It Is God Who Reveals Himself

Study: # 660-Church in the Houses From: November 23-29, 2010

TOPIC: “It Is God Who Reveals Himself” Genesis 14:17-24

We can see Abram as a man of a heart who fears God and who has a strong desire to carry out all of the spiritual things. When that reverent fear is in a person we can see that God reveals Himself to that person to perfect everything in his life. If there is any reservation in the person who is called by God, this person will not be able to surrender totally. If Abram couldn’t have a simple heart for God, then, how would he be called "the Father of Faith"? Therefore, we see that by his good disposition it was God who began to work in him. Sodom was a land of sin. In that land of great evil Abram was received after having a great victory in battle; it is as if Satan had come to tempt Abram after the victory. Genesis 14:17 But, instead of this happening God arrived; Melchizedek, king of the city of Salem, came to Abram. Verse 18 There Abram had the great opportunity to show God his gratitude for the victory he had obtained. Abram and Melchizedek, both belong to the divine. There is always an order in the divine things. Abram, after fighting in the field of battle had to be tired, hungry and thirsty, but he was also in victory and owed God gratitude for that victory. Melchizedek brought bread and wine to Abram to fortify him. Nothing is known of the priesthood of Melchizedek, but we also know that Noah offered the same sacrifice to God. In the same way, long before Noah, Abel and Cain also gave their offerings of sacrifice to God. And it is God who puts that concern to offer sacrifice, directly in a heart that he has cleansed from avarice, wickedness, hatred, envy, etc. Priesthood is a position inherited and those men were called and they served God this way for a certain time. Melchizedek’s parents were not priests. His genealogical chain was Arabic; He was the son of Heraclim, son of Peleg, son of Eber and the name of his mother was Salathiel, daughter of Gomer, son of Japheth the son of Noah. So, their ancestors were not priests. His priesthood had no beginning or no end as that of Jesus, it is written in the Book of Hebrew. Hebrew 5: 6 Melchizedek blessed Abram and Abram gave him the tithe of all his wealth. Genesis 14: 20 Sodom offered Abram to take all the material things. Verse 21 Satan still tempts us to occupy ourselves with the toys of the dust of this world. But, Abram was a giver who always gave to God with joy; he did not want not even a thread from the strap of the king of Sodom’s sandal. Verse 23 God also revealed Himself to Jacob as we read in Genesis 28:22, and he had to say: "Truly Jehovah is in this place". That is how greatly Jacob’s life was impacted when God revealed Himself to him. It’s God and you, but if this has not happened to you, you will talk, deny and He will afflict you. God visited Jacob and that produced in him a reverent fear. He feared and said: "How terrible is this place." When God revealed Himself to Jacob in this place, he was able to see, just like you can see when God reveals Himself to you, that this place was not anything other than the house of God and the door to Heaven. When God revealed himself to Jacob he made a vow in that occasion. Jacob needed for God

to be with him. He held on to God: Jehovah will be my God. He made an act of devotion as a sign of gratitude. The stone would be an altar for God. The house of God will not remain devastated and the altar will not remain without sacrifice. Of everything given to Jacob from God, the tithe would be separated to give to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30, 31 The tithe was dedicated to God. We thank God for everything He gives us. God has given this as a gift to have his priests. The tithe belongs to God. If the offerer wanted to keep the fruit instead of tithing, the law was foreseen that it could be done if he paid the value in addition to one fifth part as a penalty. The tithe is given to the priestly ministry. The consequences of the obedience to tithe are seen in Malachi 3:10 which says: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it”. In the Book of the prophet Malachi, the town of Israel is called to repent for not obeying in giving the tithe. Their conscience had been cauterized and they refused to return and repent since their sense of sin was lost. For not giving God the tithe and offerings requested in the law (Leviticus 27:30) they do not prosper. We can see the love of the Father when He says: "you Test me now in this…" If you doubt His kindness and His justice, do the test. God does not allow anyone to overcome Him in His generosity. The spiritual and material are seen in the Old Testament. In the New Testament in Mathew 23:23, Jesus says that it should not be omitted, to give tithe. It was an obligation for all to pay the tithe. Jesus does not declare that it should not be done, but rather He leaves it clear that it must be done. Hebrew 7:8 He is speaking of mortal men. Those who pay the tithe hand it to the person who has the spiritual ministry; well this person is superior in the spiritual things. Brother, to give to God is not a burden, it is a blessing. Amen.