#3 “Journey of Faith”
Series
"CHOOSING STAGE!"
TEXT: Gen.
13:1-18; Prov. 9:17-18
INTRO: The idea of
“choice” is more important that we like to think.
ILLUS: Near the
close of the civil war a bowery bum had been found dead with a slashed
throat. The derelict's name and
address were misspelled on the hospital forms and the age had even been recorded
incorrectly, but no one much cared ... he had obviously been a bum for some time
by the looks of his body. The man
had lived only to drink, when taken to the hospital at first he still was just
barely alive, for 3 days he hung on and then passed away, the cause of death
listed as: “malnutrition, alcoholism and
loss of blood from the slashed throat.” Finally an old friend recognized the man
as someone he knew, going through his coat pocket he found 38 cents and a scrap
of paper ... enough money for one more night at the bowery, the note said, "Dear Friends and gentle hearts." Nothing more ... but before his death
in 1864 this man who died at the age of 38 had written these songs: "CAMPTOWN
RACES" … "OH SUSANNA" … "JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR" … "MY OLD KENTUCKY
HOME" … and hundreds of other popular tunes. His name was Stephen Foster! The choices he made in his later years
robbed him of the joy of life he could have experienced ... instead he chose the
bottle which robbed him of his wealth, pride, success, happiness, and his
eternal soul! – Source Unknown
Choosing once is not enough ... we must
learn to make correct choices every day of our life if we are to live
successfully for God, it is the choices we make that will make the difference
between FULFILLMENT or EMPTINESS as a Christian ... and by the way, not choosing
anything can be a choice to regress!
PROP.
SENT: It is critical that we continue to
choose correct godly ways everyday of our lives ... doing so once in a while is
not enough, it is the daily choices that frame much of our happiness or sorrow
in life, so learn to choose wisely!
I. A LEARNER OF PAINFUL CHOICES! Gen. 13:1-4
A. Repentant Gen.
13:1
1. We find at the start of this
chapter a man named Abram who has clearly started off again with correct choices
... he is back on the correct course!
2. This indicated genuine
REPENTANCE!
3. Real repentance means a
change in direction ... not just sorrow over the sin committed. It means getting on the correct course
again!
ILLUS:
In his
book with Ken Blanchard, Everyone's a Coach, Don Shula tells of losing his
temper near an open microphone during a televised game with the
Shula could have given excuses,
but he didn't. Everyone who included a return address received a personal
apology. He closed each letter by stating, "I value your respect and will do my
best to earn it again."
There are two ways to gain
respect. One is to act nobly. The other is, when you fail to do so, to make no
excuses. -- Leadership, Vol. 17, no.
1.
4. Without change repentance
is not real!
5. Abram had learned his lessons
well in Egypt, he was back on course now and would stay
there!
6. The tragedy of some
Christians is when they learn a painful lesson and then they later repeat the
same bad choices again ... and it results in the same pain or worse ... the
Bible calls this "a dog that returns to its own vomit!" Prov. 26:11
7. Much pain in our lives can be
avoided by learning from painful choices we made AND NOT REPEATING
THEM!!!
B. Renewal Gen.
13:2-4
1. Abram picks up from the place
he had make the poor choice to go to
2. He renews his relationship
with God, and in the place he left from!
3. This renewal helped to
restore him to the place he had before the poor choices of
4. Repentance should be followed
by renewal! Otherwise the incentive
for change might not get a good chance to settle in!
5. Abram presents a good lesson
for us today, he returned to the "HOUSE OF GOD" and restored his FELLOWSHIP WITH
GOD ... as well as returning to the proper road IN the
6. Restoration is not complete
until we have worshipped at that first altar and renewed our
relationship!
ILLUS: A sentence
in one of the books [I was reading on osteoporosis prevention] struck me most:
"Like all living tissue, bone is constantly being broken down and
reformed." The words seemed to
apply not only to our bodies but to the perpetual Christian emphasis on
brokenness. Repent! Confess! Acknowledge your sinfulness! I grow tired of this continual retracing
of steps, impatient for the beckoning road ahead. But it was the word living that leaped
out at me. It's living tissue that
is continually torn down and rebuilt.
As long as my relationship to God is alive, this biological fact seems to
suggest the tearing-down process will be part of it. The confession of sin, the admission of
guilt, will go hand in hand with renewal. ... There can be no growth without
pruning, no rebirth without death. --
Elizabeth Sherrill in Journey into Rest.
Christianity Today, Vol. 35, no. 7.
7. Abram had learned his lessons
of pain well ... no more side trips for him, it was back to the house of God and
that simple altar!
II. A LESSON OF PROBLEM CONDITIONS Gen.
13:5-9
A. Resources
Gen.
13:5-6
1. One of the problems that now
surfaces however happens because of something he brought with him from Egypt ...
its wealth!
ILLUS: No power
on earth or under earth can make a man do wrong without his
consent. -- Croft M. Pentz, The Complete Book of Zingers (Wheaton:
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1990).
2. The wealth he had received
from Egypt which included cattle and other beasts were now a source of problems
for his family!
a.
b. These new found resources
that came from poor choices continues to cause problems in the family ...
however, God was using these circumstance to separate Lot from Abram ... that
was the original call for Abram anyway!
c. It goes to show that if God
gave some of us what we think we want (big bucks!) it could easily cause more
problems that what it solves!
B. Resentment Gen. 13:7
1. The resentment between
Abram’s and Lot’s servants heats up, putting Uncle and Nephew at odds with one
another!
a.
b.
2. There is little doubt that
this resentment had filtered down to their servants!
a. Don't kid yourself ... if you
resent some other believer and speak that in front of your kids or act it out
you are likely to raise them to your same level of
resentment!
b. Attitudes DO FILTER DOWN
...that is why church leadership is critical about attitudes and
actions!
ILLUS: Chrysostom
says, the way is good if it is the way to a feast, even though it goes through a
dark and miry lane. If it goes to an execution it is not good, even though it
goes through the fairest street of the city. Non qua sed quo. Not the way but
the end is to be mainly considered. --
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Quotable Spurgeon, (Wheaton: Harold Shaw
Publishers, Inc, 1990)
3. We must guard our heart
toward other believers that we don't resent what they have ... whatever they
have they have temptations commensurate with those other things ... we all face
temptations ... and the need of CHOICES!
C. Resolution
Gen.
13:8-9
1. The character of godliness
really shows in Abram and how he handles this uncomfortable
situation!
a. His priorities were in
correct order, notice his first words!
b. "We are
brothers..." Abram’s
first recognition is that of spiritual ties.
c. Abram allows his nephew first
choice of any and all land around him, he takes on the role of being a giver and
being willing to sacrifice for the sake of
relationship!
2. This was an obvious change
from his earlier attempt to sacrifice his wife to Pharaoh to save his own skin
... he had learned well! He would
not repeat the error of those earlier choices!
a. Choices here extend into the
future, hence why it is important what we choose now.
ILLUS: In St.
Louis, MO. there is a railroad switchyard.
One particular switch there begins with just the thinnest piece of steel
to direct a train away from one main track to another. If you were to follow those two tracks
however you would find that one ends in San Francisco and the other ends in New
York, two very different destinations, all because of one tiny switch in a
switchyard in the middle of the country!
Here is where God's Word comes in, it directs us to a very different
destination than this world offers, but we can't stay on the right track unless
we make the choice to switch the track from this world to eternity. What's your destination? -- Source - Unknown
b. Small choices can lead to
very different destinations later.
3. Becoming the lesser for the
greater good was in action. Now it
is Lot who must make some choices, we are about to find out how constant choices
do affect our future life!
III. A LOT OF POOR CHOICES! Gen. 13: 10-13; Prov. 9:17-18
A. Rebel! Gen.
13:1O-11
1. You would think that after
Lot witnessed the humbling of Abram in Egypt he would understand the dangers of
moving toward a worldly solution.
a. But, Lot chooses the best
looking land ... his first thoughts were "ME" … "I'm going to get my goodies too ... you're
not the only one Abram who can get rich by the help of a foreign
government."
b. He was going for all the
gusto, the best, the finest, the most ... he was choosing to bless himself!
2. God was not forcing him
toward Sodom and Gomorrah ... Lot chose this!
a. With regard only for himself
he sets out!
b. These choices are going to
affect his entire life!
3. When we become a rebel at
heart our choices will usually reflect that ... no matter how much preaching we
do, a rebel is going to rebel if they have chosen that
attitude!
a. It will become obvious in
their desires, which usually mean making "ME" #1!
ILLUS: I love
Jesus, but want to hold on to my own friends even when they do not lead me
closer to Jesus. I love Jesus, but want to hold on to my own independence even
when it brings me no real freedom. I love Jesus, but do not want to lose the
respect of my professional colleagues even though their respect does not make me
grow spiritually. I love Jesus, but do not want to give up my writing, travel,
and speaking plans even when they are often more to my glory than
God's. -- Henri
J.M. Nouwen, from his diary; in New
b.
c. These are choices that will
bring him great sorrows later in life!
B. Regress!
Gen. 13:12-13; Prov. 9:17-18
1. Instead of learning from
Abram's experience he seeks to duplicate it!
2. At least when Abram was
caught in his lie he was humbled and returned to a correct course ... Lot was
moving in the wrong direction!
3. It is unfortunate ... but
even those who have known the Lord for a long time can take a wrong turn down a
bad route!
a. Others can usually tell
because the main attitude reflected is THE "I"
ATTITUDE!
b. Nothing is more miserable
than a selfish Christian!
c. This road only leads away
from the “HOUSE OF GOD” toward the
world.
4. Spiritual regression is the
result of poor choices ... we only have ourselves to blame for such choices, THE
DEVIL DIDN'T MAKE YOU DO IT, nor did YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST MAKE
YOU DO IT!
a. We each are responsible for
the choices we make in life ... and we will answer to God for the choices ... no
excuses will be acceptable at the throne!
ILLUS: It is
difficult to be honest about the choices we make. Rather than "I decided to ..." we say,
"God directed me to..." When things
don't work out as we had hoped, we point the finger of blame at lack of faith or
disobedience to God's plan. We
rarely stop to consider whether the decision itself was unwise. Seeking direction from the Lord is
certainly appropriate, but making choices is ultimately our
responsibility. -- Kurt D. Bruner in Responsible Living in an Age of
Excesses. Christianity Today, Vol.
37, no. 6.
b.
c. LET'S STOP LIVING IN A FALSE
SENSE OF SECURITY ... the choices we make today CAN HAVE PROFOUND IMPACT on our
kids and our future!
5. You are either growing or
regressing ... God doesn't stand still and if you are not walking close to Him,
you are getting farther and farther away from Him just by standing
still!
6. Like in Proverbs 9:17-18, Lot was lured by the "SWEET LIFE" waiting in these rich
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah ... but the price will prove to have been higher
than all the riches of the plains later!
7. The temptations of the world
look and feel wonderful at first ... but the poison they leave in our system can
cause long-term pain and damage!
CHOOSE WISELY AND AVOID THE FALL-OUT THAT WILL SURELY
COME!
8. YES THERE IS CLEANSING ...
BUT THERE MAY STILL BE CONSEQUENCES TOO!
IV. A LORD OF PROMISE CALLS!
Gen. 13:14-18
A. Reaffirmation
Gen.
13:14-17
1. The Lord quickly comes to
Abram and affirms His Word to him ... to make good on the earlier promises now
that Abram is in the right place again!
a. God affirms Abram’s position
in Him
b. God affirms the land He
promised him ... including the land
2. You can almost feel the peace
and sweet presence of God in Abram!
3. There is nothing like being
in the right place and with the right heart toward God ... NOTHING IS AS
WONDERFUL AS THIS!
4. Keep your wealth, keep your
worldly promises ... I like going to sleep at night knowing all is right in my
heart with my God!
5. God leaves Abram with an
invitation: “GO WALK THROUGH THE LAND, THE ENTIRE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF
IT ... FOR I AM GIVING IT TO YOU!”
6. What Abram had given away to
heal a relationship with
7. WE CAN NEVER LOSE WITH
CHOOSING GOD OVER ANYTHING ELSE!
8. How sweet this new fellowship
with God must have seemed ... the very presence of God visited him in the right
place, with the right heart, and it was sweet!
ILLUS: The
teachings of Christ reveal him to be a realist in the finest meaning of that
word. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find anything visionary or overoptimistic. He
told his hearers the whole truth and let them make up their minds. He might
grieve over the retreating form of an inquirer who could not face up to the
truth, but he never ran after him to try to win him with rosy promises. He would
have men follow him, knowing the cost, or he would let them go their
ways. -- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) -- Edythe Draper, Draper's Book
of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
1992). Entry 1154.
9. The house of God is either a
place of sweet fellowship for you or a place of
resentment!
a.
b. Abram could not move until he
heard from God!
c. These basic attitudes that
they show here will affect their future choices and the resulting
consequences!
B. Response!
Gen.
13:18
1. So Abram MOVED by God's
orders to the great trees of Mamre at
2. While
3. They had both witnessed God's
presence when leaving UR ... they had the same family background, the same
resources, the same teaching, the same travel plans, the same God ... but LOT'S
CHOICES WILL PROVE DISASTROUS even though he is later genuinely repentant ...
while Abram's CHOICES WILL PROVE REWARDING, not just for him but for generations
to come ... and even for the presentation to the world of the MESSIAH, JESUS
CHRIST!
4. We must not underestimate the
smallest choices we make ... they chart our course through time ... they bring
us nearer to God or closer to the world where we feel
miserable!
ILLUS: Max Jukes
lived in New York. He did not believe in Christ or in Christian training. He
refused to take his children to church, even when they asked to go. He has had
1,026 descendants; 300 were sent to prison for an average term of thirteen
years; 190 were public prostitutes; 680 were admitted alcoholics. His family,
thus far, has cost the state in excess of $420,000. They made no contribution to
society.
Jonathan Edwards lived in the same
state, at the same time as Jukes. He loved the Lord and saw that his children
were in church every Sunday, as he served the Lord to the best of his ability.
He has had 929 descendants, and of these 430 were ministers; 86 became
university professors; 13 became university presidents; 75 authored good books;
7 were elected to the United States Congress. One was vice president of his
nation. His family never cost the state one cent but has contributed
immeasurably to the life of plenty in this land today. -- James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton:
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 195.
5. LET'S ALSO BE HONEST ... OUR
CHOICES ARE OUR CHOICES ... we must quit blaming others for the choices we make!
I've seen some very bad examples of
Pastors, but that will not excuse me being one ... if anything it should drive
me to prove otherwise!
6. What have been your responses
to God, what kind of choices are you making?
7. Where are these choices
taking you!? DO YOU REALLY
UNDERSTAND HOW POWERFUL "CHOICE" IS? OUR WHOLE FUTURE AND OUR CHILDREN'S CAN
LITERALLY BE ALTERED BY THOSE CHOICES WE MAKE TODAY ... SO CHOOSE WISELY! CHOOSE GODLY!
CONCLUSION:
The most basic of choices
we make will affect our long term function as a Christian. Choosing the right things for the right
reasons will also affect the everyday vitality of our faith and walk with God!
Each day we must continue to choose
the right way and with the right
heart!