Colossians 1:10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. This is not a passing on of knowledge but a growing in knowledge of the love of God.
For
every man, education should be a process that continues all his life. We have
to abandon, as swiftly as possible, the idea that schooling is something
restricted to youth. How can it be, in a world where half the things a man
knows at 20 are no longer true at 40--and half the things he knows at 40 hadn't
been discovered when he was 20? ~Arthur
C. Clarke
Knowledge is to be sought after but in light of the Cross.
Romans 10:2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Not for the sake of zeal!
Philippians
1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound
more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, of the Love of God!
Colossians
1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you,
we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will
through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may
live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in
every good work, growing in the
knowledge of God,
Colossians
3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of
its Creator. How? DURING ACTIVE DIGGING!
Gen 26/Background:•Abraham had dug a number of wells and •his enemies kept filled them in. Later his son needed water, so he re-opened
the closed wells. Each well had a special
name. Each well dealt
with different issues of life. As way of application, the wells that have
been dug here at ICCS over the last 23 years by many of you and from the
preaching, will need some attention and some possible re-digging—so that fresh
water or fresh knowledge of God’s
love will continue to flow.
What had happened before Chapter 26? Sarah was an old barren lady when God visited her and she
conceived and gave birth to a child. Abraham was 100
years old and Sarah
was 90 when Isaac was born! And she was still a good-looking woman!
And in Chapter 23, Sarah passed•away at 127 years of age. Abraham bought a cave from a Hittite and placed
his beloved wife there as her final resting place. Moving along …
Chapter 24
deals with finding a wife for the son Isaac who was called Rebekah. Drought
in the land In chapter 25,
Abraham
dies. But before he dies, he marries again
and (during the next years) has SIX more
boys! Abraham was 175 when he died.
There is an expression that goes: The apple does not fall far from the tree. In the case of Isaac and Abraham, they both had a
problem with telling people the truth about their wives---they told the people
of the land that they were their sisters.
Isaac became a very wealthy man with large herds of animals that needed
water. The wells his father had dug had
all been filled in or plugged up by the tribes living around there. They were troubled
having this Hebrew tribe in their area and wanted them to move along. He
did not rename them. Dispute.
Opposition. Room to live~ well of 7
But now, Isaac needed that water, so he had his men
reopen the wells. He had been
told NOT to go into Egypt like his father had so he went and stayed in a place
called Gerar meaning “lodging-place”.
26:12 Planted crops ~~ 100 fold.
Needed water.
All this resulting in a reaping a hundredfold:
Genesis 26:12. “Now Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the
same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him.” Be ready for a HARVEST!
Three
thousand years later, modern techniques are being used to sow and reap in the
area’s fertile soil.
13 became very rich.
15 People in the area envied
him that happens even among Believers… ENVY
APPLICATION: Titus
3:3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds
of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice
& envy, being hated and hating
one another. James 3:14-16 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish
ambition in your hearts, do not boast
about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom”
does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there
you find disorder and every evil practice.
BEWARE!
26:16
Enemies filled the wells as Isaac became powerful.
18 Isaac needed to reopen wells and used same names.
19~20 new well: "Esek".
(the English form of a Hebrew word which means•
dispute). APPLICATION:
Acts 23:7 When Paul said
this, a dispute broke out between
the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 15:2
This
brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute
and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some
other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about
this question. 1 Cor 6:1 If any
of you has a dispute with another,
do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the
Lord’s people?
21 Another well was dug—"Sitnah". (the English form of a Hebrew
word which means opposition). APPLICATION: Heb 12:3
Consider
Him who endured such opposition from
sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
26:22
Rehobath- (the English form of a Hebrew word
which means room to live). He has given us ROOM!!! And peace. 26:23
He went up to Beersheba and the Lord shown Himself to Isaac there.
The Lord appeared to him—I am with you! Don’t be afraid!”
26:24 After your commitment to what I
want to see in you—I will be with you so keep digging. Stay focused on getting water from His well.
At this point, Isaac …25 built an altar (to worship) & dug a
well.
26:28
People in the area said: “We see that the Lord is with Isaac. Make a treaty with us.”
Strong witness!
26:32~33
Dug another well and found water.
Shibah= Beersheba. Beersheba's name
is derived from the Hebrew words pronounced beer,
meaning well, and sheba, meaning seven. Hence the name of the town meant
the seventh well or well of the oath. (Seven ewe lambs were given
during the oath. Basically, this is a very watered area.
The actual well of
Beersheba was dug by Abraham's servants, and was a place of conflict when Abimelech's servants tried
to seize it. APPLICATION: Gal 5:17
For the
flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary
to the flesh. They are in conflict
with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
To
avoid conflict, Romans
12:8 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
The Lord had made more room for them. He grew them!
APPLICATION:
Don’t go to Egypt… You
are set free to live in the Land the Lord has given you. Stay clear of Envy. Keep digging.
Watch out for
argument Esek
and contention. Stay clear of quarreling Sitnah and enmity.
But deal with it
should it appear.
They then moved to yet another area BUT no one quarreled
over it! This was Rehoboth…God made room
for them—we will flourish in the land, so-don’t give up—be committed to the old teachings. Be open to them.
APPLICATION: Built
an altar and Worship, call on the Name of the Lord! The deeper you dig, the less you see what is
around you as you look for the water below.
We need to keep our eyes open to what is going on around us. Change when it is necessary—not for change
sake but if it is really needed. Keep to
the Main Things!
26:28 We have seen that the Lord is with
us. At this point, another well is dug
and much water is found. Showing the
pleasure of the Lord.
APPLICATION:
Jesus said in Matthew 11:30: For My yoke is
easy and My burden is light.
Daily follow Him is the digging of the wells. There is water
there—refreshment and life. 2
Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
