Do not let enemy clog your well! | Sunday, Jan 23, 2022

We thank you all for joining us again for our Sunday online service. May you all be blessed today in the holy name of Jesus, Amen!

Last time we spoke from Genesis 26. Today we will focus on the life of Isaac and how he planted a seed amidst all the circumstances, yet he received God’s blessings. Today’s topic is, “Do not let enemy clog your well!“

Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines.

Isaac had been trained up in a believing dependence upon the Divine grant of the land of Canaan to him and his heirs; and now that there is a famine in the land, Isaac still cleaves to the covenant. The real worth of God’s promises cannot be lessened to a believer by any cross providences that may befall him. If God engage to be with us, and we are where he would have us to be, nothing but our own unbelief and distrust can prevent our comfort. The obedience of Abraham to the Divine command, was evidence of that faith, whereby, as a sinner, he was justified before God, and the effect of that love whereby true faith works. God testifies that he approved this obedience, to encourage others, especially Isaac.

And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.) And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them. But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah. And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.” From there he went up to Beersheba. And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well. When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.” So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, “We have found water.” He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Kings’ hearts are in his hands, and when he pleases, he can turn them to favour his people. It is not wrong to stand upon our guard in dealing with those who have acted unfairly. But Isaac did not insist on the unkindnesses they had done him; he freely entered into friendship with them. Bible teaches us to be neighbourly, and, as much as in us lies, to live peaceable with all men. Providence smiled upon what Isaac did; God blessed his labours.

The Bible says because Isaac became powerful, so Philistines started fearing from him.

God blessed Isaac. Be it observed, for the encouragement of poor tenants who occupy other people’s lands, and are honest and industrious, that God blessed him with a great increase. The Philistines envied Isaac. It is an instance of the vanity of the world; for the more men have of it, the more they are envied, and exposed to censure and injury. Also of the corruption of nature; for that is an ill principle indeed, which makes men grieve at the good of others. They made Isaac go out of their country. That wisdom which is from above, will teach us to give up our right, and to draw back from contentions. If we are wrongfully driven from one place, the Lord will make room for us in another.

He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.”

In ancient times, wealth was important as it represented social resources necessary to endure and thrive as a community, similar to what we see now a days. A well during that period was a symbol of wealth.

So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Isaac met with much opposition in digging wells. Two were called Contention and Hatred. See the nature of worldly things; they make quarrels, and are occasions of strife; and what is often the lot of the most quiet and peaceable; those who avoid striving, yet cannot avoid being striven with. And what a mercy it is to have plenty of water; to have it without striving for it! The more common this mercy is, the more reason to be thankful for it. At length Isaac digged a well, for which they strove not. Those that study to be quiet, seldom fail of being so. When men are false and unkind, still God is faithful and gracious; and his time to show himself so is, when we are most disappointed by men. The same night that Isaac came weary and uneasy to Beer-sheba, God brought comforts to his soul. Those may remove with comfort who are sure of God’s presence.

Many a times we blame our enemies for not growing. Even though enemy tried plots against Isaac as well, but remember Isaac was not deprived of the God’s blessings. Enemy cannot take blessings away from you. There will be many people who will resent your blessings, but they cannot take your blessings away.

Today I want to ask you that what do you need to sustain the abundant harvest in your life? Enemy is doing many things, but what is your plan?

The enemies of Isaac wanted to close on the resources, but did they damaged Isaac enough for him to break? No!

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Enemy is trying to clog the well of the word of God. Why? Because the word of God is a revelation.

I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

But why does enemy want to clog the water? Because the word of God causes spiritual growth and provides nourishment for our spiritual growth.

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

New believers are like new born baby who desires milk? What is  “milk”? Well, it is the nourishment for new borns however it is also to be consumed by everybody

I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,

Enemy wants to block the word of God and the experience with God, which leads us to the abundant harvest.

Knowledge is important, but knowledge without application is not right. For this we need to go to the old ways.

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Clean up your life, no matter how dirty your life is. And in order to clean your life, you need the word of God.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

D.L. Moody once said, “The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.”

Thwre are many references from the word of God which suggest the importance of reading Bible.

Word of God is like a seed, that bears fruit.

Word of God is like gold.

Word of God is like a lamp to our feet.

Word of God is like food.

There are so many more references throughout the word of God.

Who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.

People of God, if you feel enemy is blocking your way to wisdom and blessings, then today is the time that you need to go back to God and start receiving His word.

A renowned scientist Francis Bacon once said, “There are two books laid before us to study, to prevent our falling into error; first, the volume of the Scriptures, which reveal the will of God; then the volume of the Creatures, which express His power.”

Ask God to intervene in your life and allow Him to work in your life. Receive His blessings through His word and allow the Spirit of God to help you fix your eyes upon God. Read the word and receive blessings from God!

We thank you for joining us and we look forward to see you next Sunday. God bless!