FAITH WORTH FOLLOWING: STANDING UP WHEN YOU’RE TOLD TO SIT DOWN

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Genesis 26:12–33

 

1. Following faithfully will lead to trouble

Genesis 26:12–17 NKJV Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. 13 The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. 15 Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” 17 Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

• Isaac continued to faithfully work within the land that was not yet his which resulted in conflict with others
• Many were jealous and afraid of Isaac’s success, so they wanted him gone
• This is a common theme in our world today; it’s sometimes called the ‘cancel culture’ when the world wants to get rid of someone who is living faithfully

2. Following faithfully will lead to blessing

Genesis 26:18–22 And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them. 19 Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. 20 But 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 quarreled with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah. 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

• Joseph Stowell said, “One of the rewards of following Christ is the simplicity and wonder it brings to life.”[1]
• Isaac persevered through the challenges and conflicts and God continued to bless him
• Perseverance is the key to impact regardless of the opposition
• God will always bless obedience and faithfulness

3. Following faithfully is the only option

Genesis 26:23–29 Then he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well. 26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. 27 And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’

• Regardless of the opposition, God told Isaac to not be afraid
• This is the same promise God has made to us all
• Charles Spurgeon said, “If we walk before the Lord in integrity, we shall do more to bless our descendants than if we bequeathed them large estates.”[2]

Takeaways:

1. Living a life of faithfulness will likely lead to trouble, live it anyway
2. When others oppose you, don’t fight, live like Christ

Romans 12:18-21 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1. When the only acceptable response to opposition is compromise – DON’T!

[1] Joseph Stowell, Following Christ (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Charlotte, NC, 1997.)

[2] Charles Spurgeon, Faith’s Checkbook (Whitaker House Publishers, 1993, Entry on April 25.)