This has certainly been an interesting week. Over the weekend I have somehow hurt my back, which has basically left been bed ridden. Today is the first time that I have sat in a chair for a week (and it hurts).

I have been trying to force my recovery, but to no avail. Every morning I would get up and say, today is the day that I am going to get back into action, to only find myself worse off than the previous day. You cannot fight or speed up nature’s natural healing process.

What have I learned (so far) from this? God is the one that is in control of our physical and spiritual lives. We cannot make it grow or heal, the only thing that we can do is create an environment in which healing and growth can take place. For me at this stage, that environment seems to be flat on my back. This has been a pretty humbling experience.

Going to Marriage Seminar

Lisa and I had a great time last night. We attended a Marriage Seminar by Gary and Barbara Rosberg and hosted by Focus on the Family. And what was so nice is, it felt like a date! And for the first time in a long time, it was great to be able to just attend an event where we had absolutely no responsibility. No organising, no speaking, no check-ups or duties in any way or manner. We could just be.

It was also great to be reminded of some very ABC’s in marriage:

I need to continuously express appreciation for her.

I need to continue to validate her (and remind myself that I can never do this enough!).

I need to always look for opportunities to lighten the load at home. Whether it is helping with cleaning, helping with the kids, helping with dinner, setting the table, or whatever.

We also need to continue to invest time in our marriage. We love our kids dearly, but we need to love each other more. It is so easy to keep the kids happy and busy, and in the process neglect one another. And we were reminded that we need to make sure that we set aside time every single day just to connect.

A set time that the kids know is Mom & Dad’s time. Time in which they must keep themselves busy and – unless there’s an emergency – not interrupt Mom & Dad.

Good principles, and all in all a really fun evening spent with my wife.

Sunday Series: On Location - Lesson 1

Please turn your bibles to Genesis 18:1

Today we are Starting a New Series Called On Location

As you read the News Papers you can clearly see that our World is filled with some Problems.

Example: Racial Tension

• Murder, Rape, Violence, Corruption…

The Question that this Series is going to Address is…

• Does it have to be that Way?
• OR Can you and I make a difference in the world that we live in?
• Can we make a difference On Location?
• Does Your Life Count?
• Does My Life Count?

That is the Question that this Series will Address over the next 4 Weeks.

This morning we are going to take a look at the Remarkable, Fascinating and Scary Story of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Some believe the city of Sodom to be mythical

• But it was actually a Real City.

Sodom & Gomorrah were part of the 5 Cities of the plain. · Was located 430m below sea level · At the South End of the Dead Sea. These are the Ruins that were Found. · You can still see some of the Original Shapes of the Buildings · Due to the Sulphur and Brimstone in the Ash. Swirling patterns on the side of the formation is evidence of the extreme heat. Each of the cities of the plain contain Evidence of brimstone · Which God rained down upon the cities to destroy them. This is the only place on earth · Where you can find 96% pure monoclinic Sulphur in a round ball. · As you can see in the Picture LEFT: Brimstone with a burned, hardened shell that has the unburned sulfur inside, · Next to it is Brimstone without a burned shell. · Shellor capsule with unburned sulfur inside. · Tiny crystals are on its surface were formed when the sulfur was burning.

This story took place about 2000yrs BC:

• It took place before Moses, before the law,
• Before the Ten Commandments and before the Jewish nation.
• It took place in the time of Abraham, and before anyone was even Jewish.

Apparently it was an Incredibly Wealthy City.

• There is some speculation as to how they evolved into being such a wealthy city.

• Some believe that it was because of the salt trade

• Which was an extremely lucrative business back in that day.
• Others believe that they had Minerals that was of Great Medicinal Value.

They Functioned like an Enormous Social Club.

• That Valued nothing but Good Looks, Wealth and Slavery.

The city of Sodom existed in a time where there was absolutely no law.

• This was before Ten Commandments, No Mosaic Law
• Where men and women simply lived according to their conscience.
• Everyone tried to figure out and do what was right in their own eyes.

Unfortunately the People of Sodom didn't have much of a conscience.

• As a matter of fact, they had no conscience and lived with no boundaries

They Decided to Turn the City into a City that would Consist out Pretty People Only.

• No ugly people, or even average looking people were allowed.
• They are Mantra was this will be a city of pretty people only.

And Not Only Do We Want Everyone to Be Pretty, but We Also Want Everyone to Be Wealthy.

• In other words, there were no were people were allowed either.

So, in Attempts to Only Have Pretty and Wealthy People.

• The Actually Passed a Law That Gave the Citizens of Sodom Permission
• To do Anything That They Wanted to Do to Anyone Who Visited the City.

If a poor person or a beggar showed up at the city gates.

• It was open season on that person.
• You could murder them, rape them, or enslave them.
• You can basically do to them whatever you felt like.

It wasn’t Acceptable, It was LAW!

It was said that,“ Everyone who strengthens the hand of the poor or the needy with a loaf of bread shall be burned with fire.’

· Charity was a crime in Sodom.

The story is told of a woman who tried to help a poor beggar. By taking in flour and that she hid in an empty flask. When this was found out they tied her to the city wall, covered her with honey. And then got a swarm of bees to sting her to death. The Story is told of two friends going to well to draw water. The one asked the other, why do you look so pale. We have no more food, we are about to die. So she filled the friends pitcher with flower. When the Sodomites found out about it, the burned the giver.

The prophet Ezekiel put it this way…. “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food (they add more than they need it) and careless ease (somehow this game very easily for them), but she did not help the poor and needy.” Ezekiel 16:49 (NASB).

This was an Incredibly Immoral City, with no Boundaries and No Conscience.

• Anything could Go!

It Was a Dangerous Place to Live.

• And an even more Dangerous Place to Visit

They use to have Open Air Sleeping Quarters in the Square in the Middle of the Town for People Visiting. All guests or even someone that wandered through that area Were Allowed to Be Enslaved, Murdered, Raped, Robbed or Anything Else If you were to long for the bed, they would chop of your feet. To short, they would stretch you.

As You Can Imagine Not All of New People Ever Came to Town.

Fenced in the Fruit of the Trees so that not even a bird could get it. Sodomite from Sodom. (Sodomize) Pregnant woman attacked and miscarried. The Judge order her to be Raped by her attackers to restore her to her original condition.

Such was the reputation of Sodom

• It Was a Wealthy, Immoral, Pit of Sin.

So how did this Pit-of-Sin end up in the Bible?

In Genesis 13 we read about Abraham and his nephew Lot.

• They were so wealthy that the land in which they live could not support both of them and their livestock.
• So they decided to part ways.

Abraham told Lot that he could choose.

• So Lot chose the more fertile land, just outside of Sodom.
• And eventually ended up in Sodom itself.

Needless to say Lot was welcomed with open arms because of who he was and what he represented.

• It Was Easy for Him to Fit in, Join the Club and Become One of the Guys.

And of that is where we jump into the story…

Genesis 18:1-5 ‘The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.

Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say."

From there Abraham and Sarah prepares a meal for them.

• And the men tell him that he will be having a child at the age of 100.

Gen. 18: 16-21 ‘When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."

God Says, Listen, I Am Planning on Walking a Long Way with This Guy.

• Let Me Bring Him into the Loop of Things, into the Circle of Trust.

So he says, I have heard a lot about this city.

• And it seems like there are a lot of problems in it.
• I constantly hear people crying out against it
• So I have come down to see, if what is happening there is as bad as the outcries that has reached me.
• And if it is so, it is going to be Gone Baby Gone.

• So I have come to see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me.

v.22 “The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham approached him and said. “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Abraham knew what was Happening in Sodom.

• And he knew what God would find.
• He knew that it wasn't pretty.
• And if the Angels were to go Down there it would be Gone Baby Gone.

So he says to God, listen, Will You Sweep Away the Righteous with the Wicked?

• I know that there are a bunch of wicked guys down there.
• But what about the righteous?
• Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Now, let me just fine "RIGHTEOUSNESS" for their time and era.

• This was not the righteousness that the old Testament law required, because there was no old Testament law yet.
• This was not the righteousness that the Bible talks about the Gospels.
• There were no Gospels at that time.

In the time they viewed "RIGHTEOUSNESS" to mean God-fearing.

• A righteous man was someone who was known to believe that there was a God

• And to do and be his there is another sight of that God.

So Abraham is saying, Listen God, there are some people in Sodom who are Actually Trying to Live the Right Kind of Life.

• What about them?
• Are you now going to destroy them?
• Will you Sweep Away the Righteous with the Wicked?

v. 24 “What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?

Then it gets interesting v.25 “Far be it from you to do such a thing. (Abraham tries to manipulate God) - Far be it from you to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

God, this is not good.

• Treating the Righteous and the Wicked a like.
• Far be it from you Father, "Will not the judge of all the Earth do right?"

Then we see something amazing v.26 ’The Lord said: “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

“If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

Historians believe that the city consisted of about 1000 people at that time.

So in essence God was saying…

• I will not bring about the disaster on the "950" that they deserve
• If there are 50 righteous people in their midst.

What do we learn from that?

· God is saying, A Little Bit of Righteousness Goes a Long Way with Me.

• I Will Not Destroy It If I Find 50 Righteous People There.

Then Abraham continues in v. 27 “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?

So if you will spare it for 50 people.

• What if the number were to be five less than that?

He is bargaining with God.

• He sounds like my kids pleading for sweets.

And the Lord responded in the end of v. 28 “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.’

And now Abraham is on the role…. v.29 ‘ Once again he spoke to Him, “What if only forty are found there?” And the Lord said “For the sake of forty I won’t do it. Then he said: “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.

What are we learning from This?

• For one, that we can negotiate with God and not be Struck Dead.

But more Importantly

• We learn that there is something in the Nature of God that
• Does not want to Rush to Judge and Rush to Punish Sin.

He Is Willing to Tolerate the Unrighteous because of the Righteous.

Do You Understand the Implications of That for Mankind?

• It Seems like the Righteous Could Possibly Preserve the Unrighteous.

• It is as if God holds of His Anger for the Time Being, Because of the Righteous.
• Because of the God-Fearing.

If I find 50 that they are in fear me and who live accordingly.

• I will not destroy it.

v.31 ‘ Abraham said: Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, “What if only twenty can be found there? He said: For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it. “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?’’

Out of 1000 people God.

• What if there were only 10?
• He is basically bargains God down to 1% of the population.

Please God, for the sake of 10 people, will you not spare it?

v. 32“He answered for the sake of ten, I will not destroy it. When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.’

What a story! You have to wonder?

• Did God really not now what was going on in Sodom?
• Did he really have to go down there to see it for himself?

Or is this story may be written for another reason?

• Could it be that the story is actually there to teach us something?
• Something about God? Something about ourselves?
• Something about the role they we are meant to play in his creation?

Could he possibly be using this story to tell us that ’A little bit of righteousness goes a far way.’

• That a Little Bit of Righteousness Can Change Lives.

I wish I could tell you that the story had a Happy Ending, but it doesn’t.

• It plays out like a 3-D Horror Movie.

After speaking to Abraham the Angels go down to see what is really happening.

• And things get messy.

Gen. 19:1-17, 24-29

This is like a 3-D Horror Movie.

The men of the City wants to Rape the Angels.

• Lot in trying to protect the Angels offer his daughters instead, somehow thinking that that it is a Good Idea.
• The men do not like his proposal and decided to bust down the door and rape him too.

The Angels realize that if they don't a step in, things are going to go Horribly Wrong.

• So they strike the men with blindness to buy some time in order to get a Lot of his family out of the city.
• And God wipes the whole thing with Fire!

But, did it have to End that way?

• What if 10 righteous people could be found?

God said, if there are 10 righteous people there, I will not destroy it.

• Why?

• Because from God’s Perspective if there are some Righteousness there is SOME HOPE.

God is not a God who Rushes to Judgment.

• He doesn’t just want to Stamp out Sin wherever and whenever he sees it.

God is not like us.

• We just want to stamp it all out, In One Shot.
• That is obviously when it is in the lives of others.

We get Frustrated with God and we say…

• How can you allow this to Happen?
• How can you Put up with it?
• Why don't you act?
• Why don't you do something?

I am sure that all of us have had those kind of thoughts at one point or another.

• Most probably even this week.

Why doesn't God act?

• Why doesn't he do something?

Is it because he doesn't care?

• Or is it because you looks at our City and Our Country and Asks
• But what about the Righteous?

If there are Righteous People Living in That City It Means That There Is Hope.

• Hope for the City, Hope for the Country, and Hope for the Unrighteous.
• Because a little bit of Righteousness goes a long way with God.

2000 years later in the New Testament people were asking the same question.

• Will God ever get to that point Of Judging the Unrighteous is?
• Will he ever step in?
• OR can everyone just keep on doing what they want?

Peter answered that question 2 Peter 3 by saying, ‘The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’ 2 Peter 3:9

God Does Not Want Anyone to Be Lost Forever.

• He wants to give Everyone the Best Possible Opportunity.
• He Wants for Everyone to Repent.
• He Wants for Everyone to Make It.
• For Everyone to Be in Heaven with Him.

Peter continues in v.15 saying ‘Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation…’ v.15

The Fact That God Is Patient Means Salvation.

• The Fact that There Are Righteous People Could Mean Salvation.
• Because the Righteous are Able to Make a Difference.

Do you Understand what that means?

It means that from God’s Perspective

• Your Presence in that Company

• On that Team, in that Residence, in that Neighbourhood.
• That Business or Industry Can Make a Difference.

You Just Showing up Matters to Him.

He is saying, the fact that YOU are ON LOCATION, gives Him HOPE.

• That is how much God believes in you and me.

You might look at that and say, but that's Crazy.

• There is only 1 of me and a 1000 of them.

And God is saying, those odds that I can work with.

• Because your Presence is a Reminder to me
• That there is Hope for the People around you.

And as you begin to understand WHY I have left you there.

• Why I have Specifically Placed you On that Location.
• You too will realize the Hope that the Unrighteous have through you.

Think about your own life and how you became a Christian.

• Was it because the whole City lived Righteously
• And you just decided to do what everybody else did?

OR was it because a hand full of God-fearing people surrounded you and helped you?

• They were not the Majority.

· But they won you over is their Righteousness’

· Because A little bit of righteousness goes a far way.

If you are a Christian,

• Then God is looking into Your Neighbourhood,
• Your Compamy, the Schools That Your Kids Go to,

• The Clubs that you are a Part of and He Is Saying, There Is Hope.

There is hope, there is hope because…

• Zack is there..
  Zomzi is there…
• Natalie is there
• Stan the Man is there…

I think I will wait.

• Because there is enough Righteousness there to make a difference.

Maybe we are so busy saying to God, Why don’t you do something?

• That we don't hear him asking the question….
• Why don’t YOU do Something?
• What do you think I left you there for?
• You can make a Difference.

Your Presence Makes a Bigger Difference Than You Know.

• Your Presence Gives Me Hope
• And Your Presence Is the Reason I'm Going to Withhold Judgement.
• In Hope That You Would Reach out to Them and Help Them Turn to Me.

What if we all WOKE UP to that!

• What if we woke up to that
• And we Begin to See Ourselves in a Complete Different Way.
• What if we realize that we are not God's Plan B.
• But, that we have always been His Plan A.

What if we Realized that God has placed us On Location for a reason.

• That there is a reason why you WORK where you WORK.
• A reason why you LIVE where you LIVE.
• A reason why you PLAY where you PLAY.

What if we all Woke up to that?

• And Realize that we are there, because a little bit of Righteousness can go a Far way.

** Most thoughts and ideas gotten from message series done by Andy Stanley