Lot's Wife

Women of the Bible

Lot’s Wife

Scripture References:

Genesis 13; 19; Luke 17:29-33

Her Spiritual Inheritance:

Read Genesis 12:4-5

Lot’s wife was the niece of Abraham and Sarah. She had available to her rich spiritual resources.

Imagine how different her life would have been had she stayed close to Sarah and learned from her all that she could about following after God.

Psalm 1:1-6 (NKJV)

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

This Psalm shows us that there are two ways for people to live: The way of the righteous and the way of the wicked.

The blessed man does not:

1.      Walk in the counsel of the ungodly

2.      Stand in the path of sinners

3.      Sit in the seat of the scornful

Blessed  is the word “esher” meaning  a person’s state of bliss. It is the word HAPPY!

It means “a joyful mental state of contentment, a joy, a condition of comfort and security for which a person is to be admired.” –notes from Key Word Study Bible commentary.

The blessed, or happy, woman delights in God’s Word. She has developed a hunger and a dependency on His Word for daily living.

There is power in the Christian life when we are meditating on God’s Word day and night because we ultimately do what we are thinking and meditating about. If we apply this principal with our heart (our emotions are involved) we will see our actions change and reflect the heart of God.

“Brings forth fruit in its season”… we need to wait and allow things to take time. God is a Gardener. He does things in your life in seasons and we need to wait for Him to work.

We each need to choose to receive the spiritual inheritance God has given to us. We all have it but we need to appropriate it into our lives.

Ephesians 1:3 (NASB) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”

We need to be wise women who learn from the lives of others, good and bad, and the examples in the scriptures.

1 Corinthians 10:7-14 (NKJV)

“And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to drink, and rose up to play." Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Lot’s wife struggled with idolatry and worshiping the things others were worshiping around her.

Her marriage:

Read Genesis 13:1-13

Mr. and Mrs. Lot had a marriage based on the riches of this world. Lot had an eye for material wealth and sought to accumulate it. Lot is known for quarreling with Abraham’s servants over the best places and preferred the chance to get ahead. Lot put himself and his own opportunities first.

“Our problem in this materialistic age is the same as Lot’s –a distorted sense of values. We all too often count success by the things we own.” –Frances Vander Velde

There is no account of Lot’s wife influencing him toward godliness or righteousness. She was a woman with apparently little conviction and much weakness.

What an opportunity we have as wives to influence our husbands toward the things of God and things that are important. Our words can instill courage and bravery into our husbands to live for truth in a perverse and crooked world. These are the kind of women men want to hold onto. These are the kind of women that men respect, admire and remember.

Lot “lifted up his eyes” we read in verse 10, but he didn’t lift his eyes high enough to the Lord.  His eyes were set on this world.

Read 1 John 2:15-17.

Her Poverty:

Read Genesis 19:12-29.

What Sodom and Gomorrah really offered:

Genesis 19:4-9 – sexual perversion and sickness. Depravity and bondage.

2 Peter 2:6-10 –lawlessness, corruption, no fear of God

Jude 7 –indulged in gross immorality

This is what Lot’s wife fell in love with.

*When it comes to temptation we need to think on things that are true. To help you overcome temptation, take the thought captive and meditate what is true and real about the temptation. (Philippians 4:8 –sift all of your thoughts through this verse).

We cannot set our heart on both riches and God.

Matthew 6:24 (NLT)

"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

“Lot’s wife became a monumental warning to all who love the world and the things of the world.” –Francis Vander Velde

Her motherhood:

Read Genesis 19:30-36.

Was it worth it? Was Lot’s wife a woman of God who feared the Lord and instilled the fear of the Lord in her children? Pray for daily wisdom in teaching your children to fear God and be a tool in His hands to train them up in righteousness.

Let us pray that our influence in the home may always be for good and for God!

Life Lesson:

Read Luke 17:29-33.

Lose your life in this world and gain it in the next world, the real one!!!!!!

Write out Matthew 6:21. 

(Magnify Him Women's Bible Study at Calvary Grace Fellowship!)

Your Desires

What are your desires? Bring them before the Lord. Talk them over with Him. Your desires can be a dangerous thing if not placed in the hands of your loving God. Prayer. It is in prayer that you pour out your desires before Him. It is a place of reality. A refuge from falling into dillusionment. God is reality. Let Him be your greatest desire and you won't wake up feeling so disappointed. I promise you if God is not your greatest desire you will be disappointed. Jesus, it's all about You.

Don't Forget

"And He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while'" (Mark 6:31). Have you gotten to a quiet place with the Lord lately? Just you and Him? "And they all ate and were satisfied" (Mark 6:42). Have you eaten of His Word until you were satisfied? If you've been down and discouraged or feel like you are far from victory, the FIRST thing to ask yourself is...have you spent time with Jesus? Real time. Time in His presence where His Word jumps off the page and into your heart?
If you feel far away from the Lord right now, remember... "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You" (Psalm 86:5). Call upon the Lord...be refreshed in the REALITY of His presence! The more we live day by day apart from experiencing His presence, the more we live weak and hungry lives. We all are going to find a way to meet our souls needs somehow...let's not turn to idols but to the true and living God!
If there is one MAIN THING the enemy goes after...it's your time spent with the Lord. Remember that...

Your Reaction to Temptation

The first video for the Book Club will be posted on Tuesday...just to give you all a little more time who are in the process of getting the book. If you get it later then we started, no big deal...just go back and watch the previous videos to catch up! Again we will only be going through one chapter a week.

This morning this scripture stuck out to me. Be greatly encouraged by it!

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it."

What is the thing you turn to in your flesh when pressures arise? Does the enemy have a "temptation button" in your life that he can push to guarantee a trip up? Do not be alarmed as if this was only happening to you. We all are tempted and battle specific faults and failures. But please do not settle there. Recognize an area of temptation where the enemy always has victory. Search out the scriptures concerning it and cry out to God. He will break down the stronghold. Be persistent and persevere. Train your mind to turn to the scriptures instead of your fleshly reaction. I have a feeling the enemy will reconsider tempting you in that way when your every reaction is prayer and the Word. I know he doesn't want you to do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Relationships for the Glory of God

Here is a principle in scripture that if we would just grasp it and trust God by faith, we would all be a happier and more secure people.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 "But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away."
Colossians 3:2 "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

Do you live in light of eternity? This world, especially our culture, is absorbed in an "American Dream." They are living for materialism and for each other. God gives the blessing of human relationships but they are only able to be a blessing when the LORD Jesus Christ is sitting on the throne, in REALITY, in your life. You may think in your mind, "Yes, the Lord is on the throne." But is that the reality? As the time is short that we have on earth and the Lord's return is near, has the enemy deceived you and robbed you of labor in prayer, sharing with the lost and discipling others because you have become consumed with making life for yourself here on earth? Have you considered the people that God has placed in your life as people to minister to? Do you seek to get your needs met by them? You will only waste years of your life and expend energy trying real hard only to learn and realize God never created them to meet your needs. This verse in 1 Corinthians may seem radical to you, but let me suggest it to be more logical, practical and wise above being radical. By obeying this verse by faith and using your emotions and energies for the things of the kingdom of God, things that will not fade away, you will remove vast amounts of disappointment, sorrow and tension in your human relationships. Please do not misunderstand and take this out of context...what you sow into a relationship is what you will reap. Your relationships are to be a testimony and witness to the lost world around you. But do not believe the preaching of the world that you have to live like they do. You do not HAVE to be materialistic. You do not HAVE to experience all the joys this world has to offer. The world is living like this because they are seeking what we already have! They are searching for what we have found! Allow this teaching in scripture to FREE you and FREE your friends and loved ones. When conflict or trials come in a friendship allow it to deepen the friendship. God puts us in situations in relationships so we can learn how to live out our Christian faith. The deepest being that of a relationship with a spouse. How wonderfully sanctifying! How beautiful the process can be. When Billy and I were engaged, God very persistently gave us Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." God gives us what we need. He will not allow people and things to satisfy because God is into reality. Do not believe and illusion that we live this out perfectly, but by God's grace alone it is our goal. God alone can meet our needs and in His goodness He does not allow the things of this world to give us satisfaction to our soul. We have the choice to test God in seeking these things to satisfy, but we will be choosing to learn the hard way. Love others and put them before yourself. JESUS IS COMING! The time is short and He is returning soon! Are you ready?????

THE PEOPLE SYNDROME

Galatians 1:10 "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."

We have a people syndrome where we are way too caught up with people

• Pressure
• Belonging
• Acceptance
• Popularity
• Celebrities
• Musicians
• Fashion
• Reality Shows
  

We have a tendency to lift people up and idolize them in our heart which the Bible tells us to flee from in 1 Corinthains 10:14 "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." ...God did create us to have relationships...we are relational and He created us that way...but we can be unhealthy in the way we interact with and view mankind.

Idolatry is allowing something to be on the throne of your heart other than God. It is something you love and worship more than God. It is something that causes you to act in behalf of it.

When you put your trust in other people...it pulls you away from God. Jeremiah 17:5 says, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD."

We are so easily led to follow people. For example, most of us know about God from what people tell us about God...not from what we've read about Him for ourselves from our Bibles. We rely on other people to tell us!

Paul addresses this issue in Galatians 1:1 stating he was NOT sent from men nor through the agency of man but through Jesus Christ

In verse 6 Paul says he was so amazed that they were deserting Him who called them by grace to a different gospel. WHY??? Because of all Christ had done for them. They quickly turned away from Christ and all He had done to listen to what other people had to say!