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THE CHURCH ON HIGHER GROUND |
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HOMEPAGE |
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OTHER STUDIES |
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SERMON NETS short messages |
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WHAT IS IN THE NEWS?.. a Christian response |
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THE PLAN...... BIBLE STUDY |
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GREETINGS AND GUIDANCE |
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LESSON OUTLINES |
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ADAM TO BABEL |
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PAGE 1 ADAM TO SETH (1-6) |
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PAGE 2 ENOCH TO JOB ( 5-11) |
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SHORT STUDY FALSE RELIGION |
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PAGE 3 S.S./ORIGIN OF FALSE RELIGIONS #1&2 |
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ABRAHAM'S LIFE |
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PAGE 4 ABRAM/ CALL TO FALL ( 12) |
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PAGE 5 ABRAM'S RETURN/ LOT IN SODOM/ABRAM BUILDS ALTER (13) |
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PAGE 6 LOT'S RESCUE/ABRAM'S VISION/HAGAR (14-16) |
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PAGE 7 ABRAM'S NAME CHANGED/SS-PERFECTION/CUTTING THE COVENANT(17) |
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PAGE 8 ANGELS VISIT ABRAHAM (18) |
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LOT'S LIFE |
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PAGE 9 THE DAYS OF LOT (19) |
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PAGE 10 LOT'S WAY (19) |
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ABRAHAM |
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PAGE 11 ABIMELECH/ISAAC BORN/COST OF SIN (20-21) |
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PAGE 12 (21) |
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PAGE 13 (22) |
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PAGE 14 (22-23) |
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PAGE 15 (23) |
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PAGE 16 (24- |
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PAGE 17 ( |
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PAGE 18 ( |
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PAGE 19 |
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PAGE 20 |
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PAGE 5 ABRAM'S RETURN/ LOT IN SODOM/ABRAM BUILDS ALTER (13)
LESSON #1 ABRAM RETURNS TO GOD (Gen.13:1-10)
LESSON #2 LOT STEPS DOWN-1 (Gen.13:5-13;14:1-16;18:16-19:38)
LESSON #3 LOT STEPS DOWN-2 (Gen.13:5-13;14:1-16;18:16-19:38)
LESSON #4 GOD'S PROMISES TO ABRAM (Gen.13:14-18)
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LESSON #1 ABRAM RETURNS TO GOD (Gen.13:1-10)
In Abram we have seen the dynamics of a life lived under God's authority (12:1-9). We have also seen the danger of a life lived by one's own wits (12:10-20). Now we see the dependence of a life re-committed to trusting God (13:1-13).
Abram had failed to call on God when the test of famine
struck (12:10). He failed to call on God when he faced
the threat of death (12:11-13). He failed to call on God when he tasted the fruits unrighteousness (12:16). But God has a way of finding us in our rebellion and His mercy still calls us. We need to heed the call of God until we call on God. *If not...He says that His Spirit will not strive with man always.
*Now we find Abram moving back to where he last had contact with God (13:1). As Jesus had said to John on
Patmos, "...remember..."* It is good to remember the good
things God has done in our lives. Abram's life had been blessed abundantly (13:2). People often think that the way to guage the success of a life is by the size of one's bank account. Jesus warned that a man's worth is not in what he owns.* But more important than the material gain which Abram enjoyed was the closeness he had experienced with God before he moved to Egypt.
In Abram's move back to the land which God had promised him, he traveled between Bethel and Ai (13:3). This is one of the places he had been close to God. He had built an altar there as an act of worship and as a testimony to his pagan neighbors concerning his faith (13:4). He was not ashamed of his God and their relationship and though he had failed God, God had not failed him. Like the prodigal son who found himself in the pig trough, he saw himself removed from God. If we find ourselves estranged, we need to face it and go back to where we fell away as did Abram.
Abram again calls on the name of the LORD (13:4). People
often fail to put their trust in God and then fail again by not humbling themselves and calling on Him for forgiveness and renewal. Failure breeds failure. But, by the grace of God, we can turn from our wicked ways and seek
His face. Then we find that success breeds success.
Not only had Abram been successful in business, so had his nephew, Lot (13:5). The land could not support both men and their herds, so there needed to be a separation between them (13:6). Tension developed between Lot's and Abram's men. Rather than allow the volatile situation to errupt into a land war, Abram played the peacemaker and trusted God with his future(13:7). Instead of getting on his "high horse" and telling Lot to "buzz off"; in the spirit of love, meekness and faith, Abram offered Lot his choice of the land (13:8-9). Abram knew that he should trust God with every area of his life, and that included his material wealth and future fortunes. Though he had a solid claim to all of the land, and though he probably had enough servants to have defeated Lot in a land war, he chose to depend on God for his safty and wealth. Lot did not show the same level of generosity, compassion or faith that his uncle Abram did. He looked the land over and chose the best part for himself (13:10-11). Here is one of those cases where leaning to one's own understanding was a major mistake. More on this later. Here are some points to consider.
* If one moves away from God, they can and must move back to God.
* The place of sacrifice is the place of success.
* Spiritual gain is more important than material gain.
* Abram enjoyed the power of love and not the love of
power.
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LESSON #2 LOT STEPS DOWN-1 (Gen.13:5-13;14:1-16;18:16-19:38)
Lot was blessed in many ways. Though he was born into a family that had a history of worshipping false gods, there was at least one relative who had heard and answered the call of the true and living God. Not only was Lot blessed to have Abram as an uncle, he was blessed to have Abram take him into his family when Lot's father died. The advantage of being there when Abram would pray, make sacrifice and obey God must have been a great blessing. Not only was he present for Abram's adventures, he enjoyed material increase as well. His herds multiplied so much that there came a time when he had to separate from his uncle's care 13:5-9. (As I think of it, I am not sure that he was better off with material gain.) When Abram gave him his choice of the land he did not pray about it but eagerly chose the best land for himself 13:10-11. I am sure his contemporaries would have talked about the business savey of Lot. He would have been holding seminars and producing an info-mercial on "success" if he were living today. But that is how men measure success. Man looks on the outer appearance and God on the heart*. We are told that Lot, "pitched his tent toward Sodom" 13:12-13, and that "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." It is easy to choose the "big bucks", "easy street", "the good life" only to find out it was a DEAD END. Many today choose jobs, homes, and schools that have the appearance of success only to find out, and regret later, that they have chosen to pitch their tent toward exceedingly wicked and sinful men. They, like Lot, think that they will not be influenced by the bad company. But the Scripture says, "Bad company corrupts good morals."
Things seem to have gone along well for Lot...for awhile. Then one day Lot's world was turned upside down. Oppressive forces from the east invaded his community and even took him and his goods captive 14:1-12. We find out that Lot was not just living near or even outside of Sodom, but had actually moved into and was part of Sodom 14:12. How many times do people move toward the evil only to find themselves eventually living in it? Even in this situation Lot was blessed because Abram was empowered by God to pursue the invaders and rescue Lot and his neighbors.
Time passes and the Scriptures focus on Abram whose name is
changed to Abraham. Then one day God visits Abram and tells him about His plan to destroy Sodom and some neighboring cities because their sin had become very grievous to God 18:16-33. He tells this to Abram because
Abram was a friend of God* and Abram's nephew Lot was still living in Sodom. The secret of the Lord is with those who love Him*. God sometimes tells His plans to His friends. However, God's plans are not always good news. When we are close to God, He not only shares the good things of the kingdom with us, He shares His burdens with us. We not only have the joy of the Lord, we become men of sorrows as He had been. (continued)
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LESSON #3 LOT STEPS DOWN 2 (Gen.13:5-13;14:1-16;18:16-19:38)
There is reason to believe that Lot had actually attained to some civil power and position by this time. In 19:1-2 we see Lot at the city gates greeting two unknown visitors.
Sometimes city business and government was carried on at
the city gates in ancient times. Because of this, the "gates of the city" was a phrase used in reference to
it's government, commerce and military power. Remember
when Jesus said that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against" the Church? He was saying that the power, wealth and strategy of hell shall not prevail against the Church. Hell's authority and might are represented by "the gates." Lot was at the gates of the city.
It could be he was only involved in commercial activities. Possibly a leading business man. He could have been there looking for visitors, hoping to save them from the vices of the city. In either case, Lot was deeply involved in the wicked system of Sodom.
I will not take time here to discuss the wicked attempts of
the men of Sodom to rape the visitors who were actually the two angels who God had sent to destroy the city 19:4-11. The two visitors warned Lot to escape Sodom with his family. His two daughters were engaged to a couple of the locals and they were not about to obey the directives of God to leave the city 19:12-14.
The seed of a wicked society had taken root in the heart of Lot's wife. She could not bear to leave her home and neighbors. Though she was commanded to not look back on the city while God was judging it, she turned and was changed into a pillar of salt. Her rebellion brought God's judgment 19:17-27. Even after their escape, the two daughters who who had been brought out of Sodom feared that they would have no children. Rather than trust God or accept their status, they devised a plan. a satanic plan. They would take turns to get Lot drunk and then commit incest with him 19:30-38. As it turned out, his sons, by way of his sexual relations with his daughters, become a constant problem to Abram's decendents.
Points to note: Lot had a very spiritual upbringing and influence by Abram, but he did not take full advantage of it and suffered major losses. We are responsible for ourselves. We
cannot ride our parent's wake and we cannot force our children's following Lot chose what appealed to his carnal self. He chose the things of the world rather than the things of God. Whereas, Moses, on the other hand chose "rather to suffer affliction with the peopel of God, than to enjoy the pleaures of sin for a season..." Heb.11:25
Lot took 3 steps down.
1- Pitched his tent TOWARD Sodom.
2- Lived IN Sodom. and
3- SAT IN THE GATES of Sodom.
Sin draws us in a little at a time. Then we find ourselves totally engulfed. Lot lost his wife, and his daughters to a wicked sytem. The impact of a sinful society was greater than their ability to resist it. You can't flirt with sin without it taking it's toll. God says, "come ye out from among them and be ye separate..." II Co.6:17 Lot's failure resulted in loss for himself, his family and created problems for generations to follow.
None of us lives in a bubble or on an island to ourselves. Our choices impact others and impact them for a long time.
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LESSON #4 GOD'S PROMISES TO ABRAM (Gen.13:14-18)
After Abram returned from Egypt he resumed his walk and
relationship with God.
1. He built an altar (13:4).
2. He trusted God with his wealth and well being (13:8-12).
3. He settled in Cannan, where God had led him earlier (13:12).
God acknowledges Abrams faith and obedience (two sides to the same coin) and promised him;
1. All the land that he could see (13:14-15)
2. It would belong to his children forever, (13:15-16).
3. He also promised Abram decendents which would be as un-numberable as the dust of the earth. Remember, this was a man who had not had any children and both he and his wife were getting up in years.
Then God tells Abram to walk through the land, (13:17). At this, Abram seems to understand that he is to claim the entire land as a gift from God. It was God's land and God could give it to whomsoever He chose. As a gift, it should be received and appreciated. Abram then moved his tent to a location in this new land to a place called Hebron and built an altar there.
Hebron becomes Abram's home and base for all of his activities. But notice, he built an altar. Any successful endeavor must begin with a commitment to God.
What must it have been like for Abram to have God tell him all of these things?
What must it have been like for Abram to make up his mind that he was going to accept the gift that God was giving him?
What must it have been like to walk the land, knowing that it would be his?
What must it have been like to stir the dust under his feet and know that he would have descendents as numerous as the dust of the earth?
What about our relationship with God?
Just as Abram walked a life of faith and obedience, so we should walk a life of faith and obedience. In His grace and mercy God has made exceeding great promises to us. Promises for salvation, life, power, holiness and the Holy Spirit. In II Peter 1:2-4 God has promised us everything that pertains to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him. This does not have anything to do with fancy houses and expensive cars. It has to do with life and godliness. Our lives do not consist in what we wear or eat or where we live (Matt. 6:25-33; I Tm.6:6-10.) That is why we study the Bible and seek Jesus, so we will have a true knowledge of God. It has to do with our walk and relationship with God. God has promised to give us the kingdom (Lk.12:32), and the kingdom is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Ro. 14:17).
As Abram heard God, we need to hear God.
As Abram believed God's promises, we need to believe God's promises.
As Abram walked on the new land that God had given him, we should walk on the new land (spiritual victory) that God has given us.
As Abram settled in the place that God had chosen for him, we too should settle in the place that God has chosen for us.
And as Abram built an altar to call upon God and worship Him, so we should build our time with Him, call upon Him and worship Him.
We should learn from the good examples of those who have gone before us. We are to leave a good example to those who come behind us.
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