Lesson Outline

Series: Abraham; journey of faith

Title: Take a step

Lesson 0607-8 (Miller)

 

KEY VERSE: Genesis 14:18-24 Genesis 15:1

 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem [d] brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator [e] of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be [f] God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself." 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share." 1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, [a] your very great reward. [b] "

INTRODUCTION: Abram had planned for a victorious outcome before leaving for battle. He made a vow. If he won the battle he would win if for God, therefore he did not want to be paid for his work. He volunteered his services for God and God’s kingdom.

 

 

 

  1. Melchizedek is the king of Salem. He is the priest of God Most High
    1. After winning the battle and rescuing the kings as well as his nephew Lot we find Abram giving glory to God.

                                                               i.      He meets Melchizedek who gives Abram bread and wine.

1.      This is a foreshadowing of the communion celebration.

                                                             ii.      Abram gives him a tithe of all.

                                                            iii.      In effect they have a worship service

1.      Melchizedek blesses Abram

2.      they have communion

3.      they have an offering

 

  1. Abram evidently prayed to God to win the battle and had made a vow.
    1. Who initiated the vow? Was it God or Abram? God initiated the vow with Saul in I Samuel 15. God advised Saul not to take any of the spoil from the battle with the Amalekites. Yet when Samuel shows up he hears the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen.

                                                               i.      1 Sam 15:22 “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams”

    1. Gen 14:22 “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’-except only what the young men have eaten , and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
    2. This shows that:

                                                               i.      Abram was a man of prayer

                                                             ii.      He expected God to work on his behalf as he took responsibility for the kings of his region.

                                                            iii.      He witnessed to these kings “I have raised my hand to the LORD…”

                                                           iv.      He obeyed the Lord

                                                             v.      Finally He did not look to man for his money or pay or fee.

 

  1. Abram did not look to man for his reward. He expected God to pay it. Or he at least let God worry about it.
    1. Gen 15 says “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your exceeding great reward (fee)” It would have been very common to demand a fee from the King of Sodom. Not only did the King of Sodom expect to pay Abram a fee for rescuing him, he was shocked when Abram said he didn’t want it. However Abram was obedient to the voice of God and God said he would pay his fee.
    2. God’s reward was greater than money. His reward was an heir. Abram didn’t need any more money. He had already more than he needed.
    3. I would rather have God be my fee or recompense than have myself have to worry about how to get my fees paid. 
    4. Abram was thinking legacy. Multi-generational
    5. Who will inherit my legacy when I die?
    6. Abraham starting thinking about his future.
    7. God promised him a son. God had already told him that his descendants would be more numerous than the dust. But now he tells him that they will be more numerous than the stars.
    8. Gen 15:6 “and he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

                                                               i.      This was the key Abram’s faith.

                                                             ii.      Abram was the father of faith.

                                                            iii.      Abram did not keep the law. The law had not been given by Moses yet.

                                                           iv.      However, by faith, Abram believed God and it was credited to him as if he had kept the law.

 

DISCUSSION KEYWORDS:

            Trust

            Victory

            Preparation

           

OPTIONAL DISCUSSION TOPICS:

When you volunteer to serve do you recognize God will reward you?

Do you plan for victory in your daily living?

Do you plan for prosperity in your life?

If you become prosperous will you remember your vows to God?