[Study Aired October 8, 2020]

Heb 6:15  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 
Heb 6:16  For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 
Heb 6:17  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 
Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 
Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 
Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

In this week’s study we will start off by reminding ourselves how last week’s study which discussed the “two immutable things” spoken of in Hebrews 6:13-14 is the “strong consolation” God gives to those “who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (Heb 6:18).

Heb 6:13  For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Heb 6:14  Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

That hope set before us is being able to endure until the end through Christ as we go from glory to glory looking to the joy set before us that is manifest through the author and finisher our faith Jesus Christ who is our hope of glory (Heb 12:1-2, 2Co 3:18, Col 1:27).

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

These promises found in Hebrews 6:13-14, as we recently discussed, were declared of our Father who cannot lie so that we could lay hold of this promise (Heb 6:17) that has been made to those whose inheritance is in the Lord (Col 1:12, Luk 17:21, Pro 13:22). “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath” is just another way of saying “fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”, which is where that inheritance is found (Luk 12:32).

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you [Col 1:27].

Pro 13:22  A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Proverbs 13:22 demonstrates for us what “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew” of Hebrews 6:17 is talking about, and is no small inheritance. The “wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just” of Proverbs 13:22 represents those whom God’s elect will judge in the lake of fire, and they in turn will be our inheritance in Christ. So we are Christ’s inheritance, and the world is our inheritance as was typified with Abraham’s promise of “multiplying I will multiply thee” in Hebrews 6:14, and all of these blessings and inheritances are governed by God (Eph 1:11) who will ultimately be “all in all” (1Co 15:28).

God’s elect are indeed the “heirs of promise” being spoken of in Hebrews 6:17, typified by Abraham who was promised “Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” An heir in Christ is someone who is going to receive an inheritance, and a place of honour given to them for having suffered in this life (Php 1:29, 2Ti 2:12). We are being judged and being made ready and going through much tribulation for the express purpose of being made ready (Rev 19:7) to receive the fullness of that inheritance which will occur in the first resurrection (1Pe 4:17, Act 14:22, Rev 20:6).

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

As God’s elect, we are called to endure until the end, losing our life so we might be found with the righteousness of Christ in us (Mat 10:39, Php 3:8-9). God has promised us, His children, that we’ll be able to overcome through a narrow but certain escape by giving us the power to put off our flesh through all the things we can endure through Christ (Php 4:13). He makes it possible for us to be the first to truly trust in God (Eph 1:12) and no longer have confidence in our own flesh (1Pe 4:18-19, Mat 24:24, Mat 7:14, Php 3:3).

1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

In this study we’ll look at how we can, through the grace and faith of Christ, patiently endure until the end and in so doing obtain the promises in full (Heb 6:15). We are coming together often to remind each other of the faithfulness of God who continues to show us how He can deliver and will continue to deliver us (2Co 1:10) as He provides the vision we will all need in order to endure until the end of this age (Pro 29:18).

Heb 6:15  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

2Co 1:10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

Pro 29:18  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Heb 6:15  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

When we have the overview of God’s plan in our heavens, it is easier to be less anxious and to patiently endure, with the vision that comes from knowing our Father and Jesus Christ (Pro 29:18, Joh 17:3).

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

It is through hearing the word in “an honest and good heart” and then keeping it (Luk 8:15), as we go through the afflictions (2Co 12:9), persecutions (2Ti 3:12) and much tribulation (Act 14:22) of this life, that we learn to endure as the body of Christ as the veil of our heavens is ripped so we can enter into the “hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil“. It is through those trials that God prepares our hearts to endure so we can be among those who have “patiently endured” and “obtained the promise” as His power rests upon us so we can go to the Father through “the forerunner” who “is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Eph 1:6, Joh 14:6).

Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

As we just read, it is “after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” referring to Abraham who is a type of Christ who is our hope of glory within who is making it possible for us to obtain “the promise”. The promise is to receive eternal life, age-abiding life, as a kind of first fruits of God (Psa 133:2-3, Zec 4:6, Joh 6:29, Mat 13:11, Php 1:29, Joh 11:25-26, Joh 6:40).

Psa 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
Psa 133:3  As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Heb 6:16  For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 
Heb 6:17  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 

God has to show us that we are beasts (Ecc 3:18), and part of that beastly nature is our inability to keep the promises we make both to God and to man. Presently all these scriptures (2Ti 3:4-7, Rom 11:18-20, Rev 20:8-9, Act 4:27-28) have their present inward application to our daily-dying old man who cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50). Our vision of what God is doing at any given time is dependent on knowing that His word is an eternal is-was-and-will-be word that will not change, and as such we will not be destroyed (Joh 6:68, Mal 3:6). Flesh, on the other hand, and all carnal soulishness will be destroyed (Luk 12:5).

Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

[“Silly women” represent the churches of Babylon out of which we’ve come where we were “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph 4:14-16)]

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

As it says, making “an oath” is “for confirmation…to them an end of all strife“, meaning for the time being we can say in our flesh — because of our swearing “by the greater” — that we have peace. Whoever we’re subject to, they are “the greater”, and so now with Christ in us we ought to be subject only to Christ in one another and only knowing Christ, as opposed to being under tutors and governors (Gal 4:2-6). As such we do not have need that any man teach us, meaning any carnal man who is still under the law for the lawless, the tutors and governors that represent the milk of the word that we must be established upon but not remain in (1Jn 2:27, Heb 5:11-14).

Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Heb 5:11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil [Eph 4:14-16].

The truth is the only lasting peace the world will ever have, and it will come through Jesus Christ abiding in us. God has promised the “heirs of promise” that the oath or promise that He made to us is not dependent on some other power greater than Himself because there is none greater (Isa 45:5-7), and therefore we can rest in the Lord and “the immutability of his counsel” which is confirmed by the two immutable promises spoken of in Hebrews 6:18.

Isa 45:5  I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
Isa 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 

These two immutable promises God has given the elect should cause us to move with fear to the saving of our spiritual house (Heb 11:7) which is what “who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” means. It is possible because God has granted us the grace and faith, or the unction, to do so (1Jn 5:4, Eph 2:8, 1Jn 2:27). Therefore, because of this anointing, “we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge.

1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Our refuge is in Christ in the city of refuge where we flee, and going to that city of refuge (Num 35:15) is another way of saying we go without the camp where our Lord went for us, which is where our “refuge” is (Heb 13:13).

Num 35:15  These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither [Luk 12:5].

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach [Luk 12:5].

We “lay hold upon the hope set before us” by going without the camp where we are “bearing his reproach” of being hated by all men (Mat 10:22) and not by shrinking back (Heb 10:39).

Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul [Luk 12:5].

It is through the giants in our land which God will perfectly position in our lives that we will be nourished and given the strength to lay down our lives as we ought for one another (Num 14:9). Laying hold “upon the hope set before us” can also be thought of as simply looking to Christ who is the faithful author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2-3), who for the joy set before him endured the cross.

Num 14:9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not [Luk 12:5].

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds [Luk 12:5].

Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 
Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

We can’t have any stronger consolation than to know that the One who has promised to bless us and multiply us (Heb 6:14) has sworn by Himself that these things are true, and it is with such a promise we can patiently endure (Heb 6:15) with this “hope” that “we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast” that is given to the elect so that we can “entereth into that within the veil“. That veil represents the flesh (Eph 5:30), and Christ, who is our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), is the “forerunner” who “is for us entered, even Jesus” who was “made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec“.

Christ has entered into heaven in the fullness as our resurrected Saviour “after the order of Melchisedec“, and that was the expedient action which had to occur in order for us to receive God’s holy spirit that can and will lead us into all truth if we have that spirit within us (Joh 16:7, Joh 16:13, Rom 8:9). We are therefore raised now in heavenly places (Eph 2:4-6) and the veil or carnal sinful mind is being overcome daily as we die daily and neglect not so great a salvation that is unfolding in this manner: “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8).

Salvation has an order to it that starts with our “forerunner” (1Co 15:23-24), then the elect “firstfruits“, and when Christ returns “they that are Christ’s at his coming” who won’t precede those who have already died in the Lord (1Th 4:15-17). When this is all accomplished and the bride of Christ is come together, “then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign [1Co 6:2, 2Ti 2:12], till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” [Rev 11:15].

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Without a clear vision (Pro 29:18) of what “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” is, we won’t be motivated to press toward that mark (Php 3:14-16). However, if Christ is in us as our hope of glory, then we are bound to the altar, and nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (Psa 118:27-29, Rom 8:35-39).

Pro 29:18  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Psa 118:28  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Psa 118:29  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Study Aired August 27, 2020]

Heb 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 
Heb 5:6  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50, Luk 18:19), and in this section of Hebrews we will look at the example of Christ and how He conducted Himself in this corruptible flesh that He overcame becoming “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him“.  Overcoming our sinful nature is what we have been called to do and will attain through Christ if it is written in our books to do so in this age (1Jn 4:17, Rev 3:21).

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

These verses in the book of Hebrews help us understand how Christ can identify with the church and did so through becoming a high priest who was tempted in all diverse manner yet without sin, and that is part of the “even as I also overcame” experience God’s elect will experience to greater and lesser degrees (Heb 4:15, 1Pe 4:1-2).

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God [“the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (1Jn 2:17)].

It was because of that experience Christ went through that we can overcome sin in this life as the scapegoat whose heavens are being cleansed (Rom 5:10) by the ripping of the veil that can only occur as His power works within us (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9).

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

We go from glory to glory gaining dominion over the beasts of the field little and by little knowing that this increase represents God’s goodness leading us to repentance in this age as we overcome through Christ the beast within the temple which we are (Rom 2:4, Mat 21:12).

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Mat 21:12  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

We rejoice, and again I say rejoice, in the Lord (Php 4:4) who can comfort us through this process of putting off our flesh so “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ” (Rom 2:4, Eph 1:13).

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Exo 23:29  I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.

Regarding the world in which we live, God is giving us a spirit that gives us the power to forgive from our hearts (Mat 18:32-35) as we say “forgive them, Father, they know not what they are doing.” Christ uttered those words of forgiveness from the cross as a reminder to us that we must mortify the deeds of our flesh in order to live by the faith of Christ which gives us the power to forgive all our accusers, of which there will be many (Luk 23:34, Gal 2:20, Mat 10:22).

Luk 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

The liberty we have in Christ (2Co 3:17) comes as a result of bearing each other’s burdens with the strength that God gives us so we can fulfill the law of Christ (Gal 6:2). We must depart from iniquity when we identify it in ourselves and never use the liberty God has given us as an occasion to serve our own flesh, which we all naturally do at first (Eph 2:1-3), but rather see the blessing and joy that can be ours through losing our life and laying it down for each other (Gal 5:13-14, Mat 16:25).

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

When we serve our own flesh, we are leaning unto our own understanding, to the way that seems right to us (Pro 14:12) in order to find the “pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb 11:25). This is opposed to Godly comfort that comes to those whom God is purging of sin so that we can be “meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” fulfilling His will, as opposed to being overtaken by the “earthly, sensual, devilish” ways that descends not from above (Jas 3:14-18) and can only be overcome by His chastening grace (1Jn 2:16-17, Tit 2:12-13).

Jas 3:14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Jas 3:15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Jas 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Jas 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

This section of Hebrews points us to the liberty which we are obtaining through Christ who knows every struggle we have and “how to deliver the godly out of every temptation” (2Ti 2:19-22, 2Pe 2:9, 1Co 10:13).

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
2Ti 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Heb 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 

The typical priesthood of Aaron that points to Christ speaks of the “gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Heb 5:1) that “could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience” (Heb 9:9).

Heb 5:1  For every high priest taken from among men [Mat 22:14] is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

[In this dispensation of grace (Eph 3:2) God’s elect are not “taken from among men” to be the typical scapegoat spoken of in Leviticus 16:8 but rather chosen of God to be made fit (2Ti 2:21) in His service so that we can be used to cleanse the world’s conscience of all sin, that is the “gifts and sacrifices” we are making for the world by being judged first in this life so we in turn can be used to judge the rest of the world (1Co 6:3).]

Heb 9:9  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, (Heb 9:14, Tit 2:14, 1Pe 2:5) that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Those works were ordained to be accomplished through us (Eph 2:10, Php 2:13) just as Christ’s works were in His own life (Joh 5:30). Knowing that truth helps us understand these following verses (Joh 7:16-17, Joh 8:50-51) that relate to the statement in verse five “So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest“.

Joh 7:16  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me [Joh 20:21, Psa 107:20].
Joh 7:17  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Joh 8:50  And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
Joh 8:51  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Heb 5:6  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The “another place” where “Melchizedek king of Salem”is mentioned is in the old covenant in Genesis 14:18 and Psalm 110:4). The name “Melchisedec” is mentioned nine other times in the new testament, all within the book of Hebrews. Six of those nine times mentioned are in chapter seven of Hebrews, and two other times spoken of in Hebrews chapter five of which we will look at.

Gen 14:18  And Melchizedek^H4442 king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Psa 110:4  The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek^H4442.

Strong’s: From H4428 and H6664; king of right; Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine: – Melchizedek.

This man whose name means in Hebrew “king of righteousness” is someone we are to consider how great he was, because his life and those things he did are typical of the ministry that God has established in the church through Christ the true “King of kings, and Lord of lords” or “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (1Ti 6:15, Rev 19:16) who will rule with righteousness through the church (Psa 9:8, 1Ti 6:15-16).

Psa 9:8  And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

1Ti 6:15  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate^G1413, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1Ti 6:16  Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Potentate G1413

– Original: δu965 νu945 ́u963 τu951 ςpar – Transliteration: Dunastes
– Phonetic: doo-nas’-tace
– Definition:

1. a prince, a potentate
2. a courtier, high officer, royal minister of great authority

– Origin: from G1410
– TDNT entry: 06:44,2
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine
– Strong’s: From G1410; a ruler or officer: – of great authority mighty potentate.

Total KJV Occurrences: 3
•authority, 1
 Act_8:27

•mighty, 1
Luk_1:52

•Potentate, 1
1Ti_6:15

Looking at the scriptures connected to Melchisedec’s name will help us keep in mind how the least can be greater than John and greater than Melchizedek and how all these kings of Israel that ruled in righteousness are just a type and shadow of the only true rulership in the earth that is going to change the heart of man, cleansing the conscience as we saw earlier (Mat 11:11, 1Co 10:11, 1Pe 1:12, Isa 26:9, Luk 10:24).

Heb 7:1  For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Heb 7:2  To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Heb 7:3  Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. [Type and shadow language which reminds us of this verse (Rev 22:13)]
Heb 7:4  Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

“Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings” [Rev 17:10] is symbolic language that points to these verses in Revelation 14:14-20 which speak of a time when the saints will rule the earth with a rod of iron (Rev 2:26-27) “And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” Abraham gives “a tenth part of all” that represents all our life being given to God in His service, both now and in the future Lord willing during the thousand year reign (Rev 20:6). The 90 other percent of those spoils which Abraham keeps represents that part of our life that must be judged and have God’s wrath poured out upon us [7 last plagues] in order for us to be prepared to rule and reign under Christ as we learn through the suffering we endure via the much tribulation which comes upon us in this life as His children (1Pe 4:17, Rev 5:10, 2Ti 2:12, Act 14:22).

Heb 7:5  And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: [It takes our flesh being judged (90) in order for us to come up to Jerusalem above where our tithe (10) our life is offered at the altar Jas 5:17-18, Zec 14:17].
Heb 7:6  But he whose descent is not counted from them [Melchisedec who typifies Christ who is not of the Aaronic priesthood] received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises [again Melchisedec typifying Christ (2Co 1:20)].
Heb 7:7  And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. [Joh 13:16, Joh 20:21]
Heb 7:8  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth [Mat 6:20, 1Co 15:58].
Heb 7:9  And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham [we do all that we do in service to God through Christ (Joh 15:5)].
Heb 7:10  For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Heb 7:11  If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

This section of Hebrews tells us plainly that the priesthood of Aaron, the Levitical priesthood, was a early type and shadow “yet in the loins of his father” ministry that represents the churches of Babylon today which are under the law and will one day be subject to Christ in the spirit represented by “Melchisedec” [Gal 4:1-5].

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son [typified by Melchisedec], made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law [Mat 5:43-45, Gal 6:2].
Heb 7:13  For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar [Melchizedek represents Christ in whom we are hidden (Col 3:3, Heb 13:10, Rev 2:17, Joh 7:16-17, Col 1:27)].
Heb 7:14  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Jesus is “another priest” “after the similitude of Melchisedec” (Psa 110:4, Heb 7:12-17), and like Melchizedek, Christ is not a descendant of Aaron, and therefore would not qualify for the Jewish priesthood under the Law of Moses. That’s the whole point. Christ could not and would not do the ‘eye for an eye’ approach of dealing with our enemies and came as a reformer who was able to obey the word of God in the spirit and taught His disciples to love their enemies, showing them the spirit of God’s word rather than the letter that kills (2Co 3:4-6, Mat 5:38-39).

Heb 7:14  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Heb 7:15  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Heb 7:16  Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

2Co 3:4  And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Mat 5:38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Heb 7:15  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, [Christ]
Heb 7:16  Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life [1Th 1:5, Act 1:8, Zec 4:6].

1Th 1:5  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Heb 7:17  For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 7:18  For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
Heb 7:19  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did [Col 1:27]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Heb 7:20  And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
Heb 7:21  (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: [Eph 1:4]) [“after the similitude of Melchisedec“].
Heb 7:22  By so much was Jesus [the subject of the whole matter “Jesus” who is typified by Melchisedec] made a surety of a better testament.
Heb 7:23  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death [The death being symbolized is the law of sin and death that the “many priests” serve who represent the churches of Babylon – (Rom 8:2, Heb 7:25, Joh 6:51, Gal 2:20, Rom 6:11)]

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Joh 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Heb 7:24  But this man, because he continueth ever [typified by these words in Hebrews 7:3], hath an unchangeable priesthood [Joh 6:68, Joh 8:51].
Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost [Rom 5:10] that come unto God by him [Eph 1:6], seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Heb 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; [Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21]
Heb 7:27  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Heb 7:28  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity [Heb 5:1-2]; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

[“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21)]

Heb 5:1  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Heb 5:2  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
Heb 5:3  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
Heb 5:4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
Heb 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee [1Jn 3:1, Mat 22:14].
Heb 5:6  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The life of Christ only had to be offered up once for sin (Heb 7:27), and God accepted that sacrifice alone as the one that would cover all the sins of the world (Joh 3:16, Joh 1:29). When we are dragged to Christ by the Father (Joh 6:44) and are caused to “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved^{G4982 [G5701]}” (Rom 10:9, Mat 24:13, Eph 2:6).

It is “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8, 1Jn 5:4). In other words we need to be given to believe (Php 1:29) in order to overcome and be saved (1Co 15:17, Joh 6:29, Eph 2:1), and now with the life of Christ in us as our hope of glory (Joh 14:20, Col 1:27), we can “fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Col 1:24). Christ is “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” and we are being saved as a kind of first fruits and royal priesthood that will be used of the Lord to save the world because we will have learned obedience by the things that we suffered as our Lord did (Tit 2:14, Oba 1:21, Heb 5:8).

The last part of this chapter twhich we will look at next week elaborates on the process (Php 1:29) that is expected of every son who is being given to overcome and endure until the end so that they can be saved, and the name “Melchisedec” is found in the context of these words to remind us that it is through our high priest Jesus Christ that none of us is going to be lost in this process (Joh 8:36, Joh 18:9, Mat 20:23).

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Joh 18:9  That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

God knows where each of us is in our growth as He is the one who has given the increase (1Co 3:6) and encourages us through this letter in Hebrews that with Christ in us we can go beyond being “such as have need of milk” and become mature sons who “put you on the Lord Jesus Christ” as He matures us through our confirming trials of this life (Act 14:22, Heb 5:14).

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 5:11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

This is the fifth part in our discussion on the foundational theme of faith. We learn so much of what the faith of Christ is about through what has been written and typified in the life and journeys of Abram (only later called Abraham). The faith of Abram typified this faith of Jesus as Abram obeyed God without question or murmur and left his city of Ur in the land of the Chaldees to be a sojourner and stranger in the land of the Canaanite (Act 7:1-5). Abram was looking for a city whose builder and maker is God, but that spiritual city is only reserved for those who can receive the promises of the faith of Christ, which Abram and all others in the Old Testament died “not having received the promises” (Heb 11:8-10; Heb 11:4-13):

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

The faith of Christ is not deserved, but is a gift which God gives as a standard that is raised or grows in conjunction with the Word to endure much tribulation, which is also called spiritual warfare (Eph 2:8-9; Isa 59:19; 2Co 10:15; Act 14:22; 1Pe 1:7). The faith of Christ in us holds the key in this important aspect of fighting, which God has provided for us to be a victorious overcomer:

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

If we think the battles are out there in the physical world, we are already deceived. Physical struggles are real and painful, but they are all outward “symptoms” which flows forth from “things” which do not appear to our physical senses (Heb 11:3). We can only be overcomers of this world if we can see where this war is taking place and who the enemy and his allies are. This good fight of faith is this war in the spirit of our own mind or heaven, and it is against very scrupulous and subtle opponents:

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Eph 6:12 (BBE) For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities and powers, against the world-rulers of this dark night, against the spirits of evil in the heavens.

Faith is also “above all” the most important piece of defensive armour in waging spiritual war:

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The best armies with the best weapons are nothing if their defenses are weak. The Word of God is not only an offensive weapon, but indeed our best shield as God supplies the faith of Christ in us:

Eph 6:17 And [Greek: “kai” = a copulative and a cumulative force in conjuction with faith] take the helmet of salvation, and [Greek: “kai”] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pro 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

The war and battles in the spirit realm come in different ways to us each and every day. This is also what we see in the life of Abram and his offspring while they were living in Canaan. They had to learn about warfare for our admonition (1Co 10:11). The physical nation of Israel who came through the generation of Abram was also ordered by God to occupy the land of Canaan which included being armed to go into battles (Num 31:3-5; Deu 3:18). They were also instructed by God to always first “proclaim peace” to any city or nation they approach that was “very far off” who do not want to influence Israel with their false teachings – we should not judge them who are “without” before the appropriate time (Deu 31:1-5; Jos 1:14; 1Co 4:5; 1Co 5:12):

Deu 20:10 When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.
Deu 20:11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.
Deu 20:12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:

Deu 20:15 Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

To the “cities of these nations” which were close and who taught wrong doctrine and not God’s commandments, Israel was to be severe on them – we can judge them who are within, even as we “first cast out the beam out of own eye” (Mat 7:1-5; 1Co 5:1-13):

Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth.

Deu 20:18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

In Chapter 14 of Genesis we read about the first recorded physical war in the scriptures, and Abram played a central role in the outcome of that war. From here on the scriptures are filled with warfare for a very good reason, even as some also find this physical bloodshed in the scriptures very offensive. Many ask how can God command these wars, even ordered genocides of nations and at times the killing of women and children (Deu 20:16-18; Jos 10:28-30; 1Sa 15:1-3). However, when we do not understand the purpose of God’s judgment on all evil nations of flesh in us first, even all the false doctrines of our own carnal mind, we are not part of the house of God who is being judged now (1Jn 4:17; 1Pe 4:17). We also will find it impossible to accept God’s spiritual modus operandi to save all in the first man Adam to be resurrected in the last Adam, Jesus Christ (1Co 15:22-28). All evil was created by God for a purpose and we also learn from the scriptures that God uses all this evil and horror of this world for His good purpose, even the cruellest evil of all – the killing of Jesus on a cross (Gen 1:31; Gen 50:20; Pro 16:4; Act 4:25-28):

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Faith requires long and bloody spiritual battles to be won and all the wars in the scriptures are pointing to the real internal wars – the spirit versus flesh/carnality (Gal 5:17; Joh 3:6; Rom 8:6-7; 2Co 6:14). We all fight this war of faith at our appointed times until the day we finally are redeemed from the flesh and its carnal mind (1Co 10:11; Eph 6:12-18; 2Co 10:3-6). One battle prepares us for the next. God is not actually concerned with trees and the physical environment that is in danger of being destroyed during battles, but God is concerned with the life of man, even as He employs all things in His creation to save all in Adam:

Deu 20:19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man’s life) to employ them in the siege:
Deu 20:20 Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat [food/fruit], thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.

All physical things are just temporal evil creations through which we must learn and be humbled (Rom 1:20):

Ecc 1:13 (CLV) I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.

In Genesis 14 we read how the four Canaanite kings – Amraphel, Arioch, Chedorlaomer and Tidal – allied together to attack five other cities whom they oppressed for twelve years. In the thirteenth year these five cities and their kings rebelled against their oppressor, which was the motivation for this war. These five cities included the city of Sodom where Abram’s nephew Lot and his family lived until the whole city was destroyed by God’s fire and brimstone (Gen 13:10-12; Gen 19:1-26; Gen 14:1-10). The attack took place in the broad flat valley of Siddim which was “full of slime-pits” which played a pivotal role in the eventual capture and overthrow of these five cities. Lot and his family were also captured in this war and taken away as prisoners:

Gen 14:11 And they [The four kings and their armies] took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
Gen 14:12 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

Abram heard about the capture of Lot and his family and was drawn into this war by his love for his nephew and his family. His heart was focused on the rescue of Lot and his family. Abram and his three hundred and eighteen men eventually caught up with these four armies, and in a battle that followed defeated them. With only a handful of men whom Abram divided in two, he conquered the armies of the four kings:

Gen 14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah [Hebrew: “chôbâh” = hiding place], which is on the left hand of Damascus.

Lot and his family and also all the belongings of the cities were recaptured and brought back. On their return from that successful battle, the scriptures recorded two meetings which involved Abram and which raised the “good fight of faith” to another level:

Gen 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him [Abram] after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.

The scriptures first of all noted a few details of the meeting Abram had with another Canaanite king by the name of Melchizedek (also spelled as Melchisedec) who was the king of Salem:

Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek [Hebrew: “melek” = king; “tsedeq” – right/righteous] king of Salem [Hebrew: “shâlêm” = peace/peaceful] brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high [Hebrew: “elyôn” uppermost] God [Hebrew: “êl”].
Gen 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Gen 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he [Abram] gave him tithes of all.

The king of Sodom also wanted to reward Abram with all the goods of Sodom which Abram brought back as the spoils of war:

Gen 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

Melchizedek’s words and reward were quite different from that of the king of Sodom. Melchizedek brought bread and wine to Abram, and the king of Sodom presented Abram with all the goods of Sodom. Abram saw deeper values in what Melchizedek wanted to share with him. This bread and wine can only be appreciated in the light of the following descriptive functions of this king. Melchizedek is described not only as a king, but also a priest of “the most high God” (“elyôn êl”). Wine and bread are symbols of the true Word of God, Jesus Christ, which only the true priests of God can bring:

Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The true reward of all spiritual battles is Jesus Christ, who has the reward of spirit life as we look only to Jesus who is the author and finisher of faith:

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I [Jesus] come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In type Melchizedek provided the spiritual nourishing bread of the Word of God and refreshing wine of God’s spirit to the battle-weary Abram which the king of Sodom with his enticing physical gifts could not provide:

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Another role of a priest of “the most high God” is to bless people on behalf of God. Melchizedek also blessed Abram, and in that also revealed his spiritual authority in the army of God to which Abram humbly submitted:

Heb 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

Many spiritual truths are hidden in this principle “the less is blessed of the better”, which include the reference to the old covenant with its lesser glory and its “ministration of death” against the more excellent new covenant – “the ministration of the spirit” (Rom 8:1-2; 2Co 3:6-11; Heb 8:6-7). Melchizedek appeared long before the law of Moses and its ordinances were introduced, including its priestly “order”. Melchizedek represents the “order” of how every spiritual battle is to be won, not by “meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances”, but through the faith and life of Christ in us (Heb 9:10; Eph 2:8-10; Gal 2:16; Col 1:27). That is why Melchizedek’s appearance is only in relation to Abram as the father of the faithful typifying the faith of Christ (Gal 3:1-14). This is what king David wrote about why Melchizedek is connected to those who fight the good fight of faith and get the victory over every enemy though the faith of Jesus:

Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psa 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Psa 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
Psa 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Psa 110:5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
Psa 110:6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
Psa 110:7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

Melchizedek is also called “King of righteousness” and “King of peace” typifying and emphasizing that only through the faith of Christ are we being made righteous and have peace with God (Rom 3:25; Rom 5:1):

Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace.

Although Melchizedek was a physical king in Canaan who lived in the time of Abram’s sojourning in Canaan, there is no record in the scriptures of his physical lineage, his birth or his death. He was just like any other human who was born and died, but the scriptures withhold this information from us to help us to see what Melchizedek represented in spiritual terms. He served as a king and priest in Salem – later known as Jerusalem, typifying the new Jerusalem “from above” (Joh 3:31; Joh 8:23; Gal 4:26; Rev 21:2). Melchizedek brings to Abram this reassurance of his Godly connection, calling and purpose:

Gen 14:19 And he [Melchizedek] blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Gen 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Christ Jesus is the only connection or mediator between us and the Father as He is also the Head of the body, even of all in the first Adam who will all be saved by this man, Jesus Christ:

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Like Abram, we always need constant affirmations and consolations in the Word to strengthen our faith to endure in these spiritual battles (2Co 1:4-7; 2Co 2:8-17; 2Th 2:15-17). These encouragements also come from those whom God has placed as His priests in our lives. Naturally, we are easily deceived to accept physical rewards which our flesh presents to us, and we always want to worship the fellowservant with a fleshly attitude, even our own thoughts of self-achievement and haughtiness (Rev 19:10). Yet battles are fought by armies, not individuals, and we need to be in touch with fellow servants:

Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

In response to these words from Melchizedek, Abram gave him a tenth of the spoils of the war – not of his own possessions. There is no record in Scripture that Abram continued to tithe to anyone after that. Tithing is an old covenant ordinance and it was never given in the form of money, but from the “firstlings” of the crops of the field and animals (Lev 27:30; Lev 27:32; Num 18:26-32; Deu 12:17; Deu 14:23; 2Ch 31:6). In this instance Abram represented also the Levitical priesthood (who was “yet in [his] loins” at that time) and all its physical requirements, against the priesthood of Christ “after the order of Melchizedek”. The laws of Moses with its Levitical priesthood represent “the less”. But “the better”, which is referring to the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and He surely “change[d] the customs which Moses delivered (Act 6:14). These “better” priests in Christ are cheerful givers “as he purposeth in his heart…not grudgingly, or of necessity” – which is also to lose your whole life in order to find it (2Co 9:7; Mat 10:38-39; Heb 7:12; Rom 12:1; 1Pe 2:5-9):

Heb 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
Heb 7:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

The king of Sodom tried his subtlety with Abram who now was equipped by God through his previous trials and the blessing and reassurance of Melchizedek “to fight the good fight of faith” against this line of attack:

Gen 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

Gen 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
Gen 14:23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.

Abram knew a very important principle which is that God alone gives all things, and no one can take the honour for anything (1Ch 29:14). Abram told the king of Sodom that the young men, those immature in faith, will be in a position to receive his gifts, as we all must have respect for each one’s spiritual maturity – we do not rule over other’s level of faith (1Co 1:29):

Gen 14:24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Abram endured much and knew that “all things are lawful for [him], but [he] will not be brought under the power of any” (1Co 6:12). Everyone is given a measure of faith, and Abram also knew how each one is persuaded in his own mind by God as God alone is master of each one’s level of faith and understanding:

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Rom 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Abram’s meeting with Melchizedek is how God’s elect is equipped by the faith of Christ to see that their roles in His kingdom does not depend on human preference and preeminence, but solely on the choice of God who makes them His kings and priests according to “the order” of Christ in them. To fight the good fight of faith gives us the only hope of spiritual glorification in our own lives as we overcome by doing His commandments in the earth (1Jn 5:2-3):

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

————–

Detailed studies and emails relating to these foundational themes in Scripture are available on the www.iswasandwillbe. com website, including these topics and links:

http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/continue-to-fight-the-good-fight/
http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-christ-and-times-aionios
http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/melchisedec/
http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/christ-and-melchisedec/
http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/tithing/
http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/does-hebrews-7_8-teach-tithing/

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As we continue to move through the various verses contained in scripture that pertain to the “Awesome Hands” of God, we have come to see many different types and shadows as the Lord reveals more of Himself and ourselves as they have been founded from foundation of the world.

We have seen that the “Awesome Hands” of the Lord, as shown to us in the story of the flood, are there to rescue us from our history and the “world” that has been corrupted.

Once we are given salvation via the ark, the way out that the Lord has provided for us, we are then going to be nourished by and also devoured by the beasts that the Lord preserved with us while we were in the ark.

Praise the Lord that He has given us a dove to guide us, to bring into the ark so that we know what to do next. It is a process, but it is a sweet smelling savor to the Lord as He works out of us the things that the blood on our hands are required to happen.

In part 5 of the “Awesome Hands” of God study, we have learned that though the Lord comes to us and we call on His name in the wilderness, it is during this time that we really don’t have much faith to begin with.

We always want to get the show on the road and do something for God once we know He is working in our lives. However, because we want to do it in our way and our time, we will reap what we sow.

Through all of this, it is the Lord who directs our steps to bring good from it because while we are yet not in the fullness of faith, the Lord can and will use us to save our brethren. We are called behind in no gift, but we have yet to move on to have our seed come to fruition.

As we have seen with Abram, we are to go to war and battle those who are our enemies. They will be delivered into our hands but unlike a tenth that was instituted as type and shadow; the promise will be given to those who are completely the Lords …. and that is when we take on His new name… being renamed in Abraham and Sara.

In this study, we will see how we continue to move towards “getting things done quickly” in our lives but ultimately the Lord will bring about His will so that His covenant will stand will Christ, His bride starting in Gen 16:6.

We all are God’s and He will mold us all into being all in all in His awesome hands.

“What will thou give me”

Before we get started with the study fully, I want to take this time to clarify a few points before we continue.

In this study of the awesome hands of the Lord, I am hoping to build up the stories around the concept of God working His hands in our lives both directly through and by us as well as through and by those that the Lord places in our lives to help mold and shape us into His spiritually minded image.

As such, there are occasionally times when the Hebrew and Greek translations of the word “hand” or “hands” into English isn’t always the same root word in Hebrew or Greek.

The focus of these studies is to show the power of the Lord in our lives and as such the English word hand is the starting point to bring out these stories in the relation to this topic.

For example, up until this point we have generally seen the Hebrew word “yad” or H3027 used. However, this was not the word used in Gen 13:9 or 14:15, but those words are rather H8040 and H3225. These words mean left side and right side or as we see it here in English right hand and left hand.

I point this out to mention that I will start illuminating this while talking about these words if there is ever a time that it needs a little expounding upon.

All of the points being discussed thus far are valid still because it is the separation from our brothers that is the point, and it is this separation that is caused of the Lord that will eventually bring about the best good.

If we are not hated by the world within our brothers, our brethren as was mentioned last week, then we are none of His.

As was mentioned last week, we let our brethren decide which way to go because it is our herdsmen which fight for the land. We must separate, but as the wheat and the chaff, we have to wait until we are fully matured in this stage before we can truly move on towards the promise and harvest.

With that, we’ll build upon that with a few verses and then get into our next verse mentioning hand.

Deu 8:11 –  Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

Deu 8:12 –  Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

Deu 8:13 –  And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

Deu 8:14 –  Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

Deu 8:15 –  Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

Deu 8:16 –  Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

Deu 8:17 –  And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

Deu 8:18 –  But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Last study, we stopped at the end of chapter 14 so as we move on towards Gen 16:6, we’ll read a little context in chapter 15.

Remember, we have separated from our brother but as our brother gets caught up in war all around and within them, it is we who are send to be their savior.

Our house is increased so that we are able to fight when the time comes, and we are now going to meet Christ in type and shadow by meeting Melchizedek AFTER this battle.

This is important because we are going to then go and build a second altar unto the Lord.

Heb 6:10 –  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Heb 6:11 –  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

Heb 6:12 –  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb 6:13 –  For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Heb 6:14 –  Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

Heb 6:15 –  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Heb 6:16 –  For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Heb 6:17 –  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Heb 6:18 –  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Heb 6:19 –  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Heb 6:20 –  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

It is at this point that we tell the king of Sodom that we will not take even take a thread or shoe latchet so that it is not going to be Sodom who can claim to have made us rich. This is a huge type and shadow which builds up to how we act towards the Lord next.

Gen 14:22 –  And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

Gen 14:23 –  That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

Gen 14:24 –  Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

It was a little earlier in chapter 14 verse 13 that we read that Abram is confederate with these houses who were all brothers themselves. Abram actually tells the king of Sodom to give these helpers of his their portion and in that is just what we do in this stage.

We want to have our brothers blessed whom we should be separated from, but at this stage it simply isn’t given to us to be separate. Look at the names of each of these brothers whom help us free Lot.

Aner –

H6063

a ne r

aw- nare’

Probably for H5288; Aner, an Amorite, also a place in Palestine: – Aner.

H5288

na ar

nah’- ar

From H5287; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication a servant; also (by interchange of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age): – babe, boy, child, damsel [ from the margin], lad, servant, young (man).

H5287

na ar

naw- ar’

A primitive root (probably identical with H5286, through the idea of the rustling of mane, which usually accompanies the lion’s roar); to tumble about: – shake (off, out, self), overthrow, toss up and down.

H5286

na ar

naw- ar’

A primitive root; to growl: – yell.

In essence, we have a strutting and growling babe…. a babe which looks big and tough and acts that way.

Eshcol –

H812

‘eshko l

esh- kole’

The same as H811; Eshcol, the name of an Amorite, also of a valley in Palestine: – Eshcol.

H811

‘eshko l  ‘eshko l

esh- kole’, esh- kole’

Probably prolonged from H810; a bunch of grapes or other fruit: – cluster (of grapes).

H810

‘eshek

eh’- shek

From an unused root (probably meaning to bunch together); a testicle (as a lump): – stone.

In essence, this is the fruit of our loins and finally we have Mamre.

Mamre –

H4471

mamre’

mam- ray’

From H4754 (in the sense of vigor); lusty; Mamre, an Amorite: – Mamre.

H4754

ma ra’

maw- raw’

A primitive root; to rebel; hence (through the idea of maltreating) to whip, that is, lash (self with wings, as the ostrich in running): – be filthy, lift up self.

We have strutting and growling babes…. babes which look big and tough and act that way who also lift themselves up in lusty and filthy ways like an ostrich when it runs. When an ostrich runs, it’s feathers sway back and forth near its hind end.

These are the brothers we have along aside us during this time and it is no wonder how we address the Lord next when He next comes to speak with us. After all, we have just been victorious and a king and High Priest of the Lord has come to visit us.

Of course, we are only willing to give 10% of anything to the Lord and His priest at this time.

With this mindset, we have a vision:

Gen 15:1 –  After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Gen 15:2 –  And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

Gen 15:3 –  And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Amazing! We have given the Lord and His priest 10% and now as soon as the Lord come to us in a vision, we start asking what the Lord is gonna go for us. After all, he has given us victory of war and allowed us to be saviors to others. Isn’t it time we get rewarded?

All of this is all of the Lord, and this is exactly how we live every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. We must all live this out in our own spiritual life and we will or have.

The Lord is merciful because of course He knows what and how we are this way and in this weakened state, so He just moves to the next step of His plan.

Gen 15:4 –  And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

Gen 15:5 –  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Gen 15:6 –  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

As we believe on the Lord, we are given to know what the Lord has planned for us and our seed but of course we want proof and we are going to get it!

Gen 15:7 –  And he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

Gen 15:8 –  But he said, “ O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

Gen 15:9 –  He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

See, the Lord is going to separate us from our brethren SO CONCRETELY that the flame of the Word of God will be the great divide. It will be the flame of the Word of God which will separate us, the beast.

This is the proof, sacrifice and covenant the Lord is making with Abram and the seed of promise. Abram will be RENAMED though and is just now learning what this coat of many colors means.

Gen 15:10 –  And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.

Gen 15:11 –  And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

Gen 15:12 –  As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.

It is in the deep sleep of the night that the Lord marks out the steps we will take. It is when we are in the darkness, yet to arise into newness of the day that we are given our instruction. It is a done deal. It is accomplished and here is your proof you seed of promise.

Gen 15:13 –  And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Gen 15:14 –  And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Gen 15:15 –  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

Gen 15:16 –  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

It is our very brethren whom we are going to serve, but how did I come to that conclusion?

Remember, it is Aner, Eshcol and Mamre who were in confederate with us, but it is the INQUITY of us serving the elder, the ONES IN THE LAND BEFORE US, which is no yet complete.

This iniquity is that this elder brother gives up their birthright for a bowl of pottage, a fulfilling of their youthful, lustful, and boastful self- worth and image.

The Lord has promised to separate us from this and bring us back to Him. Our seed, our fruit will be better in the end because of this separation and it is the fire of the Word of God that will accomplish this in the MIDST of this two sided beast that you and I are.

It is at the setting of the Sun, it is when the Lord truly is crucified in that great city, that we as Peter finally are given to weep bitterly and start the new part of our new man of Life.

Gen 15:17 –  And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

Gen 15:18 –  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Gen 15:19 –  The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,

Gen 15:20 –  And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,

Gen 15:21 –  And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

The Lord will separate us in the midst, in the middle. He will thoroughly and succinctly do His work but it is the vision that gets us all excited again.

In our youthfulness, we as Abram start listening to our wife and want to once again get the show on the road and this is so that we can have the perfection of the flesh in everything it has to offer…. which IS NOTHING to the Lord.

What we have to offer to the Lord is not sacrifice but obedience and that is why Ishmael is not the seed whom will be taken to the altar to test our faith.

In Gen 15 we ended with the Lord telling us that He is going to give the seed of the father of promise the lan to possess including all those giants and peoples who dwell therein…. dominance over our flesh, but all in His timing.

To re- emphasize this point, we are told there is timing to this and it Isa 10 years that we are in the land that we have the perfection of the flesh working its ultimate work.

It is when our ultimate work is accomplished that we ourselves hold it in contempt. It is because we go back to our Egyptian learned ways to “work the work of our hands”.

Gen 16:1 –  Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

Gen 16:2 –  And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Gen 16:3 –  And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Gen 16:4 –  And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

It is really informative to understand what is happening here. Hagar, of whom was put in motion by Sarai now despises Sarai because she can see that the Lord has “dried” up Sarai’s womb at this time.

What the KJV translators used here as despised really misses the mark of what is being said. Hagar cursed Sarai and Sarai was furious. Here is the same word translated despised with only the listings of cursed listed to get right to the point:

H7043

qa lal

Total KJV Occurrences:88

curse, 17

Gen_8:21, Lev_19:14, Deu_23:4, Jos_24:9, 2Sa_16:9-11 (4), Neh_13:2, Psa_62:4, Psa_109:28, Pro_30:10, Ecc_7:21, Isa_8:20-21 (3), Jer_15:10

cursed, 17

Lev_20:9, Lev_24:11, Lev_24:14, Lev_24:23, Jdg_9:27, 1Sa_17:43, 2Sa_16:5, 2Sa_16:7, 2Sa_16:13, 2Sa_19:21, 1Ki_2:8, 2Ki_2:24, Neh_13:25, Job_3:1, Job_24:18, Ecc_7:22 (2)

Gen 8:20 –  And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Gen 8:21 –  And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Lev 19:14 –  Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.

Deu 23:4 –  Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

It is the cursed that will hang on a tree, and in this type and shadow the seed that is yet to exist has been cursed. If you have the eyes to see it and ears to hear it, it is Christ our Lord who has been cursed from the beginning.

The Lord has put this all in motion and our brethren are food for us. They are put here to be our nourishment in how they are used to mold and bend us into the children of God who can later be used to be saviors on mount Zion to these brethren that will eventually come to the well of water which will never run out with us.

They are now made to be perfect in their purpose, and the Lord blesses them in the process. Here is how this plays out with Abram, Sarai and Hagar.

It is here that the Lord will also work with those in the wilderness who will come to the well that is for them now, during this time which will deceive them and shall be this way until the Lord brings us all into His love and glory.

Gen 16:5 –  And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

Gen 16:6 –  But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

Gen 16:7 –  And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

Gen 16:8 –  And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

Gen 16:9 –  And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

The very reason for our brethren to exist in this context is to be against us. It is so that we will be brought through this life being sharpened and perfected so that we can overcome.

Rest assured, these brethren will be AGAINST US and we better be AGAINST them or we simply are none of His at this time. The Lord puts His work into our hands and says now work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Gen 16:10 –  And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

Gen 16:11 –  And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.

Gen 16:12 –  And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Truly, we will all be brought up together until the harvest.

Gen 16:13 –  And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Gen 16:14 –  Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

Gen 16:15 –  And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

Gen 16:16 –  And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Beerlahairoi is the well of the Living One who sees us. He sees both sides of the beast and the night and the day are alike unto the Lord.

We have both sides of us warring against each other in our heavens. We have the old man and the new man, the spirit and the natural the life and death we have dwelling in us, there for our benefit because all things are ours.

Conclusion of Awesome Hands Part 6

In this study, we have seen that the Lord will bless the works of our hands thus allowing us to reap what we sow.

In this sowing, we are being molded into a branch that will not be cut of but will continue to be grafted into the Lord. Our brethren who are against us will be so because their hand has been set into motion before they were ever “an unformed substance” in the womb of their mother Hagar.

In our next study, we will receive our new name in type and shadow just as we are finally given to fall on our face and listen to the Lord.