A TIME TO FIGHT

Talk about a time to fight. Genesis 14 verses 116 in the days amraphel king of Shannara arioch king of Eleazar set a lawn mower king of Elam into doll king of goyim. You're excited now, aren't you? I know that there's no like ancient Hebrew or Aramaic experts in here. So don't criticize my pronunciation cuz y'all don't know any better than I do. All right, some of these texts are what make it difficult sometimes for us to read the scriptures. Let's just be honest about that time. We see these list of names of places. We don't know where they are. We don't know how to pronounce it and that's just doesn't matter. It really doesn't matter. It's worth it's worth the work. It's worth the embarrassment of our way through it sometimes too to see what's actually there because God doesn't waste time or energy doesn't these are not throw away versus There's there's something for us here. And I want to I want to show you some of it at least this morning. So here's this list of these four kings in the first two it says these Kings made with Vera king of Sodom Bersa king of good morning with another couple chapters. They're going to they're going to have their own. Story here. I find it interesting that their names beara in Persia. There's a play on words here in the Hebrew. the Hebrew words for evil and wicked witch

there's a vocal difference here between these words Vera and Bursa so that when the Hebrew scriptures would have been read in Hebrew that they would have pronounce not a Vera and Versa, but they would have pronounced it at Russia. It's just play on words Sodom and Gomorrah their kings are evil and wicked.

Let there not alone. Now. You got a good old. She knob I mean who doesn't love Sheena ugh? king of admin some ever

King of the Bahamian the king of Bella that is or

Go up against fighting.

There's an all these Joint Forces in the valley of siddim. That is the salt sea. So this is adjacent to the land of promise. Next next to the land that had been promised and Covenants it to Abraham and his descendants. We have these City say something's Kings their kings of cities were so wired to think of countries, right? But at this time in history, The largest kind of Realm or Kingdom would be a city and its surrounding area right so good year right king of Avondale and there'd be the king of surprise.

That's why there's so many jokes, but I'm just going to let him go right side. And what would happen is that very often these city-states would compete for economic Pathways and passages they would compete against each other militarily and and and very often would go to war against each other but rather than completely annihilating or destroying another city. What would happen is when you go to war against each other so good to your goes up against the prize and and we beat them in a battle. And so so we say, all right. Now you're still the king of surprise and and you're still over there, but now you always tribute. So every year you going to have to pay us just for the luxury of existing but that's the reality that Abraham lives in he lives in a world that is populated by people that have been disinherited by God that are worshipping gods that are not. Evil is still all over the consequences of the spiritual Rebellion. The Nephilim the giants that are in there in the land. He is surrounded by those that are opposed to God and his waist he lives in a violence brutal Greenie power-hungry world. Which is what the world always is. separate from God . And in the opening opening verses of this chapter, we've got these for Kings going against these five Kings and you're like well, which one are the good guys in the answer is none of them? None of them are the good guy.

What does this 12 years that all served metal armor, but in the Thirteenth Year they were about so here's the deal Teddy. What's over going to call him?

He's the big dog in the area. He he goes around and he's subjugate city after city after City. At least five cities that have risen up against him and his three other allies. They've been under his tyrannical oppressive subjection for 12 years. That's a long time. The long time that every time you bring in the Harvest, you've got to get the first and the best to him. And a longtime living with the shame just the the inferior identity that you have been dominated by another power over 12 years. They pay for 12 years. They endure but in the Thirteenth Year they were about They're done. We're not going to pay you anymore. Not going to happen.

It's on the 14th year cuz nothing moves fast back then. And I'm sure there were negotiation. I'm sure they're Ambassador sent out. Hey, you didn't pay your taxes, but we're not going to do that. Are you sure? You want to think about this?

Is there in 14th year? Teddy & the Kings who were with him came and defeated

All right. Now we're going to get some more weird names. You ready? He defeated the rest. I am an astronaut car named the zoo's name in ham the E meme in Shabbat curiosity. Mm. Play that fast enzyme and the Horror Nights in their Hill Country of seir as far as elperin on the border of the wilderness. stop

You try to negotiate it's not happening. He calls up his allies before things gather their army. And in the time of War they go on the warpath. They go up North 1st. They go up North 1st and this again or not throw away versus These people that we just mentioned. The ref I am.

Zemzem these are all giant clam. Descendants of the Nephilim these are descendants of that Rebellion that took place before the days of Noah and again afterward because there were giants in the land. Understand this these are these are people that are up for The Offspring of a spiritual Earthly hybrid and they are powerful. They are strong and steady here. He goes up north and he whooped them all. Remember remember when the Israelites are going out of Egypt and led to the promised land. They send in the spice. What do they see who they see they feed these guys. These are the exact same people get context is King when it comes to reading the scripture. Why does Moses include this little Narrative of the social political Warfare of the time? Well because Moses is leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. This Warpath Shetty and his little allies go on is the exact same or path that Moses and then later. Joshua will lead the Israelites against the exact same people. Give me exact same progress in the conquest. Why is he right it because if God could be faithful in the time of Abram. We haven't gotten there yet. But destroy the guys that went to did it before surely. Can God can do it through Moses and the people then.

Don't just read past these things too quickly is some really important stuff.

all this was instigated by the five Kings led by Sodom and Gomorrah that rebelled we're going to go to war they're going to go to war so they go and destroy all the and they come down south. Then they turn back and came to and Miss puff. That is Kadesh and defeated all the country of the amalekites and also the amorites the word dwelling and has on tomorrow. Then the king of Sodom the king of Gomorrah the king of odd Mountain the king of the bone and the king of Bella that is or went out and they joined battle in the valley of sidon.

with cheti king of you long title king of go mmfl king of Shannara and arioc king of l a store for Kings against by battle lines have been drawn The valley of sidon was full of bitumen.

These are Tar Pits the whole area around the dead CNN. This is a significant detail that's going to take on really great importance in a couple chapters. That's what this whole area is full of these these Tar Pits these these these. Mineral and strange deposits and they're there their flammable. They can be toxic. It's it's it's kind of a great place to have a battle. Especially if it's your home ground your home turf, you should know it.

That's not what happened. This isn't the valley of Sabine was full of bitumen pits. And it's the king of Sodom and Gomorrah led the battle with the V gang and we shouldn't be surprised. They just beat everybody up north. It was even stronger. I hear they are that these five Kings. It's on their land. They should know it. But they lose and they begin to flee and as they flee some fell into these pets. And the rest fled Into the Hill Country. Anime took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their provisions and went their way through 11 verses in yet and we're like, what's the top to do with anything? Why do we need a history lesson about these cities fighting these cities? And I mean, that's great. So I'm going where I left their bad. Anyway, who cares if they lost?

They also took a lot. the son of Abraham's brother who was dwelling in Sodom They took his possessions and they went. their way so this Alliance of Four Kings went when they came against the Rebellion that they're putting his down and they take all their possession. Not just the gold not just a livestock. They take the people. But why the daughters the people that couldn't go out to war they're making a statement. We have slave-trading Happening Here. We have grave Injustice taking place here. And here we find lot when Abraham gave him the chance to take some of the land of promise. He decided to go out of the land and plopped himself down next to Sodom and Gomorrah and it's no surprise to me cuz I understand humanity and I understand how evil works that he moved near Sodom. But he ends up living in Sodom.

So when when these enemies come Lots there they take him they take his family. They take his possession and they're taking them back to Their Kingdoms. They will be sold into slavery.

It looks like it's game over for a lot. But one who had escaped came and told Abraham the Hebrew who is living by The Oaks of mamre the Amorite brother vesicle and an R. They were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his Kinsmen had been taken captive. He led forth his trained men born in his house 318 of them and went in Pursuit as far as Dan. So Abram is dwelling with his people. He has prospered significantly. He's got a strange number numbers are always interesting in the Old Testament a they tended to function symbolically as nuts as much as they do an actual representation. Turn 18 is an interesting number in the ancient near Eastern cultures are very very symbolic. The sum of the 12 prime numbers between 7 and 47 is 318. It's a number that shows up in other ancient near Eastern cultures in in ancient documents sometimes in magical incantations. Sometimes it's it's this idea of a of a strange completion, but it's also the Strange number because these Four Kings have just destroyed everything in their path.

how Abram take 318 And goes after.

and from a human perspective he's going to get chewed up and spit out.

But Abraham doesn't fight alone. God is on a Brookside. Cerebrum hears about what's happened. He calls together his men.

And they going for soup. He divided his forces against them by night. He and his servants and defeated them. Oh how I wish we had more. I just it's not the point that the writer is trying to make but I I wish there were more details about what this how this went down. It's certainly. Had to be involved in this. Small Force yeah, they go at night. Yeah, they separate sure. There's some strategy involved but listen. These are trained killers.

But Abram and Anna get this is the only time Abram in the Book of Genesis is the only story we have of him fighting not a fighter. In This Moment when his family is threatened when Injustice is in front of him at The Oaks of mamre. I just watch it on. He has to step in. when he steps in God steps in with

So he divided his forces against them by 19 and servants and defeated them and pursue them the whole north of Damascus out of the territory.

Then he brought back all the possession. And also brought back all his Kinsmen lot with his possessions and the women in the people. This is a massive Victory a route. the chase off the enemy forces They brought everything back. I brought everything back now. an ancient world what that meant?

Abram was now in charge of all of Abram could make a claim. Abram could take possession of all of those lands of all of those people of all of those possessions. He just defeated the Four Kings who defeated the five King. Technically it all belongs to him if you wanted it. But it wasn't the land that got it promised him. It wasn't the place that God had told him to go to. And God had said he would give him the land. God didn't tell him to go take it by force.

So what is Abram going to do? He didn't plan this it wasn't in his long-range strategic in a 5 year plan.

Abram saw his family He saw in Justice and the actor. And God brought a great Victory. So he brings. all of it back

After his return from the defeat of shuttle armor, the kings were with him the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shiva.

I don't know if the king of Sodom had fallen into one of the pits or run off into the hill. Wherever he was. He was hiding cuz he got whooped. Now all the sudden Abram comes back with all of his people with all of his possessions Abram got it all and up comes the king.

another king come Makita the king of Salem brought out Bread and Wine. He was Priest of God. Most high. I'm not going to talk much about monkeys a day today next week. We're going to do a love deeper dive into this very strange and important character that we only me here in this chapter.

So here they are.

After the battles done Abrams marching back in Victory. king of Sodom comes out the king of Salem comes out.

King of Jerusalem or what becomes Jerusalem? Name Me King of righteousness comes from the place of peace He brings out Bread and Wine. He's not only thing he's a priest of God. Most high LL Young.

I can't wait for next week, but I got to keep going. Blessed him and said Blessed Be Abram by God most high possessor. of Heaven and Earth Makita that comes out and he blesses Abram the only Priestly blessing we have in Genesis makes sense. I mean Covenant with Moses hasn't given the laws McKibben the aaronic priesthood has not been established not going to find it in Genesis, but we find it right here. We find this priest Melchizedek. The priest of el elyon God most high God above all the unique one the Elohim of Elohim.

He comes and says Abram blessed by God most high the one who possesses the heavens and the earth going to hear about that word. It's difficult to translate. It means he can Meme creator. It can mean the one who acquires and means the one who control in other words Abrams God is the god who made and owns and controls everything.

and everyone

and blessed be God most high who is delivered your enemies into your hand and Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Becky adjust capture Again, we'll come back to that next week. Now the king of Sodom save the Abraham give me the person but take the goods for yourself contrast between the king of righteousness and the king of Sodom the King of Evil. The king of righteousness comes out and says blessed. Do you? Give him Bread and Wine. The king of Sodom comes out and his first words are give me. Is no right you have no Authority has no real legitimate claim. He's either dragged himself out of a tarp it or come slinking out of the hills where he ran away and about people

But he comes to Abram Asus give me the people get give me my people back. You can keep the stuff. There's a wisdom their stuff is stuff. people what's really important?

He puts Abram in this interesting position. Abram can say yes, a man can say no every can negotiate a burn doesn't have to negotiate Abram can kill him right now.

And nobody's going to do a thing.

Labrum said to the king of Sodom. I've listed my hands to the Lord. God most high possessor of Heaven and Earth I've got an allegiance not to you and not to any other human change. My allegiance is to an authority that's above all authority. And I've covenanted I pledge I have promised to the god of the heavens and the Earth but I would not take a thread or a Sandal strap or anything. That is yours left. You should say I've made Abram rich.

And that goes against our entitlement mentality in our culture. We think we deserve everything. I mean, can you imagine I mean Abram put in the work? Write a broom had to gather his men had to risk it to go out and fight here to chase them all night long enough of all the stuff back. He did what the king of Sodom couldn't do. He was the guy

but he knows it's not him. He knows it's the favor and Grace and blessing of God upon him and he's not going to let any sense of entitlement or any kind of collaboration with the kingdoms of the world make him Prosper. God is going to be the one that makes him prosper. It will not be co-opted. You will not be tempted. He will not be entitled. I won't take nothing from you. I will not give you. The privilege of saying that you made me Gray. Because it is God that will make me cry.

I spent a lot of time this week thinking about that like asking myself. What would I have done?

how entitled would I fo

How tempting it see it. haven't you think this is the way I can establish myself? This is the way I can make it happen. May God's promise me this land over here, but I just took this land over here. maybe God was well, maybe maybe just need a little help.

I want take a thing nothing. But what the young men of eating? cuz that young man eat parents in the room set

on the way back, but share the men who went with me with an irrational and Mamrie take their share. Those others have gone up with him. He says. I made a covenant with God. I'm not going to take anything. They can take what they want.

But I'm not going to take anything from you.

Haven challenges me I believe he challenges all of us to really think through. where our hope is

Do we feel and live like?

God has asked us. To go out and do great things for him.

Do we feel and live? With a sense of responsibility that we've got to make something happen for God.

Or can we accept the reality? Sovereign loving King who is at work. in a world of rebellion and broken there. And who if we entrust ourselves to his care? Really can take care of us.

supposed to the heart of faith the heart of our hope the heart of how we live. Do we believe that God has asked us to do it for ourselves? What do we believe that God has invited us to join him in what he's doing? It's easy to say it's incredibly complex and difficult to liver. The temptation to tell God how to be God. The temptation to be cooperative co-opted in NN and drawn into the plans of the world. or the circumstances of the day Rather than staying true to what God has asked us to. Incredibly real temptation. Will we? That's God. To do for us what God said he will do. Or will we try to take it into our own hands and make it happen in our way in our time?

Again, I'm not arguing for passivity Abrams not passive. When Abrams sees Injustice when he sees his family in trouble he fights for him. He lays it out on the life. He's willing to die. for those that He Loves

cuz that's what love.

But at the same time he's not going to be distracted.

or turned away by Earthly success

or or a quick fix

What God has promised in God's way? and in God's timing

show me the new Walking with the Lord for a long time, you know exactly what I'm talking about. You've had these scenarios God called you to something.

And it hasn't been easy.

And then along the way you get tired, you've been tested you get Challenge and something appears. It's close to what God called you to. But it's not really what he called you to its adjacent. It's near and end. Lord save us from ourselves. You might even have some victory in it. You might have some fruit. It might look like man. This is a good deal.

But there's a world of difference between a good deal. and God Steel is a world of difference between

What seems right to us? And what seems right to God?

Here in this moment Abram and he stands as a as a beautiful image of Faith No, I'm not going to take the riches,

The 13 year old boy never goes away. Never goes away.

Does it do any?

so

The Temptations

pursue good. Thanks. In our way.

always stands opposed the pursuing God's things and God's ways. Abram make the right choice. He stands for us as a as a paradigm of figure of Faith. He is going to trust God.

Not anything that he see he is a a prefigure of Christ in this is Hina. price to sweats blood in the garden says if there's another way let's try that. but at the end of the day not my will but yours be done.

He does not take the offer of Satan in the wilderness bow down before me and I will give you all the kingdoms of the world.

Justice Abram resisted the Temptation Jesus says know you will worship the Lord your God and the Lord only.

refuses to take the easy route entrust himself to the care of God and he fights. the fight of faith

how far is South? but for his people This is Abram fought for lot and his family Jesus spot for me and for you. He fought against the Injustice has of sin had just been perpetuated against us, but the ones that we've perpetuated because we're not just the victims were also the victimizer. We're not just be offended. We're also the offender and yet Jesus in his love and Trust himself to God.

Though it takes him to the cross. Though he died on the cross. He's still Victorious. Because he entrust himself to the care of God. Who raised him from the dead? to live forever

This is our call. This is the challenge of faith for each and every one of us. Will we entrust our self to God's Will and God's ways.

While we seek to take the easy way out.

Now we're faced with so much uncertainty in so many challenges in our culture right now the question becomes, how do we respond? How do we live out the faith? That we've been given a King Jesus. How do we fight for our family? And one of the fundamental realities of studying anything in the Hebrew scriptures is that we're talking about a time and scriptures are written in a time when the peoples have been disinherited and there's one people of God. Yes called to be a blessing to all the nation we live now in a time where the Fulfillment of Abraham's promise has come in Christ. Babel has been reversed. The disinherited have once again been given access to the family. We live in a time and place where we love our neighbor as ourselves. I saw the reality is I don't just love my biological family. I'll just love my immediate family. I was just love the family that I like. I love them all and the question is your neighbor.

Are made in the Imago Dei after made in the image of God? Recalled to love that. I ended last week and Romans chapter 12. I want to go there again to the beginning of the chapter.

Does this appeal to you therefore Brothers sister? Guilty by the mercies of God

To present your bodies as a Living Sacrifice. Such a strange raised a Living Sacrifice but by definition of sacrifice involves that whether it's an animal or drain it.

I want you to offer yourselves as a Living Sacrifice or did you climb up on the altar? You offer yourself? In all that you do.

Holy and acceptable God, this is your spiritual worship. Don't be conformed to this world.

All this world wants to do is conformist to it. You feel that don't you everyday? so many way

don't don't be conformed to the thinking patterns. Don't be conformed to the value system. Don't be conformed to the twitterverse in the social media meme in the political ideology and the flash in the pan prophetic leaders who have all the easy answers to complex problems. Don't buy into the hype. Don't be conformed to this world.

But be transformed by the renewing of your mind that by testing you may discern. What is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect?

Oh trick. Be careful what you post?

Be careful what you repost. Be careful what you see the good. But you send it out without thinking.

WIC hauled not to live in Conformity to this world. We're in the world, but we're not of the world. We are supposed to be unique we're supposed to be distinct. We are supposed to live our lives in such a way. The people on one hand are amazed at the good things that we do in another sense are going to complete idiots.

We're not supposed to be jerks for Jesus.

We're not supposed to win political and ideological battles were called to win hearts and Minds to the Christ.

Be careful be thoughtful. bwise tested ask yourself if I share this if I say this if I post this, is it going to be edifying. Is it going to give glory to God is going to point people to the faithfulness of Jesus. Is it going to create more dissension? Is it going to build a wall or build a bridge? Who am I representing when I post this?

We lose our prophetic Edge. When we live in act like the world when we fight the Warfare of this world with the weapons of this world. We got different weapons. We're not supposed to fight like the world fight. That was Abraham's Temptation. Oh, you went out you won the victory take it claim it feel warlord, like everybody else use your strength to a press and impose your will upon the week. That is the way of the world Abrams says I will not do that. I will not do that in the church has said far too many times.

I press to say we will not do that.

We will not fight the world's battle with the weapons of this world.

We got our own weapons set and they're powerful their powerful for the pulling down of strongholds for taking captive every thought to the glory and honor of Christ.

Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

By testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect while I'm on this Rabbit Trail. Can I just say publicly and emphatic lie that Facebook is perhaps the worst place to have an intelligent discussion that has ever existed in the history of History.

It just it's not what it's designed for. If you want to know when somebody's birthday is if you want to see the Glorious meal that I consumed then it's really good for that. But if you want to have an intelligent thoughtful respectful conversation with his communication and the rational exchange of ideas. The last place you should go is Facebook or Twitter or Instagram smarter and be better than that. We look each other in the eye we treat each other with respect. We have conversations we dialogue we don't monologue.

For by the grace given to me. I said everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.

what to think with sober judgement each according to the measure of faith But God has a sign.

The older I get. the more that I learn And I know it's cliche to say the more I realize I don't know. When I was so certain of 20 years ago. 10 years ago five years ago 5 days ago sometimes

God reveals something new because his mercies are new every morning. I don't have all the answers walking humbly with our Lord means we recognized we don't know it all.

So we look the guy we don't think too highly of ourselves.

Funko those idiots whoever they are.

If everybody would just do what I wanted to do what the world would be really jacked up.

Thank you, sober judgment each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. The God has assigned women earned our faith Gods assigned our Fey. We don't get to tell God how we're going to follow him. God gets to be God in the equation. We follow he leads. so remember remember that you're in because of Grace remember that you're in because of God's faithfulness. So don't don't think more of yourself. And by thinking more of yourself think less of others.

For as in one body, we have many members and the members do not have all the same function and Corinthians uses this metaphor much much much more basis. You have the body's got fingers and toes and elbows and hamstrings and got all these different parts and they don't all do the same thing. And that's good. I love my opposable thumb.

We have this beef complex and intricate amazing bodies and they don't all do the same thing. And we don't.

We don't judge.

One part of the body. I don't judge my hand because it doesn't see. I don't judge my eye because it can't pick things up.

The different and that's okay. He says in the same way that our body has many members members do not all have the same function. So we the mini we are one body in Christ. An individually members one of another.

one of another

in our church in Estrella Mountain church or one Church what we belong not just to the Lord we belong to each other or not all the same opposable thumbs and we need stinky feet. Cuz they bring the good news of the Gospel.

We need it all we belong not just a God, but we belong to each other but it's not just within the local churches within the church.

all who follow Christ all who have been washed by the blood. We we belong to the Lord together.

What appreciate each other value one another and words for serve? together this is where he goes. He says having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. Let us use them. Eyeballs. Got to see. Pam's got to bring and pick things up the feet got to walk. Let's use them. God does not give you Grace got does not give you breath got to give you strength gift to sit idly.

God's not going to give you my gift in and he's not going to give me yours, but he's going to give them to us and we give them to each other so that together we're better than we are by ourselves.

Together we're better than we are by yourself. We got a couple of Brothers here from a church plant that's going to start meeting here at this Saturday because their school clothes and kick them out and with no clue when that's going to happen. I'm at with pastor this week and they're desperate need a place to meet and he's so concerned. He's like that. I don't want to let you know. We're not here to listen. We're not in competition.

If you come up here and meet here and you leave some people and Estrella to Christ, you think I'm going to be upset about that. At the moment we get in competition. I pray God closes us down. We're one body one. King one Kingdom one. Hope One Faith one Lord of all one Spirit bodies and different preferences. And that's a good thing that they can tell read some people that we can't we're not in competition. We we work differently, but we got to work together. What glorious thing that is to be a part of something that's bigger than ourselves bigger than our local expression. We are a part of The Universal Church of Jesus the king of kings and Lord of lords. We work together. We work together. We weep with those who weep we Rejoice with those who rejoice. We blast one another God's blessed us with a facility. Why would we not open the door?

So if your gift is prophecy. According to Faith if it's service surf. If it's teaching you should teach. If you're an exhorter then exhort. It's the one who contributes our gifts. That's the gift. Nobody really wants.

They give generously.

your leader at Lee hard with veal the one who does acts of Mercy

future fight That's not exhaustive list. He's just just throwing it out there whatever. God has wired you to whatever God has blessed you with whatever experiences have shaped and formed you into the man or woman of God that he's made you to be whatever he's put within you let it out. Let It Shine

the spirit in you is the light of the world and you're not a perfect vessel, but here's the beauty of God's wisdom. It's the cracks in our vessel that allow his Beauty And Glory To Shine On So is Dan said we can we don't walk in shame? Shame has no place in the king and we've been set free from shame. We don't pretend we've got it all together. We own our sin. We acknowledge our weakness because in our weakness his strength is magnified in our failing his victory is magnify. We both not in ourselves. We both in the one. Who gave himself for us?

That we might live. And have a life. to the fullest

search we fight.

ramla

for our neighbor Just like Jesus did sometimes.

That means going against. current Lecoultre, sometimes that means choosing the way of the cross.

We can do that with joy. And we can do that with confidence. Because our God is greater than all he is the Lord of all the god of the heavens and the Earth. and one day One day his kingdom of peace and righteousness. will flourish as the waters cover the sea. a man