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GREATEST TRAGEDIES

Introduction

In this series on the “Greatest Tragedies,” we have seen the Greatest Tragedy of all time–the tragedy that began all tragedies–The Tragedy of Sin.

Last time we looked at The Tragedy Of The Flood in Noah’s day.

Today our Scripture tells us of another tragedy. The destruction of Sodom and the surrounding area.

Sodom. The very name of the city lives in infamy.

It is a name that is associated with wickedness. It is a name that is associated with vileness.

It is a name that is associated with destruction. It is a name that is associated with fire and brimstone.

I.         THE TRAGEDY OF SODOM’S SINS. (Ezekiel 16:48-50)

            A.        The Sin Of Pride.

                        Proverbs 16:8–“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall”

Proverbs 16:5–“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

Genesis 19:9–“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 thee, than with them.”

            B.        The Sin Of Gluttony. “. . .fulness of bread”

This sin was supported by the great plenty that their country afforded. This plenty, which was given to them by God, was abused to luxury and excess.

It was because of God’s great mercy that they had plenty. It was their great sin that they had abused it and glutted themselves with it. They ate to excess and drank to excess.

That which was given to them for a provision for their lives became a provision for their lusts instead.

Wealth and plenty are great temptations to sensuality. So often, this is the effect of earthly blessings. They might lead a person to God, and should bring forth gratitude and praise by those who enjoy the blessings. However, they are often abused and bring ruin to the abusers.

                        Fullness of bread is apt to make people drowsy both physically and spiritually.

Instead of worshiping the “Blesser,” the blessings receive the worship He alone deserves.

                        Proverbs 1:32–“. . .the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.”

Matthew 4:4–“. . .Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

            THE TRAGEDY OF SODOM’S SINS.

                        The Sin Of Pride.

                        The Sin Of Gluttony.

            C.        The Sin Of Idleness. “. . .abundance of idleness.”

                        Where there is fullness of bread, there is commonly abundance of idleness.

To be idle in order to take a rest from our labors there is no sin involved. However, an abundance of idleness can lead to no good.

                        1.         Abundance Of Idleness Can Lead To Wrong Thinking.

                                    God made man to be involved in work even before sin entered the world.

                                    Genesis 2:15, 19-20 

                        2.         Abundance Of Idleness Leads To Time Being Wasted, Not Redeemed.

                        3.         Abundance Of Idleness Can Lead To Destructive Behavior Rather Than Constructive Behavior.

            D.        The Sin Of Neglect. (. . .neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.)                        

Opportunities for service were neglected because of their gluttony and abundance of idleness.

                        1.         We Sin When We Neglect Those Who Are Spiritually Poor.

Jesus said in Luke 4:18–“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”

                                    If we are to be Christ-like, we must preach the gospel to the poor also.

                        2.         We Sin When We Neglect Those Who Are Materially Poor.

Ezekiel 16:49–“Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.”

1 John 3:17-18–“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

             E.        The Sin Of Immorality. (. . .they. . . committed abomination before me.)

                        (Genesis 19:4-5)

Genesis 13:13–“But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”

                        Genesis 18:20–“. . .their sin is very grievous.”

Genesis 19:13–“. . .because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord.”

Leviticus 18:22–“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

Leviticus 20:13–“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”

                        Romans 1:24-32

Proverbs 6:16-19--“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

 II.       THE TRAGEDY OF SODOM’S SEDUCTION. (Genesis 13:10-13; 19:1)

“The act of enticing from the path of duty; to lead astray”

            Eve was seduced by the subtlety of the serpent in the garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:1-6)

The pleasure of sin seduces men to sin because there is pleasure in sin though it is only for a season. (Hebrews 11:25)

James 1:14–“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

            Sin’s seduction is that it only shows you its good points. It does not show you the end.

            Ask Lot about the seduction of sin.

            Ask Samson about the seduction of sin.

            Ask David about the seduction of sin.

            Ask Solomon about the seduction of sin.

            Ask whoever you want to that has come full circle in the seduction of sin.

Sin is like a monster from your worst nightmare. It sucks you into the grasps of its jaws and then chews your life up and spits you out in a mess.

            We need to guard against the seduction of sin in our lives and the lives of our families.

1 Timothy 4:1–“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

 III.      THE TRAGEDY OF SODOM’S SAINTS.

            A.        They Were Few In Number. (Genesis 18:32)

                        Ten righteous people could not be found in Sodom.

            B.        They Were Full Of Negligence.

                        1.         Lot Had Neglected His Righteous Soul.

2 Peter 2:7–“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.”

                        2.         Lot Had Neglected His Testimony. (Genesis 19:9, 14)

                        3.         Lot Had Neglected His Household. (Genesis 19:15-17)

                                    a.         His Sons In Laws. (Genesis 19:14)

                                    b.        His Wife. (Genesis 19:26)

                                    c.         His Children. (Genesis 19:18, 33-38)

You can take your children out of Sodom, but it is much harder to take Sodom out of your children.

IV.      THE TRAGEDY OF SODOM’S SCOURGING.

            A.        It Was Sudden.  

Lamentations 4:6–“For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.”

Psalm 73:19–“How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.”

            B.        It Was Searing. (Genesis 19:24, 28)

                        1.         Fire And Brimstone On Earth.

                                    To burn is one of the most painful and agonizing ways to die.

                        2.         Fire And Brimstone In Hell.

To be in flames as you die and then to wake up in hell fire–what could be worse?

            C.        It Was Sad.

                        1.         It Was Sad Because The Wicked Were Irretrievably Lost When They Could Have Been Saved.

                        2.         It Was Sad Because The Righteous In The City Lost Everything They Had Lived For.

Conclusion

There is coming a day when God will judge the wicked by fire.

Revelation 20:14-15–“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

There is coming a day when this earth and everything in it will be consumed with fire.

2 Peter 3:10-11–“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,”

There is coming a day when the believers works will be judged with fire.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15–“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!