Abraham: ABRAM: A MAN OF INTEGRITY

ABRAM- A MAN OF INTEGRITY

Date July 13, 2014

Scripture Reference Genesis 14:1-24

from the series Abraham

Introduction

There is a word in the English language that we hear used from time to time. Yet, this is a word that we rarely see modeled in our day. That word is the word "Integrity." It means the following: 

"possession of firm principles: the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards"

When a person is said to have integrity, we mean that they have high moral standards. We mean that they operate in a way that causes them to seek the right way first. This is the behavior that God would have all His children exhibit all the time. One of the greatest things that can be said about your life is that you are a person of integrity.

Scripture Reading

Let us rise to our feet and together read Genesis 14:1-24

14 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. May the sweet Holy Spirit add blessings to our text this morning.... Amen! You may be seated in God's Presence.  

Sermon

This is the behavior that is modeled by Abram in this passage. Genesis 14 is a glimpse inside the life of this great man of God. There are three areas of his life that are dealt with in this passage. In each of these, Abram demonstrates the fact that he is a man of integrity. Let's examine these areas this evening so that we too may become people of integrity for the glory of the Lord.

I. V. 1-16 ABRAM'S INTEGRITY IN WARFARE

A. V. 1-12 The Setting For His Warfare 

This chapter tells us about a brutal invasion by a confederation of powerful kings who occupied the region that corresponds to Iraq and Iran in our day.

1. VV. 1-11 Involved A Vicious Retaliation  

Evidently, Sodom had been a tributary of king Chedorlaomer for some 12 years, verse 4. After 12 years, they refused to pay their tribute money and revolted. Chedorlaomer, along with his confederates, invaded Canaan to deal with these rebellious people. This invasion resulted in the sacking of Sodom and the capturing of Lot, along with all his possessions. (Note: There is always some evil tyrant like Chedorlaomer who wants to put you in bondage. If you leave the things of the Lord like Lot did and walk off into the world, you can count on forming evil habit and lusts that are difficult to break, 1 Cor. 10:23; 1 Cor. 6:12. In fact, like Lot, you won't get free unless the Lord intervenes!) 

2. V. 12 Involved A Valid Reason  

When Abram heard that Lot was in trouble, he went to war. I gather that Abram is a man of peace. This is the only time we see him at war in his life. However, when there was a need, he went to battle! (Note: I just want to remind you that we are all engaged in warfare this morning, Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 10:3-5. Our battle is spiritual in nature.)

B. V. 14-15 The Success Of His Warfare 

These verses tell us that Abram waged war and won a decisive victory.

1. V. 14 Involved His Preparations For The Enemy  

Abram armed his men and prepared for the battle. (Note: God's children need to be ready at all times for spiritual battle, Eph. 6:10-18. Our success in the spiritual battles of life hinges on how well we prepare ourselves for the battles we face.) 

2. V. 15 Involved His Pursuit Of The Enemy  

We are at war all the time, but there are times when we need to take the fight to the enemy. When it is time to stand against evil. When it is time to defend or rescue a brother. When it is time to stand in the gap for another. Let us fight the good fight, 2 Tim. 4:7.) 

(Note: May we always demonstrate great integrity in the battles we fight. We do so by facing the enemy with out faith in the Lord and His power. We do so by always being found on the side of right. We do so by not shrinking from the battle for fear of the enemy. We do so by standing when others run away!)

I. V. 1-16 ABRAM'S INTEGRITY IN WARFARE

 II. V. 18-20 ABRAM'S INTEGRITY IN WORSHIP

(Abram rescued Lot and retrieved all. After returning from the slaughter of the enemy, which had considerably outnumbered his small force, a very notable king came out to meet him. His name was Melchisedec. He is mentioned but three times in Scripture, yet the truths concerning him have a great impact upon the lives of God’s people. )

A. V. 18 The Facilitator Of His Worship  

Abram had faith to make war and he encounter a facilitator to help him in his worship of the Lord. Notice some truths about this mysterious man named Melchisedek.

1. Melchisedec's Position  

He is called a "king". He is a ruler, a man of great influence, wealth and power. Melchisedec is a type of the New Testament priesthood of which the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest. Saint Paul opens up the importance of the life of Melchisedec in Hebrews chapters 5-7. In Hebrews 7:1-3, Paul states that Melchisedec was not only a priest, but he was also the king of Jerusalem, the location of Mount Zion.

2. Melchisedec's Place  

He is the "King of Salem". The word "Salem" means "peace". It is an ancient name for the city of Jerusalem. His name means "King of Righteousness".  

Therefore he was the king of righteousness and the king of peace. Thus, he is a type of the Lord Jesus Himself. He was both king and priest by election, not genealogy. 

(Note: We, too, are elected and do not receive salvation or become a king or priest through the merits of our parents or lineage. Our call is by an individual act of grace bestowed upon us by the Heavenly Father. In Revelation 1:6 and 5:10, it is clear that we are called to become kings and priests unto God. This was not possible under the old covenant. 

Under the old covenant, only those from the tribe of Judah could be kings, and only those from the tribe of Levi could be priests. King David’s prophecy in Psalm 110:4 foretold the coming of the new covenant and the Messenger of the new covenant, saying, “Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” The coming of a priest after Melchisedec’s order signified a different priesthood and a whole new covenant that functioned under different laws.)

3. Melchisedec's Provisions  

When he comes, he brings bread and wine. Both are products of the area and are given to the weary patriarch to help him after the battle. The bread and wine that Melchisedec brought forth was symbolic of the first communion service, foreshadowing the coming Christ as the Bread of Life and His blood that was shed for our sins.

4. Melchisedec's Priesthood  

Melchisedec is a type of the New Testament priesthood of which the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest.He is also a priest of God. Abram wasn't the only man around who knew who the Lord was. He prays for Abram and pronounces a blessing on him and his life.  

5. Melchisedec's Portrait  

This mysterious man is one of the earliest and clearest pictures of the Lord Jesus in the Bible. For the sake of reference, let's look at another passage that deals with Melchisedec in detail, Heb. 7:1-4; 15-17.  

Who was he? There have been many ideas concerning him identity down through the centuries. The most popular are that he was Job, Shem, Enoch returned to earth, and angel or Jesus Himself. 

(Note: Not Shem - Father known, Heb. 7:3. Although he was still alive at this time. He died some 40 years after Abraham. Not an angel - called a man - Heb. 7:4. Not Jesus, based on Heb. 7:3; 15.) Most likely, Melchisedec was just a godly man who knew the true and living God. He was a man. He was born and he died like a man, but the Old Testament is silent concerning the details of his life. Why? So that he might be seen as a more clear type of Jesus Christ.) 

(Note: The picture he paints of Jesus. An eternal priest, Heb. 7:3; Heb. 7:25. No beginning or end. Presenting bread and wine. These picture the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, Who said that the bread represented His broken body and the wine His shed blood, Luke 22:19-20. He was a king, Jesus is a king. He was a priest, Jesus is a priest. He was name king of Righteousness. Jesus is absolutely righteous. He was king of peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, Isa. 9:6.)

B. V. 19-20a The Fruit Of His Worship  

He was blessed for his faithfulness to the Lord. Note the phrase "Abram OF the most high God." Abram is known for his relationship to the Lord and is blessed as a result. 

(Note: There is no greater commentary on your life or mine than for someone to say, "They are a Christian!" When we give our lives to Him in obedience and worship, He is honored, we are blessed and the world is given His light. Such is the fruit of a life of consistent obedience and worship before the Lord.) 

C. V. 20b The Faithfulness Of His Worship  

Abram the Lord's grace in his life by tithing back to the work of the Lord. You will notice that Abram tithed while he was still a Gentile. He had not yet been circumcised and was not yet a Jew. (Note:  Melchisedec also blessed Abram. The Apostle Paul deduces that Melchisedec also blessed Levi, who was in the loins of Abram. Levi was the progenitor of the Old Testament priesthood. Paul was saying that the lesser (or inferior) priesthood of Levi, who was in the loins of Abraham, was being blessed by the greater priesthood (Melchisedec). Also, when Abraham paid Melchisedec tithes, Levi also was paying tithes to a superior priesthood- Heb. 7:4-7).

(Note: The tithe is a means of honoring God for His blessings upon your life. Tithing is an expression of Worship, 2 Cor. 9:7, a test of obedience, 1 Cor. 16:2; Mal. 3:8-9, and an opportunity for the Lord to bless your life further, Luke 6:38; Mal. 3:10; 2 Cor. 9:6. Abram honored the Lord in all things. That is all He asks of us this morning!) 

(Note: Your integrity in the arena of the worship and acknowledgment of the Lord says much about the condition of your heart and life. Those who love Him will worship Him with their Time, their Tithe(or Tressure), their Tears, and their Talents. What are you doing to worship and honor the Lord God?)

I. V. 1-16 ABRAM'S INTEGRITY IN WARFARE

 II. V. 18-20 ABRAM'S INTEGRITY IN WORSHIP

 III. V. 17, 21-24 ABRAM'S INTEGRITY IN WEALTH

(Ill. When Abram won this great military victory, he also took possession of the spoils of all the defeated cities. This would have represented a tremendous amount of wealth. Let's observe how Abram deals with the money. Note: Abram’s refusal to receive recompense from the ungodly king of Sodom, lest he would say that he had made Abram rich. Let us be careful from whom we accept help. Outsiders often give money with ulterior motives. They want to control us, or the work of God, or claim that they are the source of our blessings, instead of God.)

A. V. 21 The Temptation He Endured  

The king of Sodom offers to allow Abram to keep all the goods he has won. Surely this must have been a great temptation. 

(Note: I think we humans are more tempted in the area of money than we are in any other area. We all search for ways to be sure that we come out on top when all the coins are counted. We cheat on taxes. Cut corners everywhere we can. We will drive ten miles to save 2 cents on a liter petrol. Raise the devil if we are shortchanged, but keep it quiet when we are overpaid. In fact, if you will let me have a look at your checkbook register, I will tell you what is number one in your life! Your stewardship of your money says much about you!) 

B. V. 22-24 The Testimony He Exhibited  

Abram's response is classic! He refuses to take a dime from the king of Sodom. He would rather trust the Lord to take care of him that to feel like he owed any man anything. He did not want this wicked king to get his kooks into him! 

(Note: There are some folks who will do anything for a dollar or rupee or dinaram! May we determine that we will not succumb to the temptation to make a dishonest dollar or rupee or dinaram. If we will exercise integrity in our handling of our resources, we can rest assured that the Lord will look after the needs we may have in this life, Phil. 4:14-19. The Philippians had contributed to the work of th Apostle and could rest in the assurance that God would take care of them should a need arise! By the way, verse 19 is not a blanket promise!)

Invitation and Final Challenge 

The three areas of life that we have examined this morning are all vitally important! Can you say with a clear heart that you are walking in absolute integrity in the areas of you Warfare, your Worship and your Wealth. God help us to search our hearts and deal with any problems we may find there.