How To Stay Humble After Victory Series

When God uses underdogs! Part II

How to stay humble after Victory

Gen 14:15-24

15.He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

16. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

Here we have the conclusion of the war between the Five Kings of Sodom and Chedorlaomer that we’ve discussed last week.

Surely this was a big Victory!

Abraham is the Hero, but strangely enough there is no word on his emotions.

Notice verse 16:

So he brought back all the goods

· This must have been huge bait; this goods here

was taken from the cities.

· This is how warfare worked even in those days.

· This was for Abraham to claim now.

and also brought back his brother Lot and

his goods, as well as the women and the eople.

· So he brought Lot back and also the other

people.

· Think for a moment the relieve on their behalf.

· They benefited from Lot, for if it weren’t for

him they would have being lost.

I want you to focus on the next few verses:

You will find that in v17 we read about the king of Sodom, then it seems as if verses 18-20 were add in.

The introduction of Melchizedek was placed right in the middle of the arrival and conversation wit Abraham.

There is a distinct reason for this!

Let’s read the passage now:

17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

18. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

19. And 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." And he gave him a tithe of all.

21. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself."

Let me read it again now leaving out the part of Melchizedek.

17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

21. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself."

You might say that there is nothing wrong with that.

Why is the part of Melchizedek. So important and what effect do that have on our lives today.

We find the answer by examining his conversation with Abram.

18. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

19. And 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." And he gave him a tithe of all.

Bible scholars believe that he was the first priest of Jerusalem. Salem is the last part of Jerusalem.

He was the priest of God most High. I don’t want to go to far in explaining who Melchizedek was. For the purpose of this sermon I’d like to focus on what he said.

I. Firstly he said : "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and

earth;

Notice! He declares here that Abram belongs to God.

I believe he’s just reminding Abram to whom he belongs and who has got the power!

And to whom everything belongs.

Application: My friend that is the same today.

· Everything you own belongs to God

· I recently heard of a man who said that he would never die. He thought

· his life belonged to him, Wel he died!

Here is Abram with all the spoils of war, but it doesn’t belong to him.

II Secondly: And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into

your hand."

Notice! Now he declares to whom the victory belongs.

It was impossible to be the victor on paper.

Just before Abram takes the credit, he is reminded who brought the victory.

It was God!

Application: Ed Cole says the following:

§ Use the Gold but don’t touch the Glory

§ How we can learn by that.

§ I sometimes hear people telling other how good they were.

§ Everything is: I did this and I did that, never saying through the power of God or to His credit.