Monthly Archives: April 2022

Hope Walks The Streets Of Gold

Sunday Morning Sermons

Hope Walks The Streets (of Gold)

Pastor Don Carpenter

Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World / Hebrews 12:1; Revelation 5:8–14

A millionaire Christian is sleeping in his bedroom when an angel comes to him and wakes him up.

“It’s time for you to go to heaven”, says the angel.

“Oh, i’m not ready, what should I bring ?”, says the millionaire.

“Nothing, just yourself”, replies the angel.

But the millionaire pulls a large suitcase from under his bed and opens it up. It is full of gold bars. “Can I just bring this along ?”, he pleads with the angel.

The angels thinks for a while, gets on his hand phone to God and speaks some divine language. Then he turn to the man and says , “OK, but only the suitcase”.

So the millionaire is taken up to the pearly gates where St.Peter is waiting to welcome him. Looking at the suitcase St.Peter says, “I’m sorry but we don’t allow any earthly possessions here, you’ll have to leave the suitcase behind.”

The angel whispers the situation into St.Peter’s ears and St.Peter seems to understand. “But what could be so important that God would allow you to take it through ?”, muses St.Peter, “Let me take a look”.

St.Peter opens the suitcase to see all the gold bars inside and immediately falls to the floor rolling around with ecstatic laughter!

The millionaire is amazed at St.Peter’s antics. Why is he laughing ?

After a while St.Peter is able to stop laughing and manages to let out a solitary question, “Why do you want to bring PAVEMENT into heaven ?”

For the last 6 weeks we have been looking at the theme “Anchored To Hope In A Stormy World.” We have seen that there is hope in the midst of heartache. There is hope for the backslider. There is hope for the sinner facing natural consequences of his sin. There is hope of life in death valley. Last week we started to meditate about heaven. We discovered that when a believer draws his last breath here on earth, his next breath will be in heaven as his spirit is immediately before the Lord!

Today let us focus on our believing loved ones who have made that journey already. What are they doing right now in Heaven? What do we have to look forward to? Let us see what God’s Word has to say on this subject and drop our anchors and believe what God says.

They Are Worshiping The Redeemer.

Revelation 5:9–10 KJV

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 7:9–10 KJV

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 

And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Revelation 15:2–3 KJV

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Revelation 19:5–7 KJV

And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

They Are Resting

Hebrews 4:9 KJV

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

From The Weight of this Sin Cursed Flesh

Romans 7:24–25 KJV

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

From Suffering the Curse of Sin

Romans 8:18 KJV

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

1 John 3:1–2 KJV

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2 Thessalonians 1:5–7 KJV

Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

From The Sting of Sin – Death

John 11:26 KJV

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Revelation 21:3–4 KJV

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

An advertisement based on Revelation chapter 21 reads: “Free, beautiful homes to be given away in a perfect city! With: 100% pure water, no electric bills, perpetual lighting, permanent pavement, nothing undesirable, everything new, perfect health, immunity from accidents, best of society, beautiful music, free transportation.

They Are Reuniting

With Loved Ones

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 KJV

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

With God

Psalm 17:15 KJV

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Matthew 5:8 KJV

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

With Christ

John 14:3 KJV

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Revelation 22:4 KJV

And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

They Are Rejoicing

Psalm 16:11 KJV

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Isaiah 51:11 KJV

Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, And come with singing unto Zion; And everlasting joy shall be upon their head: They shall obtain gladness and joy; And sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

Luke 15:7 KJV

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 KJV

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

They Are Serving

Revelation 22:3 KJV

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

They Will Be Reigning

2 Timothy 2:12 KJV

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Hebrews 12:28 KJV

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Revelation 3:21 KJV

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 20:6 KJV

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

was shocked, confused, bewildered as I entered Heaven’s door,

Not by the beauty of it all, by the lights or its décor.

But it was the folks in heaven who made me sputter and gasp;

the thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics, the trash.

There stood the kid from 7th grade, who swiped my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbor, who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought was rotting away in hell,

was sitting pretty on cloud nine, looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, “What the deal? I would love to hear your take.

How’d all these sinners get up here? God must’ve made a mistake.

And why’s everyone so quiet, so somber? Give me a clue.”

“Hush, child,” said He. “They’re all in shock. No one thought they’d see you.”

When we get to Heaven it will not be because of our great virtue but because of Christ’s Great Grace! He has promised that those who have gone on before are enjoying Heaven’s bliss and are waiting to see us. You can drop your anchor on that truth!

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:49 PM April 27, 2022.

This Changes Everything

Sunday Evening Sermons

This Changes Everything

Pastor Don Carpenter

A Beautiful Mess / 1 Corinthians 6:9–20

Many people all over America are hoping that their lives will change for the better. The addict is hoping to find freedom only to become enslaved. The broken hearted seek pleasure, only to find more pain. The guilty search for religion, only to find greater condemnation. It seems for many that they are condemned to hopeless situation, with no chance in sight.

Some people, however, have encountered some incredible truths. They saw that they were sinners, hopelessly condemned before God. They saw they could do nothing on their own to erase that sin. They realized that Jesus paid the price for sin and asked him to save them from their sin. This changes everything!

The apostle Paul outlines this wonderful truth in our text this morning. The only thing that will truthfully change a person inside and out is salvation.

When you come face to face with God’s saving grace, you will come to realize that this changes everything.

Salvation changes your inheritance

1 Corinthians 6:9 KJV

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

A. No one is righteous

Romans 3:10 KJV

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

B. Unrighteousness is described

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 KJV

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

If a person commits just one murder, he is considered a murderer

1. Fornication= “Pornos”= one who has sex outside of the marriage bond.

2. Idolaters- worshiping something other that the true God- one who has passionate devotion to a person or object.

3. Adulterer- one who has sex with another’s spouse

4. Effeminate= soft – one guilty of addictions to sins of the flesh

5. Abusers of themselves with mankind= homosexual.

6. Thieves

7. Covetous= “desires enviously what belongs to another”

8. Drunkard

9. Reviler= slanderer

10. Extortioner= obtain by force or improper pressure.

C. The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God

Salvation changes your standing before God.

1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

You are washed -> cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ

Psalm 51:2 KJV

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 51:7 KJV

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Isaiah 1:18 KJV

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Titus 3:5 KJV

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

You are sanctified= set apart, made holy.

1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

John 17:17 KJV

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

You are justified= declared righteous.

Romans 5:1–2 KJV

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Salvation changes your value system.

Because I am saved I refuse to be enslaved to anything

1 Corinthians 6:12–13 KJV

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Romans 6:1–2 KJV

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Because I am saved I refuse to yield my body as an instrument of unrighteousness

Romans 6:12–13 KJV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

1 Corinthians 6:13–14 KJV

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 

And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

Where at one time, having sexual relations outside marriage was considered liberating, current studies show that it damages one’s ability to trust, affecting future relationship, one’s respect for self, affecting every decision and diminishing the value of right decisions, and one’s respect for health.

Liberating? At what cost.

Drs. Freda Bush and Joe McIlhaney released a study at Harvard University that shows that exposure to immorality and participation in sexual acts during childhood years actually changes the brain, interrupting the normal production and usage of dopamine, vasopressin and oxytocin in the brain for the remainder of the life.

These chemicals, when released properly, create the “monogamy syndrome”, in that moment bonding the person to another. If this occurs outside of marriage, that moment of bonding never fully takes place, even after marriage.1

According to the study, listen, “But that bonding, which acts like adhesive tape or Velcro, is weakened when people tear away at its power by breaking off with a sexual partner and moving on from one to another to another. So when it does finally come time to bond permanently with a spouse, the ability to bond is damaged.

The brain actually gets molded to not accept that deep emotional level that’s so important for marriage. When they do marry, they’re more likely to have a divorce than people who were virgins when they got married.”

Others studies, reported by American Journal of Preventive Medicine, physical and emotional changes in unmarried people who have sex, as well as in married people who have sex outside marriage.

This is not to discount the spiritual changes in these people.

The Bible is relevant concerning the building blocks of a strong, supportive, fulfilling family life, although some have misrepresented what it is teaching through the years. One of those building blocks is entering into the most important human relationship of choice with the ability to commit fully, and much further than you have ever committed to another in your life. Purity before marriage is now seen as a crucial part of that. This is something many will miss out on because the deemed the Bible irrelevant to themselves.

1 Corinthians 6:15–19 KJV

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Because I am saved I resolve to glorify God with my body

1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Conclusion:

Can you fathom this? The God of the universe, who holds all things together by the word of His power, who fills all things and is bigger than the universe; bigger than time, literally lives in you. Calls you His dwelling place. What a magnificent creation you are! What high and wonderful privilege we have been given, to house the Holy Spirit of God!

– Clark E. Tanner

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:28 PM April 21, 2022.

Looking Hope In The Face

Sunday Morning Sermons

Looking Hope In The Face

Pastor Don Carpenter

Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World / Eternal Life / Philippians 1:21–23; 2 Corinthians 5:6–8

What will it be like to wake up in Glory?

Billy Graham tells the story of the death of his grandmother in his book, Death and the Life After (pg. 169). He writes, “When my grandmother was dying she sat up in bed, smiled, and said, “I see Jesus, and he has his hand outstretched to me. And there’s Ben and he has both of his eyes and both of his legs!” My Grandfather,” Graham writes, “had lost a leg and an eye at Gettysburg.”

Hebrews 11:1 KJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

As we continue our series “Anchored to Hope In a Stormy World” we turn our attention to the question of life after death. By faith we can see what is hidden to the natural man. If you are a Born Again believer, you have Bible assurance as to what will be happening and where you will be after you draw your last breath here on earth. Get ready to be blessed as you take God at His word affirm the following statements as your own and Look Hope In The Face.

I Know I Will See God

 Job 19:23–27 (KJV)

 Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed in a book! 

 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead In the rock for ever! 

 For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 

 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, Yet in my flesh shall I see God: 

 Whom I shall see for myself, And mine eyes shall behold, and not another; Though my reins be consumed within me.

Because I Have A Redeemer – One Who Paid My Price.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Isaiah 53:10–11 KJV

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 53:6 KJV

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

In Spite Of My Dying Body

1 John 3:2 KJV

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Revelation 21:3–4 KJV

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

I Will See Him Personally – not in some metaphorical sense – as a Father and Friend

Job 19:27 KJV

Whom I shall see for myself, And mine eyes shall behold, and not another; Though my reins be consumed within me.

Exodus 33:11 KJV

And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Romans 8:15 KJV

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

I Know I Will See Things Clearly

 1 Corinthians 13:9–12 (KJV)

 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 • We know in part.

 • We continue to grow and learn both in scriptures and experience

Romans 5:3–4 KJV

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

 • No matter how much we learn and experience, out perception is limited, like peering through dark glass.

 • We will see truth face to face.

 • We will know Jesus then and He knows Us now!

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XVII Now, and Then (No. 1,002)

 There are some grand doctrines, brethren and sisters, we dearly love, but though we love them, our understanding is too feeble to grasp them fully. We account them to be mysteries; we reverently acknowledge them, yet we dare not attempt to explain them. They are matters of faith to us. It may be that in heaven there shall be counsels of eternal wisdom into which no saints or angels can peer. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter. Surely, no creature will ever be able, even when exalted to heaven, to comprehend all the thoughts of the Creator. We shall never be omniscient—we cannot be. God alone knoweth everything, and understandeth everything. But how much more of authentic truth shall we discern when the mists and shadows have dissolved; and how much more shall we understand when raised to that higher sphere and endowed with brighter faculties, none of us can tell. Probably, things that puzzle us here will be as plain as possible there. We shall perhaps smile at our own ignorance. I have fancied sometimes that the elucidations of learned doctors of divinity, if they could be submitted to the very least in the kingdom of heaven, would only cause them to smile at the learned ignorance of the sons of earth. Oh! how little we do know, but how much we shall know! I am sure we shall know, for it is written, “Then shall I know even as also I have known.” We now see things in a mist—“men as trees, walking”—a doctrine here, and a doctrine there. And we are often at a loss to conjecture how one part harmonizes with another part of the same system, or to make out how all these doctrines are consistent. This knot cannot be untied, that gnarl cannot be unravelled, but—

   “Then shall I see, and hear, and know

   All I desired or wish’d below;

   And every power find sweet employ

   In that eternal world of joy.”

I Know I Will See Christ

The Moment My Spirit Leaves My Body!

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 KJV

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Philippians 1:21–23 KJV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

He Will Have A Place For Me 

John 14:1–3 KJV

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I Will Be With Him Forever

1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 KJV

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I Will See Him Face To Face!

 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 (KJV)

 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

*The Story of Basil Rasmussen*

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:52 PM April 21, 2022.

Lot the Righteous?

Uncategorized

Lot the Righteous?

Pastor Don Carpenter

Bible Boneheads / 2 Peter 2:7; Numbers 34:13; Deuteronomy 2:9

No matter what it looked like on the outside, Lot struggled with the wickedness around him and it bothered him. Don’t judge too harshly.

Do you guys remember the cartoon with Wiley Coyote and Ralph the sheep dog. I use to love that cartoon. Every morning Ralph and Wiley would meet at the time clock which was mounted on a tree. As they clocked in they would great each other and then they would go to their respective departments.

Ralph the sheep dog went to his post on the cliff and took his position as head of the sheep protection department. Wiley, true to his nature, would slink away in to the forest to plan his strategy as head of the sheep acquisition and consumption department.

As the day wore on Ralph sat patiently at his post with a protective eye looking over the flock as Wiley tried one scheme after another in hopes of making his quota of sheep for the day. However, no matter how hard he tried it seemed that poor Wiley’s plan was always thwarted by Ralph at the last moment. Inevitably as the day drew to a close just before the whistle blew, Wiley would pull out all the stops and slip into his sheep costume and meander into the fold with the hope of finally catching his prey only to realize after his pray was in fact none other than Ralph the sheep dog who had dressed himself up as a sheep in anticipation of Wiley’s scheme. Poor Wiley never caught a break.

Wiley’s sheep costume illustrates a tactic that is used by our enemy the devil. In fact in Matthew 7.15 Jesus warns us that in similar fashion Satan will send ravenous wolves into the fold dressed in sheep’s clothing to catch the sheep unaware and snatch them away by false teaching. As we learned last week Satan will do what ever he can to destroy the flock. Therefore, it is imperative that we have discerning spirits so that we can discern the motives of those who are among us.

However, our generation, as I’m sure it has been in generations past, I believe the greatest danger to the work of the Kingdom of God is not as much when wolves come in dressed as sheep, but it is when the sheep go in to the world dressed in wolves clothing. The greater problem in modern American Christianity is when “so called” Christians wear their sheep’s clothing on Sunday only to put on their wolves clothing on Monday.

As we finish our look at a Bible Bonehead named Lot, we come to an unexpected commentary about his life written by Peter. Certainly this guy did not look saved, and yet, God’s word calls him Righteous. Our text verses give us some insight and warning about how far a believer can wonder, yet still be a blood bought child of God.

The main lesson tonight is that when a believer chooses to surround himself with sin and compromise, he will be tortured until he gets out and gets right.

Lot Was Delivered

2 Peter 2:7 (KJV)

And delivered just Lot…

Because of God’s Character

2 Peter 2:9 KJV
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Genesis 18:23 KJV
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Genesis 18:25 KJV
That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Because of God’s Mercy

Genesis 19:16 KJV
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Because God Was Using Sodom and Gomorrah as Warnings to Others.

2 Peter 2:6 KJV
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

Lot Was Just – Righteous

2 Peter 2:7–8 (KJV)

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Genesis 15:6 KJV
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3–5 KJV
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation [manner of life] of the wicked.” He didn’t go for the way they lived; he hated it. He was a just man, which means that he was justified before God because he trusted God as Abraham did, although he didn’t lead a life like Abraham, one that was a testimony to the world. Lot stands on the page of Scripture as a saint of God who was justified because of his faith, but his life denied everything he believed and he never had a moment’s peace down here.

“For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing.” Just think of the filth that that man had to listen to! Very candidly, I do not believe that a child of God can continually engage in filthy conversation. Filthy conversation will lead to filthy action.

God said to this man, “Lot, you will have to get out of the city. I cannot destroy it with you in it.” You see, in the meantime there was a man named Abraham who was not criticizing Lot but was praying for him. That is a good lesson for many of us. There is a preacher, a friend of mine, who criticizes everything and everybody. One day he was criticizing an outstanding Bible teacher whom I respect and know that God has mightily used. I said to my friend, looking him right straight in the eye, “Have you ever prayed for him?” He turned red and said he hadn’t. I said, “Instead of criticizing him, why don’t you pray for him? If you think he is wrong, pray for him.”

Abraham prayed for the city of Sodom. He wanted his nephew Lot to be spared. Abraham asked God to spare the city for the sake of fifty righteous people. He finally got it down to ten righteous people, and then he stopped praying because he was afraid that Lot was not really a child of God. But Lot was, and God got him out. God said, “I cannot destroy the city until you get out.”1

1 McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (2 Peter) (electronic ed., Vol. 55, pp. 58–59). Thomas Nelson.

Lot Was Vexed

Psalm 119:158 KJV
I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; Because they kept not thy word.

Two different Hebrew Words translated vexed in KJV.

2 Peter 2:7 (KJV)

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

Vexed” is katapone? (?????????), “to tire down with toil, exhaust with labor, to afflict or oppress with evils.” The vile lives of the people of these two cities wore Lot down as his soul rebelled against the filth he saw always about him.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 12, p. 51). Eerdmans.

Vexed -exhausted by, oppressed by Filthy Conversation.

1 Timothy 3:5 KJV
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

The Greek term used here, meaning “lack of restraint,” occurs elsewhere in nt listings of sexual sin (e.g., Rom 13:13; 2 Cor 12:21; Gal 5:19; 1 Pet 4:3). The sexual misconduct of Sodom was so extensive that men from the city attempted to rape the angels visiting Lot (Gen 19:1–22).1

1 Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (2 Pe 2:7). Lexham Press.

Filthy” is aselgeia (????????), “unbridled lust, excess, wantonness, shamelessness.” The word is in the locative of sphere following the preposition en. (??.) Peter is referring to the behavior of the lawless in the sphere of unbridled lust.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 12, p. 51). Eerdmans.

Vexed – Tortured

2 Peter 2:8 KJV
(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

James 4:17 KJV
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

“Vexed” is basaniz? (????????), “to torment, to torture.” Strachan remarks: “It is somewhat peculiar that the active should be used. ‘He vexed, distressed his righteous soul.’ May it not be that in the use of the active a certain sense of personal culpability is implied? Lot was conscious that the situation was ultimately due to his own selfish choice.” Strachan translates, “day in, day out.”

Translation. For, in seeing and hearing, the righteous one having settled down permanently among them, day in, day out, tormented his righteous soul with their lawless works.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 12, p. 52). Eerdmans.

Lot’s waning faith is unpacked for us a bit more in verse 8: “For as that righteous man lived among them day by day, his righteous soul was tormented by the lawless deeds he saw and heard.” What Lot saw and heard day in and day out took its toll on him. The exposure to the “lawless deeds” of the unprincipled people of his city literally tortured his spiritual nature. Lot was wearing down when God rescued him.1

1 Shaddix, J., & Akin, D. L. (2018). Exalting jesus in 2 peter, jude (2 Pe 2:6–8). Holman Reference.

Self Inflicted Wound Due to Personal Choice

Genesis 13:13 KJV
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Dwelling” is egkatoike? (??????????), “to live in a home,” kata (????), “down,” and eg (en) (?? (??)) “in,” or “among.” Katoike? (????????) speaks of the act of settling down permanently. It was used of the permanent residents of a town as contrasted to the transients who lived there only for a time. Lot had settled down permanently among the inhabitants of Sodom.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 12, p. 52). Eerdmans.

“Seeing” is blemma (??????) (from blepo (?????)), “a look, a glance.” It is used of the look of a man from without. The person looking is an onlooker but not a participant of the thing viewed.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 12, p. 52). Eerdmans.

Conclusion:

This commentary in 2:7b–8 about Lot’s weakening defense likely is included for a couple of reasons. First, Peter wants to warn his readers about passive exposure to wickedness, especially of the sexual nature (see 1 Thess 4:1–8).

The portrayal of Lot provides a warning to a generation of people who will view without protest television material that, a generation ago, they would never have considered seeing at a movie. (Vaughn and Lea, 1, 2 Peter, 173)

We’ll never completely be able to avoid hearing and seeing everything that’s evil. But the default response to that predicament is not to throw up our hands and welcome the world into our lives and homes. When that happens, we stop crying out to God for his deliverance. Instead, we need to run from godlessness (cf. 1 Cor 6:18; 10:14; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22), partly because of its devastating effects on our spiritual sensitivity and defenses. We must avoid settling in to our cultural climate. The biggest danger many of us face as believers is not being martyred for our faith but having our faith dulled by exposure to wickedness.1

1 Shaddix, J., & Akin, D. L. (2018). Exalting jesus in 2 peter, jude (2 Pe 2:6–8). Holman Reference.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:12 PM April 20, 2022.

Celebrate Easter With Us Sunday @ 11:00 AM

Announcements

Our family here at Evangelical Baptist Church invites you and your family to join us as we lift our voices in song, lift our hearts in praise, and lift our spirits in God’s Word! Everyone from all walks of life is welcome! We will also have an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids after the morning service. Will you worship with us?

Exactly What Happened On Good Friday

Uncategorized

Exactly What Happened On Good Friday

Pastor Don Carpenter

According to the Chicago Tribune, on June 22, 1997, parachute instructor Michael Costello, forty-two, of Mt.Dora, Florida, jumped out of an airplane at 12,000 feet altitude with a novice skydiver name Gareth Griffith, age twenty-one.

The novice would soon discover just how good his instructor was, for when the novice pulled his rip cord, his parachute failed. Plummeting to the ground they faced certain death.

But then the instructor did an amazing thing. Just before hitting the ground, the instructor rolled over so that he would hit the ground first and the novice would land on top of him. The instructor was killed instantly. The novice fractured his spine in the fall, but he was not paralyzed.

One man takes the place of another, takes the brunt for another. One substitutes himself to die so another may live. So it was at the cross, when Jesus died for our sins. (Choice Contemporary Stories and Illustrations, Baker Books, compiled by Craig Brian Larson, pg57).

Through out the centuries, believers have focused their meditations upon the events that led up to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This evening, we are going to take a few minutes and focus upon what actually did take place on the cross nearly 2000 years ago.

Introducing the Main Characters

Humanity – Hopelessly Condemned Sinners

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Romans 3:10 KJV
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Isaiah 64:6 KJV
But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Jesus – the Sinless Lamb of God

He is perfect God

John 1:1–3 KJV
IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 KJV
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

He is sinless man

1 Peter 2:21–22 KJV
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Hebrews 4:15 KJV
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

The Chinese character for “righteousness” is most interesting. It is composed of two separate characters—one standing for a lamb, the other for me. When “lamb” is placed directly above “me,” a new character—“righteousness” is formed.

This is a helpful picture of the grace of God. Between me, the sinner, and God, the Holy One, there is interposed by faith the Lamb of God. By virtue of his sacrifice, he has received me on the ground of faith, and I have become righteous in his sight.

Jesus Became Sin

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin…

A. Jesus became our sin.

B. Jesus mediated, but did not forgive sin directly while He was on the cross.

  1. He had the power to forgive sin.

Mark 2:7–12 KJV
Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

  1. He mediated on the cross, perhaps because he was made to be our sin????

Luke 23:34 KJV
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

C. God could not look at the sin that He had become.

Matthew 27:45–46 KJV
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

D, He did this voluntarily

John 10:17–18 KJV
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Romans 5:8 KJV
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 2:1–2 KJV
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

We Can Become Christ’s Righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

…that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

A. God grants mercy (not getting what we deserve) to those who come to Him.

Psalm 51:1 KJV
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

B. God grants grace (God’s Riches AT Christ’s Expense) for those who trust Jesus for salvation.

  1. Righteousness credited to our account.

Genesis 15:6 KJV
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3–5 KJV
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

  1. The faith of Jesus credited to our account. Romans 3:21–22 (KJV) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: Galatians 2:16 (KJV) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 3:22 (KJV) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

If we look through a piece of red glass, everything is red. If we look through a piece of blue glass, everything is blue. If we look through a piece of yellow glass, everything is yellow, and so on.

When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, God looks at us through the Lord Jesus Christ. He sees us in all the white holiness of his Son. Our sins are imputed to the account of Christ and his righteousness to our account.

So how about you? Tonight we reflect on the most consequential spiritual events of History. Jesus became your sin so you can become His righteousness. Have you by faith accepted that free Gift? He waits for you right now.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 4:38 PM April 15, 2022.

Hope In The Midst of Condemnation

Sunday Morning Sermons

Hope In The Midst of Condemnation

Pastor Don Carpenter

Anchored to Hope in a Stormy World / Repentant Robber / Luke 23:39–43

If you are alive, its not too late to repent.

 Pastor Adrian Rogers shared the following illustration:

I don’t know about you, but I’m a connoisseur of the comic strips. I read the comic strips. And I have a few that I especially read, and I have some that I never read. One of those that is one of the better comic strips, I think, is Peanuts. And, you know, that’s written by Charles Schultz, who professes faith in Christ. And in one particular incident, it was raining and raining and raining and raining, and Lucy and Linus are looking out the window. And it was a thunderstorm, and Lucy says, “I hope it doesn’t rain so much that the entire world is flooded.” And Linus says to Lucy, “Now, Lucy, don’t worry. In Genesis chapter 9, verses 13 and 14, God promised that He would never send a flood to destroy the world again, and as proof of that, He put a rainbow in the sky.” Well, Lucy sighed and said, “That sure makes me feel a lot better.” And Linus said, “Well, sound theology has a way of doing that.”

1 Rogers, A. (2017). Sound Theology. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Lk 23:33–43). Rogers Family Trust.

Today is Palm Sunday. We are one week away from celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! There may be some hearing this message today who have not been in church for a while, if ever. There is no mistake or random chance. God has brought you here for what is about to happen right here and right now.

Perhaps there is someone here who has thought “Its too late for me”. I have sinned so deeply and have lost so much, there is no hope for me now.

__

Three crosses there that day and Jesus, who was dying for the sin of the world. On one side was a thief, a malefactor. On the other side was a thief, a malefactor. One turned to the Lord Jesus Christ and asked for forgiveness and received it and was saved. The other looked at the Lord Jesus, railed upon Him, ridiculed Him, perhaps cursed Him, and died in his sin. Three were dying that day. One, therefore, was a dying Savior. The other was a dying sinner. And the third was a dying saint. I want us to think about that dying saint, that one who turned to the Lord Jesus and he prayed this prayer, this wonderful prayer, when he said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)1

Use a little imagination. Crucifixion was indescribably horrible, gruesome. What it was meant to do was to put so much fear in the hearts of the populace when they saw someone crucified that they would swear to themselves that this would never happen to them. This was the way of keeping the people in line. It was the most excruciating form of execution that a twisted, tormented mind could devise. And so here are these men there. Jesus, we picture Him in the middle. We picture the thief who rejected Him on one side, the one who ridiculed Him and cast slander at Him. We picture the other thief over here on the right-hand side of the Lord Jesus. And I want you to see him there with his gaping wounds. I want you to feel as you can the throbbing pain, where every nerve in his body is a highway for the footprints of pain. Perhaps he’s nauseous. He is almost in shock. There are flies in his gaping wounds. His body is dehydrated. His tongue is swollen. He can hardly turn his head. But he looks to Jesus and he says, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” (Luke 23:42) And Jesus, in agony and blood, takes time from dying to turn to this man, and Jesus said, “Verily”—that means “you can bank on it”—“I say unto thee, Today shalt thous be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)1

1 Rogers, A. (2017). Sound Theology. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Lk 23:33–43). Rogers Family Trust.

Oh friend think of that! Jesus looked at the thief next to Him with love in His eyes and made a promise… TODAY shalt thou be with me in paradise! Even when you are eyeball deep in condemnation, Jesus can save you! Drop your anchor on that unchanging immutable truth!

Hope Acknowledges The Sin That Condemns.

Luke 23:39–41 KJV

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

Ezekiel 18:4 KJV

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Romans 6:23 KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 3:23 KJV

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 KJV

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

1 Timothy 1:15 KJV

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Ephesians 2:1–2 KJV

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Pastor Adrian Rogers told another story:

I read somewhere of a woman who was in the jail witnessing from cell to cell, and many people were saying how they should not have been there, and how they were framed, or how they were there by unfortunate circumstances, or how what they did was only a mistake, a misjudgment. One man said to this lady, “I am such a wicked sinner.” She said, “Thank God.” He said, “No, lady. I said, ‘I’m such a wicked sinner.’ ” She said, “Thank God.” He said, “Lady, are you mocking me? Are you making fun of me?” She said, “No, indeed.” She said, “Now you’re ready to be saved. That’s why I’m thanking God.”•

1 Rogers, A. (2017). Sound Theology. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Lk 23:33–43). Rogers Family Trust.

Hope Embraces The Fear that Convicts

Luke 23:40 KJV

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

Romans 3:18 KJV

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Matthew 10:28 KJV

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psalm 147:11 KJV

The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his mercy.

Revelation 21:8 KJV

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

An electrician has a fear of electricity. Now it doesn’t mean that he dreads electricity. But he knows that when he’s handling those wires, he must be careful or he can kill himself. A pilot has a respect for the power of gravity. Jim Glover, an erstwhile pilot in our church, told me, “Pastor, there are two kinds of pilots: there are old pilots and there are bold pilots; but there are no old, bold pilots.” Now, what did he mean by that? He meant that you have a healthy respect of gravity. No pilot that I know of fears gravity. But he knows that it can destroy him. I have a respect for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Now when I’m going down the road, I see that car. I do what you do: I look at the speedometer, you know, to check and see if I have somehow transgressed. Now when I see a policeman, I don’t quake and tremble, because I have a pure conscience in that arena. But I can tell you one thing: I have a healthy respect for the law.

1 Rogers, A. (2017). Sound Theology. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Lk 23:33–43). Rogers Family Trust.

Hope Because of the Faith that Converts

Jesus Is The Sinless Christ

Luke 23:41 KJV

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

1 Peter 2:22 KJV

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Hebrews 4:15 KJV

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Only God Is Sinless

Matthew 19:17 KJV

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Mark 10:18 KJV

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

John 1:1 KJV

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 KJV

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus Was The Sovereign Christ – the King of Kings!

 Luke 23:42 (KJV)

 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

1 Timothy 6:15 KJV

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Romans 10:9–10 KJV

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Jesus Was The Saving Christ

 Luke 23:42 (KJV)

 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

John 3:16 KJV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:13 KJV

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 16:30–31 KJV

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 5:8 KJV

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Hope Because of the Future that Comforts

Luke 23:43 KJV

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Surely this story tells us above all that it is never too late to turn to Christ. There are other things of which we must say, ‘The time for that is past. I am grown too old now.’ But we can never say that of turning to Jesus Christ. So long as our hearts continue to beat, the invitation of Christ still stands. As the poet wrote of the man who was killed as he was thrown from his galloping horse,

Betwixt the stirrup and the ground,

Mercy I asked, mercy I found.

It is literally true that while there is life there is hope.1

1 Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Luke (p. 340). Westminster John Knox Press

Conclusion:

The eyes of the Lord looks down into the dark corners of your soul. You are exposed. God has promised that the soul that sins will die… every one of us have sinned and every one of us will die. Perhaps your death is more immanent than some in your life know. You feel the darkness of your deeds smothering you like the dirt that envelops a coffin 6 feet under ground. There is no concealing your sin or guilt… like that thief you stand naked, condemned and guilty before God.

Yet Jesus has already been where you are. He already became your sin. He already offered Himself as a sinless replacement for you. All you need to do is by faith accept His free gift. Repent of trusting in your works and turn to Christ alone. Christ came to save the chiefest of sinners and He came to save you! Drop your anchor on that truth and find Hope in the Midst of Condemnation! 

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:49 PM April 7, 2022.

Lot the Lingering Loser

Wednesday Evening Sermons

Lot the Lingering Loser

Pastor Don Carpenter

Bible Boneheads / Sin / Genesis 19:15–29

 It is fun, interesting, and sometimes instructive to watch my grand kids play after church. As you may know, sometimes the kids love to play tag or chase when the crowds die down. Each child has their strength and weakness. Some are quick, some are agile, but some have learned the hard way that when you are running forward down the side aisles that have the support arches that protrude into the pathway, it is unwise to look backward. The sound of THUD, silence, then shrieking, is the sound of a child learning the lesson that when you have to run forward, it is unwise to look backward.

As we continue to look at Lot, a Bible Bonehead, we will discover that when we are given merciful warnings from God, we need to act and not hesitate, for when we do, we could lose everything like what happened in the story of Lot the Lingering Loser.

Lot Lingered In Spite of Multiple Warnings

He needed another wake up call

Genesis 19:15 KJV

And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

The first time God rescued Lot, he was a prisoner of war (14:12, 16); and he went right back into Sodom. That painful experience should have warned him that he was out of the will of God; but if Lot heard the warning, he certainly did not heed it. 1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 82). Victor Books.

When morning dawned: we may assume that Lot has returned home from his unsuccessful visit to his future sons-in-law and is perhaps again in bed at his own house. All the earlier events have taken place in the night and early hours of the morning. The Hebrew expression is “And as the dawn arose,” which in many languages is expressed as “Before the sun came up.” The reference is to the period between first light and sunrise. In languages that divide these early hours and have a number of different expressions for periods of time before the sun rises, it is best to refer to the time when there is just sufficient light to see well.1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (1998). A handbook on Genesis (pp. 425–426). United Bible Societies.

Ezekiel 16:50 KJV

And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Lot was dragged by the mercy of God.

Genesis 19:16 KJV

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Titus 3:5 KJV

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

But he lingered: lingered means delayed or hesitated. In some languages this is expressed as “took his time” or “didn’t hurry.” Translators may wish to make this statement a time clause, for example, “When Lot hesitated …,” followed by the action of the angels.

So the men seized him … by the hand: the angels have to use force to make Lot and his family leave.

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (1998). A handbook on Genesis (p. 426). United Bible Societies.

Lot was given explicit instructions

Genesis 19:17 KJV

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

 • Escape for your life

 • Don’t look back

 • Don’t stay in the plain

 • Escape to the mountain

Lot Begged to Go His Own Way

Genesis 19:18–23 KJV

And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 

Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 

Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 

And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 

Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 

The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

Lots Priorities Were Still Selfishly Focused on Temporary Comfort.

 • God is about to rain down fire on Lots friends and even his married daughters and sons… yet he was begging not to have to go on a camping trip.

 • God in His mercy promised to spare Zoar

 • Perhaps if Lot would have followed the original instruction, his wife would not have been close enough to look back and be destroyed.

 • Sometimes after God has been trying to get us to change direction, He lets us have what we were begging for and sends leanness to our souls.

Psalm 106:13–15 KJV

They soon forgat his works; They waited not for his counsel: 

But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tempted God in the desert. 

And he gave them their request; But sent leanness into their soul.

Lot Lost Everything

Genesis 19:24–25 KJV

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 

And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

 • His Livelihood and Possessions

 • His Friends

 • His position

 • His married daughters and sons

 • His wife

Genesis 19:26 KJV

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

 • Lot did follow the rest of the instructions but by then it was too late.

Genesis 19:30 KJV

And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

Lot Was Spared Because Abraham had Prayed.

Genesis 19:28–29 KJV

And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 

And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

Ezekiel 22:29–31 KJV

The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 

Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Conclusion:

God is merciful enough to warn us way more than we ever deserve. It would be wise not to linger… if God is moving you to make a move, do not hesitate! God is merciful enough to give us specific leadership through scriptures and the Holy Spirit.. it would be wise not to bargain. It may be because of the hardness of your heart, He will grant you your request only to send leanness. God has your soul in His hand if you are saved, but your carnality could result in great personal loss. Take the warning and learn from Lot the Lingering Loser.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:12 PM April 5, 2022.