WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.500 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:03.020 --> 00:00:03.660 Good morning. 00:00:06.419 --> 00:00:10.419 So first of all, well done, Catherine, for being able to pronounce those names. 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:16.480 I still have it. I have to do them phonetically. I've got them in here phonetically on my script. 00:00:17.660 --> 00:00:24.420 So yeah, so we're looking at the part of the story of Abraham this morning in verses 17 to 24. 00:00:24.420 --> 00:00:33.859 But just to give you and myself a bit of background and context, have a little bit of a preview as to what happens leading up to this passage. 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:38.359 The context is that Abraham and Sarah had been to Egypt. 00:00:39.100 --> 00:00:41.120 He'd lied about his wife being his sister. 00:00:42.219 --> 00:00:45.540 But Pharaoh has blessed them. God's blessed them through Pharaoh even still. 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:51.920 And then Abraham and his nephew Lot separate because their herdsmen have been arguing. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:59.359 I mean, Lot goes one way and chooses to go and live in what we know as the green fields next to the city of Sodom. 00:01:00.219 --> 00:01:03.160 I would say that might be a bit of a strange and not a very wise decision. 00:01:04.460 --> 00:01:07.640 And, sorry, Lot goes to live that way, that's right. 00:01:07.960 --> 00:01:09.879 And Abraham goes the other way. 00:01:11.140 --> 00:01:15.560 And God is now going to make some amazing promises to Abraham before he gets there. 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:21.420 So when this story occurs, it could be a Hollywood blockbuster. 00:01:21.960 --> 00:01:27.420 There's action, there's intrigue, there's heroism, and there's a rescue all in our story today. 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:30.420 And we're going to work through it together bit by bit. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:32.300 And we'll see that there's a battle. 00:01:32.540 --> 00:01:34.340 In fact, there's two battles going on. 00:01:34.859 --> 00:01:36.400 There's a big battle involved. 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:41.960 And the battle is to see who is to be the king of kings, the God most high. 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:46.380 To see who deserves honour, the one who's going to rule and reign. 00:01:47.660 --> 00:01:52.240 So in the first few verses from 1 to 12, a little bit earlier on, 00:01:53.240 --> 00:01:57.360 apart from lots of unpronounceable names, what exactly is going on? 00:01:58.060 --> 00:02:03.920 The situation is that we have four kings who are ruling over five kings. 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:08.319 But the four kings go off to war, and they're really successful in their battle. 00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:11.319 They win lots of battles, and they come back. 00:02:11.379 --> 00:02:12.500 The four kings come back. 00:02:13.719 --> 00:02:15.539 And then the five kings think, 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:18.900 ooh, it might be a really good idea now to rebel here. 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:22.000 And they come out, and they fight the four kings. 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:23.719 But the four kings win. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:27.759 And then these guys run off to the hills, or escape, 00:02:28.139 --> 00:02:30.879 and go and fall in some oil and tar pits. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:32.139 It's a horrible death. 00:02:32.580 --> 00:02:33.159 And are defeated. 00:02:34.519 --> 00:02:36.099 And whilst this is all going on, 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:40.539 Lot, who is living near Sodom, gets carried off as well. 00:02:40.939 --> 00:02:43.859 He gets taken away, captured, and he's trapped. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:49.399 Like I said earlier on, it probably wasn't a good decision for him to be there in the first place, 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:51.679 one of the most evilest cities like going at the time. 00:02:51.859 --> 00:02:53.119 And he was helpless. 00:02:54.139 --> 00:02:55.519 And I wonder what he's feeling. 00:02:56.599 --> 00:02:58.039 There's a battle around him. 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:01.539 He's been chatting with his uncle Abraham about where to go and live. 00:03:01.619 --> 00:03:03.219 He's chosen to live in the Greenland. 00:03:03.219 --> 00:03:06.240 Maybe it wasn't a choice that he made out of faith. 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:09.259 Maybe it was just the facts that he was looking at. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:14.139 Maybe he just made a decision to live there, just because of what he could see in front of him. 00:03:14.139 --> 00:03:16.239 It's not his battle. 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:18.679 He's not really supporting the king of Sodom. 00:03:18.679 --> 00:03:21.119 He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:27.860 So I wonder for us, do we sometimes feel that we're also surrounded by battles? 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:31.620 Stuff that actually has nothing to do with us, but actually affects us? 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:36.000 And sometimes it can be really easy to get drawn into other people's battles. 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:42.960 Sometimes also we can feel that we've been drawn off into the worldly things that are happening around us, 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:46.020 the worldly powers, and we can get a bit overwhelmed by them. 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:52.660 You see, even though we are the people of faith, we're not immune to the effects of a broken world. 00:03:53.480 --> 00:03:56.620 We don't escape what happened hundreds of years ago. 00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:01.780 That stuff, sin, still impacts our lives and our behaviours. 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:06.379 And sometimes life can seem really unfair and out of control sometimes, 00:04:06.480 --> 00:04:08.520 and we think, what on earth is going on? 00:04:09.040 --> 00:04:10.300 Why do I deserve this? 00:04:10.300 --> 00:04:13.260 I just chose to live in the green land. 00:04:13.740 --> 00:04:15.780 I just chose to live the best way I can. 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:18.520 And yet this is all happening around me. 00:04:19.780 --> 00:04:23.000 So a question to answer this morning is, who is king? 00:04:23.960 --> 00:04:25.340 Who is that worldly power? 00:04:25.840 --> 00:04:29.699 It can feel like the worldly powers are all around us that are king. 00:04:30.580 --> 00:04:34.639 And when we look at the continuing impact that we see of the COVID pandemic, 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:36.620 the cost of living crisis, 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:40.000 maybe what's going on at school or in the workplace, 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:41.819 we find it difficult to get on with people. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:44.639 These things are really hard, 00:04:45.100 --> 00:04:47.560 and it can feel like the world might be against us, 00:04:47.939 --> 00:04:48.600 and that it's winning. 00:04:49.540 --> 00:04:51.899 But will they have ultimate power in the end? 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:52.800 Will they be king? 00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:55.439 We'll pick up at verse 13. 00:04:56.100 --> 00:04:56.360 It says, 00:04:56.360 --> 00:05:10.879 When Abraham heard that this relative had been taken captive, 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:16.520 he called out the 318 trained men in the household and went in pursuit. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:19.920 During the night, Abraham divided his men to attack them, 00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:24.819 and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobar, north of Damascus. 00:05:24.819 --> 00:05:28.579 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, 00:05:29.219 --> 00:05:31.099 together with the women and the other people. 00:05:32.099 --> 00:05:33.480 So what a rescue. 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:36.659 Do the worldly powers reign? 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:37.199 Well, no. 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:39.319 The people of faith charge in. 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:41.259 Abraham charges in with all his men, 00:05:41.420 --> 00:05:43.659 not worrying about whether he's going to get killed or not. 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:47.180 And he rescues Lot and his family and his possessions. 00:05:47.860 --> 00:05:48.560 It's wonderful. 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:49.560 It's exciting. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:51.159 He breaks in. 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:54.980 And often we think this is how we should be, shouldn't we? 00:05:55.020 --> 00:05:56.140 We're the people of faith. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:57.800 We're the one with the promises of God, 00:05:58.439 --> 00:05:59.960 releasing those people oppressed. 00:06:00.520 --> 00:06:02.380 Romans 5 verse 17 says, 00:06:03.080 --> 00:06:07.220 For if by the trespass of one man death reigned through that one man, 00:06:07.460 --> 00:06:10.960 how much more will those receive God's abundant provision of grace 00:06:10.960 --> 00:06:15.660 and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ? 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:18.040 So this should be us, shouldn't it? 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:22.020 We shouldn't be at the bottom of the mountain, maybe trapped in a ravine. 00:06:22.320 --> 00:06:25.700 We feel like we should be reigning in life on top of that mountain. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:28.060 And that's where Abraham is. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:31.020 He's rescued Lot and he's on the top of the mountain. 00:06:31.780 --> 00:06:33.520 And we're those people of faith too. 00:06:34.340 --> 00:06:35.800 Should we be doing that as well? 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:42.379 Should we be reigning in life rather than in the doldrums sometimes being kicked around by worldly things? 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:46.100 Well, I think this is something to be really careful about 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:50.199 because there's a danger that if we think like that, 00:06:50.259 --> 00:06:55.180 we can wander into something technically called an over-realized, 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:57.159 I've to put my teeth in, eschatology. 00:06:58.300 --> 00:07:02.860 In other words, we're pulling forward the eternal promises of God 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:04.719 that are planned for us in the future, 00:07:05.019 --> 00:07:09.240 but we're trying to pull them in now rather than living it now and not yet. 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:11.319 Jesus has come. 00:07:11.699 --> 00:07:12.500 He will come again. 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:14.740 And we're claiming things that are actually for the future 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:16.259 and we're trying to make them happen now. 00:07:17.460 --> 00:07:21.480 Now, I don't know about you, but my Christian life often is those mountaintop 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:24.960 and those valley experiences, often, you know, up and down like that. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:27.100 And we're told that we're going to suffer. 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:28.560 We're told that we'll have challenges. 00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:32.639 And we're told as a disciple we've got to pick up our cross and follow God. 00:07:33.280 --> 00:07:35.420 So we're going to have those difficulties and challenges. 00:07:35.420 --> 00:07:39.860 And when we are reigning in life, it's less about the situations 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:41.460 and it's more about our attitude. 00:07:42.180 --> 00:07:46.360 It's more about our spiritual place, our identity, our home in Christ, 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:49.340 what's being achieved by him through us. 00:07:49.460 --> 00:07:50.319 That's the point. 00:07:50.640 --> 00:07:53.540 And I think that's what the point of this context is. 00:07:54.960 --> 00:08:00.759 In Luke 10, when Jesus sends out the 72, I love this passage, 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:05.439 Jesus sends out his disciples and they go and do absolutely amazing things. 00:08:05.719 --> 00:08:08.019 They see demons cast out, people healed. 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:10.779 And Jesus says, I saw Satan fall from heaven. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:13.159 But then he says in verse 20, 00:08:13.699 --> 00:08:17.039 do not rejoice as the Spirit submits to you, 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:19.800 but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:24.659 So Jesus spells out to them what they should be excited about. 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:28.259 And we flip it around and we can look at the worldly powers and what's going on. 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:32.399 And we can say that we're at the bottom of that mountain stuck in the ravine, 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:35.139 or we can say that we're at the top of the mountain with a king. 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:39.340 And Jesus points this to us when he says to Abraham, 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:42.439 in fact, don't celebrate in that victory. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.460 Celebrate that you're a man of faith, 00:08:44.819 --> 00:08:47.840 that we're a people of faith with the promises of God. 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:51.279 And he's going to rescue you and he's going to use you. 00:08:52.379 --> 00:08:53.779 And he's got you in his hand. 00:08:54.700 --> 00:08:57.120 You see, we can have those brilliant moments 00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:00.480 where we appear to be reigning in life in our situations. 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:03.120 When we see people healed, 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:05.460 we see our friends come to know Jesus. 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:09.720 And the danger is that we get too excited about those things 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:13.840 and we forget about what Jesus has accomplished for us in eternity. 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:17.679 So rejoice, but don't rejoice too much in that. 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:21.440 Rejoice because your name is written in heaven. 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:25.400 So Abraham successfully rescues Lot. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:27.740 Abraham defeats the four kings. 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:31.440 That defeated the five kings, which makes him the king of kings. 00:09:32.140 --> 00:09:34.840 So the question is, is Abraham king? 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:38.300 And should we feel like we should be king over our lives too? 00:09:38.700 --> 00:09:41.440 Always reigning, always ruling over every situation. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:50.560 Verse 17 to 20. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:55.600 After Abraham returned from defeating Kedolomah 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:57.920 and the kings allied with him, 00:09:58.520 --> 00:10:01.120 the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Sheba. 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:02.700 That is the king's valley. 00:10:04.160 --> 00:10:08.020 Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. 00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:11.659 He was a priest of God most high and he blessed Abraham saying, 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:16.079 blessed be Abraham by God most high, creator of heaven and earth, 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:18.500 and praise be God most high, 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:20.919 who delivered your enemies into your hand. 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:23.199 Then Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.860 So does Abraham think he's king? 00:10:26.439 --> 00:10:29.600 That Abraham thinks he's ruling and reigning over everybody and everything? 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:30.720 No. 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:32.840 We see that immediately. 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:35.179 He met the two kings, 00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:38.239 the king of Sodom and the king of Salem, Melchizedek. 00:10:38.839 --> 00:10:40.919 And Melchizedek comes as a man of peace 00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:42.500 and gives him sustenance. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:45.479 And we've not got any idea really 00:10:45.479 --> 00:10:47.599 how Abraham recognised him. 00:10:48.199 --> 00:10:51.179 But we know that he recognised him as a person to be honoured. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:53.939 In Hebrews 7, 00:10:54.459 --> 00:10:57.159 it talks a little bit about him there, about Melchizedek. 00:10:57.579 --> 00:10:57.899 It says, 00:10:57.899 --> 00:11:11.299 So Abraham gives him a tenth and he's blessed by him. 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:15.100 And those two facts alone show that Abraham knew 00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:17.059 that he was someone greater than him. 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:19.899 So Abraham has just rescued Lot. 00:11:20.139 --> 00:11:20.879 He's rushed in. 00:11:20.959 --> 00:11:21.679 He's saved him. 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:23.220 What a wonderful Marrakes delivery. 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:25.279 But he knows he's not the king. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:26.660 And for us, 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.360 Melchizedek, the king of Salem, 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.340 the king of peace, 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:31.279 wants to point us to Jesus, 00:11:31.800 --> 00:11:32.700 that greater king. 00:11:33.300 --> 00:11:34.779 When he says in verse 20, 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:36.220 Blessed be God most high, 00:11:36.300 --> 00:11:38.440 who delivered your enemies into your hand. 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:41.680 Melchizedek, the king of peace, 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:43.920 pointing towards Jesus for his. 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:45.460 And Abraham says, 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:45.840 Look, 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:48.240 let there be no doubt 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.519 that you've had a great victory. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.240 You're the people of faith, 00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:52.440 the man of faith. 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:53.740 You've got the promises, 00:11:54.640 --> 00:11:55.660 but let there be no doubt 00:11:55.660 --> 00:11:58.120 your success was because of God. 00:11:59.160 --> 00:12:00.240 He rescued Lot, 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:02.600 and it was because God used you, 00:12:02.760 --> 00:12:03.760 because God the most high 00:12:03.760 --> 00:12:05.660 delivered your enemies into your hand. 00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:07.680 Don't get above your station. 00:12:08.260 --> 00:12:09.320 You're not the king, Abraham. 00:12:09.520 --> 00:12:10.840 There's one who's bigger and better. 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:13.120 And in Timothy it says, 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:14.620 Jesus, king of king, 00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:15.540 lord of lords. 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:17.200 And this bit of the story 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:18.760 allows us to see that truly 00:12:18.760 --> 00:12:20.180 he is the king. 00:12:20.380 --> 00:12:21.880 Jesus is the king of kings. 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:23.960 Melchizedek and Abraham 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:25.840 root Abraham's success in God, 00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:27.200 not his friends, 00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:28.100 not his alliances, 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:30.360 not all his many trained men 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:31.139 or his strategy. 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:33.600 He makes that point. 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:34.740 It's the king of kings. 00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:35.500 It's Jesus. 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:37.439 We're not king. 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:38.879 Abraham's not king. 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:40.580 Melchizedek's not king. 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:42.580 God, the most high, 00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:43.500 he is king. 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:45.980 But is he really king? 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:47.840 Let's see what happens 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:49.179 as we come to the end of the story. 00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:51.600 The king of Sodom said to Abraham, 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.600 give me the people 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:54.259 and keep the goods for yourself. 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.759 But Abraham said to the king of Sodom, 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:57.980 with raised hand, 00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:59.679 I have sworn an oath to the Lord, 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:00.860 God most high, 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:02.620 creator of heaven and earth, 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:05.139 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:06.600 not even a thread 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:07.960 or a strap of a sandal, 00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:09.960 so you will never be able to say, 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:11.580 I have made Abraham rich. 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:13.720 So the king of Sodom 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:15.139 comes out to Abraham and says, 00:13:15.420 --> 00:13:16.920 look, you can keep your loot, 00:13:17.040 --> 00:13:18.100 you can keep the spoils, 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.840 I'd like to take my people back. 00:13:21.060 --> 00:13:21.980 Abraham refuses 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:22.720 and he says, 00:13:22.780 --> 00:13:23.920 no, you have it. 00:13:24.400 --> 00:13:25.440 All I want to take 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:27.240 is the things that the men have eaten 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:28.860 and what my friends deserve 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:30.000 for what they've done. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:31.320 As for me, 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:32.200 I don't want anything 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:34.100 because I don't want to say, 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:34.879 ever, 00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:35.960 that you made me rich. 00:13:36.820 --> 00:13:37.100 You see, 00:13:37.140 --> 00:13:38.180 we can look at this story 00:13:38.180 --> 00:13:39.640 and we think it's just about 00:13:39.640 --> 00:13:40.100 the battle, 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:40.800 the rescue, 00:13:40.920 --> 00:13:41.440 the excitement, 00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:42.040 the action. 00:13:42.400 --> 00:13:43.460 That's what it's all about. 00:13:43.540 --> 00:13:44.139 But actually, 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:45.540 it's more about 00:13:45.540 --> 00:13:46.300 what's going on 00:13:46.300 --> 00:13:47.280 in Abraham's heart. 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:49.540 As you know, 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:49.900 for us, 00:13:49.940 --> 00:13:51.060 we can also look at life 00:13:51.060 --> 00:13:52.400 and think it's a bit like a battle, 00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:54.180 a bit like being stuck 00:13:54.180 --> 00:13:55.180 at the bottom of a valley 00:13:55.180 --> 00:13:56.160 trying to get out 00:13:56.160 --> 00:13:57.500 and that the battle 00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:58.940 maybe is just a physical battle, 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.200 whether it's COVID 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:01.620 or job loss, 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:02.300 relationships, 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.820 whatever we're surrounded by. 00:14:04.540 --> 00:14:05.580 But there was another battle 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:06.780 going on Abraham's heart 00:14:06.780 --> 00:14:08.020 and that's the battle 00:14:08.020 --> 00:14:09.040 for trusting God 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:10.939 as a true king of life. 00:14:11.599 --> 00:14:11.819 You see, 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:13.179 before he had to fight 00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:14.539 that physical battle, 00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:15.779 he had to fight 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:16.659 a spiritual one. 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.219 And so, 00:14:18.319 --> 00:14:19.019 when the king of Sodom 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:19.839 comes and says, 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:20.899 you could have the spoils, 00:14:20.959 --> 00:14:21.799 you can have the loot, 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.199 he says, 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:22.480 no, 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:24.179 I don't trust in money, 00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:25.519 I don't trust in you, 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:27.599 I just want to trust in God. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.519 He was trusting him 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.319 as his king. 00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:32.679 And I know for most of us 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:34.000 as disciples of Jesus, 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:35.219 we'd probably say the same, 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:35.599 wouldn't we? 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:37.060 Jesus is king, 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.440 I want him to be king. 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:40.360 But let's say, 00:14:40.920 --> 00:14:42.920 if your life was represented 00:14:42.920 --> 00:14:44.000 by a stick of rock, 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:45.800 good old Western Supermare rock, 00:14:45.920 --> 00:14:47.960 and it said, 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:50.279 Jesus is king at the front, 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.279 and it said, 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:52.899 Jesus is king at the back, 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:55.480 would Jesus is king 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:56.800 go right the way through? 00:14:58.779 --> 00:15:00.060 You might maybe say it 00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:00.740 with your mouth, 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.639 you might maybe say it 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:03.360 with your finances, 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:05.840 but are you trusting God 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.879 for your family, 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:08.480 for your job, 00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:10.120 for your situation? 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:12.440 Is he king over everything? 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.960 Are you giving all things to him? 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.180 Your emotions, 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:17.759 your ambitions, 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.279 your future, 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.879 and your past. 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:22.680 Is he really king? 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:25.639 Abraham had a little test here, 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:27.399 and it wasn't just about 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.180 rescuing Lot, 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:29.620 it was about 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:31.000 who he was going to trust, 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:32.940 who he was going to proclaim 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:33.960 king of his life, 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.700 where was he going to get 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:36.320 his security, 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.019 and what was he going to 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:39.279 give his devotion to? 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:41.179 And as I finish, 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:42.559 just to think about ourselves, 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.080 the same challenge 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:45.100 comes to us today. 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:47.539 This is an exciting episode 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.539 of Abraham's life, 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.440 it's worthy of an action movie, 00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:52.779 but as we said before, 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:55.220 the battle is in Abraham's heart. 00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:57.259 Your life might be 00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:58.160 really exciting, 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.200 it might be really boring, 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:02.420 but the true battle 00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:03.940 is always in our heart. 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:06.740 So just as I finish, 00:16:07.180 --> 00:16:08.460 let's just have a couple of minutes 00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:09.240 to reflect, 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:11.040 and just to pray. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.460 So whether you're like that person 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:16.580 at the bottom of the mountain, 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:17.600 stuck in the ravine, 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.639 and you can't get up, 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.840 or whether you're at the top 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:22.800 of the mountain at the moment, 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:24.240 and you feel like you've got it 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.060 sorted and nailed, 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.919 let's humbly come 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:29.519 and say no, 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.919 Jesus is king. 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:34.139 And Lord, I ask that you just help us 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.580 to help you, 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:36.180 to ask, 00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:37.100 to want to, 00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:40.580 want you to be king of our lives. 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:43.220 Just maybe speak about, 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.220 just in your hearts, 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.539 about something that's going on 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.060 at the moment, 00:16:46.680 --> 00:16:47.799 just give it to Jesus. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.240 Amen. 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:55.799 Amen. 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:55.919 Amen. 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:56.240 Amen. 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:16.160 So Lord, we thank you 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:17.120 for those good things 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:17.759 in our lives 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.599 that you've given us. 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:21.679 but we don't want to trust 00:17:21.679 --> 00:17:22.339 in wealth 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:24.079 or relationships 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.699 or put anything else 00:17:25.699 --> 00:17:26.480 in security 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.699 other than you, Lord. 00:17:29.719 --> 00:17:30.839 And we know that you know 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.419 the challenges 00:17:31.419 --> 00:17:32.500 that we're facing too. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.659 And I ask that you just help us all 00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:37.359 to want to put you 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:39.539 as king of our lives. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.439 Amen. 00:17:42.439 --> 00:17:42.559 Amen. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:42.599 Amen. 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:42.619 Amen. 00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:42.639 Amen. 00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:42.659 Amen. 00:17:42.659 --> 00:17:44.559 Amen. 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:44.619 Amen. 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:44.639 Amen. 00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:44.679 Amen. 00:17:44.679 --> 00:17:44.699 Amen. 00:17:44.699 --> 00:17:44.719 Amen. 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.659 Amen.