Good morning, United Evangelical Church.
And anybody else who might be joining us this morning?
As you can see, we are in a different place.
We're in a different location. Things have been changing since
last week. We were in the sanctuary on
Friday and now we're in a quickly setup Studio, but no
matter what, what's more important is that the word of
God will be shared and that we will be able to hear from the
Lord together. And so if you have your Bibles,
hold onto them tightly, because we're going to go through
different scriptures. If you saw the title of what
we're going to be discussing. It's going to be meditations on
the return of Christ. And we use that word meditations
carefully. Because when you speak on the
subject like this, you can really get into details of
events of when of how, what does this represent?
And that's not the purpose. This morning.
We don't want to present a timeline of what we see in the
scriptures, concerning the return of Christ or the Rapture.
The tribulation. We want to focus on a devotional
meditation and that concept altogether.
And so we're going to go through different verses and see how
these can stir our hearts today, even though it isn't event to
come. And so if you have your Bibles,
go to Luke chapter 21 for now, we're going to touch on a couple
verses. And as Believers, we believe in
a literal bodily resurrection and we believe in a literal
bodily Return of the person of Jesus Christ.
The same historical Jesus that walked on this Earth and died on
a cross and went into the grave. And Rose is the same Jesus
that's going to return and he is going to come to render
judgment. He's coming to redeem and full
Redemption, those who put their trust in him, and he will
establish his Earthly Reign for all eternity.
And that's what we believe. And look at this.
Familiar verse in, Luke 21 verse 25 says and there will be signs
in sun and moon and stars and on the earth distress of nations in
perplexity because of the Roaring of the Sea and the waves
look at verse 26, people fainting with fear people,
fainting with fear. And with foreboding of what is
coming on the world for the powers of the heavens, will be
shaken. Now.
This is speaking about specifically the tribulation
period but we can still apply it to our lives today, you know,
very well that this past week concerning the world.
There's been great fear in the air Panic hysteria.
And Jesus says, this is only going to be Amplified in that
intense tribulation period when the world will experience things
that they've never seen before, but we can also Play that to
today. That there is a fear of
uncertainty and of the unknown. That is the posture of the world
though. And keep looking and verse 27,
28, see the contrast, and then they will see the son of man
coming in a cloud with power and great Glory.
Look at verse 28. Now, when these things begin to
take place. He's talking to those who will
be in that period but also to us today, straighten up and raise
your heads because your Redemption is Drawing Near.
Do you see the contrast the world fainting with fear
panicking questioning wondering? Believers.
Looking up there, their heads are straight up.
Their eyes are towards heaven and they are expecting the
return of the Savior. Now if this truth is something
you believe in perhaps more than ever, it is something that is
more real to you especially in this season.
And that's why I believe it's appropriate to speak on these
things. Ask yourself this question.
How much of the return of Christ is mentioned in the New
Testament? Think about the gospels, think
about the letters, the Epistles, think about how much mentioned
there is. Of the return of Christ.
It's amazing how at least in my understanding of my perspective
that so little is mentioned of the return of Christ and modern
teaching. It seems to be a foreign
subject. It seems to be something that is
archaic. Something that is to end times
Nation its to apocalyptic and people want to avoid that
subject. But it is our hope, this is,
this is what we are looking for. This is the next major event in
Redemptive history that we are anticipating.
And so, let's talk about such things and go.
Acting now, Luke 17 the same book.
Let's read some verses that would stir our hearts in this
area. Look at Luke 17 verse 22.
And he being Jesus said to the disciples.
The days are coming, when you will desire to see, one of the
days of the son of man, and you will not see it.
And so, let's understand this and 22.
Jesus is speaking to a specific audience.
He just finished speaking, in the verses prior to the
Pharisees who asked about the kingdom of God, and now he is
speaking to his own followers. And he's saying you will desire
to see one of the days of the son of man, but you will not see
it. You saying there?
Let's understand what he means by the days of the son of man.
Jesus loved to refer himself as the son of man.
It's a title that he gave himself often and that title
speaks something about his Humanity.
Sure that he is human fully human, but that title as you
know would have been very familiar to the ears of the Jews
and it would be familiar to you as well.
If you know the Old Testament the title, son of man comes from
a specific Vision that our Prophet had in the Book of
Daniel chapter 7. 7. Now, turn there to see how Jesus
used this and what he was referring to Daniel 7.
Verse 13. Look what Daniel says.
I saw in the night visions and behold with the Clouds Of
Heaven. There came one like a son of
man. And he came to the Ancient of
Days and was presented before him.
So what Daniel saw in this vision?
Was an individual that carried a human-like form and he is
presented before the Ancient of Days, which is a title that
describes God and him being Eternal.
And this man, the son of man comes in the Clouds Of Heaven,
so he's not an ordinary man. He's not, he's not just one who
has a human appearance. He is coming in Majesty.
He's coming with boldness and courage before the Ancient of
Days himself to do, what? Because the Ancient of Days is
going to give him an inheritance.
He's going to give him honor that is unparalleled to anyone
else. What kind of Honor, look at
verse 14 and to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom
that all peoples Nations and languages should serve him.
His Dominion is an everlasting Dominion, which shall not pass
away and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
So when Jesus refers to himself as the son of man, you have to
understand that the Learned you would have went to Daniel
chapter 7 and it would have been an astounding statement that
Jesus was making that the person that Daniel saw that one like a
son of man. Was the pre-incarnate Christ and
Jesus was making the connection. I am the one that Daniel saw and
why is that important? Because of the person that we
see in Daniels vision and what he had received from the Ancient
of Days and eternal Kingdom that would demand the service of
people from different nations and tongues.
And so when Jesus calls himself that this was a great statement
being made. In fact, if there's any doubt
behind that interpretation, You can go to the Book of Matthew
and Jesus trial. And if anybody ever asks you,
where Jesus outright says that he is the Son of God, or he is
the Messiah, or he is the one that was prophesied about just
turn to Matthew chapter 26. And look at verse 63 and 64 and
see that, this is as clear as it gets.
But Jesus remains silent. In Matthew chapter 26, 63 and
the high priest said to him. I adjure you by the Living God.
Tell us if you are the Christ the son of God, so he's asking
me trial tell us plainly. Are you the one that was
prophesied about? Are you claiming to have this?
Heavenly Authority? Are you claiming to be the one
that the prophet spoke of liquid?
Jesus is in 64. Jesus said to him, you have said
so Can you get any more clear than that?
I agree with you. Jesus saying you're right.
And then he goes on to say. But I tell you from now on, you
will see the son of man seated at the right hand of power and
coming on the Clouds Of Heaven. There It Is.
He is claiming to be the one that Daniel prophesied about
now. What's the point?
When Jesus says to his disciples in verse 22 of Luke 17.
He says the days are coming. When you will desire to see one
of the days of the son of man. So we've made clear that he is
referring to himself as the one Daniel portrayed.
But he's speaking about the disciples Desiring to see one of
those days. Meaning the era of the son of
man and exaltation, the era of the son of man ruling and
reigning on the earth and establishing his eternal
Dominion. He told his disciples, you will
long to see that you will yearn to see that.
And I think this is an important question to ask at least two
questions as you are sitting and watching this morning.
Number one. Do you claim to be a disciple of
Jesus? Are you a follower of Jesus
Christ? Have you put your faith and
trust in him? Have you made him Lord?
Then you are a disciple. If so, ask yourself this
question. Now do I desire to see?
The days of the son of man. Ruling and reigning.
Once and for all were righteousness and Justice will
cover this earth and the knowledge of the glory of God
will cover the Earth as the waters.
Cover the Seas, that your desire.
This week, I've had different conversations with people, and I
can tell you that one of the prominent discussion themes has
been the return of Christ. I'm not here to set dates.
I'm not here to say that these events are going to lead to that
specifically, but what did Jesus say look to the Fig Tree and
learn that lesson of the Fig Tree, when you see the budding
of the leaves, you know, that something is coming.
Summer is near. So he says, when you see these
signs realize that something is coming.
We have every right to look at world events and for it to stir
our hearts to say, Lord. He's a time.
Are you actually coming now? Is this?
It? Are you going to take us home?
And I wonder if that's what you thought.
I wonder if that's even a desire.
You know, unfortunately, many disciples of Jesus Christ.
Don't have that desire, the to Earthbound.
They don't think about the glories.
They don't think about the Majesty.
They don't think about the join the Bliss that will come when
Christ returns, but Jesus looked at his disciples, his you will
desire this, you will desire, but you will not see it.
Not that they will not ever see it, but that the time will not
happen just yet. I think that's something we have
to ask ourselves as a disciple, looking at these world events.
Is there any type of stirring in me to say all Lord, let it
happen now? Let me ask you another question
this morning. What does the word?
Hallelujah mean? Think about it.
What does the word? Hallelujah?
We've sang it in songs. You've probably said it in
response to some testimony that you've heard.
But this morning, ask yourself. What does the word?
Hallelujah mean? Well, very simply means praise
be to the Lord or may the Lord be praised.
Hallelujah. Now that's the definition but
let me ask this question. I'm going to give you a few
seconds to think about it. When is the word, hallelujah,
first mentioned in the New Testament?
We see it plenty of times in the Old Testament, especially in the
Book of Psalms, but, ask yourself this morning.
When is the first time the word? Hallelujah, mentioned in the New
Testament? And as we think about, I'm going
to turn to that place and I want to read to you because it's in a
specific location that says a lot about Hallelujah.
If you guess the Book of Revelation, you're right.
Think about it. The first time the word,
hallelujah is mentioned, is in the last book of the Bible.
And not only that the word hallelujah.
Occurs only four times in the entire New Testament and all
four times the word. Hallelujah, is found in one
chapter in the book of Revelation.
And that's a Revelation chapter 19.
So turn your Bibles to Revelation chapter 19.
And let's see, where the first explosive phrase of May, the
Lord be praised or praise. The Lord is associated with
Revelation 19 verse 1. John remember this is a
revelation that John receives after this.
I heard what seemed to be a, to be the loud voice of a great
multitude in heaven crying out. Hallelujah.
There. It is.
The first time the word is mentioned in the New Testament,
Hallelujah, Salvation, and Glory and power Belongs To Our God for
his judgments are true. And just for, he has judged the
great prostitute who corrupted the Earth with her immorality.
And as Avenged on her blood of this of his servants, that is
when Hallelujah is mentioned, when the Great, prostitute was
finally judged. Now, without getting into too
much detail about this because we can spend the next session
discussing what this means or who the great prostitute.
Is you look at Revelations chapter 17 and chapter 18.
You realize that there is a description of Babylon.
Babylon was a system in the Book of Revelation that was corrupt.
And I'm not here again to speak of what this represents in terms
of location or who it is, what it is.
But what we do know and what all interpretations can can agree
on, is that Babylon even in the Bible, the entire scriptures,
testifies of a proud and perverse Society.
It speaks about a God oppressing and god-rejecting system.
So we look at Revelation that speaks about the end times.
You see that Babylon, this ancient city is referred to
again, but in a modern sense, therefore Babylon has a
connotation of a modern spiritual system, but in
Revelation, it's more complicated than that Babylon.
Seems to be a false religious system, a political system, and
a commercial commercial system and it's intertwined.
It's it's all connected somehow. But what's more important to
understand that Babylon in the end times, has this powerful
influence over the inhabitants of the Earth with false religion
with sexual morality, with the love of money and with
drunkenness. It's it's demonic in the
scriptures testify of that. But here's the main point in
Revelation, 19. We see Heaven rejoicing.
When God brings a final end to the Babylonian system.
The Babylonian spirit. All of God's people looked at it
and said, hallelujah, praise be to the Lord.
Why is that important? Because you look in your Bibles
and Revelation, 19. And this destruction of the
Babylonian system is needed to usher.
In what we see in verse 11. What do you see in verse 11 of
Revelation? 19?
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse.
The one sitting on it is called faithful and true.
And in righteousness. He judges and makes Six War, all
that makes sense. So the Hallelujah was in
connection to the fact that God is sweeping over the world in
order to establish the platform for Christ to come and bring his
Earthly and eternal rain. Hallelujah.
Let me ask you this this morning.
Can you say, hallelujah to that now?
Is that something that makes you want to rejoice and praise God.
Do you look at this world? And you see the corruption and
the filth and the depravity and the influence of Satan is
demonic forces. And is there anything in you?
Yes, longing for people to be saved, but also longing to say
Lord. I can't wait for this whole
world to be ruled by you. Unfortunately, I think a lot of
professing Christians can't say, hallelujah is because there they
are a little bit attracted to this world.
There's a little bit of a desire there.
The things that pleases the world, the Babylonian mindset
has infiltrated. Even Believers.
You think. How can you say that?
Look at Revelation, 18 verse 4, then I heard another voice from
Heaven saying, come out of her, my people.
Carter? Where come out of Babylon, come
out of her. My people lest you take part in
her sins. Think about that for a second.
Perhaps, the reason why many professing Believers can't say,
hallelujah to this truth. That God would bring Holiness
and Purity in totality is because they are involved with
Babylon. They have some kind of
Attraction. They are entertained by the same
things that the world is entertained by whatever.
Babylon presents, they eat it up and they're in confliction
between serving the kingdom of God and serving Babylon.
But listen, if you are totally sold out for the Lord, you can
Echo this statement. Hallelujah, in the revelation of
Jesus coming and ruling and establishing his kingdom, his
Reign, his rule. So, we go back to Luke 17 and
this reflect a little bit more. And we're not going to cover
every verse, but let's look at another portion of scripture
found here. And let's see if we can
understand a deeper understanding to what Jesus is
teaching. So we go to Luke 17. and Jesus
says, In verse 24 for as the lightning, flashes and lights up
the sky from one side to the other.
So will the son of man be in his day is not going to be a secret
when he comes back. It's not going to be hidden.
It's not going to be something that we cannot perceive
Revelation tells us in chapter 1 verse 7, that every eye will
Behold Him. That's not the point.
We want to focus on verse 25 down, but first, he must suffer
many, good things and be rejected by this generation that
happened on the cross, just as it was in the days of Noah.
Jesus said, so will it be in the days of the son of man?
They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in
marriage until the day. When Noah entered the Ark and
the flood came and destroyed them.
Likewise verse 28, just as it was in the days of lot.
They were eating and drinking buying, and selling planting and
building. But on the day, when lot went
out from Sodom fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed
them all. Jesus defines and describes what
the days of, the son of man in his return, will be like and he
points to two societies that are familiar in the Old Testament.
He says that they will be like the days of Noah and they will
be like the days of lot. He picks out these two specific
scenarios in our scriptures. Now, let me ask you this.
What defined? What was dominant in the Nate
days of Noah. What was something that
characterized it in a unique way?
I think the answer is in Genesis 6 and we have to go there to
understand what Jesus perhaps meant here when he's talking
about how they will be, like the days of Noah.
So Genesis 6. We see a description of Noah his
generations and what his environment was like verse 11 of
Genesis 6. Now the Earth was corrupt in
God's sight and the Earth was filled with what violence.
Violence. You go to verse 13 and God said
to Noah, I have determined to make an End of All Flesh for the
Earth is filled with violence. Through them.
So what defined the days of Noah was Humanity?
Having a disregard of the sanctity of life?
There was a waxing of the heart becoming cold and there's a lack
of Love. There was a disregard of the
image of God being displayed on man.
There was murder. There was Bloodshed, there was
no concern about the gift of Life.
There was no sense of accountability to how God will
judge for bloodshed. Now that's what describe the
days of Noah. Can I ask you this?
Is that describe our day today? Absolutely, look at all the
deaths apart from war, look at the genocide.
The silent Holocaust of abortion, the millions of babies
that are being slaughtered day in and day out.
That alone tells us something about the violence that alone
tells us about the viciousness and the carelessness.
Towards human life. Look at our city, Chicago.
Some of you have had the chance to minister to those who are
involved in different gangs and hearing their stories, about how
they've killed people in their teenage years.
I mean, before they learn how to drive a car before they learn
how to, to get a job. They know, already how to shoot
a gun in sell drugs, and this is happening in our streets day in
and day out. So Jesus says, you will see
heightened level of violence in the days before the son of man
returns, but then he says, the days of lot.
They will be like the days of lot.
Now, what defined the days of lot?
I'm sure you're familiar that Sodom has a reputation in the
Bible of describing a certain lifestyle.
And without going to Genesis. You can read in Jude the book
before the Book of Revelation. And look at Jude 7 and see the
commentary that this man gives by the Holy Spirit concerning,
Sodom and Gomorrah. And Jude 7.
It says, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding
cities, which likewise listen to this indulged in sexual
immorality, and pursued unnatural desire.
The days of lot. Would Define by an obsession
with sexual sin. Including homosexuality.
There was an unnatural desire for one, another men with man
woman with woman and it was a, it was not only a behavior.
It was a behavior that was common.
It was something that was acknowledged.
It was something that was practiced.
And you read in Genesis 19 of how the men of Sodom carried
themselves and you see an animalistic kind of appetite for
sex. Let me ask you this question.
Is that describe our day? Do we see a parading of sin and
our streets? Do we see a worldwide
acknowledgement almost of homosexuality and not just an
acknowledgement, but appraised of it.
Look at the effects of pornography.
Look at the obsession. Look at the bondage that people
are in. By the millions around this
world, even within the church that can't seem to shake off the
desires of the flesh. And so, what Jesus does in Luke
17? Something very, very important.
He looks at the days of Noah, and he says the end times, the
days before my return will be like that.
And he looks at the days of Loft, and he says the end times,
the times before my return will be like that.
And what does he do? He combines the days of Noah,
with the days of lot, meaning that these two things will merge
and they will be highly dominant in society.
I read something like that, and I'm sure you do and you, you
think, well, that's the day I'm living in and that's how we are
supposed to think. But there's another thing,
there's another reason there's a main purpose behind why Jesus
spoke of the days of Noah, and then these have lat and it's
what we read there, that despite the fact that there was violence
and rampant sexual sin, including homosexuality.
Both of these are has had one thing in common.
There was a lack of concern. There was a lack of stirring
relating to coming judgment. Isn't that what Jesus says?
He says, they were eating drinking marrying building,
selling not that those things are evil in itself.
But what he's trying to say is that life was just moving
forward, and people were consumed by their day-to-day
Affairs. While at the same time.
There was a pending judgment looming over them.
And there was literally, no concern relating to that truth.
in fact, when you read the days of lots in Sodom, Realize that
one point, lot had some courage even though he was
overwhelmingly week to his convictions.
Lot had some courage to go to relatives and to tell them of
this judgment to come and you see the posture and the attitude
of his sons-in-law. What does he say in Genesis 19,
you read in verse 14. So lot went out and said to his
sons-in-law who were to marry his daughters up.
Trying to get their attention up, get out of this place for
the Lord is about to destroy the city, and look at the response,
but he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.
And this is what Jesus is alluding to.
Just this is what Jesus wants to bring to the surface.
They heard lot and they thought you're joking judgment.
You're going to talk that kind of a talk.
You're going to, you're going to try to scare us.
And they were marrying. They're about to get married.
They were engaged to be married. They probably had businesses of
their own. They looked around Society.
Saw things, smooth things moving on forward, just fine.
And here's this man Tommy, you know, are you right?
With God, we have to get out of here because judgments about the
coming, they laughed it off, and that's the same attitude that
people have today. In the midst of a society of
violence and sexual sin. The message of judgment is
scorned at and scoff that And Jesus says, that's what it's
going to be. Like, that's what it's going to
be. Like.
Now, reading these verses. We understand that description
is clear. But I want us to notice
something else as we, meditate. Jesus says, As in the days of
Noah, and he describes it as in the days of Law, and he
describes it. But I want you to consider this
truth. Let's look at it from a
different angle. Sure.
The days of Noah were violent. Sure, the days of lot were
perverse. But in the days of Noah, there
was a Noah. And in the days of lot, there
was a lot, you know what that means that even in the midst of
all the corruption and darkness. There is a righteous remnant.
There was a Noah there. There was a lot there.
You thinking lot. Hold on.
We'll get there in a moment. And I think where we can apply
ourselves to, this is to look at Noah and to look at lot and to
see how as the people of God, we should act and represent Christ
in the midst of all of this chaos.
So, interestingly enough, Jesus mentions Noah, and lot here in
the same context, and there's another portion of scripture
that mentions Noah and lot in the same context as well.
So if you have your Bibles go to Second Peter, second Peter.
And look at these verses. That Peter highlights.
Second Peter. Look at verse 5 of chapter 2.
If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserve Noah.
A Herald of righteousness with seven others when he brought a
flood upon the world of the ungodly.
If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he
condemned them to Extinction. Making them an example of what
is going to happen to the ungodly verse 7.
And if he rescued righteous lat, Greatly distressed by the
sensual conduct of the wicked. So let's just pause your here.
We see Peter by the Holy Spirit, putting Noah and lot again in
the same context. And I want to look at the
descriptions of Noah and lot and derive some truths for us today
as believers. Noah Peter describes in the
midst of the days of much violence and other sins was a
Herald of righteousness. Meaning he was a preacher of
righteousness. We have this idea that Noah was
just building this Ark and he was keeping to himself and he
just kind of whispered to his family so that he wouldn't
disturb Society. That's the wrong picture of
Noah. Yes.
He was building. Yes.
He did. Take time to obey God in that
construction project. But in the midst of all of that
over the years, no was preaching righteousness.
No, was acting like a prophet Noah was not intimidated.
Nor. Is he a shame to hide the truths
concerning who God is in his character and nature and what he
demanded from people know, Noah preached righteousness.
And that is the posture. You and I must have in the
state. This is the voice of the church
in the last days. If Jesus says that like the days
of Noah, so will it be in the days of the son of man?
Then, let's look to know. As an example.
Noah was a Herald of Truth. Noah did not hide truth.
Noah did not change truth. He didn't shift truth.
Noah did not try to conform to the shifting culture.
Noah preached, what the word of God was plain and simple unfazed
unmoved. This is the posture of the This
is not time for the church to try to keep things on a low
concerning the character. And the nature of God.
This is time to amplify it. This is time to get excited and
passionate and moving forward in our Evangelistic efforts and no
way gives us that example. What I love about, Noah.
Is how the Bible describes his faithfulness?
And his success. Now to unfortunate
understandings of what successes and Ministry too many.
When you read about Noah's Ministry.
To others. He would look like a failure.
Why look at how many converts he got?
Look how many people he influence with his preaching of
righteousness. What does it say?
But preserve Noah. Herald of righteousness with
seven others. That's how many over the years
of his preaching, his own family.
The only one that took him seriously.
How many were living in Noah's in Noah's day?
Some say Millions not one to keyed.
Not one took what he had to say. Seriously.
But there were seven. Now, to the eyes of, man.
To the eyes of how some people view Ministry to be like a
business. Noah would have been an absolute
failure, but to God, he was faithful.
In fact, you go to Hebrews 11:7, you see description of Noah as
an example of faith, and you read there that Noah in
reverential fear. Obeyed God and built the ark.
So if we are living in the last days, which has been true from
the book of Acts and it's more true today than it is ever.
Then we must look to know as an example and realize that he was
one who is not ashamed to testify of who God was.
He knew the nature of God. He knew the truth of who he was,
he knew who God was in light of sin and how he would deal with
sin, and he proclaimed truth with the hopes of what The
Condemned the world. With the hopes of what to shun
the world know, he was building an ark.
And I'm sure Noah and his preaching had an unction.
He had a cry in his voice. He had a desire for those to
enter into the ark with him and the Arc of course is a picture
of Salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, is that Ark.
He is the only way that we can escape the flood of God's Wrath.
He's the only means by which you and I can be sheltered from the
holy justice of God, and you can imagine knowing his day, crying
out day in and day out while he was building the having his
family. Do what they need to do.
Taking a pause from his building projects think, come pleading
with people and you can imagine people walking by him laughing
and scoffing. But they weren't laughing and
scoffing when judgment came swiftly.
So what must we do? As the church, we must look to
know as a Herald of righteousness.
If you're a minister, if you have any influence in teaching
and preaching, preach the truth, preach the gospel.
This is not time for feel-good. Messages is not time for
psychological pop talk. This is time for heralding.
Truth. With the hopes that people will
enter the Ark in the person of Jesus Christ and no safety from
the judgment to come. The days of Noah, we look to
Noah but interestingly enough now Peter mentions lat.
Now. Look at the description of lat
that Peter gives him verse 7 verse 8 and if you rescued
righteous lat Greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the
wicked. Look at verse 8 for as that
righteous, man. Lived among them day.
After day. He was tormenting his righteous
Soul over their Lawless Deeds that he saw and heard three
times in two verses, we are told that lot was righteous.
Now. If you're familiar with light,
Lots life in Genesis anything, but righteous.
You see how he was living in? Sodom how he desired to live in
Sodom? You see the fact that he was
willing to give up his virgin daughters to be raped.
You see that he was one amongst those at the Gate of the city
which which says he's had some kind of influence in Sodom.
You see that later on, he gets drunk.
You see this wave ring even to escape Sodom himself.
You see men who's weak? See men who is compromising and
then you come to the book of second Peter and you go
righteous. Righteous.
And some say this is a contradiction, but that can't be
how do we make sense of this? So how do we look at lot and see
righteousness? I think the best way to explain
it is to understand that the Holy Spirit clearly has an
Insight concerning Lots life, that goes beyond the snapshots
that we get in the Book of Genesis.
We can see this in the fact that we only get a glimpse of lots
life in Genesis. But God knew something of the
man that was beyond the failures and the Grievances that he shows
in Genesis. In other words.
La was a righteous man, but lot showed great failure.
He showed great weakness. And he bended to easily
especially in the environment that he was surrounded by.
And when I think this is also saying, is that for right lot to
be righteous says something of the corruption of the
inhabitants of Sodom. I mean, you look at lot on the
face value, you say that's righteousness.
While the Holy Spirit saying lot was righteous in comparison also
to the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah which tells us
something, how gross and how vile and Despicable were the
sodomites and those who lived in cities.
I mean Gomorrah for lot to be known as a righteous man.
Do you see what's being said here?
And I think another point to make is that lat.
To be known as righteous, according to the Holy Spirit.
Says something on the fact that though, he was though.
He was a man who displayed unfortunate.
Unfaithfulness, at one point. He was not totally consumed.
He was not totally swallowed up by the sinfulness of Sodom.
There was something in him. According to Peter, that was
tormented day by day. He saw the evil around him.
He heard the things that the people were speaking of, and it
actually grieved his Spirit. It grieved his righteousness
inwardly though, outwardly. It did not display with the same
strength. So when we look at this, we have
to trust that the holy spirit is giving us an insight about this
man, Even though again. He's not the best example of
righteousness. So what do we do?
As Believers? We don't look to lot and see his
failure and say that's the standard of righteousness.
Ultimately. It's the person of Jesus Christ,
but we take a principal from this and apply it to what we're
speaking of today. Listen, very carefully.
Notice what Peter said, He said that Noah was a Herald of
righteousness. Meaning he declared truth in his
day. That's what you.
And I have to do. You don't have to be a preacher
to do that. You don't have to have a
Ministry or podcast to do that you.
And I do that day in day out, we converse with people.
We witnessed the people, we pray for Lee seek opportunities.
Just like Noah did in his day, but look at the contrast with
lat. It doesn't tell us that lot was
a Herald of righteousness, says that lot was righteous.
See, Noah, preached truth, Noah declared righteousness, lot
embodied. It lat live, the truth.
They'll not the best example of it saying.
What are you trying to say? I'm trying to say this that in
the last days. We are to Proclaim truth, but we
are also to live that truth. Lot lived righteousness, Noah,
preached righteousness and we need those those twin realities
to be a part of our existence. We declare truth, but we also
should live out the truth that we are declaring.
Lot was a righteous man. Again, not the best example, but
lot was a righteous man in the context of his days and Jesus
said like the days of Lies, so shall it?
Be when the son of man returns? And Peter gives us commentary.
Lot was righteous. This is the time to be
righteous. This is the time to live out,
free from compromise, free from contradiction to what we claim
to be in claim to Proclaim. When we take these two truths
will be effective to the best of our abilities, by the grace of
God to make the most out of these times.
And you go back to Luke 17. You realize another person that
Jesus highlights as a warning. In three simple words, Jesus
Takes the time out of his teaching of his return to
describe what the end times will be like to say a simple thing in
verse 32, 3 words. Remember, Lot's wife.
Remember Lot's, wife. You know what that tells me.
That Jesus, understood that Sodom and Gomorrah was a
historical fact. That lot Lot's.
Wife. What happened to Sodom actually
happened. Jesus is not saying this is
allegorical. He's not saying it's a metaphor
start know. He's like, remember Lot's wife.
He really believed that Lot's wife was a person that lot was a
person that would happen in Sodom and Gomorrah literally
happen. Something did come from heaven
and destroyed the city and he says in this preaching segment.
Remember, Lot's, wife. Now.
Why would he say that? Because lot and his wife with
his daughters escaped, Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Lot's wife is a tragic example.
What can potentially happen to people?
In light of the coming judgment when Jesus returns.
Do you know what happened to Lot's?
Wife? He sang.
Remember means, you should know. We should recall it.
If you don't. Let's go to Genesis 19.
And see. Genesis 19.
It says here in verse 25 and he overthrew those cities God did.
And all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities and
what grew on the ground verse 26.
Jesus Remember! Lot's, wife, a Lot's wife behind
him. That's an important thing.
They were escaping. Sodom.
Where was Lot's wife. Not beside her husband behind
her husband. Behind him.
Now. Here's the second thing, looked
back and she became a pillar of salt.
So that the scriptures are very specific.
And how she was escaping, she was behind lat.
You know, that means she was lingering.
She was hesitant to escape Sodom and as much as she might have
physically been removed from Sodom.
Sodom was still in her heart. And the tragedy of Lot's wife.
Is that she almost was saved? The she almost escaped wrath
that she was so close of knowing Deliverance, but it says she was
behind lat and only was she behind him but she looked back.
Now that is incomplete defines to the command.
That was given by the angel, don't look back when you run
away from this place. She did.
But that glance says, something of the heart.
When she looked back. She looked back to something
that she really wanted and desired when she looked back.
She looked at things that she wished she could have held on
to. There was a sadness in her heart
again. She could not say Hallelujah to
the destruction of the Babylonian system and spirit.
She had a longing for it. She had an appetite in the
desire for it. And when God saw Lot's wife
looking back. It's as though he says you
really want Sodom. And he crystallized her in that
posture. And she turned into a pillar of
salt with her gaze towards Sodom.
If you really want it, you can have it.
In fact. Jesus uses this in Luke 17 when
we go back there as what an Evangelistic text.
Does. He not?
She go back to Luke 17 and he says remember, Lot's, wife and
verse 32, but what does he say? After that?
Luke 17 32 33 says remember Lot's wife.
And then he says whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose
it but whoever loses his life will keep it.
That's what he's trying to say. He says if you really want to
hold on to this world and the things of this world and the
sins of this world, you can have it but like Lot's wife, you'll
be judged with it. But then he wants to encourage
that true life is when we look away and run away from the days
that are defining the end times and to pursue him.
If you're watching this morning, I want to ask you, do you look
at sin? Do you look at the way the world
celebrates in and enjoys the pleasures of the Flesh?
And do you do you long for that? Or are you completely fixed away
from it? Your back, turn away from it,
and you are pursuing him pursuing the Lord.
And the crosses, before you all the world is behind you.
Is that you What's scary about Jesus teaching of the days of
Noah, in the days of lot, was the sudden judgment that would
come. It was, it was quick.
It was fast. I mean, you think about how fast
things change between last Sunday in this Sunday?
Think about how things shifted the leadership of this church
can testify we were trying to catch up out, hour-by-hour
things were alternating. How fast will it be when he
comes? How fast will it be when he puts
an end to everything at once? That's what we have to
understand. That's what Jesus is trying to
teach and between. Now, and that time though.
We are living in a daze, like, Noah and living in the days,
like, lat. Let's look to the examples that
Peter said, Noah, heralded righteousness, lat, embodied
righteousness, you and I must Proclaim truth, but not live in
contradiction to that truth. Remember Lot's, wife.
The world is fearing panicking. Why?
Because the security in the foundation, of who they are, is
being shaken, but remember, Luke 21.
Lift up your head, lift up your eyes and realize that your
Redemption is Drawing Near. I hope this morning in these
meditations. You can simply say as a result
of this time together. What Revelation, 19 describes.
Hallelujah. It's coming close.
It can happen anytime and we rejoice in that truth and
between now and then let's speak.
Truth and love, let's live Truth by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And trust that many will come by God's grace into the ark and no
Salvation. Let's pray together.
Father, we meditate on your truth.
Concerning the return. Of your son Jesus Christ.
And when we think about how we are in the days of Noah, and we
are in the days of lot. But help us live to the best of
our ability. To be Heralds of truth of the
Gospel. It's not be swallowed up.
By the corruption around us. Lord help us.
Not Feel comfortable with the wickedness that we see but like
lot be tormented not in the place of pain.
We're crippled or paralyzed or fearful, but Lord in a way in
which we begin to intercede and pray.
For those who are in bondage. Lord, we ask that you help us
maximize this time in quarantine that we would dig into truth.
And would seek the power of the Holy Spirit to be refined by
that truth. And Lord, we ask that you would
be able to look at us and say, confidently.
Like you said to your disciples, that there will be a day that
you desire for one of the days of the sons of men, son of, man.
This is what we long for Lord. We want that desire in us.
We want to be able to look around us and see how temporary
things are and to be able to one day Marvel at you for all
eternity with your unveiled power.
And righteousness. So Lord, as we close May the day
of the Lord that we are experiencing today in a
different way. Apart from each other.
The day of worship a day of meditation, a day preparing
ourselves for you to one day. Maybe in our day, come back
again soon. We pray these things.
Lord. In Jesus name.
Amen. Amen.
I can't wait for the day where I don't have to look at a camera
and look at your faces and open up God's word.
But until then, we're going to maximize our resources and
continue to present God's truth. The best way we can.
Until we see each other face to face.
We'll keep in touch and we'll see you soon this week in Jesus
name. God bless you guys.