The Influence of Sodom 2 Peter 2:1-11

Introduction Familiar story –Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom” –Chose what looked good

Introduction Choice impacted his future –Wickedness was great (Genesis 13:13; 19:2-5, 9-11) –God would have spared them (Genesis 18:22-33) –Sodom began to live in his family

Decline in Respect For Parents Sons-in-law toward Lot –Did not take him seriously –Perished “Sodom” gets in the heart –Living in an evil time –Respect commanded (Leviticus 19:32)

Reluctance To Flee Evil Angels had to lead them out –Leaving behind unrighteousness (2 Peter 2:6-9) –Why weren’t they “long gone?” –Why not leave quickly? –Answer: Influence of Sodom

Reluctance To Flee Evil We are to flee from sin –Sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:17, 18) –Millions infected with disease, some incurable –Danger of disease, but also a sin against God (Genesis 39:9)

Fear In The Place of Faith Told to flee, but Lot was too afraid –“I cannot escape to the mountains lest some evil overtake me and I die” (v. 19) –Later, he was afraid to dwell in Zoar and went to the mountains (v. 30)

Fear In The Place of Faith Influences of the world breed fear –Such a spirit not from God (2 Timothy 1:7) –Do not dwell on our fears, but trust in God who replaces fear with power

General Patton Patton was praised for his courage and his bravery, but he replied, “Sir I am not a brave man– the truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot, or in the sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn’t so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands”

General Patton A statement in his autobiography: “I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears.”

Increases Yearnings For The World “Escape for your life! Do not look…” –Lot’s wife curious? –No, she had ties and interests there –Turned into a pillar of salt (v. 26)

Increases Yearnings For The World God has said, “No,” many times –Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:24) –Uzzah (Numbers 4:15; 2 Samuel 6:6, 7) –Don’t forsake (Hebrews 10:25-27) –Must be feared and reverenced (Hebrews 10:28-31; 12:28, 29)

Caused Immorality To Take Root In the hearts of Lot’s daughters –Seen the conduct of the wicked (2 Peter 2:7, 8) –Influence rubbed off on them –Could have returned to Abraham and found husbands –Fornication not all that evil to them

Caused Immorality To Take Root Cannot feed on “garbage” –“When one lies down with the dogs, he will rise up with fleas” –Mountain of “garbage” through media –Need to think on holy, righteous, and spiritual things (Proverbs 4:23; Philippians 4:8)

Conclusion Not a sin to live in Sodom Sin came when Sodom lived in them Let’s not conform to the world