Summary: We're all in this together. People are not your enemy! Ephesians 6:10-12 NKJV 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. We have not all been shaped by the same experiences. It's time that we walk past the barriers and reach out to each other. Genesis 18:1-3 NKJV 1 Then the Lord appeared to him (Abraham) by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant." We must not miss the opportunities that come our way! Genesis 18:16-18 NKJV 16 Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. 17 And the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?" Genesis 18:20-21 NKJV 20 And the Lord said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” God Himself did not "jump to conclusions". Neither should we! God is not quick to pour out His judgments! God wants us to plead for others! Isaiah 64:7 NKJV And there is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You... Genesis 18:23-26 NKJV 23 And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26 So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Prayer should always be our first step in a time of trouble. Psalm 86:5-7 NKJV 5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. 6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me. Prayer creates opportunities for good!
