https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/CreepingTowardSodom.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Genesis 13:1-13<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. Lot’s problems began when his herdsmen could no longer get along with the herdsmen of\nAbram – Genesis 13:5-7\n A. This is often the first sign of problems among brethren – they are no longer able to\nbe of one mind \n
1. I Corinthians 1:10-13 – There were quarrels among the brethren<\/p>\n
2. James 4:1-11 – The source of quarrels is when brethren desire the world<\/p>\n B. We are war with Satan. In any battle, a solid front line is needed to repel the\nattacks of the enemy.\n 1. But when the line cracks, the enemy has access to the interior of the\ncountry.\n
2. When brethren quarrel the front line wavers and collapses.<\/p>\n 3. When Christians cannot live in peace together, Satan is able to play one\nbrother off of another, giving him access to destroy the work of God.\n
4. I Corinthians 12:20-21 – We need everyone.<\/p>\n 5. Without the support of our brethren we are weakened and vulnerable to\nattack – Galatians 5:14-15\n 6. It is our brethren who upholds us we are weak, who pull us back from\ndanger when we slip – Galatians 5:25-6:3\n
7. If we cut off our help, where would we be?<\/p>\nII. Instead of planning a course of action best for Abram and Lot, Lot looked only to his own\ninterests. He chose the path that made him happy. – Genesis 13:8-11\n
A. Christians face problems when they put their own concerns first.<\/p>\n
B. Philippians 2:3-4 – Consider others before yourself<\/p>\n C. When brethren are only interested in their own needs, they open the door for\nSatan.\n
D. It is through our desires that Satan can tempt us – James 1:14-15<\/p>\nIII. Lot did not move immediately into Sodom. For a while he lived on the plains.- Genesis\n13:12\n
A. He put his feet on the path towards this wicked city – Proverbs 4:14-16<\/p>\n
B. It was not Lot’s intention to sin, but he walked a path that led to that direction.<\/p>\n
C. Too many Christian’s act as if they are impervious to Satan’s darts.<\/p>\n 1. They believe they can do things that are not good – not evil things, just\nthings that are not righteous.\n 2. I’ve had brethren tell me in all sincerity that they can go to R-rated movies\nand not be affected.\n 3. Others say there is no harm in eating a meal in a casino, so long as they\ndon’t gamble.\n 4. Some claim there is no harm in an alcoholic drink with a meal, so long as\nthey manage not to get drunk.\n
D. Brethren, Eve did not sin until after she looked at the fruit – Genesis 3:6<\/p>\n E. It is import to avoid the situations where sin makes an appearance – I\nThessalonians 5:21-22\n F. Sin is deceitful. If we continue to expose ourselves to it, we become numb to its\npresence. \n
1. Hardened by the presence of sin – Hebrews 3:12-13<\/p>\n
2. Conscious seared – I Timothy 4:1-2<\/p>\n 3. If we surround ourselves with ungodly people, their influence is bound to\nrub off on us – I Corinthians 15:33\n
a. Be on your guard, so you are not carried away – II Peter 3:17<\/p>\n
b. Israel fell due to wicked influences – Hosea 7:8-9<\/p>\n
4. Jehoshaphat is an example<\/p>\n a. He allied himself with the wicked king Ahab through marriage – II\nChronicles 18:1\n b. Years later we find him supporting the schemes of the wicked – II\nChronicles 19:1-3\nIV. As we continue reading, we find Lot is no longer near Sodom. He is right in the midst of\nthis wicked city – Genesis 14:12\n A. The Bible tells us that Lot did not yield to the sin of Sodom, for God rescued him\nfrom the destruction – Genesis 18:23; 19:16\n
B. He had placed himself and his family in great danger<\/p>\n C. When we get involved in worldly matters, it slows us down allowing Satan a\nchance to trap us. – Matthew 13:22\n
V. Lot escaped the destruction of Sodom, but he did not escape the snare of the Devil.<\/p>\n A. Lot lost daughters in the destruction because his sons-in-law would not heed his\nwarning – Genesis 19:14\n
B. Lot lost his wife because she longed from what they left behind – Genesis 19:24-26<\/p>\n C. Shortly after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, we read that Lot’s\ndaughters got Lot drunk and committed incest with him – Genesis 19:30-38\n
1. Where did they get such an idea? <\/p>\n D. These things would not have happened if Lot had not crept towards Sodom. He\nreaped what he had sown – Galatians 6:7-8\n
VI. Instead of yielding to the lure of sin, we must resist<\/p>\n
A. Do not present yourselves as instruments of unrighteousness – Romans 6:13<\/p>\n
B. Lay aside deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light – Romans 13:11-14<\/p>\n C. Notice that it is more than removing sin from our lives. We must go the extra step\nof adding righteousness to our character\n
1. Walk as children of light – Ephesians 5:8-11<\/p>\n
2. Partakers of the divine nature – II Peter 1:2-11<\/p>\n
D. We have no business creeping toward Sodom on the path of sin.<\/p>\n E. We are children of Light walking toward an eternal city of righteousness –\nHebrews 11:9-10\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 13:1-13 I. Lot’s problems began when his herdsmen could no longer get along with the herdsmen of Abram – Genesis 13:5-7 A. This is often the first sign of problems among brethren – they are no longer able to be of one mind 1. I Corinthians 1:10-13 – There were quarrels…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[38,179],"class_list":["post-41708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-morality","tag-sin"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":62279,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-warring-factions-mean-christianity-is-false\/","url_meta":{"origin":41708,"position":0},"title":"Do Warring Factions Mean Christianity Is False?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 22, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 11:17-22 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You hear all sorts of excuses when you attempt to talk to others about Christianity. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWell, I can\u2019t take that Christian stuff seriously. You folk are all suppose to worship the same god, love your neighbor, and things like that, yet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":994,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/he-who-sows-discord-among-brethren\/","url_meta":{"origin":41708,"position":1},"title":"He Who Sows Discord Among Brethren","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Proverbs 6:16-19 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some people are not satisfied with the way things are. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They want people to change, but they go about it the wrong way. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They are missing any love for their brethren II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gossiping and Talebearing \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Talking about other people. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People who engage in it have too much\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52845,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/abigails-example\/","url_meta":{"origin":41708,"position":2},"title":"Abigail’s Example","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There is much to learn from the pages of the Old Testament \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is true that we no longer live under the Law of Moses. It passed out of existence when Jesus died upon the cross. However, it doesn\u2019t mean than God meant for the Christian\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16584,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-purpose-of-fear\/","url_meta":{"origin":41708,"position":3},"title":"The Purpose of Fear","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 9, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Lamentations 3:39-66 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It started out as an observation in Bible class: \u201cTemptation comes because fear is removed.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How true that is! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0God had warned that death would come if the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was eaten -\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52591,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-christians-duty-to-his-brethren\/","url_meta":{"origin":41708,"position":4},"title":"The Christian’s Duty to His Brethren","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Thessalonians 5:8-15 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each of us come from diverse backgrounds. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We come together to worship \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We come together for fellowship \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Yet that coming together is not always smooth. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Just as a family experiences times of irritation, so it happens among brethren. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Paul\u2019s desire was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55775,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/dealing-with-difficult-brethren\/","url_meta":{"origin":41708,"position":5},"title":"Dealing with Difficult Brethren","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 14, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by W. Frank Walton This is a chapter from an upcoming book, \"Behind the Preacher's Door.\" The book deals with challenges that preachers face, with practical, scriptural solutions in doing the work of an evangelist. \"I have been\u2026in danger of false brethren\" (II Corinthians 11:26).\u00a0The apostle Paul faced some difficult\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41708"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41708\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}