The Danger of the Suburbs: Examining Our Spiritual Trajectory

• Lot's Life and Spiritual State 00:32:52 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor introduces Lot as a 'carnal Christian' and contrasts him with Abraham to illustrate the difference between spiritual and carnal believers.
• Biblical Evidence of Lot's Salvation 00:35:11 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor cites 2 Peter 2:6-8 to prove that Lot was a 'righteous man' justified by faith, despite his sinful lifestyle.
• Spiritual Heritage and Responsibility 00:39:16 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses his own upbringing in a faithful Christian family to argue that believers have no excuses for spiritual failure if they have such a heritage.
• Spiritual Heritage and Gratitude 00:39:16 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor expresses gratitude for his spiritual upbringing and emphasizes that believers should thank God for such a heritage, noting that it removes excuses for not living for Jesus.
• Conversion Experience 00:43:43 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that a genuine conversion is a definite, memorable experience where one realizes their sinfulness and places faith in Jesus Christ, citing Lot's surrender to the Lord as an example.
• Source of Blessings 00:45:13 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor asserts that all material blessings come from God, not human effort, using the example of Lot's wealth and Abraham's obedience to illustrate divine provision.
• Christian Lifestyle in Modern Culture 00:48:24 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor addresses the cultural shift away from traditional Christian values, encouraging believers to remain faithful to Jesus despite societal pressures and changes.
• The Role of Decisions in Character Formation 00:51:42 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that a person's identity is defined by their series of decisions, using Lot's choice to separate from Abraham as a case study for revealing inner character.
• Materialism vs. Spirituality 00:57:39 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor analyzes Lot's decision to choose the well-watered plains of Jordan, identifying it as a materialistic choice driven by what his eyes could see rather than spiritual considerations.
• Lot's Character and Decisions 00:56:11 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor analyzes Lot's decision to choose the plains of Jordan, identifying four key character traits: materialism, compromising, self-centeredness, and danger.
• Compromise and Dual Allegiance 00:59:36 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains Lot's attempt to reconcile the 'garden of the Lord' with the 'land of Egypt' (the world system), citing Jesus' teaching that one cannot serve two masters.
• Self-Centeredness 01:02:17 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor highlights Lot's self-centered decision-making, noting his lack of concern for his family, Abraham, or God's will.
• Direction of Life (Heaven vs. Sodom) 01:03:59 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom as a metaphor for a life directed toward sin rather than heaven, urging listeners to examine their own spiritual direction.
• Borderline Sin and Judgment 01:06:42 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor connects Lot's proximity to Sodom with 'borderline sin' in the believer's life, warning that societal laxity is a sign that judgment is already present.
• Torment of the Righteous Soul 01:13:51 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses 2 Peter 2 to illustrate that even a saved person like Lot was tormented by living in sin, arguing that genuine believers experience chastisement for sin.
• The misery of the believer in the world 01:14:35 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor contrasts Lot's prosperity with his deep unhappiness, arguing that a genuine child of God cannot enjoy living in sin without being tormented in their soul.
• The danger of spiritual attachment to the world 01:18:41 ▶️ 📄
  > Using Lot's wife as an example, the pastor warns against being so attached to worldly places or lifestyles that one looks back, resulting in judgment.
• The failure of late evangelism 01:20:54 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor illustrates how Lot's 20-year silence in Sodom led his family to view his eventual warning as a joke, highlighting the urgency of sharing the gospel.
• Altar call and response 01:27:02 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor invites the congregation to come forward for prayer, baptism, or church membership, emphasizing obedience to the Holy Spirit's prompting.

• Sermon Illustration 00:39:42 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about his parents bringing him up in a home where they led in prayer, studied the Bible, and attended church regularly, using this to emphasize the privilege and responsibility of having a spiritual heritage.
• Sermon Illustration 00:39:16 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares his personal gratitude for his parents' spiritual leadership, specifically mentioning his father leading prayer at dinner and his mother studying the Bible, which he views as a privilege that removes excuses for spiritual failure.
• Sermon Illustration 00:45:13 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the biblical narrative of Lot and Abraham to illustrate how God blesses believers with material and spiritual resources, and how Lot's character was revealed through his decision to choose land based on visual appeal rather than spiritual guidance.
• Sermon Illustration 00:49:21 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references the Baptist hymn 'I'd Rather Have Jesus' to contrast worldly wealth with the value of knowing Jesus, encouraging the congregation to prioritize their relationship with Christ over material possessions.
• Sermon Illustration 01:13:03 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts a hypothetical conversation with Lot, asking him if he is happy despite his prosperity, to which Lot replies he is miserable and wishes he were back in Abraham's tent.
• Sermon Illustration 01:12:10 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references the progression of Lot's life from pitching his tent toward Sodom to sitting in the gate of Sodom, suggesting he may have become mayor, illustrating a gradual slide into sin.
• Sermon Illustration 01:20:54 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts the biblical story of Lot living in Sodom for 20 years, becoming miserable despite his prosperity, and finally warning his family of impending judgment, only for them to think he was joking.
• Sermon Illustration 01:18:41 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references Lot's wife looking back at Sodom and being turned into a pillar of salt, illustrating the danger of attachment to the world.

• Pastoral Charge 01:10:06 ▶️ 📄
  > Pray for revival and a Holy Spirit awakening to restore conviction regarding sin.
• Pastoral Charge 01:27:02 ▶️ 📄
  > Come forward to the altar to pray and seek God individually.
• Pastoral Charge 01:27:12 ▶️ 📄
  > Profess faith, seek baptism, or join the church by coming forward.
• Pastoral Charge 01:30:55 ▶️ 📄
  > Vote in the upcoming midterm election, specifically utilizing early voting starting Thursday.
• Pastoral Charge 01:31:52 ▶️ 📄
  > Pick up voter guides from the table to share with family and neighbors.

[00:05:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:05:28] The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to share the gospel with children around the world. And it all starts with a very simple shoebox gift. One of the greatest evangelical tools of any ministry around the world is Operation Christmas Child.
[00:06:03] share the name of Jesus Christ. Through the gift boxes, we are going places that no church will be allowed. At these outreach events, the gospel is shared in a child-friendly way. They hear that he died on the cross, that he rose again from the dead in a way they understand. After receiving

[00:06:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:06:22] shoebox gifts, children are invited to a 12-lesson discipleship program, The Greatest Journey.

[00:06:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:06:28] Churches are using these shoeboxes, The Greatest Journey discipleship program, to reach out to the ends of the earth with the gospel.
[00:06:38] The child is discipled, not only know God, but make God know who others are.

[00:06:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:06:44] The greatest journey begins with an explanation of the gospel, where children are given another opportunity to respond.
[00:06:51] The children then go through 12 lessons to help establish them in their new faith, teach them how to live for Christ, and are taught ways to share their faith with friends and family.

[00:07:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:07:01] To partner with an organization that's making the local church the priority, empowering them to go make disciples, I can't think of a better investment for the gospel.

[00:07:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:07:13] God sent his son to this earth on a rescue mission. Jesus Christ died and shed his blood on the cross for our sin.
[00:07:21] And then on the third day, God in heaven said it's enough and he raised his son to life.
[00:07:26] This is the good news, and we've got a responsibility to take this message to the ends of the earth.

[00:07:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]
[00:07:32] Let's stand together here in the house of the Lord on this Sunday morning as we join

[00:15:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:15:54] our hearts together just to praise and bring glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
[00:16:00] And we want to welcome you, all of you that are visiting with us this morning here to Trinity Baptist Church, and we're looking forward to a great time of just sharing in the Lord this morning as we sing and lift our voices to him and as we study his word together
[00:16:14] we just pray that you will continue just to seek him in every way if you're visiting with us well we want to bid you a warm welcome in the name of the Lord and our deacons have some gift bags that
[00:16:24] they would love to put in the hands of each of you who are visiting with us today there's some material in there that we hope you'll take home that'll remind you of your time here at Trinity
[00:16:33] this morning and but there's a guest card that part of that packet that we want you to take a moment and fill it out placed in the offering plate when it comes by a little bit later in
[00:16:41] the service so we'll have record of your visit here with us today so if you are visiting if you'll lift your hand about like this as they make their way down the aisle and just hold it up high
[00:16:50] enough and long enough for them to spot you and they will just share this with you this morning and again we are thankful that you are here to worship with us in spirit and in truth this
[00:17:00] morning and if you're joining us via live stream we welcome you into the sanctuary here at trinity and pray that the Lord will just speak to you right where you are joining us from this morning
[00:17:09] and wherever that may be we invite you to sing along with us when we sing go to the Lord in prayer with us when we pray and then when we study God's Word in a few moments you grab a copy of the
[00:17:21] Bible and turn with us to the book of Genesis where we're studying today and I believe God will speak to your heart this morning as you've gathered here with us from wherever you may be anywhere in
[00:17:32] the world today. Well, speaking of praying together, will you join with me as we go to the Lord this morning and ask Him to minister in this place? Father, we do just stop at this
[00:17:43] very moment to just call upon You. Thank You for being so faithful. Thank You for the way You work in our lives. Thank You for giving us the strength and the health and the ability to be here this
[00:17:59] morning and to be able to to sing songs of praise and lord to be able to seek your face and to be able to study your word together and to be challenged by your word and to grow in our
[00:18:13] knowledge and understanding of of who you are and the desires that you have for each of our lives and lord i just pray that this morning that um that you would be glorified about all that happens
[00:18:26] here in this place for father it's our desire to be able to look toward heaven and all that we say and all that we do this morning lord we pray that the praise and the worship that comes from here
[00:18:38] would be as a sweet aroma to the very nostrils of god as your word describes it and i just pray that this morning that each of us would be surrendered to your will to your heart to your
[00:18:51] vision to all that you want to do in each of us here today we love you and we praise you and we lift this prayer as we begin this service in jesus name amen well listen if you have children with
[00:19:04] you preschool through third grade we want to invite them to come and be a part of children's church this morning they can make their way here to the front when we stand up to greet each other
[00:19:13] and make their way here to my right and your left and they'll be greeted and taken to children's church to get today. So would you stand to your feet right where we are, turn around, shake a few
[00:19:23] hands, hug a few necks, make each other welcome in the house of the Lord as we continue to worship

[00:19:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:19:28] this morning. Welcome to Trinity this morning. This is the time in our service when we gather

[00:25:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:25:52] your tithes and offerings. And if you're joining us online, we encourage you to participate in our ministry by going to trinitybaptist.com. So let us pray. Gracious God, you are the owner of all things and everything we have comes from your generous hand. In your word, we see Lot choosing
[00:26:20] what looked pleasing to human eyes while Abram chose to walk by faith and honor peace. As we return a portion of what you have entrusted to us this morning, guard our eyes and hearts against
[00:26:33] the lure of self-seeking wealth. Help us to value unity, generosity, and trust in you far more than the worldly gain. Bless these offerings and multiply them so that your gospel may be shared and your love demonstrated. In Christ's name we pray, amen. Amen and amen. Thank you,

[00:29:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:29:25] Ann Bells and Chase, for blessing us this morning. Turn in your Bibles, if you will, to the book of Genesis. The book of Genesis is where we invite you to be with us this morning
[00:29:36] as we continue in our series through this incredible foundational book. As you know, we've been seeing Genesis and understanding that this book has a way of just laying a foundation really for our entire society and for our culture in which we live. And it's fascinating as we walk
[00:29:56] through it and see the many principles that God gives us and how they affect our everyday life.
[00:30:03] So stand, if you will, in honor of the reading of the Word of God. We pick up in verse 5 of Genesis chapter 13, where we left off last week. And here's what we find.
[00:30:19] Lot also, who went with Abram, 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 a strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen
[00:30:42] of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. 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 is not the whole land before you please separate from me if you take the left
[00:31:05] then i will go to the right or if you go to the right then i will go to the left and lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of jordan that it was well watered everywhere before the lord
[00:31:21] destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the gardens of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 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
[00:31:47] of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. Would you pray with me, Father? I pray in these next few minutes as
[00:32:03] we study your word together that you would indeed speak to each of our hearts, Lord, that we would hear your voice, that we would allow our hearts and minds to be so open to you that, Father, we
[00:32:17] would understand, that we would listen, and that we would respond to what you're saying to each individual heart in this place. And Lord, I just ask you today and pray personally that you'd let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Lord, let them be pleasing in your sight.
[00:32:38] In Jesus' name I pray, amen. You may be seated. Well, this morning as we come to the 13th chapter of Genesis, I want us to look for a few minutes at this guy named Lot that we've already heard
[00:32:52] mentioned in our Genesis series, the nephew of Abraham. Now I'll tell you up front, there are really two primary reasons that I want us to look carefully at Lot's life. One of those reasons is
[00:33:06] because over in Luke chapter 17, Jesus said the conditions that existed in the days of Lot would be the same conditions that would exist when He came again. So I just believe that when you look
[00:33:22] and you examine what the social, what the political, what the moral conditions were in the day of Lot, it allows us to really come close to understanding what kind of world it will be when Jesus Christ splits that sky wide open and comes again. And so that's one reason I want us
[00:33:47] to carefully examine these particular things. But the primary reason I want us to dive into Lot's life is because when you contrast Abraham, who we've been looking at, and you contrast that with Lot that we're going to look at today, you get a strong, clear picture of the difference
[00:34:08] between a spiritual Christian and a carnal Christian. Now let me explain. Abraham represents the spiritual man, walking by faith, living for the Lord, drawing closer and closer to the Lord as he lives each day. Lot represents what I would consider a carnal Christian. In fact,
[00:34:37] after we get through looking at this passage this morning, if it were not for two verses in the New Testament which tell us plainly that Lot was a saved man, a child of God, you'd really have a tough time believing that Lot went to heaven when he died. I mean,
[00:34:56] let me just show it to you. Hold your finger here in Genesis 13 and flip over to 2 Peter for a moment in the New Testament. 2 Peter chapter 2, and I want you to look at verse 6, 7, and 8.
[00:35:11] 2 Peter chapter 2, verse 6, 7, and 8, and look at what it tells us. We're told, and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly, verse 7, and delivered
[00:35:39] righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked. For that righteous man dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds. So we're told in verse 7, you see that phrase, righteous lot. That means
[00:36:06] he had been justified by faith before God. And we're told in verse 8, you might want to underline that verse where it says, a righteous man. And that means that Lot had been declared righteous
[00:36:20] in the Lord, and Lot had become a child of God. But now when you go back and you look at his life in Genesis, and you look just at the record, it would cause you to wonder, was Lot saved?
[00:36:38] Well, why is that? Because Lot's an example of a carnal Christian, a child of God who has moved away or seemingly gone backward from God. But now listen to me carefully. This passage of Scripture before us this morning, I consider to be a passage of warning. You say, what do you mean,
[00:37:04] preacher. I mean, it is a warning to every one of us who knows Jesus. You cannot compromise with sin. You cannot play with sin. You cannot dabble with sin. So this is a warning passage
[00:37:26] if it's anything else. And I think all of us need to really perk up our ears and open our minds and see and understand what God wants to say to us. Dear note-taker today, let me invite you to
[00:37:40] jot some things down. Number one, I want us to look at the destination of Lot. The destination of Lot. Now, I do believe there is indeed evidence in Scripture that Lot did have faith in God.
[00:37:57] I already mentioned that to you. You notice in verse 5 of Genesis 13, it says, Lot also who went with Abram. So we find in verse 5 that this is not the first time, by the way, that we see that
[00:38:14] phrase. If you turn back one page in chapter 12 and look at verse 4, it says, so Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. So what do we see about Lot? We see that Lot
[00:38:31] had a great deal going for him. He really did. You say, well, what do you mean? Well, number one, I notice here that he's got a mentor of faith. Lot had the privilege of having a man in his family
[00:38:47] who was a man of God, a man that Lot could look up to as a spiritual mentor, if you will.
[00:38:57] I mean, if you happen to have had the privilege of being brought up in a family and having experienced the blessing of having parents who brought you up in a family who literally knew Jesus, a family who walked with Jesus, a family who loved Jesus, who talked about Jesus. Listen,
[00:39:16] if you had the privilege of coming up in that kind of home, you ought to hit your knees every day and thank God that you had the privilege of being in that kind of spiritual heritage.
[00:39:31] You really should. And I think we've all got to recognize this morning what that really means.
[00:39:42] You see, I thank God every day for the fact that my parents brought me up in that kind of home where I had a dad who led us in prayer every night at dinner that I had a mom who studied the Bible
[00:39:59] who shared with her children and shared with her family day in and day out who had us in the church house every time the church doors were open I thank God for that heritage and you know what
[00:40:11] that means to me well I got to tell you just on the surface that means that if I don't live for Jesus, there are no excuses whatsoever. None. It means that if you don't serve the Lord,
[00:40:25] if you don't stay true to Jesus, I can't blame anybody in my family for my spiritual failure.
[00:40:35] I mean, when I look at these young people, I mean, I watch these children when we dismiss them during the welcome to come and go to children's church, and I just think for a moment
[00:40:44] how grateful I am that there are children that still have moms and dads who understand the importance of having them in the house of God, bringing them up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. I am so grateful to see these children and young people who make their way
[00:41:02] down this aisle and go over there to children's church each week. And there's part of me that just wants to say to them, in fact, as they become teenagers, it becomes more and more difficult
[00:41:16] perhaps for them to want to come but i want to say to all of them you may growl now but 20 years from now i promise you you will thank god for a mom a dad that brought you up in the faith and
[00:41:38] the admonition of the lord there is no substitute for that kind of foundation and that's exactly what lot had he's got a mentor of faith a man of god who had a vision of god for lot's life
[00:41:56] a man of god who walked and talked personally with the god of this universe that's what lot had in his uncle abraham he also had another thing going for him lot had a mind of faith
[00:42:14] lot had a mind of faith you'd say what do you mean pastor well look i'm gonna be honest i don't know how it took place i don't know exactly what happened in the soul of lot but the fact that
[00:42:31] the bible says that lot was righteous means there was a mind of faith that was in lot's life listen i know that because romans 5 1 says therefore being justified by faith the only way
[00:42:52] you can be justified is by faith in the lord god so somewhere in the secrecy of his own heart may have been in a revival meeting back there in the ur of chaldeans uncle abraham may have
[00:43:07] been preaching and sharing what God had called him to do, may have been in some kind of atmosphere like that. I don't know where it happened. I don't know how it happened, but I do know based on the
[00:43:19] word somewhere along the way, God got hold of Lot's heart and Lot came surrendered to the Lord God. Lot made up his mind he was going to serve the Lord. By the way, you remember your conversion
[00:43:43] experience. Do you remember when you made your commitment to give your life to Jesus Christ?
[00:43:51] I mean, I'll tell you what I believe. I believe if you've really had an experience with Jesus Christ to be your personal Savior, you can remember it. I believe it is a definite experience.
[00:44:08] I'm not saying that you just, you have to say, well, I remember February 7th, 1961, or I remember November 10th, 1991. That's not what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about is that if you've
[00:44:20] had a definite time when you realized that you were a sinner, you understood that Jesus Christ died on the cross in your place, and you turned from your sins, and you placed your faith in Jesus
[00:44:35] and Jesus alone, you received Him as your Savior. And listen, you're going to remember that.
[00:44:43] you're going to know when that happened see i believe that's what happened in lot's life the old testament lot's mind was turned to god i'll tell you another thing he had going for him he not only had a mentor and he not only had this mind of faith but lot had miracles of faith
[00:45:13] that god was doing in his life listen no denying it god blessed lot god blessed lot with miracles god blessed abraham for his obedience and god blessed lot look again go back to verse 5 of this
[00:45:33] 13th chapter says lot also who went with abraham had flocks and herds and tents listen in verse 5 it tells us that God gave Lot all of these things did you know all of the
[00:45:51] material blessings you have God gave them to you all the material blessings you have God gave them to you I can't take credit for anything I have you can't take credit for anything you have you're
[00:46:07] saying, oh, wait a minute, preacher. Listen, I beg to differ. I've got a strong brain, and I've worked hard to make it work for me. Well, I've got news for you. Those of you who
[00:46:22] believe that you're a self-made man or a self-made woman, have you ever thought God gave you that brain and all god's got to do is touch that brain and you could become a babbling idiot just like
[00:46:42] that he is almighty god friend god gets the credit for every material blessing in your life but lot not only saw material blessings and material miracles in his life he saw some awesome spiritual blessings as well notice this thing started off with abraham and lot living in tents and building
[00:47:13] an altar remember i've told you that was going to be very important whenever you study abraham throughout scripture those two things always seem to perk up to the top tents and altars and you remember, they would pitch a tent and they would build an altar. The tent reminding them of the
[00:47:36] temporary relationship that you have with this world. And the altar reminding them of the critical importance of the spiritual relationship with God himself. See, living in tents reminded them that there were no, this was not a permanent place for them. This was not the place of
[00:48:01] permanence. And yet, even with that, God was blessing them. I mean, God was really doing something in those tents. God was really blessing them on those altars. And listen, we're living in the 21st century. I mean, we're in the last quarter of 2026. We're about to flip the calendar
[00:48:24] to 2027. And I know that people would look at me or they would say to me today, well, preacher, it's a little old-fashioned and backwards to be a Christian and really live for Jesus.
[00:48:37] I mean, listen, things have changed in the culture. I mean, we're living in a day when the LGBT comes out of the closet and is put on a platform, and the Ten Commandments that have
[00:48:52] seemed to be on a platform are now taken off the platform, and they're put in the closet.
[00:48:57] it. But I got to tell you, that old song that we've sung for years in the Baptist hymnal that says, I'd rather have Jesus than silver and gold. I'd rather have Jesus than riches untold.
[00:49:21] I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I would rather be led by His nail-scarred hand than to be a king of a vast domain or be held in sin's dread way. I'd rather have Jesus
[00:49:46] than anything this world affords today. Friend, it pays to know Jesus. It pays every step of the way. And I want, there's part of me that wants to jump into this scripture and wants to say to Lot,
[00:50:12] Lot, you got a lot going for you, buddy. You got an uncle who loves God and is leading you in the right direction. You've turned your mind over to God. You've said yes to following him. And Lot,
[00:50:28] you've got all these miraculous blessings all around you. You know what? That's how life begins.
[00:50:40] for every believer. Have you ever thought about that? God saves you, yes, but then God gives you the potential of having an extraordinary, successful Christian life. I mean, the moment you are saved, if I could get through to your mind, the moment you're saved, God gives you all
[00:51:07] the ingredients of everything you need to live the Christian life in a great, victorious way.
[00:51:16] We all need to remember that. We all need to hold on to that, because you see in Lot an incredible opportunity and destination. But the second thing I want you to focus on real quickly
[00:51:35] is I want you to look at the decisions of Lot, because the decisions tell us a lot.
[00:51:42] and and really when you stop and look at this we know that your life and my life is a series of decisions is it not i mean in fact who you are listen to me who you are this morning
[00:52:00] and what you become even this morning is a series of decisions that has made you who you are if you think about that i mean just think about all the decisions you make you decided to go to
[00:52:21] school or to not go to school and that changed the course of your life that boy or that girl that you decided to marry that changed things didn't it that changed the course of your life forever
[00:52:38] where you decided to work what you decided to do that changed the course of your life if you had children that changed the course of your life so so to really just narrow it down
[00:52:57] you get to the point you as an individual are a combination of your decisions that you've made you get the point and while those decisions are very very important they are often confusing can be disturbing and in this experience of lot there came a decision time i mean we already
[00:53:31] talked about and noticed how god was blessing them i mean abraham being blessed so much his herds were getting bigger and bigger lot being blessed so much his herds were getting bigger and bigger and verse 6 tells us we read it a moment ago the land couldn't contain them
[00:53:52] and their boom that they had had was too great in verse 7 look read it if you will you see in verse 7 it says and there was strife between the herdsmen of abram's livestock and the herdsmen
[00:54:10] of Lot's livestock. Now, and you keep reading, it says the Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. What does that mean? That means the ungodly were there at this point.
[00:54:27] Now, it's a bad thing when Christians have disunity, but it's far worse when Christians have disunity in front of unbelievers. I mean, really, the ungodly. So Abraham, in his wisdom, calls a meeting in verse 9. And you begin to see, I'm sorry, in verse 8. So Abram said to Lot,
[00:54:53] please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brethren and then notice what abraham does it's pretty incredible and by the way lot's the oldest right he's the uncle it was evidently i'm see abraham is the oldest he's
[00:55:18] the uncle and it was evidently abraham that had heard the word from god when they left to begin with abraham had every right in this world and you know it to have looked at lot and said listen boy
[00:55:32] i'm the top dog in this deal god gave this land to me you're just a nephew i mean listen who do you think you are stepping in on my land that god gave to me you need to get your herdsmen in order
[00:55:48] he didn't do that did he not at all but instead abraham says lot we've got a situation here we're both being so blessed things are going so well and something's got to give so lot here's
[00:56:11] what i want you to do lot you make the first choice and i'll take what's left that's huge abraham surrenders his rights and lets lot choose the man of faith now i want you to catch some of
[00:56:46] the details real quickly of the decision that lot makes because it's in those details listen to me the character of the man lot is actually revealed in fact can i just tell you something i wrote in
[00:57:04] my friday article i was going to make this statement today and right here's where i'm going to make it. What you are on the inside is revealed by the kind of decisions you make.
[00:57:23] What you are on the inside as a man, what you are on the inside as a woman is ultimately revealed in the kind of decisions you make. And there's four words that just jump off the pages of
[00:57:39] scripture that describe Lot's character. First word, materialistic. Look at verse 10, and Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plains of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere.
[00:58:04] Now what that means is, now don't miss this, is that Lot is going to make his choice based on what his eyes can see. He's about to make his decision. He's about to make his choice
[00:58:20] on what his eyes can see. Now it's interesting, it reveals here about the man Lot that he's more interested in time than he is in eternity. He's more interested in the things than he is interested
[00:58:39] in God. I mean, he really, I noticed, never seemed to ask the question, how will this affect my children? He was more interested in how's this going to affect my cattle? It was well watered.
[00:58:59] You know, I've noticed in almost four decades of pastoring that a lot of believers really get seriously off track right here because they make a materialistic decision as opposed to a spiritual decision.
[00:59:21] That's where a lot of believers get off track and begin to lose it.
[00:59:29] Second word that marks his character, compromising, compromising.
[00:59:36] Look at verse 10.
[00:59:37] go back to it again it says he lifted his eyes he saw the plain of jordan that it was well watered everywhere before the lord destroyed sodom and gomorrah look like the garden of the lord
[00:59:52] like the land of egypt as you go toward zoar so he looks down toward sodom and he found that it looks like the garden of the lord and the land of egypt would you underline that phrase
[01:00:12] and i want you to think for a minute you don't get much more opposite than that do you the garden of the lord he's talking about the garden of eden and the land of egypt i mean
[01:00:31] listen, we've already seen in chapter 12 that Egypt represents what? The world system.
[01:00:40] That's what it represents. And do you see what Lot's trying to do? Lot's trying to take these two exact opposites and somehow make them work together. Lot's saying, I'm going to hold on to the Lord with this hand, and I'm going to hold on to the world with this hand.
[01:01:10] And a man named Jesus said, you can't do that. Jesus said, no man can love two masters, for either he will love the one and despise the other, or he will let go of one and cling to the
[01:01:29] other. In other words, I don't care who you are. You can't reconcile the garden of the Lord and the land of Egypt. It's either heaven or it's the world. Can't have both. And Lot is looking at him
[01:01:51] and he's trying to figure out how to do it. That was the second word, compromise. Third word, self-centered. You got to drop down to verse 11 to see this. It says in verse 11, then lot chose for himself underline that phrase chose for himself hmm lot was going to choose for
[01:02:17] who him lot had made up his mind he was going to do what suited him he seems to have no concern for his family no concern for his uncle abraham no concern for the will of god no concern for all
[01:02:33] the people who were involved. It was a totally self-centered decision. This is what I want to do.
[01:02:46] And then there's a fourth. That word is dangerous. I might even add extremely dangerous.
[01:02:56] Because when you look at verse 12, as it continues, it says, Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as
[01:03:12] sodom look at that it says he pinched his tent towards sodom now on the surface that may not sound too bad does it i mean he's just going to move his tent over close to sodom
[01:03:33] I mean, really, preacher, what's the problem? Well, for one, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that that shows the direction of his life. Lot's life is toward Sodom. Abraham's life, according to verse 12, is toward Canaan, which is the promised land. Can I ask you this morning
[01:03:59] the question, which direction is your life pointed this morning? I mean, when the Lord, which by the way, the Lord knows your heart. He knows my heart. He knows every heart under the sound of my voice
[01:04:13] this morning. If you're in the sanctuary, He knows your heart. If you're listening by live stream, He knows your heart. If you're watching my television on delayed broadcast, He knows your heart. So here's my question. When the Lord looks inside of your heart, does He see your life
[01:04:33] pointed toward heaven, or does He see your life pointed toward Sodom? See, I just want you to know as I've worked through this passage this week, and even before I came into this pulpit this morning,
[01:04:53] i prayed and i prayed and i said lord please in looking at my heart this morning i pray that you will see a heart that is pointed toward heaven i prayed before i even came in here to
[01:05:14] stand before you and said lord i want my talents i want my treasure i want my time i want my totality, when you look inside my heart, I want you to see a heart pointed toward heaven,
[01:05:35] directed toward heaven. Friend, listen, the bottom line is we're not going to be here too long.
[01:05:44] You know that. I mean, if you live a hundred years, that's just a fraction of time.
[01:05:52] And are we not foolish to put the direction of our lives towards something that God has said in His Word will not last?
[01:06:05] Isn't a man foolish to only live for what this world has to offer and not for the eternal?
[01:06:14] Lot pitched his life towards Sodom.
[01:06:18] And for you and for me, just quite honestly, this represents engaging in borderline sin. Lot's not in Sodom here, but he's moved to the suburbs of Sodom. And you may be at a place in your spiritual life where you gave your life to Jesus
[01:06:42] and you were walking close with him. But when you really look at where you are today, you have pitched your tent in a different direction. And as you examine it, what are you seeing. Are there borderline sins in your life? Think about it. Listen, you'd probably argue and
[01:07:08] defend if anybody really touched on those sins, but you're involved in something that maybe you wouldn't want your family to know about, your mom or your dad to know about. You wouldn't want your pastor to walk in and know it? See, Lot's put his life in the wrong direction. And the problem is,
[01:07:37] Lot doesn't know what God knows about Sodom. And you know why? Because I notice here, Lot never sought God. Do you ever see anywhere that Lot sought the Lord in this decision?
[01:07:55] and if you want to know God's opinion on Sodom all you got to do is read verse 13 God doesn't hold back it says but the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the
[01:08:10] Lord God has already put Sodom and Gomorrah down on the agenda for destruction God knows they were so vile and so wicked that they were going to require destruction and when we get to chapter
[01:08:25] 19 you're going to look at it and you're going to see it but but what you've got to know is that in our own lives in our own culture we have brought sodom into our vocabulary with the word sodomy
[01:08:41] which refers to unnatural sexual relations men with men women with women and in our day we call it homosexuality. That's what God says about Sodom and Gomorrah. That was the condition of Sodom and Gomorrah. And how could any Christian in their right mind put his family in this danger
[01:09:14] on this borderline? Think about it. When a society, listen to me, when a society becomes lax with these kind of sexual perversions, it's not a sign that judgment is coming.
[01:09:42] It is a sign that judgment is already here. God's judgment is already here.
[01:09:51] And we have to understand that. And all of us need to pray for revival. And all of us need to pray for a Holy Spirit awakening that will put some backbone in the heart and mind of Christians
[01:10:06] again, to give us convictions when we are looking at sin again. Christians have got to wake up and realize that in many cases we're pitching our tents towards Sodom. But here's where I want to
[01:10:26] close. I want to close this morning with the difference that Lot made. Not only the decisions of Lot, but the difference that ultimately Lot finds. There's the destination of Lot, there's the decisions of Lot, but here's where I want to close. You've got to make sure you
[01:10:49] understand the sequence of events of what happens. Verse 13, as we just read, tells us that he pitched his tent toward Sodom. Now, go over to chapter 14, just look at it, it's the very next
[01:11:04] chapter and look at verse 12 and look what it says in verse 12 it says they also took lot abram's brother's son who dwelt in sodom and his goods and departed so in other words in verse 12
[01:11:26] underline it it says lot now dwelt in sodom but that's not the end of it turn over a couple of pages over to chapter 19 for just a minute and look at verse 1 in chapter 19 it says now the
[01:11:40] two angels came to sodom in the evening and where's lot lot was sitting in the gate of sodom so you see the progression when lot first got there he was outside in the suburbs then we see he moves right in to the city of sodom and now here in verse 1 of chapter 19
[01:12:10] he's sitting at the gate by the way there are some bible scholars on the basis of the hebrew here that believe that lot has been elected mayor of sodom true that's the truth and what a book he
[01:12:31] could have written you know he could have written from the tent to the mayor's office of sodom sold a lot of copies but i i tried when i saw that progression i thought i'd give anything
[01:12:47] if i could just sit down with a lot and ask him a few questions and think about what his answers would be i might ask him brother a lot you've really made it haven't you oh yes yes a lot you
[01:13:03] have become quite prosperous here in Sodom, haven't you? Yes, I must say, I'm very well off and very, very, very glad to be where I am. Well, Lot, I want to ask you a few questions. Is that
[01:13:16] okay about your move into Sodom? Well, sure, go ahead, ask. Well, Lot, how has the move affected you personally may i remind you where we started this morning in second peter 2 verse 7 and 8 it said that lot was tormented with the filthy conversation of the people of sodom day
[01:13:51] by day and the king james version it actually uses the term vexed that his righteous soul was vexed or tormented, if you will. And may I suggest to you that that same word for tormented is the
[01:14:08] same word used in Revelation chapter 20, verse 10, when it talks about the devil being tormented day and night in the lake of fire. That word tormented is the very same word used to translate
[01:14:22] vexed. And it is simply getting across the truth that Lot in Sodom was living in hell on earth.
[01:14:35] But Lot, you're prosperous, aren't you? Yes. Lot, you're pretty prominent in this community.
[01:14:45] Yes. Well, Lot, are you happy? No. No. No. A thousand times no. I'm more unhappy than I have ever been i've got more stuff than i've ever had but would to god that i was back there in that old
[01:15:09] tent living for god serving god uncle abraham he had it right to keep his stakes loose you want the truth i'm miserable i'm miserable but ladies and gentlemen let me ask you where did we ever get
[01:15:36] the idea that a genuine child of God can be out in the world and enjoy it? Huh? I'm asking, where did we get that idea? Now, if you're sitting here today and you say, well, Mark,
[01:15:56] listen, I'm not miserable. I mean, I'm a church member. Honestly, I'm living in sin, but but look i'm not miserable i'm doing my thing and um you know i'm pretty happy you know what the bible says if that's you and you're able to live in that sin without
[01:16:24] chastisement the bible says you're a bastard the bible says you're illegitimate the bible said you've never been born again. The Bible says you're not a child of God. Where did we ever get the idea that you could continue to live in your sin without the chastisement hand of God?
[01:16:56] You see, one of the ways I know Lot was saved is because the Bible says he was tormented in his soul. He was tormented in his soul. I just wonder if I'm talking to somebody here this morning
[01:17:12] who like lot needs to come back i wonder if i'm talking to somebody today who like lot has moved into sodom and if you were real honest with god this morning you didn't come here
[01:17:26] expecting to hear this but you're hearing it i wonder if you were real honest with god this morning that you would confess that you're sick in your soul that you're being tormented in your soul and that you long for those days when you were reading god's word you long for those days
[01:17:50] when your prayers were being answered you long for those days when you were seeing people saved you know the second question i'd ask him in that interview i'd say lot how has the move affected
[01:18:07] your family i can only imagine lot would say i wish you hadn't asked me that i don't even want to talk about it. They've just fallen in love with this place. They love it here. My daughters
[01:18:25] have married boys from here. They don't care about the altar anymore. They laugh at Abraham's altar. And my wife, I can't keep her away from this place. Which by the way, you know that in
[01:18:41] Genesis 19, when the angels were rescuing Lot and his family from the fire and the brimstone that were about to rain down, the angel told them to hurry and don't look back. But it was Lot's wife
[01:18:53] who was so attached, so attached to that place, she couldn't help herself. And she looked back and the Bible said she was turned into a pillar of salt. And Jesus said in Luke 17, 32,
[01:19:10] remember Lot's wife. Jesus said, you better always remember and never forget because this is reality.
[01:19:28] This morning, somebody hearing me may be playing with the border.
[01:19:34] And what you don't know is you're playing Russian roulette with your family.
[01:19:39] But I've got one more question, Lot.
[01:19:41] One more, and then I promise you I'm done.
[01:19:45] How has the move affected Sodom?
[01:19:49] I mean, Lot, have you won anybody to Jesus in Sodom?
[01:19:58] And Lot just hangs his head in shame.
[01:20:02] Did you know there weren't ten righteous people in Sodom?
[01:20:08] and if you look at the chronology you can discern lot has lived there for 20 years in sodom and when judgment came he finally got alarmed that god was going to judge the wicked city
[01:20:26] he got a burden for his own family at least and we're told i want you to look at it with me and i promise you we're done here but you got to turn to it in genesis chapter 19 and verse 14 you find
[01:20:39] that Lot is running now. He is concerned, and he's running to his daughters. He's running to his son-in-laws. And isn't this something? I mean, Lot for 20 years has had no testimony.
[01:20:54] Lot, he's gone in and out of the homes of his daughters. He has, listen, he has watched their perversions. He has watched their sin, and he's just swallowed his convictions. But now he's thoroughly concerned. And in verse 14 of chapter 19, you see, so Lot went out and spoke to his
[01:21:17] sons-in-laws who had married his daughters. And what did he say to them? 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.
[01:21:37] do you see that in verse 14 look at that that ought to be the most powerful powerful verse in all of the bible to you today because at the end of verse 14 his sons-in-laws thought he was
[01:22:02] joking would you look at that old man he's crazy can't you hear him saying i know father-in-laws are crazy but this guy he's beyond the pale he's a nut he actually believes that fire and brimstone
[01:22:21] are going to rain down from heaven and they laugh and they laugh and they laugh you know what that said to me you wait 20 years to get serious about somebody's soul they may just think you're joking
[01:22:55] when you do. Wait 20 years to get serious about somebody's soul, and they may just think you're joking when you finally do. Who's God given you a burden for this morning? What is God showing you
[01:23:26] this morning? You wait 20 years to get serious about it. They may think you're joking when you finally do would you bow your heads please heads are bowed eyes are closed all over the sanctuary
[01:23:55] you know this is a um this is a powerful passage of scripture it reveals an awful lot that i think every one of us is bound to take to heart i just wonder if right now i would imagine that god's
[01:24:45] already put some people on your heart maybe your children maybe your daughters maybe your sons-in-laws I don't know maybe your neighbors maybe your friends I just I just want this invitation for the next few moments to really be a time for you to say to the Lord Lord help me help me this morning
[01:25:26] to be surrendered to you there may have been a lot of mistakes made along the way a lot of decisions that were made a lot of situations and circumstances and and god wants to redeem you lot was saved the new testament gives clear indication of that you'll see him
[01:26:06] in heaven if you're a believer but it didn't have to be this way the things that lot went through didn't have to be this way and if god is putting you on a correction course this morning i don't
[01:26:26] want you to miss that if God is wanting to put you on track early I don't want you to miss that if God's wanting to get you where you need to be right now I don't want you to miss that
[01:26:41] what's he saying to you this altar is open this morning because I believe whatever he's saying to you he's wanting a response and so if you want to come and get on this altar and just get alone
[01:27:02] with God it's open and I invite you to come and do what the Holy Spirit lays on your heart that you need to do I'll be here at the front to pray with you those of you that may need to join this
[01:27:12] church we have the doors open if you want to profess Christ as your personal Savior you've never done that before you want to follow the Lord in baptism you can come and share that with me
[01:27:22] whatever you want to do I'll be here but most importantly you need to just be obedient to the prompting of the holy spirit this is his work not mine this is what he's doing in you not me
[01:27:36] and you need to be obedient to him in this very moment father guide this invitation help us be found faithful in doing what you've called us to do thank you for showing us the truth
[01:27:53] about real people who had real situations and father you guided them you guarded them but father i pray that you would help us learn from them for it's in jesus name we pray amen would you stand to your feet as brother grant comes to lead us this altar is open
[01:28:19] mike charles is going to come in just a moment and uh lead us in a brief uh session that we've got to take care of a matter of business today from messengers to our baptist state convention
[01:30:25] so i'm going to let him close us out uh to prepare but i want to remind you to be a part a life group tonight and follow up on a lot of the things that we talked about here today. I
[01:30:36] encourage you to be a part of that. I also want to remind you what an important time we are facing as a country, and for all of us locally and in the state of North Carolina, it gets underway
[01:30:47] in a big way this Thursday, and that will be the first day of early voting in this midterm election.
[01:30:55] if you have not planned to vote or thinking about voting i strongly urge you to reconsider and make sure that you do go and vote and the first day to do it in person early is on thursday
[01:31:10] there's a number of different locations here in this county or whatever county you may hail from will likely have them we actually have some voter guides that are put out by uh faith and freedom
[01:31:22] coalition that just really go down the issues. They're C3 compliant attorneys, constitutional attorneys from all over the country actually study these, put these together, and it lists judges on the back at the U.S. Senate race, which is a statewide race here. And so there are some
[01:31:41] of these out here on the table as you go out, get you a few if you want to take them to your family members, neighbors, or friends. It's just the issues and where the people stand on these
[01:31:52] particular issues in the statewide race here in North Carolina, and I encourage you to pick those up and take a handful if you want to. If we need to get more, we can probably get more of these,
[01:32:02] but take some today on your way out. Brother Mike, would you come? Okay, we're going to have a very

[01:32:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[01:32:19] brief business meeting just to elect these messengers, but if you'll allow me, let's go to the Lord in prayer first. Father, again, thank you for another day. Thank you for a wonderful message that you brought us. We pray, Lord, that we can have our eyes towards you, into our tent next to
[01:32:39] you, Father. And now, Lord, as we go into this brief business meeting, we just pray that it'll be done according to your will. We thank you for it in Jesus' name, and amen. All right, the
[01:32:51] The purpose is to elect messengers for the convention.
[01:32:57] There are nine names that I would like for you to consider.
[01:33:03] And after I read these names, we will have a brief vote.
[01:33:05] So the names are Bob Joyner, Grant Stanley, Chase Douthat, Trevor Gravel, Robert Leto, Cy Polaroo, Ann Stiles, Laura Ramsey, and Gene Branson.
[01:33:24] Could I have someone say that in a motion?
[01:33:29] Second.
[01:33:31] All those in favor?
[01:33:34] All right.
[01:33:35] Thank you very much.
[01:33:36] These will be the messengers from Trinity Baptist Church.
[01:33:39] I thank you for that and now I'll turn it back over to the pastor we hate to have to do that

[01:33:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:33:46] but to be honest with you our quarterly church conference is coming up in November but it will be after the convention and you have to have your messengers elected by the body so sorry for the
[01:33:56] inconvenience and having to do that today but we do have to elect them by the church body and the convention will be over by the time we get to our next church conference so thank you brother Mike
[01:34:08] for leading that. Brother Trevor's going to come and close us out, and then Brother Grant's going to sing us out today. Brother Robert's preaching this morning with an opportunity, and he's excited

[01:34:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[01:34:18] there, but Brother Trevor's going to lead us. Thank you, Pastor Mark, for that awesome message, and how many of us also feel like a lot, oftentimes, pitching our tent in the ways of this world, and so I would encourage you, if you, even though our time of worship is coming to a
[01:34:34] close, if you still need prayer or encouragement, talk to me, talk to Pastor Mark in the back, talk to Pastor Grant. We would love to pray with you, encourage you if you need that and if you
[01:34:47] desire that. But let's get to the Lord in prayer. Lord Jesus, thank you for this powerful message this morning. Lord, oftentimes we do find ourselves like Lot in entering and pitching our tents in the
[01:34:59] ways of this world. Lord, I pray that we would be a congregation and a people that seek you first.
[01:35:06] Lord, that we would just keep our eyes focused on you. Lord, I pray that there is mothers and fathers that would say, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Lord, we pray and ask
[01:35:18] these things in your name. Amen.