This week, I'd like to talk about an obscure and somewhat controversial figure from the Old Testament named Melchizedek. Webster's dictionary defines the word "enigma" as a situation or person that is difficult to understand or explain, and Melchizedek was certainly the very definition of an enigma. We'll begin by reading the only actual account of Melchizedek, and of what he did. We find this in Genesis 14:18-20..."And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." Although this is the only account of Melchizedek's actions, Paul has a lot more to say about him in the New Testament, in the book of Hebrews.
First, a little background on what occurred here. Abram had just returned from battle, after rescuing his nephew Lot, who had been taken captive in the battle of the kings in the valley of Siddim. He was met by Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, and king of a place called Salem, who brought bread and wine, and then blessed Abram and thanked God for delivering Abram's enemies into his hand. Abram then proceeded to give tithes of all of the spoils to Melchizedek. Let's look at the only other place in the Old Testament where Melchizedek is mentioned, in the 110th Psalm, and let's notice the context, and who David is referring to..."The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 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. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at thy right hand will strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore shall he lift up the head." This Psalm is foreshadowing of Jesus, and it is no coincidence that Melchizedek is mentioned here. So, the question becomes, who was this Melchizedek, and why is he so significant? We can't definitively say who we was, but by looking closely at the facts surrounding him, we can draw our own conclusions. With that said, let's take a look at the 7th chapter of Hebrews, where Melchizedek is discussed in great detail, and where Paul gives critical clues as to the mystery of Melchizedek's identity...
"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom 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. 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.
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 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: but he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. 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 arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (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 Melchizedek:) by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 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. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."
Alright, so let's lay the facts out, in order for us to draw our own conclusion as to the identity of Melchizedek. Paul has provided all the clues necessary in order for us to make an informed decision. First of all, the name "Melchizedek", in Hebrew, is translated as "king of righteousness". There is only one king of righteousness. We are also told that he was the king of "Salem", which is the Hebrew word for "peace", which would make him the "king of peace". Next, we are told that he is the priest of the most high God. In our reading in Hebrews, we saw that he abides as priest continually, and we know that there can be only one high priest. Furthermore, he brought bread and wine to Abraham, which was the institution of communion. The first tithe recorded in the bible was then given to him by Abraham.
Paul tells us in Hebrews that Melchizedek had no genealogy, no beginning of days and no end of life. Therefore, we know that he was not merely a mortal man. Bear in mind that Paul met Jesus in an unusual way, after His death and resurrection, as Paul was traveling to Damascus. It would seem that Paul was fascinated by the idea of Jesus revealing Himself to other people in unusual ways as well, as he dedicates the entire seventh chapter of Hebrews to drawing out the parallels between Melchizedek and Jesus.
Was Melchizedek merely a foreshadowing of Jesus, or was this king of peace and righteousness indeed our Savior, sent to bless Abraham, institute the communion, and establish the tithe? May this be among the many questions that we have the privilege of asking Jesus in person once we are given the opportunity to meet Him face to face...
This week, we're going to take a look at one of the most intriguing and mysterious summaries of the life and death of Jesus. This is a brief section of scripture, but it is very profound, and contains indisputable facts which prove beyond a doubt the deity of Christ. So, let's read Phillippians chapter 2, verses 5-11...Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Paul begins in verse 5 by telling us that we are to be of the same mind as Jesus, that is, to model ourselves after His supreme example of humility and meekness. This is an extremely difficult thing for us as humans to do, and Jesus understands this. He does, however, expect us to put forth every effort in order to stay in this mindset, and to practice this humility.
Verse 6 begins with a very powerful and at the same time very controversial statement...Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:...This simple phrase has been the source of much dispute throughout the years, because it points directly to the deity of Jesus as the Second Person of the Trinity. So much so, in fact, that many other "versions" of the bible have sought to change, reword, rephrase, or remove it altogether. As an example, in place of the phrase "thought it not robbery to be equal with God", the English Standard Version as well as the Revised Standard Version read, "did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped." This rephrasing is nothing but blasphemy in its purest form. Satan has entered into the minds of these writers, just as he entered into the mind of Judas, in order to create doubt as to the validity of the deity of Christ. So, what are the differences between the way that the verse was originally written, and the way that these other versions render it? In the King James Version, the phrase is translated word for word from the original Greek text, to read, "thought it not robbery to be equal with God", meaning that Jesus did not consider Himself to be taking any liberties, or taking on a title which he did not have a right to, in order to be considered equal with God, as He said in John 10:30, "I and my Father are one." The other aforementioned versions of the bible re-translate the phrase to read, "did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped." This completely changes the meaning of the verse. This phrase is saying that Jesus did not consider Himself worthy to be considered equal with God, in other words, that He was merely human. This strips Christ of His deity. Even if every other word was translated exactly the same as the original text, this one glaring example of heresy should be enough for us to see that these other versions are simply not to be trusted. Unfortunately, however, this is just one of many heresies which these other versions subtly attempt to ingrain into the subconscious mind of the reader. Also, let's look at John 1:1..."In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Remember, also, when all of Thomas' doubt was removed as he touched Jesus' side, and felt the nail scars in His hands. He exclaimed in John 20:28, "...My Lord and My God." Jesus did not correct or reprove Thomas, because what he had spoken was the truth. In fact, Jesus told him..."because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." It would be robbery in the highest degree for any mere mortal to claim equality with God, or to profess himself to be one with the Father. Jesus was the only one who could legitimately lay claim to equality with the Father, because He and the Father are one.
Verse 7 tells us that Jesus made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Think about the wording here...Jesus made himself of no reputation...we are told in John 1:3...All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made which was made. Jesus chose to make himself of low degree, of no regard. He is the maker of all things, and yet He chose to take no glory upon Himself, as He voluntarily assumed a human form, emptying Himself of all glory in the process, and was born into a human body. The very creator of the universe, born as a helpless baby, and entirely by choice. This is the ultimate example of humility. He lived His life on earth in service to others, seeking to save sinners, and as we are told in verse 8, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. No more humiliating death could be imagined than that of crucifixion.
It was not only the most shameful and demeaning form of execution, but it was also accursed by the law, and it was intentionally made as physically painful as possible. Not only was this a horrific way to die, but Jesus was also made a public spectacle, executed as a common criminal. Again, this was of His own free will, and completely voluntary. Jesus said, speaking of His life, in John 10:18...No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. So we see, not only did Jesus choose this life, He also chose this death. His life was lived in such a way as to supply us with the supreme example of humility, and we are to try our best to emulate His meekness, to be of the same mind. His blood was shed in order to pay the price for our sins, to be the sacrifice that was required in order to satisfy the righteous judgment of God.
In verses 9, 10, and 11 we see that because of Jesus' willingness to humble Himself in this way, that God has highly exalted Him, so much so that His name is above every other name. At the name of Jesus, all manner of evil must flee. All disease, all sickness, oppression, addiction, sadness, all poverty, must flee. At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Those of us who have believed and have been saved will gladly bow and confess His name, but what about all those throughout history who have refused His salvation? The bible tells us that they will also ultimately bow and confess the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord. When they reach the end of their days, they will be faced with the horrible realization that their lives were wasted chasing things that simply didn't matter. All of their efforts to gain fortune, fame, and popularity were for naught. Nothing else matters except for our belief in, and reliance on, the precious blood of Jesus. We need to pray for those who are lost, that we would be an example of His light, so that those who don't believe might see something in us that makes them question, makes them wonder, what it is that we have that others don't. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. May His Spirit always lead us in the paths of righteousness, keep us in the will of God, and help us to have the mind of Christ.
I'd like for us to take a look at Ephesians chapter 4, verses 17-32, where the Apostle Paul lays out a blueprint for our transformation from darkness into light. He also explains the distinct differences between the mental states of a person before and after they are exposed to the love of Jesus. We'll begin with verse 17, and read a few verses, then try to expound upon their meaning...
Ephesians 4:17-19...This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Paul is here outlining the idea for our transformation, laying the groundwork for the changes that are to come. Keep in mind, although this epistle was written to Gentiles in the first century A.D., it applies to us just as directly in the 21st century, because as we are told in Ecclesiastes 1:9, there is no new thing under the sun. Evil is just as prevalent now as it was then, and the same devil that plagued the people of the first century is still working today to keep us apart from God. This is what Paul means by being alienated from the life of God. The ignorance that Paul speaks of is original sin. It seeks to darken our understanding, and to blind our hearts to the love of God. As our understanding becomes darkened, the light of God's love is pushed further away and our hearts are blinded, the inevitable conclusion being that we become, as Paul says, past feeling, and we give ourselves over to darkness, to uncleanness. Note here that it is a voluntary action on our part, however. We are the ones giving ourselves over, we are not being taken over by Satan, and we are not being relinquished by God. It is only after this voluntary turning over of ourselves, this pushing away of the light in order to embrace the darkness, that God turns us over to a reprobate mind, as we see in Romans 1:28. Paul warns us that we are to retain the knowledge of God, and to walk in His light. We'll pick back up with verse 20-24...
Ephesians 4:20-24...But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
We see here that we have a definitive role to play in this change. Once we see the light, we must begin to step out into the light, no longer walking in darkness. Renewing the spirit of our minds, we put away our old ways, the deceit and corruption giving way to a new way of thinking, a new way of looking at ourself and others, no longer looking through worldly eyes, but rather truly seeing for the first time through the eyes of Jesus.
Ephesians 4:25-27...Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.
Here at the beginning of Paul's blueprint, we see that truth is first and foremost. In order for us to be like Christ, we must esteem others better than ourselves, and, just as Jesus taught, we must love our neighbour as ourself. We are all members of the same body. Notice here that Paul does not tell us that anger has no place in our life. There are times when anger is appropriate, and even necessary, but anger becomes sin when it is allowed to fester. This is the reason that Paul tells us not to let the sun go down upon our wrath. Jesus dealt harshly at times with the Scribes and Pharisees, and certainly with the moneychangers in the temple, but He used anger effectively, and then let it go, always ready to forgive. There are times that anger is a powerfully effective tool, and righteous indignation is something that we all need to have, especially in this politically correct society. We should never have to fear speaking the truth. The final thought of verse 27 is really the pivotal statement of Paul's blueprint...do not give place to the devil.
Regardless of how much power and influence that Satan may have, it is ultimately up to us whether or not he has control over us. Our free will is at the same time both a blessing and a curse. While we are free to choose whether or not we will follow the commandments of God, we are also free to decide whether or not we will be influenced by the devil. Satan does not have the power to force his will upon us. God wants our obedience to be based on love, and this is the reason that He endowed us with free will from the beginning. Let's look at the final five verses of the chapter, where we see the implementation of Paul's blueprint...
Ephesians 4:28-32...Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
In allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our path, we are transformed, and we become what we were meant to be. This is the central theme of Paul's blueprint. The evil that has darkened our hearts can be washed clean by the blood of Christ, to make us whiter than the snow. We must simply be willing to be changed, to turn from the darkness, and to embrace the light. This is what repentance is all about. As we shift our focus from our own desires, and begin to look on the needs of others, the hardness of our hearts will melt away, revealing the kind and gentle nature of Jesus, living in and through us. May the Holy Spirit lead us into this state of peace with God, with others, and with ourselves.
This week, I'd like to discuss the power of the tongue, the damage as well as the good that it can do, and the great responsibility that we are faced with in regards to the use of our tongue. Our main text will be the third chapter of James, but we'll also look at several other verses throughout the bible which have application to the use of the tongue. So, we'll begin with James, chapter 3, looking at a few verses at a time, and discuss their meaning...v.1,2 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. James warns us here of the greater responsibility that a teacher, or a preacher, has in regards to the leading of God's people, and the fact that speaking the truth, even when it is done in love, is going to be offensive to many. We all, no matter how pure our intentions may be, will slip from time to time, and say the wrong things, or fail to say the right things, and a teacher faces stronger repercussions for these very human failings. v.3-5 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! The horse, though a very powerful animal, is controlled by man when he places a bit in its mouth, thereby forcefully rendering void the will of the animal, and taking control over its actions. The same applies to a ship. Though massive in size, a very small rudder is used to steer and guide the ship where the captain wants it to go. These principles are applied in a very fitting analogy to the tongue, and to the fact that although it is a small member, its power cannot be overstated. James further poetically states, "how great a matter a little fire kindleth!", and to continue the thought, even a raging forest fire begins with a single spark.
This analogy of the tongue to a fire is continued in v.6...And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. Here, James strongly asserts just how powerful and deadly the tongue really is, that it is a world of iniquity, that is it the one member of our body that can defile us, and has the power to set fire to any good thing that we may have done or said with one single harsh word. v.7-10...For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James here further proves his point by contrasting the taming power of mankind over the animals with his inability to tame his own tongue. Here, the tongue seems to take on a life of its own, as James tells us that it is an unruly evil that no man can tame. We have to understand that we will never, as human beings subject to frailty and weakness, be able to fully control our tongues, and that we must do all within our power to limit the damage that this deadly poison incurs on others. James told us in verse 2 that if any man did not offend in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body. We know that we cannot hope to attain this level of perfection as long as we are in this earthly body. Proverbs 21:23 tells us...Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Psalms 34:13 says...Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Ah, if only it were that easy! Psalms 52:2 says...Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. And Proverbs 18:21 tells us...Death and life are in the power of the tongue...1 Peter 3:10 says...For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Certainly solid advice, although quite impossible to follow. Let's continue our reading in James, chapter 3, with verse 11 and read the rest of the chapter...Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness and wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. These verses bring to mind James' warning in chapter 1, verse 8...A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. How many times I have thought of that verse, and how it is so inexplicably applicable to me. Though I want to do good, to say good, to BE good, I know in reality that I am the double minded man that James was speaking of. And, just as this verse applies to me, so do the verses we've just read, in that the good that I would like to do, and try to do, seems to me to be in many ways nothing more than hypocrisy, when I consider my many frailties and weaknesses, my judgmental thoughts, and negative attitudes. But perhaps this is just what James is trying to convey to us here. Let us not consider ourselves to be wise, for we are yet carnal. Our best intentions belie an innate leaning toward darkness, because we are born under, and bound by, original sin. It is only through the precious blood of Jesus that we can ever hope to be cleansed, purified, and sanctified. Only through the grace of God can we be reconciled back and be acceptable in His sight, and only His Spirit can lead us into the paths of righteousness. Let us pray for God's guidance, for His help with our weaknesses, for His mercy in our failings, and for His strength to help us control the natural inclination to use our tongues for evil, that we would speak kindness, and peace, and show His love to the world around us.
I'd like for us to take a look at Romans chapter 12, verses 1 and 2, which are some of the most profound words ever written by the Apostle Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 12:1&2...I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Verse 1 begins with Paul's admonition to the church at Rome, and to us as well, as he very passionately implores us that that through God's mercy, we sincerely present ourselves to God just as we are, but ready and willing to be changed by Him, in any way that he sees fit. To be a living sacrifice means that we must give up all of our self, in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Our self indulgent impulses, negative thoughts and actions, and self serving tendencies must be brought under subjection to the will of God. We can never lay claim to any holiness of our own, or ever hope to attain it by our own works. However, we must be willing to rid ourselves of anything which might prevent us from becoming all that God would have us to be. This is what is acceptable in His sight, and this is the reasonable service which Paul speaks of. Verse 2 goes one step further by sharing with us how to go about making these changes in our life. First of all, we must not conform ourselves to this world. This would include not only keeping ourselves away from the myriad of evil influences which bombard us on a daily basis, but also means not yielding ourselves to the will or influence of others. Peer pressure can be a very powerful influence not only on young people, but it can also affect people of any age. We all have a desire to fit in, to be popular, but when the desire for worldly acceptance overrides our longing to be what God wants us to be, it becomes a problem. Conformity to this world also includes the desire to have the latest thing, the newest car, the biggest house, or just to have something better than our neighbor has. These are not to be the priorities of a child of God. We are to be content with what we have, knowing that God will supply all of our needs. So, how do we avoid the dangers of conformity? Paul tells us that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. What does he mean by this? God's word constantly renews our minds, and it keeps us in His will. By reading, studying, and meditating on His word, we are transformed into what God would have us to be, and thereby we can prove what the good, and perfect, and acceptable, will of God is for our life.
