Situational Awareness

IN BRAZIL THERE GROWS A •COMMON PLANT WHICH THE LOCALS •CALL THE MATADOR OR “MURDERER.” •ITS SLENDER STEM CREEPS ALONG THE GROUND, •BUT AS SOON AS IT FINDS A HEALTHY TREE, IT SENDS OUT AN ENTANGLING •TENTACLE, WHICH CLIMBS UP THE TREE, AND SENDS •OUT ARM-LIKE TENDRILS THAT FURTHER ENTANGLE THE TREE •AS THE "MURDERER" ASCENDS, THESE VINES GROW LARGER •AND THEIR GRASP BECOMES TIGHTER. UP AND UP THE KILLER VINE CLIMBS •UNTIL AT LAST HIGHEST BRANCH CHOKED •THEN, AS IF IN TRIUMPH, THE PARASITE SHOOTS A HUGE, •FLOWERY HEAD ABOVE THE STRANGLED TREE, •AND THERE FROM THE DEAD TREE’S CROWN, SCATTERS ITS SEED TO BEGIN •ITS ENTANGLING WORK AGAIN. •THIS IS AN AMAZING DESCRIPTION OF JUST HOW SIN WORKS •IT CREEPS INTO OUR LIVES SOMETIMES THROUGH •PEOPLE WE ENCOUNTER WHO ARE DEEP IN SIN IT SENDS LITTLE TENDRILS OUT •JUST LITTLE TINY BITS OF SIN… IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL •WE MIGHT LET THEM LATCH ON TO US •AND THEN THEY SPREAD AND GROW •AND SOON WE ARE WRAPPED DEEP IN SIN IN LIFE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO •KEEP TRACK OF WHO YOU ARE HANGING OUT WITH •THESE PEOPLE WILL INFLUENCE US •THEY WILL SHAPE OUR PRIORITIES •THEY WILL AFFECT HOW WE SEE THE WORLD AS CHRISTIANS WE NEED TO •MAKE SURE WE KNOW THE KIND OF PEOPLE •WE ARE INTERACTING WITH… DO THEY KNOW GOD? •ARE THEY WALKING WITH AND SERVING GOD? •OR ARE THEY LIVING DEEP IN A SINFUL LIFESTYLE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE •ARE AWARE OF WHO WE ARE DEALING WITH •SO THAT WE CAN LEARN AND GROW FROM THOSE •WHO ARE SERVING GOD… AND SO THAT •WE CAN KEEP FROM GETTING ENTANGLED WITH THOSE LIVING SINFULLY TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT •ABRAM INTERACTING WITH TWO VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE •ONE IS A PRIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD •THE OTHER IS THE KING SODOM A RULER OF WICKED MEN •WE ARE GOING TO SEE JUST HOW ABRAM INTERACTS WITH THESE MEN TURN TO GENESIS 14:17 •ABRAM HAD DEFEATED THE ARMIES •OF THE 4 KINGS AND HAD RESCUED HIS NEPHEW LOT •HE HAD RECOVERED ALL THE STOLEN GOODS •AS WELL AS LOTS PEOPLE AND HIS POSSESSIONS GENESIS 14:17–18 THEN AFTER HIS RETURN FROM THE DEFEAT OF KE-DOR-LA-OMER AND THE KINGS WHO WERE WITH HIM, THE KING OF SODOM WENT OUT TO MEET HIM AT THE VALLEY OF SHA-VEH↓ (THAT IS, THE KING’S VALLEY). AND MELCHIZEDEK KING OF SALEM BROUGHT OUT BREAD AND WINE; NOW HE WAS A PRIEST OF GOD MOST HIGH. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL •ENCOUNTERS IN THE BIBLE…. •STRAIGHT FROM THE BATTLE ABRAM COMES •TO A PLACE THAT WILL COME TO BE KNOWN AS •THE VALLEY OF KINGS.. AND MEETS TWO VERY DIFFERENT MEN ONE OF THESE MEN IS BERA •THE KING OF SODOM… LAST WE HEARD •HE HAD FALLEN INTO A TAR PIT IN THE VALLEY OF SIDDIM •MOSES HAD TOLD US THAT •THOSE WHO SURVIVED FLEED TO THE HILL COUNTRY SO CLEARLY BERA SURVIVED •THE TAR PIT AND NOW HE WILL MEET •WITH ABRAM IN THE KINGS VALLEY WHICH IS •IN THE HILL COUNTRY, NEAR JERUSALEM… •NOW SINCE THIS FELLA IS THE KING OF SODOM WE NEED TO VIEW HIM A CERTAIN WAY •BECAUSE HE IS THE KING OF SODOM WE SHOULD •ASSOCIATE HIM WITH SODOM. •KINGS WERE VERY STRONGLY LINKED TO THE PEOPLE THEY RULED GENESIS 13:13 NOW THE MEN OF SODOM WERE WICKED EXCEEDINGLY AND SINNERS AGAINST THE LORD. THIS STRONGLY IMPLIES THAT •THE KING OF SODOM IS AN EXCEEDINGLY WICKED SINNER •THE TEXT DOES NOT STRAIGHT UP SAY THAT HE WAS A WICKED SINNER, •BUT THAT IS WHAT MOSES MEANS •WHEN HE CALLS HIM THE KING OF SODOM….. AS WE GO THROUGH LIFE •WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR KINGS OF SODOM •WE NEED TO NOTICE THOSE LIVING DEEP IN SIN •I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR AVERAGE SINNER HERE •I AM TALKING ABOUT THE KINGS OF SIN THERE ARE SOME FOLKS OUT THERE •THAT REALLY HAVE SIN DOWN TO AN ART •THEY HAVE STUDIED IT, THEY HAVE PRACTICED IT •THEY HAVE MASTERED IT, SIN IS THEIR FOCUS •THEIR PRIMARY GOAL IN LIFE TO SIN IT UP THEY ARE THE KINGS OF SODOM •ALL THE OTHER SINNERS LOOK UP TO THEM •THEY IMPRESS ALL THE REGULAR SINNERS •I AM NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED THEM •BUT I GREW UP AROUND ALOTTA REFORMED KINGS OF SIN IF YOU EVER ENCOUNTER AN •ACTIVE KING OF SODOM… STEER CLEAR •DON’T HANG AROUND TO WATCH THE SHOW •YOU DON’T WANT TO BE THERE WHEN THEY •GET TO FLINGING THAT SIN AROUND BUT TO STEER CLEAR YOU GOTTA •BE AWARE.. IF YOU DON’T SEE THEM •YOU CAN’T AVOID THEM.. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN •WATCH THEIR ACTIONS, DON’T LISTEN TO THEIR WORDS •CHECK TO SEE IF CHAOS AND DISORDER FOLLOW THEM AROUND SOMETIMES THEY WILL BE FAMOUS •LIKE SODOM… SOMETIMES THEY WILL BE SNEAKY •BUT IF YOU WATCH THEM FOR VERY LONG •YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE AFFECT THEIR SIN •HAS ON THE WORLD AROUND THEM. AS WE WATCH FOR THE KINGS OF SIN •WE ALSO NEED TO WATCH FOR THE KINGS OF PEACE •JUST LIKE THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE SINNING IT UP •THERE ARE ALSO FOLKS OUT THERE SERVING IT UP •WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR BOTH THE OTHER FELLA ABRAM MEETS •IN THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS IS A BIT OF A MYSTERY •HE IS ABOUT AS DIFFERENT FROM THE KING OF SODOM •AS YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE.. HE IS MELCHIZEDEK •THE KING OF SALEM… SALEM WILL BECOME JERUSALEM HIS NAME AND HIS TITLES TELL •US SOME AMAZING THINGS ABOUT THIS MAN…FIRST… • HIS NAME MELCHIZEDEK MEANS “KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” •THAT IS A PRETTY AWESOME NAME.. BUT THEN WE SEE •THAT HE IS THE KING OF SALEM SALEM IS THE WORD FOR PEACE •SO THIS MAN WHO IS THE KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS •IS ALSO THE KING OF PEACE, THAT IS AWESOME •FINALLY, WE ARE TOLD THAT IN ADDITION TO BEING •THE KING OF SALEM HE IS ALSO “PRIEST OF GOD MOST HIGH” HE IS THE KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS •AND THE KING OF PEACE, HE IS ALSO A PRIEST OF GOD MOST HIGH •THAT MEANS HE IS A BELIEVER AND SERVANT OF THE SAME GOD •ABRAM SERVES. THIS MAKES HIM VERY VERY •DIFFERENT FROM THE KING OF SODOM JUST LIKE WE NEED TO NOTICE •THE KINGS OF SIN, WE NEED TO NOTICE •THE KINGS OF SERVICE. AS WE GO ALONG IN LIFE •WE ARE GOING TO RUN INTO SOME EXTRAORDINAIRE PEOPLE •THERE WILL BE EXTRAORDINAIRE SINNERS & SERVERS WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF BOTH •WE NEED TO NOTICE THE KINGS OF SIN •SO THAT WE CAN AVOID BEING NEAR THEM WHEN THEY SIN •WE NEED TO NOTICE THE KINGS OF SERVICE •SO WE CAN HELP THEM AND THEY CAN BLESS US YOU NOTICE THE KINGS AND QUEENS •OF SERVICE THE SAME WAY YOU NOTICE THE KINGS OF SIN •YOU LOOK AT THEIR ACTIONS AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM •YOU WILL SEE GOD’S WORK BEING DONE AND PEACE •AROUND THESE PEOPLE.. NOT PEACE AS IN NO ACTIVITY BUT, PEACE AS IN CALMNESS •CONTENTMENT, COMFORT.. EVEN IN A STORM •THESE PEOPLE ARE CALM, CONTENT AND FOCUSED ON •DOING GOD’S WORK REGARDLESS OF WHAT •IS GOING ON AROUND THEM I WAS BLESSED TO WORK WITH •A FEW PEOPLE LIKE THIS IN MY TIME AT SECOND MILE •IT IS A BLESSING JUST TO BE IN THE VICINITY OF THESE PEOPLE •BUT IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL WE MIGHT MISS THEM •IF WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE THINGS OF THE WORLD A KING OR QUEEN OF SERVICE •CAN WALK RIGHT THROUGH OUR LIVES AND •WE MIGHT NOT EVEN NOTICE… THEY DON’T •TEND TO MAKE A BIG SHOW OF WHAT THEY DO •YOU GOT TO BE SITUATIONALLY AWARE TO NOTICE THEM IN VIRGINIA, A FELLA WENT TO •GREAT LENGTHS TO AVOID BEING IDENTIFIED IN A 7-ELEVEN ROBBERY, •HE USED A SKI MASK AND A RENTAL CAR IN THE ROBBERY BUT HE ALSO •WORE HIS WORK UNIFORM, WHICH SAID, “CEDAR WOODS APARTMENTS” •AND HAD HIS NAME, DWAYNE, STITCHED ACROSS THE FRONT. THIS FELLA LACKED A CRITICAL •INGREDIENT FOR A SUCCESSFUL CRIME…. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, •OR THE ABILITY TO GRASP YOU IMMEDIATE SITUATION •WHEN WE ENCOUNTER NEW PEOPLE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SITUATIONALLY AWARE •WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION AND SEE IF THERE •IS ANYTHING WE CAN PICK UP THAT MIGHT TELL US •IF THESE NEW PEOPLE KNOW GOD, ARE WALKING WITH GOD •SERVING GOD, OR IF THEY ARE LIVING IN SODOM IF THEY ARE KINGS & QUEENS OF SIN •OR IF THEY SERVANTS OF THE GOD MOST HIGH •AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHICH THEY ARE SO THAT WE •KNOW IF WE NEED TO AVOID THEM.. AND STEER CLEAR •OR IF WE NEED TO STICK CLOSE AND RECEIVE A BLESSING GENESIS 14:19–20 HE BLESSED HIM AND SAID, “BLESSED BE ABRAM OF GOD MOST HIGH, POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH; AND BLESSED BE GOD MOST HIGH, WHO HAS DELIVERED YOUR ENEMIES INTO YOUR HAND.” HE GAVE HIM A TENTH OF ALL. THIS VERY UNUSUAL MAN •MELCHIZEDEK… BLESSES ABRAM AND WHAT A BLESSING.. •HE SAYS; “BLESSED BE ABRAM OF GOD MOST HIGH, •POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH; •THE WAY MELCHIZEDEK USES THIS WORD… BLESSING MEANS HE IS CALLING FOR GOD •TO BRING PROSPERITY AND CONTENTMENT TO ABRAM •DID YOU NOTICE WHAT HE SAID ABOUT ABRAM •HE SAID ABRAM WAS OF GOD MOST HIGH •THAT MEANS HE AND ABRAM WORSHIP THE SAME GOD I LOVE THE TITLE HE USES FOR GOD •POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH; •THIS TRANSLATION KINDA MAKES IT SOUND LIKE •GOD OWNS THE EARTH.. WHICH IS TRUE •BUT THAT WORD POSSESSOR MEANS A LOT MORE THE POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH •IS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT IT INTO BEING, CREATED IT •AND THE ONE WHO CONTINUALLY SUSTAINS IT…. •SO MELCHIZEDEK JUST SAID THAT GOD MOST HIGH •THE GOD WHO HE AND ABRAM WORSHIP IS THE ONE WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND EARTH •AND SUSTAINS AND KEEPS IT… •AND HE CALLED FOR GOD MOST HIGH •TO BLESS ABRAM.. FOR HIM TO PROSPER AND BE CONTENT •WOW… THAT IS AN AMAZING BLESSING. WE NEED TO NOTICE THOSE WHO •SERVE GOD.. CAUSE THEY CAN BE A BLESSING TO US •IF YOU SPEND MUCH TIME AROUND FOLKS REALLY SERVING GOD •YOU WILL RECEIVE A BLESSING… THEY MAY OR MAY NOT •SAY IT OUT LOUD LIKE MELCHIZEDEK DOES HERE BUT EVEN IF THEY DON’T SPEAK IT •YOU WILL RECEIVE IT.. THE TIMES I HAVE SPENT WITH •THOSE KINGS & QUEENS OF SERVICE I HAVE BEEN BLESSED •WITH PEACE, CONTENTMENT, ASSURANCE, •WITH UNDERSTANDING OF GODS WORD, WITH GRACE AND WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO •SERVE ALONG SIDE THEM AS THEY SERVE GOD •IF YOU ENCOUNTER ONE OF THESE PEOPLE •BE READY TO BE BLESSED AND BE SURE TO NOTICE •YOUR BLESSINGS… BE READY TO SEE THEM GIVE GOD THE GLORY AFTER MELCHIZEDEK BLESSES ABRAM •HE GOES STRAIGHT INTO GIVING GOD THE GLORY •FIRST, HE BLESSES GOD…… NOW THIS WORD BLESS MEANS •SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHEN IT IS USED THIS WAY •TO BLESS GOD MEANS TO GIVE HIM PRAISE IT MEANS TO DEVOUTLY ACKNOWLEDGE •THAT GOD HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF GOODNESS •AND MELCHIZEDEK IS VERY CLEAR WHAT GOODNESS •HE IS PRAISING GOD FOR… HE SAYS GOD •HAS DELIVERED YOUR ENEMIES INTO YOUR HAND. ABRAM HAD DEFEATED THE 4 KINGS •BUT MELCHIZEDEK MAKES IT CLEAR HERE THAT •THIS VICTORY WAS NOT ABRAM’S VICTORY •GOD HAD PROVIDED THE VICTORY… •GOD HAD DELIVERED THE ENEMIES INTO ABRAM’S HAND THIS IS ONE OF THE TRAITS OF •THOSE WHO SERVE GOD… THEY DON’T TAKE CREDIT •THEY GIVE CREDIT TO GOD… NO MATTER WHAT •THEY ACHIEVE THEY UNDERSTAND GOD IS THE ONE •WHO DELIVERED IT INTO THEIR HANDS AND THEY GIVE HIM THE PRAISE •THE HONOR AND THE GLORY FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE… •WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE SERVING GOD AND GIVING •GOD THE CREDIT WE NEED TO STICK CLOSE TO THESE PEOPLE •WE NEED TO BE SURE WE HELP THEM IN THEIR WORK WE NEED TO BE SURE TO RESPECT •THOSE WHO SERVE GOD… WE SEE ABRAM •GIVING HIS RESPECT TO MELCHIZEDEK WHEN IT SAYS •HE GAVE HIM A TENTH OF ALL THIS IS TAKING ABOUT •THE GOODS ABRAM HAD TAKEN FROM THE 4 KINGS THE FACT THAT ABRAM GAVE •A TRIBUTE TO MELCHIZEDEK BRINGS UP AN INTERESTING POINT •FROM THIS ACCOUNT IT SEEMS VERY MUCH LIKE ABRAM •IS RECOGNIZING MELCHIZEDEK AS HIS SPIRITUAL SUPERIOR •HE ACCEPTED A BLESSING FROM HIM, HE GIVES HIM A TITHE MELCHIZEDEK IS DESCRIBED AS A •PRIEST OF GOD MOST HIGH NOW REMEMBER •THAT MOSES IS WRITING THIS TO THE ISRAELITES •THEY CONSIDER ABRAM THE FATHER OF THEIR NATION •HE IS CALLED A FRIEND OF GOD…. SO HOW CAN MELCHIZEDEK OUT RANK ABRAM? •WHO IS MELCHIZEDEK? WHY IS ABRAM PAYING HIM TRIBUTE? •ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT MELCHIZEDEK •IS THAT HE IS A TYPE OR FORESHADOW OF CHRIST •THIS IS EXPLAINED TO US IN HEBREWS CH. 7 SOME CHRISTIAN WRITERS •HAVE CLAIMED THAT MELCHIZEDEK WAS •AN APPEARANCE OF CHRIST CALLED A THEOPHANY •BUT THERE IS NO REAL BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR THIS IDEA •WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT HE WAS A PRIEST OF GOD MOST HIGH AND THAT HE BLESSED ABRAM •GAVE GOD THE GLORY FOR ABRAM’S VICTORY •AND ABRAM GAVE HIM A TRIBUTE OF 10% •THE FACT THAT HE IS A TYPE FOR CHRIST •SHOULD HELP US UNDERSTAND THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST WHEN WE ENCOUNTER PEOPLE •SERVING GOD MOST HIGH WE NEED TO BE •SUPPORTIVE AND ENCOURAGING AND •MAYBE EVEN OFFER SOME OF WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US •OUT OF RESPECT FOR HOW MUCH THEY HAVE GIVEN GOD A YOUNG BOY SAT IN CHURCH •AND WATCHED AS THE OFFERING PLATE WAS BEING PASSED. •WANTING TO GIVE SOMETHING, HE REACHED INSIDE HIS POCKET • FOR SOMETHING TO PUT IN. TO HIS DISMAY, HE HAD NOTHING INSIDE. •AS THE PLATE WAS PASSED DOWN THE ROW AND CAME TO HIM, HE PUT THE PLATE ON THE GROUND •AND STEPPED INSIDE. HE HAD NOTHING MONETARY TO GIVE, •BUT HE GAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HE HAD—HIMSELF. •THIS IS HOW WE CAN NOTICE THOSE WHO SERVE GOD •THEY GIVE THEMSELVES; THEY TAKE NO GLORY THEY GIVE IT ALL TO GOD GENESIS 14:21–24 THE KING OF SODOM SAID TO ABRAM, “GIVE THE PEOPLE TO ME AND TAKE THE GOODS FOR YOURSELF.” ABRAM SAID TO THE KING OF SODOM, “I HAVE SWORN TO THE LORD GOD MOST HIGH, POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, THAT I WILL NOT TAKE A THREAD OR A SANDAL THONG OR ANYTHING↓ THAT IS YOURS, FOR FEAR YOU WOULD SAY, ‘I HAVE MADE ABRAM RICH.’ “I WILL TAKE NOTHING EXCEPT WHAT THE YOUNG MEN HAVE EATEN, AND THE SHARE OF THE MEN WHO WENT WITH ME, ANER, ESHCOL, AND MAMRE; LET THEM TAKE THEIR SHARE.” THE KING OF SODOM OFFERS •TO LET ABRAM KEEP THE SPOILS FROM THE BATTLE •THIS IS A STRANGE OFFER REALLY… CAUSE ABRAM HAD •THE LEGAL RIGHT TO KEEP EVERYTHING… HE DID NOT •HAVE TO GIVE THE KING OF SODOM ANYTHING…. BUT IF ABRAM TAKES THESE THINGS •HE WILL BE TAKING GOODS FROM A SINFUL KING •OF A SINFUL CITY… EVEN IF THEY ARE RIGHTFULLY HIS •SO.. ABRAM DOES NOT TAKE THEM… AND HE GIVES •A REALLY GOOD REASON WHY HE DOES NOT TAKE THEM THE REASON HE WILL NOT TAKE •ANYTHING FROM SODOM IS BECAUSE •“I HAVE SWORN TO THE LORD GOD MOST HIGH, •POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, •THE SAME TITLES MELCHIZEDEK USED FOR GOD AND THEN TO BE SURE THERE •IS NO CONFUSION ABRAM SPECIFIES THAT HE •WILL NOT EVEN TAKE A THREAD OR A SANDAL THONG •BECAUSE HE DOES NOT WANT THE KING OF SODOM GOING AROUND •TELLING PEOPLE THAT HE MADE ABRAM RICH SEE.. THERE ARE SOME FOLKS •THAT WE REALLY JUST DON’T WANT TO GET TANGLED UP WITH •WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON’T GET OUR BUSINESS •TANGLED UP IN THE BUSINESS OF THOSE KINGS OF SIN •WE DON’T EVEN WANT TO TAKE A SHOELACE FROM THEM BUT TO DO THAT WE NEED TO •NOTICE THEM.. IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHO THEY ARE •YOU MIGHT GET ALL KINDA TANGLED UP IN THEIR LIVES •AND THE SEEDS OF THEIR SIN MIGHT GET PLANTED •IN YOUR SOIL AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU GOT SIN VINES GROWING •UP YOUR TRUNK.. CHOKING THE LIFE OUTTA YA….. •PAY ATTENTION TO HOW FOLKS ARE LIVING.. •WHAT KINDA SEEDS THEY ARE PLANTING.. •IS THERE PEACE OR CHAOS AROUND THEM STEER CLEAR OF THE CHAOS •HANG OUT IN THE PEACE.. HELP THOSE •WHO SERVE GOD… AVOID THOSE SERVING SIN •AND THEN THERE IS THIS ONE LAST TRICKY BIT •SEE WE GOTTA MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT TELLING OTHER FOLKS •HOW TO LIVE.. WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD •WE SERVE THE GOD MOST HIGH.. •BUT NOT EVERYONE DOES. •DID YOU NOTICE HOW ABRAM •DID NOT KEEP HIS BUDDIES FROM GETTING THEIR SHARE ABRAM’S SOLDIERS HAD EATEN •SOME OF THE GOODS THEY HAD RECOVERED •AND ABRAM WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE •MEN WHO WENT WITH HIM, GOT THEIR SHARE •ANER, ESHCOL, AND MAMRE; LET THEM TAKE THEIR SHARE. THESE MEN DID NOT SERVE •THE GOD MOST HIGH.. THEY HAD NOT SWORN TO GOD •THERE WAS NO REASON THEY SHOULD NOT GET THEIR SHARE •SO, ABRAM DOES NOT HOLD THEM TO GOD’S STANDARD •SOMETIMES I THINK WE EXPECT NONCHRISTIANS TO LIVE LIKE CHRISTIANS •WE GET ALL UPSET WHEN FOLKS THAT DON’T KNOW JESUS •LIVE LIKE THEY DON’T KNOW JESUS.. LOOK… •I GOT ENOUGH TROUBLE TRYING TO LIVE LIKE JESUS MYSELF •AS CHRISTIANS WE NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER KEEP TRACK OF HOW WE ARE •DOING IN OUR WALK WITH CHRIST… ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER •HELP EACH OTHER AS WE WALK WITH CHRIST… •BUT WE REALLY DON’T NEED TO BE HOLDING NON-CHRISTIANS •TO CHRIST’S WALK.. WE NEED TO BE HELPING THEM TO KNOW CHRIST AND TRUST HIM •THEIR BIG PROBLEM IS NOT HOW THEY ARE LIVING … •IT IS WHAT THEY ARE TRUSTING… •SO JUST LIKE ABRAM DID NOT EXPECT HIS BUDDIES TO REFUSE THE SPOILS OF WAR •WE NEED TO NOT EXPECT THE LOST TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT •HOW MUCH YOUR FRIENDS INFLUENCE YOU? •THE PEOPLE WE HANG OUT WITH HAVE A TENDENCY TO RUB OFF ON US… •WE BECOME LIKE THOSE WE SPEND TIME WITH IN FACT, MANY EXPERTS WILL •TELL YOU THAT EACH OF US IS THE AVERAGE OF OUR 5 CLOSEST FRIENDS •GENERALLY SPEAKING WE BECOME LIKE THE PEOPLE WE ASSOCIATE WITH THE MOST IF THE 5 PEOPLE YOU SPEND •THE MOST TIME WITH ARE OF A CERTAIN GENERAL INCOME LEVEL, •IT IS VERY LIKELY YOU WILL BE TOO. •WE USUALLY HAVE A SIMILAR DEPTH OF SPIRITUALITY •AND WALK WITH GOD AS THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO US…. IN LIFE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO •KEEP TRACK OF WHO YOU ARE HANGING OUT WITH •THESE PEOPLE WILL INFLUENCE US •THEY WILL SHAPE OUR PRIORITIES •THEY WILL AFFECT HOW WE SEE THE WORLD IF WE HANG OUT WITH THE •KING OF SODOM, PEOPLE NECK DEEP IN SIN •PEOPLE WHOSE WHOLE LIFE REVOLVES AROUND SIN •WE NEED TO KNOW THOSE VINES OF SIN WILL •END UP WRAPPED AROUND US IF WE HANG OUT WITH THE •KING OF PEACE, PEOPLE SERVING GOD •PEOPLE WHOSE WHOLE LIFE REVOLVES AROUND CHRIST •WE NEED TO KNOW IT WILL BLESS OUR LIVES •GIVING US PEACE, GRACE, CONTENTMENT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO •CHOOSE WHO WE ALLOW AROUND OUR LIVES •BUT TO CHOOSE WE HAVE TO BE SITUATIONALLY AWARE •WE HAVE TO NOTICE WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE WE HAVE AROUND US •WE HAVE TO STEER CLEAR OF THE KINGS OF SIN AND HOLD FAST TO •TO THE KINGS OF SERVICE •BECAUSE THE MORE TIME WE SPEND WITH THOSE SERVING GOD •THE MORE WE WILL END UP SERVING GOD OURSELVES •THE GREATER OUR WITNESS WILL BE↓ AS WE TELL OTHERS •THE GOOD NEWS.. THAT THERE IS A GOD WHO LOVES US •AND WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US.. •HOWEVER, WE ALL SIN.. WE THINK SAY AND DO THINGS •THAT GO AGAINST GOD’S WILL AND WE CANN NOT FIX THAT..