SERVING SATAN - # 2
1. The name John Wilkes Booth lives on because of one act.
2. Lee Harvey Oswald is a name many will never forget.
3. Sometimes people become famous because of one event in their life.
4. Those who are familiar with the Bible know recognize the name Demas; this man forsook Paul.
5. A Bible character who is famous for just one incident is Lots’ wife.
6. We
do not know the name of
7. We do not know what she looked like.
8. We do not know how old she was when she died.
9. About the only thing we know is the information recorded in Gen. 19.
10. Angels
had come to rescue
11. These
angels had to urge
12. Here is how the text describes this family’s departure – Gen. 19:23-26.
A. The
angels who came to rescue
B. These instructions are in verse 17.
C.
D. She refused to obey. She looked back at the home and city she was leaving.
E. The Bible says that this disobedience caused her to be turned into a pillar of salt.
F. In Lk. 17:32 Jesus, said, Remember Lot’s wife.
13. Last week we saw how Adam and Eve served Satan.
14. The first couple served the devil, in part, because they were deceived.
15. Lot’s wife also served the devil but her service to Satan was for a different reason.
16. If Lot’s wife had served God, she would have obeyed the instructions given by the angel.
17. Lot’s wife chose to do things the way she wanted.
18. This woman’s failure brings to mind some additional information concerning service to the devil.
19. Some who serve Satan are near the kingdom of God and not far from safety.
20. This is the thought I want to develop in this lesson.
A. To lay the foundation for this material we need to know some things about Lot’s family.
B. This information is easy to miss so we need to do some digging.
C. Let’s start with Gen. 19:8, 14.
D. At this point in the story Lot’s house was surrounded.
E. The men of Sodom wanted to abuse Lot’s guests.
F. To protect his guests Lot made an offer – verse 8 of Gen. 19.
G. Lot had two daughters who “had never known a man” (virgins).
H. Now look at verse 14.
I. Lot also had some daughters that were married.
J. Verses 8 and 14 show that Lot had at least 4 daughters—maybe more.
K. We may also add the information that is found in verse 12.
L. If we combine verses 8, 14, and 12, we may conclude that Lot had at least 4 daughters and sons.
M. Since there were at least four daughters and “sons” is plural, he had at least six children.
N. Perhaps he had more; at a minimum he and a wife had six children.
O. This is consistent with a statement made in Gen. 13:5-6.
P. There were apparently several people in Lot’s household (family).
21. HOW
MANY PEOPLE LEFT WITH LOT WHEN HE EXITED SODOM?
THIS QUESTION IS ANSWERED IN GEN. 19:15. LOT, HIS
WIFE, AND TWO OF HIS DAUGHTRES LEFT SODOM.
A. We know that Lot’s wife looked back and violated God’s instructions.
B. There is no doubt that she was someone who was disobedient.
C. However, we may say a couple of good things about this woman.
D. This woman went with Lot when he fled Sodom.
E. She was willing to leave behind some of her children.
F. That had to be difficult for this mother.
G. Knowing that she was leaving behind children who would be destroyed had to hurt.
H. Since she left Sodom this implies that she believed.
I. The Bible says that Lot’s wife did make it outside the city (Gen. 19:16).
J. Lot’s wife got free from the destruction.
K. She was close to safety but the Bible says she did not complete the journey.
L. Before she got to the final destination she turned away.
22. Some believe this woman’s heart was so attached to Sodom she looked. Perhaps this is right.
23. Perhaps as a mother she looked back to see what was happening to her children.
24. Whatever the reason for her disobedience she got close to safety but being close was not good enough.
25. TODAY
THE DEVIL STILL LETS PEOPLE GET CLOSE TO SAFETY (THE KINGDOM OF GOD). HE DOES THIS SO PEOPLE WILL BE DECEIVED.
A. Consider the person who is a Christian.
B. At a certain time in life someone learns that they are lost.
C. They learn about being baptized into Christ and they are immersed for the forgiveness of their sins.
D. As a new Christian this person is faithful to God.
E. They worship, work, teach, and set a good example for others.
F. As the years pass something happens.
G. Perhaps they become bored. Maybe they run out of zeal.
H. Their interest may change from Christianity to something in the world.
I. For one reason or another the Christian leaves the faith.
26. This happens every year. It is not uncommon.
27. Christians are in the kingdom of God for many years but before they die they turn away.
28. Before the goal is reached some do an about face just like Lot’s wife.
29. When someone leaves the faith they serve a new master—Satan.
30. The Bible says that this is the wrong thing to do.
31. Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:24, run that ye may attain.
A. He didn’t say, “enter the race.”
B. Neither did he say, “run.”
C. Paul said, “You run in such a way that you complete the course.”
D. Paul knew that failing to complete the Christian course means failure and service to Satan.
E. Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife.”
32. In Phil. 3:13 Paul pictures himself as “stretching forward.”
A. Have we ever watched horses race?
B. Some watch the races every year at the fair.
C. Those who enter these races do not quit before the finish line; they go the distance.
D. To win the jockeys must sometimes stretch.
E. Paul said, “I will not quit. I am on the right course and I will continue.”
F. I will stretch to complete the course.
G. Why? If we quit before the race ends we are like Lot’s wife; we surrender to the devil.
H. The words of Paul in 2 Tim. 4:7 should be the final words for every Christian.
I. When we draw our last breath these words should be upon our lips and heart:
J. I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith.”
33. THOSE
WHO ARE CHRISTIANS MUST REMEMBER THAT QUITTING BEFORE WE DIE MEANS THAT WE
SERVE SATAN. WE MUST STAY IN THE KINGDOM
AND NOT CLOSE TO IT IF WE WANT TO BE SAVED.
34. This is true for both Christians and non-Christians.
A. The Bible teaches that there are good people who are close to the kingdom of God.
B. Listen to what Jesus said in Mk. 12:34.
C. There are some people who are close to the kingdom of God.
D. These people are not in the kingdom but they are not far from the kingdom.
E. One of the New Testament characters that illustrates this is Cornelius.
F. The Bible says that Cornelius was a good man.
G. He feared God, he gave a lot of money to those who needed it, and he prayed (Acts 10:2).
H. Luke says this man prayed a lot.
I. The Bible says that God noticed Cornelius (Acts 10:4).
J. God knows who is near the kingdom (Mk. 12:34).
K. God knew that this man was a good man.
L. God say that Cornelius did not want to serve the devil.
M. God knew that this man loved Him and wanted to be in heaven.
35. Cornelius was close to the kingdom but he was not in the kingdom.
36. For this reason God sent a message to Cornelius (verse 3).
37. Cornelius was told to send for a man named Peter (verse 5).
38. Why did Peter need to come see Cornelius?
39. Acts 11:14 gives the answer – READ.
40. Cornelius was not far from the kingdom.
41. Being close to the kingdom and being in the kingdom are two different things.
42. Being close to the kingdom is still too far away.
43. Cornelius entered into the kingdom. He became a Christian.
A. Jesus once told an interesting parable.
B. This story is recorded in Mt. 25:1f.
C. This parable compares the kingdom of heaven to 10 virgins.
D. These women all had lamps (we might say they had flashlights).
E. These ladies were waiting for a bridegroom to arrive.
F. Five of these ladies had extra oil (we might say batteries) and the other five didn’t.
G. The bridegroom took longer than these ladies expected.
H. The ladies who didn’t have enough oil (batteries) had to go to the store.
I. The ones who were well prepared stayed where they were and waited.
J. A key statement in this parable is found in verse 10.
K. The women who were prepared went with the bridegroom.
44. The women who left found a store that was open, bought what they needed, and returned.
45. They found that the groom had come and the other five ladies had gone with him.
46. They also found that a door now stood between them and the others - verse 11.
47. In looking at this parable we may ask this question:
48. How far apart were the wise and foolish virgins?
A. From one perspective they were close together; only a door separated them.
B. From another perspective they were completely and permanently isolated from each other.
C. If we want to make this parable very real imagine being locked out of our car or house.
D. Some of us don’t need to imagine that; we have had one or both of these experiences.
E. Being locked out of a house or a car is a terrible feeling.
F. We are so close but we are also so far.
49. If we are close to the kingdom of God and spiritual safety the devil can use this to deceive us.
50. He can let us think, “There is plenty of time.”
51. “I need to take a couple of more steps or just one more step. Maybe I will take that step tomorrow.”
52. The unfaithful Christian thinks he or she, after leaving the church, is still close to heaven.
53. These conclude that they are so close they can come back to God anytime.
54. For many that “any time” never comes.
55. Satan lets people get close to the kingdom because this makes people feel secure.
56. If we are close to the kingdom but not in the kingdom we are being deceived.
57. Is it not time to cross the line?
58. Is it not time to take the final step or two to become a Christian or to return to faithful service?