Scripture referenced 5 passages
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
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Genesis 14:17-20 Primary Old Testament text about Melchizedek meeting Abraham, receiving tithes and blessing him
17 The king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High.
19 He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all.
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Keep this verse
Psalm 110:4
The Lord swears that the Messiah is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek
4 Yahweh has sworn, and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
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John 8:31-59
Read at length to show Jews clinging to Abraham while Jesus argued he was greater than Abraham
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.
35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever.
36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
37 I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.”
39 They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this.
41 You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.”
42 Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word.
44 You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.
46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”
48 Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”
49 Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.
50 But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.
51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”
52 Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’
53 Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.
55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad.”
57 The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”
59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.
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John 17
Jesus's high priestly prayer cited for the phrase sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth
1 Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you;
2 even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
4 I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.
5 Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.
6 I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you,
8 for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.
9 I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
10 All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13 But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
14 I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.
19 For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
20 Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.
22 The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one;
23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.
24 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.
26 I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
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Hebrews 7:1-10
The passage under study, presenting Melchizedek as priest and king superior to Abraham
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, “king of righteousness”, and then also “king of Salem”, which means “king of peace”;
3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best plunder.
5 They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,
6 but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.
7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8 Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.
9 We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,
10 for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.
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Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
The pastor opened Hebrews 7:1-10 after building toward it for several weeks, and the sermon centers on who Melchizedek was, what the text actually says about him, and why the writer of Hebrews brings him up at all. The driving concern throughout is staying inside what scripture says rather than going beyond it, especially with a figure as mysterious as this one.
What was said
The sermon began by placing Melchizedek in time. The Genesis 14 account is from around 1800 BC, the Psalm 110 reference is from around 1000 BC, and the writer of Hebrews is writing around 67 AD, pointing back to both. That span matters because the argument being made to first-century Jewish believers draws on texts they already knew and had likely memorized, but had not been paying close attention to.
The pastor was careful to hold the line at what the text actually says. Melchizedek's name means king of righteousness, and Salem means peace, so he is king of peace. Both of those come directly from scripture. Whether Salem is Jerusalem, or whether Melchizedek is the pre-incarnate Christ, are possibilities people want to leap to, but the text does not say either of those things. Heresy, he noted, tends to thrive where biblical evidence is scarce and felt need is high, and Melchizedek is exactly that kind of territory.
The phrase "without father, without mother, without genealogy" is not a claim that Melchizedek had no parents. It means that in the genealogies the original audience knew so thoroughly, his name simply does not appear. There is no record of his birth, his death, or his lineage. The writer of Hebrews is pointing to an absence in the record, not making a biological claim.
The logic the writer of Hebrews is building toward involves the Levitical priesthood. The people being addressed had their entire religious identity organized around Abraham, the twelve tribes, and the sons of Levi as the priestly line. What the writer asks them to see is that Abraham himself, the patriarch they revere above all others, paid tithes to Melchizedek and was blessed by him. Without any dispute, the one doing the blessing is greater than the one being blessed. That means something outside their familiar system was present and greater than the system's founding figure.
To show how deep the "father Abraham" attachment ran, the pastor read at length from John 8, where Jesus is in a heated exchange with Jewish leaders. They appeal to Abraham again and again, and Jesus keeps pushing past him. Before Abraham was, I am, Jesus says, and they reach for stones. The same impulse that kept those leaders from hearing Jesus is what the writer of Hebrews is pushing back against in his own audience.
Psalm 110:4 is the other Old Testament text that names Melchizedek, and the writer of Hebrews has already used it to establish that Jesus was designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. That designation is not a Levitical one. It is something outside every category the hearers were accustomed to. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, not Levi, which will be the subject of next week's passage.
The sermon closed with the observation that Levi was in the loins of Abraham when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. In a sense, the entire Levitical priesthood, through its ancestor, already acknowledged something greater than itself. The point for the congregation, as the pastor framed it moving into communion, was to let go of the isms and inherited frameworks that keep us from seeing what God is actually doing, and to let the text say what it says, no more and no less.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
- Pastor Kyle said the writer of Hebrews calls Melchizedek's lack of recorded genealogy significant, and that 'heresy always thrives when there is scarce biblical evidence and felt need.' Where have you seen that play out, either in something you've encountered or in your own thinking about a passage?
- Pastor Kyle urged the congregation to stay with what the text actually says about Melchizedek rather than leaping to conclusions, even appealing ones like the pre-incarnate Christ. How do you personally guard against reading into a passage what you want to find there?
and 3 more questions in the guide
Read the full transcript 10,264 words
0:02
Speaker 1Good to see you. We are going to go for it. We've got a few my my little projectors out back there but we've got victory in Jesus. Would you stand up? We'll sing em in from the vestibule.
0:17
Sing it like you mean it.
0:25
Speaker 2I heard an old old story of how a savior came from glory how he gave his life on Calvary to save a wretch like me I heard about his groaning of his precious blood's atoning then I repented of my sin and won the victory hymn number three fifty three oh victory in Jesus my savior forever he sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood he loved me and all my love is to him he plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.
1:26
Speaker 1Alright, hymn number three fifty three. We singing off the wall is that's the that's the that's the hazard in doing that. So, hymn number three fifty three but if you pick up a hymnal, I want you to try to sing your part, okay? We're going to sing like we used to sing. We're going to try to sing our parts.
1:41
Hymn number three fifty three and I'll sing melody and then might switch over to bass if y'all are really doing this, okay? Here we go on stanza two and on the third one, we're going up. We're doing the optional ending. So, there we go. Hymn number three fifty three verse number two.
1:57
Speaker 2I heard about his healing of his cleansing power revealing how he made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see and then I cried dear Jesus come and heal my broken spirit and somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory oh victory in Jesus my savior forever he sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood. He loved me ere I knew him, and all my love is to him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood I heard about a mansion he has built for me in glory and I heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea about the angels singing and the old redemption story and some sweet day I'll sing up there the song of victory oh victory in Jesus my savior forever. He sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood. He loved me and all Amen.
4:03
Speaker 1So, y'all would remember that optional ending if you were looking at your hymn book. No, it's alright. But it was it was really really good to hear y'all sing out. Love lifted me. The the argument for singing off the wall is you look up, right?
4:17
When you're looking up, you're not doing this because when you're doing this, unless you have a microphone right here, it doesn't sound as good as this. So, faces up, smiling, love lifted me. Hymn number five zero eight. How could you sing this glum and gloomy? You can't.
4:36
Speaker 2I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore very deeply stained within sinking to rise no more but the master of the sea heard my despairing cry from the waters lifted me now say love lifted me love lifted me me when nothing else could help lifted me all my heart to him I give ever to him upling in his blessed presence ever his praises sing love so mighty and so true merits my soul's best songs faithful loving service to to him beloved lifted me me on the last souls in danger look above Jesus completely saves he will lift you by his love out of the angry waves he's the master of the sea billows his will obey he your savior wants to be be saved lifted me lifted when nothing else could help
7:34
Speaker 1Amen. Y'all can have a seat. Have a few announcements this morning. It's the time of year where we have new Bible studies being introduced. So, I'm trying to put those before you so you know but if you are a part of a small group or a Bible study that is open and you want for me to announce it, let me know.
7:51
There have been some that called this week and said, don't announce it. If you don't want me to announce one, I won't, okay? Just let me know and we'll go from there. There is a Bible study for junior high and high school girls that Judy has been leading during the first service when the kids are released to go to Sunday school. They have junior high and high school girls study downstairs.
8:09
Thank you, Judy for doing that. It's a good one. Youth group is tonight from five to seven here at church. Youth group tonight, five to seven here. Awana happens tomorrow night, 05:45 to 07:30.
8:23
This is, hey, cowboy. If you're not coming to Awana, you're missing out. Now, I think that that's the littlest Tolleson right there that's saying that. Biblical discipleship for two years through the fifth grade. We have a a group called the Puggles, the two and three year olds, three and a little older is the Cubbies and then the Sparks and then the Truth in training up through fifth grade and we have sixth and seventh graders that have started helping out with the little ones.
8:49
So, it's kind of nice to see that biblical discipleship for kids because kids matter to God. That happens at the same time as Monday nights which is down the hall. Carl's back there in the back. What's happening tomorrow night? Alright.
9:10
That sounds delicious and good. Christian and Lisette always do a good job with the meal, Mexican meal, and Jonah from Carl. Meal music and a message, 06:00 tomorrow night down there. It's a soft start. If you get a get there a little late, fine.
9:23
Get there a little earlier, hear the band practice. It's fine. We have a soft start on that. We're going to there are a few things that I need to announce. So, coming up here into this season, we're trying to kind of redouble our efforts.
9:38
We're all back from summer and we're falling into the school year. We need volunteers for the nursery. If you would contact Bailey Morley, that's Blake's wife, Bailey. Contact her if you'd like to help out with the nursery. We always could use more help because it spreads the load if we have more people.
9:53
So, let us know if you'd like to volunteer for that. Bible study at the senior center. Roseanne, is it 12:30? Oh, really? Okay.
10:13
Alrighty. So normally, there
10:17
Speaker 2is
10:17
Speaker 1a Bible study at the senior center in Jackson Hole, which is right up here, and that is normally at 12:30. And Roseanne's been leading that for years. 12:45. Okay. We'll get it right one day.
10:28
Yeah. That's right. Twelve for lunch and after lunch is the Bible study. So, that's good. I'll see y'all there next Monday.
10:38
Alright. Jackson Hole Men's Alliance. This is formerly called men's fraternity. Men's fraternity is what we had been calling it for years and this has become a community Bible study for men and it's they're going to be we're going to be studying together Ephesians in this fall. It'll be Wednesday morning, 6AM right here in the Fellowship Hall at First B.
11:04
If we need to move it from here to there, it's still in the same building somewhere in 1st These building. 06:00 in the morning on Wednesday mornings. It starts October 23, which is coming fast. Coulter Lane, Dan Tolson, Kyle Knutson, all of those guys. If you wanna know more about it, talk to me and I'll get you in touch with one of them or you could call that number that I'm fixing it.
11:24
Get off the screen right now. But it's available. So, Frontline, that's trench warfare right there. Frontline team, I don't know if it's actually warfare but it is the front lines when someone comes into this church, we never know what it is they're thinking, where they're coming from, what's happening, and we have a frontline team that greets people at the door, hands out the paper bulletins, and also kind of just connects with people. It helps us to connect to folks who are visiting.
11:50
We've got folks here this morning from Georgia and from Texas and from all over the place and just I believe that firstly because of the way y'all welcome me is a very warm and receiving but if you feel like you would like to be a part of that team that helps receive people in warmly, would you come join us for lunch today in the fellowship hall? Sam McVeigh and Brenda Hall made lasagna, three different types. It's going to be good. So, 12:30 for anybody who wants to be a part of the frontline team. Also, today, for communion, the frontline team are the folks that you might see.
12:24
I'll say, okay, y'all can have a seat. I'm going invite the frontline team to come forward to take up the offering or to serve communion. That's part of the duties of the frontline team and some of y'all are on it already but if you have any inkling that you might want to be, would you come on down and eat lunch with us? 12:30 today. Mark Hull is kind of in charge, but you can see him at 12:30.
12:46
Connect hour also needs volunteers. So you know between services, we have coffee and donuts and healthy stuff or whatever you want to bring. If you were a volunteer for the connect hour, you can say what it is. The church actually does pay for the food, pays for the groceries, and if you want to say, well, our small group wants to do a connect hour and it looks like this or our family wants to do one. It looks like this.
13:08
Then, you can do that. Contact in Sam McBay or contacting me or Diane and we'll put you in touch with the people you need to talk to. That happens between services every week about tenish or so and for anything else, the paper bulletin is the one that we kind of go by and know that that's what's happening even if I skip the announcement. So, there are some things in there that I don't say from the front and that'll help you know what's going on. Did I miss anything this morning?
13:34
I have one announcement that is not up there but so for those of y'all y'all who know Hugh Sowest, Hugh usually would sit right over there for the last little while. He's been in a wheelchair with a caretaker and his wife, Donna. So, Hugh passed last night and I went and sat with him and it's a blessed blessed thing when a 95 year old saint who's been suffering in his earthly temporal life goes to meet Jesus but I wanted to say the family sends their love and also ask for your prayers as they adjust to life without Hugh. What a what a blessed blessed experience for us to be there with them. So, I'm going to ask you if you would stand up and greet one another and we will bring you back together with a peppy song.
14:27
Speaker 2There is coming a day when no heartache shall come no more clouds in the sky no more tongues to dim the eye all is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore what a day glorious day that will be what a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see and I look upon his face the one who saved me by his grace when he takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land what a day glorious day that will be there'll be no sorrow there no more burdens to bear no more sickness no pain no more parting over there and forever I will be with the one who died for me what a day glorious day that will be what a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see and I look upon his face the one who saved me by his grace when he takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land what a day glorious day that will be amen
16:12
Speaker 1to think that that day was yesterday for Hugh just brings a smile to my face great Surely, the presence of the Lord is in this place.
16:29
Speaker 2Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place I can feel his mighty power and his grace I can hear the brush of angels wings I see glory on each face surely be the presence of the Lord is in this place. Let's sing it again. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. I can feel his mighty power and his grace I can hear the brush of angels wings I see glory on each face surely the presence of the Lord is in this
17:37
Speaker 1Y'all can have a seat. Imma invite the frontline team. The existing frontline team to come forward. Would you all pray with me? God, we thank you for this glorious day.
17:50
I'm amazed by the beauty of creation lord and how it is day by day pouring forth speech. There's no language where it can't be understood. Your word says that we're without excuse just before that, lord but I I pray that we would be also lord a mouthpiece that we would be willing to speak forth that which you have said. We'd pay attention to what we know to be true. We'd internalize and allow your spirit to sanctify us by that truth and then we would live out the gospel and we would speak it forth.
18:24
As we proclaim what you have said, as we proclaim the truth of the gospel, transforming power of Jesus. Lord, I pray that others would have soft hearts to receive. Right now, as we take up these offerings, lord, I pray that they would be used for the ongoing work of your kingdom here in this valley but from here to the rest of the world. That we would be conscious of mission, the mission, plan A, is that we will be your witnesses. We will be your Marturia boy.
19:00
We will be your witnesses. Bearing testimony about what Jesus has done. In Jesus name, we ask you to receive these lord. Bless and multiply them. Give the giver and then do your work the way you want to do it.
19:16
Jesus name, amen. So, we're up to in our study, Hebrews seven. Hebrews seven one through 10. Now, two weeks ago, when I was up here last, so I I had a a week out of the pulpit here last week but I was in Park City. I did a wedding Saturday night and we stayed the night and it was nice.
22:37
Tanya had just gotten back from Africa and so she got back in nine hours out of whack. We were able to rest a little bit and you had Peter Lucacci was here to do the the sermon last week. I'd want to mention also, I mentioned Hughes passing since I wasn't here last week. I didn't mention that West Flanagan also has passed. If you've not heard that, Jennifer and West Flanagan.
23:00
West passed the Friday. Friday was a week ago. So, wanted to mention that to you and the last slide, the last time I was up here, I said, now, next week, next week, we get to chapter seven, Melchizedek who who I've mentioned now three times in the text that we've been getting to it but I said, we'll get to it. We'll get to it. Get to it.
23:21
So, I baited you all up and then sent a missionary in my spot. I didn't really know. I didn't think about it but I I just kind of got out of out of whack but Hebrews seven one through 10 is what we're going to study today and it is about this Melchizedek. For this Melchizedek, it starts off. King of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.
23:45
Now, that, just that starts off gives us a whole lot of information about this Melchizedek and if you'll remember back a few weeks ago, we have been for the last three or four sermons. We've been in the middle of a parenthesis where there is a a detour sort of where he says, there's a whole lot I wanna tell you about this guy, but you're dull of hearing, you're not listening, you're not paying attention. And he goes on and on and on, this warning and encouragement. And then it comes back and here we are with Melchizedek. Now, it's built up to it and then the long at curses and here we come back to it.
24:23
Now, this Melchizedek, king, oh, here we go. So, Hebrews is written. Imma try not to preach every sermon I've preached since the beginning of Hebrews. Hebrews is written about sixty seven AD. Somewhere before the destruction of the temple around sixty seven AD is is a good time frame and if you look at this, I tried to space it out so that it's relative.
24:46
You got these thirty years or so between the birth and the cross, thirty, thirty three years and then from the crucifixion to the writing of Hebrews is about thirty three, thirty four years, right in there and so, if we're looking at the text and taking it seriously, when it says this Melchizedek, it's pointing back to one primarily text. At this point, it's pointing back to the only real text we have about the life of this Melchizedek and it's Genesis fourteen seventeen. That's the text. About eighteen hundred BC. So, eighteen hundred years before Christ.
25:24
Is when Abraham meets Melchizedek and the writer of Hebrews is writing about it eighteen sixty something years later. When we get to this, for this Melchizedek, king of Salem, where is that? Oh, I'm sorry. King of Salem and priest of the most high God. It's kind of unusual that it'd be both a king and a priest.
25:48
Especially when you consider that Hebrews was written. It's written to the Hebrews. They knew about priest. They understood a certain line of priest. They knew who they were and if you're outside of that line, then you're probably not a priest.
26:00
But it says right here, this Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the most high God and it is definitely the most high God. It is definitely God like we know almighty God. For this king and priest, blessed Melchizedek blessed who? Melchizedek blessed Abraham. This is an interesting thought especially in the minds of the people he's presenting to.
26:31
People who are out of the milieu of first century Judaism who had accepted the truth of Christ being Messiah but now we're being tempted to go back to what they knew. Melchizedek blessed Abraham and they all knew the story but they had their theology was tied up in Abraham and the and in his lineage. So, Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Okay. Keep on.
27:00
So, where is that? If we go back, Genesis fourteen seventeen through 20 or the first part 20 says this, and then after his return from the defeat of Chito Lomer and the kings who are
27:11
Speaker 2with
27:11
Speaker 1him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley Of Shaveh, that is the king's valley. It was apparently a that was surrounded by a bunch of kingdoms and there were a bunch of em involved in this such to the point that the writer of Hebrews calls it a slaughter of the kings. There were all these armies that came in. King of Sodom went out to meet him at Shabbat, went out to meet Abraham, and Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. Now, he was a priest of God most high and he blessed him and said, blessed be Abraham of God most high.
27:46
Possessor of heaven and earth and blessed be God most high, who has delivered your enemies into your hands. So, this fellow, Melchizedek, mysterious one, I will give you that because this is this is what we have about him right here and he's just, this is what we have. There's one more thing in Psalms. I'll get to that in a minute but where is that? It's right there.
28:07
Genesis fourteen nineteen. He blessed him. So, he blessed Melchizedek blessed Abraham to whom also Abraham a portion, a tenth part of all the spoils. So, he's doing blessings and receiving tithes. Who's that sound like?
28:22
It sounds like a priest. That's what he is. He's a priest. He's also a king and that's odd. It's gotta be odd to them because in the law, it says, you shall not be a king and a priest.
28:32
You'd be a king or a priest. You can't be both and they knew that but this text, they also knew and it said, he was both. It predated the law though. Oh, timeline is very important when you're thinking about this. So, where is that?
28:45
Well, it's right there. He gave him a tenth of all. I'm going to concentrate my my slides when I do slides. I'm not a linear thinker, I have to admit this. Every couple of years I have to tell you again.
28:57
I don't think in a straight line. I think of a lot of stuff all at once. So the slides help me stay on one line so that it helps you all stay with me. Really? And and they went out this morning during the first service which didn't help me at all and didn't help anybody but it but Blake knows what he's doing and he got it back on track but he gave him a tenth ball.
29:17
Where is that? It's right there. 20. Verse 20. Genesis fourteen twenty.
29:22
In in case you're confused, Abraham gave Melchizedek not the other way around with the he and the him. Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of all. So, to whom also Abraham a portion of tenth part of all the spoils. So, he tithes to him after this battle. He was Melchizedek was.
29:42
First of all, by the translation of his very name, he was king of righteousness. So, this is a sermon that the writer of Hebrews is presenting these people and he's the writer of Hebrews is presenting it to people that knew the story already but he's preaching a sermon on it. By the translation of Melchizedek's name, Melky means king and Zedek in my Hebrew is horrible. Forgive me. Means of righteousness.
30:11
So, the king of righteousness. That's what his name means. Well, that's what it says. This sermon really today is about not going beyond what is written. Whenever we go beyond what is written, we end up in really treacherous territory especially right here, right now, thinking about Melchizedek, there are a lot of erroneous teachings about him because he's kind of mysterious and heresy always thrives when there is scarce biblical evidence and felt need.
30:45
Since the writer of Hebrews said, oh, I'm trying to teach you the deeper things that are concerned in the gospel and there's deep things about this guy, then the excursus and comes back and says, for this Melchizedek, we're wanting it to be so much more. We want it to be so revolutionary. King of righteousness, that's his name. That's what it means. And then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.
31:10
Now, you know, they leave out the vowels, the shalom, peace, king of Salem, king of peace, translating what it means and that's what it means. King of righteousness, also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Now, right here in the commentaries and in some of your minds, maybe two, there's a place where people say em, that's Jerusalem. That's Jerusalem. That's gotta be Jerusalem.
31:34
It's talking about Jerusalem. Well, what it says is Salem. So, if we exceed what's written, that's maybe, it could be. I'm not going to argue that it's that it's geographically could be that but let's stick with what it says. It's translated king of righteousness his name and then the place is king of peace.
31:50
That's good and I like that and at this point, oh, who does that sound like if it's king of righteousness, king of peace, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, it's Jesus and so there are a lot of people that leap and go, that's the pre incarnate Christ and there's no doubt about it. It's gotta be. That's not what it says. Let's hold off on making that judgment, determination right here, right now. Let's pay attention to what the text actually says because that's what the writer of Hebrews is doing.
32:13
The writer of Hebrews is saying, Genesis is important and let's take that text seriously. Now, there's one other text that pointed that in a minute. King of Salem, which is king of peace. So, where is that? It's right there.
32:25
Melchizedek, king of Salem, and the word. Especially bread and wine. Makes you want to say, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. It is a foreshadowing of Jesus without any doubt and I think it's even a type, a type, a biblical type. I think that's the case but the text hasn't said that yet.
32:44
So, we're going to hold loosely. King of righteousness, king of peace, that's in the text. Now, verse three says, without father, without mother, without father, without mother, that only fits couple of people in the whole
32:55
Speaker 2Bible,
32:55
Speaker 1right? Adam and Eve. So, do you think that that's what this means without father and without mother? That's what makes him mysterious. He didn't have a father or a mother.
33:07
No. Let's think about who he's presenting to. He's presenting to people who have the greater part of the Old Testament memorized. They know, oh it says, without father, without mother, without genealogy. They know the genealogies very, very, very well.
33:21
It's important to them and they know them. Debate and discuss and argue probably over what benefit these things might have without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life. So, in the genealogies that we usually get to about February in our, I'm going to read the Bible through in a year base. We get there and it says and so and so beget, so and so who was born in this year and died in this year, had so many sons and they lived this long. You know, that's that's the norm for genealogies in the Bible.
33:56
So and so begets, so and so begets, so and so begets, so and so, and in this time period. So, we know a lot about a lot of figures in the Bible. Melchizedek, we know who's the king of righteousness, king of Salem, blessed Abraham, and received tithes. That's what we know. And that's what this writer of Hebrews has been point back.
34:18
So, when it says without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither begin in the days nor end of life. Where is that? Does it say that in Genesis? Does it say that in Psalm? Well, that's a kind of the point I think.
34:30
I think that Melchizedek isn't mentioned at all in any of the genealogies or lineages of the new of the Old Testament. In fact, in the New Testament, it says, it's not there. In the Old Testament, y'all haven't considered this. Your ism or your ite, you know, there are isms and ites that we follow after and it could be on either side of the theological, political, any kind of spectrum. There's going be isms on the ends but he's saying, there's something here that you might not have considered because what you've got in mind is a certain thing that you're certain about and you know about.
35:10
Now, Chisodeck didn't fit that paradigm. This is the genealogy that they would know. The top one that's cut off is Noah. So, there's Noah up at the top and then there's Ham, Shem, and Japheth, right? Those are the sons of Noah and the ones who rescued on the ark and then it goes down below that and that's the sons there and then down below that says, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, before Abraham.
35:41
Then after Abraham, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, 15 generation. Right there from Noah and they know these. They know em well. They know em better than I do. So, probably better than most of y'all do.
35:55
There are few of you out here probably know em better than anybody else in the room. But this is something they knew and knew well and they were trusting in the system that they grew up with and they knew. So, there they are spread out a little bit better. And we get down here to the third son Jacob and Leah is Levi. Levi is about to be mentioned in the text.
36:23
I'm jumping ahead just a little bit but that is where this line of thinking is going. Melchizedek, king of righteousness, king of peace, both of those are taken from scripture, no doubt about it. There's nothing about his parentage. There's nothing about his when he was or afterwards. We know when Abraham was so we can place him time wise.
36:45
We can place him but we don't know anything about his death. There's not a gravestone somewhere that someone hasn't kicked up, right? Or Melchizedek. We don't know anything more about him than that. I think that's the point.
36:57
But he was made like the son of God. Okay, our theology right there doesn't need to stop us for a moment. So, he was made. Oh, Jesus wasn't made. He wasn't made.
37:04
That's not what it's saying. This Melchizedek was made like the son of God in this way. He is a type or he is pointing towards or he has some resemblance or similitude to the son of God in a certain way. In this way, it was a paradigm shift. It came, he came out of nowhere.
37:24
It's not something that you're used to because your father, Abraham, is where you stop but Abraham paid tithes to this guy and was blessed by. It's something outside of what you've thought about. Now, the writer of Hebrews has already said, pay closer attention to that which you've already read so that you don't drift from it. So, like my slides, if I don't have the slides, drift. I'm trying not to drift so I stay on task.
37:52
Melchizedek is analogous in some way to Jesus. There are those who will say, no, Melchizedek is Jesus. Maybe but it's a flight of fancy to get there. You can't prove that by scripture. And he's the king of Jerusalem.
38:06
Maybe. But you can't prove that either. That's that that's even a probably but you can't prove that either because the text just says, shalom, right? Made like the son of God in this way, he remains a priest perpetually. So, since we don't know about the whole lineage thing and it's not about birth, order, or the way that it goes about.
38:30
He remains a priest perpetually. Now, the first service, I had a kind of a flash. I hope that it work. If you're on a camp out, if we're going on big old multi family church camp out and I say, alright, Areolas, you bring everything that has to do with tents and sleeping arrangements. Y'all bring that.
38:47
Okay, you've got that. And Dave, you and your family, you're in charge of the fun time activities. Y'all are the ones who are gonna bring whatever games we're gonna play. And we're gonna depend on let's see who can I pick on here? You're doing the food.
39:03
Who wants to do the food? Oh, the Courtney's are bringing the food. Okay. So that's the camp out we're on. Okay.
39:09
That's the camp out we're on. Those are the things when the when we have the tribes. Everybody in that lineage when I if I go back to that. So, everybody here, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, Donah, Gad, Ash, Dan, Neftali, Joseph, Benjamin. Have you noticed that in the Bible when Paul says, I'm of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews.
39:28
Like that's something to be proud of. When I looked around this room this morning in the first service and thought, you know, almost all of us, not all of us, but almost all of us are really proud of where we came from, right? And we hold onto that. And in Georgia, I know that's true. Absolutely know that's true.
39:43
I'm serious. In states rights is such a big thing that's drilled into us from early on, right or wrong. That's something something that where it's an identity issue and that is the case for these 12 tribes and the Levites were going to be the ones who were the priestly tribe. You're going to handle worship and that means carrying all the stuff that has to do with worship, carrying the tabernacle. Some of you are actually going to be the ones who are the ones who are doing the blessing and going through.
40:13
That's going to be the case for you. That's what you're going to do. Not all Levites are priests by the way but of the Levites, they were to be the priest and that's what all these people knew. So, he was made Melchizedek was made like the son of God or was analogous to the son of God in this way. He remains a priest perpetually.
40:31
We don't know anymore about him than that but Abraham who we do know very very well chapter after chapter paid him tithes and was blessed by him. It's outside of your paradigm. So, where is that? Well, in Hebrews, he has already said that Jesus was being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. This is what got us going down this direction right there and after that was when we had the the excurses for the whole of chapter six.
41:00
But where was that? Well, that is based on Psalm 110. This is the other Old Testament text we have that mentions Melchizedek and it says, the Lord has sworn and he will not change his mind. You are you, Messiah. You are a priest forever.
41:15
According to the order of Melchizedek, something outside of what anyone is expecting. Nobody's expecting that. Who Jesus was of the tribe of what? Judah. Oh, that we'll get into that next week.
41:30
But you're of the priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. So, if we look at Hebrews written at '67, Abraham meet Melchizedek in 1800 or so BC. King David inspired by the Holy Spirit. Hebrews has already mentioned this, was written by King David and written by the Holy Spirit. Both are affirmed as author of Psalm one hundred ten four and it says, you're a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, sort of like or analogous to Melchizedek.
42:01
Now, observe how great this man was and that's why I say, hold on loosely if you say that it's Jesus because this says, this man, small M by the way, not a not a term for deity. Now, observe how great this man was, Melchizedek, to whom Abraham, the patriarch, it's pointing back. I know Abraham. I know you love Abraham. I know you know everything about him.
42:26
I know you know all about it and your whole identity was wrapped up in him. Abraham, the patriarch though, literally, the great, great, great, great granddaddy of Aaron and Moses. So, we've already seen in Hebrews. Jesus is better than Moses. Jesus is better than Aaron.
42:44
Jesus is better than the Torah. Jesus is better than angels. Jesus is better than it. Jesus is superior to all these things and now, we're getting to where Melchizedek was even superior to Abraham. At least according to this logic that the writer of Hebrews is using.
43:04
Abraham, the patriarch even gave a tenth of the choice of spoils and those indeed of the sons of Levi who received the priest office. So, some of the Levites are priest. Those indeed of the sons of Levi who received the priest office, they have a commandment in the law. Yes, it is written that they can and should collect a tent from the people and that's what these folks were used to. That's what we know.
43:28
Yeah, we know about Levites. We understand how that works because that's what we grew up with but look at this. Hebrews is written in '67. Abraham meets Melchizedek in 1800. David inspired by the spirit is in a thousand but the Levites were established as a priestly lineage not even in Levi's time.
43:46
In fact, Levi was I wouldn't say cursed but maledicted at least by his father on his father's deathbed. So, Levi, though, was great great grandfather of Aaron and Moses and so, it was at the time of the Exodus where the Levites or the kids of Aaron Aaron and his kids would be seen as the priestly lineage. Actually, this is one of the early spots. It it says it. There are a lot of different rules about it.
44:17
This is if you make it through the begats and the begats, you get up to Leviticus and you start to see the Levites but this is fairly early in Exodus. These are the garments that they shall make a breastplate, an Ephad, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash, and they shall make holy set apart garment not like any others. They shall make holy garments for Aaron, your brother. This is the word of God to Moses. For Aaron, your brother, and all of his sons to serve me as priest.
44:50
This will be the land through which this heritage will pass. That's what they're used to because we're not Old Testament. We don't study the Old Testament much as they did. We might not have it in mind but that's what they're hearing when he says this. Those indeed are the sons of Levi who received the priest office have commandment in the law to collect a tent from the people.
45:12
Yes, that's what priest do. They collect tithes and they do blessings and perform other services and sacrifices. That is, they do that from their brethren. Although these are descended from Abraham. Now, we're having a logic at work here.
45:29
What the writer of Hebrews is asking for them to think of is like everything that you're thinking of is around what you've always thought of in the system that you know to be true but there's something outside of this that you haven't considered. It's still written and you know it but you haven't been paying attention to it because it didn't really make sense to you. There wasn't anything there for you but I'm saying, open up your eyes and see. And I hesitate right here in this service, in this time, in this society and say, I am not asking you to open up your mind to all the garbage that the world is presenting and open it up because God's so much bigger than that and he probably has a home for all of these wayward groups and he'll blend it all. No, the gospel is for everyone as Carl says, Jonah, the prophet, right?
46:16
Jonah is presenting the gospel to his enemies and he doesn't even want him to accept it. But they do and God is after all of those various groups but he's also after us paying attention to what it actually says and not exceeding that. Not exceeding it with our Phariseeism or not exceeding us with our licentiousness. Pay attention to what it actually says rather than what you think it says or you can get your mind around. Your isms and your ites, okay?
46:47
Although they're descended from Abraham but the one whose genealogy is not traced, Melchizedek. Melchizedek's, the one whose genealogy is not traced. We don't know anything about the guy, not his mama's name, not his daddy's name, not anything about it. But he collected the tents from Abraham and he blessed the one who had the promises. Now, Abraham is the one who had the promises and we all know that.
47:11
We know that story. We remember that. We remember the promises of God to Abraham about Isaac and we remember about the who you bless, I'll bless, who you curse, I'll curse. Remember the promises. Abraham, we know everything about him chapter after chapter after chapter.
47:25
We don't know anything about the one he's paying. Melchizedek received tithes and he did blessing for Abraham and it was of God most high, same God. So, where is that? Well, it's Genesis 14. Like I said, he gave him a tenth of all and he blessed him.
47:43
Where's that? Genesis 14, the writer of Hebrews did not exceed what was written. Now, there have been things written in the past two hundred years that expand Melchizedek tremendously. To be something that the Bible never says. Okay.
48:06
Abraham's the one who had the promises but without any dispute, nobody disputes that the one who is doing the blessing is greater than the one who is being blessed. That's the way the thinking goes here. We, y'all aren't, y'all aren't going to argue with that. He's saying to these folks. No, we wouldn't argue with that.
48:23
So, the lesser though in the story is Abraham. And the greater is Melchizedek, who we know nothing about. Well, that is paradigm shift. That is for these folks who are considering going back to the way that we know which is father Abraham, right? That's a paradigm shift for them.
48:42
I think that it's it's not ironic but it's an interesting thing that what God called Abraham to leave that which you know and go to a place that I will show you. And these folks are wanting to go back to what they know and it's Abraham rather than falling after the living God. Christ, who is still living, remains a priest perpetually and forever. Paradigm shift is that. In fact, this reminds me of a story and I'm going to read it.
49:11
This is from John eight thirty nine no, 31 through 59. So Ray at this point little clicker is not clicking. You were just about to go there, weren't you? So I'm going to attempt to proclaim this, speak it, read it, but not preach the whole thing, okay? We don't have time for that but I want you to listen to this.
49:37
Yeah, that's right. The truth will make you free is the heading in the NASB. So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed in it. This is happening during Jesus's life. This is in John eight.
49:50
So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed in me, if you continue in my work, then you're truly disciples of mine and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free. They answered him, we are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone. How is it? That you say, you will become free. Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin and the slave does not remain in the house forever but the son does remain forever.
50:28
So, if the son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham's descendants. He says so. Yes, you are of the line of Abraham. I'm with you there.
50:39
I know that. You say that I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet, you seek to kill me. Because my word has no place in you. I speak the things which I've seen with my father.
50:58
Therefore, you also do the things which you heard from your father and they answered him and they said, Abraham is our father and Jesus said to them, if you're Abraham's children, then do the deeds of Abraham when Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness and Abraham left the land that he knew and went to the place that God would show him and receive promises and bless along the way. Jesus says, do the deeds of Abraham. Act like him. If he's your dad, act like him. But as it is, you are seeking to kill me, a man who's told you the truth, which I heard from God, this Abraham did not.
51:39
Oh, this, Abraham did not do. You're doing the deeds of your father. They said to him, we were not born of fornication. Oh my goodness. They're going back to gossip about how Jesus came into being, about Mary and Joseph's relationship.
51:57
And they're bringing that out. We were not born of fornication. We have one father, God and Jesus said to them, if God were your father, then you would love me. For I have proceeded forth and have come from God. Oh, he's emanates from God.
52:11
He's the very radiance of God, the exact representation of his nature. Hebrews says, for I proceeded forth and have come from God for I have not even come of my own initiative but he sent me. So, why do you not understand that what I'm saying? It's because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father, the devil, not Abraham.
52:32
Skipped over Abraham. You're of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and he does not stand in the truth because there's no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature for he is a liar and he is the father of lies but because I speak the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin?
52:56
If I speak truth, why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears the words of God for this reason, you do not hear them because you are not of God and the Jews answered and said to him, do we not say rightly, you are a Samaritan and have a demon. So, they, his heritage, he's not even Jewish now in their minds. A Samaritan, the worst thing that they could think of and he has a demon. Jesus answered, I do not have a demon but I honor my father and you dishonor me but I do not seek my glory.
53:30
There's one who seeks and judges. Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death and the Jews said to him, now we know you have a demon because Abraham died. Enough with Abraham already but he doesn't say that. Not that way anyway. Now, we know you have a demon.
53:49
Abraham died and the prophets also and you say, if anyone keeps my word, he will never taste of death. Surely, you are not greater than our father, Abraham, but yes, he is. He is and that's the argument from the writer of Hebrews. Jesus is better than. He's better than Abraham.
54:06
Better than Aaron, better than Moses, better than Levites, better than better than. Surely, you're not greater than our father, Abraham, who died, the prophets died too. Whom do you make yourself out to be? And Jesus answered, if I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It's my father who glorifies me of whom you say, he is our God and you have not come to know him but I know him and if I say that I do not know him, then I'll be a liar like you but I do know him and I keep his word.
54:35
Your father, Abraham, rejoice to see our day. Amen. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. He did step out on faith and walk that out and he rejoice to see Jesus in his day and he saw it and he was glad. So, the Jews said to him, you're not even yet 50 years old.
54:56
Have you seen Abraham? And Jesus said to them, truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am. And therefore, they picked up stones to throw at him. They couldn't take the truth. Although their paradigm was pointing to it, they couldn't see it because they were stuck in their own opinion and they picked up stones to throw at him but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
55:30
But without any dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater and in this case, mortal man receives tithes. Yeah, it's just the fact that they're of the tribe of Levi that on the camp out, they're the ones that are handling the blessings. Yes, but and they do what they're supposed to do. They take the tithes, they grab the stuff, they buy the incense, they do all the stuff that they're supposed to do but in this case, the one that receives them of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. Now, the similitude between Melchizedek and Jesus, who is the he right there?
55:59
I'm not sure. I think it's Jesus. Could be Melchizedek but the analogy is there that one of these is a priest perpetually that we don't really know exactly how he's going to act. We know who he is. He's the exact representation of God but our paradigm sometimes limits that our finitude lessons that I had somebody come to me this week and they said, I have been praying.
56:25
God, if this is your will, I want it. God, if this is your will, I want it and they were focusing on this is your will. If if this is your will, that's good but then said, they started to pray, God, I want your will, your will be done. Instead of, if this is your will, I think this might be it. This is my idea of what it is.
56:45
The paradigm shift was to let that down and go, God, show me your will. I long to do your will. Let me see it and I'll walk in and then bam. Something over there. It wasn't this.
56:57
It wasn't the expected. It was the unexpected. So, I pray that we'll be surprised by joy. This is up through verse eight. I've got nine and ten just to mention.
57:07
So, where is that? Where is that? It's Psalm one ten. You're a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Nine ten says this, and so to speak.
57:18
So, this is bigger speech so to speak. Through Abraham, even Levi. So, he's actually great, great, great, whatever, granddaddy of Levi but through Abraham, even Levi who received the tithes and it is said of the tribe of Levi that they didn't have an inherit ance in land. They had an inheritance that was God. God was their inheritance.
57:41
They were serving them in priestly service and it was good but it was good for a time. It was good from the time the law was given until that which it was pointing to which was the culmination in Jesus. So, the argument here goes, a weird place to stop but I got a lot. So, next week, we'll go forward forward but so to speak, through Abraham, even Levi, who received tithes, he paid tithes for he was still in the loins of his father, Melchizedek, when Melchizedek met him. So, Abraham, who they put for being the absolute greatest and they said, but there's one that's greater, that's even in the context with him in the story of his life greater and y'all haven't even considered him because you didn't understand what was going on and Melchizedek is a type pointing towards Jesus.
58:29
We'll get further into that next week. I think that's the last slide. The truth, lord, sanctify us with your truth. I think of Jesus' high priestly prayer. John 17 where he says, sanctify them by your truth.
58:46
Your word is truth. He also says, may they be one just like we are one. Sanctify them by your truth. Now, in the first service, it's more evident to me. In this service, it's not as evident but I'm still sure it's the case.
58:59
So, in the first service, I know there are 30 something denominations represented every single Sunday and there are isms within us that we grew up in like I grew up Southern Baptist and I know that there are folks who grew up Methodist and I know there are folks who grew up charismatic and I know there are folks who grew up in different lines of thinking and back then, there were a lot of us who were raised to think we were the only ones. We're the only ones that are right and some of us were raised to think of those other people who met at those other churches to think of em and just go, well, they think, you know, they're not too far off and then others were thinking, no, beat em down with scripture. Make sure they understand they're wrong. We're the only ones, really. We're going into a time of communion right now and the Lord's supper when Jesus says, lord, make them one just as we are one and he says, sanctify them by your truth.
59:53
I pray that you'll be able to let down your isms and your attitudes that are persisting and keeping you away from the truth that God have. Now, don't let all the garbage of the world come in. Pay attention to what the Bible says. Pay attention to it so you don't drift from it but don't let your isms get in the way of your relationship with God. Don't let your systematic theology dictate how God is going to work in your life and the lives of those around you this week.
1:00:23
Imma invite the frontline team to come forward and we'll say a prayer right now for God's blessing. God, would you do a work in us? Lord, would you surprise us with joy? I pray lord that as we approach you or as we seek to approach you, we would confess our sin and we know that as we are confessing our sin, lord, you are forgiven that sin and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. You do that by the righteousness of Christ which is imputed to us.
1:00:51
It's given to us when we believe. Would you work that belief out in our actions, lord? And as we're here distributing this bread today, may everyone who partakes, do so with a clean conscience sprinkled by the blood of Jesus, by his righteous life. I pray that we would not take this unworthily but consider ourselves and consider that this is what brings us together, that we shall no longer denominate but we shall move towards the center of the gospel. Jesus Christ, life perfectly lived.
1:01:28
Thank you for your body which was given.
1:01:43
Speaker 2I don't know about tomorrow I just live from day to day I don't borrow from its sunshine for its skies may turn to gray I don't worry or the future for I know what Jesus said and today I walk beside him for he knows what is ahead anything's about tomorrow I don't seem to understand but I know who holds my hand. Every step is getting brighter as the gold danced as I climb. Every burden's getting lighter. Every cloud is silver lined. There the sun is always shining.
1:03:05
There no tear will dim the eye. At the ending of the rainbow where the mountains touch the sky many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand but I know who holds tomorrow and I know
1:04:21
Speaker 1On the same night that Jesus was betrayed, he took bread after supper and after he had blessed it and given thanks. He said to his disciples that were there and they have transmitted it. I think of Paul saying and I have passed on to you that which I received as a matter of first important that Christ died according to the scriptures. Before that, he said this, he said, this is my body which is given for you. Take this and eat and do it in remembrance of me.
1:04:56
Jesus, we thank you for that exemplary life that you lived that was always in submission to the spirit and did not have a misstep. You were able to speak truth. You were able to live truth and not be daunted by all of the opposition. You came to the point of absolute surrender, voluntary submission for a substitutionary atoning death. Willingly, voluntarily chosen to do the will of the father and God for your your blood.
1:05:33
We are thankful. We're thankful for the sacrifice that was made in your blood. I pray that you would bless this little representation of that, the plastic cup of grape juice. Representing your precious blood that was spilled on our behalf. Ask your blessing on all who would partake lord and if there's someone who let needs to let this pass because they just don't believe in you, then, lord, I pray that the people sitting next to him and around them would live their lives and use their words in such a way that they would be one.
1:06:08
By the only effective means of grace. In Jesus name, amen. Every
1:06:28
Speaker 2step is getting brighter as the golden stairs I climb. Every burden's getting lighter. Every cloud is silver light. I don't know about tomorrow. It may bring me poverty.
1:07:33
But the one who feeds the sparrow is the one who stands by me. And the path that be my portion may be through the flame or flood but his presence goes before me and I'm covered with his blood. Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand I don't seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.
1:09:09
Speaker 1And covered by his blood, that song just said. There are many things about tomorrow. I don't seem to understand. Actually, there's some things about today I don't understand but I do know who holds my hand and that's what when Jesus said, here we are together and I want you to do this in remembrance of me. This is what draws us together.
1:09:28
Our complete reliance upon the complete sacrifice made by Jesus. Hebrews will go on to say, without the shedding of blood, there's no remission of sins and that his is the ultimate sacrifice. Need not be done again but we celebrate that sacrifice right here just like he had taken the bread. He took the cup and he said, this is the new covenant in my blood and the truth is it's either old covenant or new covenant. Old covenant points to our need for anew.
1:09:57
It sets it up and then the new covenant. This is the new covenant in my blood. Jesus says, take this and drink it and do it as often as you will and Paul says that in this way, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes again. We sang Rock of Ages in the first service and it says, may it be of sin, his blood, be of sin, the double cure, save from wrath but also make me pure. May God clarify through Jesus.
1:10:30
May God clarify your understanding of truth this week and this week in a way that helps you to see other people the way that God sees him. It helps you and it helps them. The benediction verse today is just that Jesus said, I'm the way. I'm the truth. I'm the life.
1:10:50
That's an exclusive statement. No one comes to the father except through Jesus. Now, would you stand with me and we'll sing the doxology. For those of you who are doing the frontline thing and you want to, members of the frontline right now and anyone who thinks they might want to be or someone who really wants lasagna. Fifteen minutes from now, we'll
1:11:08
Speaker 2be meeting. Would you sing with me? Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above you heavenly host praise father son and holy ghost Amen.
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