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“Melchizedek: Our Model for Ministry”
Walk Thru The Word for Today: Genesis 13: 2-9 (ESV)
(Abraham & Lot Separate)
2Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3And he journeyed on from the Negeb …where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD. 5And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6… for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. 8Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.a 9… Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
Walk Thru The Word for Today: Genesis 13: 14 – 18 (ESV) Gen. 13: 14-18 14The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaksb of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
Walk Thru The Word for Today: Genesis 14: 1 – 12 (Not Reading Any it – but Chedorlaomer’s 4 King Alliance Defeats Sodom’s 5 King Alliance & Capture Lot
1In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. 7Then they turned
back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar. 8Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim 9with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. 10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits [residue from petroleum distillation from a heating and cooling process. There’s oil in theme that fields!], and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. 11So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.
Walk Thru The Word for Today: Genesis 14: 13 – 16: (ESV) (Abram Rescues Lot by Defeating hedorlaomer’s 4 King Alliance)
13Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaksa of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. 14When Abram heard that his kinsman 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. 15And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.
Walk Thru The Word for Today: Genesis 14: 17 – 20: (ESV)
(The Mysterious Melchizedek)
17After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessorb of heaven and earth; 20and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Walk Thru The Word for Today: Genesis 14: 21 – 24: (ESV) (King of Sodom)
21And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”
Walk Thru The Word for Today: Melchizedek’s Ministry Is Manifested for Us
Psalm 110: 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 6: 17-20 17So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Message map: Genesis 14 MELCHIZEDEK: Our Model for Ministry
- The Eternal Order of Melchizedek- Priest & King Fore Runner Of Christ’s ministry
- Hebrews 7:3 Like an eternal Son of God without begin and end
- The Levitical Priesthood = Limited Atonement Under The Law Hebrews
- 7:11-28 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood–and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood–why was there
- Christ is the More Excellent Prophet, Priest & King after the order of Melchizedek
- 7:11-28 perfection could be attained through the law of the Levitical priesthood so The Melchizedekian order was established
- We are a royal priesthood of Christ also ministering after the Melchizedekian ministry of Christ (1 Peter 2:9)
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of .. 1Pet 2: 4-5 4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Some believers are like terribly carnal priests, like Samuel’s sons in 1Sam 8: 1-2 “1When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.”
Also 1 Sam 2:12 tells us, “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.”
These priests failed to do God’s work God’s way.
Other believers will receive the reward for being a priest after the order of Melchizedek which we will discuss in this message.
The five warnings from the book of Hebrews or not about losing salvation it’s not about our it’s about bringing sons to glory and how we will enter into heaven with all of our crowns in tact from how well we have served the Lord here on Earth It’s about what type of believer-priest we have been. [bctt tweet=”These priests failed to do God’s work God’s way.” username=”LibertyCF3″]
The five warnings from the book of Hebrews or not about losing salvation it’s not about our it’s about bringing sons to glory and how we will enter into heaven with all of our crowns in tact from how well we have served the Lord here on Earth
God kept His covenant relationship with Israel who disobeyed and backslid into these 5 experiences, while under the first covenant. The church also can do so, under the new covenant. As believers we must defend against these 5 dangers:
- drifting from the pure faith in Christ (2:1-4)
- doubting / disbelief in the gifts, callings and works of God (3:7–4:13)
- dullness in discerning what the Bible teaches (5:11–6:20)
- despising the Law of Moses and the Spirit of Grace (10:26-31)
- disapproving & departing from The Discipline God brings (12:5-11)
Our challenge is to conduct ministry as God’s priests under the better covenant and the better sacrifice administered by Christ in His ministry after the order of Melchizedek.
Abram finally leaves his kinsmen when he & Lot separate
Gen 13:7
The challenge with Abram and Lot’s quarrel in Canaan in Gen 13:7 is that the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled in the land. This made the quarrel very dangerous because …
- If Abram and Lot cannot work out how to support one another to feed their flocks, they become vulnerable to their common enemies.
- Because of their unique monotheistic religion, and the rules of holiness which should accompany it, they were becoming bad role models to the Canaanites and Perizzites.
- Church fights can be an ugly testimony to the great cloud of witnesses.
God Comforts Abram After He Lost Lot Gen 13:7 -18
After Abram separated from Lot, he may …
- have felt weakened against the Canaanites and the Perizzites in the land, mentioned in Gen. 13:7
- suffered from a saddened heart
- needed God’s comfort and assurance given in 13: 14-17
- 14“from the place where you are, northward, southward, eastward & westward, 15 all the land you see I will give you and your offspring forever.
- 16I will make your offspring [so numerous] so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
- finally be without the kin God told him to leave (Gen. 12:1)
Melchizedek might be …
Popular Theories are that Melchizedek is…
- a) Seth, Adam’s son, b) Enoch whom God took home c) The Pre-Incarnate Christ, d) An Angel
Because, however, Melchizedek is …
- without genealogy – perhaps a direct creation of God …
- a king (probably not a gentile one)
- a priests who receives tithes/offerings
- and who ministers bread and wine (Communion) to Abram
We know he cannot be …
- Seth, Adam’s son – because we know Seth is Adam’s son
- Enoch because we know who Enoch’s genealogy
- The Pre-Incarnate Christ, because we know Jesus’ genealogy
- An Angel, as no angel is a priest, who ministers communion
We, therefore, conclude Melchizedek’ is a singularly unique, one of a kind (order) person!
Melchizedek is The Perpetual Priest-king – who prophesied: Christ Is our Passover
Melchizedek The Perpetual Priest-King
Hebrews 7: 1-3 1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever
Resembling = assimilate, make like unto. Melchizedek is an assimilation of Christ
Assimilation = the absorption and integration of Christ into our being, which is what we do when we remember Him as we take communion!
We know Christ’s human genealogy from the tribe of Judah on both Joseph’s side of the family from the Matthew Genealogy and from Mary’s in the Luke Genealogy! So Melchizedek cannot be Christ!
Why A Priestly Order After Melchizedek
The Levitical Priesthood Provided Limited Atonement Under the law
All the Levite priests ministered was temporary & limited measure to point us to Christ.
Hebrews 10: 4 synopsizes the effect of the Aaronic-Levitical priesthood critiqued in Hebrews 7: 11-28
Hebrews 10: 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
- Hebrews 10: 4 It is impossible for the rites of the Aaronic-Levitical priesthood to accomplish our eternal forgiveness and salvation.
- Hebrews 7 11-28 explains the order of Jesus and Melchizedek provided better benefits than the Aaronic-Levital priesthood.
Hebrews 7 11-28 explains The order of Jesus and Melchizedek…
- Vs 11 – order brought perfection the Aaronic-Levitical priestly system could not, because vs. 15-17 & 21-24 tell us its eternal ‘cause the priests love forever and don’t die.
- Vs 14 – Jesus was of Judah not Levi, and Melchizedek is not a Levite, which will come from Abram’s lineage.
Vs 19 it introduces a better hope. Vs 22 makes Christ the guarantor of a better covenant.
Vs 25 Christ lives to make intercession for us; Vs 26-27 a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, … and exalted above the heavens, who 27has no need … to offer sacrifices daily, for his own sins and for those of the people, since he once for all offered up himself. & 28 Christ is a son made perfect for ever.
Galatians 3:24 The Law [including the entire legal ceremonial atonement system] is a tutor to teach us we need GRACE: Gods Riches At Christ Expense which required the administration of another type of priesthood, which God instituted in and through Christ after the order of Melchizedek!
Melchizedek ministry foretells Christ
Gen. 14:18-20 – 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread – a symbol of Christ’s body and wine. — A symbol of Christ’s blood
(He was priest of God Most High.)
19And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessorb of heaven and earth; 20and blessed be god Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Abram represents both the Old and New Testament believers or church. And Melchizedek represents god
Hebrews 7:7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater … No one can deny that the more important person blesses the less important person.
The greater blesses the lessor
Christ is Prophet, Priest & King
Let me read Hebrews 1: 1-4 1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Hebrews 1: 1-4 tells us Christ is …
- The prophet—Son through whom Heb. 1-2 says 1God speaks 2in these last days
- The king—Son, whom he [God] appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world— meaning Christ also is Co-Creator. 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
- Rev 19:16 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
- Lk 1:31-33 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
- Acts 2: 29- 36 29“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
- Rev 1:5 5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
- The priest—Son, whom after making purification for sins, (as the mediator of the new covenant – by offering Himself as the once-for-all) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
- Hebrews 4:14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Christ As Prophet, priest & king is the one mediator between god and man in all matters
Christ is the …
- one mediator between God and mankind, In All Matters the man Christ Jesus (1Timothy. 2:5)
- To Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)
- But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant … (Hebrews 8:6)
- For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15)
- Galatians 3:19 …The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. … God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.
Key Comparison Verse 1 Peter 2:9
ESV — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellences of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
KJV — But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
NAS — But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellences of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
NIV — But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
NLT — But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
1Peter 2: 9 … But you are not like that, for you are a chosen (elected, called out) people. You are royal (part of the body of Christ’s kingship) priests (set free and anointed to high moral rank), a holy nation, God’s very own possession. (exempted from the control of everyone but God and Christ).
- One of our challenges to fully walking in our calling is we must overcome not being ashamed of a) Who God is; b) What God says, and 3) Who God is calling us to be in Christ.
- Rom 1:16-17 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
- The Prophet speaks from God to the people. In Lev. 1:1-4 1The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, 2“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them … – God tells them how to make offerings and sacrifices.
- The Priest speaks from the people to God. So the OT priests in Leviticus 7 and 9 handle the offerings the people bring to God, doing so in the manner God prescribes.
Our goal is to get in touch with and exercise our Priesthood by participating in Hebrews 6: 17-20 to operate as 17 heirs of the promise secured to hope in God’s unchangeable character that guaranteed with an oath our inheritance, which is confirmed by 2 things: 18God does not change and it is impossible for God to lie
- It is in the spirit of this ministry we participate in Communion — As Gal 6:4 and 1 Cor 11: 27 -32 instruct us.
- Gal 6:4 says Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others.
- 1 Corinthians 11: 27-32 says 27Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.h 31But if we judgedi ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplinedj so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Let’s Prepare for Communion – Where we
We Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to us as we examine ourselves and
- Reflect on Christ (Heb 12: 2-3)
- Confess & Repent of the weight of sin (Heb 12:1)
In Communion we are reminded to reconnect and get
- Restored to righteousness (Heb 12: 11)
- Refreshed by God’s Presence
(Heb 12:12)
1 Corinthians 11; 23 23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is forf you. Do this in remembrance of me.”g 25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
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