The Peril Of Looking Back and Lingering by Brother Duke Hansen

            Good morning. Some of the times in our life we learn valuable lessons from listening to others who have lived or experienced more than we have in their life. More often than not though, we are oblivious to any valuable lesson unless we are experiencing a situation that will impart one to us. If we aren't experiencing something on a personal level, most of the time any lesson will not stick. If your life hasn't been modified by the Holy Ghost and the blood of Jesus, your life is weighed down by not only good and bad experiences, but slights, grievances, hurts, pain. It's similar to a rucksack or backpack you carry around on your back. A lot of time, all that weight you carry is what defines you to many people and it defines your character. This morning, we will be reading from the book of Genesis chapter 19. We will start reading from verse 1. We will be speaking about the story of Lot and his family. There isn't too much in the way of background on Lot, except that he was the nephew of Abraham. He had strife with Abraham in chapter 13 over land for their flocks and herds respectively. In chapter 14, Lot was captured by a group of nations and Abraham rescued his nephew.

            And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom; and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

             Lot knew better at the beginning of this chapter both in where he was living and how he was living. There's a parallel in this story which applies to many people's life today. Many are trying to stay bonded to their sins, not giving up the world, yet try and grab a hold the glory of Jesus.

        2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

        Do you not think that the angels didn't know what was in the streets of Sodom? What does this say about Lot where they would be like, "It's OK. We will decline your invitation to stay in your house and instead abide in the street." God knows all things in the world. God knows about your dark side. He doesn't go out looking for the good of man but what the man has which he can make use of in his time.

        3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

        4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

        5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

        When we talk about the draw of sin, we are dealing with our flesh. It's your flesh wanting to handle sin. Often, many of us are blind in the knowledge of just how bad we are, but others know it. Your family members, your colleagues, people who are of the world.

        6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

        7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

        8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

        Lot knew the value of the angels because he offered up his daughters as an exchange to the crowd outside his house. The thing is, the crowd could have taken Lot's daughters at any time before this. Nothing was going to stop them.

        9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with them than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

        The "they" in this verse is reference to the angels who were inside Lot's house. Some people will judge themselves and their life lightly if not at all, and there are others who judge themselves more harshly. Sometimes, their self judgement is so severe that they retreat out of church, off the path, and back into the world.

        10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

        11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

        The angels had shown up at Lot's house because there had been a righteous man, Abraham, who interceded to God for the city.

        12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

        The angels had arrived to the city to deliver Lot and his family from the city. They were preparing to destroy Sodom.

        13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord, and Lord hath sent us to destroy it.

        14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

        The sons in law knew Lot and his character. They didn't believe him because of his character.

        15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

        Before we continue, I know that sometimes people love to overthink things they read in scripture. One question some people have asked is why did Lot's wife turn back? My reply is who cares why Lot's wife turned back to look.

        16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him; and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

        God came down to open our eyes to his presence, administer us warnings, and we still have to urge to linger and look back to what we shouldn't look upon. We shouldn't take the position of being one way in the world and for 2 hours be something different in church. A lot of times, we need to call ourself out to be proved, to see if we are lining up with God. Some of us, when we are in that moment, in that press, we feel pain and torment. I give praise to God for that pain for it is afflicting my flesh.

        The question to ask you this morning is this; What are you lingering upon in your life this morning? We cannot be used, we cannot be built up by God and transformed if we want to remain and linger on our past.

        17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

        Where there is strife and envy in one's life, there is no humility. Pride brings those feelings out. Lot wanted the plains rather than the mountains in his land dispute with Abraham a few chapters back. He is now commanded to go up to the mountain.

        18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:

        19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shown unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

        This message hits hard to some people today because they may be a descendent from the sed of Moab or Ammon. It is why this word no is so important in your life and for your walk. When you break a chain or addiction, it is going to take both discipline and consistency to say no to your flesh. It takes 21 days to break a habit. One of the biggest sins for us to break in life is the sin of pride. Lot was delivered to safety by a righteous man's prayers. A lot of people's issues in your life is overwhelming fear. Fear motivates, preys, and controls many people.

        20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one; Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

        God reveals to us things in our life, makes us aware to our faults and vices, and many of us will still haggle and negotiate with God when he's delivering us out of the mire of our life.

        21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

        22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zo-ar.

        23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zo-ar.

        24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;

        25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

        26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

        If a man looks back, he is not worth his salt. Jesus spoke of salt in his ministry and it is recorded in all 4 gospels.

        27 And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord:

        28 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.

        29 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.

        Lot's wife looked back at the destruction. Abraham saw the destruction from where he stood before the Lord and yet he wasn't turned into a pillar of salt. Why? It was not Abraham's past.

        In the book of Luke chapter 17 Jesus references Lot's wife in verse 32. He was speaking of the end of times to his disciples starting in verse 22 if you want to read that. 

        The devil cannot kill you, but, he can afflict you only with God's permission. Your flesh is affecting you quite more effective than the devil ever could. A revelation is when you see it and you believe it. Hold yourself accountable so your spirit man can strengthen and grow. This is your fight. You have to sear integrity in your person.

        Seeing leads to believing leads to deliverance. You should know yourself and what your triggers or hot buttons are in life. It is a process for you to apply in your life. God set these things in motion for you to obtain victory no matter how many attempts it takes. Pray for strength. Seek out like minded people. For wherever two or three are gathered he is in their midst. God does not want us to look back, but to always moving forward. He doesn't want us to stop and look behind and see who is behind us. We are all being watched today by not only the almighty but by the world. The question is; who is guarding your door? God gives us protection and shelter.