Real heroes are Real heroes are motivated by restoring motivated by restoring justice and not by what justice and not by what they will gain from they will gain from victoryvictory

People of faith value People of faith value retaining relationship retaining relationship over exerting rights of over exerting rights of ownershipownership

When is it “right” for a When is it “right” for a person of faith to take up person of faith to take up

arms?arms?

War is justified when it is a “just war,” War is justified when it is a “just war,” that is when a person of faith engages that is when a person of faith engages in battle to overcome a tyrant who is in battle to overcome a tyrant who is unjustly taking unjustly taking landland or or rightsrights or or resourcesresources or or freedomsfreedoms from persons or from persons or country who is unable to adequately country who is unable to adequately defend themselves against the tyrant.defend themselves against the tyrant.

““There is a time to There is a time to love, and a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for hate; a time for warwar, , and a time for and a time for peacepeace.” .”

(Ecclesiastes 3:8) (Ecclesiastes 3:8)

Be led by the Holy Spirit Be led by the Holy Spirit in rightly dividing the in rightly dividing the Word of Truth (the Bible) Word of Truth (the Bible) and discerning its and discerning its application to varying life application to varying life situations.situations.

“In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,

these kings made war with Bera king of these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab

king of Admah, Shemeber king of king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is,

Zoar). And all these joined forces in the Zoar). And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).” Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).”

(Genesis 14:1–3, ESV) (Genesis 14:1–3, ESV)

“““Twelve years they had served Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year

they rebelled. In the fourteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were Chedorlaomer and the kings who were

with him came and defeated the with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the

Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill

country of Seir as far as El-paran on the country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness.” (Genesis border of the wilderness.” (Genesis

14:4–6, ESV) 14:4–6, ESV)

First War in the First War in the BibleBible

Abram rescues Abram rescues the Kings of the Kings of Jordan and his Jordan and his nephew Lotnephew Lot

First War in the First War in the BibleBible

Abram rescues Abram rescues the Kings of the Kings of Jordan and his Jordan and his nephew Lotnephew Lot

“““So the enemy took all the possessions So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their

provisions, and went their way. They also provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who

was dwelling in Sodom, and his was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way. Then possessions, and went their way. Then one who had escaped came and told one who had escaped came and told

Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of

Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram.” (Genesis 14:11–13, ESV) Abram.” (Genesis 14:11–13, ESV)

“““When Abram heard that his kinsman When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of trained men, born in his house, 318 of

them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. And he divided his forces against them And he divided his forces against them

by night, he and his servants, and by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he

brought back all the possessions, and brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with also brought back his kinsman Lot with

his possessions, and the women and the his possessions, and the women and the people.” (Genesis 14:14–16, ESV) people.” (Genesis 14:14–16, ESV)

Abram, the man of faith, Abram, the man of faith, undertakes the firstundertakes the first

just warjust war

Is Abram going to say, Is Abram going to say, “People of faith must “People of faith must never resort to war?” never resort to war?”

Or is Abram going to say, Or is Abram going to say, “There are times when in the “There are times when in the cause of justice, a people cause of justice, a people must be willing to sacrifice must be willing to sacrifice and go to war to restore and go to war to restore justice and freedom?”justice and freedom?”

Abram takes Abram takes action!action!

After a Victory is where After a Victory is where righteousness must act righteousness must act

and real Heroes are and real Heroes are made.made.

After defeating the tyrants, After defeating the tyrants, what is Abram going to do?what is Abram going to do?

“““After his return from the defeat of After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to with him, the king of Sodom went out to

meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king

of Salem brought out bread and wine. of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)” (He was priest of God Most High.)”

(Genesis 14:17–18, ESV) (Genesis 14:17–18, ESV)

“““And he blessed him and said, “Blessed And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor be Abram by God Most High, Possessor

of heaven and earth; and blessed be of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your God Most High, who has delivered your

enemies into your hand!” And Abram enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis

14:19–20, ESV) 14:19–20, ESV)

“““And the king of Sodom said to Abram, And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the “Give me the persons, but take the

goods for yourself.” But Abram said to goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,” (Genesis 14:21–of heaven and earth,” (Genesis 14:21–

22, ESV) 22, ESV)

“““that I would not take a thread or a that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, sandal strap or anything that is yours,

lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will take nothing but what the rich.’ I will take nothing but what the

young men have eaten, and the share of young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”” Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.””

(Genesis 14:23–24, ESV) (Genesis 14:23–24, ESV)

Believers will sometimes Believers will sometimes face conflict in the face conflict in the

pursuit of the blessing of pursuit of the blessing of God in their lives.God in their lives.

God’s people know that they God’s people know that they must be ready to use the must be ready to use the resources God has given resources God has given

them to pursue by faith the them to pursue by faith the mission God has given mission God has given

them.them.

A believer must use what A believer must use what God has given them to God has given them to champion the cause of champion the cause of

righteousness.righteousness.

Victory often brings new Victory often brings new challenges and temptations.challenges and temptations.

“““And he blessed him and said, And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Possessor of heaven and earth; and Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has blessed be God Most High, who has

delivered your enemies into your delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis 14:19–20, ESV) everything.” (Genesis 14:19–20, ESV)

Melchizedek reminds Abram Melchizedek reminds Abram it is the Most High God who it is the Most High God who

brought the victory!brought the victory!

““Now the men of Sodom Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.”against the LORD.”

(Genesis 13:13, ESV) (Genesis 13:13, ESV)

Abram must resist the Abram must resist the temptation to enrich himself temptation to enrich himself

through taking the through taking the resources of someone he resources of someone he

has helpedhas helped

Jesus taught: Jesus taught: “But when “But when you give to someone in you give to someone in need, don’t let your left need, don’t let your left hand know what your hand know what your right hand is doing.” right hand is doing.”

(Matthew 6:3, NLT) (Matthew 6:3, NLT)

A Believer understands:A Believer understands:

““I must not enrich myself, I must not enrich myself, either materially, or by either materially, or by reputation, as result of reputation, as result of

helping someone in need.helping someone in need.

1.1. A believer must use what A believer must use what God has given them to God has given them to champion the cause of champion the cause of

righteousness.righteousness.

..

2.2. A believer must not A believer must not enrich themselves either enrich themselves either

materially or by reputation, materially or by reputation, as a result of helping as a result of helping

someone else.someone else.

..