Christ's Food Center

Encourage One Another

Films today, such at J.R.R. Tolkins, "Lord of the Rings", or other great epic fantasy stories are so popular, in part, because of the history, the world, they create. Great and glorious kings and great men of renown come together under harsh circumstances and tremendous events. Certainly, they boy (or girl) in all of us is appealed to on some level.

Sometimes the Bible reads like an epic story. And many attempts have been made to make it just that, an epic story, rather than the Word of God. The history in the Bible is true history. The epic events really happened.

The battle we read in Children's Church this morning really happened. It was a great rebellion - kings and soldiers fought and died for freedom, almost 4000 years before America's fight for freedom and independence from tyranny.

In the Bible we read that at first the tyrants won! But then the Bible tells us that Abram, concerned for his nephew Lot, called out 318 of his trained fighting men, and he pursued, overtook, and rescued his nephew, defeating the kings who had already claimed victory.

And remember, when we read these stories; the tyrants and their tyranny; the defeat and slavery; and in the end, the rescue and freedom - unlike our popular fantasy stories, these all really occurred.

As we read these stories in the Bible, if we're not careful we may overlook, in the excitement of it all, some important people and events that get only a line or two of the text. Such is Melchizedek, king and priest of Salem.

3 verses are all we have here about him. After the fighting is over, and the victory is won by Abram. We read in; Genesis 14:18-20 "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, (19) and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. (20) And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything."

Melchizedek was from Salem, which we know as Jerusalem. He was both a king and a priest of God - God Most High. And he blessed Abram and gave the glory for Abram's victory to God Most High. And Abram tithed to Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

So, what does this Melchizedek mean to us, as Christians, today? Well, turn with me to Hebrews 6:13-7:28 "When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, (14) saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." (15) And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. (16) Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. (17) Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.

(18) God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. (19) We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, (20) where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

(7:1) "This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, (2) and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything.

First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." (3) Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. (4) Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!

(5) Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people-that is, their brothers-even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. (6) This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. (7) And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. (8) In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. (9) One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, (10) because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

(11) If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come-one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? (12) For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. (13) He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. (14) For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. (15) And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, (16) one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. (17) For it is declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

(18) The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (19) (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. (20) And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, (21) but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.' "

(22) Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. (23) Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; (24) but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. (25) Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (26) Such a high priest meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. (27) Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. (28) For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever."

What this is saying is that there is something greater than the Law of Moses, outside the Law of Moses and is of God. And that something is Jesus the Christ. Who is to us, like Melchizedek was to Abraham - both a king and a priest. And that we live now under the New Covenant - the New Testament declared in the Bible and under the command of Jesus, the Son of God.

The writer of Hebrews goes on to tell us how important the blood of Christ is to us all. He writes; Hebrews 10:19-25 "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, (21) and since we have a great priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (24) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (25) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

There are as many ways to encourage and to spur one another on toward love and good deeds as there are people. It's not a matter of money - but as with Abram, it's a matter of trust and faith in God.

Today, we need to ask ourselves - What are we doing to encourage one another? How are we spurring one another on toward love and good deeds? Are we using what God has given us to serve and glorify him? Are our hearts set firmly on the path of righteousness? For where our hearts are, there shall the rest of us be. And are we ready for the DAY. For it is approaching.

In faith,
John