THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A woman was interviewing a prospective cook and asked, "Can you serve company?"
The applicant replied, "Yes'm! I can serve 'em BOTH ways!"
The woman asked, "What do you mean?"
The applicant said, "So's they'll come agin', or so's they'll stay away!"
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Gen 19:1-11
1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.
10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
KJV
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Lessons from angels.
1. When God sends you to do something, do it as He SAID!
As the angels approach Sodom, Lot was sitting in the gate. This reflects
a man with authority. He is very hospitable, for he recognizes them as men
of authority also, calling them "my lords."
Lot offered his home for the evening; but the angels stated they would stay in
the street. Why? According to Gen. 18:21, the Lord had sent them to "see"
what was happening in Sodom.
2. Don't go against God's Word!
Lot insisted they join him at his home. He knew what was happening in Sodom's streets!
What happened after supper and before bedtime reflects the evil in the hearts of the people of Sodom. The word "know" here means to have sexual relations. This was blatant homosexuality - open and defiant of God's Word.
Lot KNEW homosexuality was deviant behavior. Notice that he cautioned the
men not to do "so wickedly."
3. Never give up what God gives you for what man will give you!
Lot's offer here shows how far he had strayed from truth to custom.
Even though he had an obligation to protect his guests, this offer is totally
unjustified.
4. When you stand for righteousness, expect to be ridiculed!
The men of Sodom just "passed off" Lot's statement of wickedness just as many
people renounce Christians who stand up for truth and morality today. They said,
"Who are you to judge us?"
Friends, Christians do not "judge" others when they condemn sin. Christians love
the sinner, but hate the sin. Christians know the Lord's Word, and the
Lord's Word plainly states that homosexuality and deviant sexual behaviour
is and "abomination" to God! ((See Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:27-32))
5. Spiritual blindness results from refusing God's Word!
Now angels may not understand why God saves sinful man; but angels are committed to being God's eternal servants, and they KNOW immoral behaviour when they see it.
They rendered the men blind.
Love ya,
Bruce