Deep Wells

Introduction

Greet and Endear

Say hi to Dan online

Send greetings to/from Dan and Tracey in Singapore (pray for them)

Take opportunity to thank church for receiving us

Sharon and I feel very welcome - we are keen to build the church

Excited to get to know everyone more/please come say hi

Keep us in prayer as we settle in to this role

Currently Free Series from pulpit

Today going through Genesis 26:12-22

Pray

Segment 1: Deeper Reliance

Genesis 26:12–22 (ESV)

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.”

Context:

Wells are significant, repeated symbols through bible

In arid climate - wells = critical sources of water. Essential to survival of people and livestock.

For wandering tribe of Israel - essential for growth

therefore wells = seen as a divine symbol of provision and therefore guidance/dependence.

This journey started off with an immense blessing

The blessing drew the envy of the Philistines

Philistines wanted Isaac out because of the envy/fear “you are much mightier than we”

Went to the extent of even blocking the wells that had been dug in the days of Abraham

Our walk with God can draw unwated attention to us. Lean into it, this is not the kind of attention to fear. God uses this to launch Isaac on his defining journey.

We can withdraw from God because of the “heat” that our faith draws us - this would be a mistake.

There’s something precious about a faith that becomes so outstanding that it draws any form of attention.

Perhaps the greatest criticism about faith nowadays is that it draws no attention, it blends in too much.

George Macleod “The greatest criticism about the faith is that it’s not worth persecuting, because there’s nothing very much to persecute about it.”

Teaches something about nature of blessing/favour: If God blesses you - it’s not so that you can fit in.

Eg. Solomon - more material wealth than anyone prior to him, yet he found it all futile. Ecclesiastes 5:10 “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”

Instead came to the conclusion Ecclesiastes 12:13 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

If God blesses us (materially, time , health or otherwise) then it is for a kingdom purpose - to use it to build the kingdom in one way or another. Draw us closer to Him.

Never solely for our comfort

The greatest outcome from this blessing was the fact that it propelled Isaac into a walk of faith.

The greatest outcome of any blessing God can give us is that it draws us nearer to Him.

Here’s the point to catch: It was the blessing of God that pushed Isaac into a place of deeper dependence on God.

God’s blessing forced him into a place of searching for wells, into a place where he was forced to rely on divine providence for the very survival of his people

God’s blessing pushed him out of his comfort zone

We can think God’s blessing gives us right to be more independent - it is opposite, it should throw us into greater dependency on God.

The mistake would be to receive a blessing from God and believe that it’s highest purpose was our own prosperity and comfort.

Success is one of the greatest faith killers out there

God will never lead us astray - by blessing or otherwise. But our hearts can when we abuse the blessing/favour of God.

Deuteronomy 8:11–14 ““Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,”

ILLUSTRATION: YWAM SHIP

Have you heard of Mercy Ships? They are the largest fleet of hospital ships in the world that provide surgical care, training, education, palliative care for some of the least fortunate people around the world. Mercy Ships actually started under YWAM before going independent in 2003.

Loren Cunningham, the founder of YWAM tells the story of how they obtained their first ship. It was when YWAM was on a huge momentum run - growing larger, richer, when they placed an offer to purchase their first ship. They used the ship as a symbol to attract fundraising and get people on board. And it worked - everyone was talking about it, people were joining in the droves, money was coming in fast.

One morning in 1973, in Korea, Loren was praying when he received a vivid vision from God. The vision was of him standing in front of their annual leadership meeting in Korea declaring “we have the ship!” and everyone cheering. When suddenly he noticed a man in the corner, weeping. As he looked closer, he noticed the man was Jesus - weeping as he had been forgotten. The ship program failed a couple of weeks after Loren received that vision, funding suddenly stopped out of nowhere - and the ministry went through a season of repentence.

It was about 5 years later that God resurrected Loren’s dream of having hospital ships - when, with much prayer, they procured their first ocean going hospital and named it the Anastasis (resurrection) - symbolic of how man’s dreams had to die, for God’s to be born.

There is a point in this story relevant to HFTC - we, as a church, are going through a wonderful season of great momentum. God is clearly blessing us - people, funds, campuses, building (soon). These are all good things.

Our response, as a church, should be immediately asking - how can we use this for God, for the Kingdom? How are these blessings pushing us to do even greater things for Him?

More money = more generous, charity

Bigger building = greater evangelism

More hands = more ministry

More talents = greater level of excellence

May God’s blessing over our church draw us to an even deeper level of dependence on Him. May it force us out of our place of comfort - into a place where we are always digging wells - seeking God’s providence and presence in greater and greater measure.

“Home of the Brave” is a beautiful vision - speaks to me of a people who take what God has blessed us with and step out to achieve the growth of the church in ways that people have never conceived of.

This is what it would mean to truly steward the blessing of God.

Segment 2: Holding on to the promise

After this Isaac leaves and camps in the valley of Gerar - and digs old wells which have been buried by the Philistines. But he ends up in conflict with the people of the region over 2 wells - Esek (dispute) and Sitnah (opposition).

In Isaac’s search for God’s appointed place he comes across dispute and opposition.

This would have been a severe trial - a lot of effort to dig the wells, a lot of hope invested in finding a home.

But Isaac did not fight even though his people were bigger and more powerful.

Isaac did not fight because they were holding onto the promise of God (Genesis 26:3–4 “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,” )

Isaac had faith in God’s promise - that God would establish him in these lands. So, to him any conflict, difficulty or opposition was momentary. He had faith nothing could stop the promise of God coming to pass.

“Sojourn in this land” - Isaac was doing everything he could to stay in the land. Every well he dug was in the land.

God had arguably already blessed him. But you get this sense Isaac was fighting to stay IN the land, just to be sure.

Lesson to be learned about holding on to the promise/calling of God in our lives - and not settling for second best. Dogged Determination.

Don’t let our perception of a situation dim our expectation of God’s ability to deliver on His promise.

Isaac did this by keeping his eyes on the promise, not on the problems

Isaac was surely discouraged - and would have been with every passing conflict. But he kept his eyes on the promise, and did not settle even when I’m sure his heart was telling him to.

ILLUSTRATION: British Forces Trust God’s Promises in WW2

Anyone here watched Dunkirk? Amazing movie about a true story of hope in WW2. In the spring of 1940, the German army was plowing through France despite the help from more than 300,000 British troops. Finally, the Germans surrounded and trapped most of the Allied forces at Dunkirk, a town in northern France. It appeared that the Allied army would face annihilation or surrender. Eventually, through a miraculous outpouring of courage, the British managed to organize an amazing flotilla of hundreds of little ships that evacuated most of the Allied forces. But before the evacuation, at one point when everything looked utterly hopeless, allegedly a British officer sent the following message, condensed into three powerful words: "But if not …." At the time it was a strong message of courage and of ultimate hope in the midst of trouble. The message conveyed that the British would stand defiantly against the Nazis and that God would provide a way through the dark night.

The phrase "But if not" came straight from the King James Bible. As the prophet Daniel and his friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) faced the fiery furnace in Daniel chapter 3, they refused to go down in defeat. Instead, they declared their trust in God even if their mission failed. In Daniel 3:17-18 they said, "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto you, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

Let’s learn how to unwaveringly hold to God’s Word and promise in our lives - with a level of Godly defiance

To the exclusion of the things that may surround us. Be it situation, people, hearsay etc.

Segment 3: Embracing the journey of obedience

Perhaps one of the greatest points to draw from this: Not every place on the path God leads us on is one of thriving. But that does not mean that they are not an important part of the journey.

Esek and Sitnah were on the path to Rehoboth

Important: They found water at all these places - they found the provision of God in every place, not just Rehoboth.

They were not fruitless - they were just not permanent.

Trust God in the process of conflict and opposition - seasons we may perceive as barren, God sees as opportunity for building.

Seasons of difficulty and challenge allow for a greater reliance on God

Joseph: that well was not a hindrance but a necessary pathway to his ascent in Egypt.

Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

God’s plans and our perception may be different - but that is where faith enters the equation.

Trust God, above the process, above your perception, above the people around us.

Some of us are in Esek or Sitnah, some of us may be coming up on these wells - God has a purpose and plan for that season. (elaborate)

No season is wasted with God

It is our faith that enables us to perceive Esek and Sitnah as a path to Rehoboth, or barren hindrance

Like Isaac - always trust that God is in control, that no amount of opposition or conflict can derail God’s promise or diminish His presence.

The question we ask is: How long do we stay in Esek or Sitnah?

No right answer - only obedience

As long as God calls us there - He has a purpose for it

Finally, Isaac reaches Rehoboth. The place we all want to be in.

Rehoboth = broad spaces, open space, enlargement.

A place not marked by conflict or quarrel, but by growth.

Don’t miss the significance of the journey - the difficulties of Esek and Sitnah, quite literally pushed Isaac into Rehoboth. In that sense they were instrumental.

Likewise - it is our difficult times/seasons that prepare us for the Rehoboth, the enlargement that God has planned for our lives.

ILLUSTRATION: Zion

(switch off livestream?) Dan actually gave us this bible verse prophetically a couple of weeks ago. It holds particular significance in our lives because the last few seasons of our lives have been Esek and Sitnah in various shapes or forms. To the point where I questioned my calling - and almost left full time ministry. Walking through these seasons was testing, and our prayers for release were always answered with “not yet”. We struggled in obedience to say yes to God, but He gave us the strength to stay. These seasons caused us to lean in to God in unprecedented ways.

I know it might be a bit premature - but this new season at Heart for the City really feels like our Rehoboth - enlargement, not just for us - but for the church. Open spaces for God to move and do His work. And looking back, this would not have happened if we did not go through our Esek and Sitnahs. If this was the Rehoboth that God was preparing us for , then all the more I thank Him for every Esek and Sitnah that He led us through. Because they prepared us for this place.