1 00:00:01,490 --> 00:00:05,920 Daniel: Won't give a warm hand for the worship team worship and a B team. 2 00:00:06,150 --> 00:00:07,969 Thank you so much guys. 3 00:00:07,970 --> 00:00:10,319 They get here so early in the morning and the setup team as well. 4 00:00:10,340 --> 00:00:14,090 They get here early to set up just so we can make this happen every Sunday morning. 5 00:00:14,459 --> 00:00:14,979 Well, good morning. 6 00:00:14,980 --> 00:00:17,800 My name is Daniel Sumoge along with my wife Savannah. 7 00:00:17,829 --> 00:00:20,540 We help serve here in Orange County with the high school students here. 8 00:00:20,639 --> 00:00:22,209 Uh, not many high school students. 9 00:00:22,209 --> 00:00:22,319 Yeah. 10 00:00:22,450 --> 00:00:23,030 High school students. 11 00:00:23,060 --> 00:00:23,610 Youth ministry. 12 00:00:23,779 --> 00:00:24,409 Yeah. 13 00:00:25,085 --> 00:00:25,794 It's all good though. 14 00:00:26,105 --> 00:00:28,495 Uh, but if it's your first time here, I'd like to say, you 15 00:00:28,495 --> 00:00:29,815 know, welcome, extended welcome. 16 00:00:29,834 --> 00:00:31,904 Once again, it's so great to have you guys out here. 17 00:00:32,115 --> 00:00:35,654 I've been part of this, uh, fellowship group now for four years, and something 18 00:00:35,655 --> 00:00:37,465 that I've seen is definitely the love. 19 00:00:37,765 --> 00:00:39,324 Uh, thank you guys so much for that. 20 00:00:39,324 --> 00:00:42,415 You know, I came in here as a, someone who was really lost, but 21 00:00:42,415 --> 00:00:45,145 now I kind of found my way, thanks to the people here in this room. 22 00:00:45,740 --> 00:00:47,910 Uh, so, yes, whoever said you're welcome. 23 00:00:48,550 --> 00:00:48,840 Thank you. 24 00:00:49,990 --> 00:00:53,230 But also, something I realized about this fellowship, not only here, but 25 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,589 really just Orange County in general, is you guys are a very giving city. 26 00:00:58,130 --> 00:00:58,920 You know, I grew up in L. 27 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:03,529 A., and uh, not too long ago, last year, you guys gave us one of the best baseball 28 00:01:03,529 --> 00:01:05,078 players to ever exist, Shohei Ohtani. 29 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:06,559 Oh yeah, Marcel looked up real fast. 30 00:01:06,960 --> 00:01:08,469 But I want to thank you guys for that. 31 00:01:08,539 --> 00:01:09,779 On the bottom of my heart, from L. 32 00:01:09,779 --> 00:01:11,550 A., thank you guys for Shohei Ohtani. 33 00:01:11,559 --> 00:01:15,520 We are continuing our Journey to the World series we are playing tonight. 34 00:01:15,820 --> 00:01:17,130 I know, boo, but guess what? 35 00:01:17,130 --> 00:01:18,809 No prof gets love in their hometown, right? 36 00:01:18,839 --> 00:01:20,989 So I'm trying to, I'm trying to tell you guys, alright? 37 00:01:20,999 --> 00:01:21,689 It's okay, though. 38 00:01:22,070 --> 00:01:24,319 But speaking of which, oh, come on, Marcel, it's okay. 39 00:01:24,839 --> 00:01:25,119 No? 40 00:01:25,749 --> 00:01:26,389 Should I talk about U. 41 00:01:26,389 --> 00:01:26,589 S.? 42 00:01:26,589 --> 00:01:27,919 No, okay, I want to talk about USC also. 43 00:01:27,949 --> 00:01:30,499 Alright, but anyways, anyways. 44 00:01:31,229 --> 00:01:33,439 Speaking of the journey, you know, like, my dad just ran the 45 00:01:33,439 --> 00:01:35,039 Journey to the World series. 46 00:01:35,670 --> 00:01:40,190 We are also on our journey as well as individuals here in the church, right? 47 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,580 We are on the journey of faith, and that's the title of our sermon series 48 00:01:43,590 --> 00:01:45,300 if you guys have been, uh, with us. 49 00:01:45,300 --> 00:01:48,920 It's the journey, there it is, the journey of faith. 50 00:01:49,408 --> 00:01:52,289 And we're going through the life of Abram, we're Abraham now. 51 00:01:52,479 --> 00:01:55,300 And, uh, man, it's been great studying out Abraham, right? 52 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:56,410 Have you guys been enjoying that? 53 00:01:57,100 --> 00:01:59,710 Yeah, I know for me, shout out to the Fullerton family group, 54 00:01:59,710 --> 00:02:03,009 man, we've been having a lot of fruitful discussions about Abraham. 55 00:02:03,009 --> 00:02:07,050 You know, we talked about, uh, in Genesis 18 this past Monday, man, it was just 56 00:02:07,079 --> 00:02:11,159 so amazing how everyone just contributed and seeing things, uh, differently. 57 00:02:11,159 --> 00:02:13,819 So I'm really excited about this sermon series, especially what 58 00:02:13,820 --> 00:02:15,289 we're going to talk about today. 59 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:19,010 It's, uh, it's going to be in Genesis 19 and it's Sodom and Gomorrah. 60 00:02:19,565 --> 00:02:21,515 Now, Raising Hand, if you guys heard of Sodom and Gomorrah, have 61 00:02:21,515 --> 00:02:22,735 you guys read the story before? 62 00:02:22,775 --> 00:02:24,535 Alright, many of us have, right? 63 00:02:24,625 --> 00:02:27,115 You know, I have this daunting task to preach about. 64 00:02:27,125 --> 00:02:29,905 There's so many things that, you know, I was just struggling with. 65 00:02:29,935 --> 00:02:32,295 Because I was like, man, I can preach about this or this. 66 00:02:32,295 --> 00:02:34,135 And I was just, it was so hard to funnel it down. 67 00:02:34,394 --> 00:02:36,154 But somehow I managed to do so. 68 00:02:36,325 --> 00:02:36,835 Amen? 69 00:02:36,954 --> 00:02:39,275 Now, obviously, you know, with Sodom and Gomorrah, there's so 70 00:02:39,275 --> 00:02:40,145 much to preach about, like I said. 71 00:02:40,155 --> 00:02:42,335 We can talk about judgment, we can talk about mercy, 72 00:02:42,454 --> 00:02:43,975 which we will towards the end. 73 00:02:44,355 --> 00:02:46,364 But something I really wanted to talk to you guys about, I 74 00:02:46,385 --> 00:02:47,495 feel like God put on my heart. 75 00:02:47,890 --> 00:02:50,100 What's had to do with compromise, all right? 76 00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:55,370 And the sermon of my, uh, lesson today, the sermon title is A Lot of Compromise. 77 00:02:55,859 --> 00:02:56,259 There it is. 78 00:02:56,290 --> 00:02:57,819 A Lot of Compromise. 79 00:02:57,899 --> 00:03:00,429 You see there, because it has to do with Lot mostly. 80 00:03:00,430 --> 00:03:02,680 I know we're studying out Abraham, but today something that really 81 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:07,640 stuck out to me was, was Lot's journey right here in Genesis 19. 82 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,420 Now I want to talk about how small compromises can 83 00:03:11,420 --> 00:03:13,400 lead to bigger consequences. 84 00:03:14,370 --> 00:03:16,439 So we're going to look in Genesis 19 here, right? 85 00:03:16,439 --> 00:03:17,260 Let's jump right in. 86 00:03:17,329 --> 00:03:22,700 Alright, we're gonna just start in verse 1 here in Genesis 3 it says, The two angels 87 00:03:22,890 --> 00:03:26,780 arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. 88 00:03:27,070 --> 00:03:29,560 When he saw them, he got up to meet them, and bowed down 89 00:03:30,110 --> 00:03:31,270 with his face to the ground. 90 00:03:31,379 --> 00:03:34,280 My lords, he said, please turn aside to your servants house. 91 00:03:34,329 --> 00:03:36,980 You can wash your feet and spend the night, and then go on 92 00:03:36,980 --> 00:03:38,410 your way early in the morning. 93 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:39,640 No, they answered. 94 00:03:39,740 --> 00:03:41,240 We will spend the night in the square. 95 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,030 But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him, and entered his house. 96 00:03:45,050 --> 00:03:48,359 He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. 97 00:03:48,839 --> 00:03:52,460 So going back, let's just go back to Phrygianus 18 real quick, you know, uh, 98 00:03:52,470 --> 00:03:57,228 there were visitors to Abraham and Sarah, and they turned out to be angels, alright? 99 00:03:57,230 --> 00:04:00,090 So they, you know, they, uh, they visited, and now they're on their 100 00:04:00,090 --> 00:04:02,000 way to Sodom to, to destroy it. 101 00:04:02,340 --> 00:04:07,170 And we get to see here that Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. 102 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:09,760 How did we get here? 103 00:04:09,770 --> 00:04:12,310 For those who don't know, when you sit at the gateway during that time, that 104 00:04:12,310 --> 00:04:14,240 meant you have some prominence there. 105 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,978 That meant you were some sport form of a leader. 106 00:04:17,168 --> 00:04:19,459 You know, a lot of things happen at the gateway, you know, outside 107 00:04:19,459 --> 00:04:22,570 of just who enters a new comes, you know, if there was laws that need to 108 00:04:22,619 --> 00:04:25,760 be passed, if there was anything that had to do with judgment, everything 109 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:27,849 will go through the gateway there. 110 00:04:27,850 --> 00:04:30,919 And we see that lot was sitting there at the gateway. 111 00:04:31,710 --> 00:04:32,750 But let's look back. 112 00:04:33,280 --> 00:04:34,940 That's one of my first points, and we have to look back to 113 00:04:34,940 --> 00:04:37,520 see, how did we get here today? 114 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,159 You know, for many of us in this room, you know, there was a time in our lives when 115 00:04:41,159 --> 00:04:42,990 we were just down in the dumps, right? 116 00:04:42,990 --> 00:04:46,569 And we're like, wow, there's no one here to save me, but somehow the Lord stretched 117 00:04:46,570 --> 00:04:48,329 His arms out and you guys reached for it. 118 00:04:48,609 --> 00:04:51,190 But here we see here that Lot was sitting at the gateway. 119 00:04:51,190 --> 00:04:53,330 So we have to look back and see real quick. 120 00:04:53,359 --> 00:04:55,510 Let's go to Genesis 13. 121 00:04:56,805 --> 00:05:00,105 Verse 10 through 13, it says, Lot looked around and saw that the whole 122 00:05:00,125 --> 00:05:03,545 plain of the Jordan toward Zor was well watered, like the garden of 123 00:05:03,545 --> 00:05:05,545 the Lord, like the land of Egypt. 124 00:05:05,815 --> 00:05:07,715 This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. 125 00:05:07,865 --> 00:05:11,624 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord. 126 00:05:11,925 --> 00:05:15,505 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set toward the east. 127 00:05:15,695 --> 00:05:16,775 The two men parted company. 128 00:05:16,775 --> 00:05:19,975 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the 129 00:05:19,975 --> 00:05:22,625 plain and pitched his tent near Sodom. 130 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,680 You know, if you remember, Abram and Lot, their possessions were 131 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:27,469 so great that they had to split. 132 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,870 That they were like, you know what, we can't live here, our herders are 133 00:05:29,870 --> 00:05:31,719 arguing, we're arguing, let's just go. 134 00:05:31,939 --> 00:05:35,430 And Abram gave Lot, his nephew, the choice of, alright, which land do you want? 135 00:05:35,969 --> 00:05:40,369 And it says here that he chose the plain of the Jordan towards Zoar. 136 00:05:40,370 --> 00:05:44,969 It was like the Garden of the Lord, and it looked like the land of Egypt. 137 00:05:45,930 --> 00:05:48,120 You know, I thought that's so incredible right there. 138 00:05:48,170 --> 00:05:51,170 Because going back to even Genesis chapter 12, this is how much I love it. 139 00:05:51,230 --> 00:05:55,990 Going back to Genesis 12 there, remember when Abram and Sarai and Lot, they fleed 140 00:05:56,070 --> 00:05:57,979 the land of Canaan for fear of famine. 141 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,500 So they fleed to Egypt, and Lot was with them on that journey. 142 00:06:02,039 --> 00:06:04,740 And I believe for some reason, and I didn't really mention Lot in that story 143 00:06:04,740 --> 00:06:08,090 there, but I believe that Lot caught a glimpse of what the city life was like. 144 00:06:08,585 --> 00:06:08,884 You know what I mean? 145 00:06:08,884 --> 00:06:11,224 I don't know who grew up in a small town, but I didn't. 146 00:06:11,224 --> 00:06:14,025 But I picture when people from a small town come to visit L. 147 00:06:14,025 --> 00:06:14,155 A. 148 00:06:14,155 --> 00:06:16,684 or Orange County, they're like, wow, look at this city. 149 00:06:16,684 --> 00:06:18,124 There's so much to do here. 150 00:06:18,124 --> 00:06:19,835 I can do this, I can do that. 151 00:06:20,155 --> 00:06:23,484 I picture Lot doing the same thing here as well. 152 00:06:24,144 --> 00:06:27,814 You know, I don't think he, he simply stumbled upon where he was at, 153 00:06:27,974 --> 00:06:30,044 uh, now just by, by looking at it. 154 00:06:30,135 --> 00:06:33,433 I think that he, from the gateway, I think it was slow, 155 00:06:33,474 --> 00:06:35,635 steady progression of compromise. 156 00:06:35,635 --> 00:06:41,020 You know, we see here that Lot had a steady progression of compromise. 157 00:06:41,020 --> 00:06:44,189 We see in Genesis 13, like I said, he looked and saw Sodom. 158 00:06:44,719 --> 00:06:46,090 So he saw it with his eyes. 159 00:06:46,739 --> 00:06:50,140 Then we see later on in that verse that he pitched his tent near Sodom. 160 00:06:50,379 --> 00:06:52,289 Being like, you know what, I can live in this city. 161 00:06:52,289 --> 00:06:53,389 I can live in the city of Sodom. 162 00:06:53,390 --> 00:06:56,739 I know it was described as a wicked city where sin is going on, where 163 00:06:56,739 --> 00:06:58,074 people turn their backs on the Lord. 164 00:06:58,074 --> 00:06:59,109 But I can live here. 165 00:06:59,409 --> 00:07:01,789 You know, I'm not going to live here, but I'll be in a distance. 166 00:07:01,799 --> 00:07:02,759 You know, I'll be in arm's length. 167 00:07:03,784 --> 00:07:09,805 Then in Genesis 14, Abram had to rescue his nephew, Lot, who was living in Sodom. 168 00:07:10,485 --> 00:07:12,884 You know, you think after that, there's no way, Sodom would be 169 00:07:12,884 --> 00:07:14,724 like, I'm never going back to Sodom. 170 00:07:14,884 --> 00:07:16,294 Hey, Abram, let me get some of that blessing. 171 00:07:16,294 --> 00:07:18,485 I know God didn't save his mind, but let me just be with you. 172 00:07:19,114 --> 00:07:19,724 Wrong. 173 00:07:20,065 --> 00:07:24,005 We see here that he's sitting at the gate of Sodom there. 174 00:07:24,005 --> 00:07:27,445 You know, sometimes, you know, I imagine Lot telling himself that 175 00:07:27,445 --> 00:07:30,755 as long as I don't participate in Sodom, then I'll be fine. 176 00:07:31,370 --> 00:07:34,510 If I'm not participating in the sin, if I'm just seeing it from a distance, but 177 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,250 I'm not really in it, I will be okay. 178 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,699 You know, sometimes I think, I can be guilty of this church, 179 00:07:40,020 --> 00:07:41,270 maybe we can be guilty of this. 180 00:07:41,919 --> 00:07:45,409 You know, it may seem like an innocent compromise, but then suddenly it 181 00:07:45,539 --> 00:07:48,690 turns into a lifestyle that God never had planned for us to begin with. 182 00:07:49,449 --> 00:07:52,370 Maybe for us, maybe, I know when I was little, I would tell little 183 00:07:52,370 --> 00:07:54,169 lies, I would tell small little lies. 184 00:07:54,705 --> 00:07:58,085 And eventually later on, uh, I end up, I remember my mom's 185 00:07:58,085 --> 00:07:59,485 like, man, you're just deceitful. 186 00:07:59,485 --> 00:08:01,505 I can't trust anything you say at this point. 187 00:08:02,675 --> 00:08:06,555 Maybe we're ignoring issues, maybe in our marriages or friendships 188 00:08:06,555 --> 00:08:08,044 or relationships of any kind. 189 00:08:08,045 --> 00:08:11,135 And next, you know, we're building resentment towards our significant other. 190 00:08:11,634 --> 00:08:14,535 We're building resentment towards our brothers and sisters here. 191 00:08:15,655 --> 00:08:18,445 Maybe we've been like having a long week and we're just like, 192 00:08:18,445 --> 00:08:19,505 man, there's a lot going on. 193 00:08:19,835 --> 00:08:21,355 I don't have time to read my word. 194 00:08:21,355 --> 00:08:22,354 I don't have time to pray. 195 00:08:22,525 --> 00:08:22,795 You know what? 196 00:08:22,845 --> 00:08:23,924 I'll just do it later. 197 00:08:24,474 --> 00:08:26,985 But yet we're over here saying, God, why aren't you close to me? 198 00:08:27,215 --> 00:08:28,344 How come I don't feel you? 199 00:08:29,585 --> 00:08:33,044 What if we make compromises of not coming to Sunday service? 200 00:08:33,445 --> 00:08:36,164 Maybe we start making church a choice for us. 201 00:08:36,465 --> 00:08:38,414 Oh, I had a long night the night before. 202 00:08:38,414 --> 00:08:39,024 Oh, I just went out. 203 00:08:39,025 --> 00:08:40,164 I had a fun time. 204 00:08:40,385 --> 00:08:41,004 But it's okay. 205 00:08:41,004 --> 00:08:42,313 I won't go this Sunday. 206 00:08:42,313 --> 00:08:42,933 I'll be okay. 207 00:08:43,455 --> 00:08:46,595 But then we'll say, how come the church doesn't love me? 208 00:08:46,605 --> 00:08:48,375 How come the people don't love me here? 209 00:08:49,205 --> 00:08:52,924 The small compromises we make can lead to bigger consequences. 210 00:08:53,835 --> 00:08:59,075 We saw that in Genesis 14, when he lived there, obviously, there was war going 211 00:08:59,075 --> 00:09:01,615 on and Lot lost all his possessions. 212 00:09:02,615 --> 00:09:05,035 And that, once again, brings us back to Genesis 19 here, 213 00:09:05,035 --> 00:09:07,045 where he's sitting at the gate. 214 00:09:07,845 --> 00:09:10,364 You know, how did Lot end up sitting at the gate? 215 00:09:11,255 --> 00:09:12,965 Well, look at these compromises here. 216 00:09:13,345 --> 00:09:17,095 Lot got entangled into the city's sins and their lifestyle. 217 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,310 It's how, you know, having authority within the city. 218 00:09:20,310 --> 00:09:21,410 We see that right there. 219 00:09:21,410 --> 00:09:23,560 He went from arm's distance to now having authority. 220 00:09:23,860 --> 00:09:27,310 And eventually, we see later on, that he's gonna raise a family 221 00:09:27,310 --> 00:09:28,520 there in this environment. 222 00:09:29,390 --> 00:09:32,709 You know, I don't think Lot had this planned out for him. 223 00:09:32,820 --> 00:09:35,029 I don't think Abraham had that planned out for him. 224 00:09:35,029 --> 00:09:36,420 I don't think, you know, God did. 225 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,220 You know, when we reflect on our own lives, we need to ask, How did 226 00:09:40,220 --> 00:09:42,530 we end up right here, right now? 227 00:09:43,785 --> 00:09:45,185 How do we end up in these seats right here? 228 00:09:45,185 --> 00:09:47,485 You know, I'm not saying like, Oh, I got in my car, Woke, drove, and 229 00:09:47,485 --> 00:09:50,975 all, No, no, I'm talking about How do we end up right here spiritually? 230 00:09:50,975 --> 00:09:54,795 You know, how often have we chosen something That seemed appealing on the 231 00:09:54,795 --> 00:09:58,444 surface, But didn't have time to ask God what, You know, He thought about it? 232 00:09:59,074 --> 00:10:03,184 It might have been that job That offered more money, More opportunities, right? 233 00:10:03,534 --> 00:10:06,784 But then later on, Down the line, It started taking you away from your 234 00:10:06,784 --> 00:10:10,214 own family, Started taking you away from your times with God, With, with 235 00:10:10,214 --> 00:10:12,464 serving the church, Hearing this fellowship, Being with one another, 236 00:10:13,315 --> 00:10:14,985 You know, you didn't, you didn't think it was a problem at first. 237 00:10:14,985 --> 00:10:16,105 You're like, wow, this is a great opportunity. 238 00:10:16,145 --> 00:10:16,795 God opened doors. 239 00:10:16,795 --> 00:10:19,755 But then next, you know, we're spiritually dry. 240 00:10:20,385 --> 00:10:23,145 Maybe it's a relationship or friendship or whatever we have here that seemed 241 00:10:23,245 --> 00:10:27,074 promising and harmless, but then we realize it's slowly pulling away 242 00:10:27,074 --> 00:10:30,934 from your faith and pulling away from the purpose God has in your life. 243 00:10:31,645 --> 00:10:34,695 You know, at times like these, these decisions, like I said, they seem small. 244 00:10:34,835 --> 00:10:37,865 These small compromises, you know, it's, it's whatever, but 245 00:10:37,885 --> 00:10:40,734 over time it's become so big. 246 00:10:40,790 --> 00:10:44,839 You know, in church the same thing happens to us. 247 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,020 You know, we think that maybe we're still in control. 248 00:10:48,929 --> 00:10:52,160 We think that we can manage, but we compromise even in the smallest areas. 249 00:10:52,299 --> 00:10:55,049 And when we start choosing what's convenient and what's comfortable, 250 00:10:55,049 --> 00:10:58,939 what looks good to us, it becomes into a bigger consequence that we face. 251 00:10:59,810 --> 00:11:01,910 And often, we don't see it coming, right? 252 00:11:01,949 --> 00:11:04,819 It kind of comes to us and you're like, How did this happen? 253 00:11:05,130 --> 00:11:08,249 You know, in the moment it may seem like a lot, but then if you stop and 254 00:11:08,250 --> 00:11:10,939 process and think, How did I end up here? 255 00:11:11,260 --> 00:11:12,709 You can start walking your steps. 256 00:11:12,770 --> 00:11:14,629 Oh, I looked at it. 257 00:11:15,579 --> 00:11:16,329 I'm near it. 258 00:11:17,139 --> 00:11:17,899 I'm in it. 259 00:11:18,759 --> 00:11:19,739 I'm leading it. 260 00:11:22,339 --> 00:11:23,429 But here's the good news. 261 00:11:24,199 --> 00:11:25,270 And I'll touch on this later. 262 00:11:26,430 --> 00:11:28,680 God is a merciful God. 263 00:11:30,210 --> 00:11:33,010 And we're gonna see, you know, later on how he's gonna send angels 264 00:11:33,010 --> 00:11:37,300 to rescue Lot and his family, even though Lot had compromised so much. 265 00:11:37,660 --> 00:11:41,390 And to think that, man, even if Lot, who did all this, was, you 266 00:11:41,390 --> 00:11:46,160 know, saved, was gaining mercy, man, we get that same mercy as well. 267 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,700 But first, we must recognize where we are and how we got here, 268 00:11:50,210 --> 00:11:52,180 and be willing to turn back. 269 00:11:52,890 --> 00:11:55,389 You know, are we gonna make decisions based on what looks good 270 00:11:55,500 --> 00:11:58,660 on the surface, or will it look great according to God's will? 271 00:11:59,165 --> 00:12:01,165 Because looking back, I'm not talking about looking back 272 00:12:01,165 --> 00:12:02,225 and dwelling on the past. 273 00:12:02,665 --> 00:12:05,375 I'm not talking about being nostalgic, but I'm talking about looking back, so 274 00:12:05,375 --> 00:12:06,885 we can also look forward to what's ahead. 275 00:12:06,885 --> 00:12:10,915 You know, once we ask ourselves that, and start making strides and changes, 276 00:12:11,205 --> 00:12:13,385 then we have to look at what is near us. 277 00:12:13,585 --> 00:12:16,724 You know, we have to look at the environment we surround ourselves. 278 00:12:17,055 --> 00:12:20,104 You know, often, I think about, man, how do I end up here, God? 279 00:12:20,174 --> 00:12:21,465 Well, let me go back. 280 00:12:21,725 --> 00:12:22,965 Okay, that's what it was. 281 00:12:23,235 --> 00:12:25,385 God told me to flee from this life, alright, now I'm gonna 282 00:12:25,385 --> 00:12:27,065 return to the life God calls me to. 283 00:12:27,650 --> 00:12:31,820 But first, in order to enjoy that, that blessing there, I have to look at what 284 00:12:31,820 --> 00:12:33,820 I'm also surrounding myself with, right? 285 00:12:34,310 --> 00:12:38,759 So we're gonna see here, let's go to Genesis 19, this is verses 4 through 6. 286 00:12:39,410 --> 00:12:42,380 So, I encourage you to read this on your own time, we're not gonna read 287 00:12:42,380 --> 00:12:45,679 the whole scripture, I'll be jumping around, uh, so we'll start here. 288 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:49,169 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom, 289 00:12:49,169 --> 00:12:50,679 both young and old, surrounded the house. 290 00:12:50,949 --> 00:12:53,550 They called to Lot, where are the men who came to you tonight? 291 00:12:53,620 --> 00:12:55,570 Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them. 292 00:12:55,970 --> 00:12:58,470 Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him. 293 00:12:58,570 --> 00:13:01,370 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. 294 00:13:01,670 --> 00:13:04,470 Let me bring them out to you and you can do what you like to them. 295 00:13:04,809 --> 00:13:08,750 But don't do anything to these men for they have come under my roof, from, 296 00:13:08,849 --> 00:13:10,930 uh, under the protection of my roof. 297 00:13:13,379 --> 00:13:15,069 Get out of the way, they replied the mob did. 298 00:13:15,140 --> 00:13:18,949 This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge. 299 00:13:19,060 --> 00:13:20,280 We'll treat you worse than them. 300 00:13:20,449 --> 00:13:23,510 They kept bringing pressure on La, and moved forward to break down the door. 301 00:13:23,739 --> 00:13:26,189 Now after that, you know, they tried to break down the door, but the 302 00:13:26,189 --> 00:13:27,619 angel struck the men with blindness. 303 00:13:27,629 --> 00:13:28,949 So now stuff is going down here. 304 00:13:29,060 --> 00:13:32,310 The angels tell him, the two men said to La, Do you have anyone else here? 305 00:13:32,379 --> 00:13:35,369 Sons in law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? 306 00:13:35,789 --> 00:13:38,800 Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. 307 00:13:38,899 --> 00:13:42,109 The outcry to the Lord against its people was so great that 308 00:13:42,109 --> 00:13:43,420 he sent us to destroy it. 309 00:13:43,879 --> 00:13:48,379 When he hesitated, that's Lot, the men grasped his hand, and the hands 310 00:13:48,379 --> 00:13:51,379 of his wife, and of his two daughters, and led them safely out of the city. 311 00:13:51,589 --> 00:13:54,239 For the Lord was merciful to them. 312 00:13:55,349 --> 00:13:59,219 You know, as we move closer and deeper into the story, we see Lot was 313 00:13:59,219 --> 00:14:01,239 surrounded by wickedness here in Sodom. 314 00:14:01,894 --> 00:14:04,994 Now, there's this disturbing image we see of Sodom, you know, they 315 00:14:04,994 --> 00:14:08,704 really lost their moral compass to the point where they really don't 316 00:14:08,704 --> 00:14:10,864 care about their sins being hidden. 317 00:14:10,904 --> 00:14:11,954 Their sins are out there. 318 00:14:11,954 --> 00:14:13,344 Their sins are even celebrated. 319 00:14:13,764 --> 00:14:16,844 This wasn't just an isolated incident, but this was their lifestyle. 320 00:14:17,774 --> 00:14:19,754 Now let's think about Lot here for a moment. 321 00:14:20,394 --> 00:14:23,004 He had been living in Sodom for quite some time, I don't know how 322 00:14:23,004 --> 00:14:26,614 long, but the environment he chose to settle in wasn't just wicked, it 323 00:14:26,644 --> 00:14:30,435 was a place where they were openly hostile towards God's standards. 324 00:14:31,334 --> 00:14:34,275 And think about Lot's response in the situation there. 325 00:14:34,564 --> 00:14:36,435 You know, bring these men out, they said. 326 00:14:36,444 --> 00:14:37,244 He's like, you know what? 327 00:14:37,244 --> 00:14:38,915 No, no, I'm gonna protect my guests. 328 00:14:39,124 --> 00:14:39,564 Amen. 329 00:14:39,564 --> 00:14:41,244 I think we should do that during that time. 330 00:14:41,334 --> 00:14:43,104 But then the way he responded saying, you know what? 331 00:14:43,295 --> 00:14:46,685 Instead of being bold and convicted saying, no, get away. 332 00:14:46,964 --> 00:14:49,765 He instead said, oh, take my daughters instead. 333 00:14:50,925 --> 00:14:52,525 You can do whatever you want to them. 334 00:14:53,375 --> 00:14:55,095 And the crazy thing about it is, too, he's saying, like, 335 00:14:55,095 --> 00:14:56,055 they've never been with a man. 336 00:14:56,145 --> 00:14:57,915 I think they were married, too, if you read later on. 337 00:14:57,925 --> 00:14:59,485 They said, get your sons in laws, right? 338 00:14:59,485 --> 00:15:02,214 So, right there, you see, Lot even responding with lies right 339 00:15:02,215 --> 00:15:03,925 there, those small compromises. 340 00:15:05,445 --> 00:15:08,495 You know, it's essential for us to look around at our own environment. 341 00:15:08,575 --> 00:15:10,855 What are we surrounding ourselves with? 342 00:15:11,715 --> 00:15:15,335 Are we immersing ourselves in a place and situation that uplift us to be 343 00:15:15,335 --> 00:15:18,125 closer with God, or are we allowing ourselves to be influenced by the 344 00:15:18,125 --> 00:15:19,975 environments that astray us from Him? 345 00:15:20,790 --> 00:15:24,370 Because like Lot, we too can become desensitized to sin. 346 00:15:24,910 --> 00:15:27,079 The things that once shocked us or made us uncomfortable are 347 00:15:27,079 --> 00:15:28,650 now something that we tolerate. 348 00:15:28,650 --> 00:15:29,300 We're like, you know what? 349 00:15:29,610 --> 00:15:30,839 Oh yeah, it's normal. 350 00:15:34,009 --> 00:15:37,760 You know, I think, it reminds me of the saying with, uh, I think it was, let 351 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:39,709 me make sure I don't get this wrong. 352 00:15:40,029 --> 00:15:43,860 It's like, if you put a frog in boiling water, it will immediately jump out. 353 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,949 But if you put it in lukewarm water and slowly heat it, it 354 00:15:46,949 --> 00:15:48,370 will stay until it's too late. 355 00:15:49,545 --> 00:15:53,415 So we see how slow, gradual changes can lead to significant 356 00:15:53,415 --> 00:15:55,055 consequences without being noticed. 357 00:15:55,685 --> 00:15:57,034 Like I said, put a frog in it. 358 00:15:57,034 --> 00:15:57,944 I just saw a video of it. 359 00:15:58,104 --> 00:16:01,614 You put a frog in lukewarm water, you know, nothing's going to be fine. 360 00:16:01,614 --> 00:16:04,534 But then when you start turning up the heat, it's going to start jumping out. 361 00:16:05,285 --> 00:16:07,834 You know, when harmful changes happen slowly, we may not even 362 00:16:07,834 --> 00:16:10,655 recognize the danger until the consequence is already set in. 363 00:16:11,814 --> 00:16:13,484 Now maybe you've noticed that in your own life. 364 00:16:14,105 --> 00:16:17,415 Maybe there was TV shows or music or whatever it was that you guys first were 365 00:16:17,415 --> 00:16:18,735 like, you know what, I am getting rid of. 366 00:16:18,895 --> 00:16:20,974 This makes me struggle when you guys are studying. 367 00:16:21,564 --> 00:16:24,704 But then over time, you guys were like, you know what, I can 368 00:16:24,704 --> 00:16:26,175 maybe pitch my tent near it. 369 00:16:26,505 --> 00:16:28,654 I can, you know, maybe watch a few episodes. 370 00:16:28,834 --> 00:16:30,814 I can listen to that new release right there. 371 00:16:30,985 --> 00:16:31,704 It's not bad. 372 00:16:32,274 --> 00:16:34,584 And the next, you know, we were back in it. 373 00:16:35,185 --> 00:16:36,665 We're binge watching those shows. 374 00:16:36,905 --> 00:16:39,844 We're immersed in those music right there with all those, those foul 375 00:16:39,844 --> 00:16:43,425 languages that we like, or glorifies, you know, sex and all of that. 376 00:16:44,459 --> 00:16:47,519 No, we come to the, you know, we become numb to the things that 377 00:16:47,519 --> 00:16:49,069 we once were uncomfortable with. 378 00:16:49,229 --> 00:16:51,379 It reminds me of what Paul says in Romans 12 verse nine. 379 00:16:51,379 --> 00:16:57,290 He says that love must be sincere, hate what is evil and cling to what is good. 380 00:16:58,139 --> 00:17:00,859 Now we see here that there's a calling for us. 381 00:17:01,019 --> 00:17:05,010 We were to hate what is evil and what is evil sin. 382 00:17:05,348 --> 00:17:09,770 We were called to hate that or to cling to what is good and 383 00:17:09,770 --> 00:17:10,990 what is good or who is good. 384 00:17:11,628 --> 00:17:12,138 God. 385 00:17:13,045 --> 00:17:14,055 God is good. 386 00:17:15,105 --> 00:17:17,275 But if I can be honest here, I want to wrestle with this 387 00:17:17,454 --> 00:17:18,435 this morning with you guys. 388 00:17:18,435 --> 00:17:22,115 I know it's something it's a hard truth, but I believe we've maybe 389 00:17:22,115 --> 00:17:26,265 dripped it from this calling a calling that was says that hate what was evil. 390 00:17:26,425 --> 00:17:27,944 Maybe it turned to for us. 391 00:17:28,164 --> 00:17:29,605 Let's tolerate what's evil. 392 00:17:30,395 --> 00:17:32,035 Maybe it's a cling on to what is good. 393 00:17:32,235 --> 00:17:34,585 Maybe it really is to cling on what pleases us. 394 00:17:36,669 --> 00:17:40,870 You know, we started to excuse behaviors that don't honor God, 395 00:17:41,149 --> 00:17:45,300 telling ourselves, that's just the way things are, or everybody's doing it. 396 00:17:45,729 --> 00:17:48,169 We laugh at jokes that, that tear each other down. 397 00:17:48,379 --> 00:17:50,609 Gossip turns into normal conversations. 398 00:17:50,879 --> 00:17:54,040 We let our anger, our lust, our pride really take root in our heart. 399 00:17:55,379 --> 00:17:56,139 You know, let me ask you this. 400 00:17:56,139 --> 00:17:57,800 This is something I had to reflect on too. 401 00:17:58,249 --> 00:18:03,079 When was the last time you felt a real, deep, godly sorrow with the things 402 00:18:03,079 --> 00:18:04,479 around you, with the evil around you? 403 00:18:06,314 --> 00:18:09,465 Top of that, when was the last time you even grieved over the sin in your 404 00:18:09,465 --> 00:18:11,745 life and what's going on in the world? 405 00:18:11,894 --> 00:18:15,534 You know, for me, you know, it got to a point, you know, where the school 406 00:18:15,534 --> 00:18:17,844 shootings, they're so tragic, seeing that. 407 00:18:17,844 --> 00:18:20,175 You know, I remember growing up, I didn't have to worry about that. 408 00:18:20,744 --> 00:18:23,754 But when I see it on the news, like almost every other month it 409 00:18:23,764 --> 00:18:25,464 seems like, I became desensitized. 410 00:18:25,464 --> 00:18:29,164 I'm almost like, oh yeah, that's the way life is. 411 00:18:29,465 --> 00:18:30,215 But no! 412 00:18:30,304 --> 00:18:32,514 That shouldn't be the way life is! 413 00:18:34,095 --> 00:18:38,015 Church, we live in a world that normalizes sin and that makes evil 414 00:18:38,015 --> 00:18:41,455 look so attractive and that tells us, if it feels good, then do it. 415 00:18:42,024 --> 00:18:44,864 And if we're not careful, we'll start to absorb that message. 416 00:18:45,404 --> 00:18:48,755 We'll start to compromise in small ways justified by saying, it's not 417 00:18:48,755 --> 00:18:51,865 that bad or, you know, at least I'm not doing what they're doing over there. 418 00:18:52,555 --> 00:18:54,375 There's no room for compromise. 419 00:18:54,925 --> 00:18:56,905 We are to hate what is evil. 420 00:18:57,045 --> 00:19:00,115 That means rejecting the world's standards and aligning 421 00:19:00,115 --> 00:19:01,914 ourselves with God's standards. 422 00:19:02,695 --> 00:19:05,825 Church, we need to look around at what we have near us. 423 00:19:06,475 --> 00:19:08,034 Who are we surrounding ourselves with? 424 00:19:08,044 --> 00:19:09,885 What kinds of conversations are we engaging in? 425 00:19:09,935 --> 00:19:13,115 What are we allowing into our homes, into our hearts, into our minds? 426 00:19:13,235 --> 00:19:16,915 Because if we immerse ourselves into environments that are in conflict 427 00:19:16,915 --> 00:19:20,875 with God's values, the more sense of right and wrong, it gets blurred. 428 00:19:21,764 --> 00:19:25,294 You know, Lot's judgment was so blurred that the angel said, Hey, we gotta 429 00:19:25,304 --> 00:19:26,804 go, the city's getting destroyed. 430 00:19:26,804 --> 00:19:28,635 And it said, he hesitated. 431 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:34,449 Lot had lived in Sodom for so long that the wickedness had seeped into his own 432 00:19:34,449 --> 00:19:38,550 mind, thinking he wasn't just living near sin, now he's in it, and it changed him. 433 00:19:39,869 --> 00:19:42,310 You know, have you, you know, maybe think about, have you ever been to a house 434 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:46,120 where you walk in, you're like, oh, it smells in here, it smells really bad? 435 00:19:47,449 --> 00:19:49,330 If you haven't, come to a brother's household. 436 00:19:49,340 --> 00:19:49,830 No, I'm just kidding. 437 00:19:49,939 --> 00:19:50,580 Alright, I'm just kidding. 438 00:19:50,719 --> 00:19:54,179 But I say this because I used to live in a brother's household for four years, 439 00:19:54,179 --> 00:19:55,699 and those were the best days of my life. 440 00:19:55,699 --> 00:19:57,800 And I want to say we repented of this, right guys? 441 00:19:58,219 --> 00:19:59,040 Oh, Dallas said no. 442 00:19:59,040 --> 00:19:59,370 Alright. 443 00:20:00,739 --> 00:20:01,120 No, I'm just kidding. 444 00:20:01,179 --> 00:20:01,929 No, we repented. 445 00:20:01,929 --> 00:20:04,770 But something, I remember, we had our flaws. 446 00:20:04,979 --> 00:20:07,120 You know, our biggest flaw is that we wouldn't clean. 447 00:20:07,509 --> 00:20:08,860 And the house would smell bad. 448 00:20:09,489 --> 00:20:13,010 But I remember that over time, I was just like, oh, I'm used to it. 449 00:20:13,129 --> 00:20:14,029 What's that smell? 450 00:20:14,579 --> 00:20:17,469 It wasn't until Savannah visited the house when she dropped off something. 451 00:20:18,060 --> 00:20:20,340 This is when we were dating, and then, I just remember, she was there for 452 00:20:20,340 --> 00:20:23,649 probably 30 minutes, she was like, I was like, what's wrong, Savannah? 453 00:20:23,649 --> 00:20:26,770 She was like, I'm sorry, it just really smells in this house. 454 00:20:27,879 --> 00:20:30,149 The real kicker is I think we clean and we lit a candle, so I don't 455 00:20:30,149 --> 00:20:31,760 know, like, why it still smells. 456 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:34,860 But why do I bring this up? 457 00:20:34,870 --> 00:20:37,539 Because if you stay in a situation long enough, you stop 458 00:20:37,539 --> 00:20:38,970 noticing things altogether. 459 00:20:39,450 --> 00:20:40,340 You get used to it. 460 00:20:40,340 --> 00:20:42,799 You know, I and the brothers, we got accustomed to that smell. 461 00:20:43,579 --> 00:20:44,529 But luckily, we repented. 462 00:20:45,340 --> 00:20:48,330 But with Lot, he got accustomed to what was going on in Sodom. 463 00:20:49,170 --> 00:20:51,300 You know, that's what sin can do to us if we're not careful. 464 00:20:52,430 --> 00:20:54,220 Church, I want to encourage you today. 465 00:20:54,650 --> 00:20:56,500 Take a look around at your life. 466 00:20:57,235 --> 00:21:01,835 What kind of environment, what kind of people, at work, at home, 467 00:21:01,845 --> 00:21:02,655 and you know, social circles. 468 00:21:02,865 --> 00:21:04,635 What do we surround ourselves with? 469 00:21:05,895 --> 00:21:08,324 Because if we're not intentional about surrounding ourselves with 470 00:21:08,335 --> 00:21:11,795 godly influence, we can easily become desensitized to sin. 471 00:21:15,184 --> 00:21:18,584 You know, there's a saying where, I think it was, uh, show me your five 472 00:21:18,594 --> 00:21:19,844 friends and I'll tell you your future. 473 00:21:20,644 --> 00:21:24,054 Or you are who you hang out with, meaning that, man, whoever you 474 00:21:24,094 --> 00:21:27,454 are with, they really have a power to transform your lifestyle. 475 00:21:27,685 --> 00:21:31,295 So we really, you know, I, I understand, you know, Jesus, I want to be clear, 476 00:21:31,305 --> 00:21:32,615 Jesus hung out with the sinners. 477 00:21:32,705 --> 00:21:35,385 That was great, but he also got his time with his disciples. 478 00:21:36,245 --> 00:21:37,845 He also made sure that he was getting filled. 479 00:21:37,855 --> 00:21:40,805 He took his time out to be with the Lord early in the morning. 480 00:21:41,335 --> 00:21:43,175 Church, so I'm not saying, don't be with sinners. 481 00:21:43,175 --> 00:21:43,754 I want to be clear. 482 00:21:43,754 --> 00:21:44,574 We want to save them. 483 00:21:44,575 --> 00:21:46,585 We want them to be here in this church with us. 484 00:21:46,585 --> 00:21:50,315 But I also want us to be clear that, man, we also got to make sure that they're 485 00:21:50,315 --> 00:21:51,595 not the one taking root in our life. 486 00:21:51,615 --> 00:21:53,854 That, man, we have God who's really taking root in our lives. 487 00:21:53,855 --> 00:21:54,165 Amen. 488 00:21:55,310 --> 00:21:58,830 So now that we've looked back and we have to look around, let's move forward. 489 00:21:59,190 --> 00:22:02,060 Let's move forward to our final point, which is don't look back. 490 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:06,600 Look towards what's ahead, because the most important part of moving forward 491 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:08,039 with God is not holding to the past. 492 00:22:08,630 --> 00:22:10,660 And we're going to start here and, uh, once again, we'll be jumping around 493 00:22:10,660 --> 00:22:15,310 here, but Genesis 19 verse 17, it says, As soon as they had brought them out, 494 00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:17,590 one of them said, Flee for your lives. 495 00:22:17,750 --> 00:22:20,990 Don't look back and don't stop anywhere in the plane, flee to the 496 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:22,819 mountains, or you will be swept away. 497 00:22:23,165 --> 00:22:27,004 You know, by the time that Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. 498 00:22:27,105 --> 00:22:29,785 Then the Lord rained down the burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah. 499 00:22:29,935 --> 00:22:33,825 From the Lord out of the heavens, thus He overthrew those cities, and the entire 500 00:22:33,825 --> 00:22:38,175 plain, destroying all those living in the cities, and also the vegetation and land. 501 00:22:38,515 --> 00:22:40,374 But Lot's wife looked back. 502 00:22:40,674 --> 00:22:43,155 She became a pillar of salt. 503 00:22:44,135 --> 00:22:44,855 You know, what do we see here? 504 00:22:44,855 --> 00:22:46,285 The angels urged Lot. 505 00:22:46,570 --> 00:22:49,540 Lot and his family go flee, you know? 506 00:22:49,544 --> 00:22:53,290 And, and, and it, if you continue like reading it, you know, lot was 507 00:22:53,290 --> 00:22:54,730 like, but I can't flee to that city. 508 00:22:54,730 --> 00:22:55,960 Can I just go over here? 509 00:22:55,990 --> 00:22:56,860 And the angels were like, you know what? 510 00:22:56,860 --> 00:22:57,129 Yes. 511 00:22:57,129 --> 00:22:59,980 Just, just go get your family and don't look back. 512 00:22:59,980 --> 00:23:00,970 That's a simple direction. 513 00:23:00,970 --> 00:23:01,720 Just go. 514 00:23:01,780 --> 00:23:03,280 The message is straightforward. 515 00:23:03,340 --> 00:23:06,010 Don't turn your heart or your eyes back to life. 516 00:23:06,070 --> 00:23:06,909 You're leaving behind. 517 00:23:08,020 --> 00:23:10,510 But, and his family were fleeing for their lives. 518 00:23:10,860 --> 00:23:13,649 They were rescued from a city, immersed in wickedness, from a 519 00:23:13,649 --> 00:23:16,760 place where sin had reached its peak, and the judgment was here. 520 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:21,399 But despite the clear warning, Lot's wife looked back. 521 00:23:22,220 --> 00:23:24,799 You know, why would Lot's wife look back? 522 00:23:25,770 --> 00:23:28,989 What drew her attention to the city, she was leaving behind. 523 00:23:29,019 --> 00:23:30,050 Why would she want to do that? 524 00:23:30,460 --> 00:23:33,929 The simple truth is, her heart was still tied to her old life. 525 00:23:36,209 --> 00:23:39,905 You know, even though the physical command was not to turn around, Spiritually, 526 00:23:39,905 --> 00:23:42,304 she never truly let go of Sodom. 527 00:23:42,705 --> 00:23:45,824 You know, there is danger when you really just long for the past. 528 00:23:46,334 --> 00:23:49,215 You know, Lot's wife didn't just look back and glance. 529 00:23:49,215 --> 00:23:52,554 No, it was gaze and it was feel of what was longing for her. 530 00:23:52,564 --> 00:23:55,664 She desired that what she was leaving behind, even though God 531 00:23:55,664 --> 00:23:56,965 was calling her to move forward. 532 00:23:57,264 --> 00:23:59,404 And church, we can often get stuck at looking back. 533 00:24:01,125 --> 00:24:04,085 Now, when God calls us to something new, whether it's out of this lifestyle, 534 00:24:04,085 --> 00:24:07,355 into Christ, or new behavior, new identity in Christ, we sometimes find 535 00:24:07,355 --> 00:24:09,315 ourselves wanting to hold on to the old. 536 00:24:09,975 --> 00:24:13,435 We look back at our past sins, at our past relationships, at our past 537 00:24:13,454 --> 00:24:17,214 comforts, and our past lifestyles, and in doing so, we risk missing out on 538 00:24:17,214 --> 00:24:18,695 the blessing we have in the future. 539 00:24:19,965 --> 00:24:24,075 Now, when God calls us to do something new, we have to answer. 540 00:24:24,095 --> 00:24:25,264 We have to just do it. 541 00:24:25,409 --> 00:24:28,060 You know, Church, it reminds me of 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17 here. 542 00:24:28,060 --> 00:24:30,939 It says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, a new creation has come. 543 00:24:31,149 --> 00:24:33,389 The old is gone, and the new is here. 544 00:24:33,519 --> 00:24:34,929 But here's the problem. 545 00:24:35,689 --> 00:24:38,350 We often let our past anchor us down. 546 00:24:39,360 --> 00:24:43,169 Instead of fully embracing what God has for us and the new identity that 547 00:24:43,169 --> 00:24:47,499 we have in Him, we unfortunately just hold on to the past for whatever reason. 548 00:24:48,459 --> 00:24:53,580 Maybe it's old habits, old thinking, old relationships, old addictions. 549 00:24:54,905 --> 00:24:56,835 You know, obviously I said at the first point, we want to, we want to 550 00:24:56,835 --> 00:25:00,034 look back because we want to look back at how far God has taken us. 551 00:25:00,675 --> 00:25:02,184 But here are the dangers of looking back. 552 00:25:02,195 --> 00:25:05,065 And why I'm telling you not to look back is because when we look back, 553 00:25:05,115 --> 00:25:08,745 we can almost, you know, uh, become like, wow, I really missed this. 554 00:25:08,774 --> 00:25:10,375 We become nostalgic of the past. 555 00:25:10,794 --> 00:25:13,125 Church, do we really miss our past? 556 00:25:14,085 --> 00:25:14,745 Think about it. 557 00:25:14,794 --> 00:25:19,085 Think about where you guys were before you guys got reached out to, before 558 00:25:19,085 --> 00:25:20,385 you made Jesus Christ your Lord. 559 00:25:20,484 --> 00:25:22,165 Think about how your life was. 560 00:25:23,024 --> 00:25:25,854 And to think about how, wow, do you really miss this? 561 00:25:26,115 --> 00:25:29,125 Are you really, you know, still longing for these things? 562 00:25:29,615 --> 00:25:30,465 Man, we shouldn't. 563 00:25:31,155 --> 00:25:34,435 God has an incredible plan for your life, but you'll never fully 564 00:25:34,435 --> 00:25:36,454 experience it if you keep looking back. 565 00:25:37,145 --> 00:25:39,264 Think about the Israelites when they left Egypt, right? 566 00:25:39,395 --> 00:25:43,375 Even after God freed them, they were still complaining because, oh, it's 567 00:25:43,395 --> 00:25:45,165 uncomfortable here in the wilderness. 568 00:25:46,435 --> 00:25:49,594 You know, they'd rather go back to be oppressed in Egypt than having their 569 00:25:49,594 --> 00:25:51,155 freedom and being uncomfortable in it. 570 00:25:52,225 --> 00:25:54,705 You know, it reminds me of Luke 9, verse 62, it says, 571 00:25:57,395 --> 00:26:01,294 Jesus replied, No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit 572 00:26:01,304 --> 00:26:02,935 for service in the kingdom of God. 573 00:26:02,935 --> 00:26:08,125 You know, when we're constantly looking back, we lose our focus on God. 574 00:26:08,774 --> 00:26:10,195 You know, it's like driving a car. 575 00:26:10,734 --> 00:26:13,145 You know, if we want to get to our destination, we're not just going to 576 00:26:13,145 --> 00:26:14,625 reverse all the way back to it, right? 577 00:26:14,625 --> 00:26:19,905 You know, there's a saying where you want to live life through a windshield. 578 00:26:19,905 --> 00:26:22,740 You If you're driving, because you want to get to your destination, 579 00:26:22,750 --> 00:26:23,680 you've got to drive forward. 580 00:26:23,690 --> 00:26:25,139 You've got to keep going straight. 581 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,220 But, something about these rear view mirrors though, I mean, 582 00:26:29,220 --> 00:26:32,749 they're important, but you ever notice what's on those mirrors? 583 00:26:33,379 --> 00:26:35,220 It says this, it has this saying on it here. 584 00:26:35,510 --> 00:26:39,530 It says, objects in mirror are closer than they appear. 585 00:26:40,540 --> 00:26:42,900 You know, it gives us warning that, hey, you don't really have that 586 00:26:42,900 --> 00:26:44,019 much space as you think you do. 587 00:26:44,020 --> 00:26:46,170 If you've got to merge over, man, you really might want to check. 588 00:26:48,274 --> 00:26:51,315 And the same goes when we look back to our old lives of sin. 589 00:26:52,395 --> 00:26:54,455 You know, if we have that lingering in the background, guess what? 590 00:26:54,514 --> 00:26:55,835 They're closer than they appear. 591 00:26:56,294 --> 00:26:57,615 We cannot be toying with the idea. 592 00:26:57,615 --> 00:27:00,334 We cannot be getting our feet wet with the idea of our old lives being 593 00:27:00,334 --> 00:27:03,634 like, Oh, maybe if I just did that this one time, it's gonna be okay. 594 00:27:05,065 --> 00:27:07,855 Constantly staring at the rearview mirror, you're bound to crash. 595 00:27:08,315 --> 00:27:10,495 But Jesus calls us to look forward. 596 00:27:10,585 --> 00:27:13,225 Look forward to what's ahead, to the promises that he has for us. 597 00:27:14,155 --> 00:27:17,815 Some of us are looking back at past relationships that God 598 00:27:17,815 --> 00:27:19,085 has called us to leave behind. 599 00:27:19,805 --> 00:27:22,795 Others are clinging to habits or sinful behaviors that God had 600 00:27:22,805 --> 00:27:24,554 clearly told us to flee from. 601 00:27:25,225 --> 00:27:26,845 But maybe it's a fear of comfort that keeps you anchored. 602 00:27:27,325 --> 00:27:29,175 But church, the message is clear. 603 00:27:29,305 --> 00:27:30,685 Don't look back. 604 00:27:31,254 --> 00:27:34,345 God has a future full of promise and purpose and growth for you. 605 00:27:34,535 --> 00:27:37,595 But you can't step into that future if you're longing for the past. 606 00:27:38,004 --> 00:27:39,185 Just like Lot's wife. 607 00:27:39,235 --> 00:27:40,935 If you keep looking back, guess what? 608 00:27:41,044 --> 00:27:42,315 We would never stop looking back, and guess what? 609 00:27:42,315 --> 00:27:44,895 We will ultimately lead to our death, to our spiritual death there. 610 00:27:45,655 --> 00:27:49,165 Remember the Israelites, they were freed from slavery in Egypt, even though 611 00:27:49,165 --> 00:27:50,825 God had miraculously delivered them. 612 00:27:51,034 --> 00:27:53,335 They kept complaining, looking back, saying things like, oh, 613 00:27:53,335 --> 00:27:54,915 at least we have food in Egypt. 614 00:27:55,695 --> 00:27:59,304 They were willing to trade their freedom for comfort of their old life. 615 00:27:59,744 --> 00:28:01,685 How often do we do the same things? 616 00:28:02,235 --> 00:28:03,685 We are free in Christ. 617 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:08,120 But, looking back, thinking that, well, maybe, that, it wasn't as bad as I 618 00:28:08,140 --> 00:28:09,920 thought, maybe I can do this old life. 619 00:28:10,030 --> 00:28:11,770 Maybe that relationship wasn't so bad. 620 00:28:11,999 --> 00:28:15,590 Maybe that sin, uh, you know, it wasn't really sin, you know, it wasn't 621 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,130 holy, but it's not sin, it's okay. 622 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:19,930 Church, God has so much for you. 623 00:28:19,930 --> 00:28:24,260 You know, the consequence of looking back, she froze. 624 00:28:24,670 --> 00:28:27,420 Lot's wife froze, not physically, but spiritually. 625 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,030 She was frozen in the past, and I want to encourage you, Church, God has 626 00:28:31,030 --> 00:28:33,410 called you to leave behind your past. 627 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:35,100 Don't look back. 628 00:28:35,130 --> 00:28:36,820 Don't be like Lot's wife. 629 00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:39,080 Torn between the future and the past. 630 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,850 I mean, if you think about what Lot's wife She wasn't mentioned at all 631 00:28:41,850 --> 00:28:42,980 in the Bible, really, after that. 632 00:28:43,610 --> 00:28:45,230 She was just an example for us. 633 00:28:45,709 --> 00:28:47,300 When you look back, this is what happened. 634 00:28:48,289 --> 00:28:50,480 You know, I really want to encourage this church. 635 00:28:50,699 --> 00:28:51,669 Do not look back. 636 00:28:51,779 --> 00:28:54,859 I know there's compromises that will happen here and there, but, 637 00:28:54,859 --> 00:28:56,830 man, we have to make amends with it. 638 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:00,960 We don't want to be like Lot, where, man, with these steady progression of 639 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:04,010 compromise leading us at the gate of sin. 640 00:29:05,610 --> 00:29:11,160 You know, in Genesis 19, we see that there's judgment on the city, but 641 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,489 we also see God's incredible mercy. 642 00:29:14,020 --> 00:29:17,020 You know, destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, I think serves as a great 643 00:29:17,020 --> 00:29:21,320 reminder of the consequences of our sins when we're called to righteousness. 644 00:29:22,750 --> 00:29:27,109 You know, in 24 through 25, it says, Then the Lord rained down burning 645 00:29:27,110 --> 00:29:28,510 sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah. 646 00:29:28,815 --> 00:29:32,645 From the Lord out of the heavens, thus he overthrew those cities, and the entire 647 00:29:32,645 --> 00:29:36,325 plain, destroying all the living cities, and also the vegetations in the land. 648 00:29:37,595 --> 00:29:42,744 We see that there is judgment for those who turn wickedly against the Lord. 649 00:29:43,625 --> 00:29:45,395 We see that we deserve death. 650 00:29:46,735 --> 00:29:49,205 However, in this narrative we see of judgment for Solomon 651 00:29:49,205 --> 00:29:51,715 Gamora, we also see God's mercy. 652 00:29:54,825 --> 00:29:58,505 Verse 16 it says, When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand, and the hands 653 00:29:58,555 --> 00:30:01,805 of his wife, and of his daughters, and led them safely out of the city, 654 00:30:01,975 --> 00:30:04,495 for the Lord was merciful to them. 655 00:30:05,695 --> 00:30:09,165 Now before the destruction, like I said, the angels were sent 656 00:30:09,175 --> 00:30:11,035 to rescue Lot and his family. 657 00:30:11,365 --> 00:30:14,335 And I think it demonstrates to us, man, God is willing to rescue 658 00:30:14,335 --> 00:30:16,815 us to give us his mercy for those who are really looking for it. 659 00:30:16,875 --> 00:30:18,385 Who are seeking God. 660 00:30:18,975 --> 00:30:21,565 You know, in verse 29 it says, So when God destroyed the cities of the flame, 661 00:30:21,565 --> 00:30:25,415 he remembered Abraham and he, uh, brought Lot out of the catastrophe that 662 00:30:25,425 --> 00:30:27,445 overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. 663 00:30:28,745 --> 00:30:31,705 You know, at this time, you know, we're going to be taking communion in a bit, but 664 00:30:31,705 --> 00:30:36,805 we're reminded here of Sodom and Gomorrah, of the judgment and the mercy of God. 665 00:30:37,415 --> 00:30:41,935 You know, Romans 6 verse 23, it says, for the, oh, do I not have it? 666 00:30:42,955 --> 00:30:46,445 All right, I don't have it, but Romans 6, 23, for the wages of sin is death. 667 00:30:46,445 --> 00:30:46,525 Amen. 668 00:30:47,395 --> 00:30:51,085 But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus Lord. 669 00:30:51,185 --> 00:30:54,485 Our sins are, we, we deserve separation. 670 00:30:54,485 --> 00:30:58,565 We are separated when we sin towards God, but it's also grace that is 671 00:30:58,565 --> 00:31:00,205 highlighted through his son Jesus. 672 00:31:00,205 --> 00:31:04,335 And I said in first Corinthians here, 11, 24, 25, in the same way after 673 00:31:04,335 --> 00:31:08,155 supper, he took the cup saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 674 00:31:08,645 --> 00:31:10,815 Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me. 675 00:31:11,425 --> 00:31:15,265 And we had given things, he broke it and said, this is my body, which is for you. 676 00:31:15,805 --> 00:31:17,705 Do this in remembrance of me. 677 00:31:18,735 --> 00:31:24,305 Through Jesus, we're offered mercy for the judgment we deserve for our sins. 678 00:31:25,195 --> 00:31:26,385 You know, I'm so grateful. 679 00:31:26,385 --> 00:31:29,495 I hope you guys are grateful for, for Jesus in that way as well. 680 00:31:29,665 --> 00:31:34,105 You know, I think about, like I said, with Sodom, Sodom and Gomorrah, you 681 00:31:34,105 --> 00:31:39,355 know, Jesus or God reigning judgment onto the people that sinned against them. 682 00:31:40,095 --> 00:31:42,905 And when I look around this room, we can fit that mold, right? 683 00:31:43,275 --> 00:31:44,695 We can send towards the Lord. 684 00:31:45,475 --> 00:31:48,055 Well, extremely grateful for God's mercy and grace that he sent 685 00:31:48,055 --> 00:31:49,905 his son, Jesus, in to step in. 686 00:31:50,465 --> 00:31:53,155 The things that were brought on to Sodom and Gomorrah are the 687 00:31:53,155 --> 00:31:54,605 things that we deserve as well. 688 00:31:55,155 --> 00:31:58,775 But it's through his son, Jesus, that we get to continue to live this life. 689 00:31:59,125 --> 00:32:02,245 I hope that during this time as we are living in this life that we 690 00:32:02,255 --> 00:32:06,135 remember that this is not our home. 691 00:32:06,975 --> 00:32:09,865 You know, I believe this earth here, it kind of reminds me of what Abraham 692 00:32:09,865 --> 00:32:10,795 does throughout the scripture. 693 00:32:10,795 --> 00:32:11,995 It says he pitched his tent. 694 00:32:12,705 --> 00:32:15,385 When you think about a tent, a tent's really not that comfortable. 695 00:32:16,155 --> 00:32:19,035 You know, you have your maybe air mattress, maybe your cot, 696 00:32:19,095 --> 00:32:20,405 maybe Abraham didn't but we do. 697 00:32:21,905 --> 00:32:24,195 And we just think that, wow, this, this really isn't our home. 698 00:32:24,445 --> 00:32:26,225 This place is just temporary. 699 00:32:27,585 --> 00:32:30,635 So let's, as we take communion, let's really reflect on that. 700 00:32:30,655 --> 00:32:33,755 Let's reflect on the judgment that we receive, but the mercy that 701 00:32:33,755 --> 00:32:35,455 steps in for us through Jesus. 702 00:32:35,455 --> 00:32:35,825 Amen? 703 00:32:36,255 --> 00:32:37,215 Let's go to God in prayer. 704 00:32:38,735 --> 00:32:42,565 Uh, Heavenly Father, thank you so much that we get to, to be here this morning, 705 00:32:42,565 --> 00:32:44,385 God, to, to honor and worship you. 706 00:32:44,745 --> 00:32:48,825 God, as we examine your scripture, God, God, I'm just so, so 707 00:32:48,825 --> 00:32:51,025 grateful, God, for your son, Jesus. 708 00:32:51,735 --> 00:32:54,515 God, we deserve the ultimate judgment. 709 00:32:54,545 --> 00:32:56,745 We deserve death for our sins, God. 710 00:32:57,095 --> 00:32:59,815 We deserve the same people as the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah. 711 00:33:00,275 --> 00:33:03,635 But God, it's through your son, Jesus, him stepping on the cross for us, God, 712 00:33:03,645 --> 00:33:07,810 that we get to To have this new life, God, that we could live this life for you. 713 00:33:08,770 --> 00:33:11,850 God, I just pray that as we reflect on Sodom and Gomorrah, 714 00:33:11,850 --> 00:33:14,660 God, that we can really think back and reflect on our lives. 715 00:33:14,660 --> 00:33:15,980 God, I think about how we got here. 716 00:33:15,980 --> 00:33:21,830 God, God, how you, God, have surely your ears not dull enough to hear 717 00:33:21,830 --> 00:33:23,980 in your arms, not long enough to be stretched out to save us. 718 00:33:23,980 --> 00:33:25,860 God, God, we're grateful for that. 719 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:30,740 God, I just pray that as we reflect on that, God, that we also just remember 720 00:33:30,740 --> 00:33:33,920 to look what's for God, what's ahead that you have for us in our future. 721 00:33:34,635 --> 00:33:38,155 Lord, as we take the, the community, take the bread that represents your 722 00:33:38,155 --> 00:33:42,345 body, and the blood that represents, uh, Jesus blood, God, help us remember 723 00:33:42,345 --> 00:33:45,645 and reflect, God, on how we ultimately deserve death, but God, through your 724 00:33:45,645 --> 00:33:47,835 Son, Jesus, we get to live this life. 725 00:33:48,315 --> 00:33:50,185 Lord, it's in your Son's name we pray, Amen.