Latest / Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast / #10121 - The Rescuing Power of God - Genesis 14

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#10121 - The Rescuing Power of God - Genesis 14 · Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast

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Welcome to the study of God's word with pastor and author.
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Ed, Taylor recorded live at Calvary Church in Aurora,
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Colorado to learn more about the many resources available,
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through abounding Grace, Media, or to tune into our live stream
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Services. Visit us online at Calvary,
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co.'s Church or download our free
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Calvary Church app. Now, here's Pastor Ed to take us
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into our study. Amen.
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Amen. Open your Bibles.
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Would you to Genesis chapter 14? As we start a new chapter
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studying through the Bible, verse by verse allowing the Holy
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Spirit to teach us. I've entitled our Bible study
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today, the rescuing power of God, the rescuing power of God
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and you can jot it down. I'll read it to you.
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In Micah chapter 7 and verse 8. It says do not rejoice over me
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my enemy. When I fall I will arise When I
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sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.
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I will bear the imagine the indignation of the Lord because
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I have sinned against him until he pleads my case, and executes
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justice for me. He will bring me forth to the
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light and I will see his righteousness.
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Then she, who is my enemy will see, and shame will cover her.
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Who said to me? Where is the Lord?
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Your God, my eyes will see her. Now she will be Trampled down
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like mud in the streets. You remember last time laud and
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Abram. They separate and lot finds
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himself in big trouble as he chose for himself.
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The city of Sodom and Gomorrah as the place where he wants to
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live. On the other hand, we have Abram
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who becomes a great encouragement to us.
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A man of Faith. He's known to us in the Bible is
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the father of Faith. He's known as a lover of God,
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even though he's beside By human weaknesses.
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He's so much like us. The Bible says in, Hebrews
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chapter 12 and verse 1. Therefore, we also since we are
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surrounded by so great. A cloud of witnesses.
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Let us lay aside every weight, not maybe a word to you, and the
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sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance,
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the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus, the author
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and finisher of our Our faith, who for the joy that was set
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before him. Endured the cross despising, the
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shame and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God,
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Abram is a normal man. Like you and me.
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Fraught filled with error and difficulty and sinful decisions.
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He fell Abram did, I mean right after we're introduced to this
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mad great man, of Faith. The very next chapter, finds him
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telling his wife to lie after he runs.
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Is to Egypt as a response of fear when famine hits the land.
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Remember Egypt is always a type of the world system.
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And what we have is Abram running to the world running to
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the world for help. And while he was in Egypt, he
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tells his wife to lie and she becomes a part of pharaohs,
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Harem and God speaks loudly and painfully to pharaoh.
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Abram wasn't in a position to be hearing from God at this time.
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So what does God do? He talks to pharaoh?
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And Pharaoh kicks him out and he gives him some things and they
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leave Egypt, but where did he end up?
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This is all by way of review, by the way, he ends up back in,
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Bethel the place where he first worship God.
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And that's been something I've been meditating and chewing on,
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for many weeks. Now, you know how in Revelation
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the instruction to the church in Ephesus is to remember, Where
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you have fallen to repent and to return.
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And so many times, we look at that and go, oh, look how far
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Ephesus. Look, how far the church in
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Ephesus went where they started and as you open up the book of
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Ephesians and you learn how they were enriched in every spiritual
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blessing, God used them greatly and then you fast forward, 30
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years. And you see how far they have
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fallen. And almost always that
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instruction is, is in that place of how far you have fallen, how
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you've left your first love. And certainly, there are times
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when it's When it's demonstrated in a very large way.
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But the more and more, I've been meditating on this little
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section of scripture, the more and more, the Lord's been
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impressing upon me. That that's a daily Rhythm of
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Life that we don't have to fall. So far away from God and leave
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the love of God, so far, that finally, we finally remember.
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But there are those needs on a regular basis.
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To remember, from what we have fallen, and to repent to have
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this Godly sorrow where our life is and return to the base.
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Ex and I love this Abram gets back to Bethel.
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Then problems arose between families, not so much between
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Abram and lot but those that were with them, their family and
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their servants. And remember when the land was
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too much Abram, he gave locked a choice, you just choose whatever
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you want. We have two separate.
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We don't want, I don't want these fights.
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I want our family to stay intact.
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So so you pick whichever way you want.
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And I'll take what you don't pick any.
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Himself. He's back in tune with the Lord.
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He wanted to be as Jesus would teach later the servant of also.
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He wanted to be great in God's kingdom and he learned to be the
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servant of all, go ahead, lot, take whatever you want, and I'll
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be happy with what's left. He's no longer in this season is
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again. What were you going to learn
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with Abram? He goes up and down up and down
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up and down up and down. Anybody have a life that
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reflects that at times? Yes, I made progress.
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Well, how was Tuesday? Not so good.
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Well, Was Wednesday really good? How is Thursday?
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I don't know. That's not talk about Thursday
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and it's just a battle for that. Steady progress.
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Way broom is thousands of years ago is demonstrating a pattern
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very similar to ours at times. And he steps in this problem as
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a peacemaker, he doesn't use his authority.
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It isn't used as age. You know, typically the Abram
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should launch should have submitted to Abram, not the
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other way around, but he steps in with humility and it reminded
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me perhaps it's something that God wants to teach you and
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remind you today that a lot of people have a problem with
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humility and meekness. First of all, it's not a
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characteristic that's valued in our culture, Only the Strong, a
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whole new system of philosophy and I guess you could call it a
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religion in and of its own. Humanistic Evolution teaches
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about teachers in a very base level.
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I mean, forget about all the details that are very base
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level. What does it teach their
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survival of the fittest. You better fight for your life
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you want to. If you want to make it you need
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to pull and take people out and here you are.
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If you've made it this far, then look how strong you are.
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Look what God is. It look what you have done apart
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from God. You don't need God.
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But meekness and humility are so vital.
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And so important. To step into this Abram was
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trusting. God, humility is a place of
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great faith in God. You are saying when you take the
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humble route that you trust, God over your own resources that you
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trust God over your own plans, where you trust God, you know a
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lot. If that's the choice you make
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than I trust. That God will even use your bad
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decisions. Your difficult.
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I think of how many times in our families are so much family
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conflict. So many difficulties in some
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families, in a lot of pain. A lot of heard, a lot of trauma,
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a lot of difficulty, taking advantage of one another and
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then to take the place of humility and say okay if that's
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the choice you want to make I receive and accept that choice
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in Jesus name. I don't like it.
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I don't want it. My natural response is to fight
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back and get the upper hand. That's where I feel most
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comfortable, you know, not just said you'd like add, you're
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really messed up. No, I'm speaking for us, we feel
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most comfortable when we have a sense of control but humility
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says, I will choose to trust God who's in control of my life.
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Even in this and in reality is Abram respond in humility, you
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might look and go. But Abram, you're giving the
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best of the land up. You're giving it all up.
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Why don't you assert? You've earned it, your old, you
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have seniority. You, you have the place of the
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patriarchy, you're the man of Faith, you're the one that God
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called. Lot is just a tag along and
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you're going to give him the choice.
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How could you give so much up? But in reality Abram didn't give
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anything up. His life has always been in the
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hands of God after lot, chose the land toward Sodom, God came
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to Abram and said, you know what?
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I'm giving everything to you. It's all yours as far as your
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eye. Can see all the land belongs to
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you, because God meets Us in humility.
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I would even go so far to say that God is attracted to
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humility that his heart is near the Brokenhearted that God draws
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near. I had a scripture, I want you to
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turn this one. I've read a few but would you
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turn over to Mark's gospel? With me, Mark chapter 10,
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reminder of the teachings of Jesus here in Mark, chapter 10,
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when you get there, jumped a verse 28, Mark chapter 10 and
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verse 28. Love this Peter began to say to
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him. And really let's go back to
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verse 23 because it's really the context of the teachings.
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So in verse 23, Jesus looked around and said and you remember
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the Rich Young Ruler came and so this is at the end of that he
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says and the Rich Young Ruler was not willing to give up
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everything. Kind of like he's the exact
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opposite Vitti Abram. He's not going to he's not
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willing to give up what would really position him to follow
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Jesus and this is what Jesus says how hard it is.
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Verse 23, for those who have written Choose to enter the
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kingdom of God. And the disciples were
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astonished at his words. But Jesus again, answered and
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said children, how hard it is? For those who notice the what he
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adds there, who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.
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It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than
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for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
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And again, they were astonished beyond measure saying, among
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themselves who then can be saved and looking at them Jesus said
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With men, it's impossible with but not with God, for, With God,
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all things are possible. Now, of course, the
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interpretation the, the root of this Texas.
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Certainly speaking about riches Jesus is very clear, but he's
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using riches in the attachment to money and things to prep us
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to prep them. And us today, to talk about
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humility What? You hold onto reflects your
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humility. He was willing the Rich Young
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Ruler left in a worse condition. He's one of the few people that
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meets Jesus and leaves his presence in a worse condition
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than when he first came. And as he's walking away, Jesus,
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you guys see what's out. He missed out.
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He'd rather have his riches. He's rather trust in his riches
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and although it probably didn't look like it, visit Lee, he
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walked away, prideful and arrogant thinking, his riches
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were more valuable. Then giving all up to follow
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Christ. Now verse 28, Then Peter
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responds and he says, see, we've left all the followed.
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You and again, it's like I see him walking away with this
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stuff. But Jesus, look at us.
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We've left everything. We don't have anything left.
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There must be some special position for us.
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That's really what I think the attitude is here.
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And then Jesus answered assuredly, I say to you.
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There isn't one who has left house or brothers or sisters or
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father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake of
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the Gospel. Who Not receive a hundredfold.
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Now, in this time houses, and brothers and sisters, and
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mothers, children and lands with persecutions and in the age to
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come eternal life and then here's the essence, here's the
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summary. Many who are first will be last.
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And the last first, if you'd like to write in your Bibles
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verse 31, just say humility, just write it down, humility.
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The last is going to be first and the first will be last.
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This is a lot here, he chose first.
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It's going to get him in big trouble.
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It's always best to leave the decisions to God because lot
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chooses for himself Sodom. He chooses for himself, the
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place of burning and friends, his family will pay a steep
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price for this decision. It will progressively get worse.
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But already notice what happens chapter 14 and verse 1 and it
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came to pass in the days of am Rafael.
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The king of shinar, arioch. The king of ellasar Turtle,
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eomer king of Elam and tidal, king of Nations that they made.
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Our with Berra, the king of Sodom.
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Whoa, wait a minute. Sodom is now in war, where did
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lot choose Sodom he chose a place that was appealing to the
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eye. And now, they're at War Bursa,
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the king of Gomorrah, she nabbed the king of admah.
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Shh, member the king of zeboiim and the king of Bela that is OU,
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are all these join together in the valley of siddim.
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That is the salt sea. 12 years, they serve chedorlaomer.
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And in the 30th year they rebelled in the fourteenth year
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chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked
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the ref am in ostrov carnem and zoos mm and ham and Eminem and
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shivaji Kira thiam and the horites and the mountain of seir
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and as far as L pourin, which is by the Wilderness verse 7, they
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turned back and came to L Miss fat.
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That is key. I should have talked to all the
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country of the amalekites and also the amorites who dwelt in
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has has on Tamar and the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the
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king of admah, the king of zebulun, the king of Bela that
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is or they went out and joined together in the battle, in the
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valley of siddim against chedorlaomer, king of Elam
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title, the king of Nations amraphel king of shinar, arioch,
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king of ellasar, Four Kings against five.
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Now, the valley of siddim was full of asphalt pits and the
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kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, Some fell there.
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And the remainder fled to the mountains verse 11, they took
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all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and their provisions
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and went their way, pause there, for a second.
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You read through, and it's a very uninteresting list of names
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that are hard to pronounce in areas that you probably don't
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understand. You're like, why did you even
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read through that? I want you just to accept at
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least in the English translation here.
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I want you to just to accept the mess.
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That La got himself into by choosing choosing that area for
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himself. Just this all these names and
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all these wars. They, they, he went from one
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little conflict of his servants, fighting over land to feed their
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animals. And and Abram says, look this
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this can't. I want to save my family.
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We can't keep going this way. Law just choose an area and lot,
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doesn't pray. He there's no mention of him
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ranking a response, spiritually. He just makes a decision.
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See something his eyes are appealing.
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You know, this area is appealing to him, you know, Bright Lights,
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big city, he comes That area and all of this nonsense becomes his
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life. There's a lot of applications
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there but I would just say that be careful when you choose for
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yourself. that choice may find yourself in a lot of nonsense
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that really has nothing to do with you at all, but now you're
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caught up in it all Not only that I stopped on purpose at
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verse 12, all of this is happening.
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And then notice they also took lot Abrams, Brothers son, who
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dwelt in Sodom and his goods and they departed.
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This is the first mention of war in the Bible.
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It's also the first mention of a non Hebrew name.
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Now, remember earlier, we learned that God scattered the
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nation's by confusing, their language.
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Now they're fighting one another That's the progression away from
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God. Now in all of their separation
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they're wanting to fight one another to take advantage of
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each other and there's five city-states basically that we
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read that have been subject for 12 years until they Rebel and
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Sodom and Gomorrah side they lose and lot is captured.
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And here we have yet another problem that lot causes for his
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uncle Abram notice verse 13. Then one who escaped came and
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told Abram the Hebrew for he dwelt by the terebinth Trees of
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mamre. The Amorite brother of eshkol
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the brother of a Nur and they were allies with Abram.
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So Abram gets word most likely from one of lot servants.
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That were upset with Abram and his servants.
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And it's interesting, when, when you might be a lot of fighting,
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a lot of friction, a lot of difficulty, but when you get in
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trouble, you even ask your enemies for help.
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Or at least ask people that you were talking about before.
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There is a forced humility. You see Abram, you know, the
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Bible speaks about humbling yourself under the mighty hand
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of God and he will raise, he will raise you up and Abram is
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doing that. However, if You don't humble
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yourself. God has his ways and means where
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he will humble you. And now, lot in his servants are
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being humbled. They got, they got stolen and
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kidnapped, and all their stuff lost because the city they dwelt
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in was captured in war and they become The Spoils of War.
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So here one who had escaped, probably one of lots servants
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that were upset before now isn't upset anymore comes to Abram 4L.
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Now eh Even was a normal person. We've mentioned that you'll hear
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it. Many times in our study, he had
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struggles and faults and failures.
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He had his times of tremendous Faith.
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He also had his times of spiritual growth and I want you
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to know that, even if we described you today of ups and
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downs, God uses the ups and downs of your life.
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Everything is used. Nothing is wasted by God.
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God uses the ups and downs. I find that Abraham's faith.
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When he responds to his Yours properly.
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His faith grows in God. God reveals himself in a new
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Fresh way and he begins to trust God and even deeper ways in your
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successes. God will reveal his purposes and
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how he wants to work through your life but also in your
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failures God will reveal his power in new ways to redeem you
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and restore. Again, jotted down in Romans
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chapter 8, and verse 28 says, we know that all things work
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together for good to those who love God and those who are
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called according to his purpose. And sometimes we read that verse
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will. God works some things together
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for good, but we'll look at a failure or look at a season.
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We'll look at it should difficulty and go God works most
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things for good but not this. It's not this or you might
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respond. God, God will use some things,
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but, you know, I'm the one that got into a mess here.
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I'm the one that made the mistake.
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I did it willingly and rebelliously know.
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Well God the Bible is very clear.
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It's not some, it's not most it's it's all He doesn't say, as
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we've learned in previous studies, he doesn't say that all
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things are good. Don't misunderstand the
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scripture, he doesn't say, all things are good.
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A lot of things are really really bad and very, very
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painful. But God will use the good in the
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bat, the success in the failure. I mean Paul himself who wrote
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Romans 8 would know this firsthand, he was once a man
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bent on death and destruction here in the coming weeks.
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As we study through verse by verse and acts, we're going to
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learn about this guy as Saul and we're going to learn it.
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Just what an angry vicious. I mean the Bible talks about him
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breathing in and out threats and murders.
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That's the kind of guy he was with a with an ability.
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He to say that God is approved this Behavior because I'm going
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to clear, clear out these Christians so that the religion
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can be pure, he was bent on destruction until the wonderful
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grace of God, melted him and changed him to the man on a
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mission to save the very souls. He wants tried to Snuff Out,
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imagine that the very people that in some ways he was
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successful, the very families, the very communities, that he
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wanted, Damascus itself. Elf became a mission field for
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Paul the Apostle. So Hebron hasn't been perfect.
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He hasn't fully obeyed. He's been weak and feeble and
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yet God continues to bless him because he went back to Bethel.
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And at the place the house of God, he began to hear the voice
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of God again. He began to be in unity and
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communion with God again. And here God orchestrated.
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That is lot is going through great trial.
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Abram is in the position to receive this word.
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Because I think when you read the Bible, you got to put
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yourself in it. Sometimes if Lots caused you
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all, this all this strife and lot is caused all these
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difficulties. And now lot has chosen for
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himself. He doesn't humble himself, he
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doesn't choose no Abram. You're my uncle, you choose
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first. He just takes it and takes off.
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And then he, you get word from one of the guys that probably
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was one of the complainers. He goes, no, we need your help
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Abram. Don't you think some of you
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maybe one of you at least, besides me in the room.
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Think you know what lat you're on your own, bro.
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What is the phrase in the world? You made your bed now.
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Lay in it. But again, that would be the
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coronal way of responding that wouldn't it and that's not
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Abrams in a place where he's hearing from the Lord.
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It reminds me, I want to be in a place where I can hear from the
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Lord even from my enemies. I want to be in a place where I
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can hear from the Lord so that if an old enemy shows up in my
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life who's caused me, great pain and anguish that would be open
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to serve him as my friend. And Minister the gospel to him
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or to her. We read in Micah, you know that
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in that beginning, passage in Micah chapter 7.
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It's like, you know, one God, you will take care of the issues
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with my enemy, you'll take care of them, I'll be able to see it,
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but I'm not going to take things into my own hands.
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And Abram doesn't do that even though lot would not be in the
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category of an enemy in his life.
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A lot doesn't take things into his own hands.
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And so notice it says, in verse 14, he says now Abram when Abram
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heard that, his brother is taken captive, he armed 318 trained
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servants, who were born in his own house, and went in Pursuit,
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as far as Dan So his response was 318.
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Hey get, let's get together and let's go rescue.
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Let's go to war lost decisions. Now poised Abram and his
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servants into war and it says, in verse 15, he divided his
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forces. So he's mapping it out he and
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his servants, attacked them and pursued them as far as hoba,
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which is north of Damascus. And he brought back all the
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goods and also brought back his brother lot and his Goods as
24:19
well as the women and the people.
24:22
So he Maps out Military strategies that let's go boys.
24:25
Let's go take care of and rescue lot. and I love that and I pray
24:30
that in our congregation in our church, you know, our hearts
24:33
would be soft And that we would fight the right battles, and we
24:38
would fight the right battles together and not be fighting
24:41
one. Another not perpetuating the
24:43
division that's in our culture that we live in in a very real
24:48
way. We live in Egypt, but we
24:50
wouldn't be like Egypt that we live in this world system, but
24:55
that we would have a life that reflects the love and the grace
24:58
and the mercy of Jesus Christ. We're in a battle where logic
25:02
and reason are no longer valid tools.
25:05
Convince people, we need the Holy Spirit In Our Lives, to
25:09
take the seeds that have been planted and the seeds that have
25:12
been watered. So is the holy spirit in our
25:14
lives as we walk forth in Mercy and truth and Grace would be
25:19
able to give the increase of the work that God is doing on the
25:23
Earth today that we wouldn't become like Egypt but that when
25:26
it's time to go man were out. And we would rescue.
25:30
Anyone else that is stuck. It's not Egypt.
25:33
You you know if you make Egypt your home, you're going to get
25:36
worse. So you want to make Egypt your
25:38
home, then Sodom is next and when you get to Sodom is going
25:42
to be a lot of warfare there, you just ask it for more war,
25:45
more enemies, more difficulties. And then you might even find
25:49
that you thought you could handle, Sodom.
25:51
And this isn't the last time, by the way, lot gets in trouble
25:54
with Sodom. You can read ahead as we have
25:57
future studies. This isn't the last time Sodom
26:00
is going to become a thorn in his flesh.
26:02
It's going to wreck his family. You know, what happens with
26:05
Sodom and lat. He loses his wife to Sodom.
26:12
Because while he was able to in his mind, finally come to the
26:16
conclusion, we got to get out. His wife looks back.
26:22
It affected her far deeper than it, did him.
26:25
And ultimately, he loses his wife. notice now as we change
26:31
the less second half, In verse 17.
26:34
Now the second half of the chapter, there's a transition to
26:38
from this Warfare and rescuing in the faith of Abraham now.
26:42
And by the way, just all everything that Abram did 318
26:45
servants going to war against all these city states and
26:47
Nations took a lot of faith to trust God.
26:50
He went man, he's not looking back and I'm gonna go get a lot.
26:54
We're going to go take back. What the enemy is ripped off,
26:57
even from my family, that's the place of strength.
27:00
You know, the place of strength is not only will God restore to
27:02
you with the He's eaten, but you become Now power to go take what
27:07
your family, what was ripped off from your family?
27:09
What was ripped off from your mom?
27:11
Your dad, your grandparents your extended family, you become the
27:14
place in your home and in your family that is the place of
27:18
Warfare on behalf of others. They can't War for themselves.
27:22
That's just, that's a whole Bible study in and of itself
27:24
where your family's taken captive.
27:26
And you're the only one that's just interceding and praying for
27:30
them by faith. Even sometimes in our families,
27:33
they'll be Everybody's lost faith, but not you.
27:37
And you just make that your prayer closet.
27:40
Abram that man of Faith. Okay, let's switch.
27:42
Now to this place the king of Sodom, it says, in verse 17 went
27:46
out to meet him at the valley of shaveh.
27:49
That is the Kings Valley after his return, from the defeat of
27:53
chedorlaomer and the Kings who were with him.
27:57
The king of Sodom are the king of wickedness comes to meet
28:00
Abram. And then is overshadowed though
28:03
by Verse 18, then Melchizedek the king of Salem.
28:07
Now, if you were with us, who study verse by verse Through the
28:10
book of Hebrews, we've already met Melchizedek, but this is the
28:13
first time he's mentioned. Remember Salem in Hebrew means
28:16
peace. So he is the king of Peace.
28:18
You have the king of wickedness and the king of peace, and he
28:23
brought out the bread and the wine, which would be future
28:25
pictures of the very Bread and Wine.
28:27
That Jesus shared at the Last Supper that last meal at
28:32
Passover, that would then speak of the broken body in the shed
28:36
blood, he brings Bread and Wine. He was the priest.
28:40
Of the most God most high and notice He blesses him and said,
28:46
Blessed Be Abram of God. Most high possessor of Heaven
28:51
and Earth, and blessed. Be God, most high, who has
28:54
delivered your enemies into your hand and he gave him again.
28:59
If you're following along in verse at the end of verse 20, he
29:02
there and he gave is Abram. So you could say and Abram gave
29:06
him a tithe of all He took in war, he gave him a tithe.
29:14
Now, before he can even speak before, the king of Sodom even
29:18
has a chance to talk the king of Peace shows up, God is ready to
29:22
give you peace in the midst of wickedness and I said, great
29:25
picture here. It's like they'll all of the
29:27
Book of Genesis just filled with so much beautiful pictures and
29:30
typology. And here, the king of king of
29:32
wickedness sees the strength of God in you.
29:34
And then before he can even say a word, the king of Peace shows
29:37
up. And we believe my credit
29:40
Melchizedek as all, those are a lot of debate on this.
29:42
I believe these a preincarnate appearance of Jesus a theophany
29:46
you might hear a or a christophany and before he
29:49
before Abram can speak before the king and speak Melchizedek
29:53
shows up. We know that he is the ruler of
29:56
Salem, which would be ancient Jerusalem.
29:59
And he comes with a blessing. His name means king of
30:03
righteousness. And he's the first priests in
30:06
the Bible that we read about and he brings the Bread and Wine.
30:10
And after giving these as gifts Abram responds by giving him a
30:14
tithe. Now, three times in the book of
30:17
in the Bible, Melchizedek is mentioned first time right here
30:21
in Genesis second time in Psalm 110.
30:25
And then finally he's mentioned again in Hebrews chapter 7, it's
30:28
through Melchizedek that a new priesthood is established.
30:32
The next priesthood mentioned from Is going forward, will be
30:36
the Ariana Kris stood, the priesthood of Aaron, and that is
30:40
of the, the priesthood oversees, the Jews and the Temple.
30:44
Now, of course, this is Melchizedek is one of the many
30:46
places where theologians Scholars, people love to spend
30:50
their whole entire lives, debating and arguing over his
30:54
origin. The nature and of course, it's a
30:55
tough passage. But the essence for us today, I
30:58
think is that you have a high priest that lives forever.
31:01
His name is Jesus, The now, even Melchizedek becomes a picture in
31:05
a type of the high priest that's to come King and priest holding
31:10
both offices. And I want you to notice here.
31:14
Another debatable passage about giving that Abram here.
31:18
Gives a tithe of all a tithe by definition is 10% A tie this 10%
31:26
of everything that he had, he gives to the Prince of Peace,
31:31
the city of peace to the prince of righteousness.
31:34
He gives a tent And it's very common today to hear both sides
31:39
of this. That tithing is absolutely
31:41
necessary and you must tithe. And then there are those on the
31:45
other side's. They know you never need to
31:47
tithe because tithing was a part of the law of Moses and the law
31:50
of Moses been replaced by Jesus Christ.
31:53
And he's delivered us from that law.
31:56
But today, I want you to notice something that in the biblical
31:58
teachings, the principle of the tithe preceded, the law, And
32:06
that the man of faith is giving and participating of his own
32:10
free. Will it wasn't required?
32:13
It wasn't requested but of his own free.
32:15
Will he gave a tenth of all? That was his acknowledging.
32:20
It was from God, he gave to this priest.
32:25
By the time, the law was written, the requirement of the
32:29
tithe and the giving of the Jews had actually increased by three
32:32
times so that giving was far more than a mere 10%.
32:39
And while it's true that you and I are saved by faith and Faith
32:41
of loan, Faith does produce works.
32:46
And one of the areas that you can test yourself, the most is
32:51
in your giving I don't merely mean you're giving to your local
32:55
church or congregation that that's a that's a slam dunk or
32:59
that's an easy one. I mean your generous heart and
33:04
the place of generosity. It is not mandated that you give
33:08
10% anywhere in the scriptures for the New Covenant believer.
33:11
So, if anybody lays that trip on you, anyone says that you must
33:14
do that in order to be right with God.
33:16
It's not true. You may be surprised though that
33:20
in the New Testament, what's required of giving is actually
33:23
more than 10%. Let me show you.
33:26
I mean, turn over to Hebrews chapter 12, Hebrews chapter 12.
33:34
It's way back at the end of the scriptures and let me show you
33:39
what I mean. Actually, if you got to Hebrews
33:45
chapter 12, look at it. And then go to Romans 12, that's
33:48
not where I want. Go back to Romans, I'm thinking
33:51
of Romans 12, the Mandate of the New Covenant is far more than
33:55
10% and for some of you, this may be the first time you're
33:58
hearing this, it is should be shocking to you.
34:02
This, this is one of those passages of scripture that
34:04
should shock you and really cause you to pray and think
34:07
about it because you just read over like it's no big deal with
34:10
this is huge, first one Romans 12, I beg you therefore Brethren
34:15
by the mercies of God, that you present, your bodies, a Living
34:19
Sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
34:25
service. So, even before we think about
34:27
Egypt, before we think about Sodom, before we think about our
34:30
role in this world, before we think of how we live in this
34:33
world, how we avoid compromise, before we ever get there.
34:36
God says, this is the business that must be done.
34:40
You're so your absolute 100% giving of yourself.
34:46
To the Lord. That's where it begins.
34:51
It doesn't begin with platitudes and Direction and points.
34:54
It begins with surrender. Because we are.
35:02
Filled and surrounded by the mercy of God.
35:05
Paul says, you've got to present your bodies, a Living Sacrifice.
35:10
A Living Sacrifice, not a sacrifice that is laid on the
35:14
Altar and sacrificed and burned and gone, but a Living
35:17
Sacrifice, which implies that you're repetitively repeatedly
35:23
offering yourself a sacrifice. Or would Jesus said if you
35:27
desire to follow him that we would learn to deny ourselves
35:30
and take up the cross and follow him.
35:33
So, the Mandate in the New Covenant is that you give
35:36
everything. It's not measured in numbers.
35:40
It's not measured in paychecks and it's not measured in any of
35:43
the measurements that we might try to hold onto.
35:47
When you give everything to the Lord, he begins to lead you on,
35:50
on those other little things he'll speak to you.
35:53
If you should help that person asking for money on the corner,
35:57
he'll speak to you. If you should help a family
35:59
member, he was speak to you on what to give to your local
36:03
church. He'll speak to you on how to use
36:06
the things that he's given to you for his glory and ultimately
36:10
for your good. That's why so many struggle with
36:15
giving because they don't give of themselves first and then
36:21
they just like, well it's counted out and let's get, you
36:23
know, let's make sure that we counted out exactly.
36:25
And let's make sure the number will give yourself to the Lord,
36:28
and if that's what the result is then, great.
36:32
I think the tide is a great measurement to start.
36:37
I think as a pastor recommending to you and I've done these
36:39
studies in depth in second Corinthians, you know, the Bible
36:42
not only mandates giving ourselves but the Bible also
36:45
talks about giving cheerfully hilariously excited about how
36:49
the resources are going to be used for the kingdom.
36:51
Excited about what God has given to us from hearts of gratitude.
36:55
Not selfishness, not holding on not and he even specifically
36:59
says, when it comes to giving when you giving to your local
37:02
church, he says, don't do it grudgingly It's not designed to
37:07
give you a burden. Like, I believe though.
37:08
They don't need a. Why am I like?
37:10
It's not designed for that. It's not designed for you to be
37:14
mad at God, for what he gave you.
37:18
He's just a twisted lie of the Enemy.
37:20
No, I'm never going to give anything.
37:21
Well, you know your life will probably reflect that.
37:25
That's your position you take and you think it's from the
37:27
Lord, you know, then you're probably be very selfish, very
37:31
self-centered. They're very much about holding
37:35
on to what you have and then most likely there's a good
37:38
chance. You also complain about what you
37:40
don't have. You spending all that time with
37:43
closed fists and then being upset, why can't I don't have
37:46
more my neighbor has more. Why?
37:47
Well why don't you try opening up your hands and giving it
37:50
away? No, no.
37:51
If I give it away, then I'll have nothing.
37:54
That's the point. Because then you're beginning to
37:58
take all that God has for you and as you take as you receive
38:02
you, give as you receive you give and we come to God With
38:06
Open Hands, not clenched Fists. and it's been said, That if you
38:13
want to look for areas of your spiritual life or measurements
38:15
for your spiritual life, you know.
38:17
Now, these days you used to be that check your checkbook in
38:20
your little register, but now, everything is online.
38:21
So, just take your app out and look at where your money's been
38:24
going for the last couple months and you'll know where your heart
38:27
is. You'll know, these are Bible
38:30
says, where your treasure is there.
38:32
Your heart is And you can see it's like, well, man.
38:35
I've been helping here here here.
38:36
And if your checkbook reflects, helping, then your heart is
38:39
full. If your checkbook has been
38:43
hoarding, then your heart becomes hard.
38:48
And God has just given that it's like here I have ever, you know,
38:50
if you think to everything that we have is been given to us by
38:53
the Lord. That's what the Bible says.
38:55
It's not just because we have a job and it's not just because we
38:57
went to school and it's not just because we have education, it's
38:59
not just know all that. We have what the Bible says,
39:02
what do we have that? We haven't been given to you by
39:05
God and so it all belongs to him.
39:09
And the tide shouldn't stumble us.
39:10
The New Testament sets up this far greater rate than the tithe
39:14
as we learn to give cheerfully bountifully Faithfully
39:18
obediently. And then come back as we close
39:21
this chapter verse 21. Now, the king of Sodom speaks,
39:26
give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself just like
39:30
just like the world in the king of wickedness, give me the
39:33
people give me the minds. Give me the bodies and you can
39:38
have the But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted, my
39:43
hand of the Lord. God most high.
39:45
He's the possessor of Heaven and Earth.
39:47
Then I will take nothing from a thread to a Sandal strap and
39:52
that I will not take anything that's yours.
39:54
Lest you should say that, a, I have made Abram Rich except only
39:59
what the young men have eaten and the portion of the men who
40:02
went with me, a naresse call, Matt and Mamrie, let them take
40:06
their portion. Abram knew where His blessings
40:10
came from and he didn't want the stuff.
40:12
I don't want anything, I'm not going to allow you to ever take
40:15
credit for the blessings of God. I don't want your stuff, but the
40:19
people belong to the Lord, they belong to the Lord, most God,
40:23
most high. And to me, this is such a great
40:26
picture of integrity and character.
40:29
I won't take anything from you because my provision is from
40:33
God, And you want to hide this one in your heart.
40:36
You don't want to be, you don't want, I don't want.
40:41
Any man, any institution anyone to block the flow of blessings
40:48
from God directly to me which means I need to learn not to
40:53
trust in man. And I need to learn how not to
40:57
trust in the institutions institutions of man, and I have
41:01
to learn not to trust in the leadership of man.
41:04
And I have to learn that this is not my home that I'm a citizen
41:08
of Heaven. First and foremost, I have to
41:11
learn We want to be able to give all the glory and the credit to
41:16
God. Do you know a few years ago when
41:20
we were the beginning stages of the pandemic and such, they
41:25
opened up that big that short window for the government giving
41:28
money to help pay checks and stuff.
41:30
You guys remember that? I think they called it the PPP
41:33
checks, or whatever. And, and we heard about it and
41:35
we heard, man, the government's given money to the church.
41:38
We are getting in line for that and we did called our Made a few
41:43
phone calls filled out a form and boom, when you know what,
41:46
they sent the check right away. But it was a heaviness that we
41:51
were carrying because it wasn't of the giving of the church, it
41:56
was the government giving money and you know, there was some
41:59
discussion among the elders and going back and forth and and in
42:03
a couple weeks we just couldn't take it anymore and we send it
42:06
back. We don't want it, we don't want
42:10
it. Although I'm sure we could use
42:12
it for the glory of God and I have to say sometimes I wish we
42:16
would have kept it but that's just my flesh.
42:18
But that was a big check. It was so heavy to take to the
42:21
post office and is all Heavy. It was a huge check, but, you
42:24
know, integrity and character represents the leadership of
42:29
your church. And in one, in one sense we
42:34
didn't need it. Not one penny of it, the purpose
42:37
of it was to keep your payroll going in the church going and
42:41
never wants during that whole time.
42:45
Do we have any need? Even when this room was
42:48
completely empty as a church family?
42:52
So many of you were faithful in your giving unto the Lord.
42:56
Even when nobody was on the property we didn't need it.
42:59
But number two, this Principal kicked in.
43:03
We don't, we don't need it and then it was kind of hard, but
43:07
yeah, you know. We also don't want it.
43:10
It was hard to get out. We also don't want to take it
43:13
back. We want to stay independent and
43:16
free. As a church to be able to say in
43:21
answer to the Lord and to you and to anyone else, you know
43:25
what, we didn't need it. We don't want it and will
43:28
continue to do what God's called us to do is the Church of Jesus
43:31
Christ. I know other churches took it.
43:33
I'm not this isn't a statement as you're listening on the radio
43:35
of some judgment or anything. It's what the Lord spoke to us
43:38
about. And I'm sure we could have
43:40
Justified it. We could have done a lot of it
43:42
with it. It could be, I'm sure we could.
43:45
But the Lord didn't have that for us Abrams doing this here.
43:48
David will do it later when he's buying the land to build the
43:51
temple. He says I'm not taking anything
43:53
that doesn't cost me. I don't want anyone to take the
43:56
credit for the work of God. I want to be able to say that
44:00
everything to this date, 22 years of being a ministry here,
44:04
everything to this date has been through the faithful giving
44:08
large or small, whatever. That might be of the men and
44:12
women and the boys and girls in Sunday school.
44:15
The people connected to us through the radio, or through
44:17
social media, or are have given faithfully and met the needs of
44:22
our church for 22 years now. The needs and above to be able
44:27
to speak very, very generous with other churches and other
44:30
Ministries. So nobody gets the credit but
44:34
God and that's one of the benefits of participating and
44:37
giving unto the Lord small or large being faithful as unto the
44:42
Lord. So that you can say here, you
44:44
know what, I will take nothing. Not even a thread of a Sandal
44:49
strap. I'm not I don't want anything
44:52
that's yours Abram says That's significant that is serious
45:00
character on his part y. So that the end of the day, we
45:04
too could be studying, Abraham's life and saying, you know what,
45:07
all the credit and Glory goes to the Lord.
45:10
And God bless this. and ministered this and one more
45:15
thing before we head out I'm struck by in this text, The
45:22
Silence of lat. I'm struck by The Silence of
45:26
law. There's no mention that you as
45:29
you read ahead you know Abraham gets another Vision in chapter
45:32
15 and life goes on but there's no mention of lot even saying
45:37
something simple like thank you Uncle.
45:41
For saving my life and my family's life and getting me out
45:45
of this Jam, getting me out of this mess, getting me out of
45:49
this war. There's no mention, not even a
45:52
thank you life, just goes on and he heads back to Sin City finds
45:56
himself in a place where he's going to be even greater
46:00
difficulties await him. And I just reminded even today
46:04
as we were having our devotional time as a team.
46:06
This morning, we were reminded of the lepers, the ten lepers
46:10
but only one Came back with appreciation.
46:13
I mean can you imagine being being complete with a death
46:16
sentence? Having leprosy and you're
46:18
healed. But only one has the fortitude
46:20
to say thank you and have hearts of gratitude and may the Lord
46:25
really. I know things are hard and I
46:27
know things are challenging and I know they're going to get more
46:29
challenging. I know the culture is going
46:31
sideways. I know the world's lost love and
46:35
they're just full of sin, but I'll tell you, if you're not
46:38
careful, you're going to lose. You're going to lose a heart.
46:41
Gratitude for the faithfulness of God in your life.
46:44
You're going to forget how good he's been to you.
46:47
And you're going to forget the principle that Paul says, in
46:49
Romans. He asked this question, it's
46:51
almost like he pauses these this don't, you know, and I'm
46:54
paraphrasing that it's the goodness of God, that leads to
46:57
repentance. Have you forgotten that it's the
47:00
goodness of God, that leads to repentance?
47:04
And as we live out, our lives Salt and Light, we live out our
47:07
lives in such a way where we're forthright and we're in tune
47:10
with the Lord were abiding in Christ.
47:14
We're walking that that line of the Salt and Light of the earth
47:18
that we are full of gratitude. So our hearts are connected with
47:22
others. And we come to him with great
47:26
Thanksgiving. And lot, you know, that things
47:30
are going to get worse for him because there's no mention of
47:32
him expressing. Any kind of appreciation from
47:35
this something to learn. Father, we do pray for your Holy
47:38
Spirit, to take the words of our time today that you would have
47:42
your way with us. I pray, God that.
47:47
You would envelop our hearts with a sense of generosity.
47:53
I pray at the end of our time today that you would deal with
47:55
the spiritual warfare that's ongoing in minds and hearts
47:59
today. That you would give us true
48:01
Victory and strength. Clarity of mind that like your
48:06
word says I just pray over us that that we would be anxious
48:09
for nothing. But in all things by prayer and
48:12
supplication with Thanksgiving, we can come to you, make our
48:17
requests known to you and the peace of God, that passes all
48:21
understanding will guard our hearts and Minds in Christ.
48:24
Jesus. And I just pray in a special way
48:28
tonight for Pastor Ian and Katie as they attend to some things
48:32
that have called their full attention.
48:34
May you bless them and give them wisdom.
48:38
May you fill them a fresh with your spirit tonight?
48:41
Give them Clarity of mind. Give them comfort and peace.
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Lord tonight. and, you know, all of the details surrounding Where
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they are and what they're doing and we pray for them.
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God. we pray that you would, Take care of them.
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It's they are partnering together in love and grace to be
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Faithful Servants of you. So God as we leave here may our
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hearts be filled with gratitude and love towards you in Jesus
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name. Amen.
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We pray that you've been encouraged by this Bible.
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Study delivered live from the sanctuary of Calvary Church for
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prayer. Call us at 877, 30 Grace.
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That's eight 77304. 72 Three to listen to this message in its
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entirety or to join us for our live stream Services.
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Visit us online at Calvary. Co dot church or download our
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free Calvary Church app be blessed as you worship Jesus
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this week.