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

2. Real heroes are motivated by restoring justice and not by what they will gain from victory

3. People of faith value retaining relationship over exerting rights of ownership

4. When is it “right” for a person of faith to take up arms?

5. War is justified when it is a “just war,” that is when a person of faith engages in battle to overcome a tyrant who is unjustly taking land or rights or resources or freedoms from persons or country who is unable to adequately defend themselves against the tyrant.

6. “There is a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:8)

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

8. “In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).” (Genesis 14:1–3, ESV)

9. ““Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness.” (Genesis 14:4–6, ESV)

10. First War in the Bible Abram rescues the Kings of Jordan and his nephew Lot

11. First War in the Bible Abram rescues the Kings of Jordan and his nephew Lot

12. ““So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way. Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram.” (Genesis 14:11–13, ESV)

13. ““When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.” (Genesis 14:14–16, ESV)

14. Abram, the man of faith, undertakes the first just war

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

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

17. Abram takes action!

18. After a Victory is where righteousness must act and real Heroes are made.

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

20. ““After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)” (Genesis 14:17–18, ESV)

21. ““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.” (Genesis 14:19–20, ESV)

22. ““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,” (Genesis 14:21–22, ESV)

23. ““that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”” (Genesis 14:23–24, ESV)

24. Believers will sometimes face conflict in the pursuit of the blessing of God in their lives.

25. God’s people know that they must be ready to use the resources God has given them to pursue by faith the mission God has given them.

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

27. Victory often brings new challenges and temptations.

28. ““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.” (Genesis 14:19–20, ESV)

29. Melchizedek reminds Abram it is the Most High God who brought the victory!

30. “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.” (Genesis 13:13, ESV)

31. Abram must resist the temptation to enrich himself through taking the resources of someone he has helped

32. Jesus taught: “But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Matthew 6:3, NLT)

33. A Believer understands: “I must not enrich myself, either materially, or by reputation, as result of helping someone in need.

34. 1. A believer must use what God has given them to champion the cause of righteousness. .

35. 2. A believer must not enrich themselves either materially or by reputation, as a result of helping someone else. .