WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.060 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:24.000 ! A special welcome if you're new with us. We're glad that you're here. And we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:38.380 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good they don't need God's grace and no one so bad that they can't have it, which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in his word. 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:50.359 This morning, we're continuing our series in the book of Genesis. Genesis tells the story of the origin of God's world in verses chapters 1 through 11. 00:00:50.359 --> 00:01:01.820 And then it tells in chapters 12 to the end, the story of God's people, the origin of Israel beginning with Abraham. In fact, that's our focus together. We're not looking at the entire book. 00:01:01.939 --> 00:01:16.659 We're looking at chapters 11 through 25 because that is the story of Abraham. We're doing that for two reasons. First, to prepare us to go back into our series in the book of Romans, we will pick back up in chapter 4, which is about Abraham. 00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:25.959 The second reason is because the story of Abraham helps us ask the question, what does it look like to follow God in faith? 00:01:26.859 --> 00:01:44.979 The last couple weeks, we've looked at the story of Lot, Abraham's nephew. Last week in chapter 14, there was, you'll remember, this great war. Lot gets caught up in the middle of this conflict because of his decision to live in Sodom, and he's captured. 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:58.280 We saw Abraham goes and he rescues him. We're reminded of God's great grace to Lot and God's great grace through Abraham, which is true of us as well. 00:01:58.700 --> 00:02:03.800 God has great grace to his people, which he shows through his people. 00:02:03.799 --> 00:02:11.579 The question this week as we come to the second half of chapter 14 is, what happens after success? 00:02:13.699 --> 00:02:15.039 What do we do with it? 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:21.099 Some people say success is actually more dangerous than failure. 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:27.699 How is Abraham going to respond to this victory? 00:02:27.699 --> 00:02:33.239 It's with that that I invite you to turn with me to Genesis chapter 14. 00:02:33.859 --> 00:02:35.439 You can turn in your Bibles. 00:02:35.839 --> 00:02:39.939 Genesis is the very first book in the Bible, so that's one easy way to find it. 00:02:40.500 --> 00:02:41.839 You can turn on your phone. 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:44.319 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:47.719 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's word. 00:02:48.419 --> 00:02:50.699 Proverbs chapter 30, verse 5, tells us, 00:02:50.699 --> 00:03:03.119 And so that's why we read now Genesis chapter 14, starting at verse 17. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:09.520 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:15.219 the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shabbat, that is the king's valley. 00:03:16.099 --> 00:03:19.879 And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. 00:03:20.620 --> 00:03:23.040 He was priest of God Most High. 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:25.540 And he blessed him and said, 00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:32.060 Blessed be Abram by God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth. 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:39.439 And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. 00:03:40.300 --> 00:03:43.259 And Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. 00:03:44.340 --> 00:03:44.979 Verse 21, 00:03:45.920 --> 00:03:47.879 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:52.060 Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself. 00:03:53.020 --> 00:03:55.000 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 00:03:55.000 --> 00:04:02.379 I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:09.259 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:14.240 lest you should say, I have made Abram rich. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:21.160 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten and the share of the men who went with me. 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:25.300 Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:30.519 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:39.000 Our Father in heaven, we do praise you and we thank you again for your word that you've given to us, 00:04:39.659 --> 00:04:43.639 that you don't leave us to figure it out and make guesses, 00:04:44.419 --> 00:04:48.159 but instead you have shown us the way to go. 00:04:48.919 --> 00:04:53.599 We ask that you would be at work this morning in a powerful way by your Holy Spirit, 00:04:54.339 --> 00:04:56.639 that you would do what you talk about in your word. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:04:59.839 You would use the Holy Spirit to help us see spiritual things, 00:05:00.579 --> 00:05:03.120 that you would open our eyes and our ears, 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:06.439 you'd soften our hearts, you'd clear our minds, 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:13.860 that we would hear and understand and believe everything that you have for us in your word. 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:18.079 We ask that you would use it to grow our love and affection, 00:05:19.019 --> 00:05:22.339 our reverence, our all, our obedience to Jesus Christ. 00:05:22.339 --> 00:05:25.599 We ask all of these things in his name. Amen. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:36.779 In August of 2011, no, 2000, in August of 2000, the summer I turned 11, 00:05:37.899 --> 00:05:41.899 my family took a trip to Easley, South Carolina, 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:45.019 which is sort of a bedroom community of Greenville, 00:05:45.159 --> 00:05:51.099 and we went there to help an older relative of my mom's who had lived there for a long time, 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:53.399 and we went to help her with her house and her yard, 00:05:53.399 --> 00:05:55.099 and so we did a number of things. 00:05:55.099 --> 00:05:58.019 One of the things was we trimmed a bunch of bushes. 00:05:58.939 --> 00:06:03.060 Because of the location of her house, she was right by a stop sign, 00:06:03.620 --> 00:06:06.639 and so the trimming of the bushes did not just help her, 00:06:06.979 --> 00:06:09.239 it actually helped everyone who went by that street. 00:06:10.139 --> 00:06:13.839 And so at one point, some neighbors stopped by to thank my parents, 00:06:13.939 --> 00:06:17.399 you know, thank you so much for everything you're doing for the neighborhood, etc., etc., 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:20.699 and my parents said, you know, what you'd expect, 00:06:20.819 --> 00:06:23.599 oh, you're welcome, we're glad to help, blah, blah, blah. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:30.620 What stood out to me, though, is I remember my parents debriefing that interaction later in the day, 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:31.899 and they were kicking themselves. 00:06:32.739 --> 00:06:35.000 They said, we should not have said, you're welcome. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:41.600 We should have said, we're here to be the hands and feet of Jesus, or we love Jesus. 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:47.899 We should have used that opportunity in some way to share about our faith in Christ. 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:53.600 And as an 11-year-old in the summer of 2000, that made a big impression on me. 00:06:54.379 --> 00:07:00.060 Oh, my parents are frustrated that they lost this opportunity to share the gospel. 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:02.420 They should have done that. 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:04.860 They did something else instead. 00:07:05.579 --> 00:07:12.139 Question of this passage, as I've told you, is how do we think about success? 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:14.579 Who gets the thanks? 00:07:15.780 --> 00:07:18.319 Who gets the honor, the glory, the praise? 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:20.980 Do we congratulate ourselves? 00:07:21.899 --> 00:07:23.060 Do we mention God? 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:25.819 As we come to this story, 00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:30.980 Abraham, in a certain way, deserves a ton of credit. 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:34.659 You'll remember the first half of chapter 14. 00:07:35.259 --> 00:07:37.060 He is coming back, right? 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:42.959 Lot, his nephew, has gotten caught up in this conflict with all these kings, at least nine kings. 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:44.839 Abraham goes. 00:07:45.019 --> 00:07:48.459 He risks his network and his wealth and his time. 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:50.079 He's victorious. 00:07:50.779 --> 00:07:51.980 He comes back. 00:07:51.980 --> 00:07:56.740 And so it's clear, Abraham is the biggest dog in the kennel. 00:07:57.640 --> 00:07:57.840 Okay? 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:02.439 No one is greater or more powerful than him. 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:04.080 And so there's an after party. 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:07.280 This after party happens in the Valley of Shabbat. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:09.259 That's what we see in verse 17. 00:08:09.400 --> 00:08:12.819 By the way, this valley is in the area of Jerusalem. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:16.460 And he's met by two kings here. 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:18.540 First, the king of Sodom. 00:08:18.580 --> 00:08:20.020 That makes complete sense. 00:08:20.019 --> 00:08:21.740 He has just rescued Sodom. 00:08:22.180 --> 00:08:24.719 So, of course, this king would come to meet him, right? 00:08:24.799 --> 00:08:27.819 We would think he's coming to meet to thank him. 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:29.620 He owes Abraham. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:32.460 The technical theological term is big time. 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:35.980 And then we have verse 18. 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:41.279 We have this other king, this random king, Melchizedek, king of Salem, who we've never heard of before. 00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:46.059 If you look back in the list of kings, the beginning of the chapter, he doesn't show up. 00:08:46.059 --> 00:08:49.899 So, unlike the king of Sodom, it's not clear why exactly he is here. 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:53.039 Salem, though, you need to know, is short for Jerusalem. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:56.099 So, the king of Salem is the king of Jerusalem. 00:08:56.459 --> 00:08:58.659 The Valley of Shabbat is near Jerusalem, right? 00:08:58.699 --> 00:08:59.899 It all begins to make sense. 00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:11.480 Now, I need to pause for one second and say very briefly, if you are familiar with the Bible, you know that Melchizedek ends up being a really big deal. 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:14.559 He shows up in Psalm 110. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:22.959 Then he shows up in multiple places in the book of Hebrews, one of which Britt read for us this morning, okay? 00:09:23.659 --> 00:09:37.479 Hebrews says, hey, by the way, Melchizedek is a type of Christ, which is a way of saying he points forward to Christ because he has similarities to Christ. 00:09:38.179 --> 00:09:39.799 So, Melchizedek's a big deal. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:41.579 We'll find that out later. 00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:47.340 However, we would need a sermon on Hebrews chapter 7 to unpack all of that. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:53.820 So, sometimes what happens is when someone preaches on Genesis 14, they actually preach a sermon on Hebrews 7. 00:09:54.520 --> 00:09:56.680 We, however, are not in Hebrews 7. 00:09:56.800 --> 00:09:58.440 We're in Genesis 14. 00:09:59.100 --> 00:10:01.560 Okay, so I'm going to say that briefly about Melchizedek. 00:10:02.020 --> 00:10:06.360 We could spend a whole hour or more talking about all the things that happened with Melchizedek, 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:10.620 but we're going to focus in on the point of this passage, which is this. 00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:18.720 Abraham and Melchizedek give all honor and glory to God. 00:10:20.220 --> 00:10:25.899 Abraham and Melchizedek give all praise, honor, and glory to God. 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:37.879 Abraham may be the biggest dog in the kennel, and he knows victory comes from God and God alone. 00:10:39.459 --> 00:10:43.939 Starts out very quickly with the blessing that Melchizedek gives. 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:47.340 Verses 19 through 20, he blesses God here. 00:10:47.340 --> 00:10:52.100 Blessed be Abraham by God most high. 00:10:52.420 --> 00:10:53.519 We've heard that before. 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:56.340 What did we find out in Genesis chapter 12? 00:10:56.860 --> 00:11:01.420 The very beginning, Abraham was blessed to be a blessing. 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:08.840 So Melchizedek's recognizing, hey, what God promised back in chapter 12, that's coming true. 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:10.560 Abraham's been blessed. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:14.700 He's blessed to be a blessing, and that is playing out. 00:11:14.700 --> 00:11:17.259 He was blessed, so he's a blessing to Lot. 00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:23.300 The logic of God's relationship with Abraham is unfolding. 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:26.660 So he's giving glory to God with his words. 00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:29.960 That's what my parents lamented, right? 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:34.000 Wow, we should have given praise to God. 00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:39.320 That's what Abraham and Melchizedek do here. 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:44.960 Why did Abraham win against all those kings? 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:52.920 In one sense, he won because of his military skill, right? 00:11:53.019 --> 00:11:55.540 He split up into two parts in the middle of the night. 00:11:56.580 --> 00:12:00.840 In some ways, he won because he had 318 trained men. 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:06.580 In some ways, he won because he had great allies who went with him. 00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:17.879 Ultimately, finally, fundamentally, Abraham won because God was on his side. 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:25.939 Blessed be Abraham by God most high, possessor of heaven and earth. 00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:30.480 Verse 20. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:38.240 And blessed be God who has delivered your enemies into your hand. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:41.940 What do we do with success? 00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:48.080 We praise God for the victory. 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:52.340 We praise God for the victory. 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:58.220 Verses 19 and 20 reminds us, Abraham is not great. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:01.540 God is great. 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:07.100 I've been telling you that Genesis presents this question, 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:09.600 what does it look like to follow God in faith? 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:11.019 It looks like this. 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:17.700 We, like Abraham, give him all the honor and glory and praise. 00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:24.379 We wake up every day looking to God. 00:13:25.660 --> 00:13:33.600 We wake up every day recognizing that success comes from him and from him alone. 00:13:37.180 --> 00:13:41.400 Many, many years ago, when I was at a church in Virginia, 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:47.680 I had a man tell me offhand that churches need to switch pastors every once in a while. 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:52.120 And the reason he said that this needed to happen is so you could get some fresh illustrations, 00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:53.620 some new stories. 00:13:56.040 --> 00:13:57.320 I'm not sure I agree with that. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:01.860 But I'm going to tell you a story that I've told you three other times before. 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:09.120 And I apologize, but I am sorry in no way. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:14.940 Because as they say, repetition is the mother of memory. 00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:19.140 If you're with us for a while, you know I like to talk about Corrie ten Boom, 00:14:19.260 --> 00:14:22.660 who was a watchmaker in the Netherlands during World War II. 00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:23.620 She hid Jews. 00:14:24.140 --> 00:14:27.400 And because of her work of hiding Jews, she was arrested, 00:14:27.780 --> 00:14:32.720 and she spent the majority of 1944 in a Nazi concentration camp. 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:40.759 She then went on to have a wildly successful international career in writing and speaking. 00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:43.500 And so at one point, someone asked her, 00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:47.000 hey, what do you do to manage all this success? 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:49.259 How do you keep it from ruining you? 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.779 And she said this. 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:52.340 This is on the back of your worship guide. 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:55.620 When people come up and give me a compliment, 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:58.080 Corrie, that was a good talk. 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:00.399 Or, Corrie, you were so brave. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:03.919 I take each remark as if it were a flower. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:10.899 At the end of each day, I lift up the bouquet of flowers I have gathered throughout the day and say, 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.579 here you are, Lord. 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:14.959 It is all yours. 00:15:16.699 --> 00:15:18.579 What are Abraham and Melchizedek doing? 00:15:19.459 --> 00:15:24.419 They are taking Abraham's great victory, his surprising victory, 00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:29.639 his military dominance, and saying, here you are, Lord. 00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:32.599 It is all yours. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.179 Are we that kind of people? 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:47.019 Do we tell others about how God has provided for us? 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:51.579 Not in some sort of showy or performative way, 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:53.799 but in this sincere and earnest way of saying, 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:54.299 you know what? 00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:56.179 I'm really blessed. 00:15:57.579 --> 00:16:00.879 And I'm blessed ultimately not because I was lucky. 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:06.139 I'm blessed not because I was some sort of self-made man or woman 00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:08.639 who was smart enough and gritty enough. 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:14.179 No, I'm blessed because I have a God who's been generous with me. 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:19.240 Are we that kind of people? 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:26.580 I'm blessed because God truly cares for me. 00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:31.680 It's what Abraham and Lot believe. 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:36.080 It's what we as Christians believe as well. 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:38.620 I say this too. 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:43.840 It's especially easy to lose sight of this as we age, 00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:48.220 if we experience a lot of success. 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:53.779 The more your net worth grows, your bottom line increases, 00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:59.779 the more success and power you experience in life, 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:04.920 the easier it is to thank yourself. 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:11.039 When I was in seminary, I had a professor who walked into class one day 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:12.000 and he told this story. 00:17:12.100 --> 00:17:12.720 He said, you know, 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:17.300 when I was a professor my first couple years, 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:20.100 my prayer life was a lot better 00:17:20.100 --> 00:17:25.120 because I was barely keeping my head above water. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:28.859 And now I've been teaching these classes for years 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:31.099 and I know my material inside and out. 00:17:32.479 --> 00:17:35.579 And when I come in here, it's easy for me to think I've got it. 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.299 I figured it out. 00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:41.879 But I actually need to return to the Lord in the same way 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:45.859 I did 10, 15, 20 years ago. 00:17:47.379 --> 00:17:50.099 You'll see this on page seven of your worship guide. 00:17:50.099 --> 00:18:20.079 It says, 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:22.259 in horses and chariots. 00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:30.819 But the victory comes from the Lord our God. 00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:37.319 Remember, it's in God's glory that we discover our good. 00:18:39.679 --> 00:18:42.439 Praise, praise to God, 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:48.559 protects us from the self-reliance that can lead to failure. 00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:55.319 Are we the kind of people who know 00:18:55.319 --> 00:19:00.459 that our blessing is from God most high, 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:03.779 the possessor of heaven and earth? 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:10.599 Of course, talk is cheap, right? 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:15.799 Anyone can learn to say the right things. 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:19.279 Saying things like, man, it's all because of God. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:21.039 That's the reason for all my success. 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.500 That can be performative, right? 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:26.480 Can be what we say because we've learned. 00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:28.879 That's like what churchy people are supposed to say. 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:32.120 That's what's socially expected on a Sunday morning. 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:37.660 Thankfully, that's not the only thing that Abraham does here. 00:19:38.320 --> 00:19:43.860 The greater test, what's really more telling than our words, 00:19:44.040 --> 00:19:46.320 is what we do with our money. 00:19:48.300 --> 00:19:50.700 Abraham doesn't just give glory to God with his words. 00:19:50.820 --> 00:19:52.480 He gives glory with his wealth. 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:57.019 Verse 20, at the end, we have this surprising note. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:01.500 Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. 00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:04.420 So Abraham has all this spoil. 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.740 He's taken in war. 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:10.620 He shows up to Melchizedek and gives him what we call a tithe. 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:15.319 10% of everything he's gained. 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:19.799 Britt talked just a minute ago about our tithes and God's offerings 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:22.159 and what we mean by God's tithes and our offerings. 00:20:22.659 --> 00:20:26.619 What we mean by that is that the 10% belongs to God. 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:28.119 That's actually already his. 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:29.859 We just need to give him what belongs to him. 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:32.579 The offering is anything that's above and beyond that. 00:20:33.379 --> 00:20:34.200 So he comes. 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:38.220 He gives God what is his, his due, his credit for the victory. 00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:42.539 Now, why is he doing this to the random priest Melchizedek? 00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:50.000 Well, we find out verse 18, Melchizedek is priest of God most high. 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:55.240 So Abraham is sort of secondarily giving it to Melchizedek. 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:58.680 Primarily, ultimately, he's giving it to God. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:04.299 So he's not just recognizing God's work in his words. 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:06.899 He's putting his money where his mouth is. 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:13.820 Yes, I'm going to let my bank account show that I believe the victory is from you. 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.980 And giving that away does a couple things. 00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:18.920 First of all, it is an act of praise. 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:21.360 Money shows value. 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:26.080 Why are you frustrated if you don't get paid enough at your job? 00:21:26.340 --> 00:21:28.000 Because you think I am what? 00:21:29.280 --> 00:21:30.780 Worth more than this. 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:33.400 They don't recognize my value. 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:39.980 When we give to God, we're saying we recognize that God deserves all honor, glory, and praise. 00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:42.240 He is actually the one who's provided the victory. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:46.000 Not just an act of praise, though. 00:21:46.040 --> 00:21:47.519 It's also an act of trust. 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:51.200 When we give our wealth to God, we're saying, 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:53.280 I trust you're going to provide for me. 00:21:54.060 --> 00:21:56.900 I trust there will be more money later. 00:21:58.060 --> 00:22:00.340 If I didn't believe that, it wouldn't make any sense, right? 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:04.000 I would need to hoard as much as I can for the future. 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:09.079 So Abraham's saying, on the one hand, God is the source of the victory. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:12.519 And on the other hand, God will be the source of future victories. 00:22:13.639 --> 00:22:17.179 I don't need to worry about hoarding and saving as much as I can. 00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:19.419 God will continue to keep his promises. 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:23.019 God will continue to be faithful. 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:27.460 Abraham doesn't just give his resources, though. 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:31.039 That's in some ways expected for what happens in the Old Testament. 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.759 He does something even more shocking. 00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:35.680 Abraham also rejects resources. 00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:41.680 The king of Sodom comes here, verses 22 and 23, 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:44.379 and he tries to make a deal. 00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:51.139 Verse 21, give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself. 00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:54.480 We'll make a little deal here. 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.799 I know you, Abraham, have the victory. 00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:59.259 Actually, kind of all of this belongs to you, 00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.900 but how about you give me the people, 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:03.740 you know, just as sort of a favor, you keep the things. 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:09.339 And Abraham would be completely within his right to receive those things. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.920 He's the victor, right? 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:15.200 There's nothing wrong about the victor taking the spoils. 00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:16.859 The king of Sodom should be grateful. 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:20.059 Abraham has saved his skin, literally. 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:25.319 And Abraham says, no, I'm not going to take that money. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.359 Why? 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:35.220 I want God to have the glory for every thread and every sandal strap. 00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:38.779 Even the smallest things. 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:45.180 I don't want to open up any sort of option for you to gain glory that belongs to God alone. 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.279 I don't need your money. 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:52.779 Because God has the cattle on a thousand hills. 00:23:57.779 --> 00:24:03.379 A pastor at another church told me a story recently of meeting with someone who was very wealthy. 00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:06.580 That person came to them and said, you know what? 00:24:07.040 --> 00:24:10.980 I don't like how things are going, so I'm going to pull all of my money from this church. 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:13.460 And this pastor was a little spicy. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:19.560 And without thinking, he said, well, God can replace that tomorrow. 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:24.860 He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:32.899 Abraham wants to make sure that God gets the glory for every thread and every sandal strap. 00:24:36.719 --> 00:24:42.559 It's wisdom in this world to not leave any money on the table. 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.740 It's not Abraham's philosophy. 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:50.259 Abraham says, I don't want to leave any glory on the table. 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:58.140 I don't want to get in the way of anyone praising God for anything. 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:10.819 My dependence on God, the glory to him, is more valuable than any spoil. 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.680 It's a different calculus. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:22.080 That's the calculus of someone who trusts God, that believes that God's promises are real and true. 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:27.000 That's the same belief that empowered Abraham to go and rescue Lot, right? 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:29.019 God promised him the land. 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.580 Why wouldn't he go? 00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:33.080 He has nothing to lose. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:36.680 God has guaranteed everything. 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:43.759 Abraham here is entitled to everything, keeps nothing. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:49.519 Because God and his glory are more important. 00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:59.380 It's easy to say we trust God's promises. 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:07.779 Our finances show whether that's really true. 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:15.019 Hebrews chapter 13. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:17.460 Remember Hebrews 7 talks about Melchizedek. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.940 I think he shows up in 8 as well. 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:21.639 Hebrews 13 tells us the logic of this. 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.119 The author says, 00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:28.720 Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have. 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.839 For he has said, 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:34.599 I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:39.259 Why is Abraham so light with the spoil? 00:26:41.419 --> 00:26:43.339 Because he believes God's promise. 00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:46.319 He knows there will be more money. 00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:51.099 God will never leave him nor forsake him. 00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:58.959 Do our bank accounts show that we believe that? 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:05.599 That God is the one who protects us? 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:15.019 I want to talk just for a moment briefly about the other king, the king of Sodom. 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:21.099 Melchizedek has a heavenly perspective on an earthly battle. 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.379 Right? 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:25.539 In an earthly sense, Abraham conquers. 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:28.740 In a heavenly sense, God is the one who wins. 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:35.359 The king of Sodom has a human perspective on an earthly battle. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.660 The king of Sodom rolls in. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.900 Can't even say thank you. 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:45.720 Just wants to cut a deal. 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.819 No praise to God. 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.980 No thanks to Abraham. 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:53.140 It's just business. 00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:57.680 And what have we been told about Sodom? 00:27:58.680 --> 00:28:00.620 Last chapter, chapter 13. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:05.580 They were great sinners against the Lord. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:12.340 Great sin can look like many things. 00:28:13.780 --> 00:28:18.960 It includes refusing to give honor and glory to God. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:24.000 Remember I told you a number of weeks ago about my friend who told me, 00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:26.900 well, I'm not a Christian, but I act like one. 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:31.700 And I said he acts like one in many superficial ways, 00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:33.840 but not in the most important way. 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:38.579 And the most important way is to worship the living God. 00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:42.539 Yeah, he may not commit adultery. 00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:43.220 That's great. 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:48.000 Great wickedness includes this. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:50.700 Not simply a mistake. 00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:52.259 No, this is table stakes. 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:56.759 This is the way of the Christian life. 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:01.120 How are we able to do that? 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:07.480 How do we know that God will never leave us nor forsake us? 00:29:09.360 --> 00:29:12.700 We have greater reason to hope than Abraham. 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:18.900 And we have greater reason to hope because we have seen what Abraham only looked forward to, 00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:23.759 which is the one to whom Melchizedek as a type points. 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:27.960 We have a greater hope because we have seen Jesus Christ. 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:33.519 We've seen him come, live the perfect life that we should have lived. 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:36.920 We've seen him die the death that we deserved. 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:40.539 And we have seen him risen from the dead. 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:46.480 We know, even more than Abraham does, that God keeps his promises. 00:29:49.560 --> 00:29:52.720 Author of Romans, Paul tells us this, Romans chapter 8. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:59.140 He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:05.360 How will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:09.160 In other words, God has given you Christ. 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:15.220 Of course, he'll provide everything else. 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:19.700 So we give him our glory. 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.660 We give him our wealth. 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:25.200 Because he cares for us. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:28.240 So that's why we can sing. 00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:34.660 For from him, through him, to him is everything. 00:30:35.800 --> 00:30:38.779 To God be the glory forever and ever. 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.700 Let's pray. 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:45.800 Our Father in heaven, we thank you. 00:30:46.080 --> 00:30:50.360 We bless your name that you have given us so many victories in this life. 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:54.759 Most of all, the victory of our Lord Jesus over sin and death. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:57.340 We ask that you would root that deep in our hearts. 00:30:57.420 --> 00:31:03.340 That it would overflow in risky praise, generosity, obedience. 00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:09.659 That we would not leave a thread or a sandal strap on the table. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.779 We would give it all to you. 00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:13.240 We ask all of these things in Jesus' name. 00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:13.939 Amen. 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.039 Amen. 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:14.820 Amen. 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:14.820