED TO STAY WHERE WE ARE, NEVER IMPROVING?
NEVER READING? Is it the LAZY person's option to STAY THE SAME.
Never improving their marriage? Their church?
IS AVERAGE AND PLATEAU ACCEPTABLE.
I KNOW LEADERS THAT FUSS AT THOSE UNDER THEM AND THEY HAVE
BEEN ON THE PLATEAU THEY ACCUSE OTHERS OF...
WE NEED A HOLY DISSATISFACTION TO LAUNCH US INTO THE HARVEST TIME.
IT IS PURE INSANTITY TO THINK YOU CAN KEEP DOING THING THE SAME OLD WAY
AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT OUTCOME...
REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE TRAP OF WANTING TO LIVE IN ZOAR,
THE LAND OF THE LITTLE, IT IS TIME TO STEP IN FAITH.
IT IS HARD TO BEAT A PERSON THAT NEVER GIVES UP...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
