Keeping Your Kids Out of Hell

Welcome to the radio ministry at Cleveland church in Henderson Margo's to make Christ visible Clearview is a place of genuine worship with ministries for all age groups and all people. For more information, visit us at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online@clearviewb.org now join us for this week's message by Pastor items two years ago. I've reached the revival amount. All of it United Methodist Church and manual. After the last not a revival I decided to head back home and the pastor tried to talk me out of leaving. He said, look, there's a snowstorm coming why don't you stay as eyes, and though I can I the I can make it. The boys were with me.

Nicole and the girls left the earlier and I got them some donuts chocolate candy whatever they wanted and set him up with a movie as a boys 12 1 o'clock will make it home, no big deal be perfect. Five minutes into the trip, I realize it was a big deal. That's no got there early. It was sleeting heavy snow in my truck started sliding and skidding all over the place humans they wanted to turn around. If you ever been in that direction. Coming off a run of islands. There's one bridge 3 miles long, you can turn and I was angry I was mad at myself because I did this finally made it off the bridge and it got worse. Now you are on it desolate stretch of US 64 there's nothing on either side except for swamp.

I can see 5 feet ahead of me.

The road is pretty much gone and I'm wondering any moment. I'm about to drive into a small the fog was not with them. It was with me. I made that decision I led them into a situation that could have ended very badly I were laughing about it now, but that night. I'm thinking I am about to really hurt my kids as bad as that was, it is much worse when parents leave their children towards hell this morning were going to look at.

This message titled keeping your kids out of hell does that really mean. If you have your Bibles turn to Genesis chapter 19 verse 12 us all stand together for the reading of God's word. Then the man said to Lot, have you anyone else here son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city take them out of this place were we will destroy this place because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.

So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law and said get up get out of this place for the Lord will destroy the city, but I want you pay attention to this last line could come back to that later but to his sons-in-law. He seemed to be joking when I ask you a couple questions before we dive into this message. If you are a parent or a grandparent, how are you leading your children are you serious about their eternal future. You believe there is a heaven and a hell that is coming, what have you done to keep them out of hell and lead them towards heaven towards God and this is not just for parents with physical children, but also those who may not have kids, what have you done what is your part in making sure that people around you are going to have in the question I ask every week. Are you saved, you see is very hard to have a conviction when you yourself don't know for sure where you going to go this morning as he walked to this message. I pray that you would not get up get caught up in the message or it in the. The information that you hear but you asked that question do people around me truly know Christ have I done everything possible to keep them out of hell do I know Christ as my Savior. So keep these things in mind that as you know were studying the life of Abraham and Sarah.

The family of Abraham, Sarah, from the book of Genesis and in this message.

Today's message were going to learn how they kept their kids out of hell were learning from their good and bad decisions.

So to understand this, we have to back up from Genesis 19 with which we just read to Genesis chapter 12 and verse four.

Listen to what it says so Abram's name hasn't changed at this point departed, as the Lord had spoken to him and locked went with him. Lot was Abraham's nephew. As I mentioned in the previous messages, I believe that lot attached himself to Abraham when he was in Haran, lots father had died and nothing wrong with that is good to give love that support that encouragement to somebody who is coming to you and saying hey listen I want to shadow you want to learn from you and you disciple me nothing wrong with those things. But unlike Abraham, who had a call from God lot did not have that same call but this doesn't mean that lot wasn't saved. In fact, I believe lot will say is how do you know that second Peter chapter 2 verse seven it says that lot was a righteous man, which means he knew God.

So when time came for Abraham to leave lot sees his uncle breaking camp, and he says can I go with you and he joined the caravan everywhere. Abraham, when Lot went with him and every time God blessed Abraham lot managed to get in on the blessing. Bottom line is this lot was a code tail hanger.

It's a person who comes into your life and attaches himself or herself to you. They go where you go, but they're not where you are and ask you this morning. Are you a code tail hanger I've seen grown men who were hanging onto the coattails of their lives free don't have a strong relationship with God but do what my wife to such a good woman. She loves Jesus what they're doing is they're saying as long as you follow Christ doesn't matter what I do I will be down back here, hoping that you don't slide back there people who hang onto the coattails of their favorite preachers, Sunday school teachers. Someone in their family. Some friend there hanging onto them.

Now here's a message to you. Beware of code tail hangers you see they have the potential to get you off course. Nothing wrong with helping someone grow in the Lord.

But if you're not careful. That same person because they won't have the same spiritual vision.

They will get between you and God and by the way, is only during times of crisis that their true colors come out you go.

Wait a minute while you saying that while you living like that. You see, they're not on the same page as you there following you, but they're not there with you can ask again this morning. Are you a code tail hanger. Are you that person who's hanging onto someone's faith. My challenge to you this morning is to let go of that person and hang on to Jesus Christ, amen. Let go of that faith and have your own faith in the living God. So this return to this. Both Abraham and lots livestock began to grow and there was a conflict Abraham's herdsman and lots herdsman began to fight with each other.

Abraham said wait a minute were family.

We gotta do this lot. I want to do this I want you to pick out the land you want and I'll go the other way now why did Abraham do this wasn't because he was a humble person. Was he because he was peaceloving wasn't because he was generous, not really. I want to hear what it says in Hebrews chapter 11 verse nine by faith he meeting Abraham dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents. Why, for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

The reason Abraham was so eager to say you pick because he still was looking for that city. It does not mean that Abraham was a nomad. You were no matters those Bedouins they go from place to place their want to settle down.

You know, it does not mean that Abraham was an idealist who was looking for some utopian, some magical city. It means this Abraham wanted to be the citizen of this city, of which God was the founder and the mayor Abraham wanted to build his home and raise his children in a city whose visions and values were directed by God and he said this until I find that place. I would live in tents you see living in tents was a demonstration that he is not going to submit to the culture to the civilization around him in this life. Folks, you have to live in a city, talk about city as an is city is a place is a designation you have to live around people we gotta do that you have to be involved in the world. You may even have to send your kids to schools and colleges in the places where you live. Nothing is wrong with that sometimes people think that to follow God, you need to get away from the world.

So guess what the do they get into these communes.

You see, not only are those things, but they go directly against what Jesus commanded us to be. He told us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, which means this you have to live in the world were not called to isolate ourselves. We are called to influence the world that art that is around us, but not be careful there's another category. There these are people who instead of influencing the world to get assimilated into the world. Isolationists were going to live away from the people from the world because we are godly influencer play-by-play that more if you will try to influence the world to be the salt and the light. Then there are the simulators they just go along with whatever by the way, if your neighbors and your coworkers are shop that you are a churchgoing person. If this is something like this. I know y'all went to church. That's not a compliment. You know that right sums wrong somehow. What they are seeing in you is no different than what they see in the world. Abraham was not an isolationist he was in influencer but how about lot.

I want to see in verse 10 and Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan. By the way, that statement reminds me of Genesis chapter 3 verse six what is a say so when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and it was pleasant to the to the eyes, folks. It all begins here. You say what what what I need to put blinders on. No, it's how you handle the things you see around you. What you see in your neighbors live what you seen your friends live what you see on television. How do you respond to those things.

Sometimes people are so enamored I'm talking about believers. This see the world and say you know it's not it's not too bad to have a little bit of that. I still love Jesus but is it wrong for me to do want to to act like that and live like that first John chapter 2 verse 16.

Listen to what is says for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the, the eyes, the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world, be watchful of the audit gate. Be careful what you allow in, and then be careful how you handle what you allow in probably most of our problems are generating because we have taken this in and now we don't know how to handle it as believers. What did lots see this in verse 10, he saw all the plain of Jordan that it was well watered everywhere before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. As you go towards the water so lot lifts his eyes he sees this beautiful land by the way, don't confuse this, he is not referring to the foliage or the terrain old man look at the lush green fields like Egypt is talking about the culture member. He followed Abraham into Egypt.

He was so impressed and so dazzled by Egypt lot was so mesmerized that everywhere he went. He, like Manatee what Egypt that's the place to be and when he looks across the Jordan, he sees something that's like Egypt is a how do you know that.

Listen to the verse 11.

The law chose for himself. All the plain of Jordan and Lot journeyed east, listen to verse 12 and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent, even as far as Sodom, you see Sodom reminded him of Egypt.

So beautiful, so man this is the place my family can grow. We will be so happy will be so successful man kids and I have opportunities we can go places do things that I've been pastoring for 18 years.

This is my first and only church through the years I have seen people choose the greener grass grass. You know what I mean by greener grass is like they'll come to me one day and say something like this help past week. We love everything I see what we were going to go here you go there you make this decision make this choice can be so much better for us and I don't know what to say to them. I usually sell okay well we praying for you. I wish you the best. It does not fail five months. Five years later I get a call or text now on Facebook get a message from them.

This is something like this is the worst decision we ever made, by the way, when law chose to go east away from the promised land. Did you know that he asked himself, out of God's promise. God brought Abraham to give him the land and Lot journeyed east he got away from the promise.

He asked himself out. Many people many individuals ask themselves out of God's promise in God's protection and God's provision by their decision yet what they think I'll be happy you did not consider the consequences of those decisions. So what happens here. Here's the worst part.

Verse 12 and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and he pitched his tent, even as far as Sodom, which means what he is like. He got into the cities and I want to Sodom Psalms, as is way too much for me to get but I will pitch my tent a little bit close to Psalms. If I ever needed to, I can keep going over here what was wrong with Sodom listen to verse 13 for the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. The primary sin of Sodom was homosexuality Lynn Ron even that name sodomy became a synonym for homosexuality and I hear people say this homosexuality is a sin like any other sin.

People commit adultery. People drain people get angry people murder.

What's the difference I remind them not if you say the word of God unless the Old Testament okay are you I don't dress like that again or you'd like this only know what a med list go to the New Testament Romans chapter 1 read New Testament read Romans chapter 1 homosexuality is the last step on the way down is the point at which God gives people over to their debased minds to destroy themselves. Folks are not trying to be some holy roller old-fashioned trying to preach something that is no longer in vogue know I'm try to preach the word of God accurately. Why is it such a bad sin because homosexuality unlike any other sin challenges the very person. The Constitution of God. You and I are made in the image of God. We are a copy of God. I don't have time to go into detail here. I preached on this before so go back and listen to others messages when a man says that he is not a man but he is a woman and a woman says she is not a woman but she is a man what your fundamentally saying is the way we are is not who we really are, what you're implying is that something is wrong with the original what God do with Sodom and Gomorrah hidden destroyed in the city the same way is I'm coming down is time for judgment in Genesis chapter 14 it tells us that lot now became a citizen of Sodom and Jess is 18 and 19, God himself came down for two reasons. Number one he came to tell Abraham and Sarah guess what the child is still coming, number two, I'm here to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and I believe that was a pre-incarnate Christ and to angels and if you remember how Abraham pleaded with God and said he pleaded with Christ and said what if there were 50 people. What of their 4540 3010 2010 and God said I will destroy if I can find 10 not even 10 were found but God is a merciful God. Those two men going to the city.

Guess who is sitting at the city gates Mr. lot. You see, now he has risen to a position of authority in the sorrow and he sees them coming member. He is a believer. He recognizes those are not ordinary people. They are angels of God, and he begins to beg them please. I want to come stay with me in there like know we have a business to attend to were not staying is no please please please I need you why you saying that because he knows what the men of the city will do. Finally, the angel said okay that's what you say will come and they come and what happens the next moment. The house is surrounded by the men of Sodom old and young. And guess what they tell him bring amount you know what they want to do gang rape lot is so mold he says here I have two daughters here who have never seen a man take them.

Why, because he knows other angels of God in touch these guys and the Angels struck the men with blindness. Listen to what they said to him in verse 12. This said, have you anyone else here son-in-law sons, daughters, whomever you have in the city take them out of this place were we will destroy this place. What did Claude do. He went out, he begged his sons in law is a please, you gotta get out of this place and what we read earlier for the do was a response. The love that I got such a funny guy. Manatee what he is always cracking me up. I'm not trying to be funny and their wives sometime people think the daughters he tried to give them off to those men were the wives know they were virgins so the wives don't even mention that because they probably laughed at him to have other sons sons were already gone too far gone for him to even try to bring back only people left with him was his wife and his two daughters. I want to see this.

And while he was the world there lingered it here when you linger when you dillydally around when you don't want to go somewhere men, you know that wife wants to go shopping. What you do, you lingered like when my style. I can't seem to find those socks either you looking for socks that you haven't seen like six years you like what I want to find them before we go lot didn't want to leave his heart was in Sodom he was just thinking maybe this is not going to happen. Maybe my children will still live. Maybe I believe he also had grandchildren. This is my opinion to see what the Angels did the man took hold of his hand. His wife's hand in the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him and they brought him out and they boom set them outside the city.

I wish I could say they lived happily ever after.

Because next thing God began to rain, fire and brimstone from the heavens. Things began to get burned up from the top down, not from the bottom up incinerated pretty much crystallize the whole thing what is. Lots response before all this happened.

He said hey can you cannot just go out into this little town over here. Do I really have to go all the way into the mountains and the angel said fine if that's what you want to do, but I didn't realize how bad this was going to be because his wife turned and looked behind him which means this his wife was walking ahead of him. Men say this and I'll say it clearly someday you'll thank me even if you don't today you lead your home spiritually. This is not about propping your feet up on the coffee table and say go get me a beer. If this is not about that.

This is about leading your home spiritually stop hanging on to the coattails of your wives, you be the man of prayer you be a godly person. Many of you are living very shamefully now he's got two of those virgin daughters left and you know the rest of the story. The got them drunk and had two children, Moabites and ammonites, who forever were a thorn in the side of the people of God. You see, many times people make decisions based on just what will make me happy if we would only make that decision go here and live like this, things will be somewhat better. Arkansas would be so much more successful.

I want to be a holy roller so that's what people do. Many of you doing that you want to have this. This must spirituality just as much anymore than that as too much mail. What I am challenging you to do is if you don't set them on fire for Jesus Christ.

Listen, it's a matter of time they will lose the faith they do have every one of saw lots family members perish in the tube.

It didn't became the enemy of God's people close with this. You want to keep the kids out of hell. Let me suggest five things to you. Number one stop being a coattail hanger. Give your life completely to Christ, you gotta be on fire for God number two leave them to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God means leave them into biblical values. Please don't misunderstand, I hope you don't misunderstand this. This is not about legalism is not about how you dress and how long your hair is in and I'm not your man if that's what you're talking about because I am not into legalism. What I am for is giving your children spiritual values. Here's number three. Do whatever you can to keep them from Sodom means sometimes you have to sit there and talk to your children. You know you got things to do you know his bedtime, but if you see them making decisions making choices that you go. This is going to be very costly, and you said that you stay up you get off your Facebook and you talk to them is the fact that you don't talk to them is why they keep going in the direction they do. Be warned any time you try to lead your family, your kids in the right direction there'll be a fight. Sometimes the fight is in your own home because you're trying to lead them to Christ and a spouse is saying that's too much that's too much. Sometimes the fighters from the outside, friends, neighbors will tell you, you get your two that's too much why why why you got that room for your kids is the last one stop lingering and get real with God and ask you this morning are you saved, you never give your heart to Christ.

To do that today. Question number two.

Are you doing all you can to keep your kids out of hell is not just your physical, biological kids, but also people around you in your life are you doing everything possible to keep them out of hell thank you so much for joining us today and I'm sure you would agree that it matters how we lead our kids, are you keeping your kids out of hell do you know Christ as your Savior. You see that is the most important thing. For more information visit us online@clearviewb.org and for today's sermon notes visit my blog site Avedon Shaw.com