Trusting And Acknowledging God First

We humans tend to trust our eyes, hearts and wisdom, and seek our own benefit, more than trust God and seek His glory. Thus, God sometimes leads us to certain situations where it is clear that we cannot depend on ourselves, so that we will be driven to trust and acknowledge Him. Indeed, when faced with spiritual warfare and the bondage of sin, the one whom we need most is Jesus, because He is our Great King-Priest. By faith in Him, we can win the spiritual battle and be freed from the condemnation of sin. And because God is Provider of everything we owe, it is only right that we dedicate our lives and what we have for His use and glory. When we trust and acknowledge God first, above all else, we will see God’s blessed evidences in our lives.

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1. Believers will be involved in WARFARE.

1) Within and without.

2) Sometimes not for ourselves, but our loved ones.

3) Impossible to win >>> fight by FAITH.

• Not a “waiting faith”.
• Abram gave God the full credit and trust, as if he could not achieve anything on his own; BUT he also did everything he could, as if all depended upon his faithfulness (to obey God).

4) Nothing is random; even problem is fulfilment of promise.

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2. A critical test: WEALTH.

1) Abram passed because he received “financial healing”.

2) No financial healing, no financial blessing.

• “Greedy Lack”.
• “Relative Lack”.
• “Wasteful Lack”.

3) Tithing

• Declaration of faith.
• Dedication of self.
• Means to fulfill gospel work.

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3. “Melchizedek”: KING-PRIEST.

• Prefigures CHRIST.
• Christ: The Superior Priest.
• Won’t die, forever can intercede for us.
• Once and for all, instead of repeated sacrifices.
• Guarantor of a better covenant.
• Comes to meet us too, with bread and wine: Nourish. Comfort. Bless.

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Reflection:

• Do you see yourself as actively or involuntarily engaged in spiritual warfare? Are you having a “waiting faith”, or how have you been doing your part in fighting this battle?
• How much financial healing do you think you have received? Any struggles or testimonies in this area (finances and tithing)?
• In dealing with warfare and sin, how have you seen the help of the King-Priest Jesus in your life?