Genesis
Week 6 - Holding onto Holiness
October 15th, 2023
Pastor Ezequiel Gasca
Genesis 19
A great Cloud of witnesses
The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. —Genesis 19:1-3 (ESV)
Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. —Hebrews 13:1-2 (ESV)
In order to hold on to holiness, we must live as if there are always witnesses, whether seen or unseen.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. —Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
When holding onto holiness, check your motives
Bad company ruins good morals
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door. —Genesis 19:4-11 (ESV)
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” —1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)
“Do not be deceived, bad company ruins good morals”
Holiness has no trade off
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. —Matthew 5:48 (ESV)
Don’t shake your convictions for people’s approval
Let us not look back, die to sin daily
Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting. —Genesis 19:12-14 (ESV)
As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” —Genesis 19:15-17 (ESV)
“But he lingered…”
The call to be set apart is NOW
Let us not be sluggish to obey
And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. —Genesis 19:25 (ESV)
Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” —Luke 9:61-62 (ESV)
Ask God if there any ways you are deceiving yourselves out of holding onto holiness.
Notes:
Discussion Questions:
What does being holy mean and how does this look like for you in your day to day life (besides going to church on Sunday)?
Why is holiness such a pivotal part of the Christian walk?
What areas do you feel God challenging you to hold onto holiness amidst a crooked culture?
Who are the people closest to you in life? How do you see your morals lining up with theirs? And do you believe those morals bring glory to God?