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Prime Your Pump

Ovidiu Radulescu 35 Ovidiu Radulescu


sermons
The Widow at Zarephath 1 Kings 17:1016 (NIV)
10 So he (Elijah) went to Zarephath.
When he came to the town gate, a widow
was there gathering sticks. He called to
her and asked, "Would you bring me a
little water in a jar so I may have a
drink?"
11. As she was going to get it, he called,
"And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
12 "As surely as the LORD your God
lives," she replied, "I dont have any
breadonly a handful of flour in a jar and
a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few
sticks to take home and make a meal for
myself and my son, that we may eat it
and die."
Elijah said to her, "Dont be afraid. Go
home and do as you have said. But first
make a small cake of bread for me from
what you have and bring it to me, and
then make something for yourself and
your son.
14 For this is what the LORD, the God of
Israel, says: The jar of flour will not be
used up and the jug of oil will not run dry
until the day the LORD gives rain on the
land. "
15 She went away and did as Elijah had
told her. So there was food every day for
Elijah and for the woman and her family.
16 For the jar of flour was not used up
and the jug of oil did not run dry, in
keeping with the word of the LORD
spoken by Elijah.
Can you imagine that? Is extreme
drought, famine, you are at the brink of
starvation, and someone is coming to
your house, knocking at your door and
asking your food... Your last crumb of
bread, insisting: "Give me first!"... And

the poor widow didnt call the Police,


didnt went inside to look for the
shotgun She just gave Elijah
EVERYTHING she had: a handful of flour
and a drop of oil, enough for a small pita
bread She was able to sacrifice herself
and her son, because she understood by
faith, to prime the pump
Many-many years ago, when I was in my
high school years, I went up in the
mountains with three friends from
church. Every summer vacation we did
the same trip, a week or two carrying our
tents, and wandering going around the
Carpathian Mountains.
So we arrived at this farm. It was a hot
August day and we were thirsty We
knocked at the door nobody The
owner was not there, the door locked
and his dog just barking aloud
Going around we discovered a pump like
this one (actually showing a pump - $ 50
from LOWES - I remembered to this from
a Zig Ziglar presentation). And one of my
friends grabbed the handle and started
to pump. How many of you ever used
those kind of old fashion water pumps?...
Rise your hands please
(Pumping) OK, so this guy began to
pump, and pump, and pump, about
three or four minutes After that,
exhausted, he said nope, no water
here, probably this is just an work out
device for biceps.
But I noticed how the grass looked fresh
green around the pump, and even the
soil was kind of moist so I told them
the pump is functional, look and
compare And they said, OK, its your
turn to pump. And I did I pumped, and I

pumped, and I pumped several minutes,


and the squeaking noise was just awful
But no water

I a newcomer and and I need a credit

Well, the owner showed up, alarmed by


the dog barks and we asked him for
some water. He showed us the pump
Oh, no, its not working
(Pumping again) Yes, is working, but we
needed to PRIME THE PUMP FIRST!... You
know what I am talking about to prime
the pump, dont you? Well, at that time I
didnt know And he went inside and
came with a jug with water

have money in order to ask for money

water into the pump while we stared at

put something in, before you can get

him not understand why he dont give us

anything out

card The bank teller smiled and said:


Is not working this way You have to
In other words, do something before, in
order to expect results. Prime the Pump
first!
See, unfortunately a lot of people are
standing in front of the stove of live and
saying: hey stove, give me some heat,
and I will put some wood in there!.
This is not the way it works. You got the

the water instead And he said: now you


pump No, no like this. And he

So many times, you know, the employee

grabbed the handle and he went several

goes to the employer saying give me a

times up and down sturdy! And the water

raise and after that I will start coming to

came.

work on time My nephew Eddie asking


me: buy me a watch and I will read a

You know, you need to put something

book as you asked me to do so many

inside here, before you have something

times in other words, reward me right

out there You need to have some

now and I will produce something later

arrows, yes you, King Joash, to have


some arrows first, in order to shut them

Can you imagine a youngster in school

out You need to have something in your

saying: Teacher, if I will go home with an

bank account in order to be approved for

F again, my parents will skinned me

some credit Isnt something?

alive; pass me on this semester and then


I will study for the next year as nobody

ILL. After we came here in US, I

else. Reward me right now, Ill produce

discovered that everybody around me

later! Is not going to work that way.

were using something named credit

Can you ast seeing an old farmer staying

card to buy things We said, oh good,

in the middle of his field in October

lets go to a bank and asked them for tis

saying: Oh Lord, I did not plan a thing

wonder card ziiip and pay for your gas,

this year, but if you give me a big crop

and ziiip agin and buy a nice church suit.

this year, Ill plant more than anybody

I went with one coworker, I told them that

next year Is not going to work

our lives? Is not true that if you become


The rule of sowing and reaping is at

an MD, a doctor, in only six months of

being made by God, and is the

evening classes, or over the Internet

fundament on everything in our

classes, the reward is minimal and how

Universe Sowing and reaping

many patients will trust you as their


doctor?

In the spiritual area, in our relationship


with the church and with God, people are

Anything worth doing is worth doing

doing the same thing: give me that

poorly until you can learn to do it well

blessing and I will do this and that Heal

(Zig Ziglar) We will never know how

me first and I will stop drinking after that.

many kids will miss the opportunity of a

Give back my family and I will stop

college scholarship because they didnt

chasing other women right away

study an average of 10 more minutes a

It does not work like this You see, you

day

have to put something in (the pump) in


order to have something out I mean

We will never know how close we were to

invest, sacrifice, sweat, before the

a genuine experience with God, to a real

reward Have something already done

high level Bible study experience, finding

in order to prime the pump

the Scripture the most exciting thing in


the world, only because we become

August, hot, pump, and pump, and very

discouraged to soon, become bored to

hot... and the question is: how much

soon, and we quit exactly before

effort are you willing to put in, for a drink

experiencing the joy

of fresh water?...
(pumping) We will never know how much
And finally my friend Sorin said, You

success we have had in life, in

know Ovidiu, I dont thing is any water

ourrelationship with our spouse, with our

left down there Oh yeas, still there but

children, with our neighbors in telling

deep down And the good thing about

them about Jesus, in our Christian

the water that is deep down at 50 feet

experience if only pumping for a little

underground, is this: the deeper the

bit more, a little bit harder

water - the purer, the sweeter, the cooler

Pump and pump and pump but only to

andthe most refreshing thing in the

give up "Hey man, is no water down

world

there, why spending time and energy for


nothing I quit, I am out of here

Friends, is not true with our life, is not the


same law assigned by God our Creator, in

(pumping harder) No, no, dont stop right

now, is coming, wait a little bit more, just

Let me tell you something (pumping

pump If you stop, the water is going

slow & apathetic) You will gonna pump

back down and the whole effort is really

for ever like that, my friends, before

for nothing just dont quit because if

everything happened

you do, you have to start ALLLLLLL


OVER

(Pumping fast) When its your turn, when


God offered you by grace, an opportunity

Yes my friends, this is the story of your

to do something for your life, for your

life and the story of my life, this is the

church, for your family, for you as

story of our church this is the way God

potential citizen of Gods kingdom

put the law of sowing and reaping in


order to let us be serious in seeking the

When you have the handle in your hand,

everlasting values of His Kingdom.

be serious about pumping. Pour


something in the beginning, and pump

(Pumping) I believe with all of my heart

with heart, until the water will flow And

that if you will pump long enough and

once the water starts to flow, then my

hard enough, end enthusiastically

friends, is just easy as ABC no more

enough the water will go up and up,

swat, no more effort, everyting is nice,

against the law of gravity, pushing out

smooth, easy, while the water is more

the air and coming closer, and closer

and more, and purer, and cooler and

and finaly the water starts to flow

fresher, and tastier, is unbelievable

(Pumping slowly) All you have to do

Returning to the story of that pump the

once you reach this level, is to keep it

man, the owner of that mountain farm,

easely, barely making an effort, just

finally said: look inside the kitchen,

enjoying muving the handle, and the

they are some clean buckets, bring them

water is coming out effortless, more, and

all here. And he just played with the

more More water than you possibly can

handle of that pump. It was like flood of

use

water without any effortFriends, if we are


serious about seeking Gods Kingdom

The basic problem is this : so many

and His righteousness first, if we are

times, people get involved in something

willing to follow His advices, His way

and say I will give it a tray and if is work

instead or our way, we will respect those

out, that will be good, and if not I dont

two rules:

want to kill myself - you know what I

1.Prime the pump first. Give to God first.

mean dont you? - I will stop and look for

Seek Him

something else

and His rigteousness first.

Ahithophel the Ticking Bomb

2.More effort in the beginning, is

Ovidiu Radulescu 35 Ovidiu Radulescu


sermons

rewarded with less effort and more


enjoyment after that
And respecting them, we will be blessed

more than our wildest dream

Successful life here and eternal life

there

Topic: #4 of 23 for Sermons on


Forgiveness: General
Scripture: 2 Samuel 16:23-17:23
Denomination: Seventh-day Adventist
Date Added: September 2009
Audience: Believer Adults (31 - 49)
Keywords: Ahithophel, Pride, Forgivenes,
David, (Suggest a Keyword)
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Ive read a number of stories about
people who have tried to disarm bombs
and maybe they have blown up in their
face. Handling a ticking bomb could be a

very dangerous thing.

your children, your God; but when we


cherish something that we dont like,

Have you ever know a person thats like

whats going on?...

a ticking bomb? They seem like a normal


people, but you get on a certain subject

ILL. This is an oxymoron - words in

and they explode. Theres a certain thing

combination that simply dont make

that is like a trigger, and if you talk about

sense. Soft rock. Theres no such thing as

that thing with that person, it just sets

soft rock, is there? Working vacation. Or,

them off. Theyre time bombs. The

Almost saved. These words just dont go

smallest static electricity set them off. A

together. Thats an oxymoron. To cherish

comment, a word.

a dislike is an oxymoron. Thats what


carrying a grudge is. Its a wound that we

One thing that makes for unstable people

grab to ourselves and that we hang on

and people that are time bombs is when

to.

they carry a grudge. Theyve been


offended about something or certain

Imagine someone who loves their wound,

subject, and you bring that subject up

you know. They broke their arm and they

and theyre explosive.

cherish it: Wow, I love that. Isnt it


great? I mean, look at that!. People

As a pastor, I would visit people like that.

who are carrying a grudge are displaying

Maybe they werent going to church any

wounds, are cherishing wounds, and

more, and they had a reason that they

theyre time bombs. Because if you touch

werent going to church. And if you

that wound, they explode. You never

wanted to find it out, you would go and

know when theyll explode.

sit down and talk with them and mention


them coming back to church, and poof,

Ahithophel was a time bomb. He was a

explosion. Because there was something

person like that. Normal under all

they felt injured about, that they were

circumstances, seemed to be a friendly

carrying, and that had built up a lot of

person, a very bright person, good friend

gunpowder in their lives. They were

of King David, but he was wound up

carrying a grudge.

tighter than a clock. And he was ready to


explode. Now, it wasnt that he was

The dictionary defines a grudge as a

unintelligent. He was a very intelligent

cherished dislike. Isnt that an

man, but there was a part of his life that

interesting word? Cherished dislike. Now,

he was really stupid in. Even smart

its one thing to cherish something that

people can do some really stupid things.

you like. That makes sense. You wife,

2 Samuel 16:23 Now in those days the


advice Ahithophel gave was like that of

What is the grudge that youre carrying?

one who inquires of God. That was how

Are you carrying something? Is there

both David and Absalom regarded all of

something in your life that is building up

Ahithophels advice.

the gunpowder, of being a time bomb


that if someone touches you on that

Isnt that amazing? When it came to

subject it really sets you off? Maybe it

judgment in most things, talking with

was something you were injured about.

Ahithophel it was like you were talking to

Maybe some individual that did

God. How would you like that said about

something totally wrong to you. Is there

you? "When you get counsel from Pastor

someone, is there something in your life

Ovidiu, its like youre asking God."

that sets you off?

We read in 1 Chronicles 27:33 that

Lets see what set Ahithophel off. You

Ahithophel was the kings counselor.

remember the story in the Bible that

Now, not only was Ahithophel a wise

Absalom rebelled against David. The

man, but as the kings counselor he had

Bible said he stole the hearts of the men

a lot of status in the kingdom because

of Israel. And we can read about it in 2

any time the king had a problem, he

Samuel 15:2-4. (read)

would call for Ahithophel. He would have


access to the palace and to David

"Well, I would help you. I would do this. I

directly. Any time the king wanted good

would do that. Just vote for me as your

information, he asked Ahithophel. It

next king" And he stole the hearts of the

would be like today, President Obama

people.

always calling you for advice. "I need to


know what to do in the Middle East. What

Absalom was doing this right under the

do you need me to tell you what to do?"

kings nose. After 4 years of electoral


campaign, kissing up to the people,

He would have a lot of say in the

undermining David as king and showing

kingdom. But Ahithophel, as wise as he

off himself to everyone, Absalom said to

was, was loaded up with gunpowder. He

the king in 2 Samuel 15:7:"Let me go to

was a time bomb. He was carrying a

Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the

grudge. He was full of bitterness, anger

Lord.

and hostility because of an experience


that he had, that he was not able to get

Hebron is about 20 miles south of

over. What was the grudge that he was

Jerusalem. When he arrived at Hebron,

carrying?

he sent secret messengers to the tribes

of Israel and this message is in 2 Samuel

the right side of this. Because Ahitophel

15:10. "As soon as you hear the sound of

is on this side too

the trumpets, then say, Absalom is king


in Hebron." He went down to Hebron, not

How could Absalom get Ahithophel to do

to complete his vow but for a overthrow.

that? Certainly he was smart enough to

Kill the legitimate king, David, and

know that this was not a sure thing:

Absolom be the king.

rebellion. Absalom knew something


about Ahithophel. He knew that he was a

There was Absalom in Hebron, starting a

time bomb. Over the years Absalom had

rebellion. He was gathering an army, he

opportunity to found out that Ahithophel

was organizing his cabinet, he was

was carrying a grudge, a very heavy

reaching out to everyone who would

grudge, a cherished dislike about David.

support him, and he was getting ready to


march on Jerusalem.

I imagine that this grudge caused


Ahithophelto abandon David. Now, what

2 Samuel 15:12: While Absalom was

was this grudge? What would cause

offering sacrifices, he also sent for

Ahithophel to abandon his long-time

Ahithophel the Gilonite, Davids

friend, David? Well, Ive put together a

counselor, to come from Giloh, his

couple verses. You don;t need to look

hometown. And so the conspiracy gained

them all up.

strength, and Absaloms following kept


on increasing.

2 Samuel 23:34 gives a list of Davids


mighty men and it mentions Eliam, the

Absalom asked Ahithophel to join the

son of Ahithophel. So we find that

rebellion. Now, how in the world could he

Ahithophel had a son named Eliam.

do that? Ahithophel was a wise man. he


had been Davids counselor for a long

In 2 Samuel 11:2 we read, David got up

time. He was serving in Davids cabinet.

from his bed and walked around on the

He reached right into Davids private

roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a

group of counselors, the ones having the

woman bathing. The woman was very

full power, and got one of them to join

beautiful, and David sent someone to

the rebellion. And what does the Bible

find out about her. The man said, "Isnt

say? Because he did that his conspiracy

this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam

gained strength. Because Absalom was

and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

able to attract some of Davids


counselors everybody else began to

Bathsheba the grand-daughter of

think, "Well, I guess wed better get on

Ahithophel was taken from her husband

and her husband was killed by David.

his advice was the he should wait and

Ahithophels son, Elaim had a daughter,

then make a large-scale attack on David

named Bathsheba. So this grudge:

in his stronghold. All the men of Absalom

Bathsheba had been stolen by David and

said that the advice of Hushai was better

Uriah, the Hittite, her husband had been

than the advice of Ahithophel.

killed by David.
I think his advice appealed to Absaloms
Now, Bathsheba probably undoubtedly

ego that hed make a big large-scale

forgave David. And maybe Elaim,

attack on David. Anyway, that end of

Bathshebas father forgave David. And,

Ahithophels advice. What was the end of

certainly we know that God forgave

Ahithophel?

David. But Ahithophel, the grandfather


never let it go. He never forgave David

2 Samuel 17:23 When Ahithophel saw

for that sin. He carried a grudge, and for

that his advice had not been followed he

year and years and years it festered in

saddled his donkey and set out for his

him until it finally exploded when he had

house in his hometown. He put his house

opportunity in Absaloms rebellion to

in order and then hanged himself. Why

abandon David. Absalom was alienated

did he hang himself? He knew the cause

from his father and Ahithophel used that

was doomed. He knew that David would

opportunity to participate in the

be able to rally the troops and in the end

rebellion.

win the battle.

Well, we of course know the story of what

In reality the end any grudge, the end of

happened after that. Absalom chased

carrying bitterness in our hearts is total

David out of Jerusalem. After David was

collapse. It doesnt destroy the other

out of Jerusalem Absalom asked

person that were seeking to injure. It

Ahithophel what he should do next.

destroys ourselves. If we are not able to

Ahithophels advice was among other

experience forgiveness, and extend

things, to use twelve thousand men and

forgiveness to others, it isnt that it

pursue David immediately.

destroys others, it destroys ourselves.


Jesus was hanging on the cross and He

But instead of following his advice,

said, "Father, forgive them for they know

Absalom decided to ask somebody else.

not what they do.

It was Hushai. And you remember the


rest of the story. Hushai was actually

Forgiveness is not something we give to

Davids friend who had stayed behind to

people when they come crawling to us on

frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel and

their knees. Forgiveness is not something

we extend to people when they finally

cut? Keep showing it so that infection

realize that they were wrong and we

continues to grow? And again, eventually

were right and they beg forgiveness.

destroys myself like it destroyed

Forgiveness is an attitude toward people

Ahithophel in his suicide. Dont nurse a

that we dont hold grudges.

grudge. Dont allow the poison of the

We dont carry bitterness. Bitterness is a


poison like a boomerang. You throw it and
it might feel good when you throw it, but
it comes back to cut our heart out.
Carrying a grudge destroys us. It doesnt
destroy others.
Can you imagine doing with the physical
wound what we sometimes do with a
spiritual wound?
ILL. I get a cut on my hand and I put a
band-aid on it and show it to my wife.
And she says, "Its OK, dont wory. Its
just a little cut." The next day I take the
band-aide off and show it to her and she
says, "Yes, its really healing. It looks
good." But I say, "No, its not." And so I
pop it open again. I squeeze it open until

past to pollute the present.


Whether the past sins are your own or
whether theyre others, accept an
experience of Gods grace. When we
understand Gods forgiveness of us, we
are able to extend that forgiveness to
others even when they dont ask for it.
Maybe they dont want it because were
forgiving them not for them, were
forgiving them not for them but for us.
We are expressing to them the grace of
God the same way God expressed His
grace to us, dying for us while we were
yet sinners. And so we, in turn, are able
to die for others, to forgive others, to live
gracefully for others, even while they are
sinners. Dont collect the powder of a
time bomb, its explosion will destroy you.

it bleeds. "Look how bad that is!" And she


says, "Yeah, that is pretty bad, let me
take care of you." I wanted some
sympathy, some attention there, finally I
got it. But whats even worse is that you
opened it up. I would never do that with a
physical cut.
Why do we do that with emotional
injuries? Why, when I am emotionally
injured by someone, do I then go to
somebody else and keep opening the

Didnt Ahithophel have a right to be


offended? Absolutely!
Didnt David do an horrible thing?
Absolutely!
Didnt Ahitophel have a right to be
injured? Absolutely!
Did he have a right to be unforgiving
and to carry that bitterness through his
whole life? No. Not if he was going to
experience what God wants us to
experience. God forgave David.

Ahithophel apparently never did.


The best way to defuse a grudge is
forgiveness before its asked. Even if its
never asked. Christians forgive. Our
Scripture today Rom. 12:17-21: (READ)
Jesus did it before us (MORE)
Think of someone you may be holding a
grudge against. It may not be big, just a
broken relationship. Maybe an estranged
relationship. Now, think of some way you
can defuse that: send that person a note,
maybe a dinner invitation, maybe a
phone call. Remember to take your
wound and continue to open it up and
you will eventually die from the infection.
Allow the cleansing grace of God to clean
out those infections.

The stories of Noah and Lot are actually


opposites. And I will ask some questions
in order to highlight this statement.
FIRST question. When God destroyed the
world in Noahs day, what agency did he
use to bring about the destruction?
Water, isnt that right?
- When God destroyed the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah, what was the
agency that God used to bring about the

Remember Lot's Wife


Scripture: Luke 17:26-17:32

destruction? It was fire.


We are in the presence of a direct
contrast in Gods dealing with those two

Luke 17:26-32(NIV):

time periods. One is uses Water and the

"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so

other is uses Fire.

also will it be in the days of the Son of


Man. People were eating, drinking,

SECOND question. I like you to also

marrying and being given in marriage up

consider with me for a moment how

to the day Noah entered the ark. Then

long before the flood did God tell Noah of

the flood came and destroyed them all. It

the coming of the destruction? How much

was the same in the days of Lot. People

time? How long before? 120 long years.

were eating and drinking, buying and

Now, how long before the coming of the

selling, planting and building. But the day

destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah did

Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained

God tell Lot and his family about the

down from heaven and destroyed them

destruction? How long before? The Bible

all.

says in Genesis 19 that the angels of God

It will be just like this on the day the Son

arrived at Sodom in the evening; Lot

of Man is revealed. On that day no one

invited them in his home, and

who is on the roof of his house, with his

immediately the story with the wicked

goods inside, should go down to get

men of the city that night And it was

them. Likewise, no one in the field should

the next morning when the angels took

go back for anything. Remember Lots

Lot and his wife and their daughters by

wife!"

the hand and they left the city. How long


is that? Its about 12 hours.
Notice the contrast again. Because in
Noahs day God warned the world 120

years. In Lots time, how long before?

Lets talk about their families. How much

Almost 12 hours.

of Noahs family was saved when the


destruction came? All of them. It was he,

THIRD question. Now something else. I

his wife, their sons and the sons wifes,

want you to think about how much those

all of them were saved. When the

two men lost. When the flood came, how

destruction came, how much of Lots

much did Noah lose in the destruction

family was saved?... Was Lots wife

that God send? How much did he lose

saved? No. And when you read about the

when the flood came? Nothing. We

account of Lots daughters although

have good Bible students here In the

Lots daughters have made it out of the

book Patriarch and Prophets Ellen

city of Sodom, Sodom had not made it

White told us that all that Noah

out of the daughters. We can follow the

possessed, all, everything, he invested in

history of the people known by the name

the building of the ark.

of Moabites who latter on became quite a


plague and a bother for Gods people, the

While Noah was giving his warning

Israelites, throughout the history.

message to the world, his works testified


of his sincerity. It was thus that his faith

I shared these things with you because

was perfected and made evident. He

these two stories are presented in

gave the world an example of believing

Scriptures to gave us an idea of two

just what God says. All that he

classes of people that will be saved

possessed, he invested in the ark. (PP

before Jesus comes. Now, Im sure you

95)

recognize that both of these men, Noah


and Lot, are given to us in the Bible as

How much did he invest? ALL. He lost

righteous men. Bible says that Noah was

nothing Friends, do you realize what

a just man and perfect in his generation

that means? That means that came a

(Gen.6:9).

time when Noah sold his last horse of his

And how about Lot? The Bible gives us a

farm, his home furniture, his house,

brief description of him in 2 Peter 2: 7-8

everything he owned, and he invested

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the

everything into building of the ark. Which

filthy conversation of the wicked: For that

means that when the flood came, Noah

righteous man dwelling among them, in

lost nothing! Why? The money was

seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous

where? How much did Lot lose when the

soul from day to day with their unlawful

fire came from above to destroy the

deeds The Bible says that Lot was a

wicked cities? Lot lost everything.

righteous man.

But you see, friends, there will be people

Lot told his sons-in law to get out of the

as they will see the approaching of

city, do you know what they thought

Jesus coming, as they are recognizing the

about Lots serious warning? They

signs of the end, they will be people like

thought that he was joking.

Noah that will invest all that they have in

And Lot went out, and spake unto his

the cause of God and for His work. And

sons in law, which married his daughters,

they will have invested their means and

and said, Up, get you out of this place;

energies in the heavenly bank, the one

for the Lord will destroy this city. But he

that FDIC does not need to guarantee

seemed as one that mocked unto his

for So then, when Jesus comes, these

sons in law

people, like Noah, will have lost nothing.


Because these Noah people lived a life

You know, you cant live in Sodom and

that is transparent not only to the people

expect results when you tell people to

that they have witnessing, but to their

get out of Sodom, isnt that right? The

own families, then all their children and

same way, when we are living in sin, we

family members will be saved.

cannot expect to tell others to stop


sinning and they to actually do it.

You know, I am convinced that Noahs


family was saved because every one of

Now, is interesting to look in this story of

the could see that Noah believed what he

Lot and to observe how Lots family was

preached in his home life. We see

affected by his poor choices and

children who end up living the church

compromises. At the very end Lot awoke,

because there was hypocrisy in their

realizing the situation that he is in, and

home People having just a mask of

the Bible says that Lot, by the mercy of

religion wearing it in public, but having a

God, was led out of that city. And Lot of

different private life, denying what they

savedThey will be people that who, step

claim to believe God forbid

by step, were putting themselves in


dangerous position, and they might be

Noah is the example of those who have

saved. But I want to make this as clear as

seen what is coming, and made serious

possible: what will be cost involved? All

preparations However, they will be

their means lost, all that they

some others, like Lot. They have made

accumulated for this very life, lost, and

compromise after compromise with the

what is more tragically, at the expenses

world. And these compromises put them

of their families. Some or all their love

in a position when they witnessing is no

ones lost All gone

longer effective. Do you remember what


the Bible says in Genesis 19:14? When

ILL. Im amazed when I read about these

people that were swindled by that

Why then in this context Jesus didnt say

investor banker, Bernard Maddoff.

remember Noah? Or remember

Famous celebrities, head of sates, high

Lot?... Why Jesus choose the wife of Lot?

ranking officials, charities, universities,


invested their money and overnight their

1. The first thing Ive noticed is that this

lifetime savings gone, vanished in a Ponzi

verse is written in a unique fashion. Do

scam. People invested because they

you notice that Luke 17:32 does not give

believed in the system, they were

us the NAME of Lots wife? Do you notice

convinced that this way they can save

that? Now, by the way she did have a

their assets, and have some extra

name Jewish scholars are sure that her

interest

name was Ildeth (Edith in English). So


Lots wife did have a name. Why didnt

Friends, I believe that they will be people

Jesus say remember Ildeth? Surely

that they have hoping to save up for

Jesus knew her name.

some pleasures, for some ambitions, for

But the way Jesus rephrases this warning

some security to have more because

gives us the first reason why He told us

the times are uncertain, for some

to remember Lots wife. When Jesus told

peaceful life in this world, people who

the disciples about Lots wife, He said it

invested themselves here, everything

in such a way that we always connect

here And their selfish ambitions, and all

Lot, with the fate of his wife.

these earthly plans will crumble, will


vanish, when Jesus comes

You see, if Jesus said remember Ildeth,


over time, over centuries, we may lose

But is not my purpose today to talk

sight, we may forget about Lot and the

simply about Lot and Noah. Lets focus

influence that he had on his wife. But the

again on verse 32 of Luke chapter 17.

reason why Jesus said remember Lots

Please, lets underline these three words

wife is because Lot have something to

right here, so full of meaning Jesus said:

do with what happened to his wife. This

remember Lots wife. Three words only.

afternoon, if you have time, you may

But so full of meaning

read the chapter in the book Patriarchs


and Prophets that describes the

I studied this Scripture, I prayed about,

destruction of Sodom, and the entire 19

seeking an answer: why did Jesus told the

chapter from Genesis. Its something

disciples to remember Lots wife? You

very important there that will help us

know, this chapter, Luke 17, is designed

understand the story, better.

to worn the believers about the


conditions prior to the second coming.

Do you remember the angels coming to

Lots home? They said Lot, God is going

chapter progress, he came closer, and

to destroy the city, get you up out of the

closer, and by the time of this story in

city into a safe place. And as the angels

chapter 19, he is having a house inside.

told Lot get out, get out quickly, Bible

If we modernize the story, we might say

said that Lot read please, he lingered

that Lot bought a nice two stories home

(verse 16). Lot lingered

in a nice subdivision of Sodom, maybe


his children attending the public school of

ILL. Now perhaps you can remember

Sodom, maybe Lot have a business bank

what happened when hurricane Katrina

account and some commercial properties

came to ravage the South They were

as investment opportunities in Sodom.

warnings given for

Lot was a wealthy man. And I imagine

the residents to evacuate as fast is


possible because a powerful hurricane
is coming. They saw that huge storm on
the Weather Channel satellite, a category
4 hurricane. And long lines of cars trying
to get out of thereBut they were also
reporters interviewing people decided to
dont leave. Their cars in garage, and
they were watching TV Why would
someone linger in the face of
destruction? Why?
You have to consider that Lot not always
lived in Sodom. When Abraham and Lot
first split, the Bible says that Lot pitched
his (what?) tent toward Sodom. Genesis
13:12. Please, dont miss that; it says
that Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom.
It wasnt even in Sodom, it was just in
that direction But by the time we reach
Genesis 19, the Bible says that Lot had a
house in Sodom.
You know how this happened. He pitched
his tent in the beginning, and as the

when Lot saw everything that he had, a


nice home, nice cars, prosperity in
business, all of the themes that this life
can offer, when the angels said Lot, get
out quickly, God will destroy the city,
the Bible says that Lot lingered.
And you know something friends? Sister
White tells us that his wife SAW that
When Lot ligered, she was watching him
closely!
If Lot himself had manifested no
hesitancy to obey the angels warning,
but had earnestly fled toward the
mountains, without one word of pleading
or remonstrance, his wife also would
have made her escape. The influence of
his example would have saved her from
the sin that sealed her doom. But his
hesitancy and delay caused her to lightly
regard the divine warning. PP 161
We are told that that this hesitation made
her to look back You see friends, when
Jesus said remember Lots wife Jesus
was reminding us that Lots influence

was part of the reason for the faith and

return back.

the ultimate destiny of his wife. Lots wife

In that day, at the second coming, the

is a reminder of the power of influence

heaven will be rolled down like a scroll, it

that every one of us has on those around

says that the earth will shake and the

us.

mountains moved away, island sucked


down in the ocean, they will be

All of us influence somebody; from the

destruction as never seen beforeAnd

very smallest child to the elderly grown

having this picture of total end time

up Every single person is influencing

disaster, who then, in the right mind, will

somebody else. And the question is not

be interested in their stuff?

are you influencing somebody?,


because its obvious, but the question is

And immediately after v.31, Jesus says

are you influencing them to be saved, or

Remember who?... We can see better

to be lost?

now why Lots wife turned back. Why?


Because of a five letters word: STUFF.

As I watch my daughter growing up, Im

What a powerful warning regarding the

amazed and even scared of the influence

end time, we got from Jesus, here in Luke

that I have on her. So many times I

17 Do we live in a materialistic world or

watched her doing things that she

not? Sure, look around: people being

learned by watching me and my wife

obsessed with money and having more

Everybody influences somebody.

stuff. And you dont have to be reach to

Everybody is helping somebody to be

be trapped in materialism. Just to think

saved, or to be lost The question we

that more stuff we will make as happy

have to ask ourselves, again, is what kind

what a deception!...

of influence?...Remember Lots wife said


Jesus, connecting the fate of Lot to the

ILL. You know, stuff will grow on you. I

fate of his wife.

visted with one of my friends, Pastor


Adams, a family in Rockford IL: a nice

2. A second point. Lets look again in

house, but they never throw away the

Luke 17 and read the statement in its

thinks they dont need it They rented a

context: Verse 31 In that day lets

storage and put old furniture and old

pause for a moment. What day is Jesus

mowers, and old heavy TVs The yard

talking about? When Jesus will return

packed with several old boats and

In that day, he which shall be upon the

probability 6 broken cars and all kind of

housetop, and his stuff in the house, let

things that you may thing about Pastor

him not comedown to take it away: and

Adams aked them about, and they said:

he that is in the field, let him likewise not

You never know when you need

something Inviting them to the church


Oh we are busy organizing the stuff

But you know, when we read the Bible

Working all week long to have money to

more closely, we discover that this not

buy stuff and keep the stuff in a rented

the way it happened. The Bible says that

storage; and during the week-end,

Lot and his family, his wife included, they

organizing the stuff. This is their life.

reached the city of Zoar (Gen19:23) So

They sleep in a corner of their living, on a

from the safety of this place, the Bible

couch, the rest of the house being jam-

says that Lots wife looked back.

packed

Why do I restate this to you? Did Lots


wife obey the commandment of God to

I have the same tendency Im buying

leave the city of Sodom? Did she obey,

books, I have hundreds of books, and

yes or no? She did. Its a lesson here that

almost nowhere to put them all, source of

is very important for all of us. You see,

some little disagreement with my wife.

Lots wife she obeyed on the outside. She

But dont take me wrong, it not a sin to

did what God said, she left the city. But it

possess things, its not the stuff, but the

was just a matter of time before the

love of stuff - that is dangerous Loving

inside of her heart was revealed. Because

the stuff more than we love Jesus,

although she left Sodom, where was her

spending time on stuff, instead of being

heart? It was still thereWhich is why

busy to spread the 3 angels message,

she long, she long for the stuff and the

instead of having a healthy relationship

things she left behind, the things she was

with our family and with our church

not happy without. And she turned

family Yes, Jesus warning is not for

back

Missis Lot, its for Mister Lot as well For


both

Lots wife is a reminder to us that


although we may comply with what God

3. Now the third and last point to

had said, compliance and conversion is

consider with me this morning Where

not the same thing. All of us are here this

was Lots wife when she became a pillar

Sabbath, today, we have obeyed what

of salt? Now, growing up I saw our

God said Remember the 7th day and

Sabbath School quarterly a chart with

keep it holyBut just because we are

13 pictures, one for each week. And I

here it does not mean that we are really

remember the picture of Lot and his wife:

keeping the Sabbath. Because keeping

in the background the city burning, while

the Sabbath is not just rest for the

Lot, his wife and the daughters are

physical work we are doing during the

hurrying away from the city, while Lots

week, but it is a rest from the works of

wife was turning into salt

the flesh, it is ceasing from sin that God

wants us to experience. And is the joy of


Salvation trough Jesus We can be here
today, in the Sabbath, but the heart can
be far away, not in communion with God
and enjoying His presence God is not
satisfied with just an outside obedience;
He wants conversion of the heart also
When we do Evangelism, we come across
with people who knows that the Seventh
day is the Sabbath. We come across with
people who understand that Gods
remnant have a special diet as Gods
restoration plan You see, many people
recognize what is truth, but so many of
them are not converted to what is truth.
CALL. Remember Lots wife is an
warning from Jesus and a reminder to us:
that is not just external compliance with
what God commanded. Its about
allowing God Spirit to convert and
change us, outside and inside as well
And this is may call this morning, and my
prayer
Remember Lots wife, all of you, all of us
who are Jesus wife, Jesus bride in
typology, the church. Focus on Jesus
(expand idea) May Lord bless each and
everyone Amin.
(PS. Thank you Emanuel for your ideea)

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