WARNINGS

1. Five iceberg warnings were telegraphed to the Titanic.

2. When the 6^th message came through, someone on board this vessel wired back, “Shut up, I’m busy.”

3. Exactly 35 minutes later the ship

WE LIVE IN A WORLD FULL OF WARNINGS. FROM TERROR ALERTS TO STICKERS ON THE PRODUCTS WE BUY, WE ARE CAUTIONED ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

1. When we study the Bible we find that it also contains warnings.

2. In fact, there was once a preacher who was given a specific task of warning people.

3. When Jonah went to Nineveh he was told to give a warning: repent or be destroyed.

4. Today we want to study the scriptures to see what we can learn about warnings from God.

5. Our first fact is a sad point.

6. Warnings—important warnings—are often neglected.

7. Even when warnings come from one’s own flesh and blood they are often not heeded.

8. One example of this is found in Gen. 19.

9. According to the text, Lot brought some heavenly visitors into his house.

10. After this, people from the community tried to break into his house.

11. Gen. 19:13 contains a prediction of judgment; the area Lot was in would be destroyed.

12. Lot tried to warn his family members about the coming doom.

13. God tells us how his warnings were accepted.

14. Gen. 19:14 – READ.

15. Those who received the warnings were old enough to be married.

16. They understood what was being said, but they didn’t believe their father in law.

17. Their failure to accept a divine warning led to their demise.

18. Before this chapter ends we read of another warning that was not heeded.

19. Verse 17 told those fleeing from the area of Sodom to avoid looking back.

20. Lot had a wife. She had been warned, but she didn’t pay attention to it and she lost her life.

21. Jesus appealed to this event in Lk. 17:32 when He said, “Remember Lots’ wife.”

22. By having the account of Lot’s family preserved, God tells us some things.

23. First, this account shows that people are sometimes warned about the most serious matters.

24. Life and death are at issue in Gen. 19.

25. I know of no stronger type of warning than those that relate to living and dying.

26. Secondly, these warnings were given to family members by a family member.

27. Third, strong warnings from family members were not accepted.

28. In fact, the text says the sons-in-law saw Lot as someone who “mocked” (lost his senses).

29. Lot and his warnings were treated as little more than a joke.

30. We find this same type of thing occurring today.

31. Lot was not the only one to have his warnings rejected by family members.

32. In Lk. 16 Jesus spoke about a rich man who lived the good life.

33. A time came when he died, and because he was not in a right relationship with God, he was punished.

34. This man realized that his fate after death could not be altered.

35. He also understood that if his relatives on the earth did not change, they too would be punished.

36. This man was considered about his “five brothers” who were still living upon the earth.

37. He is thus pictured as asking for someone to go visit his brothers and warn them.

38. If you have turned to Lk. 16 let’s begin with verse 27 and read through verse 31 – READ.

39. Here is some additional information about warnings.

40. Gen. 19 tells us about people who will not listen to their own relatives.

41. Here we find warnings from other sources also being rejected.

42. Verse 29 refers to “Moses and the prophets.”

43. A paraphrase substitutes the word “scriptures” for Moses and the prophets.

44. This interpretation brings out the point quite well.

45. People have a lot of things to say about God’s word.

46. Here we find that God’s word is a book that contains warnings.

47. We can read its warnings, heed its warnings, and live.

48. Or we can be like those fellows in Gen. 19 and die—physically and spiritually.

49. Verse 30 implies that the brothers would not follow the warnings in the scriptures.

50. The rich man believed they needed a more dramatic warning.

51. If someone could come back from the dead and warn them he was sure they would listen.

52. His point was, “Do not use the Bible; send a resurrected person to them.”

53. Verse 31 is the response to this belief.

54. A warning from a dead person is no more powerful than the Word of God.

WHEN TAKEN TOGETHER, GENESIS 19 AND LUKE 16 SHOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN LIFE WHO WILL NOT ACCEPT DIVINE WARNINGS.

1. Family members will not be able to convince their own relatives.

2. Not even the scriptures will work on some because there are folks who don’t want to be warned.

3. Even Jesus faced times when His warnings were not heeded.

4. While many have ignored divine warnings, some have listened.

5. Today there are still people who will listen.

6. Heb. 11:7 says Noah was “warned of God.”

7. This warning is more fully described in Gen. 6:13; God said He would “destroy the earth.”

8. Heb. 11:7 says there was no obvious evidence of a coming flood (“not seen as yet”).

9. Noah didn’t need to see any raindrops to believe.

10. God had giving a warning, Noah knew God was true to His word. And he thus obeyed.

11. Another person who was warned and obeyed was Joseph, the husband of Mary.

12. Mt. 2:13 says Joseph was warned by an angel to “flee” into Egypt with Mary and Jesus.

13. He was warned and he went.

14. A test of true Christian character is how we respond to God’s warnings.

15. Warnings from God help test whether or not we are a true child of God.

16. Those who believe heaven’s warnings will do what God has said.

17. Those who do abide by God’s warnings are really guilty of unbelief.

18. Warnings are also a way to evaluate our love for God.

19. If we love God, Jesus said we will do what He has said (Jn. 14:15).

20. Warnings help determine how much we respect God.

21. If we believe He is always truthful and right, we will obey His warnings.

22. Warnings are one means to separate the saved from the lost.

23. It is of interest to me to see how the subject of Bible warnings is often overlooked.

24. If you ever go into a religious bookstore, look in the section that has books on Bible promises.

25. We can find all kinds of literature which deals with God’s promises.

26. What about finding just one book on “warnings from God”?

27. If such a book exists, it is certainly not a best seller.

28. God believes in warnings and He had used them again and again.

29. As the Bible begins we are introduced to one of the first warnings.

30. Adam and Eve were warned about what they could and could not eat.

31. At the end of the Bible we have another warning – Rev. 22:18-19.

32. God said if anything was removed or added to the book of Revelation people would be destroyed.

33. In principle this warning extends to all the scriptures.

WARNINGS ARE USUALLY ONE OF THE LEAST ATTRACTIVE THINGS IN OUR SOCIETY.

1. There are some exceptions.

2. Perhaps we have purchased several items and one sack was left on the store counter.

3. A clerk or another shopper notices the bag and warns us about our merchandise.

4. That kind of warning is appreciated.

5. A high percentage of warnings in life are met with a rather cool response.

6. This was what Lot faced. Abraham knew the rich man’s brothers would react in the same way.

7. Christians pledge to follow a book which has a lot of warnings.

8. Sadly, the direct warnings in the scriptures have caused some to be embarrassed.

9. It has become trendy to explain them away or dilute God’s warnings.

10. The warnings of the Bible sound radical and socially unacceptable to cultured ears.

11. Toning down God’s warnings or keeping quiet about them will never be right.

12. Forecasters have been warning about a coming storm. It is supposed to be bad.

13. This warning is bad news, but it is a warning which needs to be sounded.

14. When thinking about physical and spiritual warnings, Gal. 4:16 comes to mind:

15. Paul said, “Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

16. We do not do anyone a favor by altering the warnings in God’s word.

17. Neither do we help people by staying silent about the warnings in God’s word.

18. If Jonah had not warned the people of Nineveh they would have been destroyed.

19. Today, those who do not obey God’s warnings are also on the path to destruction.

20. Our job is really three fold when it comes to warnings.

21. First, we need to understand what they are.

22. When that knowledge is gained, we need to apply it to ourselves.

23. Then we need to take that information to others.

24. This is what I would call a “pattern” for God’s warnings.

25. Noah understood the warning, he applied it to himself, and then tried to reach others.

26. The same was true for Lot and many others.

27. Today each person who is old enough to know right from wrong is in 1 of these 3 positions.

28. We are unfamiliar with the warnings in scripture and therefore need instruction.

29. If this is your situation, we would like to help.

30. Others may know what is right and be aware of the warnings, but not be following them.

31. If we know and have applied them to ourselves, it is time to reach out to others.