WHICH COUNTRY DO YOU LIVE IN?
Part 4

“And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD,
and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well”
(Genesis 26:25).

After God leading Isaac on all his journeys, in good times and bad, he now settles in Beer-sheba. What does he do when he makes his home here? The same things we should do as we establish our home and family.

1. HE BUILT AN ALTAR

The first thing Isaac did was to build an altar. The early patriarchs built altars to make a meeting place with God. We don’t build altars of stone or earth today because we have the great privilege of having immediate access into the throne room of God through the precious blood of Jesus which was poured out for us.

However, I believe it is still important to build altars. Instead of a physical altar, we make a time and place where we meet with God each day. This is the foundation of our family life. Do you notice that it was the first thing Isaac did when he came to Beer-Sheba? We don’t establish this principle in our family life when it is convenient or works well in our schedule. No, it is the first thing we do. We make our schedule fit around our family altar.

Our grandson, Arden recently married. What a joy to go to their home for a meal and experience their family altar with them. As we ended the beautiful meal Esther cooked for us Arden brought out the Bible and read to us and then we all prayed together. They are starting on the right foundation.

2. HE CALLED UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD

An altar is a place where we come into God’s presence to listen to Him speak to us through His living Word. But it is also a place where we call upon the name of the Lord. This should be the testimony of all who confess they are believers. Jeremiah 10:25 infers that if we are not families who call upon the name of the Lord, we may as well be heathen! Calling upon the name of the Lord is the mark of those who fear God.

Of course, Satan does not want you to be a family who calls upon the name of the Lord. He will do everything to stop you. He won’t use evil things as he knows they will not tempt you. He uses “good” things to keep you busy and keep you from this most powerful place of prayer. If every believing family made a time each day, with their family, to call upon the name of the Lord, we would see mighty things happen in our nation and in the world.

3. HE DUG ANOTHER WELL

Isaac couldn’t survive without a well, for his family and for his cattle. You couldn’t survive without a well either if you didn’t have city water running into your house. But more importantly, your marriage and family will not survive without a spiritual well. Spiritual wells are for survival, just as physical wells.

Don’t dig a shallow well. They don’t last. When we came to live on our land over 16 years ago, we dug a well. Down, down, down they dug and didn’t find water. We were devastated. What will we do? We asked the well diggers to dig another well. Lots more money. Down they went again and still no water! My father arrived to stay with us from New Zealand. He prayed over our first well and we asked the well-diggers to check it again! A miracle! There was some water this time. We praised the Lord, but it was very sparse and barely enough for us to survive. We lived sparingly on a scanty water situation for some time until some more land became available with a wonderful spring. We now bring our water a mile or so from a spring that comes out of the rock.

The devil will contest your well, which also speaks of your personal and family devotion time with God each day. We read in Genesis 25:21 how Abraham had to reprove Abimelech because his servants had “violently taken away” one of his wells. Watch out! The devil will try to violently take away your well too. He wants to keep you shallow. He is scared of those who live by deep wells. A shallow well often has the scum of the earth on the top. It is usually dirty, sandy, and murky. You can’t get the pure unadulterated truths of God from a shallow well. They are mixed with deception and the lust of the world.

Clean water comes from deep wells where we draw from the pure, refreshing, life-giving water of God’s truth and revelation. This is God’s plan for us. Deuteronomy 8:7 says: “For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and DEPTHS that spring our of valleys and hills.”

Psalm 78:15 says: “He clove the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as out of GREAT DEPTHS.” The CJB says “from BOUNDLESS DEPTHS.”

Jesus Christ is a well of boundless depths. There is more in Him than we can ever comprehend, even throughout all eternity. He wants us to go deep into Him and into His eternal Word, taking time to be with Him, to meditate on Him, and to live in the depths and truths of His powerful, life-giving Word (Psalm 19:9-11).

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Dear Father God, thank You so much for showing me Your way. I know I cannot live successfully without building an altar and digging a well. Help me to faithfully establish these powerful principles in our family life. I know that I have the power to make it happen in my home as I determine to schedule everything else around what is most important. Save me from the subtle “good” temptations of the enemy that keep us from Your best in our lives. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

My husband and I are altar builders and well diggers. we have found the godly secrets of survival and success.

For further understanding, check out these links:

ALTAR BUILDERS:
http://aboverubies.org/index.php/2013-11-12-17-55-51/english-language/bible-in-the-home/899-bible-in-the-home-altar-builders

GOD WANTS TO COME TO YOUR HOME:
http://tinyurl.com/ComeToHome

SCRIPTURES FOR ALTAR BUILDING:
http://aboverubies.org/index.php/2013-11-12-17-55-51/english-language/bible-in-the-home/1160-bible-in-the-home-scriptures-for-altar-building

THE MORNING AND EVENING PRINCIPLE
http://aboverubies.org/index.php/2013-11-12-17-55-51/english-language/bible-in-the-home/901-bible-in-the-home-the-morning-and-evening-principle

WHICH COUNTRY DO YOU LIVE IN?
Part 2

“The Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.
Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it.
The princes dogged the well, the nobles of the people dogged it,
by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves”
(Numbers 21:17,18).

We read last week how God challenged Isaac to stay in His land. How did he live in God’s land, even though ye was yet a stranger in it?

HE SOWED

Isaac had much cattle and herds, but Genesis 26:8 tells us he was there a long time before he really felt settled. It is not until verse 12 that it says: “Then Isaac sowed in than land.” He branched out from being a cattleman and shepherd to also sowing crops. When he took this step of faith God blessed him and verses 12, 13 (ESV) tells us that Isaac “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.”

We can’t reap until we sow. God wants us to sow in His land--to put all our passion, time, and effort into sowing that which will bring forth a harvest for eternity. Many women are sadly wooed back to Egypt. They grasp after material possessions and the status of being in the workforce, but in doing so they leave behind their greatest career of raising children which is an eternal work. Each precious child is an eternal soul, a gift from the Father. As we sow into their lives we reap an eternal harvest.

Galatians 6:7, 8: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

HE DUG WELLS

Soon we read about Isaac digging wells. His father, Abraham, had also sojourned in this land and dug wells. However, after he died the Philistines stopped them and filled them up with earth. Now, many years later, Isaac gets to work (or gets his servants to work) to re-dig them.

We have to dig wells in God’s land too. Not one well, but many wells. There are wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). Notice the plural for wells! There is everything we need in our God. He is All-sufficient. He is More than Enough. But we have to dig wells to find Him, to know Him, and to experience the fullness of all that He is and all He has planned for us.

It’s hard work to dig wells, especially back in Isaac’s day. Did they even have steel shovels? Numbers 21:18 tells us that in Moses’ time they dug the well with their scepters and staffs--the Hebrew word is “walking sticks.” It was hot, perspiring work. Wells don’t appear out of nowhere. We have to faithfully and diligently dig into God’s Word each new day. We have to meditate, study, and search. We have to dig deeper and deeper until we find the springs of living water.

The first well that Isaac’s servants reopened was “a well of springing water” (Genesis 26:19). It was not just a well, it was a spring! What rejoicing as they jumped and leaped for joy to find a running spring! Oh how we also rejoice when we find these bubbling, everlasting wells.

As Jesus sat on Jacob’s well (which was a deep well) at Sychar and spoke to the Samaritan woman He said: “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). The words “springing up” mean “to gush, leap or jump up.”

But the rejoicing didn’t last long. Even though they hadn’t put in the hard work, the “herdmen of Gerar” wanted this life-giving well and strove against Isaac’s servants. Isaac called the well Esek, meaning “contention” (Genesis 26:19,20).

Just because you are seeking God and receiving life-giving truths from His wells, it doesn’t mean life will be perfect. The more you pursue God and walk in His ways, the more you receive strife and contention--often from family, the ones you love most. The more you leave behind the deceptions of this world that are even in the hearts of many in the church, the more you are ridiculed.

Don’t be surprised. And don’t react with hurt and bitterness. What did Isaac do? Get mad and demand they keep the well which was rightfully his, not only by their hard work, but because it belonged to his father before him? No. He moved on. Check out: 1 Peter 2:19-23; 3:9 and 1 John 2:6.

Just keep digging. Never give up. There are many more wells of salvation to dig yet!

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Thank you, dear Father God, that all my wells are in you. Save me from going down to “Egypt” to find the source of my every need and longing. I know that I can only find it in You. Please woo me by Your Spirit to dig more and more wells. I want to live a life that continually springs up, not only for my own source, but to give the water of life to many others. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I’ll keep digging wells no matter what contention or strife I face.

WHICH COUNTRY DO YOU LIVE IN?
Part 1

“Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt;
whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it:
so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him”
(Isaiah 36:6).

When famine came to the land of Canaan where Isaac was sojourning, he thought it would be advisable to go down to Egypt where there was food and prosperity for his family, servants, and flocks. Surely this was the best decision.

However, God came to him and said: “Go not down into Egypt . . . Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee” (Genesis 26:2, 3). What was “this land”? It was God’s land. The land was not yet conquered for God’s people, but it had already been promised to them. God had already chosen this land for His people--“ALL the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:8).

But Egypt looked more inviting. It would be much easier to live there. Here in “this land” he faced famine. He had to trust God instead of man. All he had were the promises of God, given to him and his father (Genesis 15:1-21; 17:1-8; 26:2-5).

God speaks the same word to us today. He does not want us to live in Egypt which speaks of trusting in man’s provision, man’s ways, man’s intellect, and man’s ideas. He wants us to live by faith in His land, learning to know Him and trust Him more each day.

Let’s see what God thinks of Egypt. Isaiah 30:1-3 says: “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me . . . That walk to go down into Egypt; and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!”

He speaks again in the next chapter. Isaiah 31:1-3: “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! . . . Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their hoses flesh, and not spirit.”

Now here is a question for you. What does Isaac’s name mean? Yes, you remember--laughter! God wanted Isaac to experience the laugh of faith! He also wants you to live in His land, trusting in the promises of God with the laugh of faith. This is the description of the courageous woman in Proverbs 31:25 (ESV): “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.”

The word “laugh” is “sachaq” and means “to laugh with pleasure, but also to laugh with scorn, to deride, to mock.” God laughs with scorn at the heathen. Psalm 2:4 says: “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.”

Psalm 37:12, 13: “The wicked plotteth against the just . . . The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.”

Psalm 59:1, 8: “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. . . . But thou, O LORD shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.”

Instead of succumbing to the deceptions of Egypt and being assimilated by the infiltration of humanism all around us, let’s laugh with scorn at the futility of Egypt. Let’s mock the deceptions of humanism, feminism, progressivism and all the isms. Let’s laugh at our fears, for we do not trust in man, but in the living God who is bigger than any situation we will ever face! Isaiah 2:22 says: “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?”

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I thank You that You have chosen Your land for me. It is a land of faith and yet a land of blessing. Please enable me to sojourn in Your land, trusting wholly in You and in Your promises. Save me from ever drifting to the land of Egypt. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
~ Johnson Oatman, Jr.

P.S. Next week we’ll find out more of how Isaac lived in God’s land.

FAITHFUL AND DIGNIFIED CHILDREN

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”
(Luke 16:10).

FAITHFUL CHILDREN

God specifically encourages us as parents to raise FAITHFUL children. Titus 1:6 writes to pastors and elders that they must be men of unquestionable integrity who have “faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.” This is God’s standard for all parents, but a pastor who leads a flock, must of course hold up this standard.

The word “faithful” is pistos and means children who are “believers who hold to the faith, and who are truthful, trustworthy, and faithful in all things.” The same word is used in the following Scriptures:

Matthew 24:45-47: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant . . . Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.”

Matthew 25:21, 23: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

We have a responsibility to live this truth before our children. Do they see us being faithful in the little things of life? Do they see us faithfully doing the same things day after day without grumbling and complaining? Do they see us happily and contentedly changing diapers, preparing meals, and cleaning the house?

As they SEE this attribute in our lives it becomes easier to train them to be faithful in the little things of life. It is a God-given principle that we will only move into greater things as we are faithful to the daily routine of life.

The opposite of faithful children are children who are “accused of riot or unruly (disobedient).” The word “riot” is asotia and is used for extravagant squandering (the same word used of the prodigal son in Luke 15:13). It describes one who easily gives into the flesh, worldly lusts, and appetites.

May God help us we lead our children to faith in Christ (No. 1 ultimate prayer and goal for our children) and train them to be faithful and trustworthy in the daily duties of life and home. They will not be ready for greater things unless they learn to be faithful in the little things now.

DIGNIFIED CHILDREN

However, did you know that the Bible also tells us to raise DIGNIFIED children?

1 Timothy 3:4 (NASB) reveals that God doesn’t want unruly children, but dignified children. This Scripture once again talks to pastors and elders (but it applies to all parents): “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity.”

The word for “dignity” is semnotes and means “dignity, decency, honesty, and inspiring respect and honor from other people.” Dignified children have a good testimony before the world. Zodhiates Lexical Aids to the New Testament says: "It is the ability to perform well one's duties as a citizen, but in addition showing that the dignity is not from this earth but from heaven, thus drawing respect and reverence."

When specifically speaking to the young men, Titus 2:7, 8 (NASB) encourages them again about dignity: “In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”

How many of us have dignified children? Dignified in their speech, conduct, and manner of life? So dignified that other people take notice.

Let’s elevate the standard and raise faithful and dignified children in this world--children who are good examples of belonging to God’s kingdom and the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, Please elevate my vision for raising my children. I know it is not enough to make sure they are fed and clothed. I have a higher mandate from You to raise them to be faithful and dignified, children who are different to the world around them, children who know they have a heavenly calling. Please anoint me for this task. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am training children to be faithful in the little daily things so that one day they will be faithful in big things.