Abraham vs Lot

If We see that today believers , they don't commit any sins like  adultery, stealing, murder.
But we see some believers  have rest and some are tormented.
Some have victorious lives,  but others have defeated  lives.

Some have families following God, some families gone astray.

Both are coming to Church, both are hearing the Word.

Today we will be looking at 2 believers who has contrast lives.

Abraham and Lot.
We have been hearing on this in our bible studies and today want to bring out few things in this meditation.

Genesis 13: 5

Lot also had flocks,  people.

Remember in Genesis . 12, Abraham picked up Lot when God  asked him to come,  he had no father,  instead of leaving him there,  he showed compassion .
He made him somebody from nobody.

Remember your roots.  
The humble begginings.
Just because you got a good job,  just because you got America,  just because you are well off now,  there is no place of pride.

Galatians 6:3 NKJV

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
So when he was nobody with out father and mother,  he was made somebody.

We see this in bible.

Joseph - when he became pm in Egypt , he didn't forget his brothers,  when he saw his brothers,  he cried and helped.

Daniel - he helped 3 friends to get jobs. 
Lifting up another people.
We have many examples of youngsters who came to our Church, went out with jobs,  financially supported,  with support of prayer,  jobs,  money .

But now when Abraham asks to go , he immediately left.

He didn't even ask these flocks ares given by you,  herds given by you.  But now with out you how can I go.

When Elijah asked Elisha go , he said he will not go.
When Naomi asked Ruth to leave,  she said your people are my people,  your God my God.

When Lord Jesus asked disciples whether they will also leave,  the disciples said where can we go , You have Words of eternal life.

Always,  dwell in the secret place , don't opt for attractive places.

Psalm 91:1 says,
Dwell in secret place , secret place is where you have Words of eternal life,  where there is presence of God,.

These are the days when a small issue comes, people leave Church. These are the days they use all services of Pastor , Church,  but small issue comes they leave Church.

The problem is not that they are any big sinners, but their ways not correct in sight of God.
If you have love for God, you won't leave,
Lot missed that love for Abraham.

Spiritual experiences :

Abraham life:

Altar - sacrificial lifeGenesis 13:18 NKJV

Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord .

Genesis 14:20 NKJV

Giving tithe

And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.
Genesis 14:22 NKJV

No compromise on money.

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord , God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,

only experience we see for Lot is sitting at the gate of Sodom.

Lot pitched his tent at Sodom,  when angels cane he was sitting at the gate of sodom.

No spiritual experiences.
Some people come to Church and be with other believers but do not learn any spiritual experience s.

You can sit in the church and go out do nothing.
Do you learn anything from coming to Church.
Did you learn building Altar. giving to God, Not compromising with the world.

Bringing up a godly generation.

Genesis 18:17

17 And the Lordsaid, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

To Lot, angels were asking.
Genesis 19:
12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! 


Abraham raise up 318 soldiers who do battles of the Lord.

but here nobody other than family -
Do you have anyone else here? whom did you save, do you have anyone else.

turn to Genesis 14:12

Victorious life vs Defeated life.

Genesis 14:12

12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

when you dwell in places where you are not supposed to live, there is captivity.

Lot was became captive.


Abraham  was always victorious. there was never an instance where somebody came and attacked him.

Once defeated - you have to learn to come to victorious ways.

coming to Victorious  ways - coming to thankfulness, coming to presence of God.

2 Peter says he was never happy - defeated in family life, defeated in society life.

7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—

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Amen.



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God can even come to Sodom if you have willingness to come out of that Sodom.
God comes down even for 4 people.
when you have concern for next generation, God will reveal what He plans to do.


Lot is a righteous man, not an adulterer, not a theif,
Todays Christians also - they might not be thieves, might not be adulteress.

but their ways are wrong.

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1)   Gods will  vs  own Will

Lingering.

Some although they faced lot of hard things in life.
still they linger at

16 And while he lingered

After, facing so much of hardships, still lingering.
What is supposed to do good, do it again.

even after come out of sodom, they step into more worst place.
its because you still want your will


Abraham decided that He will go where God directs him.
Lot looked with his eyes and went to Sodom.

Genesis 13:
Lots flocks,herds
Abraham - raised Lot , made him equal
Joseph - although prime minister, made brothers equal.


Elijah said go from Jericho, Bethel, Jordan  --- Elisha said i wont go

Naomi said go - Ruth said your people are my people.

Jesus said to disciples  - go , but disciples said where can we go, you have words of eternal life.

These are the days when a small issue comes, people leave Church. These are the days they use all services of Pastor , Church,  but small issue comes they leave Church.

The problem is not that they are any big sinners, but their ways not correct in sight of God.

-- Aaron, served Moses without any expectation till He was given priesthood.


Lot does not have love for Abraham.

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Altar - experiences of God.

Do you have altar in life
Abraham - wherever he goes there is always an altar
Lot - no altar mentioned anywhere
You can sit in the church and go out do nothing.
Do you learn anything from coming to Church.
Did you learn building Altar...

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Victorious life vs Defeated life.

Lot was became captive.
Abraham  was always victorious. there was never an instance where somebody came and attacked him.

2 Peter says he was never happy - defeated in family life, defeated in society life.

Once defeated - you have to learn to come to victorious ways.
coming to Victorious  ways - coming to thankfulness, coming to presence of God.
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12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! 


Abraham raise up 318 soldiers who do battles of the Lord.

but here nobody other than family -
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Psalm 119 : 153 - 176

If you are wondering what is the heading before every 8 verses in this psalm , it is the Hebrew alphabet. the Hebrew alphabet count is 22.


153
153 Consider my affliction and deliver me,
For I do not forget Your law.

I do not forget Your law.

The Word should sink in into our hearts so that we rely on the promises of God.

Deuteronomy 11: 18-21
18 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 20 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.

Is there any time that is left out for speaking the Word of God.
Bring God in every conversation. that becomes a meaningful conversation,
Bring God in every love that you show, thats the real love.
Bring God in every good thing, then it becomes good.

Pastor few months back in one of the fasting prayer meeting, he mentioned read 4 chapters a day.
Many people got queestions, why should we read 4 chapters a day, even if we read one verse also it should be clear. But the Truth is that the more the Word goes into our hearts, you wont forget the Word.

This Word does wonders in our lives.
For Pastor Benny Hinn, one verse really got into his heart, that is and this Word did wonders in his life. When the Word gets deeply into your heart, you will pursue it.
He started searching God everyday praying for 8 hours a day for one year.

Jeremiah 29:13
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity;



160
160 The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.


The sum o the Word is Truth.  The Word in its entirety is truth. Some people take a portion of a verse which suits their life style and apply it. Some people like few verses and they only hear those verses.

one day , a man called Timothy came to church by drinking alcohol.
Then the pastor noticed it and said , hey Timothy why did you drink.

He said Pastor, Paul told me.

1 Timothy 5:23
23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

Then Pastor said, read Ephesians 5:18, are you filled with the Spirit.
Paul said so many things, You are seated in heavenly places, walk worthy of the calling of the Lord, 

Ephesians 5:18
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 

Seven times a day
V 164
Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.

Psalmist says Seven times a day He praise God.
Don't think Praise God means just says I praise you God, one time is finished.
When Psalmist says I praise God, he sets apart time for exclusively praising God.

This all comes only There is so much of love for God.
No wonder God testifies about David, Man after my own heart.


Psalm 119 is about Word of God. Believe it, Meditate on it and Love and treat the Word of God as your Treasure , you will see great and wonderful things from God.

Church - Getting Ready

How is Church getting ready to meet the Lord.

Acts 24:15,16

15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead,[c] both of the just and the unjust. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

There will be a resurrection of the dead of both the Just and the unjust.

Since there is resurrection of the just, Paul says that being so, because there is resurrection i get myself ready by always striving to have conscience without offense.

Blameless.

What is this conscince.

It the best gift any person would get from God.

It a warning system to your thoughts and intentions.

No matter what religion is , what area he lives in, the conscience always work.

Even a small kid  when the kid tells a lie, the conscience inside the kid will prompt him .

When you against Gods given conscience you sin.

Paul says in Titus  says

Titus 1:15 says, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."

The more you dwell in sin and things of the world , the conscience is defiled.

Pharoah his conscience is defiled. that is why even though there were plagues he did not allow the children of israel to let go.

But look at Abhimelech,

Genesis 20: 4-6

4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”

6 And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her

are you keeping your conscience blameless, or getting it defiled.

The more it gets defiled, it will stop telling you.

some prisoners, even after even after getting out of Jail also they still go back doing the same thing. because the conscience is not at work.

Prodigal son came to senses. Luke 15:17

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 

Are you coming to senses about the Fathers house or still lingering at the pigs food.

Sometimes how difficult it is to come out of the things of the world.

When pastor sent whatsapp message to not see any news, it was very diffcult for me, because that became automatic.

But Fathers house has the best food, dont feed on the junk of this world.

Keep your consience blamesless before God and Men.

second thing in getting ready is the Church has to decorate herself.

Revelation 21: 9

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me[f] and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”[g] 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy[h] Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal

12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names[i] of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 

The lambs wife is Holy Jerusalem :

there are 12 gates and 12 foundations

12 gates - 12 tribes of israel

12 foundations - 12 apostles.

Revelation19 : 7 says

The Lamb get ready herself by the righteous acts of saints.

 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 

This is the wedding dress.

We see during a wedding, the bride gets ready with a wedding gown.

The wedding dress is the  these righteous acts of saints.

Josaiah always walked in the ways of David.

Manessah, Amon walked in wicked ways.

Getting Ready we can see in Esther.

Esther 2:

 8So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women.

9 Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance

Many virgins came.

Today also many people we see in Church. 

Esther 2:15

15 Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised.

All virgins came to palace.

Esther took what Hegai gave. Not what she liked. 

Esther did not ask but she always took only what Hegai gave.

Many times we ask God , Lord I want this type of spouse, this type of job, this type of house. 

But Jesus said not my will but God Your will be fine. 

Lord, Lord many people will say but people who will do God's will enter into heaven.

1 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Our getting ready should be doing God's will.

some say i like only gold, i like only silver, i like only emeralds,

she is the one who grewup under Mordecai.

a believer who grew up  under the correct pastors guidance with obedience will say

whatever Holy Spirit leads i will get ready with that.

Hegai knows more than any virgin about the taste of the king.

that is why its about doing the will of God and Holy Spirit knows.

Today we might be going through lot of own desires.

But can we decide today am I yielding to Holy Spirit.

Genesis 24: Whatever Eliezer gave , Rebekah got ready with those given by Eliezer.

Holy Spirit gives various gifts

1 Corinathians 12:4-11

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same[b]Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

We should be decorating with gifts given by Holy Spirit God.

 1 Corinthians 12.

Hebrews 5:14

14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Esther - all virgins are getting ready.

Similarly,  

Like new Jerusalem. 

Revelation 19 : 7

Righteous acts of saints 

Like the king has sent away one person with no wedding clothes. 

Wedding gown - A bride when getting married goes and gets ready for that wedding dress. 

Stop doing wicked ways.

Josiah walked in all ways of David.

No turning left or right. 

Calling - Response

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Praise The Lord Jesus Christ.

We will be looking at the calling of God and our response to the calling of God.

i will be doing little recap of what i talked in last bible study about life of Moses.

1) From birth to 3 months old - Moses was hidden  in the house. 
2) Then in the basked in the river
3) then in palace for 40 years
4) then hidden in Fathers in laws house for 40 years
Finally God called Moses.

Be hidden in the presence of God, you will see a clear calling of God. 

After God calls , then the response of the call is important.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them,[c] embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.


God is not ashamed to be called their God.
Today we give testimony about ourselves, but a true testimony for believer is from God Himself.

God talks about Job and throws a challenge to satan. Have you seen my servant Job?

Today God should not be ashamed at looking us, saying oh i can not show my face before satan about this believer, he or she is very weak in this area.

so what made God to be not ashamed about these 3 men.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.


1) V 15 - They forgot  from where they come.

Forget your fathers house O Jerusalem.

Abraham came from wealthy background, but he did not consider from where he came. His eye is always on what is coming.
He never talked about Mesopotamia, how that life was.
He always talks about saving the righteous people being saved.

They lived as strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Living as a stranger and pilgrim- how to understand this.

     --Although you have everything in your hands, but still live as foreigners in homeland.

Jesus although he had everything at hand , but he lived as foreigner.
Genesis 25

29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.[d] 31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.”So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

When Jacob says sell your birthright , Esau should have said how dare you ask that , you ask your brothers birthright. but he says he was dying.
Esau even before dying he want to eat.

But see Jacob, Even though the food is in his hands, and is before eyes, 
he is wont eat. he is hungry for birthright.

right from in the womb , he hunger is for birthright. This is living as strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
This is the true fasting. you have everything to enjoy 

You might have very nice house, but you desire is how to invite people and how to share the gospel, how your house is altar for God, that kids might grow in the fear of God.

You might have a nice car, but your desire is not the car itself but inside that car while driving your desire is how i can take one more soul to church in this car.

David, was king, but he wants to sit in the temple of God.
Psalm 27:4
One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord.


Luke 19:8
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

The moment we believe in Jesus, we try ask and ask and ask..
But Zacchaeus is different, give and give and give.

Also look at the life of Job.
Because all blessings he praise God, but if no blessing curse. 
I think today Christianity this is the challenge before every beleiever that satan might be throwing before God.

Can God be proud of us. Challenge for each one of us.

But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
Job 1:11 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/job.1.11.NKJV


2) Going forward on Gods promise.

A foundation for believer is Gods Promise.
The call that you received.
My first promise is 
Genesis 15:1
I am your shield and your great reward.


Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Psalms 12:6
The words of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.  

Once you receive the promise, Go forward based on that promise.
Calling is one thing and response to call is what takes us to next level.

There are adventurous journies that men and women of God took by faith , and only thing that drive them is the promise of God.

Luke 1:34- 38
The only thing that led Mary to live is Promise of God.

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?

Matthew 1:20
20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 

--- Listen to God over the voices of other people.

Whats the God promise for you? whats Gods calling for you? and how are you responding.

Do you live as a stranger or alien in home land.
Do you live base your walk in the promises of God.