Sermon by Bro Jason McNeese, pastor of Rural Retreat Baptist Church in Rural Retreat, VA:

 

The Life of Lot

A Character Study

Sermon #4

 

The Bargain of His Life

 

Text: Genesis 18:16-33

 

Introduction: George Mueller of Bristol – Answered Prayer!!

“It was from studying Genesis 18 that taught saintly George Mueller of Bristol, that modern giant of faith, one of the most important secrets of prayer.  It taught him to use argument in pleading his case before God. He would remind the Lord that the orphan boys and girls entrusted to his care were not his orphans, they were God’s. Had he not declared himself to be the Father of the fatherless? It was God’s work, not Mueller’s. He was but the instrument.  If it were God’s work, was not God bound to take care of it? Could God suffer His glory to be diminished? Was not a half-believeing church looking on and a wholly unbelieving world? Must not God silence the jibing toungue? Must He not silence the scoffer and the skeptic? Thus George Mueller prayed and thus he received truly astonishing answers from God. And thus Abraham prayed, besieging his heavenly visitor with plea after plea.” – John Philips

 

 

It was a Compassionate Bargain – Vs23-25

            “spare the place”

            The Cost – Was not spoken but was understood!

            The Concern – Abraham exhibited a genuine concern!

            The Compassion -

           

 

 

It was a Conditional Bargain – Vs26

            “If…righteous”

            Notice…

            …The Judge – “If I find…”

            …The Just – “fifty, forty…ten righteous”

            …The Judgment – “”

 

 

 

It was a Calculated Bargain – Vs27-32

 

            It Required Ten – two witnesses per city/five cities in the plain

 

He stops at ten because he probably thought that Lot & his family were all saved and made up ten!

 

            Had he bargained for five it would not have been enough – only four are spared!