The Carpenter's Chapel (6)

Thank you. A great message.

God Bless

Sheila

 

Such a great message in that story Roger, thank you. It is not only true that those outside were shut OUT, but that also those inside were shut IN.
The judgment of God was in the water, and those inside did not so much as get a toe wet.
Likewise, there is coming a great time of judgment and I believe with all my heart that those that are His will be spared this also. Those that have kept the faith, and has not denied his name will be taken from this time of trial and God's wrath (Revelation 3:10).
Many see it differently, and that's alright, they too, if are in Christ Jesus, will be pleasantly surprised!

 

Wednesday, May 18,2005

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:6-12)
Jesus concludes this declaration (14:6) with an emphatic negative statement. He declares "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Can it be any clearer? He's the only way and there is no other way to God! In Mt. 7:13 Jesus explained "for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in threrat." There are many ways to hell, but only one way to heaven. Modern philosophy, sincerity, good works, and even religion itself will not lead you to God.
The disciples were still troubled by His words of His death, so again Jesus starts back at the basics of Who He was and His relationship with His Father. Jesus' message in the upper room was a summary of the truths He had shared since the beginning. (Earlier lessons about His relationship with His Father: John 5:17-47; 6:37; 6:44-46; 6:57; 6:65; 8:16-19; 8:28,29; 10:15-18; 10:30)
Then He pleads with them to remember His works and the miracles they had seen. The blind given sight, lepers cleansed, the lame walking again, demons cast out and even the dead raised to life! Now He challenges them (14:12) that their works in the future will be greater than His own! As the Lord Jesus spent only three and a half years in ministry and would soon be at the Father's side in heaven. His followers would be able to actually do more collectively as they would fan out in all directions with the power of God! "The one limitation is the measurement of our faith" declares Dr. Rice (p.279). He goes on to say that D.L. Moody preached to greater crowds and saw more saved then Jesus. Not to mention R.A. Torrey, Charles Spurgeon and George Whitfield. But look also at the apostles: Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost saw 3000 saved, then 5000 (4:4) then "multitudes" (5:14); Later we see Philip's revival in Samaria (Acts 8:5-8); followed by Paul reaching out to new nations (Asia Minor, Greece, Rome, Spain). Christ said "Ye are the light of the world." (Mt. 5:14)

 

Thursday, 19th May, 2005

Love in a rainbow

“I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a token of a covenant between me and the earth.” – Genesis 9v13

I am grateful for all of creation. I love all times of terrain. I love to see the seasons change. In this country we have all kinds of beauty. Because of the mixture of rain and sun we get to see rainbows on a regular basis. We even have driven into the very base of a rainbows a couple of times. It is an eerie feeling to see the mixture of colours in the air all around you, almost mystical. (Sadly, there was no pot of gold there, maybe it was as the other end.) We’ve seen many double rainbows, a few triple rainbows, and even a quadruple rainbow.

We all know that rainbows have a perfectly logical scientific explanation, but they are so more than just a natural phenomena. God meant them for a purpose as He tells us here. They are a sign of a promise that God made to man.

We can read over that and miss something of vital importance. God makes promises to men!! The eternal, perfect, holy, omnipotent God made, in this case, an unconditional promise to sinful man. He would never again destroy the earth with water. In it itself that is a great promise, but the very fact that God would make a promise is astounding in itself!

Why would an all-powerful God make a promise to man. The answer is simple – out of His live for us. We deserve nothing from God, but because He loves us He chooses to make promises to us. In this case he chose to remind us of that love with a wonderful token – the rainbow! Next time you have the joy of seeing a rainbow remember it as a token of God’s love for us!

In fact, all of God’s creation should remind us of His love. Look at these words from “The Valley of Vision.”

“When I feel the warmth of the sun may I praise the who art the Sun of righteousness with healing power.
When I feel the tender rain may I think of the gospel showers that water my soul.
When I walk by the riverside may I praise thee for the stream that makes the eternal city glad, and washes white the robes that I may have the right to the tree of life.”

Thank you Father, for the token of your covenant!

 

Thank you Roger.
My apologies to you and everyone. I intended to make a post for Friday, but, due to a shortage of help, I was called in to work on 3 hours rest, and when I finally got back home I didn't know anything until the alarm went off to come back in for another 12 hours!

Which does bring up a good point.
While we can have shortages of this or that down here, there are no shortages with God:

No shortage of His love for us, as He has demonstrated in giving His Son.
No shortage of His patience with us. (I sure speak for myself here.)
And defineately, no shortage of His mercy as the Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, (continuously) cleanses us from all sin.
"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus our Lord."

 

Amen - no shortages in heaven! Wow - what a blssed thought. No shortgaes of fellowship, no shortages of time with familym amen and amen!

 

Monday, 23rd May, 2005

Following God
“Now the Lord had said to Abram, Get thee out of thy country…so Abram departed…” – Genesis 12v1,4

Can you imagine what it would be like for God to appear and tell you that He wants you pick up house and move, and tell you only that He will tell you where to go? This is exactly what happened to Abram. God told him to leave his country and his family and just go. We read just a couple of verse later that Abram departed, as God has told him to do.

Abram showed tremendous faith here. He simply chose to follow God’s way instead of the convenient way. This sounds great for Abram, but what about us? Nothing is more dear to most of us that our home and our family. We hate the thought of giving them up, or doing anything to rock the boat of our comfort zone.

Following God is not always an easy thing to do. It does not always (although it very well may) involve a physical departure from home and family. Sometimes it simply means that as we follow God we may be called upon to depart from the ways of our family. Sometimes we must absent ourselves from their way of life to follow Christ. Abram knew the concept which Jesus would later relate in Luke 9v23 – “…if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me…”

In the midst of God’s instructions to Abram we read these words, “…and I will bless you…” We know from the history of Israel that the nation did not always appear humanly speaking to be blessed. In fact, we find the first trouble in the end of this very chapter. A great famine came upon the people. This reminds me that sometimes we must endure the famines to see the blessing of God. However, we can be assured that God fulfils His promise and we know that the blessing of God was on Abram and his family. God blesses obedience in His way and His timing. We must rest assured in that.

Lord, help me to be like Abram. Help me to place more importance on following you than on ANYTHING else!

 

Abraham believed God!
Thanks Roger.

 

Tuesday May 24, 2005

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:13-15)
Another great truth recorded in 14:13,14 is that of prayer Jesus challenged them to pray in His name. Many of us will end our prayer, "In Jesus name, Amen." But what does that really mean? Dr. John R. Rice was known as a man of prayer. His classic book entitled, "Prayer, Asking and Receiving" is filled with many examples when he put that phrase into practice in his life. He explains "that when I come to pray in His name I am simply signing His name a authority. I am saying, 'Jesus wants this and I am simply asking it for Jesus'" (p. 282). When our Church: First Baptist Church of Mission, needs to pay the gas bill, we don't pass the plate and then as a large group walk into the gas company office and pay the bill. No, we authorize our treasurer to represent us and he signs a check in the name of the Church. He is authorized to carry out the desire of the Church, not to do as he pleases. So Jesus sends us out to do greater works (14:12) and then authorizes and provides the means to do His work.
We (the saved) are called "ambassadors" (2Cor. 5:20) and "stewards" (1Cor 4:1,2) of Christ. We need to be reminded often that it's His possessions in which we have been given. We need to be careful to carry out His wishes, not our own. Also notice that He follows this statement about prayer with the words: "If ye love Me, keep My commandments" (14:15). Again He is not endorsing some open-ended license to do or to get anything. (James 4:3 "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." 1John 3:22 "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.")
Now 14:15 is a connection between the thought of prayer and the source of our comfort and strength, the "Comforter". As Jesus is preparing to go to the Father, He introduces them to His replacement. He distinguishes the Comforter, which He identifies later as the Holy Ghost, as "another" (Greek allos = "of the same sort" rather than heteros = "different"). Thus we have here another passage that speaks of the Trinity; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all “of the same sort.”

 

Wednesday, 25th May, 2005

Dealing with Sodom

“And they took Lot, Abram's son, who dwelt in Sodom...” - Genesis 14v12
“And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord, the most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth ... I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, 'I have made Abram rich.” - Genesis 22-24

Isn't it sad to see how quickly sin has an impact? In chapter 13 of Genesis Lot “pitched his tent towards Sodom.” Now he lives in Sodom. He knew this was wrong, he knew what kid of city it was, but he chose to live amongst the wickedness.

Next thing you know Lot finds himself the captive of an alliance of kings. We must note that sin has its consequences. If Lot had stayed out of Sodom he would never have been made a prisoner. Sadly though, sin affects more than just the sinner. In order to rescue Lot Abram was forced to put himself and 318 warriors at risk in order to rescue him. Abram and his men were successful in their effort. They rescued Lot, along with all of the war booty, along with the women who were captured and bring them all back to Abram's camp.

Later, after an encounter with the mysterious Melchizedek, Abram encountered the new king of Sodom who offered to allow Abram to keep all of the goods of the city if he would only return to people of the city.

We now see the proper response to wickedness. Abram boldly proclaimed - “I serve the Most High God. He possesses heaven and earth. I won't take anything from you for I don't want you to ever be able to say that you made me rich. God is the only One who could do that!”

We notice to the two attitudes toward the world. Lot was quick to accept all the world had to offer. Abram would not even take that which he could fairly have laid claim to. Lot was still focused on the temporal, Abram the eternal. “Look not on the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4v18).

May the Lord remind us and strengthen us to reject the fleshly eyes of Lot and have the spiritual eyes of Abram.

 

Thursday May 26, 2004

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
(John 14:16-23)
Not only will He be similar to Jesus, but the Greek word parakletos = "called to one's side" is used here for Comforter and in 1John 2:1 it is translated "advocate." (Vine's Exp. Dict. P.111). The "Comforter" which is described as the "Spirit of Truth" will continue as God's presence on earth when Jesus ascends to the Father. As Jesus is "the Truth", the Holy Spirit will be the "Spirit of Truth" and therefore the Spirit of Jesus. He will represent us the Advocate. His ministry will be described later in 14:26; 15:26 and 16:7-15.
Notice the duration of time in 14:16 is "forever". During the Old Testament dispensation, the Holy Spirit worked temporarily in the lives of Gideon (Judges 6:34); Samson (Judges 15:14); King Saul (1Samuel 10:6; 16:14); King David (1Samuel 16:13) and Elijah (1Kings 18:12). In David's prayer of confession, he pleaded to God that the Holy Spirit wouldn't depart from him (Psa. 51:11). Today, during the time of the New Testament Church age, the Holy Spirit indwells a believer and will never depart. The teaching of 2Thes. 2: 2-8 refers to the Holy Spirit as the One Who "witholdeth" (or restrains) the work of the devil until that restraining power is "taken out of the way." This removal of the Holy Spirit will occur at the Rapture of the saints as He accompanies the believers to Heaven. The Holy Spirit will abide with us forever.
As Jesus again reminds them of His departure and return, the Lord begins to differentiate between the discouraged disciples and the world around them. Jesus declares that His disciples will have spiritual insight contrasted to the blindness of the world. The other disciple named Judas, the brother of James (Luke 6:16) asked the Master how will it be that the disciples will see Jesus, but the world can't? (14:22). But we see the patience of Jesus as He had just explained to them in 14:15,17&21. He continues by associating their "love" with their obedience. He will reveal Himself to those who love and follow Him. "If a man love Me, he will keep My words..(14:23)

 

Friday, 27th May, 2005

Abram believed God

“And he believed in the LORD; and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” - Genesis 15v6

Abram was still not too sure about things after the situation in Sodom and after God assurance that He would protect and provide for him. - “Lord, what are you going to give me ... Lord, you have given me nothing...” At this stage we don't see any great example of faith! Abram was human, just like us. He had doubts and fears about trusting God. Other times we see him act similarly.

Yet, in spite of those fears we see Abram make the most important choice of all. In verse 6 we read a statement which is repeated five times in the New Testament - “Abram believed in the LORD; and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

These are simple words, but they are of profound importance. Notice that it does not say, “Abram did the best he could...” or, “Abram was very religious in all his ways...” or, “Abram did all that the Lord asked of Him.” No, very simply we read - “Abram believed God...” This simple statement should solve the majority of the theological debates. Most religions are based on what man must “do.” True faith is based on believing what God has done.

What was the result? Was Abram made righteous? The Bible says that God accounted him as righteous. No one s righteous apart from Jesus Christ, but in salvation we can be accounted as righteous in Christ. God's very righteousness is imputed to sinful man. I no longer am trying to please God in my own feeble attempts at righteousness, for now God counts me as righteous.

Thank you Father, for accounting me as righteousness through the precious blood of Your Son! Remind me of that daily and help to believe you in EVERY situation.

 

Monday May 30, 2005

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
(John 14:24-25)

Before the crucifixion our Lord gave a great amount of instruction to His disciples here in John 13-17. He repeats the phrase "These thing I have spoken" (or, "commanded") a number of times. Certainly the spoken word of Christ was of utmost importance, not only to the disciples at that time, but to us at the present time. When Christ speaks, God speaks, for He is God.
In this discourse the Lord Jesus Christ promises the following spiritual blessings to those who will, without wavering, obey His spoken word.

1. Fullness of joy. "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (15:11) Joy results from a deep settled trust in what Christ has said.

2. True brotherly love. "These things I command you, that you love one another...as I have loved you." (15:17,12). The standard is Christ. We are to follow in his steps.

3. Stability in the face of persecution. "These things have I spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service." (16:1-2) The true Christian does not stumble and fall away when tribulation comes, but stands strong in Christ.

4. Perfect peace. "These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 16:33)
The Lord has promised. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the word gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (14:27)

5. True spiritual understanding through the Holy Spirit. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you. (14:26)
May we earnestly trust and obey what Christ has spoken.

 

Tuesday, 31st May, 2005

Beer-la-hai-roi

“...thou shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction ... and she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me ... the well was called Beer-la hai-roi.”

Imagine poor Hagar. A simple servant, doing what was in her day one of the generally accepted jobs of a servant. Nine months of pregnancy knowing that the child she was carrying would not be hers. In the midst of her pregnancy she begins to “look down on Sarai” for some reason and as a result is finds herself in the wilderness. An emotional pregnant woman is, in her mind, alone and undone.

Suddenly an Angel appears to her – in the case God in the form of an angel. He gives her the promise of a great people through her son and then gives her a reminder. “Call your son Ishmael, because God has heard you in your affliction.” The name Ishmael means “God hears” so Hagar had a constant reminder of the truth that God does hear in affliction.

Next she gives her perspective on the situation. She calls the Lord “El-roi” - “God sees me”. Then she names the place where this happens “Beer-la-hai-roi” - “God lives and sees me.”

After this difficult situation Hagar leaves with a new picture of God in her heart. This servant, who was used as a tool for Abram and Sarai to try and accomplish God's work, is reminded that God hears her, sees her, and is alive.

How often do we forget those simple truths. Affliction comes and we think that God is deaf to our pleas, blind to our troubles, and dead and powerless to help.

May we be ever mindful of these marvellous truths.
Ishmael – God hears me
El-roi – God sees me
Beer-la-hai-roi – The God Who is alive sees

Praise the Lord that the He is alive and that He sees me and hears me!

 

So much has been said of these two women, and these two sons. Thanks Roger.

 

Wednesday June 1, 2005

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
At the moment we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through faith, we are sealed "with the Holy Sprit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13, as God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts The Holy Spirit then testifies of Christ (John 15:26), so that we are energized with boldness and power to proclaim Jesus to a lost world.
In fact, "no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1Corinthians 12:3). The Holy Spirit is sent to us in Christ's name (John 14:26). glorifying Christ (16:14), and teaching us all things (14:26) The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, as He brings Christ's word into our remembrance (v.26) and reveals the things of God (1Corinthians 2:11).
As believers we must realize that our bodies are not or own, but rather temples of the Holy Spirit. (1Corinthians 6:19). We are thus exhorted to "be filed with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18), which essentially means that our mind, will, and emotions are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word is pleroo, which means, "filled to he full," denoting that we are to make no room for the flesh. Instead, we are to "Walk in the Spirit and...not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
Perhaps the greatest blessing of having the Holy Spirit indwelling us is having God's love poured out into our hearts (Romans 5:5). It is only by His Holy Spirit that we can possibly "comprehend with al the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:18-19)

 

Is anything to hard for the Lord?

“Is anything to hard for the Lord? At the appointed time...” Genesis 18v14

Abraham is now at least one hundred years old and Sarah at least ninety. They have been waiting and waiting for the promised son. They have tried everything to try and see their prayers answered. Abraham even suggested to God that God let Ishmael be permitted to be his heir. Yet, still no son, still no answer to prayer. Circumcision has been added as sign of God's covenant, but still no son.

One day Abraham sees three men approaching his tent. Being a gracious host he invited them into dinner and Sarah prepares a great meal for them. While Sarah is in another part of the tent the men tell Abraham that Sarah is indeed going to have a child. This old woman, far past the years of child bearing hears the comment and does the natural thing – she laughs!

We now discover that the visitor is the LORD Himself. He says, “Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything to hard for the LORD? At the appointed time ... Sarah shall have a son.”

The rhetorical question is obvious and the answer is clear. “Is anything to hard for the Lord?” Is giving a ninety year old woman a son too hard for the Lord? Is meeting our financial needs to hard for the Lord?” Is seeing souls saved in a seemingly hopeless situation too hard for the Lord? Is your present trial too hard for the Lord?

The answer is clear – nothing is too hard for the Lord.

We must look what comes next though, “In the appointed time...” Nothing is too hard for the Lord, clearly, but He will work “in the appointed time.” God always does His work in the appointed time. He doesn't work in the time I appoint but in the time that he appoints.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Not in the appointed time!!

 

One of the fruits of the Spirit is patience. God help us all to have it as we wait on the Lord!
Thanks Roger.

 

Friday June 3, 2005

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
(Joh 14:26-31)
Now Jesus speaks again of the Comforter in 14:26 which He clearly identifies as God, the Holy Ghost. He reveals part of the Spirit's coming ministry to be our Teacher. Anything we learn about God is the result of His guidance in our minds. He also brings to remembrance those thoughts of past days.
The apostle John would refer to the words of Jesus that were remembered after His resurrection (John 2:22; 12:16).
The fourteenth chapter is concluded with Jesus words of peace. The world considers "peace" as a time without wars, but the peace which God gives far exceeds a cessation of strife. "Peace, be still" spoken by Jesus caused the sea to be calm. "Go in peace" was said to the woman who washed His feet. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) Paul also tells us "to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:6) Romans 0:15 tells us to "peach the gospel of peace." Gal. 5:22 declares "peace" as one of the fruits of the Spirit and Eph. 2 speaks of how Christ reconciled a Holy God and sinful man by becoming "our peace" (2:14-18) Phil. 4:6-9 tells us that if we have the right mind and think on godly and virtuous things, then He will guard ("keep") our minds with the peace of God.
He ends the chapter as He began: "Let not your heart be troubled." The next words are hard for the grieving to understand, yet they are very true. The disciples were grieving His soon departure, yet He reproves them for not being glad as He returns unto His Father. With these words they depart from the upper room and begin the journey to the garden.

 

Vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked

“And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat at the gate of Sodom.” -
Genesis 19v1

We see the tragic result of where compromise leads. The first time we read of Lot's relationship to Sodom we saw that he “pitched his tent” in that direction. Next, we saw that he dwelt in Sodom. Now, he is sitting at the gates of the city with the city leaders. What a vicious cycle of sin begins we we allow our sights to be set on wickedness. Lot's sin goes so far that when the Sodomites come after his visitors he offers them his virgin daughters instead. His family's sin is so deeply engrained that his wife can't help turning around for one last look. It is so bad that his daughters try to solve the problem of no heir by getting Lot drunk and committing incest with him.

How did things get this bad? How does a just man (2 Peter 2v7) get to the point that he will offer his children to the wickedness of the world? It all began when he pitched his tent in that direction. Lot was a saved man, 2 Peter 2v6-7 makes that clear. Yet those verse also say that he was “vexed,” or worn down by the sins of the city. They vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their wickedness. Although Lot was delivered he lost his wife, and his daughters fell into deep sin.

That is the very nature of wickedness. If we pitch our tents in its direction we are asking for trouble. We must do all we can to avoid looking in the wrong direction.

Yet today we are surrounded by wickedness. Sodom is amongst us. What do we do know as we find ourselves vexed by the filthy conversation of the world. We do well to heed the words of Philippians 2v15 - “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” In order to spare our families we must, by the grace of God live lives that are blameless and harmless, shining as lights in this world of great darkness.