Let Lot Go

by Genesis Dorsey

IG: @GIGIHEPBURN

1. So Abram left Egypt and went back to the Negev, he and his wife and everything he owned, and Lot still with him. 2. By now Abram was very rich, loaded with cattle and silver and gold.

3. He moved on from the Negev, camping along the way, to Bethel, the place he had first set up his tent between Bethel and Ai 4. and built his first altar. Abram prayed there to God.

5. Lot, who was traveling with Abram, was also rich in sheep and cattle and tents. 6. But the land couldn't support both of them; they had too many possessions. They couldn't both live there–– 7. quarrels broke out between Abram's shepherds and Lot's shepherds. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living on the land at the time.

8. Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have fighting between us, between your shepherds and my shepherds. After all, we're family. 9. Look around. Isn't there plenty of land out there? Let's separate. If you go left, I'll go right; if you go right, I'll go left."

10. Lot looked. He saw the whole plain of the Jordan spread out, well watered (this was before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), like God 's garden, like Egypt, and stretching all the way to Zoar. 11. Lot took the whole plain of the Jordan. Lot set out to the east.

That's how they came to part company, uncle and nephew. 12. Abram settled in Canaan; Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom.

13. The people of Sodom were evil––flagrant sinners against God.

14. After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. 15. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. 16. I'll make your descendants like dust––counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. 17. So––on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I'm giving it all to you."

18. Abram moved his tent. He went and settled by the Oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to God.

(Genesis 13:1-18 Message)

Leave everything, including your family that you’ve known and grown up with. This was God’s commandment to Abram. We know him as Abraham now but Abram had some lessons to learn and some steps of faith to take before God could change his name. Many times we hear “it's the year of this” or the “year of that”. We hear much talk about seasons or “it’s your time”. However, I’ve come to find that it’s only when you take that step of faith that things truly begin to happen. Things won’t shift if you don’t shift. One step of faith that we all must take is leaving others that we have known for so long because they can not go with us into our future. We have to let the “Lot” figures in our life go. If we look at Genesis 13, Abram and his nephew, Lot, were experiencing some family issues. Their camps were having some “Reality TV” moments. It was time for them to separate. This moment of separation provides for us some key points on why some people just have to leave your life.

Before we begin, let’s note that Lot wasn’t a very bad man. In fact, he was noted as a righteous man. However, Lot did have some things that made him no longer able to walk with Abram. First, he was walking by Abraham’s faith and not his own. Have you ever met people that trail along just because you’re favored? In my opinion, there is nothing with people following you because God’s hand is on your life. However, at some point in time everyone needs to obtain their own faith. They can still follow but you can only ride on someone else’s faith and favor for so long. If my faith was really rubbing off on you, you would understand that you have to acquire the same mindset as me. However, Lot couldn’t acquire the same level of faith As Abram because God wasn’t talking to Lot at that time. This was a faith walk for Abram NOT Lot. Some may be able to travel with you but after a while they will notice that this is a personal walk between you and God. It’s personal. Let’s look at 4 points that we can learn from Abram and Lot.

1. Don’t let separation destroy your peace

People drawn to social interaction by nature. We are talking creatures so we see why it’s hard for us to leave behind those we have drawn close to over time. This was Abram’s nephew. Maybe the separation is between your best friend, a cousin, a college friend, or a co-worker. Never let it destroy your walk between you and God. Abram didn’t start having a fit. When you walk by faith, you don’t start outlining problems but instead see solutions. We see Abram say to Lot that there was plenty of land. He didn’t care which side Lot took. He just wanted there to be peace. Abram was walking by faith and literally moving based on God’s voice. He couldn’t afford for disputes within the camps to disturb the environment. After all, how can you hear God's voice in the midst of chaos. Something had to go. There was a need for separation because there needed to be peace.

2. The natural eye walks in the natural before the spiritual

The saying “The grass is greener” must have been one of Lot’s mottos when it came to Genesis 13. Lot chose the land that looked like it was the best. The first “Lot-ism” is that people who don’t know faith can only mimic in the natural what really happened due to the push in the spirit realm. This is the mind shifter that separated Lot from Abram. Genesis 13:10 uses some very interesting language depending on what translation you are reading. If we base it upon the King James Version, it says that the land “LOOKED LIKE God’s Garden”. It LOOKED LIKE Eden-- a blessed land. I’ve come to find out that it’s not about whether the grass is greener or not. You could have a dirt patch and it could still be blessed. It’s not about what is seen on the outside but it’s about who is working within you on your behalf.

When we look at this passage, we see Lot making his first “faith or fear” decision. I remember teaching on a lesson called, “Everything Good Ain’t God”. People who operate in fear make decisions based upon natural provisions instead of the ultimate provider. We can see why Lot drifted to what looked good. We could say that Lot’s best decision was following Abram. However, when it came time to separate Lot did not learn anything from Abram when it came to making a “faith” decision. However, we can’t blame him because we must remember that this was a faith walk for Abram. The promise was not for Lot. Lot never had to walk away from everything and just follow God. Abram was not traveling with Lot. Abram was traveling with God and Lot was following. Lot’s decision of land cost him more than just leaving Abram. If we look later in the scriptures, Lot ended up living in a land of wicked people guided by sin. Lot walked by the natural and paid a heavy price afterwards that even cost him his wife and great pain.

3. Never let friction turn into a fire because it will consume both parties

Abram did not care what land Lot chose because Abram was more concerned about staying attentive to God’s voice than letting the chaos in the camp cause a distraction. Many times we put so much energy into keeping relationships rather than just moving on. However, friction will soon cause a fire if you do not address the issues at hand. Many times, we let things slide or cover up instead of handling it and moving on. So instead of walking by faith and moving on, you’re wasting time and effort putting out fires that you should have spoken on a long time ago. I don’t know about you but some things are not worth my energy or effort. Abram realized that this was truly a faith walk. He had left everything he knew to follow a voice that he knew was God. Faith is risky-- it involves putting all your chips on the table and saying “all or nothing”. With that kind of faith in operation, the little things won’t be an issue because where God is taking you is greater cause. If we would be honest, the reason why many of us haven’t moved on is because we are still arguing with Lot instead of moving on to the land God is calling us to.

4. The voice of God moves in faith and never in the presence of a lack of faith

The first thing that stood out to me in Genesis 13 was the fact that God spoke to Abram AFTER Lot left. It clearly says in verse 14, that AFTER Lot left, God spoke. Why? After the chaos has left, then God can speak to you. What God then tells Abram lets us know how when we base our walk on faith, our blessing lies in our obedience. Gold told him that if he looked in every direction, the land he saw would be his. Imagine that. In the King James Version, God tells Abram to get active and start walking around because He was giving it all to Abram.

When we walk by faith and not according to the eyes of Lot, we will see that separation is required for access into the next level. It’s not that they were bad. They just didn’t have what was required to go with you. As we look at our lives, we will see that many things are a personal journey. God is trying to increase our faith and distractions may come. Yet, those distractions can be flags that it’s time for things to part away from us. We need to hear God’s voice. We need to walk by faith. When we come to Christ, our first instinct is no longer guided by the natural. If we just walk by what God has called us to do, the blessing is there. So stop worrying about what isn’t there or moving forward without certain ones that have always been there. Sometimes you just have to let Lot go.

Genesis Dorsey

Founder of Girls Of Royalty

www.GirlsOfRoyalty.com

Preachers of Detroit

By: Ayana Bryant-Weekes

 

So, maybe you’ve heard or maybe you haven’t, Preachers of L.A. is coming to Detroit! Not the actual preachers of L.A., but Oxygen is soon to premier the Detroit edition of the controversial reality show starring prominent local preachers. That’s right, Detroit, Mi will be the next city to feature its Pastors and other church figures…on a reality TV show. I’ll admit, I have always been leery of the church getting involved with this type of platform because of the stigma that comes with reality TV – drama, controversy, and real ratchet behavior – so when The A Team got invited to the Preachers of Detroit press dinner at  the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History this past Thursday,  Though I was hesitant to fully support the idea, I took it as an opportunity to finally get a better understanding of the show and the cast.

L to R Ayana Bryant-Weekes - Blog Manager, Brittney Robinson - Videographer, Ambrea Curry - Host

The Preachers of Detroit cast includes Bishop Charles Ellis III, Senior Pastor of Greater Grace Temple who believes “it’s one thing to pray, but when you’re done praying, you have to get up and do something.” Bishop Ellis talked passionately about how the pressure of being a 3^rd generation preacher gave him a solid foundation for a sound message despite people’s expectations for you to “become what you came from.” “Each man must minister to his own generation.”  Bishop Ellis also encouraged us to embrace our pasts but remain focused on the future. “You cannot minister to an iPad generation with an 8 track ministry… [You have to] give something for everybody, you to have some Amazing Grace and Blessed Assurance, some STOMP and some We Lift Our Hands in the Sanctuary.”

Bishop Corletta Vaughn is the Senior Pastor of The Holy Ghost Cathedral and Chief Apostle to Go Tell It Evangelistic Ministry Worldwide. Bishop Vaughn “shattered the stained glass ceiling of the church world” by becoming a female Bishop against her Baptist church’s strict rules. The message that Bishop Vaughn is extremely passionate about is women and how women are going to shape the next few generations. “I want women who have grown weary of the political, sexual battle in the church to take hope in watching a female bishop.” Her passion, she hopes, leads to remind women that, “There are options, [women] can do great things and are not limited by their gender. Gender is not a curse and women can soar and impact a generation.”

Evangelist Dorinda Clark-Cole, administrator at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ (Bishop J. Drew Sheard), member of the iconic gospel group, The Clark Sisters and three-time Grammy Award-winner who believes that as women continue to rise to prominent positions in their careers and in the church, there still remain pressures that women can’t handle that men can. During the panel discussion Evangelist Cole stayed confident and steadfast in voicing her opinion that men are better leaders, and that as women continue to be more liberated they should remain submissive to male leaders, citing her Church of God in Christ upbringing for the importance of honoring feminine roles in the church.

Pastor Don William Shelby Jr., Pastor and founder of Burning Bush International Ministries Church of God in Christ (alongside wife, Bonita Shelby) brought up a point of nostalgia as he sang the PURITY song with his children in an adorable clip from the show. Pastor Shelby shared that his responsibility as a family man comes first, “I am no better of a preacher than I am of a husband and father… It is Jesus’ business to take care of his bride [the church] and my business is to take care of mine.” Pastor Shelby shared with us the Importance of living a life that young people can follow. “I can be a much better leader to them if I show them as opposed to telling them.” As a product of Purity Class who married his wife as a virgin, it was inspiring to hear Pastor Shelby describe how he equips his 5 children to deal with the temptations of premarital sex by being an example and model, walking before them in purity and righteousness. “It is so important for my children to see me love my wife and be accountable to [my children] as it relates to sexual cleanness.” It was also hilarious listening to him describe his desire for 10 children and the compromise of Mrs. Shelby to give him 5!

Pastor Tim Alden who ministers at the City of Praise Christian Church shares Pastor Shelby’s sentiment of preaching abstinence and purity and wants to, “…Open the dialogue about the issues of pop culture... we need to shape the culture the way the church is supposed to.” As a virgin in his early fifties, Pastor Tim believes “There is an honor in being unmarried and having integrity and walking in sexual purity. That’s a standard and example that’s missing in our culture today where ¼ young adults has an STD.” During the season we can look forward to seeing how his love for the presence of God detached him from his Catholic roots and led him to a life of fulfillment in the Pentecostal church, a life in worship that keeps him full and not looking for something in the world to satisfy him, “I was so attracted to the joy, passion, and presence of God [in the Pentecostal church] and I didn’t feel it in the Catholic church… Whatever they told me I had to do to experience that kind of joy I was willing to do.” Pastor Tim gravitated towards a holy lifestyle not knowing the impact or understanding the time in history that God would raise him up to chariot this cause and message, “It’s the Purity Revolution to counteract the Sexual Revolution of the 60’s.”

Bishop Clarence Langston (congratulations on being recently elevated to the office off Bishop) the Founder and Senior Pastor of Word in Action Christian Center (joined in ministry by his wife, Co-Pastor Robyn Langston) called himself a miracle as he sat on the same panel as other men and women of God who had been brought up in church and in godly homes with total families, as someone who didn’t even know his family was broken until he saw a whole family under the guidance of his spiritual father. Bishop Langston plans to promote the dynamics of a total family, the presence of Godly men and the blessing of the family in loving God.

 And the final member of the Preachers of Detroit cast includes activist and Pastor of Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church, David Bullock, who stands by what he believes to be the essence of religious impulse – action. Pastor Bullock’s “love is ministry” approach to ministry is steeped in a tradition of social, political economic action, “I don’t want to be so heavenly minded that I am no Earthly good.” As a single Pastor, along with Pastor Tim Alden, Pastor Bullock knows there is pressure on him and follows the example of the people of God that came before him and weren’t married (Jesus, Paul, Joan of Arc etc.). Pastor Bullock also knows the importance of intimacy but wants to shed a different light on the idea, “ You cannot have a successful worship experience without intimacy…if we are the bride of Christ then in some deep, spiritual sense, unless I have an understanding of intimacy, I cannot experience God to a certain caliber.” Pastor Bullock added,  “There is so much about the human experience that is erotic and requires intimacy in order for it to be valuable and significant…The church is so afraid that people are going to slip into sex that we don’t teach people that you can practice a focused, disciplined, spiritual and significant, holy intimacy that will free you and allow you to experience levels of joy and have heaven on Earth.”

Live from the Preachers of Detroit Press Dinner Red Carpet

Sounds like an amazingly well rounded cast that is sure to give us good TV and still uphold a Godly standard, which was the reason most of the cast decided to embark on a journey they collectively described as “Insightful, reflective and life changing.” Bishop Vaughn intends to “show Detroit as a part of God’s restoration plan and to show the world the most wonderful, gutsy, hopeful, Godly people.” Bishop Ellis’s hopes to shed light on “Some of the great things the churches (and pastors) are doing for the community in a much broader audience.” Pastor Don Shelby hopes his role on the show will, “Share the importance of family and walking in holiness and integrity as a man of God.” Pastor Bullock chimed in with a quintessential description of what filming the show has been like for the cast, “It was empowering to work with people with the same message but a different method. “ Listening to these great men and women of God and hearing their stories most definitely changed my preconceived notion about religious leaders and reality TV. As far as I’m concerned, the message of Christ is being broadcasted on national television through the lives of these preachers who go through the same issues as anyone else. 

“This is a reality show…. not a church service or panel discussion [but] a chance to instill significant life moments in a 45 minute episode and we want it to be exciting… it will elevate Preachers, Pastors, Bishops and congregations in a way they wouldn’t have been elevated before. Maybe someone will peep in and have a desire to be saved. [And] If the hate comes it’s coming from the saved.” 

Pastor David  Bullock. 
Preachers of Detroit will air Friday February 20, 2015 at 8 pm. 

Ayana & Ambrea on the Preachers of Detroit Red Carpet

Ambrea & Brittney

Ayana

Brittney & Ambrea in action

A Team Talk Show Host Ambrea Curry also had the opportunity to talk with the cast on the press dinner Red Carpet. To see the full interview and behind the scene footage of the entire night, subscribe to the A Team Talk Show YouTube Channel!