SermonNotes April 29, 2012 FBCam

AWarning to Spiritual Free-Loaders

Genesis18:1-19:26

Ifyou’ve ever watched “Shark Week” or know much aboutsharks, you may have heard about a unique fish called Remora. Theyare sometimes called “suckerfish” or “shark-suckers.” These fish have a unique suction design and attache themselves tosharks, stingrays, and other large ocean fish. They gleantransportation,safety and foodfrom the otherwise dangerous predators, while giving nothing inreturn. Like trainhoppers, steam ship stow-aways, subway turnstile jumpers, and weddingcrashers, theyget a freeride, enjoyingall of the benefits of full-fare passengers, but paying none of thecost.

Thereare many lessons from Genesis 18-19. They include:

Hospitality.(Abraham hosts the angels and LORD)

God’sPower. (Sarah learns that she will have a child)

God’sJudgment. (Sodom destroyed)

God’sview of Homosexuality

Todayour attention will be on God’s patience toward Sodom and Hiswillingness to spare the city “forthe sake of ten righteous.” Aspiritual principle is in place here. Theunsaved receive temporal blessings on account of the righteous, butGod will not grant these blessings indefinitely.

Weare going to examine these two propositions today. First, let’slook at the text that presents this theological truth. We find inGenesis 18 The RIGHTEOUS are a source of Blessing from God.

Thistruth is expressed in Psalm5:12 "Forsurely, O Lord,you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with ashield." The shield with which God covers the righteous also covers those whodo not know the Lord. Today, there are children who do not know theLord, but who are covered by the grace that God bestows on theirparents. There are husbands who benefit from God’s grace ontheir wives, and unsaved wives who benefit from the grace that Godbestows on their husbands.

Thestory begins in Genesis 18:1 where, “The Lord appeared toAbraham.” Abraham is resting outside the door of his tent. Itwas the mid day siesta and the coolest place was under the shade of agreat tree. Suddenly, three visitors appear from nowhere. Abrahamimmediately knew this was a visit from the LORD. We know thisbecause of his words and his reaction. He “hurries” v.2. He “bows down.” This Hebrew word is “hawa,”the same word that is most often translated “worship.” Abraham also focuses his attention on one of the three visitors, whomhe recognizes as the LORD. This is most likely a pre-incarnateappearance of Christ, since no angel would receive worship. AbrahamAddresses the “Lord,” (singular – showing that the LORDis of greater significance than the angels). He shows hospitality tothe LORD and the ANGELS by preparing food and inviting the guests tobe refreshed. This hospitality was a foundational cultural principleand Abraham’s hospitable behavior as a righteous man is statedin stark contrast to the inhabitants of Sodom who violated everycultural more and principle of decency.

Thereare TWO PURPOSES for the LORD’s visit. FIRST, to informAbraham and Sarah about the birth of a son.

SECOND,to demonstrate God’s justice in judging Sodom.

Thekey to this entire chapter is Genesis18:19 "ForI have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and hishousehold after him to keep the way of the Lordby doing what is right and just, so that the Lordwill bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”"God’s judgment on Sodom was so that the promise that he made toAbraham would be fulfilled. God would not allow these wickedinhabitants to remain in the land where they could corrupt Abraham’sdescendants. IMAGINE THIS: Here, the pre-incarnate CHRIST appears toAbraham keep Abraham’s lineage protected so that ONE DAY, adescendent of Abraham could give birth to the INCARNATE CHRIST!

God’sjustice in judging Sodom is because the entire city and theinhabitants of the plains would corrupt and threaten the purity ofthe Jewish people, who were chosen so that the entire world could beblessed through the birth and redemption of CHRIST. It’s allabout God’s PROMISE

AbrahamPleads with God to Spare Sodom “for the sake of fiftyrighteous.” Genesis18:23 "ThenAbraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away therighteous with the wicked?" Abrahamreduces his request five times. First by FIVES, and then by TENS

1. 18:24 “for the sake of fifty?”

2. 18:28 “for five less?” (45)

3. 18:29 “for forty?”

4. 18:30 “for thirty?”

5. 18:31 “for twenty?”

6. 18:32 “for TEN?”

Abrahamspeaks with the LORD as with a FRIEND. Abraham is not arguing withGod, as it may appear. He is completely reverent and respectful,asking his requests with great humility. Abraham asks God to do whathe knows is within his character. He reminds God of his justice andbegs for mercy, not for himself, but for others. This is the mark ofa true man of God and a Friend of God. Abraham was indeed a friendof God as noted in 2Chronicles 20:7 "Oour God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land beforeyour people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abrahamyour friend?"

Hereis the first part of the propositional statement at the beginning ofthis sermon. The Unsaved Receive These Temporal Blessings. Thisprinciple is stated in Psalm5:12 "Forsurely, O Lord,you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with ashield."

Theshield that covers the righteous extends also over those who areclose by to the righteous. This includes children, spouses andcommunities. Let’s examine these more.

FAMILIESare blessed through a godly man or woman.

Proverbs3:33 "TheLord’scurse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of therighteous."

Unbelievinghusband and children are “set apart” or “sanctifiedthrought the presence of a believer in a home. 1 Corinthians 7:14"Forthe unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and theunbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they areholy." Here, “sanctified” is not inferring that unsavedchildren or spouses are somehow justified before God in some wayother than through faith in Christ. The sanctification here is thatthe unsaved spouse and children receive temporal blessings because ofthe godly life of a Christian in the home. Here, that Christian isrequired to stay married to the non-believer because of the blessingsthat flow over onto them, in the hope that they will one day alsobecome followers of Christ.

Asillustration, Labanwas blessed because of God’s blessing on Jacop. Genesis 30:27"ButLaban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, pleasestay. I have learned by divination that the Lordhas blessed me because of you.”"

Potipharwas blessed because of God’s blessing on Jsoeph. Genesis 39:5"Fromthe time he put him in charge of his household and of all that heowned, the Lordblessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessingof the Lordwas on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field."

Thistruth applies not only to families but also to cities. Proverbs11:11 "Throughthe blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth ofthe wicked it is destroyed."

Andas is true for the family and the city, it is also true that nationsare blessed because of God’s shield over the righteous. Proverbs29:2 "Whenthe righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, thepeople groan."

Americahas been blessed because of its righteous foundation.

OurLAWS based on biblical principles.

OurFORM of GOVERNMENT based on understanding of fallen nature

ourECONOMIC PRINCIPLES based on responsibility, justice, privateownership, compassion.

OurEDUCATION based on teaching children to read so that they can knowthe scriptures.

Illus- Williams College. Williamstown, MASS, 1793. LAWS of the COLLEGE -1795.http://archives.williams.edu/founding/lawsindex.php Accessed April 28, 2012.

Thisis an illustration of just how far America has drifted from herspiritual foundation. WE ARE DOWN TO “for the sake of tenrighteous!”

Isearched the archives of Williams College, established in 1793. Thisis much later than Harvard (1653), but I think you will see that evenin 1793, the Christian foundation of our nation was still completelysound.

Therules for admission to the college begin with five general admissionrequirements,

includingknowledge of Greek and Latin and the ability to translate the GreekNT, and 100 pounds to pay their bill. (Today, students can hardlyspeak English, and they expect Federal Government to pay their bill). BUT following the general admission guidelines come several pages ofbehavioral guidelines.

“Everymember of this institution, whether belonging to the College or theGrammar School, shall constantly and seasonably attend prayers in theHall, morning and evening; and, if any student comes to prayers afterthe exercises are begun, he shall be fined one penny; and if he shallbe absent or egress from prayers, without sufficient reason, he shallbe fined two pence for every such offence. And if any Student shallbe remarkable for frequent tardiness or absence from prayers, thePresident or one of the Tutors, after particular enquiry into thereasons of this neglect, shall, if he judges them insufficient, givehim a private admonition; if he persist in his neglect, he shall beadmonished before the President and Tutors. And if he shall notreform, he shall make a public confession, be publicly admonished inthe Hall, or be dismissed with disgrace, according to the degree andaggravation of the offence.

Thenext section covers Misbehavior at prayers and the fines andpunishments that follow misbehavior. Then, Observance of the Lord’sDay is spelled out for these collegians. Yes, the school requiredthem to go to church! “If any Scholar shall be absent from thepublic worship on either part of the Lord’s Day, or upon public Fastsand Thanksgivings, without offering a sufficient reason, before theringing of the second Bell, to the President or one of the Tutors, heshall be fined not exceeding one shilling.”

Notonly that, they were prohibited from shipping, purchasing or evengetting a haircut on Sunday/. “If any Student admits a Barberor Hair-dresser into his Chamber to shave or dress him on the Lord’sDay, or if he goes into any other Chamber in College, or into anyshop or house in town, and is there shaved or dressed by a Barber orHair-dresser on the Lord’s Day, he may be fined for the first offencenot more than two shillings”

Punishmentswere handed out for “Association with “persons ofdissolute morals.” And there are additional rules againstdrunkenness, blasphemy, taking the Lord’s name in vain,gambling, fighting, etc…

Iinclude all of that because this week I found a news article aboutwhat is happening today at Williams college. On April 27, 2012, thecollege hosted a film screening and lecture with “genderqueerporn star Jiz Lee” Peresky auditorium. Yes, school sponsoredpornography complete with film showing, all done in the name ofartistic expression and sexual freedom. How far have we come? Maybeif there were more PRAYERS in the school, there would be less PORN!

Americahas long been departing from the “shield that surrounds therighteous.”

AWarning to Spiritual Free-Loaders

LIKEthe inhabitants of SODOM, you have been spared judgment for a time

LIKEthe people of Ninevah, God’s patience delays his justice.

Youbenefit from the GRACE that God pours out on his child.

AFATHER

AMOTHER

AHUSBAND

AWIFE

Youare living on borrowed time!

Youhave HEARD the message. Think about Lot’s sons-in-law! Genesis19:14 "SoLot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marryhis daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place,because the Lordis about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought hewas joking."

You’rehaving a GOOD TIME

Yourjudgment will come swiftly and without warning. Hebrews10:26–31 "Ifwe deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledgeof the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, " "but only afearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consumethe enemies of God. " "Anyone who rejected the law of Mosesdied without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ""How much more severely do you think a man deserves to bepunished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treatedas an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, andwho has insulted the Spirit of grace? " "For we know himwho said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” andagain, “The Lord will judge his people.” " "Itis a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Thedays of a spiritual free ride are limited. Do not despise theblessings that have come to you because of a righteous man or womanin your life. YOU must repent and turn to God before he gives youover to the results of your own choices.