{"id":1173,"date":"2016-11-18T13:45:08","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T18:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=1173"},"modified":"2016-11-18T13:45:08","modified_gmt":"2016-11-18T18:45:08","slug":"remember-lots-wife-august-21st-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=1173","title":{"rendered":"Remember Lot\u2019s Wife, August 21st, 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"1423520368578\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Remember Lot\u2019s Wife<\/h1>\n

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Central Thought: We should learn to obey God Always.<\/h3>\n

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Hymn: \u201cI\u2019ve A Message from the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

Text: Luke 17:20-37, Genesis 19:15-30<\/p>\n

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The Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were so filled with all sorts of corrupt practices, just like our present day, that God decided to destroy them. Abraham, a faithful intercessor, pleaded for his nephew, Lot and God rescued him and his family.\u00a0 The angel instructed them not to look behind but to escape for their lives, Genesis 19:17. Unfortunately, Lot\u2019s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt.\u00a0 This account is so important that Christ made reference to it.\u00a0 It behooves the believer to be watchful and careful because Christ is coming at a time we do not expect.\u00a0 We should tighten all loose ends as Jesus has warned that; \u201cno man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God\u201d, Luke 9:62.\u00a0 This study will serve as a reminder not to lose focus of the race that is set before us.\u00a0 The Lord is coming soon.<\/p>\n

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Lesson Objectives:<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. To explain what gave rise to the statement, \u201cremember Lot\u2019s wife\u201d.<\/li>\n
  2. To know what lessons we can learn from the obedience of Lot and his daughters.<\/li>\n
  3. To understand how the believer can escape the coming wrath and judgment of God.<\/li>\n
  4. To know what should be the believer\u2019s attitude towards those who are looking back.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      \n
    1. \n
      What gave rise to the statement: \u201cRemember Lot\u2019s wife\u201d. Luke 17:20-32<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Lot was the son of Haran, Abraham\u2019s elder brother. When God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees, he took Lot with him to the land of Canaan.\u00a0 When he parted from Abraham, he went to live in the City of Sodom where he got married and had two daughters.\u00a0 When the Pharisees demanded from Jesus when the kingdom of God should come; He answered that it does not come by observation.\u00a0 Jesus then gave example of two events \u2013 the days of Noah (the flood) and the days of Lot (fire and brimstone).\u00a0 He pointed out that Lot\u2019s wife disobeyed God\u2019s instruction and became a pillar of salt.\u00a0 We must be careful to live a life of obedience to the word of God so as not to end up like Lot\u2019s wife.\u00a0 God expects us as individuals to respond to His word irrespective of what others are doing.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      2a. What led to the downfall of Lot\u2019s wife? Genesis 19:26<\/h5>\n

      v. 17, \u201c..escape for your life; look not behind you\u2026\u201d Lot\u2019s wife had the privilege of angelic visitation, divine protection and guidance, but she fell because she did not take heed to the instruction given to her not to look behind her. She was not watchful in stressful situation and her compromising lifestyle led to her downfall.<\/p>\n

      It is easy to blame Lot\u2019s wife, but the errors that she fell into are with us today. Many Christians disobey god in clear violation of His revealed will concerning covetousness, association with the world, faithfulness in service and the easily besetting sins.\u00a0 It is very easy to fall into the danger of self-will, over-familiarity with God and presumptuous sins when one\u2019s services are corrupted by these insidious stains.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      2b. What do you think would have made Lot\u2019s wife to look back?<\/h5>\n

      The Scripture is silent on what may have made Lot\u2019s wife to look back. However, from our understanding of Scripture, her action suggests unbelief in God\u2019s word and instruction. Therefore, the believer should take God for his word, as affirmed in Isaiah 55:8-11.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      2c. Highlight the lesson derivable from Lot and his two daughters not looking back like his wife did.<\/h5>\n

      Lot and the daughters held tenaciously to the instruction they received from the Lord. This shows that the Christian race is a personal one; that God is not a respecter of persons and that only those that shall endure unto the end shall be saved.\u00a0 Therefore, \u201clet us hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised)\u201d, Hebrews 10:23.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n
        Discuss the following reasons why some people abandon the Christian faith and suggest a solution.<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        -Not ready to pay the price of discipleship. John 6:53-60, Luke 9:57-62<\/span><\/p>\n

        The price of discipleship is expensive and without a clear understanding of the believer\u2019s identity, it may be difficult to survive the pressure to compromise one\u2019s faith. Jesus said that \u201cNo man, having put his hands to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God\u201d, Luke 9:62.<\/p>\n

        -Evil association. 1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 1:10<\/span><\/p>\n

        Unequal yoke with unbelievers often leads to compromise; it makes the believer to \u2018touch the unclean thing\u2019 and steadily weakens the foundation of one\u2019s spiritual strength and diminishes the fervency of spirit which attended his first love, conviction, consecration, commitment and obedience to God and His word. It gradually leads its victims to abandon their faith.\u00a0 Let\u2019s bear in mind the Scripture, \u201cBe not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners\u201d.<\/p>\n

        -Love of the world. 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Timothy 4:10<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u2018\u2026if any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.\u2019 \u2018\u2026friendship with the world is enmity with God\u201d, 1 John 2:15b; James 4:4b.\u00a0 Demas returned to the world because he loved it.\u00a0 Some believers who have not dismantled the bridge that linked them with the world also run the risk of returning to the world someday.\u00a0 Worldliness begins in the heart; it is an inward liking and later a craving for the fad, fancies and fashions which eventually manifest in the person\u2019s lifestyle.\u00a0 Unfortunately, some persons who lay claim to the Christian faith have lost true Christian standard and inward holiness that show forth God\u2019s nature and glory outwardly.\u00a0 The solution is to love God with the totality of our being, Matthew 22:37.<\/p>\n

        -The hardness of the times. 2 Timothy 3:1<\/span><\/p>\n

        Due to economic pressures, persecutions, famine, joblessness, marital challenges, societal influence, etc., some are tempted to abandon their Christian commitment. We should remember that no matter how hard things may be, God will never abandon his children.\u00a0 He will make all things work together for the good of His people.\u00a0 1 Thessalonians 5:24; Hebrews 13:5; Romans 8:28. It sounds serious warning to sinners and backsliders.<\/p>\n

        -Lack of fellowship with Gods people. Hebrews 10:25; Proverbs 27:17<\/span><\/p>\n

        Some believers that are not having regular fellowship with God\u2019s people easily abandon their faith when faced with trials and temptations. Scripture says, \u201ciron sharpens iron\u201d, Christians are encouraged to fellowship with God and one another.<\/p>\n

        Believers should be more interested in the word of God than in activities and positions in the church. We should remain humble, giving attention to details of divine instruction in order not to derail into self-will, and disobedience.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        4a. How can the injunction in Hebrews 12:1-3 help us not to look back?<\/h5>\n

        We should know that there are clouds of witnesses surrounding us; we need to daily lay aside every besetting sin and run the race with carefulness as we look unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. He has promised not to leave nor forsake us, Hebrews 13:5b.<\/p>\n

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        4b. What should be the lifestyle of an individual that wants to escape the wrath and judgment of God?<\/h5>\n

        Believers must remain humble and teachable, pay greater attention to divine instructions eschew self-interest, self-praise and self-aggrandizement. We should strive earnestly to maintain consistency in our walk with God despite attempts to change Christian standards.\u00a0 We should determine to live daily to please god like Enough, Genesis 5 by upholding the tenets of the Christian faith and deliberately rejecting false doctrines and teachings with lower, mutilate, corrupt, dilute, weaken and decimate the standard of holiness.\u00a0 We should not allow challenges or problems, trials and temptations, difficult situations etc. to make us lose focus on Christ.\u00a0 We should remain prayerful.<\/p>\n

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        4c. What should be our attitude to those who are looking back? Galatians 6:1<\/h5>\n

        The strong and abiding believers should not be indifferent or exhibit holier-than-thou attitude towards the weak or faltering ones, rather they should share in the burden and the spiritual welfare of other believers. Thus when we see a believer looking back or overtaken by a fault, we should empathize with him\/her.\u00a0 Moreover, Christ warns that \u2018he that thinketh he standeth should take heed lest he fall\u2019, 1 Corinthians 10:12.<\/p>\n

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        Daily Living Application:<\/h3>\n

        Today\u2019s lesson \u2018Remember Lot\u2019s wife\u2019 poses a sound warning to us believers to watch our ways, our actions so as not to suffer eternal loss like her. It warns against the danger of looking back.\u00a0 Lot and his family had the privilege of enjoying divine protection and guidance to escape form destruction but his wife looked back and faced instant judgement.\u00a0 This is a pointer to contemporary Christians that if we must please our Master, we must be steadfast, consistent and resolved to follow Him at all cost; for he that looks back is not fit for the kingdom, Luke 9:62.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Memory Verse:<\/h3>\n

        Luke 9:62 \u2013 \u201cAnd Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Remember Lot\u2019s Wife     Central Thought: We should learn to obey God Always.   Hymn: \u201cI\u2019ve A Message from the Lord.\u201d Text: Luke 17:20-37, Genesis 19:15-30   The Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were so filled with all sorts of corrupt practices, just like our present day, that God decided to destroy them. Abraham, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/1423520368578.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1173"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4144,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173\/revisions\/4144"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}