Mere Missions

40 • M ere M issions : M oving F orward to M ultiply

‘To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve’ (Luke 4:5-8).” Though the kingdoms of the world have been given over to Satan, we know the final outcome of this conflict. A day, a great and glorious day is coming, and all will hear the thunderous voices in heaven saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15)” for “the government shall be upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9:6).” The priority of both these Kingdoms that are in conflict, are for the souls of humanity. Genesis 14 records the story of nine kingdoms at war with each other, four kings against five, and a great battle in the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). An otherwise insignificant story except if it were not for Lot, the nephew of Abram, being taken prisoner along with all the spoils of war and the first record of Melchizedek, both king and priest connected with Jerusalem. Abram sets out with his fighting forces, secures the victory and, “Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people (Genesis 14:16).” We then come across an intriguing interaction that Abram has with this mystery Priest and King of the Most High God, Melchizedek, and the King of Sodom: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,