Classic Sermon #6059: How to Win by Losing

(Audio: Spanish)

SUMMARY: In Genesis 13, Abraham shows his moral and spiritual greatness through a dispute between the shepherds of his employees and his nephew Lot. Abraham maintained a continuous communication with God, building altars and seeking God's blessing on his life. Abraham's attitude of giving, surrendering, and yielding, and his spirit of reconciliation, is a powerful spiritual weapon that violates the rules of reason and Darwinism, and neutralizes the devil, shames him, binds him, and unleashes the power and grace of Jesus Christ. Possessions divide brothers, and unless there is a gentle spirit and a detached spirit that refers the cause to the Lord, there will always be fights in churches, homes, workplaces, and society. Abraham's example teaches us to maintain a healthy worship life and continuous communication with God.

In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of communication with God in maintaining peace and resolving conflicts. He highlights the example of Abraham, who was in constant communication with God and used that wisdom to make peace with his nephew Lot. The speaker emphasizes the need for diligence in maintaining peace and putting spiritual principles above material ones. He also encourages the use of the yield principle, giving up one's rights to resolve conflicts. Overall, the focus is on the importance of being spiritually mature and strong in order to be a peacemaker.

The character of a man is portrayed in his actions, as seen in the choices of Abraham and Lot. Abraham's closeness to God allowed him to yield and refer his cause to the Lord, while Lot's choice showed his flawed character. By yielding to God and opening the space for Him to work, we can experience peace and blessings in our lives. We must imitate the spirit of Christ, who sacrificed himself for humanity and was exalted by God. The rule of the Christian life is to humble oneself before being lifted up, and to carry our cross for rest and peace. May the spirit of yielding come to reign in our churches, homes, and work.

We are going to go to chapter 13 of Genesis, this is a passage on which I have commented in previous years and that I feel that the Lord has given me a fresh focus and that I believe is for today, for today and right now, for this day, for my life, I believe and for the life of our congregation and we are going to ask the Lord to speak to us through this word that he has for us. Genesis chapter 13, put your spirit in tune with what God wants to say to your life. Says the word of the Lord:

“…So Abraham went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife, with all that he had, and Lot with him. And Abraham was very rich in cattle, silver, and gold, and he returned on his journeys from the Negev toward Bethel to the place where his tent had been before between Bethel and Ay, to the place of the altar that he had made there before, and there he called Abraham the name of Jehovah. Lot, who was with Abraham, also had sheep, cows, and tents, and the land was not enough for them to live together because their possessions were many and they could not live in the same place. And there was a dispute between the herdsmen of Abraham's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle, and the Canaanite and the Peresean dwelt then in the land. Then Abraham said to Lot, let there now be no dispute between the two of us, between my shepherds and yours because we are brothers. Is not the whole earth before you? I beg you to stay away from me, if you go to the left I will go to the right, and if you go to the right, I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw the whole plain of Jordan, that all of it was irrigated like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Zoar before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan plain and Lot went eastward and they separated from each other. Abraham camped in the land of Canaan while Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tents as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners against Jehovah in a great way and Jehovah said to Abraham after Lot had departed from him, now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are to the north and to the south and to the east and to the west , because all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can count the dust of the earth, your offspring will also be numbered. Get up, go through the land along it and its breadth because I will give it to you. So Abraham, removing his tent, came and dwelt in the oak grove of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar to Jehovah."