El Elyon - God, Most High

El Elyon - God, Most High

Psalm 78:35 Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer.

This word is the derivative of two Hebrew words Elohim the I don’t like to say generic because there is nothing generic about God but as we have said before this word could be used for false gods in the scripture it is used the same way we use the word God. 90% of the time we know who we are talking about and it is used specifically but there are times the word is used for other, false gods.

Elohim (El) - God

Elyon - most, greatest, or highest

The other word is Elyon which means highest or most. Ezekiel uses the word a lot when not associated with God. Usually meaning upper or highest. He uses it about a pool, a gate, a porch, and heavens. I like to think about the 3 heavens of Paul. The first being the atmospheric heaven, where weather takes place and planes fly, the second is the celestial heaven. This is where the sun moon and stars reside. The third heaven is the eternal heaven, the dwelling place of God, where the believer will spend eternity.

Let me introduce you to El Elyon.

Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

Once again Abraham introduces us to one of the titles of God. One of my favorites it is El Elyon. Two weeks ago we were introduced to El Shaddai the Almighty creator who hears your prayers and has the power to do something about it. It was when Abraham met with God and gave him a new name and told him that he would have a child that nothing is to hard for the LORD. Today we are learning about El Elyon. The God most high. The term is introduced in connection with the man Melchizedek. You may know the story or not. Lot had moved to the wicked city of Sodom and 5 kings had taken Sodom and it’s wealth and citizens captives. In that moment Abram gathered his 318 man army that he had that were born in his house march off to rescue Sodom and its allies. Interesting how that works out. Out of Abraham the wicked world was saved, but when he gets back he meets with the mysterious priest of the most high God Melchizedek, who David and the author of Hebrews claim was a type of Christ. Not Christ but a type of Christ. That is where we are introduced to El Elyon.

El Elyon possesses the title deed of the world.

Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;”

El Elyon the highest of God is the creator and deed holder of the world. The key word when understanding El Elyon is possession it is very very important. that we get this at the beginning. If you are going to understand this name of God you have to understand the component of possession.

El Elyon delivers you for your enemies.

Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

there is the other key for you to understand El Elyon. There are a lot of forces in this world. Most of the are malicious. They don’t have your best interest in mind. The are the enemy of the Christian but El Elyon is greater than them all.

El Elyon is the name of God for the gentiles.

Deuteronomy 32:8 “When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel.”

We were first introduced to El Elyon when Abram meets with Melchizedek and we are going to see the name pop up again in the book of Daniel, who lived in Babylon, extensively. When in the world El Elyon is so important, It is important for the world to know that God is above all. The world nees to know that Gd is more important than TV and movies, He is more important than sports, he is God above all the principalities and powers of the world.

1 El Elyon - Position - Above!

Daniel knew Nebuchadnezzar needed to know El Elyon.

Daniel 4:25 They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.

When Daniel was driven from his home, his temple, his family. All he was left with was his God and was living in a land full of false gods. He needed to cling to God most High. Even though he was a stranger in a pagan land. His God was God most high. He needed to pass that lesson on to Nebuchadnezzar the pagan king who worshiped a plethera of gods.

El Elyon rules in the kingdom of men.

Daniel 4:32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

No king is higher than God. No man is smarter or greater than he. A lot of people thought they were made of stout stuff, but they don’t even come close to God most high.

Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God most High.

Daniel 4:17 This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.

These words come straight from the mouth of Nebuchadnezzar that acknowledges God Most High.

El Elyon proved His position above others in the fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.

God proved His worth many times in the Bible but when a man places his image up and demands worship. God most high shows up and says no you don’t deserve this, That kind of Worship only belongs to God most high. One day the antichrist will demand the same kind of worship once again the world will see the power of God most high.

Daniel had to teach Belshazzar a lesson about God, Most High.

Daniel 5:18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor.

You remember the story, Belshazzar brought out the temple utensils to his pagan orgy. God wasn’t having it and that is when he saw the famous writing on the wall. He had to beg Daniel for answers. His thumbing God’s name was his unduing. That night Belshazzar died before ink from God’s finger dried on the wall. He died a gentile pagan king know God most high warned him.

Lucifer wanted to be El Elyon.

Isaiah 14:12–14 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’”

We call him Satan, once God used to call him Lucifer. He was there in Eden. He was created to be the high cherib. But in the creation event jealousy crept into his heart and he rebelled against the power and position of God and wanted nothing more than to be the God of gods, El Elyon. God most high.

El Elyon has two parts to it possession and power over all else. That is what the Devil still craves power over you and possession of your heart. Satan is still pursuing possession and power and noting has changed.

The Devil craves being the most high.

Matthew 4:8–9 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

2 El Elyon - Possession of the earth and the heart.

The demons want to possess the heart of man.

Matthew 15:22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

The first thing that we were introduced to El Elyon in the Bible way back in the days of Melchizedek was that he is the possessor of Heaven and earth. He holds the title deed to the earth and He also holds the title deed to your life because He made you. Because of Sin the devil has a foot hold to try to make a claim on possessing this world and your heart. BUT it can not hold. It will not hold. But in this life the devil will try to sneak in and take possession of your heart. Let me be frank Demonic possession is real, but limited in the age of grace by the power of the Holy Spirit, but the devil wants to possess your heart by other means. Drugs alchohol lying sin addiction your cell phone or computer anything that takes the place of El Elyon in your life.

Demons must recognize the power of El Elyon.

Mark 5:7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”

El Elyon is for the gentile the pagan the demons have to recognize that God Jesus is El Elyon the God of gods the King of Kings the MOST HIGH! They tremble at His name. Belshazzar and Nebuchadnezzar had to learn who El Elyon is but the hosts of heaven good and bad KNOW who El Elyon is.

Demons tremble at the name of Jesus.

James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Luke 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.

When you feel the demonic influence or presence in this world. Envoke the name of Jesus. There is power in that name. At the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess. The legion of demons that tormented a man living in a cemetary cowered to Jesus who is El Elyon in the flesh.

The Devil knows if you belong to El Elyon.

Acts 16:16–18 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

This is like a horror movie in the book of Acts. Paul and Silas are followed by a demon possessed girl who harassed them for days. She knew that those men served and belonged to the powerful El Elyon. The power of the name of Jesus Christ drove the demon away the very hour they called on the name of Jesus. Never forget the devil knows if you belong to Jesus and He has to run at the power of His name. I have read the Bible. I respect the power of the demonic forces and evil in this world. The devil does some evil things in this book, BUT I don’t fear demons. Not because I am a demon basher, even though I have a mug that says I am, (I’m serious) but JESUS JESUS POSSESSES this heart. He is my El Elyon God above all the gods of this world.

El Elyon is in control of everything.

Colossians 1:16–17 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Creator Sustainer and Sovereign God is what gives Him the title of El Elyon.

El Elyon has given us tools against the devil and his minions.

Ephesians 6:11–12 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Let the Holy Spirit possess your heart.

Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

El Elyon is about position power and possession. You need to let God take first place in your life. Embrace the power of His grace to save you and allow His Holy Spirit to possess you. I think back to the story of Melchizedek where he says the God Most High possesses heaven and earth. That is the same God who wants His Holy Spirit to possess your heart. Who holds the keys to your heart. You may say I hold the key to my heart, but should it not really be the Most High because if you don’t the devil will try to fill the vaccum.

Let the Most High possess your voice.

Psalm 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

When you think about God, Most High it should cause you to sing out in praise to the Almighty God. I know some people don’t like to sing in church, that’s fine. But you shouldn’t worry about how you sound. I don’t judge anyone based on if they sing or how they sing. But I would encourage you to consider your son to the God whose position and possession of you demands your worship. What is going on in here. I understand some songs will not inspire worship. There have been songs that we have sung in this church that I have wondered how is that worshipping God and haven’t opened my mouth. There are days when I know that if I try to sing it will not be good for my health so I keep my voice quiet and sing in my heart. I have also not sang out loud but in my heart I have opened my mouth to sing out even though I know I don’t do it well. But it is important that we worship. God deserves worship, don’t you dare sit there with a scowl on your face during song time. I won’t judge you but when you thnk hurry up get this song time on and why is that person singing, That is a not worship of El Elyon!

God is both the Most High and the Almighty!

Psalm 91:1–2 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

In Psalm 91 you have an amazing picture of the God who you can have faith on. In this passage David puts El Elyon together with El Shaddai. El Elyon the God of Gods the Most High God possessor above all else who owns the earth and He is also the Almighty God who cares for you and has the ability to answer your needs. Abraham introduces us to El Elyon and El Shaddai, but David masterfully merges the names together to help you know who He is, His character.

El Elyon is coming again.

Revelation 19:16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

We close our service with MARANATHA. What does that mean Lord come quickly. When Jesus comes He comes in the spirit of El Elyon.