Lessons from the Life of Abraham-Restoring the Fallen Brother

“LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM-RESTORING THE FALLEN BROTHER”

GENESIS 14:11-16; GALATIANS 6:1

INTRO: Have you ever had anyone you had much confidence in fail you?

Maybe it was a friend, or a parent, or maybe even a pastor? How did

it make you feel? When someone falls our natural response many

times is to criticize or condemn. When a brother has been knocked

down by the devil they need compassion and concern, not criticism or

condemnation.

Lot had made a bad choice in the past. GENESIS 13:10-11 tells us,

“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld al the plain of Jordan, that it

was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and

Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as

thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and

Lot journeyed east…” Now Lot was reaping the results of that choice.

It is very important that we make right choices in life because what we

do and the seeds we sow have a way of coming back to us. Frederick

Speakman said, “The roads we take are more important than the

goals we announce. Decisions determine destiny,” and Edwin

Markham said, “Choices are the hinges of destiny” (1). Lot had

chosen the wrong place; the wrong people, and for the wrong purpose.

He was captured by wicked people. He found himself hopeless and

helpless. Can you for a moment imagine the situation he was in?

Now, let us consider this question: “Was there any way out for him?

Could he ever be restored to the place he once was?”

At the lowest point in his life his uncle Abraham came to his rescue.

This is a lesson for us. When a brother falls our response should be

as Abraham’s. When someone falls they need compassion and they

need concern. They need someone to care about them. Let us think

today on this subject, “Restoring The Fallen Brother.” Please notice

three things with me:

(1) ABRAHAM HEARD ABOUT LOT’S CONDITION

GENESIS 14:14—“And when Abram heard that his brother was

taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own

house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto

Dan.”

A. A COMMON PROBLEM. We, like Abraham, so often hear about our

brothers and sisters in Christ falling into sin. It is not uncommon to

hear of some dear Christian falling, sadly, it is all too frequent.

ILLUS: When the starter raised the gun and said, "On your mark, get

set ..." it looked like every other hundred-meter dash. The

contestants were lined up in the starting blocks. The crowd

was on the edge of their chairs in suspended anticipation.

When the starter fired the gun, the contestants sprang out of

the starting blocks, and even the casual observer could tell

something was different. This was the Special Olympics. It was

special because the contestants were developmentally and

physically disabled. It was special for a far greater reason than

that. It was special because of the way that hundred-meter

dash was run. The runners moved down the track shoulder-to-

shoulder. Suddenly one of the young women sprawled

headlong on the track and turned over in some amount of pain

and embarrassment. The rest of the contestants moved on for

ten or fifteen meters. Without any communication among

themselves, they all stopped, turned around, and jogged back

to their fallen friend. They picked her up off the track,

comforted her, and then arm in arm they ran together to the

finish line. Those runners would rather finish together than

win the race individually.

When I heard that story, I thought of the church. Isn't that

really what the body of Christ is? All of us have spiritual,

emotional, and relational disabilities. We might look as though

we're fine when the starter raises his gun, but as soon as the

race begins, all of our warts show. We will fall sometime. -- Jim

Dethmer, "The Gift of Mercy," Preaching Today, Tape No. 112.

The Apostle Paul, as great for God as he was, had a fear of falling. He

wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:27—“But I keep under my body, and bring it

unto subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others,

I myself should be a castaway.” The Greek verb used here for “keep

under" literally means “to strike under the eye, or to beat the face

black and blue.” Oliver B. Greene, commenting on this verse in his

commentary on 1 Corinthians, writes, “Paul is not speaking here of

literally beating himself black and blue; he means that he is determined

to keep his body under control, lest passion and lust overcome him…

He treated his body as a bondslave, refusing to gratify the desires of the

flesh and the lust of the world. If the body get the upper hand of the

spirit, then the Christian suffers loss and brings reproach upon the

name of Jesus and the cause of Christ. Every believer should have

complete mastery over the desires of the flesh, and in order to BE

master of the flesh we must rely upon the Holy Spirit…If we walk in the

Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. This is what Paul was

teaching the believers in Corinth; and it is what we need to learn in this

day and hours!…Paul could not allow the flesh, the world, or the devil

to get the upper hand in his life and ministry; he simply must not. So

he buffeted his body daily, and brought it into the position of a slave”

(2).

B. A CERTAIN POSSIBILITY. Are you shocked when you hear of some-

one, whom you thought would never falter, being overtaken in some

sin? I am sure we all have been shocked, and I feel confident that

Abraham was shocked when he heard of Lot being captured.

·  Perhaps a preacher you held in high esteem has gone down in defeat.

·  Perhaps an outstanding couple whom you admired as being a model marriage. Yet one of them proved unfaithful, and their marriage was destroyed.

·  Perhaps someone we know had covered their sin, and when it came to light the entire Church and community was shocked.

When we faced this what was our response? Did we criticize and

condemn, or did we show compassion and concern? We must be

careful in our judgment of those who fall lest we fall as they have

fallen. 1 Corinthians 10:12 warns us, “Wherefore let him that

thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” We must always keep in

mind that no matter how much progress we have made, no matter how

many privileges we have enjoyed, all of us can fall at any time.

Presumption is the greatest of all dangers. He who realizes his danger

will be on his guard. The safe way is, conscious of weakness, not to

dally with temptation. (The People’s New Testament Commentary).

*Why do we fall? Two primary reasons:

·  We underestimate our weaknesses. Paul realized his weaknesses and wrote in Romans 7:15, 18—“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” This is more than the cry of one desperate man—it describes the experience of any Christian struggling against sin. Satan is a crafty tempter, and we have a great ability to make excuses. Instead of trying to overcome sin with human willpower, we must take hold of the tremendous power of Christ that is available to us. This is God’s provision for victory over sin; he sends the Holy Spirit to live in us and give us power. And when we fall, He loving reaches out to us and helps us up (3). We should never underestimate our weakness for if we do we are headed for a fall!

·  We underestimate the wiles of the devil. 1 Peter 5:8-9 warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren in the world.” “The devil made me do it.” It sounds like a lame excuse, but it may be true. Without Christ’s help, sin is stronger than we are, and sometimes we are unable to defend ourselves against its attacks. That is why we should never stand up to sin alone. Jesus Christ, who has conquered sin once and for all, promises to fight by our side. If we look to Him for help, we will not have to give in to sin (4).

When Abraham heard of Lot’s Condition he could understand and sympathize with him. Why? Because Abraham had fallen before. But Notice also not only did Abraham hear about Lot’s condition but…

(2) ABRAHAM SHOWED LOT COMPASSION

GENESIS 14:14—“And when Abram heard that his brother was

taken captive, he armed his trained servants…and pursued

them unto Dan.”

*Godly Abraham was in the place of safety, even though he lived in a tent.

Hearing of Lot’s plight, Abraham did the generous thing and went to

rescue him. Only the separated believe has the power to help the back-

slider, and it is to such a faithful saint that the backslider turns when in

trouble (5). Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault,

ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;

considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Brethren, if a man be

overtaken in any fault - By surprise, ignorance, or stress of temptation. Ye

who are spiritual - Who continue to live and walk by the Spirit. Restore

such an one - By reproof, instruction, or exhortation. Every one who can,

ought to help herein; only in the spirit of meekness - This is essential to a

spiritual man; and in this lies the whole force of the cure. Considering

thyself - The plural is beautifully changed into the singular. Let each take

heed to himself. Lest thou also be tempted - Temptation easily and swiftly

passes from one to another; especially if a man endeavours to cure

another without preserving his own meekness. (Wesley’s Explanatory

Notes).

*How did Abraham respond when he heard of Lot’s Plight? Notice:

A. WHAT HE DID NOT DO. Abraham could have reacted in a variety of

ways when he heard the news about Lot but he chose not to:

1. Criticize. Abraham could have criticized Lot for making such a bad

choice in the past. When Abraham gave Lot first choice, it was a very

unselfish act on the part of Abraham. Now we see this selflessness of

Abraham again. He could have set back and scoffed and said Lot

was only getting what he deserved because he had greedily taken first

choice, had disrespected his uncle’s position, and had shown no

appreciation for his uncle’s help and care over the years; and

therefore, why should his uncle risk his life and the lives of his people

to rescue that no good nephew (6). But he did not do that, he acted

in grace!

ILLUS: An officer on the battlefield aimed his cannon toward what

he thought was the distant enemy. Just before he fired, the

commander, looking through his field glasses, shouted,

"Your aim seems perfect, but stop! They are not the enemy;

they are our own people." Did you ever think that when you

aim criticism at God's people so thoughtlessly, you are

actually aiming your cannon at the Lord of your brethren?

ILLUS: Faultfinding is not difficult. Isaac McCurry illustrates this: A

dog hitched to a lawn mower, stopped to bark at a passer-by.

The boy who was guiding the mower said, "Don't mind the

dog; he is just barking for an excuse to rest. It is easier to

bark than pull the machine." It is easier to be critical than to

be correct. It is easier to hinder than to help. Easier to

destroy reputation than to construct character. Faultfinding

is as dangerous as it is easy. Anybody can grumble, criticize

or censure like the Pharisees;... – SELECTED

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

2. CONDEMN. Abraham could have condemned Lot for his choice.

He could have said, “He made his bed now he has to lie in it,” “He

got himself into that mess now he’ll just have to get himself out the

best way he can,” or “Serves him right after the way he done me

back yonder.” But Abraham did not say any of those things.

ILLUS: Most of us are umpires at heart; we like to call balls and

strikes on somebody else.

ILLUS: God has not called us to see through each other, but to see

each other through—Horace Moody (7).

3. COWER. Abraham could have withdraw himself from the

situation and said, “There is nothing I can do, I am far

outnumbered” or “It will be expensive, and I have got to hold on to

my money for myself.” But Abraham did not say those things

either; he simply got his army ready and went to deliver him and

restore him.

B. WHAT HE DID DO. Abraham showed Lot compassion. Why? Because