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Three Steps On A Backsliders Deck Trinity Bible Church 2/20/05
Introduction: One of the first churches in the country to regularly air its services on TV was a Twin Cities church called Souls Harbor. Gordon Peterson was the pastor of that rapidly growing church and was affectionately known as “Rev.” simply because that’s how he wished to be addressed. I met him for the first time about 30 years ago when my church invited him in to speak at one of our weekly morning staff devotions. We had about 25 full and part-time personnel so it was a joy for one of us, or in this case an outside preacher, to minister to the group. Some of our staff used to attend Souls Harbor and in anticipation to Rev’s coming, they joked about what he would preach on. As an evangelist, he had a couple favorite messages and I guess he preached them often, even from his own pulpit. There were two titles and they were convinced he would bring one of them. “God’s Blessed Man” or “Seven Windows in a Backsliders House”. I couldn’t believe it, I thought they were kidding. But guess what? That morning, with his infectious smile, Rev. announced his title, “I want to speak to you today from Psalms 1, a message I call, ‘God’s Blessed Man’”. Some of the staff nodded and smiled to each other and I about fell out of my chair! They were right. I don’t remember much about that message, but I always remember the experience. I wish he would have preached the other one, for that is the theme for my message today.
We are going to look at three things that were evident in Lot’s life that contributed or signaled his backsliding ways. Here was a man that shared all the revelations of God that Abram had; shared the trials and in the times of building altars and worshipping the Lord. He left all that and unwittingly chose an area that God had slotted for judgment. We see him at the end of his life disgraced and humiliated.
Too many Christians make the wrong choices that contribute to their backsliding ways. May God use this message to save someone from making the same poor choices that Lot made. May God help you to stay on holy ground with His servant and be blessed.
Gen 13:5-10 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 strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen 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, 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 destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
I. Discontentment.
A. We see from the text that there was strife or discontentment in the camp. Lot and his associates had too much stuff - too many cattle, too many sheep and not enough grazing land and watering holes for them and Abram’s livestock. In order to keep up the growth in prosperity, something had to be done. Either Abram has to “downsize,” Lot has to “downsize,” or they have to split up. Lot ought to have downsized, but he didn’t. He let discontentment ruin his relationship with the Prophet of God and they split up.
B. Paul’s Attitude and Teaching. Phil 4:11 (NIV) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (NLT) Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. (TEV) And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have.
Paul knew how to be content. This was the Apostle’s attitude about his own life. What do you suppose he taught others how they should live?
1 Tim 6:6-11 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
*One of the cold nights this past week, as I was walking out little dog, Pookie, the Lord began to bring some of these truths home to my heart. Many times on our walks I’ll be praying for our neighbors, but this night I was walking briskly and just talking with God about many things. Earlier, I had almost slipped and fallen on the ice so I was telling the Lord how thankful I was for His protection. Other things came to my mind to be thankful for, my great church members, wonderful family, and awesome wife. After about three blocks, my heart rate was increasing and my breathing was heavier so I was led to thank Him for my health; that these things functioned properly. Then I was led to the source of all thankfulness, contentment. I thought and prayed, “Thank you Lord for the grace of contentment.” Being grateful is truly from the grace of God and it’s all of Christ, His righteousness dwelling in me! 1 Tim 6:7-8 (NLT) After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
C. Common. One thing all those that move away from the Lord have in common – Discontentment. They feel unhappy with their circumstances and it breeds an unthankful heart. Listen to the Apostle’s warning in the NIV - People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Tim 6:9-10 Please pay attention to the wording, it isn’t the “rich” and it isn’t “money” that is the problem. It is “the desire to be rich”, and “the love of money”.
*Someone once asked the richest man in the world, “How much is enough?” Do you know what his answer was? “Just a little more!”
D. Be careful about this first step. Take time today to count your blessings, name them one by one, see what great things God has done.
II. Separation From Godly Influences.
A. Lot’s Test. Abram suggested “Separation,” and as we saw last week this was necessary for the call of God to Abram, but it was a catastrophe for Lot! I look at this as a test. Lot was being tested as to what he valued most.
Friends took their first-grader on a car trip to Canada. To help pass the time, the boy practiced his new reading skills by calling out road signs. He fell asleep just before they entered Quebec. When he awoke he saw the French highway signs and said in a worried tone, "I think I forgot how to read while I was asleep." Lot’s circumstances didn’t change and he was fooled, he was being tested. The test was: Did he value being spiritually alert around God’s appointed spiritual leader, participating in regular sacrifices? Or did he rather desire the promise of more independent recognition if he separated from his authority? But at the cost of becoming spiritually dull, it was too high a price.
B. Elisha had the same test. The day that Elijah was to be taken from him, he was told to wait in a certain place. What was the response of Elisha? “As your soul lives, I will not depart from you”. He would allow nothing to separate him from the man of God. Over and over again, Elijah told him to go over there and wait, he refused to miss out on anything God was going to do with Elijah, he wanted to experience everything his pastor was going to experience. In the end, when God took Elijah, we see that Elisha was blessed with a double portion of his spirit.
C. Illustration: We had a man in leadership in our church. He was talented, committed, energetic, and experienced in church leadership. I gave him position of song leader as he was naturally gifted in this area. Although he and I had a long term relationship, he was new to our church and was impatient with me concerning his title. He wanted to be an elder, right now, no more waiting. I assured him that was my desire too, but we need to wait till he developed a godly relationship with the congregation first. He couldn’t disagree more, he felt “You grant the title, the people will relate better”. I was in a bind, I loved him in the Lord and had high respect for his gifting, but I loved the church more and felt it best for him and the church to wait. He went and complained to our outside overseer and even called the different pastors I meet with on a monthly basis. Pastor Earl tried to cool his emotions some, telling me later what he told him, “_______, it looks like two people want to be pastor at Trinity, and Gene got there first!” But that didn’t cool him down, he complained to as many as he could that I was controlling, God had called him and I wasn’t “going with the flow”. He left our church and as you can imagine, the whole thing hurt us deeply. What happened to him? He convinced another pastor that he was “called” to be an elder. The other pastor let him exercise ministry in his church and that church suffered from one scandal after another and eventually that church folded and is no more. That brother? I last heard, he is nominal in his church attendance and is doing nothing for God. He had a test, to wait till God released his ministry and gladly submit to my authority. If he had, I can confidently say he would be my associate pastor now and through his ministry, maybe there would be another 100 people in this church thereby providing him with a full time salary. That was everything he dreamed of! Instead, what did he do? He separated from the man of God who loved him, became spiritually dull and now is worse than useless to the family of God.
D. Are you submitted to God’s appointed leaders in your life? If there is a conflict, do you do all you can to keep the relationship open and loving? Lot saw separation as an opportunity for independence, but that was a key to his backsliding. Does that concern you at all?
III. Longing for the Good Life. Gen. 13:10
A. Lot looked at the valley. What did he see? Not a mirage, no physical deception, he saw things clearly in the natural. It was so beautiful; it was compared to Eden in lushness.
B. David looked at Bathsheba, Eve looked at the fruit, and Potiphar’s wife looked at Joseph. There are other examples, but what do all these have in common? Were they each deceived about the quality of the object of their interest? Was the thing they desired ridiculous? Samson told his parents “Get her for me for she pleases me”.
C. What are you looking at? What “pleases” you? What are you searching for? What is the longing of your heart? We Christians are called to a high calling. We are called to be givers, not takers; we are called to be servers, not here to be served; we are called to humble ourselves, not exalt ourselves; we are called to die to self and be alive to Christ; to promote Christ-esteem, not self-esteem!
D. What is revealed in Lots looking at the valley is that a backslider doesn’t backslide because of any one temptation to sin with the sin of “greed, glory, or Gloria”. But what they look to, what is the deep longing in their soul? It so happens that it become unearthed by a particular temptation, but the source is far deeper. Lot wasn’t satisfied w/God’s blessing of Abram – he wanted all the physical pleasure that was available to him. *That’s very much like the culture you and I live in. Someone once said the phrase “Instant (or immediate) gratification,” and I think that describes it well. From credit card purchases to internet porn, one can fulfill all their lusts in an instant. It takes constant diligence to overcome this and To stay off the backsliders deck!
Conclusion: Gen 13:11-13 (NLT) Lot chose that land for himself--the Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. So while Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom, among the cities of the plain. The people of this area were unusually wicked and sinned greatly against the LORD.
Most everyone knows what happened to them. God rained down fire and brimstone in judgment on them.
Two mothers were bragging about their sons. The first
said, "My son is such a saint. He works hard, doesn't smoke, and he hasn't so
much as looked at a woman in over two years."
Lot forgot an important truth, as long as he stayed connected with Abram, he was able to be blessed of God.
What ought Lot to have done instead? Just as Elisha staying with Elijah, he ought to have forsaken all to stay in the blessing of God.
If you need prayer today to help you stay on the right path. There are loving people that stay after every service to pray with any that desire it. After I close the service, if you would make your way up to the front, they would be glad to pray with you….
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