God Remembered Abraham - 1/11/26 - Pastor Charlie Branch

Welcome to [music] the podcast of

Meadows Baptist Church of Walnut Cove,

North Carolina. We're so glad [music]

you joined us today. If you enjoy

today's message, be sure to subscribe,

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friends. Now, let's join Pastor [music]

Charlie Branch with a word from God

>> prayer this morning. Amen. And uh Paul

said, "I'm crucified with Christ.

Nevertheless, I live yet not I." He

said, "But the life I now live in the

flesh. I live by the faith of the son of

God who loved me and gave himself for

me." Amen. I appreciate the good singing

this morning. If you have a Bible, I

invite you to turn with me to the book

of Genesis. The book of Genesis.

Genesis, chapter number 19. When you

find your place, if you would stand.

Genesis, chapter number 19.

Appreciate those ladies singing. Miss

Melody been playing the piano for last

several months and uh taking up some

slack there. Miss Donna being able to

recover and I sure appreciate them

serving so faithfully and uh God has

sure blessed us with faithful people uh

that love the Lord and want to serve.

And I appreciate her and Sister Amber

and Sister Donna and all these others.

Amen. That labor the music. I tell you

what, if anything, if uh if the music

ought to be good, it ought to be good at

God's house. Amen. If it's good

anywhere, amen. And ought to be right.

And I appreciate them committing to

excellence. Amen. To do that here at the

church. And I appreciate you being here

this morning.

>> It's good to have a new addition with us

this morning, Miss Mie. Amen. Miss Miy

made over there in the back. Amen. And

uh Amen. From from a daddy. Amen. Let me

say this to you. Don't touch her. Amen.

Amen. Don't get near. Amen. Just be

respectful and be polite. Amen. They

didn't ask me to do that, okay? I'm just

telling you. And be respectful of the

little ones. Amen. And we there's plenty

of sickness going around. Somebody say,

"Amen." And so I know we I'd want that

done if I was in that shape, too. So,

uh, do remember that. But I appreciate

him. Amen. We going to grow the church

one way or another. Somebody say,

"Amen." And hallelujah. And, uh, man,

some of y'all got nervous right there.

Amen. And we do live in America. Amen.

We are in a Baptist church. Somebody say

amen. Amen. Good gracious. All right.

Genesis chapter number 19. And I love

the Lord. Don't you?

>> Amen. Boy, he's good.

>> Yes.

>> He saved my soul.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. Let me just say it again. He saved

my soul. Amen. I'm born again.

Hallelujah. By the blood of Jesus. And

I'm on my way to heaven. Amen.

>> Amen. I think we ought to just take some

time every now and again, clear off a

spot and just shout. Amen. That'd be all

right. And uh boy, God has been good.

Genesis chapter 19. I want to read,

Genesis 19 · chapter mention

let's begin reading in verse number 23.

Genesis chapter number 19, just for sake

of time. And I'd love to read the whole

chapter. Um but we'll just read just a

few verses here for sake of time this

morning. And you pray for us that the

Lord will help us. Brother, is my mic

on? Did I turn it on? Okay. We'll make

sure I had it on. All right. Genesis

chapter number 19. Let's begin reading

verse 23.

The Bible says, "The sun was risen upon

the earth when Lot entered into Zor.

Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon

Gomorrah, brimstone and fire from the

Lord out of heaven, and he overthrew all

those cities and all the plain, and all

the inhabitants of the cities, and that

which grew upon the ground." But his

wife looked back from behind him, and

she became a pillar of salt. And Abraham

got up early in the morning to the place

where he stood before the Lord. And he

looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and

toward all the land of the plain. And

beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country

went up as the smoke of a furnace. And

it came to pass when God destroyed the

cities of the plain that God remembered

Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of

the overthrow,

when he overthrew the cities in the

which Lot dwelt. I want you to notice

that little phrase in the middle of

verse number 29. The Bible says that it

came to pass when God destroyed the

cities of of the of the plain that God

remembered Abraham.

>> And I want to preach on that thought for

just a little while this morning on God

remembered Abraham. And let's pray and

ask God to help us as we look at the

text this morning. Father, thank you for

the privilege to be in the house of God.

Thank you for the choir singing the

special songs. Thank you, God, for the

opportunity to give and the offering.

And Lord, I know without a shadow of a

doubt your hand's been on all of it. And

God, we've come to the preaching hour.

God, I ask that you would help us this

morning. Clothe us in our calling. Hide

us behind the cross. And Lord, I pray

that we'd see no man save Jesus only.

God, I pray that you would help us to

open our eyes and open our hearts, Lord,

to the word of God. Help us to receive

with meekness the engrafted word. And

Lord, I pray you'll move in a mighty way

today. And you told us in your word,

thou wil keep him in perfect peace. He

whose mind is stayed on thee because he

trustth in thee. And God, I pray,

Father, today we'd keep our mind focused

on you. And Lord, keep our eyes and our

ears, Lord, focused in on the word of

God. And I pray, Lord, if there's

somebody here this morning that's trying

to get out of the will of God or is out

of the will of God. I pray, God, that

you deal with their heart today and Holy

Ghost conviction, God would settle in

upon them. I pray for somebody, Lord,

that's here lost today. God, I know,

Father, in a crowd this size, I'm sure

there's somebody. And God, I pray today

be the day of salvation for them. And

Lord, I pray you'd help us now. We love

you. Thank you for loving us. And we'll

give you thanks for what you do because

we ask it in Jesus name. And God's

children said, "Amen." You can be

seated. Thank you for standing this

morning.

Genesis chapter number 19 is one of I

guess if we were to consider it uh in

its context we would say it's one of the

more darker portions of scripture in the

word of God. We find here that there's a

man that's gotten out of the will of God

and his family has suffered because of

his decisions here in our text. And

where we picked up reading in verse

number 23, the invitation here, rather

the demand has been given to this man

Lot to pick up all that he has, all his

family, all his children, and to get out

of the city of Sodom and Gomorrah. And

if you know the story, you know this

morning that Lot when he was commanded

to go, the Bible says that he lingered

in verse number 16. And the Bible says

that literally the angels that had came

to him had to pick him up and drag him

and his family out of the city. And I

want to say this to you this morning,

lost or saved, today sin will get a grip

on your life. And sometimes it's going

to take an angel. Sometimes it's going

to take I I'll be honest with you. Every

time sin gets a grip on your life, it's

going to take the power of almighty God

to get you out of that situation. And

Lot is lingering. In verse number 16,

and the angels laid hold upon his hand

and his wife and his two daughters and

the Bible says, the Lord being merciful

unto him, God was going to spare his

life. And God is brought out of this

city, of course, he tries to make a

compromise with him. Here in the text,

they tell him to go to the mountain. and

he says, "I I don't want to go to the

mountain, but just let me escape to this

little city here off to the side." And

what you'll find is is that that city

was called Zor. And that city would also

have been destroyed if Lot hadn't went

and dwelt there. And so, he never did

completely get out of the wickedness of

Sin. He never did completely get back in

the will of God. And you know what? I've

seen a lot of people make an attempt to

get right with God. And they'll go

halfway. And they never really do go all

the way with God. But somehow or

another, the strings of this world are

attached too strong and they do not

decide to follow God, they just go a

little ways and then they're satisfied

with that. Well, let me say this to you

this morning, friend. If you don't go

all the way with God, you will suffer

doom and you will suffer destruction in

your life. Amen. And I notice in this

text, I want to consider a few things by

way of introduction, then I'll give you

the message this morning. I note the

time in our text. The Bible says in

verse 23 that the sun was risen upon the

earth when Lot entered into Zor. And so

Lot here is being led out by these

angels. And the next day the dawn has

come. The sun is rising on the earth.

And Lot is just now entering into this

city. And the angels have drugged him

out of there. According to verse number

22, they said that we can't do anything

with this city until that you're out of

here. And so he makes it into Zor in

verse 23. And the Bible says in verse

24, then the Lord rained upon Sodom and

upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from

the Lord out of heaven. And you notice

the time he was delivered. But you note

the tools of destruction. And in verse

24, God uses fire and brimstone to

destroy a race of people that had become

so wicked in their mind that God said

there is no hope of repentance for that

people.

>> Amen.

>> And I'll say this, he went farther than

just the people. You're

>> right.

>> You notice in our text, the tools of

destruction were fire and brimstone.

Now, writers disagree about what that

is, but we know the text does tell us

that there was fire that fell from

heaven. And that brimstone is obviously

some type of flaming uh ember or ash of

size that would fall down there and

light on fire what's in the ground. You

know when you light a fire a big brush

pile and the wind gets to blowing and

then those embers begin to fly. What'll

happen is is the fires will start

elsewhere. Well, let me tell you this.

The fire of God started in heaven and he

let it fall out upon the earth. And let

me say this, all judgment that's going

to take place on this earth is going to

descend from heaven. Amen. Because

that's the abode of God. and the

judgment of God, it will fall upon this

earth. Amen. And so I note not only the

time of his deliverance, but the tools

of destruction. But notice the totality

of the destruction. In verse 25, the

Bible says, "And he overthrew those

cities and all the plain and all the

inhabitants of the cities and that which

grew upon the ground." What you notice

here in verse number 25 is that God

completely decimated this land. He

destroyed the plain. That means he

destroyed the ground, all the cities,

all the buildings, all the dwelling

places. He destroyed not only the plain,

but he destroyed the people. The Bible

says, "And all the inhabitants of the

cities." So he destroyed the cities and

he destroyed the consumers in those

cities. But then he also not only

destroyed the plain and the people, but

he also destroyed the plants. Notice

verse 25. And that which grew upon the

ground. Let me say this to you. Do you

think them plants did anything wrong?

No. But they was tainted by sin. You're

>> right.

>> And you say, "Preacher, what does that

show us?" Well, that shows how harshly

God deals with sin. His judgment when it

comes, it is merciless. And God will not

stay his wrath. For any man, woman, boy,

or girl, even a plant or animal. Amen.

God's wrath will consume everything that

gets in its path. And you say,

"Preacher, I THOUGHT GOD WAS A God of

love." And he is. But let me say this to

you this morning. When he gets done,

he's done. And when JUDGMENT COMES, HE

WILL NOT STAY HIS WRATH. AMEN.

>> I'll tell you this this morning that

those that do not believe, those that

will not receive Jesus Christ as their

Lord and Savior will experience the

judgment and the wrath of Almighty God

throughout the eons of eternity. They

will experience the fire. They will know

the flame and the brimstone, the forever

burning place. And you SAY, "PREACHER, I

DON'T LIKE THAT." WELL, LET ME TELL YOU

THIS MORNING, if you're not saved this

morning, it's where you're headed. AMEN.

YOU'RE HEADED TO A PLACE CALLED HELL.

I'm going to tell you one MORE TIME, GOD

DIDN'T MAKE IT FOR you this morning. He

made it FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, IF YOU CHOOSE TO

FOLLOW THE DEVIL'S WAY and you CHOOSE TO

FOLLOW IN THIS DEVIL'S WORLD AND TO

FOLLOW HIS WORD AND BE OBEDIENT to him

AND CALL HIM MASTER, YOU WILL END up in

a place called hell. Amen. Right?

>> And the Bible tells us that God

destroyed it all. The totality of this

destruction even went to the plants and

animal life. He destroyed everything

that the land was. You see what he

wanted to do? He took the people out,

but he also wanted them to not have a

chance to be able to build back.

>> And you know, I've heard it said, I

can't verify this this morning, but I've

heard it said that nobody knows where

Sodom and Gomorrah was. that the

totality of the burning was so much that

nobody there was no ruins left behind.

God literally burned it into into

non-existence.

And I noticed this in our text and we'll

get into the message. You see the tying,

the tools, the totality. But notice the

truth in verse 26.

The Bible says in verse number 26, "But

his wife," that's Lot's wife, "looked

back from behind him, and she became a

pillar of salt." Now, I could preach on

this dear lady this morning, but I just

want to give you a few things about her,

and then we'll get into the message this

morning. You see, Lot's wife was a

victim of somebody else's choices. And

because of her husband's choices and

refusing to lead her home, she here had

made her abode in this land in a place

where she should have never been. And

because she was in that place by

somebody else's decision, what happened

to her is is that she became acquainted

with that land. And what happened out of

that is that their children were raised

in that land. If you were here for

Sunday school this morning, you would

know that there was six, at least six

children that Lot had and two

sons-in-law at least there in the land.

And so I there's many different reasons

we could say we could wonder about why

that she looked back. But I'll tell you

this regardless of why she looked back

because she had a desire to. You're

>> right.

>> She looked back because her babies were

in there.

>> She looked back because maybe her

grandchildren were in there. [snorts]

>> She looked back because maybe her

friends were in there. What I'm saying

was is they had got attack. They had GOT

ATTACHED TO THE WORLD. AND WHEN GOD

BROUGHT JUDGMENT, GOD TOOK AWAY

EVERYTHING that was precious to her.

That's right.

>> Let me tell you something this morning.

When you get attached to this world, you

better mark her down, friend. You're

going to come up empty. Amen. You'll

lose every bit of it and you'll never

have nothing to hang on to. She looked

back because she felt like that was all

she had left. Amen.

>> Right.

>> But you know what? Her desire brought

her disobedience.

In verse number 17, the Bible says, "The

angels told them. They said, "Look not

behind thee." Direct command of God.

They said, "Don't look back." Let me say

this to you this morning. We can't

afford to look back.

>> You're right.

>> Paul said it this way. The writer of

Hebrews said, "We're not of them that

draw back under predition."

>> Yes.

>> And that's what happens if you draw

back. You draw them back unto predition.

That's destruction.

>> Right?

>> And it led to her death in the text. She

became a pillar of salt. And you know

what the truth about this lady that I

want to tell you this morning and I'll

give you the message. You see, her

direction was never able to be changed.

You know what? When she became a pillar

of salt, you know what the way what way

she was pointing?

She was looking towards Sodom. Let me

say this to you this morning. Because

Lot chose while he was alive to pitch

his family towards Sodom. His wife when

she died had no choice but to look

toward Sodom.

>> You're right.

>> She looked that way because her husband

way back a few chapters before in

chapter 13 and verse number 10 had

decided to look that way himself. AND

BECAUSE HE DECIDED TO LOOK THAT WAY, SHE

DIED LOOKING THAT WAY.

>> YES.

>> And she'll forever be remembered as the

woman that looked back.

I'll say this to you this morning,

Daddy, your decisions affect more than

just you.

>> You're right,

>> mama. Your decisions affect more than

just you.

>> But I notice in our text in verse 27,

the Bible says, "And Abraham got up

early in the morning to the place where

he stood before the Lord." And I notice

first of all here in our man Abraham

thinking about this thought that God

remembered Abraham. I noticed the

concern of Abraham. The Bible says you

notice there first of all it says he got

up early. Abraham obviously in our text

of course we know that he has not had

any conversation with Lot up until this

time. He didn't never go down to Sodom

and Gomorra because he knew that he was

not welcome there. Amen. And the Bible

does not record on the pages of

scripture where Lot and Abraham ever

meet again after this again. But I do

know that in their departure when they

decided to split off and go separate

ways that Lot went his direction and

Abraham went his. And though Lot

probably forgot about Abraham, let me

tell you something. Abraham never did

forget about Lot. Amen. And Lot was on

his mind. And because of that, in

chapter number 18, God come to Abraham

and he said, "Look, I've got to tell you

what I'm going to do." He Sodom and

Gomorrah the sin of it is very great. In

chapter 18 and verse 20 he said their

sin is very grievious and he said I'm

going to go down and see whether they've

done all together according to the cry

of it. And he was telling Abraham look

I'm going to destroy that place because

of their sin. And the Bible tells us

that because of the intervention of the

Lord desiring to destroy that land of

Sodom and Gomorrah Abraham begins his

intercession in chapter number 18

praying that God would deliver Lot. Yes.

>> Why? Because he loved it.

>> Yes.

>> And you see, he was concerned. And from

verse 23 of chapter 18 to verse number

33, Abraham pleads with God on behalf of

this young man, Lot that God would

deliver him. And it's interesting that

he does not plead personally for Lot. He

does not PLEAD PERSONALLY FOR LOT'S

FAMILY, but he speaks of the city in a

generic sense. And and and what's

interesting about that is is that

Abraham as he's pleading for that city,

God knew who he had in mind. And I want

you to think about this with me this

morning. Think about first of all in

verse number 27. You see his concern. I

think about the Lord and his concern.

Notice verse 27. And Abraham got up

early in the morning to the place,

notice this, where he stood before the

Lord. Now, that's a reference to chapter

number 18 and verse number in verse

number 22 and 23. You see, Abraham and

those three men had journeyed up on the

mountain and they were looking off of

that mountain down on Sodom and

Gomorrah. And as those two men left and

Jesus there, the pre-incarnate Christ

stays with Abraham in chapter number 18,

they begin to converse, Abram draws

near. And so the next day after the Lord

departs and Abraham gets up early in the

morning and he goes back to that same

mountaintop where they were looking off

where just the day before he was looking

off with God and pleading for Lot and

his family on their behalf. He goes back

to that same place and begins to look

off. And I want you to think about this

with me. He went back to the last place

he had fellowship with the Lord. Let me

say this to you. An intercession in your

life, that's a place where you've got to

live. You're

>> right. were the last place you spoke to

him.

>> Yeah.

>> But I noticed not only that, but I want

you to think about this. You think about

the Lord in his concern, but I think

about the look in his concern. Notice

verse 28. And he looked toward Sodom and

Gomorrah. Now, I want you to think about

this with me this morning. They didn't

have cell phones. They didn't have any

extra type of communication other than

just talking or by a letter. That's all

that they had. And so when Abraham looks

out over that plane and you know what he

sees? He sees it burning.

He sees the smoke and he's looking out

there and you know what Abram had just

prayed in the chapter before? He said,

"Lord, if there be 10 righteous there,

would you spare the city?" You remember

what God told him? He said,"Abram, I'll

spare it." But you know what happened

when he woke up the next morning? The

city was burning.

>> Let me ask you this. Do you think

Abraham thought his prayer was answered?

But you know what? He went back because

he knew that judgment was coming.

>> Amen.

>> Abram Abraham stopped short in his

intercession because he knew where God's

line was.

>> Right.

>> There's been people I've prayed for in

this life and I've watched them slip out

into eternity because I knew that the

last time I talked to them about the

Lord and they rejected it that God was

done with them.

>> Abraham looked at that city and he saw

the fire, he saw the burning and his

look, what what was the first thing that

crossed his mind? lot was. You see, he

went back to that place. You know what

he could have done? He could have stayed

at home. You're

>> right.

>> But you know what he did? He went back

to that place so he could see. Let me

tell you something. One of these days

when we get to heaven, Amen. The Bible

teaches the book of Revelation that the

righteous are going to look over and see

the judgment of the wicked. And when we

see the judgment of the wicked, we're

going to shout, "Praise the Lord.

Allelujah. Hallelujah to the Lamb

forever more." You say, "Preacher, how

is that?" Because those who are

righteous, we've been made righteous.

And we know those that reject God. And

those who refuse salvation, they will be

judged and they will be rightfully

judged. And that will bring glory to the

father.

>> Amen.

>> But you see, Abraham's concern caused

him to go back. Let me ask you, when's

the last time you went back

>> good

>> to the place where you talked with the

Lord about that soul? I notice not only

the concern of the servant, but I

consider the condition of the city in

verse 28. And he looked toward Sodom and

Gomorra and toward all the land of the

plain. And behold, and lo, the smoke of

the country went up as the smoke of a

furnace. It implies here, of course, we

know that there was fire according to

verse 24 that he rained fire and

brimstone down from down from God out of

heaven. And then there is the fumes in

verse 28. That word smoke in verse

number 28 literally translates to the

word fumed. The smoke of it was so great

that Abraham was able to see it so far

away it beheld. And the Bible says that

it was like a furnace. Notice that in

verse 28, it went up as the smoke of a

furnace. Now, that furnace is what they

call a brick kiln. And if you've ever

seen a brick kiln in Bible days, what it

looks like? It looks like a little pot

and the top of it funnels. And the image

of this smoke that he saw, you know what

he saw? It looked like a plume, a smoke

stack coming straight up out of Sodom

and Gomorrah. I'm talking about the fire

was so hot he said it looked like the

fire coming out of a brick kilm. You

know what they would do in a brick kilm?

That's what they would use to melt metal

down to bend it.

Abraham saw the heat.

He saw how hot it was.

>> I'm telling you this is how God how

serious God is about sin.

>> Right?

>> I'm telling you, hell is a place where

the worm dieth not and the fire is not

quenched. Where the wicked will be

judged perpetually, eternally forever.

There will be no resting place. There

will be no breaks. Amen. When you go

stand before the great white throne of

judgment, you'll think that you're going

to have a break from hell. But I'll tell

you, you could wish a million times over

that you could be back in hell to stand

before a holy God with justice and

righteousness on his side. And he'll

stand and look at you and SAY, "WHAT DID

YOU DO with my son, Jesus?"

You know what? You'll have nothing to

say.

>> And hell will literally be a place of

burning exactly like this. You think

about the condition of the city. You

say, "Preacher, what's the importance of

that?" Well, you understand that all

this world and all that in it is is

going to do this very same thing one of

these days,

>> right?

>> You see, the wickedness of our world is

just piling up.

>> It's just heaping up and heaping up and

heaping up down through the years. Amen.

All these years, the sin of the human

race has just gotten more gross and more

gross before God. And as it heaps up,

one of these days, God is going to deal

with the place. Amen. He's going to burn

this world up. Amen. The Bible says in

the book of Revelation, chapter number

19, he said, "I saw him that sat on a

throne." He said, "From whose face the

earth and heaven fled away, and the

earth and heaven are going to flee and

be destroyed. The ground's going to be

destroyed. The people's going to BE

DESTROYED." I'M SAYING ALL OF IT'S GOING

TO BE DESTROYED. WHY? BECAUSE GOD is a

mighty judge AND HE WILL JUDGE ALL sin

and every sinner

>> that's tainted by sin. And this world's

going to have to be renovated

just like Sodom and Gomorra to be a

place of burning. And I noticed this.

Isn't it interesting that in the all of

this darkness, there's still a ray of

light. In verse 29, the Bible says that

it came to pass when God destroyed the

cities of the plain that God remembered

Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of

the overthrow when he overthrew the

cities in the which Lot dwelt. You see

the concern of the servant, the

condition of the city, but note the

compassion of the sovereign. And I'll be

done this morning. You see in this text,

all this darkness, all this destruction.

You think about everything that's been

destroyed. The city was destroyed. The

people were destroyed. the plant and

animal life was destroyed. There was

nothing left. There was nothing left

behind. GOD BURNED IT ALL UP. BUT IN THE

TEXT, the Bible says that it came to

pass that when while he was destroying

THE CITIES OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH. THERE

WAS ONE person that walked out of there.

There was one man that walked out of

there. And the Bible says HE WALKED OUT

OF THERE BECAUSE GOD remembered Abraham.

>> Amen.

I want to give you three things and I'll

be done.

I want you to notice first of all here

concerning the compassion

of the sovereign, you know, first of all

the father's remembrance, verse 29,

at the very same moment that God

destroyed the cities of the plain, the

Bible says that God remembered. And I

want you to think about this with me

this morning. What do we believe about

God? God is infinite, isn't he?

>> Amen. He's all powerful. God is

omnisient. That means he's all knowing.

>> God is omnipresent. That means God is

everywhere all the time. Amen. And what

I find in this text is is that when Lot

is walking out of this city, you see

Abraham had prayed a prayer in chapter

number 18. And when he woke up the next

day and he saw the smoke, you know what?

I can almost I I don't know what was

going through his mind, but I do know

this. I I'm sure in his heart he was

praying, "Boy, I hope LOT GOT OUT.

BOY, I HOPE THEY got out." Oh, but

friend, there was somebody that knew a

whole lot more than Abraham did.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. There was somebody that could go

somewhere Abraham never went. Amen.

There was somebody that could do

something Abraham could never do. You

You say, "Preacher, what are you

saying?" I'M SAYING IF ABRAHAM COULD

HAVE WENT to Sodom and Gomorrah, he

couldn't have talked loud enough up out

of getting out of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Hey friend, there's people in your life.

IT DON'T MATTER WHAT YOU TELL THEM. IT

DON'T MATTER WHAT YOU DO FOR THEM. THERE

IS NOTHING. THERE IS NO HELP THAT YOU

CAN GIVE. OH, BUT FRIEND, ABRAHAM

DECIDED WHEN HE KNEW IT WAS OUT OF HIS

HANDS. HE COULD TALK TO ONE WHOSE HANDS

HOLD THE WORLD AND GOD WOULD TAKE CARE

OF IT. WHY? BECAUSE GOD NEVER FORGETS.

HALLELUJAH. GOD ALWAYS REMEMBERS. HEY,

LOT. AMEN. HE WAS NOT DOWN THERE

FORGOTTEN. AMEN. THOUGH IT WAS BY HIS

OWN CHOICE, THOUGH HE'D MADE HIS OWN

DECISION TO GO HIS OWN WAY. OH,

HALLELUJAH. I'M THANKFUL THAT JESUS THAT

GOD NEVER FORGETS ONE OF HIS CHILDREN.

AMEN. GOD REMEMBERED. AMEN. I'll say

this. God remembered the prayer

>> of Abraham.

>> You think about that. He remembered all

that intercession. Lord, if there be 50,

Lord, if there be 45, Lord, if there be

40, Lord, if there be 30, Lord, IF THERE

BE 20, LORD, IF THERE BE 10, WILL YOU

spare the city?

>> Yes.

>> He remembered that. What was Abraham

doing? He was showing his love.

>> Amen.

>> For Lot.

>> Amen.

>> But I'll say say this, he didn't only

remember Abraham's prayer.

>> Come on.

Amen.

>> He also remembered that person.

>> You know, I I said this in Sunday school

this morning. I said Abraham's decision

caused Lot to go that way.

>> Right?

And Abraham, I don't know if it was ever

in the back of his mind,

he's down there because of my mistake.

>> He's down there because I had a lapse of

faith.

But you know what? Abraham didn't never

quit praying for him. That's

>> right.

>> Because he God remembered his prayer,

but he also remembered that person. You

see, Abraham took Lot under his wing

because he wanted to deliver him, too.

>> Yeah.

And in this text, you notice the Bible

says that God remembered, but I also not

only see the father's remembrance, but I

see the faithful's request. God

remembered Abraham.

You see, God remembered his prayer. God

remembered the person. He remembered

Lot. But he also remembered Abraham

himself.

>> You say, "Preacher, what is that?" Well,

who's Abraham? He's the father of the

faith. Genesis 15 verse number six. And

Abraham believed in the Lord, and it was

counted unto him for righteousness.

>> You see, God delivered Lot that day

because of who Abraham was. You're

>> right.

>> Some of y'all hook up with that in a

minute.

>> God delivered you.

>> Yes.

>> God delivered me.

>> Because of Jesus.

>> Amen.

>> Who he is.

>> Yes.

>> That's why I got lifted out.

>> Amen. Right.

>> I didn't get delivered because I was

righteous.

>> You're right.

>> I didn't get delivered because I had

done anything, but I got delivered on

the terms of somebody else.

>> Amen.

>> Hallelujah.

>> There is the father's remembrance and

the faithful's request. You see, Abraham

prayed. God remembered Abraham. And

notice that next phrase, and sent Lot

out of the midst of the overthrow.

You see the father's remembrance and the

faithful's request. But notice the

fallen

the fallen's rescue.

You see, this is what's interesting to

me about Lot. And I I just want I just

want to preach for just a minute. All

right, that'd be all right.

>> Amen.

>> You see, all three of the characters in

this text were all righteous.

God is the embodiment of righteous

righteousness, isn't he? Amen. And the

Bible says that God remembered Abraham.

What was Abraham? He was righteous,

>> right? Amen.

>> He believed the Lord has imputed unto

him for righteousness. But you see what

Lot see Lot was also righteous as well.

Listen to what second Peter says. Second

2 Peter 2 · chapter mention

Peter chapter 2, turn there in your

Bible with me. You need to read this.

You see, if Lot's story in the book of

Genesis was all we had to go by, we

wouldn't have much on this man Lot for

courage to say that he was saved.

Second Peter chapter 2.

2 Peter 2 · chapter mention

Some of y'all cheaters need to get a

Bible like mine that ain't got no tabs

in it. Amen. Second Peter 2 verse number

7

verse 6. The Bible says, "And turning

the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into

ashes, condemned them with an overthrow,

making them an ensemble unto those that

after should live ungodly, and delivered

what? just lot vexed with the filthy

conversation of the wicked. Verse number

eight, notice this. For that righteous

man dwelling among them in seeing and

hearing vexed his righteous soul from

day to day with their unlawful deeds.

Now, isn't it interesting in this text

that we can see God is righteous,

Abraham is righteous, but Lot is as

well. What is the difference? Now, we

could say this morning, God is always

righteous in his actions, isn't he?

>> Yeah.

>> He never fails. He's never unfaithful.

What do we know about Abraham? Abraham,

for the most part, was righteous, but he

failed as well.

>> Yeah.

>> But what do we know about Lot? Lot spent

his entire life

against what God wanted him to do.

>> But the Bible still says he's righteous.

>> Let me just take time out right there

for just a minute and say this, okay?

You don't know who's going to heaven and

who's not.

>> That's right.

>> Amen. And what I notice about this here

is the is the Bible, it clearly defines

Abraham and Lot as righteous men. And so

they were they they started out right.

Lot obviously had trusted the Lord at

some point in his life. And so what does

that tell us? Well, Lot is in heaven.

>> You're right.

>> Just like Abraham is.

>> But you look at their direction in life.

You see their their beginning. Amen. And

their destination is the same. But all

the direction in their life is

completely different. You're

>> right. What do we notice about that?

Well, it started out with the place the

way that they turned when they pitched

their tent.

>> One pitched his tent toward Sodom, that

place of wickedness, and the other

pitched his tent toward the promise

where God had desired for THEM TO BE.

WHAT I'M SAYING this morning is this.

When they started out, Amen. They had

the same goal in mind, BUT ONE DIRECTION

JUST POINTING THE WRONG DIRECTION LED

THEM ON COMPLETELY different paths.

>> Right? Here's the end of the story.

You see in this text, Lot lost it all.

He loses his children,

two daughters that were married, at

least two sons that were in the city, at

least. And in this text, he loses his

wife. He's left with his two daughters

and himself.

He walks out of this city and out of

this city as he comes out in

deliverance. God has brought him out.

He's he's fled to Zor. He didn't go

where God wanted him to. And so he goes

to Zoir. And then in Zoir, his

daughters, Amen, they they THEY SLEEP

WITH HIM OUT OF AN INCESTUOUS

RELATIONSHIP. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, TWO

NATIONS are born THAT WOULD FIGHT

AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF Israel forever.

>> Right?

>> Moab and Ammon. And you say, "Preacher,

what's the difference?" I believe Lot's

in heaven today.

>> But you know what? None of his family

is. You're

>> right. Come on. Not a single one of

them. And you notice in the text, the

Bible doesn't say God remembered Lot,

does it.

You know what? If Abraham would have

never prayed, Lot would have never made

it out.

>> You're right.

>> He'd have burned up with the rest of

them.

>> Never had another chance. And you know

what? He got another chance and he blew

it.

>> The last thing we read about Lot in our

text, the Bible says, is that he was

drunk and he was defiled. That's the

last thing you ever read about Lot in

the Old Testament. And if it was not for

what Peter put in his epistle, we

wouldn't even know that Lot was saved.

You're

>> right. Amen.

>> You say, "Preacher, what are you

saying?" I'm saying this. You can be

saved just as saved as I am or just as

saved as the Apostle Paul is. And you

can waste your life. And you know

what'll happen? You might get off

unscathed in your life. You might think

you do all right. You might get

delivered. Amen. But those that come

behind you will die and go to hell

because your failure

>> right

>> to obey. GOD DIDN'T SPARE THE CITY

BECAUSE THERE WASN'T 10 RIGHTEOUS THERE.

THERE WASN'T NINE RIGHTEOUS THERE. THERE

WASN'T EIGHT RIGHTEOUS THERE. THERE

WASN'T FIVE RIGHTEOUS THERE. THERE

WASN'T EVEN TWO RIGHTEOUS THERE. LOT WAS

THE ONLY ONE. AND GOD DELIVERED HIM. And

you know what? The rest of that bunch

died and went to hell.

>> You're right.

>> You say, "Preacher, how is that?"

Because Lot failed.

in the direction of his life.

Here's the difference. You see Abraham

in verse number 27, he stood on higher

ground.

Think about this. He was looking off

down at that city. He didn't only stand

on higher ground, but he stood on holy

ground.

>> It was the place where he stood before

the Lord.

He didn't only stand on higher ground

and on holy ground, but he stood on

ground where he poured out his heart to

God.

And because of Abraham, there was

deliverance of this man Lot. But you

know what? He was never able to salvage

any of his family. What do we know about

Abraham? He's the father of Israel.

Matthew chapter 1 verse number one, the

Matthew 1 · chapter mention

Bible says, "This is the generation of

Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son

of Abraham.

Lot's never remembered.

Lot has nothing. He has no family.

He doesn't even have a faithful work

that can be attributed to his name."

Here's what I want to ask you this

morning.

God remembered Abraham because of his

prayer, and God sent Lot out. But you

know what? He was never able to do

anymore with Lot

because Lot was unwilling to repent.

Here's what's going to happen to some of

you here this morning. You're going to

live your life. You're just as saved as

I am. I know it's tight right now and

you don't and you probably don't like

what I'm selling you, but I'm going to

tell you the truth, okay?

>> You're going to live your life and

you're going to live it out doing what

you want to do, going where you want to

go, being how you want to be, acting how

you want to act, doing all the things

that the world has to offer. and you're

going to look exactly like the world.

Somebody might pray and you might get

right with God. But you know what's

going to happen? Your children, your

grandchildren, your great grandchildren

will die lost and go to hell

>> because you refuse to get right with

God.

>> Amen.

>> YOU SAY, "PREACHER, WELL, I'VE GOTTEN

RIGHT WITH GOD." OH, but what about your

children?

Look, I know this is not fun preaching

this morning, but I'm telling you the

truth, okay? It matters more in life

whether just you are right with God or

not. I'm saying your lapse OF FAITH

COULD BE WHAT CAUSES SOMEBODY ELSE TO

DIE AND GO TO HELL. YOU'RE

>> RIGHT.

>> Lot his children

died and went to hell.

his wife quite possibly died and went to

All I know is Abraham said if there be

10 righteous there and there wasn't

because he burned it down

>> right

>> let me ask you this in your family

what's the measure of intercession for

you

say Abraham knew where to stop praying

because he knew God wasn't going to go

any further

>> good

>> you know here's what I'm afraid of

there's people in my my family dist I'm

thankful most of my my family professes

to be saved and I bless the Lord for

that. It's because of the prayers of

others that we are. Amen. Let me put

that out there.

>> But I'll say this, I got some distant

family. If the grace of God don't reach

them somehow or another, they're going

to die lost without God.

>> It's not because their parents didn't

believe it. It's because their parents

got out of the will of God.

>> You're right.

>> For a time.

This serious friend.

>> Amen.

>> I'm talking about eternal soul. You have

children. This ought to rattle you to

the core,

>> right?

>> I'm talking about heaven or hell for

eternity.

>> Yeah.

>> Lot got delivered because of the prayers

of another. But you know what? Lot

couldn't intercede for his family.

>> You're right.

>> Abraham interceded for him, but Lot

never interceded for any of his family.

>> You're right.

>> They all died.

Every head bowed and every eye closed

this morning.

Here's the question.

Is anybody going to live because of you?

God remembered Abraham. Will God

remember you?

I mentioned her this past week, but Miss

Modina Price,

there's some prayers she prayed that God

remembered.

Brother Bobby Robertson,

Brother Paul Cisk,

these oldtime saints of God prayed

for their children, for their families.

And we're looking at fruits of that this

morning.

But if you don't continue that on,

here's what's going to happen. Your

children's going to die.

See, you've got in on somebody else's

prayers, but if what what are you

praying for?

Are are YOU PRAYING FOR YOUR CHILDREN?

HEY, if you're not, who is?

I'm praying for you this morning. I'm

praying for your children. I'm praying

FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME THAT AREN'T

EVEN BORN YET in this CHURCH THAT GOD

WOULD RAISE UP GODLY YOUNG LADIES AND

GODLY YOUNG MEN TO SERVE GOD AT META'S

BAPTIST CHURCH. BUT IF YOU AS the

parent, IF YOU AS THE GRANDPARENT WILL

NOT PRAY AND WILL NOT BEG GOD ON THEIR

BEHALF, DO NOT EXPECT GOD TO BRING

DELIVERANCE.

God remembered Abraham. God will

remember you, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO TALK to

him.

Let me say this to you, sinner.

The mess that you're in in your life may

be because of somebody else's decision,

but ultimately here what here's what

happens. [music]

If you choose to walk away from God,

it'll be your own choice.

But I'll tell you this, there's a

preacher this morning that's praying for

you.

And I know there's some precious saints

of God that's praying for you this

morning. I want to ask you this

question.

If you died right now, would you go to

heaven or would you go to hell? [music]

Do you know where you'd spend eternity

if you died?

You're burdened. See, see, you're broken

because of your sin. And and the same

thing that happened to those people in

Sodom and Gomorra. You see, they didn't

know it was coming. They didn't expect

it. [music]

They didn't see it. But one day, fire

started falling from the sky.

Let me say this to you. Your judgment

will be swift. [music]

It'll be unexpected

and it'll be total.

Say, "Preacher, I want to be saved."

[music] Preacher, please. I I need to be

saved. Would there be somebody like that

this morning? Slip your hand up and

right back down. Preacher, I need to be

saved.

Be honest between you and God. Preacher,

I'm not saved. [music]

Preacher, I'm not sure. Anybody like

that? Preacher, I'm not sure I'm saved.

Slip your hand up right back down. I

want pray for you.

Be honest. When you and God,

let me ask you this, child of God. Where

you at? See, Lot was saved,

but what direction you pointing your

tent [music] in? What gate are you

dwelling in?

Hey, if you're yoking up with this

world, you you might escape, but your

family might not.

You cannot afford.

You cannot afford to miss it.

Let me ask you, say, "Preacher, would

you pray for me and my family?" [music]

God sees that. God sees that.

Anyone else? Preacher, would you pray

for me and my family? We dwell in the

gate.

>> [music]

>> God sees that.

Hands all over the building. Let me ask

let me tell you something this morning.

There's hope. Okay, I knew this message

would hit home because this is where we

all live. Okay,

if you do not pray,

God didn't remember Lot in that text.

He didn't remember Lot's prayer. He

remembered Lot's person because of

Abraham's prayer.

>> [music]

>> God ain't going to remember a prayer you

don't pray.

Child of God, make sure

you say, "Preacher, I've made so many

mistakes to this point in my life. And

preacher, I'm seeing what you're talking

about. Preacher, I'm seeing my kids. I'm

seeing my grandchildren. They're not

following God.

Preacher, but from this day forward, I

want to pray like Abraham did.

He messed up. And preacher, I've messed

up, but I don't want to quit praying for

them. Anybody have that resolved?

Preacher, I want to pray. Preacher,

would you pray for my family? God sees

that. Yes, God sees that.

Hallelujah.

Make it a RESOLVE IN YOUR HEART THIS

MORNING. HANDS WENT UP ALL OVER THE

BUILDING. MAKE IT A RESOLVE IN YOUR

HEART THAT IN 2026 THAT YOU'RE GOING TO

DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER. YOU CAN'T

FIX IT. YOU CAN'T ALWAYS FIND THEM. YOU

DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT.

ABRAHAM DIDN'T KNOW WHERE LOT WAS AT.

ALL HE SAW WAS THE FLAMES. BUT OH, LET

ME TELL YOU, FRIEND. HE KNEW GOD KNEW

WHERE HE WAS AT. AND YOU CAN PRAY AND

YOU CAN TRUST GOD. AND GOD WILL DO WHAT

YOU CANNOT DO. AMEN.

>> HALLELUJAH. There is deliverance. BLESS

HIS NAME.

>> LOT didn't know it WAS ABRAHAM THAT WAS

PRAYING FOR HIM. AND ABRAHAM DIDN'T KNOW

THAT LOT GOT BROUGHT OUT. OH, BUT THE

GOD OF HEAVEN WAS WORKING ON BOTH ENDS.

HALLELUJAH. BLESS HIS NAME. HEY, THE

PRAYERS THAT YOU'VE PRAYED, YOU MAY

NEVER SEE AN ANSWER TO HIM IN THIS LIFE.

OH, BUT GOD, HE'LL ANSWER THEM. AND ONE

OF THESE DAYS, LET ME TELL YOU, ABRAHAM

AND LOT ARE STANDING TOGETHER ON THE

SUNNY BANKS OF SWEET DELIVERANCE THIS

MORNING BECAUSE ABRAHAM PRAYED FOR HIM.

AMEN.

>> AMEN. AMEN.

>> You can have that same

>> truth in your [music] life.

You can't prevent every problem,

>> but you can pray for every problem.

>> You can't fix every situation, but your

faith can rise above and go beyond

all the circumstances.

>> Amen. Father, I pray in Jesus name,

Lord, would we resolve in our hearts

this year,

God, that more than anything,

we would be a praying people.

Lord, we just, you just showed me this

morning how many families this morning

are hurting

because of this thing.

And Lord, I pray,

Father, that you would help every hand

that went up to make it their resolve to

pray,

to pray more fervently, more faithfully

[music] than they've ever prayed before

because God, your hand can reach where

we can't, where we can't go.

God, help us to be faithful. I pray

give us wisdom, Lord.

Give us a burden, [music]

Lord. We can't fix these problems,

Lord. No more than Abraham could make

Sodom righteous.

Lord, we can't fix our country.

But Lord, you can work.

You can save those God that [music] will

call upon you.

God, would you help us to be faithful? I

pray in Jesus name. Amen. [music]

Amen.

>> Thank you for joining our service today.

We'd love it if [music] you'd join us in

person the next time you are able at

Meadows Baptist Church. Our physical

address is 2988 [music] Stewart Road in

Walnut Cove, North Carolina. Our service

times are Sunday [music] school at 10:00

a.m., Sunday morning worship at 11:00

a.m., Sunday evening worship at 6:00

p.m., and Wednesday evening [music]

Bible study at 700 p.m. For more

information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in. [music]