Genesis 14:17–24 "After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). " "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) " "And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; " "and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. " "And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” " "But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, " "that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ " "I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”"
This sermon could be a message on Stewardship. However, The subject is broader than just stewardship. Abram is returning from his victory over the kings of the east. God has blessed Abram with a great blessing that was impossible from a human point of view. Abram's test of faith was NOT OVER. Now we will see if Abram responds to Blessing as well as he responded to adversity. He had demonstrated FAITH by trusting the Lord to help him rescue LOT.
NOW, his faith is tested in another way.
HOW WILL HE RESPOND to GOD'S BLESSINGS?
We take God's blessings for granted. How often do we recognize God’s blessings in these areas?
During a rain storms in the middle of the night, do you say, “Thank you for a dry place to sleep?"
When you take the daily prescriptions that help keep you healthy, do you say to the Lord, "Thank you for medicine?"
Students, when was the last time you thanked the Lord for your teachers that assist in your education?
How about your daily food?
Or your job, your car?
One of the greatest insults to God is praying for something and then neglecting to thank God when he answers!
Let’s begin by looking at the Circumstances surrounding Abram’s response of praise.
Abram’s pursuit of Chedarlaomer took him as far north as the foot of Mt. Hermon, in the territory of Dan (Gen 14:14). He now returns via the Jordan valley, to the "Valley of Shaveh.” This was most likely the place later called the Kidron valley, the valley that runs between the hilltop city of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. During this journey, nothing is recorded from LOT. We will not read about him again until Genesis 19:1.
The focus here is the Contrast between Two Kings,
Bera, King of Sodom- An illustration of the allurement of the WORLD. 14:14:17
and Melchizedek, the King of Salem (Jerusalem).
The last we saw Bera he was fleeing for his life. The only escape was the tar pits. I wonder if he was still covered in tar when he came out to meet Abram. (Genesis 14:2)
The King of Sodom asks Abram for the people. He had no right to ask for anything! Like the world, Bera has has nothing to offer.
In contrast, we see Melchizedek, King of Salem, who is a picture for us of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are only 2 references to him in the OT. One is here and the other is in Psalm 110:4. That Psalm is a Messianic Psalm written by David. It contains prophetic words concerning the Lord Jesus who will do the following:
Messiah would be a KING (110:1-3)
Messiah would be a PRIEST (110:4)
Messiah would be a RIGHTEOUS JUDGE (110:5-7)
The only other mention of Melchizedek, and the more familiar passages are in Hebrews 5,6 and 7. Hebrews 7 contains the most information and reveals to us that this somewhat obscure OT figure is a prototype of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:1–10 "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, " "and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. " "He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. " "See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! " "And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. " "But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. " "It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. " "In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. " "One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, " "for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him."
Characteristics of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1-10)
a. He is a genuine King of Jerusalem
b. He is a fore-runner of Jesus
C. He is without recorded ancestry. Kurt Matthews writes concerning the fact that no recoed is given of Melchizedek’s ancestry: “Melchizedek "like that of Melchizedek, Jesus was appointed the head of a new order, having no predecessors." K. A. Mathews, vol. 1B, Genesis 11:27-50:26, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2007), 153.
d. His name means "king of Righteousness"
e. His name means "king of Peace"
F. Righteousness and peace are connected in the OT (Ps 85:10; Isa 9:7; 32:17; 48:18; 60:17)
Melchizedek represents CHRIST!
Like Christ, he brings REFRESHMENT! (Brought bread and wine)
Like Christ, he blesses those who honor him.
Melchizedek’s blessing is provided in Genesis 14:19-20
Genesis 14:19–20 "And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; " "and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything."
This blessing follows the following chaism:
(A) Blessed be Abram by God Most High
(B) Creator of heaven and Earth
(A ) Blessed be God Most High
(B ) who delivered your enemies into your hand
Melchizedek introduces Abram to a previously unrecorded name of God.
"Elyon" (used about 30 x in the OT)
Here, the name is combined with “El,” normally translated “God.”
El Elyon: means God most high. It is used also in Psalm 78:35 "They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer."
Other usages of Elyon in the OT included combinations with Yahweh (LORD), and mean, “Lord most High” Psalm 7:17 "I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High."
This name is also used by itself to refer to God. Psalm 9:2 "I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
Melchizedek teaches Abram to EXALT the Lord by introducing a name. Abram FOLLOWS MELCHIZEDEK'S usage of El Elyon (14:22) and refers to God by this new compound name.
What we Learn from Abram: How to Respond to God's Blessings!
5 Lessons from Abraham
A. Recognize that God owns it ALL.
1. In essence, Abraham was saying, "By giving you this I am implicitly admitting that I did not win the victory by myself. Victory comes from the Lord alone." (Ray Pritchard, "To Tithe or Not to Tithe," Keepbelieving.org, November 1990 (Accessed March 2, 2012).
2. When we give to God, we remind ourselves that it all belongs to God!
3. God accomplished something that was HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE!
a. A 95 year old shepherd defeats the armies of 5 kings!
b. We are tempted to think that the blessings of God are due to our accomplishment.
B. Respond to God's Blessings through Giving
1. Tithing precedes the LAW
2. The principle of tithing was REQUIRED in several portions of the Mosaic LAW.
a. Priestly tithe - 1/10 of all yearly produce and 1/10 of all of the flocks and cattle. Supported the Levites. The Levites then tithed off of this and supported the ministry of the priests. Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:24
b. Festival Tithe - 1/10 of the 90% left. Taken with them yearly to Jerusalem. Deuteronomy 12:5-7; 14:22-27.
c. Charity Tithe - Given every 3rd year. Designated for Levites, strangers, fatherless and widows. Deuteronomy 26:12; 14:28-29.
d. This totaled about 22% of their possessions!
3. Malachi 3:8-12
4. Tithing is a "Biblical Benchmark"
5. We are not under the LAW
a. ABRAM gave voluntarily!
b. Consider applying the GOD PORTION principle to the following areas:
(1) Your income
(2) Special gifts
(3) Birthday money from grandparents
(4) Your inheritance and will
(5) Your resources
C. Keep the Commitments you made to God. (Gen 14:20)
1. Abram reply to Bera, King of Sodom.
2. Abraham keeps his oath
3. Abram trusts God to bless
D. Recognize that these BLESSINGS came from GOD.
1. He gives to MELCHIZEDEK
2. Melchizedek is a prototype of CHRIST, who is the SOURCE of our blessings!
a. Titus 3:6 "whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,"
b. Ephesians 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
c. 1 Timothy 6:17 "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."
3. Abram teaches us about GIVING
a. Giving is voluntary
b. Giving is based on the GOD PORTION principle (tithing)
E. Remember that EVERYTHING we have comes from God.
1. Deuteronomy 8:18 "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today."
2. 1 Chronicles 29:14 ""But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand."
3. 1 Chronicles 16:2 "After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord."
V. Abram's Response to God:
A. Giving is an act of WORSHIP
B. Giving is the only antidote to MATERIALISM (Randy Alcorn)
C. TEST GOD! (Malachi 3)
1. Count your blessings
2. If your giving does not come by faith, then TEST GOD
a. Test him for 2 months
b. See if your heart does not change
c. See if there is not a greater sense of peace
d. See if there are needs that he does not provide
e. See if your grip on money does not loosen
D. Generous Giving demonstrates our Confidence in God and His Church!
Exodus 36:1–7 ""Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded." " "And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. " "And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, " "so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, " "and said to Moses, "The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do." " "So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, "Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary." So the people were restrained from bringing, " "for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more."
Poverty and wealth are relative!
1. General observation, the POOREST in AMERICA are RICH in comparison to most of the world.
2. US GDP per person ranks 10th in the world. $46,400.
3. 87 countries with less than $5,000 GDP per person
4. HAITI, $1,300 GDP per person
E. In the US the POVERTY RATE fluctuates between 13-17%
1. BUT what is this compared to the rest of the world?
2. "The average poor American has more square footage of living space than does the average person living in London, Paris, Vienna, and Munich. Poor Americans have nearly three times the living space of average urban citizens in middle-income countries such as Mexico and Turkey." (http://www.heritage.org/Research/welfare/bg2064.cfm)
3. Forty-three percent of all poor households own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
4. Eighty percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, in 1970, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
5. Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 31 percent own two or more cars.
6. Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.
7. The poorest of us here today are "Rich in this present world!"
F. AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY
1. 5% of all Americans give 10% to a church or non-profit
2. 24% of Evangelicals give 10%
3. 8% of Protestants tithe
4. 2% of R Catholics tithe
5. While 34% of Americans gave $1,000 or more in 2007,
6. 18% gave $100 or less!
It has been observed that there are 500 verses in the Bible that address prayer. 500 verses in the Bible address Faith. But 5,000 verses in the Bible address money or possessions! (David Giuliano, "Clergy Journal." Sep 2006).
Have you ever thought "How much will my STUFF be worth someday?" The answer is ZERO ! It's all gonna burn! (2 Peter 3:10) "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare."
No matter how precious your possessions are today, they are part of this world and will eventually have no value. They will not continue to eternity. Possessions are insecure, whether from within (moths destroy things). And what doesn't rot, always has the potential of being stolen (theives break in and steal).
