WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.959 We're in Genesis 12, actually 13. 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:05.280 So as we go there, just a quick recap. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:12.000 If you weren't here last week, because I want you to know there's four secrets we're looking at to being a friend with God. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:15.679 Abraham is called the friend of God in Scripture. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:19.199 And we saw that in his life and some things that he did. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:27.120 And I don't know about you, but maybe for me, I want more than just to be a follower. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:29.600 I want to be called friend of God. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:31.199 And so what does that look like? 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:37.280 And looking at Abraham's life, I believe God's revealed four of the keys in his life. 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:40.240 And so last week we found out that it was faith. 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:42.159 Faith was the first secret. 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:46.479 And the Bible says, without faith it's impossible to please God. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:53.119 And so that we saw that Abraham was a man who went out not knowing where he was going. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.320 He packed up his wife, he packed up his family, and he said, Let's go. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:01.520 But along the way, he ran into some things, some disappointments, some problems. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:06.640 And so we found him last week going back to that altar place. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:08.640 And so I want to start this week. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:13.680 How many of you here have ever watched a television show, Deal or No Deal? 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:15.359 Y'all seen this show? 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:15.840 Okay. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:22.560 Watch it a few times, not a whole lot, but uh in one of the episodes, there's a man named Lewis Green. 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:29.120 He's a sales consultant in Florida, and he made it clear throughout the game that he came to play. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:39.200 He was going to live on that edge, and he turned down multiple six-figure offers from the banker, including one for$240,000. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:44.560 And as his plan worked out, he found himself with two cases left at the end. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:51.519 One case was worth$750,000, and the other one was worth a cup of coffee. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:52.879 It was worth$5. 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:55.439 And the banker rang in. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:02:00.719 Now, if you've ever watched this show with somebody, maybe you've had the conversations me and my wife have had. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:08.719 I've been watching this show and somebody get an offer of like$50,000, and my mind's going, like, I might just cut the show short. 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:10.159 Producer might not like me. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:11.840 Because it'd be like deal number four. 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:13.199 And I'm like,$50,000? 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:16.080 You know how$50,000 could change my life? 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:18.080 I think I might take the$50,000. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:23.439 There's 20 cases left, but$50,000's a lot to, you know, change your life. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:27.199 And you know, it goes up, and people are like,$170,000. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:27.759 No deal. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:29.199 And I'm like,$170,000? 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:30.879 Think about what you could do. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:37.919 And this guy turned down$240, and so he's got two cases,$750 and a$5 case. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:43.120 And the banker calls in and says,$333,000. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:44.960 He's got a choice to make. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:46.960 $333,000 and I can walk. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:52.479 Guaranteed I got$330, I mean, one third of a million dollars. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:54.879 My life has changed. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:00.800 Or you got$750, or you got a cup of coffee. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:07.199 And his mom and his brother, and the whole entire crowd are urging him, take the 333. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:12.400 Well, as fate would have it, his wife said, You came to play, baby. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:16.639 And that's exactly what he did. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:19.439 Lewis mentions giving a counteroffer. 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:20.639 Now they do counteroffers. 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:24.879 They didn't used to do that, but he uh he says, What's your counter offer? 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:26.639 And he says, This is my counteroffer. 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:34.479 And he slams it down and says, No deal! Everyone was shocked, shocked except Lewis and his wife. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:36.560 His wife said, You got this, baby. 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:38.960 But guess what? 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:42.960 He opened the case and he got himself a nice cup of coffee. 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:46.080 Only taking home five. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:48.400 Can you imagine the feeling? 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:57.360 Thinking you're gonna maybe get 750, you had 333 and you go home, probably with a lot of expenses from the trip it took to get there. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:03.280 Man,$330,000,$33,000 could change your life. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:07.919 I want to tell you in Genesis chapter 13 about a deal that goes down. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:10.400 Genesis chapter 13. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:14.240 Look starting in verse 5. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:19.439 It says, Lot also who went with Abram had flocks and herds and tents. 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:27.600 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. 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:33.680 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:36.639 The Canaanites and the Parasites then dwelt in the laden. 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:44.720 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. 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:47.040 Is not the whole land before you? 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:48.800 Please separate from me. 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:54.959 If you take the left, then I will go to the right, or if you go to the right, then I will go to the left. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:55.680 Verse 10. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:02.240 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:09.199 This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as you go towards Zoar. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:13.680 Then Lot chose for himself all that plain of Jordan, and they were separated. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:22.160 And so we see here in this passage, Abraham, the older uncle, offering a deal to Lot. 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:25.279 And Lot says, Deal, I'll take this deal. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:33.920 But the problem within this deal, and the second secret that we're going to look at through life of Abraham today, is the secret of selflessness. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:36.240 Say this with me, selflessness. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:41.279 You may have heard the story of two friends that met for dinner in a restaurant. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:43.920 Each of them requested a filet of soul. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:47.120 And after a few minutes, the waiter came back with their order. 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:48.399 Two pieces of fish. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:53.199 There was a large piece on the plate and a smaller piece on the plate. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:56.160 One of the men proceeded to take and serve his friend. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:00.879 He placed the smaller piece on a plate and he handed it across the table. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:04.319 His friend said, Well, you certainly do have nerve. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:07.120 He said, What's troubling you? 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:09.040 He said, Look what you've done. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:11.279 You've given me the little piece. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:13.920 And get the big one for yourself. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:17.120 He said, Well, how would you have done it? 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:22.720 And his friend said, If I were serving, I would have obviously given you the bigger piece. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:24.240 His friend cut in at that moment. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:29.519 He said, Well, I have got the bigger piece, so we did it your way, anyways. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:34.639 That's right. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:39.519 The second secret to friendship with God is selflessness. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:40.879 Let's pray another minute. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:44.720 Lord, use your word to speak to our hearts. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:07:02.000 God, all the way back at the beginning of time, pride and selfishness has been an issue, Lord, that has kept us from the fullness of you for your will, for your way in our life. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:09.600 Lord, I pray today that you do some breakthroughs at the church at Chelsea Westover through your word in Jesus' name. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:10.560 Amen. 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:15.920 Number one in your outline, selfish courses always lead to division. 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:18.399 Selfish courses always lead to division. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:27.360 The outward cause, letter A, under that of the conflict, God said to Abraham, Leave your lineage and your land, and I will bless the same. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:31.199 He said, Leave your lineage and your land, and I'll bless the same. 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:37.680 But Abraham packs up his stuff and he leaves and he takes off for another country. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:41.360 And he says, Leave your country, your people, your father's house. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:44.240 But Abraham brings a crowd. 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:46.000 Okay, why? 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:48.879 I don't know exactly why Abraham did it. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:53.759 And when you look at it from the outside, it looks kind of noble. 00:07:53.920 --> 00:08:05.199 Okay, we find out that Lot, his nephew, his father had passed away, and so he's taken his nephew on with him, and he's taken on his father till his father passes. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:10.879 But God said, leave your country, your people, and your father's house. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:18.800 And so we find him, and it looks kind of like this, you know, secret selfishness, a 007 selfishness. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:26.319 We kind of struggle with it because we say, God, maybe in that same situation, I might have done the same thing. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:40.480 But God says, go, and if you remember, most of us, if God tells you to go somewhere, our reply to God will be, God, why don't you tell me where you're gonna send me, and I'll let you know if I'm going. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:43.600 Abraham packed it up and he said, I'm going. 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:45.919 Sarah, the neighbors, this is where you go. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.039 I don't know, but I'm going. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:49.120 And so he takes this step of faith. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:54.240 Um, but he has this selfish problem, and I'm gonna call this selfish problem for Abraham. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:09:00.879 We'll find out through the end of the message as Abraham is maturing and coming into his own in his walk with the Lord. 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:03.919 But at first he has this selfish problem I'm gonna call control. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:05.200 Okay. 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:09.039 We learned that he said yes to God, but he detoured in Haran. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:16.720 And we learned after that, as he was heading towards where he was supposed to go to his destiny, famine hit. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:19.200 And when famine hit, he headed to Egypt. 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:30.720 I've got to take you back because I just, listen, there's about 15 messages in these passages, but I gotta, we've got to go back to chapter 12 just for a minute to see this, so you can understand why I think he's got a control issue. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:36.320 Go back to chapter 12, uh, verses 11 through 16 is kind of where we're at in that. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:38.320 But famine hit and he headed for Egypt. 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:52.000 If you look in verse 11, he immediately has this conversation with Sarah his wife, and it came to pass when he was close to entering Egypt that he said to Sarah his wife, Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful counsel or countenance. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:54.000 Ladies, I want you to know something. 00:09:54.159 --> 00:10:00.080 If the conversation starts out with, baby, you're hot, you're going down to Egypt. 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:06.240 If he starts saying, baby, you're hot, it's down, down, down from there, he says, Baby, you are beautiful. 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:09.759 And he says in verse 12, look at what he says. 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:14.879 When they see you, they will kill me to get to you. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:16.159 Baby, you're beautiful. 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:17.919 When they see you, they're gonna kill me. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:19.440 And then he goes on verse 13. 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:20.000 This is great. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:21.840 He says, Listen, this let me read it. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:27.519 He says, Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:29.360 Listen to his words. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.000 They will, it'll be well for us. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:33.279 I'm doing this for us. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:35.440 You go to the king, say you're my sister. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:38.879 This is for us, so that they won't kill me for you. 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:40.960 Do you understand, Sarah? 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:44.080 And so he says, I'm doing this for you. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:46.639 Now, I got you guys got to understand the picture here. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:48.559 Sarah is 75 years old. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:52.159 Baby, you're beautiful. 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:55.200 And I believe she was. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:55.759 Okay. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:59.519 But I think Sarah, now this is not scripture, okay? 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:07.039 This is not what the Bible says here, but I just think Sarah, if I'm Sarah at this point, she's been with Abraham 75 years. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:12.399 She's living in a tent, hacking it with Abraham. 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:23.840 And I think maybe at this point she's probably like, look, if the Egyptian king in his palace has to take me away for your sake, Abraham, well, so be it. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.320 Because I've been in a tent all this time. 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:29.600 That's not what the Bible says. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.320 Okay? 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:34.399 Don't email me later about the theology and that. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:42.720 But anyway, so Abraham, I think he's got this control issue because that's not the way God had intended this to happen. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:48.240 And so Abraham is basically saying, go off to this king, doesn't know what's going to happen. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:51.120 Uh but the second thing we see, it was lineage. 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:55.200 That has to do with the people that he brought along, part of the cause of the conflict. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:56.399 The second part is the land. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:59.360 God said, Leave your lineage and land, and I will bless the same. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:08.480 And so, as we see in verse 6, now the lamb was not able, this is chapter 13, to support them that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:10.000 Where did all that come from? 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:16.960 It looks like from the outside that as you view this, Abraham and Lot's problem is they got so much blessing. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:20.480 And you're like, that's a pretty good problem. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:21.919 That's alright. 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:24.480 They're like, it's not big enough to hold. 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:28.080 On the outside, it looks like Abraham's like, God said he would bless me. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:30.080 And I got all this stuff. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:31.840 I got all this blessing. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:44.960 But if you look back again in chapter 12, right after Abraham presents this to Sarah, verse 16, the Pharaoh treated Abraham well for her sake. 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:50.480 He had sheep, oxen, male, donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys and camels. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:55.919 So Abraham acquires things that were not from God. 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:58.639 He acquires things from the Egyptian king. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.480 He says, God said he would bless me. 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:00.960 He did. 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:05.600 It looks like he has honored me, even though I've been dishonorable. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:09.679 Everything I want you to understand that he obtains becomes a curse. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:14.639 And sometimes, church, what you perceive to be a blessing can consume you. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:17.600 Okay, not all good things are good things. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:21.039 It can cause, in verse 6, says, a division. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:23.519 He has to split this land with lot. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:29.679 And I want you to understand part of the acquisition of this stuff means men'servants and maidservants. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:31.840 Among them is whom? 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:32.799 Okay. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:38.000 One of the maidservants that is among them is Hagar. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:14:01.759 Hagar, we're not there, but later Hagar becomes the girlfriend of Abraham, who he has an adulterous relationship with, and births Ishmael, who we're fighting still 4,000 years today over, because the Muslim people see their father as Ishmael, and we both recognize Abraham as our father. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:03.600 And so the Jews recognize Abraham. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:11.039 And there's this fight still today because Hagar, don't miss the strength of this. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:20.159 Hagar was barren, or Sarah was barren, and she's looking to Abraham, trying to find a way to create an heir to their family. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:21.600 And you know what? 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:25.759 She recommends, why don't you sleep with my maidservant? 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:29.200 It's interesting that Abraham doesn't pray about this one. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:30.879 Doesn't take a minute. 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:31.919 He's like, you know what? 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:36.480 I owe you for back when you went to the king and you did that for me. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:39.120 I'll take this one for the team, baby. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:53.039 It's interesting here that, you know, in this moment, what if Abraham would have said in the scripture, baby, guys, you, Sarah, you're the only woman for me. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:56.320 I'm not going to do this. 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:58.159 God has made a promise to me. 00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.440 You're the only one. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.759 Husbands, listen to me here. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:06.080 When your wife needs a compliment, when she says, does she look better than me? 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:07.440 Absolutely not. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.399 Never. 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:12.799 Don't miss the opportunities that are before you. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.600 I don't care. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:15.840 Look, when is my privilege? 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:21.679 But when Heather goes to the store and she's shopping and she's going to try things on, I get to sit in the hall. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:23.600 Many of you men know this position. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:28.080 And she comes out and shows me things that she's trying on. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:33.840 And I can control the situation with the sounds of my voice. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:34.240 Okay? 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.759 The looks on my face. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:42.240 If she comes out and I go something like, eh, to her, that is like devastation. 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:42.799 Okay. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:46.320 If she comes out and I go, mmm, girl. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:48.399 Yeah. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.240 Let's get two. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.799 But here's the deal. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:57.279 She knows whether or not she likes the thing and she's gonna get the thing. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:16:01.600 So my opinion on whether we're gonna actually buy it doesn't matter. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:06.399 But how I take my moment with her, man, matters. 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:08.720 What if he would have said, Sarah, no? 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:10.879 You're my girl. 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:11.919 You're it. 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.919 It's vital. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:15.519 It's vital. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:18.559 Your wife is the garden, man, and you're the gardener. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:21.919 If you're not happy with the garden, you better look to the gardener. 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:23.120 Amen, ladies. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:27.759 By the way, ladies, nobody's compliment matters like yours to your guy. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:30.159 All we want is to be your hero. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:34.320 Children, teenagers, dad just wants to be the hero. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:36.159 We loved that stuff, right? 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:44.320 This week I was uh we bought a bunk bed for the boys, and I'm putting it all together and working on it. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:48.720 And Weston came in and he's looking at and he said, There's pieces of wood everywhere. 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:52.240 And he's like, Daddy, you're gonna put all this together? 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.200 And I'm like, Yeah. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.960 And he's like, you know how to do that? 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.279 You even have screwdrivers and stuff? 00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:59.519 And I'm like, Yeah, man, I do. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:09.759 And and and and I swear Dave was he came over and helped me later on that night, and I promise you, Dave got on the bed that I put together and he fell straight through it. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:16.400 Wood slats from the top bunk came falling down as he fell through the bottom bunk, hitting him in the head. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.599 I'm like, oh. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:23.519 The kids weren't in there, so I'm still the hero. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.880 But listen, I'm sorry, that was a big rabbit. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.680 I don't know. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:29.839 That had nothing to do with Abraham. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:36.640 It looked like to Abraham there was a great blessing, but the implication continues to this day. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:45.200 What is ultimately perceived by us as blessing, but is acquired by scheming, and sin will destroy. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:49.680 Because Proverbs says, when God gives a man wealth, there's no trouble. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:53.599 What Abraham has acquired is worldly baggage. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:56.160 Somebody, come on, hear me today. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:02.000 God is seeking to do a new thing in your life, but he wants you to check that baggage. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.440 Check it at the door. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:07.359 He says, I don't want that old life that I gave you on the new trip. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:12.480 2 Corinthians 5.17 says, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.240 Old things are passed away. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:16.720 Behold, all things are become new. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:18.480 Somebody say, check your baggage. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:23.200 God can't change your past, but let me tell you something. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:24.960 He works in the present. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.720 Check your bags at the door. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.359 Don't bring it. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.240 Look what he says. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:32.559 He says, Before you come to worship, get right with that person. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:34.160 He says, check your baggage. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:37.039 Get rid of the baggage so he can do a new thing. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:40.240 So they got all this stuff and there's division. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:43.119 Looks like a blessing, but it's really not. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:50.400 The great theologian Sean Puffdaddy Combs said, I don't know what they want from me. 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:54.640 It seems like the more money we come across, the more problems we see. 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:57.359 More money is fine. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:02.640 God is not for or against you having money, but it presents a management issue. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:06.079 Lot and Abraham are divided for this reason. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.680 God's not against wealth. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.960 But I'm here to tell you something. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:13.440 We at CCW, it's not a prosperity preaching church. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:17.119 God is not living in the heavens to give you things. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:21.839 If God closes a door, he's not going to pour out a bucket of money. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.640 If you obey him, it doesn't mean a new car. 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:26.640 Or what's behind door number two? 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.319 He's not a magic lamp. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:34.079 This I know, John 10.10 says, He came to give you life and he came to give it to you abundantly. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:37.920 And John 16, 33 says, in this world you'll have tribulation. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:41.440 So what I know is that you're going to have ups and you're going to have downs. 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:44.000 There's going to be mountains and there's going to be valleys. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:47.519 And how you walk through them depends on your control. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:58.319 The closer you are to God and His grip, your intimacy with Him directly affects your view of the mountain and the valley. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:00.880 Do you have a control issue? 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.319 Because Abraham did. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:09.680 Are you trying to make sure that every detail of your life and your family's life is planned to perfection, your perfection? 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:14.559 Are you trying to control your job by trying to control what everyone around you is doing? 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:17.359 Are you trying to control your health? 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:21.359 All the money that God gives you, your spouse's life, your children's life? 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:26.079 Are you trying to control your financials and planning things according to your will and plans? 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.359 Your calendar? 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:31.920 Is there room for the Holy Spirit of God in your plans? 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:43.920 Abraham said, God, I'm going, but then disappointment, and he said, Oh, Abraham's back in the driver's seat, God, because this isn't what I expected. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:49.119 God wants to work through all kinds of sort of things in our life. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:52.160 Some are good and some are terrible. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:59.599 The outward cause was that Abraham is getting closer to God and his land and he's bringing baggage. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:02.319 It looks like blessings, but it's just baggage. 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:05.039 And that leads us to letter B, the inward cause. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:09.279 The inward cause of conflict is this. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:12.880 Number one, Lot's wayward living. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:15.119 God said, leave your family. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:19.359 If you look at Genesis 13, 5, we see the description of Lot. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.319 This is Lot. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.920 This is all you need to know about Lot. 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:24.559 Lot also, who went with Abraham. 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:25.920 That's Lot. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.759 Lot is a freeloader. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:30.480 Wherever Uncle Abraham is, that's where he is. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:33.039 Lot is living for himself. 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:44.240 He's following, he's trying to live off the coattails, and Abraham is trying to get right with the Lord, but he's got this inward cause of conflict. 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:49.359 He brought this nephew who's looking at the world. 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:51.519 See, I want you to understand something. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:54.160 Christ is a divider of things. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:57.519 Scripture says it in the New Testament. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.759 John chapter 9, or John chapter 7. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:05.119 7 says, so there was a division among the people because of Jesus. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:07.519 Let me give you another little scripture in John 9. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:11.920 It says, And it was Sabbath day when Jesus made clay and opened the eyes of the blind man. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:14.960 Then again, the Pharisees also asked, How had he received sight? 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:18.079 He said, He put clay on my eyes and washed, and I do see. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:20.400 Therefore, the Pharisees got in this fight. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:24.000 This man is not of God because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:29.200 Others said, How can a man be a sinner and do such miracles? 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:32.880 And there was a division among them. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:36.319 By the way, this is the birth of legalism. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:38.960 That's religion without a relationship. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.519 Okay? 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:41.279 They were missing the point. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:43.200 Jesus healed a man. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:45.839 Who cares about what day? 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:47.839 Are y'all hearing me? 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:49.039 God does a work. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.640 Who cares about the day? 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:56.079 Listen, Christ's presence brings division to people in the same family. 00:22:56.400 --> 00:23:00.160 Christ's presence brings conflict to people in the same family. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:08.400 If you have lost people in your family and there's no conflict, I'm sorry, but you're probably not a great Christian. 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:11.359 Pastor Rick, I'm loving them to Jesus. 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:16.319 Great, love them, but I'm gonna tell you when you speak the truth and love, it creates conflict. 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.599 Are y'all listening to me? 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:20.799 Because my Bible says light and darkness can't commune. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:24.319 Oh, I can hear old Pastor DeStefano saying it now to me. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:27.759 He said, Ricky, this dirty joke you brought to school, it just won't work. 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:29.200 He said, Are you saved? 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.640 And I said, Yes, sir. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:33.680 And he said, Ricky, light and darkness cannot commune. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:36.559 I got suspended from Christian school. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:39.119 That's right, one of your pastors. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.559 I'm a rebel. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:43.039 It was cold outside back then. 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:46.319 My dad made me worked three days chopping wood. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.559 I didn't even know what the joke meant. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.839 I found it in a junk drawer. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.960 It was my older sister. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:54.000 I didn't even look in a junk drawer for a long time after that. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.480 Okay. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:56.079 He had me so afraid. 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.680 He had me checking my salvation. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:00.400 Light and darkness, boy, it can't commune. 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.759 This won't work. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:08.880 If someone you love is living in sin, listen, we love God and love people. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:09.839 That's our motto. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:14.319 But loving people is not ignoring or backing down from truth. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:19.119 If someone you love is living in sin, it should create conflict. 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:21.119 It should create strife. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:27.119 It should create division because we speak the truth in love, but we don't dance around it. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:32.079 We don't sugarcoat or tiptoe or meander or be politically correct. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:36.000 Because the truth will set you free, church. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:40.319 If you really love someone, you'll fight with them for them. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.000 Let me say that again. 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:46.160 If you really love someone, you will fight with them for them. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:51.200 Because if you have the cure, when's a good time to give them the cure? 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:55.599 Listen, not all love is agreement. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:59.200 Not all love is inclusivity. 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.799 Y'all hearing me? 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:05.279 When would be a good time to get into that fight? 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:07.759 Somebody you know and love needs truth. 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:09.680 I'm not saying be rude. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:19.200 You can be tactful and truthful, but we don't have time in this life to live as chameleon Christians, just fitting in everywhere, in every crowd, in every place. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:21.200 Somebody say truth. 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.480 That's the truth. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.319 The truth will set you free. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:28.400 A man reveals his true self by the choices that he makes. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:30.640 Abraham repented. 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:32.400 He went back. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:36.240