DO NOT LOOK BACK- GEN.19:15-26. 
A new year Resolution?
God's Judgement upon Sodom and Gomorrah, the places of Sin and degradation.
Lot, a kind of believer with mixed loyalties and family. God never led him to live in Sodom- Gen. 13:10-18.
Two angels came to Lot but God stayed behind with Abraham, Lot's Fellowship and witness with God had broken down. The Angels urged them to get out of Sodom but they lingered on. Finally they took refuge in a remote cave.
God's command was clear, 'Do not look back', but the wife disobeyed, Why? Their hearts were in Sodom. She had family in Sodom, perhaps a nice house, all the comforts of modern life, a nice SUV?
When Christ comes for us in the air will we be ready to disengage from this world?
The result of that disobedience was a disaster for that wife, God's judgement never fails. Love not the
world....' 1 John 2:15-17.
Today the Sodomites are pressing on our doors wanting respectability and acceptance. There is no room for compromise.
The stay in Sodom must have had an adverse affect upon Lot and his family. Their minds were polluted by the vileness of that place. What is God's advice? 'Come out and be separate....'
Though we live in a dark and evil world, God promises to keep us till the very end. Paul the Apostle
has the final word in Phil. 3:13-14, not to look back but unto Jesus.
There are moments when we need to look back and consider past failings so that we amend our ways, but to look back in longing for past experiences and lusts is definitely out. It is not a sign of a
healthy christian life.

CHRISTMAS, MT.2;1-12.
The familiar story of Christmas. What else do we need to know, apart from Mangers,
Christmas trees, gifts, gluttony, etc. etc.
The story unfolds with some wise men who set off from their home in a far country, east of 
Judea, to find the New born King, in order to worship Him.
What is the situation? We have the Jews who knew everything about their Messiah but when He came they missed the event. A wicked king who will not stop at genocide in order to keep His throne,
the town of Bethlehem where business is good because of Caesar's decree, but has no room for the
Messiah. 
The story is familiar to us today, it begins with the sudden appearance of a star in the sky. Only a trained eye could observe this happening. Only a trained ear could observe God's message to our hearts today: Christ is coming again.
The wise men, led by the star arrived at their destination but they knocked on the wrong door but God
was in control. Do not knock on wrong doors if the Holy Spirit is leading you.The Psalmist says in Ps.119:105, 'Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path'.
Imagine the amazement of the wise men when the star led them to a stable, not a palace and they found a mere baby in a manger; but they were not put off. 
How did they recognize the New born King? Was there a sign outside the stable or a halo over the baby? How do we recognise our Saviour and God?
They came to find the new born King and to worship Him. They were not holidaymakers. They came, they saw and they worshiped Him. They offered their gifts Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh,
ingredients for true worship. No empty signs, no hype nor a lot of noise.
Having fulfilled their purpose they departed by the way God led them.
This story of the First Christmas still speaks to the hearts of true worshipers of the King of Kings.

Parable of the Friend at Midnight, Luke 11:5-13.
Message: God is willing to answer even at the last hour.
In the story, an unexpected guest brings the unreadiness of the person to the light, like the foolish
virgins.
The man lacked a vital necessity-bread. We often find ourselves in that kind of situation, having
nothing to give. We cannot give people anything if we are lacking in ourselves.
There are so many needs around us, especially the need for Salvation. The man in the story did the reasonable thing, he went and knocked at somebody's door, a friend.
Jesus said, ' Knock and it shall be opened to you' He also said, ' I am the Bread of life' God's provision for us.
The man asked for 3 loaves, but he could have asked for a lot more. Let us not be timid in asking God, He is very rich, do not limit God. James 4:3.
We must admire the man's determination and boldness. He could easily have been put off by the late hour or by another excuse. Remember, he went to a friend. Jesus called us His friends. If our relationship is good with our friends we have the confidence to ask. If we sit in meetings, enjoying
ourselves and expecting nothing from God, we should not be surprised if we receive nothing.
Our Heavenly Father is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask, ' If you being evil know......', but we need to knock till the door of Heaven is opened. Remember, it does not say how long we need to keep knocking.
Though the friend was inconvenienced by the lateness of the hour, yet he got up to please his friend.