15And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16And 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. 17And 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. 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;
The text tonight shows us how easy it is to get caught up in the iniquity of sin - and lose your salvation.
A close investigation of the city of Sodom reveals that it was a bustling place: a city filled with energy and excitement. It was a place which came alive when the sun went down. In Sodom, ‘diversity’ was the watchword of the day for they loved their ‘diverse lifestyles’ which encouraged all kinds of lewd and lasciviousness behavior, especially homosexuality. Men were sleeping men, women were sleeping with women. They had even gotten the animals of the city in on their nasty behavior. Jerry Springer could have taped a lifetime worth of shows in Sodom. But little did the Sodomites know that God was about to punish them for their ways.
God has a system that will let you go so far, and then God punishes you for actions. The Bible says that “The wages of sin is death!” That means that the only thing that sin pays is dying.
God, here, is getting ready to punish them for their pride, their indifference and their disobedience to His will, but the part of this story that really bothers me is the fact that this was a place captivated “Lot’s” attention. The Bible says that Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom.
I don’t think that Lot was an evil person... Lot just got caught up in the lure of Sodom. The word says that: “Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, towards Zoar. So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out towards the east.”
Understand that Lot and Abraham (you remember Abraham don’t ya?) The one whom God said “His seed would be blessed?” Lot and Abraham had been hanging together, but they kind of got into an argument about cattle watering rights and such, and they decided to separate rather than fight and when Lot looked towards the east and saw Sodom... his eyes lit up because Sodom looked good!
I know I’m saved tonight, but can I tell ya? “Sometimes the devil makes sin look good!” (Look like I’m have to preach to myself tonight!)
Well since I can’t speak for you, I’ll speak for myself... “I know that unless I stay in God’s will and consult Him for all things... I’m subject to fall into Satan’s trap!!”
God didn’t tell him, Lot choose the land of Sodom himself! That was his main fault. He made choices without consulting God! (If you pray with me, I’ll take you someplace tonight)
Now Lot didn’t live there initially… he lived upon a hill overlooking the city. But eventually, (everybody say “eventually”) Eventually... the allure of the city…
– The lights of the city…
– The sounds of the city…
– The crowds of the city...
Captivated Lot’s attention… and drew Lot TO the city!
Watch him... Lot moved from his tent outside of the city, to a house on one of the main streets of the city!
– He raised his family there…
– His daughters went to Sodom High...
– His wife joined the Sodom Women’s circle...
– He became a man of influence there… and was one of those who sat in the gates! His family fell in love with the city!
. . . And the saddest part about was that he was fully aware of the things going on around him! He was fully aware of the reputation of the city! But what he failed to see was that judgment was on its way! (Tell somebody: “There is way which seems right, but the end is way of death!” Now turn on the other side and tell them: “Make sure you know before you go!”)
Well... you know the story, if you’ve studied your Bible: God sent angels to destroy that place! Abraham tried to save it, for the record says that he pleaded with the angels: “If you find a hundred righteous, will you spare the city?”
But they couldn’t find a hundred, so they looked for 90…
They looked for fifty…
They looked for ten…
. . . But couldn’t find even ten righteous in Sodom and Gommorah! But thank God for mercy! For the Bible says… in verse 19: “because of magnified mercy, God saved Lot and his family!” And I want somebody to know tonight that God has been merciful to you, but don’t keep playin’ God for a chump because at some point God’s mercy may run out!
Beware… that one last time may be the last time!
One last passionate kiss might lead to an unplanned
pregnancy… One last drink might lead to alcholism…One last snort or one last hit might lead to addiction...
– One last fight…
– One last lie
– One last fling
– One last fit of anger or rage and you might get stuck. That’s why I stopped by to tell you today “It’s Time To Get Out And Stay Out!”
Let me see if I can cut a few corners here. All Lot’s wife wanted was one last look, but the real problem is, one last time is never satisfied!
One more is never enough! One more always wants one more! And if you’ve read the story, you know that Lot’s wife’s one more time, turned out to be her last time!
– One last look… turned out to be the last look…
– One last thought… ended up being her last thought…
. . . And the Bible says, “she was turned into a pillar of salt!”
Why salt Pastor? Why wasn’t Lot’s wife just incinerated? Why a pillar of salt? I’m glad you asked that question. You see, Lot’s wife’s disobedience was more than just looking back. It was an outright rejection of God. God had no choice but to also make an example of her. He made her into a pillar of common salt.
Now watch this: Jesus says: "We are supposed to be the salt of the earth, but if the salt looses its savor, it’s not good for much of anything except to be trodden under the foot of me" And so it’s clear here that God when we disobey God we lose our place in God’s kingdom and become nothing more than dead and useless things!
I’m gonna leave you alone in a minute, but my sisters and brothers... don’t let the same thing happen to you that happened to Mrs. Lot. God is looking for obedient people who will help season the world. If God has delivered you from something, don’t look back – for the sun is setting and pretty soon it’ll be dark. And so, whatever sin you’re in: “It’s Time To Get Out And Stay Out!”
. . . And the thing I like about God is that He CAN bring you out! I wonder, is there anybody in this house can testify that only God brought your out of some stuff? Are there any former “Used to be’s in here?”
– You used to get high on dope, but now you’re high on God!
– You used to fall down drunk, but now you fall out in the spirit!
– You used to cuss folk out, but now you tell them “May the Lord God Bless You Real Good!”
I don’t know about you tonight, but I’ve learned that the only answer to my problems is God!
– The only way out of my valley of distress is God…
– The only cure for my brokeness is God…
– The only solution for my worry is God…
– The only hope for salvation my your soul is God…
Church... I’ve learned that:
– Only God can give me peace which passeth all understanding…
– Only God can teach me to say, in whatever state I find myself, I’ve learned to be content…
– Only God will stand me you, through thick and thin…
– Good and bad…
– Right and wrong…
– Only God is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother…
– Only God will be there when all others turn their back and walk away…
– Only God will go with me through the fire and flood, The storm and the rain…
Yes... God has a plan of salvation, Hope and deliverance for your life! But I’ve learned that God has only one plan of salvation! God does not have two plans or three plans. God does not have one plan for rich people and another plan for poor people…
God does not have one plan for black people and another plan for white people. But God has one plan – and it is not a customizable plan where you pick some from column A and some from column B… but God has only ONE PLAN! And that plan, is salvation by grace, through faith in His Son Jesus Christ!
– He is the only weay to get out and stay out…
– He is the only way to get out, and not look back…
– He is the only way to life….Love… Joy…. Peace and Rest…There is no other plan!
Well... as I get ready to close. I want you to know that in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, God used angels to rescue Lot and his family from the iniquity of the city!
God always has something, or somebody He can use to bring His children out of sin and bondage.
– In the days of Flood… God used an ark as a shelter for Noah and his family…
– In the days of drought in Canaan, God used Joseph… and corn in Egypt…
– And when there arose another Pharaoh, who knew not Joseph and Israel was in affliction down in Egypt…
God used the blood of the lamb on the posts of the door…
. . . And when the death angel saw the blood... it passed over that house…
. . . And if you look at verse 15 of the text, it says that “when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.”
In other words, they were trying to rush Lot and his family out of the city, telling him, “Arise, get up now, and get out of here! Take your wife, take your daughters and flee from this place, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city!”
But look at the text… see it there in the 16th verse? It says, “he lingered... “ He didn’t move... “he lingered…” In other words, he didn’t get in a hurry… but “he hung around!” He lingered right there in Sodom! In that strange, but familiar place, “he lingered!“ In Sodom, in that corruptible, detestable place… “he lingered” And somebody today is “lingering” when they ought to fleeing!
What are you saying Pastor?
– What has God told you leave behind…
– What has God told you to get away from…
“You Need To Get Out And Stay Out!” Don’t get lost in lingering... but take advantaged of “Magnified Mercy” That’s what it says in the “C” clause verse 19: “and thou hast magnified thy mercy...”
It’s time for me to quit this sermon, but:
– Magnified mercy… looked beyond my faults and saw my needs…
– Magnified mercy… spared my life when I didn’t even deserve it…
– Magnified mercy hung Jesus on the cross….
– Magnified mercy laid him down in the grave…
– Magnified mercy caused Him to get up one early Sunday morning with all power in His hands!
I’m going to my seat but Magnified mercy…
– Will put clapping in your hands…
– Running in your feet…
– And joy bells down in your soul…
– Magnified mercy will make you stand up and praise the Lord…
– Magnified mercy will make you say amen…
– Magnified mercy will give you a song the angels can’t sing…
– Magnified mercy, will make you newborn again,
Do you have magnified mercy in your life?
Have you tried him?
Thank God tonight for mercy. Mercy which knows our needs more than we know our needs…
– Mercy which makes a way, in spite of us….
In spite of our shortcomings… In spite of our lack of faithfulness… thank God for “Magnified mercy…” No wonder the song writer says, “I once WAS lost in sin... but Jesus took me in!"
“It’s Time To Get Out And Stay Out”
