Who Was Melchizedek? + How to Stop Grieving the Spirit + Friendship Advice for New Christians

You're listening to the Christ Our Cornerstone

podcast ministry of Christ Our Cornerstone Church

in O 'Neill, Nebraska. I'm Pastor Logan Merrick,

and it's our prayer that this message strengthens

your faith and draws you closer to Christ. Let's

dive in. Hello and welcome back, friends. My

name is Pastor Logan and it's great to be with

you. It is a wonderful, wonderful Thursday today.

and gearing up for Advent week number two. Excited

to preach that sermon on Sunday. Would love to

invite you out if you live in the O 'Neill or

surrounding areas. Would love to have you join

us. If not, feel free to listen online. But either

way, glad that you're here today. We've got kind

of a unique one. I've got several questions that

I felt like, you know, aren't necessarily questions

that require one whole episode for answering

your mailbag questions. So I'm just calling this

a mailbag segment, okay? And so I'm going to

answer three different questions today. We're

going to be talking about who is Melchizedek?

What does he mean to us? Like, why does he matter?

Because he's kind of mysterious. Number two,

we're going to be talking about what does it

mean to grieve the Holy Spirit when it talks

about it in Ephesians chapter four, verse 30.

And then the last one is if you are new to the

faith, What do you do when all your friends are

unbelievers? And should I continue to be friends

with them? So let's go ahead and let's get rolling

on these from a biblical worldview for that last

one especially. So question number one. So who

is Melchizedek? Crazy cool name. If you want

to name any one of your kids Melchizedek or grandkids,

feel more than free. I think it's a great name.

But Melchizedek is actually a really mysterious

kind of character in Genesis. So he shows up

right after Abraham has rescued Lot from Chetolaumer,

who is an evil, wicked king. Chetolaumer is a

part of that kind of Titan race that you guys

have heard me kind of talk about a little bit,

part of that Nephilim breed. And so he is a wicked,

wicked man. and Lot is captured by him. And then

Abraham goes to war with him, with his servants

and others that were willing to help him and

other family members, which I think is just interesting.

It's an interesting thought. And so after Abraham

defeats Chetolalmer, gets Lot back, this king

shows up named Melchizedek. And this is in Genesis

14. And out of nowhere, here's Melchizedek and

it says the king of Salem, which means king of

peace. It also can mean priest of God most high.

And so he blesses Abraham. He offers Abraham

bread and wine, which is also very interesting

that he would offer him bread and wine and give

it like, well, of course, like it's what they

ate back then and blah, blah, blah. Yes, but

they also had cheeses. Ed meets that a lot of

other things. So I think it's interesting that

he offers him bread and wine. And then Abraham

does something very interesting. Abraham tithes

to him. And then all of a sudden, Melchizedek

is gone. He just disappears from the story. So

why is that interesting? Well, just wait a second.

We'll keep going. Melchizedek is not irrelevant,

though. Because in Psalm 110, David says that

the Messiah will be a priest forever after the

order of Melchizedek. Interesting. Fast forward

again, and let's get into Hebrews in the New

Testament and look in Hebrews chapters five through

seven, where the writer of Hebrews, more than

likely the writer of Hebrews is Paul, brings

Melchizedek front and center, and he says something

really strange. And this is very hotly debated.

I'm going to say that. But hotly debated by theologians

because we're trying to figure out what exactly

the writer means. But he says this, he says,

he is without a father or mother, without genealogy,

without beginning of days or end of life. Now

he shows up in Genesis where Genesis continually

shows us genealogies. Yet we don't get a genealogy

from Melchizedek. Hmm. That's interesting. Also

says he's without beginning of days or end of

life, making it sound like he's eternal. So that's

interesting. So is the writer of Hebrews saying

this is literal or is he saying this is figurative?

And honestly, this is where the debate happens.

This is where theologians are genuinely split.

And so view one says Melchizedek Was the pre

-incarnate Christ, okay, so some believe this

is a literal statement I tend to believe that

this is this this is my view Okay, I am more

than willing to be wrong about it. Okay, like

this isn't a major salvation issue, okay But

this is my view. I think that he is the pre -incarnate

Christ So I believe it's a literal statement

that the writer of Hebrews is making and it's

a and basically like Melchizedek really had no

earthly origin, so we don't see a genealogy.

And he says that he has no beginning and no end.

And so to me, that's like, okay, he is the eternal

God. He is Christ. And so Abraham didn't just

meet some earthly king. He met Jesus himself

in the Old Testament. So this is what is called

a Christophany. That view is very certainly possible.

And so, like I said, I take it as that. Because

we do see pre -incarnate appearances of the Lord

elsewhere in Scripture, okay, like the burning

bush. And there's other places where we see Christophanies.

So the view, the second view is that it is more

of a figurative way of saying it, and it's more

symbolic. And so others would say that he's a

real historical king, Melchizedek was, but the

Genesis account intentionally leaves out his

genealogy so that he becomes a type of Christ,

a symbolic pointer of Jesus's eternal priesthood,

if you will. So what I mean by that is how you

guys have heard me say, if you listen to my sermons

or you attend our church, you've heard me talk

about foreshadowings of Christ. whether it's

David or whether it's Joseph or Noah or Moses,

you know, all these, they're different foreshadowings.

They're symbolic pointers to Christ's coming.

They're just saying that view says that it is

that Melchizedek was one of those pointers. He

was a historical king, but he would ultimately,

you know, he is ultimately a type of Christ.

And so, Which is it? Like I said, it's debated.

It doesn't really matter where you kind of land.

I tend to take it more literally and so You know

the priesthood Jesus is the greater Levi and

a greater King priest and so that's why When

Abraham gives him the tithe the tithes that's

why I find it interesting is because He is showing

that Abraham or Abraham is showing that this

man, if he is a man, is more spiritually above

him. He's a greater spiritual authority. So he

gives him a tithe. And that's also why I go,

gives him bread and wine. Could be foreshadowing,

in my opinion, when we think about communion.

And then he's also saying, hey, this is a greater

spiritual authority than I. So, yeah, I that's

where I tend to land. So let's move into the

second question, one that gets really practical

for Christian daily living. All right. So question

number two, what does it mean not to grieve the

Holy Spirit? OK, so this is an Ephesians chapter

four, verse 30. OK. To be able to answer this

question, though, we have to look back. typically

when people ask questions about verses or passages,

whether it's a believer or whether it is an atheist

or a skeptic, whatever, when they ask me a question

about a verse or a passage, the biggest thing

that I like to do and what everyone should do,

honestly, is look at the context of what's happening.

It's really hard to just talk about a verse if

we don't know what's going on around it. To answer

this question about what does it mean to not

grieve the Holy Spirit, we need to look at the

verses before this, okay, starting in verse 17

and then going through verses 24. And so what

is that talking about? Well, if you're driving

or something like that, I will read this for

you. Okay, but you should go and look at this

yourself. So it's starting at verse 17 and starts

talking about the new man Okay, and so this this

is what Paul says He says this I say therefore

and testify in the Lord that you should no longer

walk as the rest of the Gentiles As the rest

of the Gentiles walk in the futility of their

mind having their understanding darkened, being

alienated from the life of God because of the

ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness

of their heart. Who, being past feeling, have

given themselves over to lewdness, to work all

uncleanness with greediness, but you have not

so learned Christ. If indeed you have heard him,

and have been taught by him as the truth is in

Jesus that you, here's the important part, put

off concerning your former conduct the old man

which grows corrupt according to the deceitful

lust and be renewed in the spirit of your mind

and that you put on the new man which was created

according to God in true righteousness and holiness.

So then there's this word that you guys for me

talk about before but if not, if this is your

first time ever tuning in Therefore is what he

said is what Paul says in verse 25 Therefore

goes back to what he was just talking about.

He's like I'm gonna make a point on what I just

said So therefore putting away lying let each

one of you speak truth with his neighbor For

we are members of one another Be angry and do

not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole

steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working

with his hands, what is good that he may have

something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt

word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good

for necessary edification. that it may impart

grace to the hearers and do not grieve the Holy

Spirit of whom by you were sealed for the day

of redemption." So when that is all put into

context, Paul is saying, hey, don't grieve the

Holy Spirit by going back to who you were. You

put off the old self to put on to be a new man

or woman in Christ. So don't go back to the old

way of doing things. Don't go back to your old

self, okay? And so it's all about being in the

likeness of Christ. So when Paul says in verse

30, do not grieve the Holy Spirit, he's saying

when you claim to be in Christ, but keep picking

up your old life, it breaks the heart of the

spirit who lives in you. That's what he's saying.

Now, let's talk about this word grieve for just

a second. Who does an inanimate object, does

it grieve? Does my desk that my computer is sitting

on right now, does it grieve? No. So who grieves?

Well, people grieve. You can only grieve someone

who loves you, right? And so you can grieve someone

who cares about you. You can grieve someone that

you work for. But you can't grieve a force You

can't grieve an object. You can't grieve an energy

field, right? You grieve a person Why what am

I saying the Holy Spirit he feels? it's important

that you see that like we especially in charismatic

circles we can make the Holy Spirit out to be

this force or this like energy if you will and

not a person he is the the third person of the

Godhead So he is a person and it's important

that you see that Because it's it's crucial to

our doctrine as Christians. And so the Holy Spirit

he feels he cares he responds He convicts Okay,

so this this is part of what it means to be made

in God's image We feel because he feels We're

grieved because he can grieve Right like we can

be we can feel conviction because of the Holy

Spirit, because he convicts. And so what grieves

the Holy Spirit? That's the next question, right?

So what can grieve him? Well, if you look at

what we just read, Paul actually lists some examples.

And so he talks about unwholesome talk, bitterness,

uncontrolled anger, lust and impurity, harshness,

slander, malice. and just any return to the old

self. And so when we walk back into the patterns

that Christ died to free us from, then the spirit

is grieved by that because he's actively working

to sanctify us to make us more like Christ. And

so we're resisting the very one who lives within

us when we go back to our old self. And so, but

here's the beautiful part. Like Paul says, that

the spirit is the one by whom you were sealed

for the day of redemption. Meaning his grief

is not a rejection, it's a relationship. And

he is the one that does all the heavy lifting,

as I like to say. It's the grief of a father

who loves a child and wants what's better for

them. And so when he seals us for the day of

redemption, you can't lose your salvation, okay?

So he does all the heavy lifting, but don't grieve

him by going back to who you were. And so Paul

gives the remedy immediately. Okay, this is what

he says. He says, be kind, be tenderhearted,

forgive one another. In other words, okay, live

from your new self, not from the old one. So

hope that helps answer your question. And I hope

that was kind of clarifying for everyone listening.

It was actually a good reminder for me as I went

back and was reading the passage. It was really

good. It was really helpful for me as well. So,

all right, let's let's wrap up with our final

question, and it's one I think is best to really

wrestle with for everyone, but especially new

believers. And so here it is. I'm new to the

faith and all of my friends are unbelievers.

Do I need new friends? So here's my honest answer.

Yes and no. Okay. So don't ditch your unbelieving

friends because you can be a light to them. You

could be the reason, the influence that God uses

to draw them to himself. So don't just ditch

them, but you do need to evaluate the friendship.

Okay. Here's what I mean. When Jesus saves you,

He we just in that second answer I just gave

about the old self. We talked about having a

newness, a new being, a new person. So that means

like he changes our desires and he changes our

habits and he changes our relationships and he

changes things about us. So that way we draw

closer to him. We become more like him. And so

some friendships are built around things that

you should honestly be walking away from. whether

it's partying, whether it's sexual relationships

outside of marriage, whether it's gossip, self

-destructive habits like alcohol, alcoholism

and drugs. Honestly, just shared emptiness. Things

that you hide behind the idea of quote unquote

fun with your friends is really just shallow

emptiness. And you have no way to actually connect

on a deeper level with friends. because there's

no deepness, there's no depth to you. And so

with those types of relationships, you need to

distance yourself from, but not completely. And

here's why I say that. OK. Because, like I said,

God could use you to draw them to yourself. Now,

here's the important part. If you're for the

person that asked this question, this is important.

Who is influencing who? That's the other key

part to this answer I'm gonna give you If being

around certain people constantly pulls you back

towards the old self That we talked about like

I said in question two And it and it really kind

of Stamps out your Christian witness it kills

your desire and appetite for the word of God

for Jesus, for fellowship with others. It's not

good. OK, we must have wisdom and we must be

aware. Of how people are influencing us, and

so wisdom says you may need distance for a season.

Not because you're better than them, that's not

that's not the mindset, but because you're spiritually

vulnerable. You can be drawn into things that

are lethal. to your walk, and honestly can be

destructive to you physically as well. But if

you can love them by being around them and still

walk faithfully with Christ, then don't completely

cut them off. Many people come to Christ because

of a transformed friend, I mean honestly. But

I would say this, don't show up to parties. Like

by still being around them does not mean Go into

parties and and putting yourself in situations

that are bad That could ultimately really ruin

your witness or even you know ruin Completely

your walk so I Would say be just be careful on

who's influencing who and really think about

that But Jesus calls us to be a witness, but

not a casualty. Okay, be a witness not a casualty

Jesus ate with sinners. Yes, we hear that all

the time. But Jesus wasn't influenced by them.

He loved them. He also spoke truth to them. That's

the other part you have to remember. He spoke

absolute truth in grace. He didn't allow them

to stay where they were. He loved them that much.

But here's the other part. If they're not Friends

that are really kind of if they feel like a drain

to you from in a relationship standpoint, then

just cut it off. I mean, anything that's spiritually

draining someone that is not a good friend, like

their guilt trips, their their, you know, saying

mean and hurtful things and, you know, all you've

changed as you become a Christian or you're a

loser since you become a Christian and blah,

blah, blah, blah, blah. Then just cut them off.

I mean, in all reality, don't don't waste your

time. The goal isn't about isolation, okay? The

goal is transformation for you and for your friends.

And so here's the non -negotiable. You absolutely

do need Christian friends though, period. Go

to church, find friends your age, find friends

who are solid believers. They know the word,

they're walking in the word, they're helping

you grow. Find those people. If you don't know

any of those people, find a church that has some

people like that and start asking around. Period.

Find people that will pray for you, who will

encourage you, who will challenge you. And like

I said, help you grow. If unbelievers are your

only community, then you really need to pull

back because you will find yourself in your old

life. And so you need people that are helping

you build a new life. So the healthiest place

to land is this, keep loving your unbelieving

friends, but make sure that your closest friends,

the ones that are shaping your relationships,

are with people who love Jesus. And so that's

wisdom, honestly, and that's biblical. And that's

how you grow without cutting yourself off from

the mission field that God has placed you in.

That'll do it for this podcast episode, this

mailbag episode. If you've got a question you

want answered, that you would like answered on

this podcast, please reach out to me. My email

is in the show notes, or if I am, you belong

to Christ Recourse on Church. then you know how

to get a hold of me. You can text me. You can

hit me up on Facebook, whatever it is. I'd love

to answer your question and help you dive a little

bit deeper into your knowledge and into discipleship

of Jesus. So thank you for listening. Grace and

peace to you. I'll see you next time. Bye -bye.