Finish this sentence Easy Delayed obedience is Disobedience , disobedience , right . Delayed obedience is disobedience . And so we have two figures , two pictures here that we need to look at . Right , we have Abraham and we have Lot Listen about Abraham in Hebrews 11.8 . It says , by faith , abraham , when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance , obeyed and went , even though he did not know where he was going . No delay , by faith , he believed the promises of God , he stepped forward , not knowing where he was going but knew who was taking him to that place . And then we contrast that with what we just read here , with by um , with lot right , and despite the impending destruction , that clear vision of what's going to take place , he hesitates , he's , he's pausing , like what are you doing ? Right ? If there's a fire in a house , you run outside of the house , you need to get out , you , you need to leave .
Speaker 3yeah , what I saying don't arrange the furniture when your house is on fire , so good .
Speaker 2Welcome to the all new Living Waters podcast . Finish a Songline Game where we finish a song line .
Speaker 3Love me tender , love me true . You ain't nothing but a Hound dog , but I can't .
Speaker 2Help falling in love with you .
Speaker 3Don't be cruel , you idiot .
Speaker 1Is that the song ? No , that's not . It Don't be cruel Elvis .
Speaker 4To a Definitely Elvis , to a heart that's true , whoa , sorry we're dancing to the Elvis , definitely Elvis To a heart , that's true .
Speaker 1We're dancing to the beat of a different drum .
Speaker 2Jailhouse rock . Are these all Elvis songs ? Well , it's one for the money , two for the show . Oh , let me be your teddy bear , Come on guys .
Speaker 3Who would write a song like that ? Who would write a song like that ? Let me be your teddy bear , I'm in love , I'm all . Oh , oh , shut up , oh .
Speaker 2Oh , can't forget the oh part . That's the first . Uh , yeah , oh .
Speaker 1Uh yeah , wow , Yous are all heathens , knowing that , elvis .
Speaker 2I only knew like two of those Ray . You only didn't get two . That's pretty impressive .
Speaker 3It was because the way you didn't sing it .
Speaker 2That's probably what it was . You know , I should have actually just played . They've done that on like shows where they'll play and then you have to finish it or guess that tune you guys seen those programs or those game shows where they'll ?
Speaker 3they'll give you like name , oh , they're two bars or yeah , I love that show . I don't know why it's not on again . It's like , yeah , it's been 30 years since I've seen like one or two notes . Okay , let me try , actually let me try this what's the song ?
Speaker 1oh uh , by flabungo , oh bing bong you've never heard that thriller okay try this , try this , I think that's copyrighted , I know .
Speaker 2Wait , I heard it was let's get ready . Yeah , because that's true . You'd go to restaurants and they would not sing the traditional happy birthday song .
Speaker 1We would sing a shortened version of happy birthday , which just means we would get down on our knees .
Speaker 2Where A shortened version .
Speaker 1Wait .
Speaker 2Mark , you used to work at Mimi's . I did .
Speaker 3French onion soup Selfish restaurant Mark did you , you don't like French onion soup ?
Speaker 2huh , okay , you have to understand Oscar onions are evil . No , they're not .
Speaker 3The Lord made those Because of Egypt .
Speaker 2Yeah , ask Ray why he doesn't eat onions . Oh , it's bad for the marriage . Yeah , evil Garlic .
Speaker 3Do you like garlic Ray oh ?
Speaker 2that's part of the curse . That's what I thought Stinks .
Speaker 3Oh , hang on . Yeah , I went into Mark's office the other day . Oh , boy it was like so bad you could just cut the air . Garlic the air was so strong with garlic , Mike didn't realize that . He came out of the office for about two minutes , walked back in and went ooh .
Speaker 1It was this teriyaki sauce that I put on my chicken Garlic . It comes out of your pores . You sweat it out . It's so good for you .
Speaker 3I know man . Anyway . No , they say it's good for you . Yeah , you want a garlic mint . Who is ?
Speaker 2that , mark , so you worked at Mimi's for a long time .
Speaker 1I did that's where I met my wife .
Speaker 2Yeah , the Wicked Land of Onion Soup . Now , how many times would you say you sang . Happy Birthday to people ?
Speaker 1Well , we didn't sing actual Happy Birthday .
Speaker 4Do people in their 80s like that still ? What was it ? There was ?
Speaker 1like 15 different versions of Happy Birthday . You just pick one . Happy happy birthday .
Speaker 2Really Like a Flintstones . Yeah , really Like a Flintstones . Yeah , the Flintstones . Yeah , but did you do that a lot ? Oh , yeah , multiple times a day .
Speaker 3Yeah , I punched the lady that asked me if I wanted senior discount when I first went to a restaurant but then you kind of get used to it and you think , oh , that's nice Speaking of .
Speaker 4So you guys need to help me with this , because this is the great debate between Kelly and I . We're out to brunch one day and there's these two ladies and they're sitting side by side next to this older woman and we're all waiting for our table . And , by the way , this is a joke that I made that I think is hilarious , I'm sure you do , you set it up too .
Speaker 4They loved . But Kelly has a very different interpretation of what happened . So they're like chatting and we're minding our own business . And then one of the one of the youngerish woman goes hey , would you mind taking a picture of us ? It's my mom's birthday . And I go oh , of course , no problem . So I grab the phone and I'm getting ready , and then I look over right before I take the picture . I go how old are you ? And she goes I'm 90 . And I'm like , oh , you don't look a day over 89 . The girls all laugh , I , I laugh , I take the picture . We chat on the way to the seat . It was fantastic . Kelly's like they did not like that joke .
Speaker 2I remember them laughing . She's right .
Speaker 1That's a great way to get them to smile , though . If you can get them to smile , that's a great candid photo A smile with anger and bitterness , they laughed .
Speaker 2They did it worked out . That's all that matters . Yeah , you don't look a day younger than 95 . Are you sure you're 90 ?
Speaker 3Let's save this for the program we're going to do about the elderly .
Speaker 2Oh , we are doing a program . I'm ready for that , yeah , so Um .
Speaker 3And so is as bad as um .
Speaker 2Wouldn't it be cool to invent a language with nothing but um ? No , no . However , you discern what's being said by tone , Prove it . Um , um , um , um , um , um , um , um , um , um , um , um um .
Speaker 3It's like .
Speaker 2Groot , I am Groot . It's just for everything but Elvis . We were talking about Elvis earlier .
Speaker 1No you moved on .
Speaker 4We definitely were never talking about Elvis .
Speaker 2Great . So one of my all-time favorites an opener you've used in sermons for years was how many people will become Elvis Presley .
Speaker 3I can't remember exactly how that goes . Oh , are you serious ? I can't remember the statistics , but you're 20 . It just was one of those things that tickled me so deeply , it was really funny .
Speaker 2The first time I heard you share it , and then you end up by some year one in every two people
.
Speaker 3Two people will be an Elvis impersonator in the US Impersonator , but why Elvis ?
Speaker 2Why is he probably the most impersonated person on earth ?
Speaker 3Because the way he died I think , think , and there was so many rumors around saying that he was he was still alive , and so yeah , I don't know , he really man boy , he .
Speaker 2You look at when he was first a musician he was so clean cut and then he went , did the pork chop sideburns ?
Speaker 4that whoa hold on the pork .
Speaker 2Chop sideburns , let's please no , oh , those are almost as bad as mullets for me .
Speaker 3But it really showed how insecure he was as a person . Do you think so ? I think so . He tried to carve out an image when he already had an image , and it was just amazing . He was adored in his simplicity .
Speaker 2As a young man .
Speaker 3He was so handsome , so talented , beautiful voice . Didn't need to do anything to impress people .
Speaker 2Those disgusting polyester things with the colors and the gemstones on them ? Yeah , no great .
Speaker 4Yeah , you ain't nothing but a hound dog . You've offended all of the Elvis impersonators that listen to this podcast .
Speaker 1I bet there's at least one Elvis impersonator here comes the one-star review of Elvis impersonator .
Speaker 3No , he's still just his voice was actually magnificent . He did a lot of gospel albums . Yeah , yeah , alright , magnificent , he did a lot of gospel albums .
Speaker 2Yeah , just beautiful . Yeah , yeah , all right , friends , time for one of your cool , classy comments . This is from Wilsaxi W-I-L-S-X-I , whatever that means , thank you . Thank you for this podcast . Living Waters has blessed and continues to bless me and my family . The school of biblical evangelism has impacted our entire family and the growth it has brought in our eldest daughter is amazing and our eldest daughters plural , sorry is amazing . I was gifted a Living Waters coffee mug for Christmas by my daughter . It brings a smile to my face every time . I see it already . The recent podcast was that's , your face on there Makes me laugh . Rather , the recent podcast with Steve Lawson was amazing and would beg you to bring him out just to do multiple podcasts with you all . Amen . The questions you ask draw out so much that we all need to hear in a way that makes me not want to stop listening .
Speaker 3Thank you . She's talking about the Elvis type questions .
Speaker 2Yeah , thank you so much that really is a blessing Very encouraging . And boy , would it not be awesome to have Steve Lawson . Which one was he ? Again , steve Lawson , I really did feel bad . I tried to give the guy 30 minutes to talk about , like some of the greatest preachers of all time Set him up Like what are you doing to me ? But , boy , to have him back and to just be able to pick his brain .
Speaker 4I'm sorry . So that's your impression of Steve Lawson . No , I was impersonating you , oh okay , he is by far one of my favorite preachers .
Speaker 1Eddie and I , we flew out , oscar , were you with us ? You and I , yeah .
Speaker 4Oh , Eddie was with there too .
Speaker 1Yeah , ohio To Chattanooga .
Speaker 4Tennessee , chattanooga , tennessee .
Speaker 1You guys didn't even remember and later on you've left and went to like Del Taco or something .
Speaker 3Is that Indian food ?
Speaker 4Ramen , ramen .
Speaker 3No , it's Asian .
Speaker 2Well , I guess India is Asian , but the different types . Yeah , boy ramen sounds really good right now .
Speaker 3Carry on with the ramen .
Speaker 2But cup of noodle flavored .
Speaker 3I like noodles , noodles , noodles .
Speaker 2Yeah , so anyway , thank you so much for that . We're very , very , very encouraged . All right , very , very encouraged . All right , friends , Time for another Radical Revolutionary Resource . This podcast is brought to you by . Well , what do you know ?
Speaker 1The School of Biblical Evangelism that our friends said their daughters have been blessed by . It's amazing how these coincidences , isn't it ? It's just so weird how it happens Now in Espanol .
Speaker 2Yeah , hermanos , our school is Escuela Los Biblia Evangelism . We forgive Escuela Los Milica Evangelis . Que me oles pardoniros hernandos Mark Spence . Yeah , france , mark .
Speaker 3Spence does have something to do with the School of Evangelism . Folks , those of you listening , he just makes up that stuff . That sounds it's not .
Speaker 2But yeah , mark had a hand in the School of Evangelism . He's one of the co-authors . You can get it both online and in book form 101 Lessons . It will equip you big time . Don't forget to get the Living Waters mug from which you can chug , and then , if you want , you can even give it a hug and have it in Study Bible , because you're liable to experience revival .
Speaker 2Oh , that was good you like that , I'm not going to lie . Finally , I don't know what I'm saying . All that living waters , do I come ? Yeah , all right , friends , today , what , what ? Today we are talking about lessons from the life of Lot who would call a kid Lot and his family . Do you guys seriously know what we can learn from Lot Yep , a lot , a lot , a lot . That was too easy .
Speaker 3That sounded like the guy in the Halloween video .
Speaker 2By the way , friends , if you haven't seen that one , check it out . Mark and Ray , you know we should have put one of those pictures up in the ministry . We just put , friends , a bunch of great black and white , large framed pictures all around the ministry .
Speaker 3There's about 30 of them , isn't there ?
Speaker 2That's beautiful . Oh well , too late . All right , friends , the life of Lot and his family . We can't forget his family Boy . What a family .
Speaker 3How many do you have ? How many kids Lot ?
Speaker 2Oh Lot , oh no , I have a feeling this is going to keep resurfacing here . This is from gotquestionsorg . We love gotquestionsorg , gotquestions .
Speaker 3Gotquestionsorg . Ray , they love our ministry too . You did something with them . I did an interview with them .
Speaker 4They had a whole lot of questions for me , there's going to be 45 minutes of this All right .
Speaker 2Lot was the grandson of Terah , son of Haran and nephew of Abram or Abraham . He was likely born in Ur of the Chaldeans . Lot's father , haran , died unexpectedly , and so Lot was taken in by the rest of his family . At some point , possibly soon after Haran's death , lot's grandfather , terah , decided to relocate his entire family to Canaan . They ended by settling in Haran instead . After Terah's death , the Lord spoke to Abram and told him to resume the journey to Canaan , promising to make him into a great nation . Abram set out on his journey and Lot went with him . So that kind of sets us up a little bit for Monsieur Lot , whom , by the way , the New Testament references as well , and we'll get into some of that . But before we jump in , guys , any preliminary thoughts on Lott .
Speaker 1I just think of a man of compromise . It scares me . It scares me Easy . You and I , we have a running tally of pastors that have fallen into sexual sin .
Speaker 4Yeah .
Speaker 1And the list is long . I've almost wanted to put it on a bulletin , put it inside my office , because I don't want to be counted in that number .
But every time we do hear about somebody that has compromised , you know , we hear about public failure . It is the result , make no mistake about it , of a thousand private failings that have taken place . We fail long in private before it ever comes into public . But we take heed right , we guard our hearts , we examine our lives and to see where we're at .
Speaker 1And it's often an opportunity to just kind of clean house . What am I listening to ? Who am I hanging out with ? What am I watching ? Because once a year maybe , some big name person tends to fall from the ranks , fall from the eyes of grace in a lot of different people and causes the enemy to blaspheme because of their sin . So that's first and foremost what I think . When I think of law , I just think of just compromise . It doesn't have to be grotesque compromise always , but are there little areas that are just kind of you know what , not so good ?
Speaker 2yeah , yeah , you know . Uh , there are times when I wake up from from just a horrible dream of having fallen into some crazy sin and and there are times when I'm deep in that dream where I'm saying to myself in my dream , this , my dream , how I wish this was a dream because it feels so real . And I'm tormented because I'm like I have destroyed my life , anguished , and then I begin to wake up and it's like oh , it really was a dream .
Speaker 3You only take an hour and a half to wake up too , but it's amazing , I noticed my dreams . My conscience is always there . I'm not without conscience in the dream , which is wonderful .
Speaker 2Yeah , and of course , our sinful nature is still attached , so it will feed us things . But , yeah , you would think that , mark , you referenced how many have fallen . You would think that after all that we've seen men would say no , no , no , I'm not going . I'm not going to be one of those . You know , it's like to catch a predator shows where they set up people and they're coming in thinking they're going to be with some young child or something , and some of them will say , oh , I knew this was it . Or oh , I've seen this before on TV . You idiot , you've seen this before on TV and you're not like no , I'm getting away from this . You know , ray , you were going to say something . Yeah .
Speaker 3I didn't know I was going to say something . I've been wanting to share this for days . I lost my wallet the other day . I went to this . It's going to take a minute , but it's worth it . I went to get a smog test no , I didn't , but my car did and I put my hand in my back pocket and my wallet wasn't there . So I had to call Sue to come and pay for the smog test and I went home . I thought I'll check where my wallet is because I'll leave it at the same place . It wasn't there . Checked pant pockets , pants pockets . Checked drawers , checked that and it wasn't anywhere to be found .
Speaker 3And I started getting worried . What's in your wallet ? What's in your wallet ?
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah , yeah , don't ruin it , because I got your wallet .
Speaker 3It sounds like a game show what's in your wallet ? Well , it's a slogan . Anyway , it is , anyway , so I don't wreck the story . So I backtracked to Home Depot , went to the teller , the checkout person , and I didn't leave a wallet there . I went lost and found it . I thought on the sidewalk or in the parking lot of Home Depot , of all places , and it's just gone forever . So I was embarrassed to pray , but this was the essence of my prayer . I said , lord , I'd like to find my wallet , but I'm embarrassed to even pray because I've got a friend who got Parkinson's disease . He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease , then he got cancer diagnosis on top of Parkinson's disease . I thought what am I praying about ? A stupid wallet for ? So I just said to the Lord great to find it . Whatever .
Speaker 3Went home , sue and I had dinner together and then we decided we'd come down to the ministry and track where I went , because Sue had been watching the security cameras and knew exactly where I sat when I had lunch with Ben Price and a few brothers from the ministry , in the lounge . So we walked in the lounge and I thought my wallet's there It'll be , sitting on top of the couch in which I sat Sue , put her hand right down the crevice real deep , and up came my wallet . No , and I thought how on earth can a wallet fall out of my pocket and get its way down a crevice to where it can't be seen ? I just this is weird . Anyway , I got tears in my eyes . I hugged Sue three times . Any excuse ? Yeah right , any excuse . Anyway , I thought I've got to tell someone . I was just so excited about this . I was at a point , you know , having tears in my eyes , so excited . I called my daughter , rachel . I called you first , didn't answer . Then I called Rachel , you answered her phone and there was so much noise in the restaurant . I you , answered her phone and there was so much noise in the restaurant . I can't even tell you what happened because there was so much noise in the restaurant . So I've got to tell someone . So I ran upstairs Ron Love , our CFO , was here and I said you're it ? Stand here . I'm going to tell you what happened . I found my wallet .
Speaker 3The whole thing reminded me of Luke 15 . Where a shepherd lost one sheep , left the 99 , came back with it and he called for friends and neighbors to come in because he had found this lost sheep . Then Jesus told the story about a woman who had 10 coins lost , one found . It was so overjoyed she called her friends and neighbors in to rejoice . And this whole thing is leading up to the prodigal son , to where he went back to his father and he said my son was lost , now he's found . He was dead but now he's alive . And that whole principle Jesus is talking about in Luke 15 is to say that God rejoices when one sinner is found and if that doesn't bring a tear to your eye , nothing will .
Speaker 3Oh so great .
Speaker 2That's so good , praise God and yeah , great illustration and my wallet never goes in my back pocket , ever again .
Speaker 3It stays in the front .
Speaker 2Never . I never put my . You know , it's not just because it can fall out , but because it's bad for your back .
Speaker 3Ray . Yeah well , it's very thin . I don't have a wallet like you have .
Speaker 2It's pretty thick . But you know what ? Really , one of the biggest joys of finding a wallet you thought you lost , it's not even so much losing the money or whatever it's , it's having the call and cancel those credit cards and go to the DMV . I did have those thoughts .
Speaker 3I've got a license . They gotta say who I am when the credit card companies who are you ? How do I know what your ? What your mother's birthmark ?
Speaker 1Ray , you keep me really great advice . When I first started at the ministry you said lay everything out that's inside your wall and just take a picture of everything that's there and then flip everything over and take a picture .
Speaker 3That was a bad bad thing to say to you , because I started thinking , because I did that , put everything out , took a picture of it on my phone .
Speaker 1And then I put it on the internet , so other people no , hang on a minute , don't spoil it .
Speaker 3What happens if I lose my phone ? It's got all my information in picture form , everything . No , it should all be in the cloud , ray . No , I didn't Someone get in the cloud , so I put it on my iPad , which I don't carry around with me .
Speaker 2I can't lose that like I can , so to steal .
Speaker 4Ray's iPad . His address is Thanks for letting the world know , Ray . That's great .
Speaker 2All right guys , can I say real quick Because you asked just initial thought , which my mind goes to 2 Peter 2.7 . You like that , mark ? Yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah .
Speaker 4Wheezy , sorry , sorry , oscar , yeah , it's God's word , not me . 2 Peter 2.7 . Man , it's one of those verses where if you don't understand the gospel , even if you do , like you just fall out of your chair , because everything that you guys just talked about in regards to Lot and 2 Peter 2 , 7 says and if he rescued righteous Lot , let that settle in for a minute . You know we're about to get into all the things Lot did , move himself out of the Abrahamic covenant . You know he seems to compromise in a city that is fully compromised His entire life . He does not finish well , his whole story ends in drunken incest and then , second , peter calls him righteous lot . And so I think to sort of balance those two , the story of lot and the declaration of his righteousness , in order for us to conclude and to solve that issue , we have to fully understand the gospel , which I'm sure we'll get into in a little bit .
Speaker 2Amen , all right , let's jump into Genesis , 13 , 1 to 13
. It says and Abraham went out from Egypt , he and his wife and all that he had , and Lot , with him , to the south . Abram was very rich in livestock and silver and in gold , and he went on his journey from the south as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning , between Bethel and Ai , to the place of the altar which he had made . Ai , ai , ooh , there it is . Oh , no , ray's going to do an article .
Speaker 4Ai is in the Bible . Ai is biblical .
Speaker 2Video yeah , To the place of the altar which he had made there at first , and there Abram called on the name of the Lord .
Speaker 1I love that called on the name of the Lord . Oh , that has to be underlined . I absolutely love that because it demonstrates that it's not about us . We're designed to be overwhelmed . Call on the Lord , no matter where you're at , when you're at . Call on the Lord , amen .
Speaker 2I love it . Lot also , who went with Abraham , had flocks and herds and tents . 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 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abraham's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock . The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land . So these guys , the land could not contain them . It's like there's too much here . And so Abraham said to Lot please let there be no strife between you and me and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen , for we are brethren . It's not the whole land before you , please separate from me . If you take the left , then I'll go to the right , or if you go to the right then I'll go to the left . And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan and that it was all well watered everywhere before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah , like the garden of the Lord , like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zor . Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan and Lot journeyed east and they separated from each other . Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent as far as Sodom . But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord . So this is kind of the intro to Lot , him and Abram . Obviously we're abundantly blessed with material possessions , but we saw it started to cause strife and then it's time to separate and Lot looks toward Sodom and then Abraham obviously goes in the opposite direction .
Speaker 2Guys , I think this is a good place to kind of talk about this . I don't know what was going on in Lot's heart or his mind . Obviously he saw being a herdsman and having flocks . He saw , oh , that's green , it's going to be good and positive . But it seems like it was known , though obviously they knew Sodom was exceedingly wicked . It wasn't like he showed up oh Sodom's wicked . No , he knew and he pitched his tent even as far as Sodom . And I think this can often be a snare for the believer . But we don't think about it in that way . Lot wasn't going . Oh , I mean Oscar cited 2 Peter . He was righteous , his soul was tormented . In fact it says Vexed , vexed , right . But sometimes , even as pure as our thoughts and intentions may be , we can be drawn away because our priorities aren't straight toward that . That isn't pleasing to the Lord .
Speaker 3Boy lust of the flesh , lust of the eyes and the pride of life . It's just like a finger going . That's good .
Speaker 1Yeah , this is the importance of making wise decisions , and we think we're just making casual decisions . Throughout life , a man plans his ways , but every decision comes from the Lord . We need to be careful with the decisions that we make . We need to offer up , minimally speaking , some sort of a token prayer , if you would , a heartfelt prayer where we think maybe it's a token prayer , just in passing . But , lord , is this the direction that you want me to head ? You know something I don't know , and I love the heart of Abraham . It's just like hey , you pick , I'll do the opposite . Right , my God is so big that he's gonna blossom . I'm gonna blossom wherever he plants me . The opposite direction , whatever you want , I'm good with this . Right , there's a way that appears right to the man , but the end thereof is death , right ?
Speaker 1William Culberston said keep praying , but be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your prayers . Well , that's for the believer , really right ? I mean , if you desire to really want nothing more than God , then trust the results to God . Don't come across like you're putting no , I want this , I have to marry this person , I have to have this job . I have to . You don't have to have any of this stuff that you don't already have . Listen , he's going to provide all of your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus . Leave the results to God . I mean , what could absolutely harm someone is to get a hundred million dollars if that's not what the Lord's will is for you , because no good thing will be withhold from those who walk uprightly . If it's good for you to have that $100 million , then he gives you that $100 million . But if not , be thankful with what you got and where you're at .
Speaker 3There's a donor out there that really is thinking about the $100 million .
Speaker 2You know , ray , I think the issue with Lot was focus , you know , and maybe ambition , you know he's seeing , okay , this is . And it highlighted the material right . He saw that it was green and obviously that tied into what his expertise was and his livelihood . But it's focus right , because there are times when you might be called to a place like Sodom but it's for the sake of the lost . People oftentimes will tell us why are you guys in California still , you need to move out to a more conservative state .
Speaker 2Yeah , ken Ham , move out to a more conservative state . But yeah , we are in the midst of darkness around us , but we're here to be light .
Speaker 3We love being here . Yeah , because it's where God wants us and where it's darkest the light shines the most . I'm just wondering . I don't know if it could be a fact , but perhaps Lot's wife influenced him because she showed her true colors further on Like Job's wife wasn't exactly a sweetheart by how she influenced him with curse God and die , which is exactly an encouraging word for a man in suffering . But perhaps Lot's wife did influence him way back then .
Speaker 2Which is a good point , oscar , right , like we're talking about Lot , his wife . But boy , we've talked about this before . We talked about the unequally yoked thing . But , man , be careful who you marry , right , we don't know that for a fact , but it could have been . But we saw where her heart was ultimately . But , man , that's huge on you .
Speaker 4Yeah , proverbs 31, . I mean , she doesn't seem like the kind of wife that is a helpmate . That's pointing them to Christ . And I think it's important to remember the story of Lot through the process of the narrative of scripture , and so often what God does in the way that he writes his stories is that he repeats . There's like this repetitious rhythm that's showing us something about his plan . And so you mentioned I can't remember which one of you , I think it was you Z that mentioned that Lot saw that it was green . And that's pointing back to that moment in the garden when Adam saw that the tree was good . Right , here's this repetitious theme Lot sees that it was green .
It's also reminding us of the story of Cain and Abel , and that's important to remember , because Sodom isn't just this random town that's popped out of nowhere . This is the Canaanites . So , in other words , with Cain and Abel , you've got this promise . Well , you've got this promise that goes through Seth , in which the lineage of Christ is coming and it's given to Abraham through the Abrahamic covenant .
Speaker 4And outside of Seth , you've got this other story , this whole narrative that's happening all throughout the old Testament , in which , in which Abel's family I'm sorry , cain's family is starting to create their own way . They've created Babel , and now they've curated Sodom and Gomorrah . And so what Lot is doing , when you look at it as a narrative , what Lot is actually doing is he's removing himself , as commentators would say , removing himself from the Abrahamic covenant and pursuing the way of Cain . He is deciding I am going to leave God's promises and go and do life in a way that's right in my own eyes . So , in other words , it's this repetitious theme through scripture , where God makes a covenant and we rebel against that covenant .
Speaker 2That's right . All right , we got to keep moving here . By the way , have you guys ever been to Lot's store ? Big Lots .
Speaker 3Big Lots .
Speaker 1He was a really big guy .
Speaker 2He got fat and sawed him All right . Genesis 14 , 11 to 17 says then they took and this is so . This is this , is you know where there was ? Oh , let me just read it . Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all the provisions and went their way . They also took Lot , abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom , and his goods and departed . So this was a big battle that went on between all these kings . And then they took Lot and his family captive .
Speaker 2It says . Then one had escaped , came and told Abram the Hebrew for he dwelt by the Teberinth tree of Mamre , the Amorite , brother of Eshcol and brother of Adner , and they were allies with Abram . Now , when Abram heard this that his brother was taken captive he armed his 318 trained servants who were born in his house , own house , and went in pursuit as far as Dan . He divided his forces against them by night and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah , which is north of Damascus . So he brought back all the goods and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods , as well as the women and the people , and the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Sheba . Oh , whatever .
Speaker 3Anyway , so I do not remember that other word . Oh , this is a special whatever commentary by Emile Zwing .
Speaker 2Yeah , whatever , I didn't mean to include that . Anyway so here comes Abram to the rescue . I mean , how Can you imagine having your own trained army ?
Speaker 3of 318? .
Speaker 2Imagine him being passive . Abraham spiritual .
Speaker 2Yeah , but he's a warrior . He was a warrior and he jumped into action here . And , guys , you know , I really do wonder , like , was this God giving Lot the opportunity to like pull out of this thing ? Like , look at what just happened , reset . Okay , maybe you should not stick around , and you know Sodom and Gomorrah take off , but he persisted . All right , this is where it really really picks up . Gets juicy , yeah , genesis 19 .
Speaker 2Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom . When Lot saw them , he rose to meet them and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground and he said here now , my lords , please turn into your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet . Then you may rise early and go your way . They said no , but we'll spend the night in the open square . But he insisted strongly , so they turned into him and entered his house . Then he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread and they ate . Ray , you think it's because Lot knew that if they spent the night in the square , they were toast , because of how wicked the area was .
Speaker 3I think so , thank you .
Speaker 2Yeah , thank you , you're welcome , Perfect yeah .
Speaker 3I thought , yes , if Lot had , there was a way to be in the square , like you said .
Speaker 1Thank you Question and answer . Yeah , exactly .
Speaker 2Now , before they lay down , the men of the city , the men of Sodom , both old and young , all the people from every quarter , surrounded the house and they called to Lot and they said to him where are the men who came to you tonight ? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally . That is so sick .
Speaker 4Isn't that ?
Speaker 2gross , gross . And there was no shame in that . No , you know , mark , that describes our age well , doesn't it ? No shame .
Speaker 1Yeah , we've forgotten how to blush .
Speaker 3That's exactly it , I was going to say that Isaiah , go ahead and say it , isaiah , neither could they blush ?
Speaker 1Yeah , that is us today . Nothing surprises us . I mean , you can go to churches today and there's transgender people that are attending . What would your church do , oscar , if a transgender no , I mean somebody who's cross-dressing that goes to your church ? Are they welcome to go to the church ?
Speaker 4Well , so you'd have to break that question apart . They're welcome to attend a Sunday service ? They wouldn't become a member . They would not be welcome to be members and they would be not welcomed at the table meaning communion .
Speaker 1Can they come the following Sunday and the following Sunday ? I mean , how often are we allowing them to come without them to be the way they are ? I mean we don't push them away . I mean , what is the answer ? We ?
Speaker 4pursue them through righteousness . Yeah , you're absolutely right , and the scriptures , and I think this is it's kind of getting around to the reality that this is the importance of membership is that a membership for a local church is distinct because it's like these . We recognize these people as pursuing righteousness , as pursuing sanctification , and if you're not a member , we recognize you as an onlooker , as not a part of the community , and we love you , we're glad you're here , but we are pursuing you towards membership , towards salvation , towards repentance , and so they need to be treated differently , welcomed but treated differently .
Speaker 1Yeah , and so that is a perfect example of the way it needs to be compared differently Welcomed but treated differently yeah , and so that is a perfect example of the way it needs to be compared to what we are seeing in so many churches that just have open arms to anybody and everybody and it doesn't matter what your lifestyle is , you're welcomed here .
Speaker 3And continue on . Do you think it's because their doctrine is shallow ? They don't know what to do . They're afraid of doing the wrong thing .
Speaker 2Yeah , their doctrine is shallow and they fear man and they don't love righteousness and they don't really love people . There's no other way to put it . You can't say we love people and we're just going to say , oh , this is fine , and never speak to you .
Speaker 3Remember that six foot six cross dresser with long blonde hair at Huntington Beach .
Speaker 2Oh yeah , vicky .
Speaker 3Yeah , Victor Victor went by Vicky .
Speaker 2That's right . Oh , Victoria , that's right . Remember I ended up seeing him at my grandmother's convalescent home . Really yeah , and I was able to say remember , you met my father-in-law on the streets ? Yeah , and I gave him tract in Huntington Beach .
Speaker 3Was he still dressed the same Same thing ?
Speaker 2yeah , wait , he lived there . No , no , he was visiting someone . Okay , yeah , but I ran to him in the lobby .
Speaker 3But there were churches that were accommodating him , that were allowing him to have fellowship . Exactly yeah .
Speaker 2It's tragic , and so that's obviously the atmosphere in Sodom . It was so . It became so godless that there was no shame . Hey , bring them out , we want to know them . Carnally , they made their intentions known . It says so . Lot went out to them through the doorway , shut the door behind him and said please , my brethren , my brethren , do not do so wickedly . See , now I have two daughters oh , this is nice , yeah who have not known a man . Please , let me bring them out to you , Do you think ?
Speaker 3he'd said this because he thought his daughters would be safe .
Speaker 2I don't know . Bring them out to you and you may do to them as you wish . Only do nothing to these men , since this is a reason they have come under the shadow of my roof . Oscar , how do you explain what's ?
Speaker 4going on here , I don't know how to explain it , but , as you , well , I love you . You mentioned something just now that I don't think I've ever observed that he calls them brethren . And that's important because , like we are meant to be in this world but not of this world , because , like we are meant to be in this world but not of this world , in this world , meaning , it's okay to be in commerce , in business , in community with non-believers , but to be of this world , to call them brethren , to use an agape , brotherly love kind of language , is another sign of that compromise , isn't it ?
Speaker 2Yeah and Ray , that's part and parcel with allowing ourselves to be spotted by the world , wouldn't
you say ?
Speaker 3Yeah , Others having compassion , making a difference , pulling them from the fire , hating even a garment spotted by the flesh , and we're going to realize that sin to God is a leprous disease . It's very contagious and it's deadly and it kills the flesh . And I think when we meet someone who's transsexual , homosexual , whatever sexual they are , is to just show them their terrible danger before God , whether they're homosexual , transsexual or just a sexual maniac . They're in big trouble with God and they need repentance .
Speaker 3And we love them as much as we love anybody and we want to see them saved from hell .
Speaker 2Amen and Mark . Part of that is remembering who we were and where we were . Right . The whole issue of , and such were some of , you . Yeah , 1 Corinthians 6 .
Speaker 1Yeah , always remembering where we came from and what God's doing inside of our lives . I've often said and I said it to a lot of people I feel like I haven't done anything with my life and then you just kind of pause , you go back to think where you came from and where you're going and the work that God's doing , and you pause , you think of all the people that are being affected . It's a healthy , great place to be . Robert Mounts he said society set free from God is its own worst enemy . Sodom , in other words , was a place that forgot God , didn't want to have anything to do with God , and they become its own worst enemy . You do not need even an enemy outside of yourselves when you reject God Romans 1 . Right , and that's exactly Romans 1 , that's exactly what took place here .
Speaker 2And .
Speaker 1I want to get to something else once you get to it , okay .
Speaker 2So and we're going to move faster through this because there's just too much . But it says , and they said but this is important to highlight , verse 9, . And they said stand back . Then they said this one came in to stay here and he's acting as a judge Now we will deal worse with you than with them . So they pressed hard against the man , lot , and came near to break down the door . But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them and shut the door . And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness , both small and great , so that they became weary trying to find the door man . That just gave me the chills , ray . Talk about exceeding wickedness .
Speaker 3Yeah , I think there's a type in here where God gives those who are given over to this wickedness a reprobate mind . He sends them strong delusions so they can't find the door Jesus , because of their own sin . They love their sin , hate the light , and it really is a gross darkness when someone gives themselves to this sort of sexual sin .
Speaker 2It is a strong delusion and it is leading to a reprobate mind . What's a paraphrase of reprobate mind ? A mind reprobate , thank you , yeah , yeah , a mind that it's a Romans 1 kind of a given over type of .
Speaker 1Does it mean trash ?
Speaker 2I'm not sure the exact meaning , but I can tell you from context that it basically entails a mind that has been given over to extreme darkness and depravity . Really , it's a manifestation of extreme depravity , but it reminded me it's animalistic , is what it is , because I was thinking about like a lion just suddenly went blind and it's in the middle of feasting on an animal . I can assure you it will continue to feast even though it's blind . It's good . A human being wouldn't do that . Like if all of a sudden I go blind , I'm eating a meal , I go blind . I'm concerned about the blindness . They're hit with blindness . They're so perverted they're still trying to find the door to fulfill their lusts .
Speaker 3I mean man .
Speaker 2It's so spiritual when it comes down to it . Yeah , it is , and that's the day and age in the midst of which we're living . But the crazy thing is is it's becoming just like common now . I mean that a man is gonna marry a man and he's inviting his family and relatives no big deal , oh yeah . Yeah , it's like oh , how great , how wonderful . And quote unquote Christians are supporting it and being like oh , that's great . No , we love you . So therefore , we plead with you not to do this , you know . So then , of course , from there we see that the angels tell Lot hey , do you have anyone here , sons-in-law , your sons , your daughters , whoever you have in the city , take them out , let's go , we're gonna destroy it . And so Lot tells them let's go . It says get up , get out of this place , for the Lord will destroy the city . But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking .
Speaker 1What a testimony he seemed to be joking .
Speaker 2What a legacy . Yeah right , obviously the impact on them was huge from that culture and they're like what are you talking about ? Leave Sodom what ? This is paradise .
Speaker 3So isn't that grace ? Obviously they weren't loving God or seeing , they weren't vexed with the lifestyle of the ungodly around them .
Speaker 2Yeah , desensitization , yeah , you know . Frog in the microwave .
Speaker 4Or the microwave and the frog .
Speaker 2But yeah , I mean , instead of like wait , these guys just tried to do what to you . No , come on , there's no way , even if that happened , we can't leave Sodom . Yeah , come on , there's no way , even if that happened , we can't leave Sodom . And then you know , we know what happens . And it says , when the morning dawned , the angels urged Lot to hurry , saying arise , take your wife and your two daughters from here , lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city .
Speaker 2And while he lingered , again we're seeing all these little traces , god promise . Yeah , while he lingered , the men took hold of his hand and his wife's hand and the hands of his daughters , lord being merciful to him , and they brought him out and set him outside the city . So , guys , it seems like Mark he wasn't getting it .
Speaker 1Yeah , well , listen , finish this sentence easy Delayed obedience is disobedience , Disobedience , right , delayed obedience is disobedience . And so we have two figures , two pictures here that we need to look at . Right , we have Abraham and we have Lot Listen about Abraham in Hebrews 11 , 8 . It says , by faith , abraham , when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance , obeyed and went , even though he did not know where he was going . No delay , by faith , he believed the promises of God , he stepped forward , not knowing where he was going , but knew who was taking him to that place . And then we contrast that with what we just read here , with Lot right , and despite the impending destruction , that clear vision of what's going to take place , he hesitates , he's pausing , like what are you doing ? Right ? If there's a fire in a house , you run outside of the house , you need to get out .
Speaker 3You need to leave , yeah what I was saying don't arrange the furniture when your house is on fire .
Speaker 1Oh so good . Yeah , yeah , and so this . This is . This is the important aspect of having faith at god's commands and responding promptly to what he's calling you to do yeah , and and and ray , yeah , that , that lingering that people do when it comes to sin .
Speaker 2Why , why do people do that ray lingering from ? They see their , they see the destruction coming , but they just kind of .
Speaker 3They don't see how deadly sin is . It's like lingering around a snake that has a vicious bite . You don't even go near it . I hate snakes . I hate spiders . I don't like cats . Yes , I do .
Speaker 2Well , like again Hebrews we've talked about it you haven't resisted to bloodshed and struggle against sin , we flirt with sin , we befriend it when we should . We're enticed by it . Yeah where it should be our greatest enemy . So , anyhow , so Lot's like hey , can I escape to the mountains here ? They had to take them by the hand .
Speaker 3He's just like come on , and that's God's mercy Is that really a type of how no man can come to the Son unless the Father draws him . We're so enticed by sin and held by it , loving darkness , hating the light , drinking iniquity like water , that it takes that hand of God and sovereignty to pull us out of that darkness .
Speaker 2Yeah for sure , absolutely . It's all God's doing in our foolishness and blindness . It says in verse 23, . Then the sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zor . Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of the heavens . So he overthrew those cities , all the plain , all the inhabitants of the cities and what grew on the ground . But his wife looked back behind him and she became a pillar of salt . She was a salty woman , wow . And you know what Exalted Jesus referenced that right Luke 17 , 31 to 33 . And that day , he who is on the housetop and his goods are in the house let him not come down to take them away , and likewise the one who is in the field let him not turn back . Remember Lot's wife .
Speaker 3That's so powerful , isn't it ? Three words remember Lot's wife .
Speaker 2You can write a book on that Right and whoever seeks to save his life will lose it , and whoever loses it , his life will preserve it . I mean we often quote that verse 33 , but we forget it's in the context of remember Lot's wife . I mean she was looking back obviously longingly .
Speaker 3You know , when you give us these titles , on , what we're going to talk about .
Speaker 1We do research and I , yeah , I do .
Speaker 3And , uh , I look for quotes from wise men but also go to places like Reddit and say why did Lot's wife get turned into a pillar of salt ? And you see people who are obviously not regenerated saying I feel sorry for her because she was looking back in compassion at those who were in Sodom , or she was looking back out of curiosity because she wondered what was going on no she loved Sodom . That's the implication Jesus is saying remember Lot's wife .
Speaker 2And you think about what preceded this Abraham pleading with God , pleading with God , an intercessor , on behalf of Lot , and he kept negotiating with God and going down and down . Do you have something to say ?
Speaker 4on that . Yeah , that's key . That's key to understanding what I mentioned earlier in 2 Peter 2 , when he says righteous Lot . To summarize , lot moved to Sodom , symbolically moving himself outside of the Abrahamic covenant , as we covered , it shows that he was successful in that city . When it says it was sitting at the gate , that means that he must have compromised . He had some sort of authority in that city . He offers up his daughters as possessions to satisfy the lust of the people . His life ends in drunken incest . We haven't gotten there yet . But what does God do in all of this ? The key of understanding the righteousness of Lot is in Genesis 19 . It says so . It was that when God destroyed the cities of the valley , god remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow . And to your point , the answer is in Abraham's prayer in Genesis 18 .
Speaker 4Abraham acts as we see , the first time ever through all of the scriptures , the first high priestly prayer , where somebody comes before God and pleads for the salvation of somebody else . He is pleading on Lot's behalf . Why does this matter ? He is pleading on Lot's behalf . Why does this matter ? Because God , christ , is our high priest , who pleads on our behalf . Forgive them , they know not what they do . Abraham is the reason . The covenant that God makes with Abraham is the reason why Lot is declared righteous . Here's why it's important .
Speaker 4Man , ultimately I am like Lot . I am like Lot when I'm troubled by the sin around me , and yet I sin . But like Lot , I am declared righteous , not because of what I've done , but because of the righteousness of Christ . Because of Christ , he wasn't just the high priest that prayed on my behalf . Like Abraham did the lot . He is also the high priest that was himself the final sacrifice , the fullness of the wrath of God . Everything that was poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah pales in comparison to what was poured out on Christ for me , so that I receive the righteousness of Christ , so that , like Lot , in spite of me , I too am declared righteous . Amen .
Speaker 3You see , I have one question please . Why a pillar of salt ? I mean , why not Pepper ? No , Garlic , no , not garlic . Why not brass ? Brass is a type of judgment . Why a pillar of salt ? What's hidden in there ? I mean , we know she was literally turned into a pillar of salt . Jesus said remember Lot's wife . He didn't say remember that silly story ? Right , that's a really good question .
Speaker 2I don't know why God had chosen that substance in particular , but I think , when we consider what Oscar just said about Lot being called a righteous man , the one thing we have to keep in mind as we wrap up here is that , friends , there are consequences to sin , even for the redeemed . There are consequences to bear and repercussions Think of David . And the sword will never depart from your household . Yeah , your sins are taken away . He was forgiven , but there are repercussions to sin , and we see that . Right .
Speaker 2Look at how the story ended Lot and his daughters . They go , they're hiding out , and his daughters end up getting him drunk and then sleeping with their own father . And well , what's the big deal ? You were going to give us over to those wicked men , right , I mean ? And they were steeped in that whole wickedness of that culture . So , hey , yeah , this sounds logical , and this ended up bringing into the world the Moabites , which became huge enemies of Israel . So sin has repercussions , compromise has repercussions . And so , friends , we urge you learn from the life of Lot , learn from all those that have gone before you who have fallen in massive ways and destroyed their lives , listen to the voice of wisdom . Proverbs 1 . It's calling out , but if you don't listen , you're gonna eat the fruit your own way . It's more important to think about what church you're gonna be a part of your own way . It's more important to think about what church you're going to be a part of before you think of the great opportunity financially in connection with a city you're going to move to .
Speaker 2You need to think about your spiritual well-being . You need to think how will this impact my children ? You need to think about the decisions you make with entertainment , with your finances , with your language , with the people you surround yourself with , because our actions and our decisions and our choices have ramifications and repercussions . Let's go hard after God , let's pursue him , let's get as far away from Sodom as we can , so that we may be pleasing to the Lord .
Speaker 1Well , there you have it .
Speaker 2I'm going to end on a sober note . Thanks for joining us . We'll see you here next time on the Living Waters Podcast .