Msg #1436 Who is Your Friend?

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Chapter 14 of Genesis gives a war story which is loaded with complex names and places, but it is a crucial saga in Abram's development. He is becoming a friend of God, and his steps of obedience and sanctification are herein followed by a great contest. Five confederate kings, with Lot in their midst, are overpowered by four confederate kings. Abram, confederate with three Amorite brothers, pursues and conquers the four worldly kings, and restores all to the five compromising kings. Looking up the meaning of each name in a Strong's Concordance is time consuming but it reveals who is confederate with whom, and the ills of confederations. The three important lessons for the friend of God are: 1) God is the most high God (Hbrw: El-Elyon) the possessor of heaven and earth. 2) There is a king of righteousness (Hbrw: Melchizedek), and he is the king of peace (Hbrw: Salem) And 3) this righteous king of peace pronounces one blessed of the most high God. Note that it was Melchizedek, king of Salem, who revealed El-Elyon to Abram. Confederacies of this world pale into insignificance when you are a friend of the most high God. Confederacies of the world which rally against us, confederacies of the compromised which think to rally with us, and confederacies with brothers who do stand with us will always have their place in our walk, but keep in mind, our real friend is the possessor of heaven and earth. "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am they shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Gen 15:1). What a great friend to have, and we hold the nail pierced hand of the righteous king of peace to boot. 

An Essay for week #36 09/07/2014

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Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs140907.mp3

View Dissertation Draft "The 6 Day Creation’s Chronicle" at www.Theology.GSBaptistChurch.com