Dear beloved: Just about everyone in America has been touched with the consequences of the sexual immorality in America today; nearly all of us have friends or family that have been or are now living in immoral relationships, whether cohabitating, adulterous, or homosexual relationships. The Lord has been having me to preach on this at the prison also, as it is so prevalent among the men there and has played a major role in many of their life's stories. God has a better plan for us, and He calls us to be Holy as He is holy. If you are reading this today and you have loved ones living in immoral relationships, know that God wants you to cry out for their repentance and salvation, or their redemption and cleansing if they are already saved.
God gives us an example of intercessory prayer in Genesis 18 when the Lord was ready to deal with Sodom and Gomorrah. He says in verse 17 And the Lord said, shall I hide from Sodom that thing which I am about to do, v18, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed? v19 For I have chosen him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; in order that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him." Then in verse 20 the Lord makes His charge against Sodom, And the Lord said, "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave." And so the Lord knew that he must judge Sodom for the wickedness in their midst, but because Abraham was a righteous man, the Lord let Abraham know what His plan was, and then He went even further and let Abraham intercede and bargain with Him for the lost souls in Sodom. In verse 23, after the angels were sent on to Sodom, it was just the Lord and Abraham left to discuss the fate of Sodom. v23 And Abraham came near and said, "Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? And so Abraham bargains with the Lord and asks the Lord to spare Sodom if there were only fifty righteous found in the city, and the Lord said He would spare if fifty righteous could be found, He would spare the whole city on account of those fifty. As Abraham continues to bargain with the Lord, the Lord said, verse 32, He would spare Sodom if only ten righteous could be found among all those wicked. God is a God of mercy and lovingkindness, to set aside His judgment on the wicked on the account of only 10 righteous in their midst. Archeology and historical records indicate that the 5 cities in the area of Sodom and Gomorrah may have had a population of as much as 1.5 million people, so this was a magnificent act of mercy that God was showing to be willing to set aside His judgment for such a small minority.
Of coarse we know the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord could not find even ten righteous, even righteous Lot had been vexed by the corrupt spirit in Sodom; but the example for us is to pray without ceasing for our loved ones caught in lifestyles of sexual immorality. Your prayers may bring one of those ten to a place of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:9, the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you (and to your loved ones), not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. So be diligent in your prayers for your loved ones, do not give up. Just when you think nothing is happening, the Lord can break through and move the biggest mountains on your behalf. Be encouraged as you pray today. God bless you, in Christ, Jim
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