Stop the blockage to being Blessed!

Gen 26:12 "Isaac planted crops in that land and took in a huge harvest. GOD blessed him. 13 The man got richer and richer by the day until he was very wealthy. 14 He accumulated flocks and herds and many, many servants, so much so that the Philistines began to envy him. 15 They got back at him by throwing dirt and debris into all the wells that his father's servants had dug back in the days of his father Abraham, clogging up all the wells."

Commentators say that these wells were used to water their flock.

In other words, the water from the wells sustained their wealth – a bit like our income today. We need to water our mortgage, water our electricity bill.. water our school fees..

Some of you don’t have to worry about the enemy clogging up your wells, because you’re doing a great job on your own. Some of you are heaping dirt into your own wells and stopping the flow of blessing in your life.

1st example – Tax Returns

Mar 12:17 "And Jesus said unto them, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s. And they marveled greatly at him."

The bible is clear – honestly pay your taxes.. even if you think you pay too much tax, don’t we all, be honest.

2nd example – Petty Theft. Tit 2:9 “Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters--no back talk, 10 no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God. “

Petty thievery may include stationery, time goofing off on the net, etc etc. It’s petty – yes.. so don’t do it. Live a life pleasing to God, and be a good PR in your workplace

3rd example – Piracy and Copyright There’s another kind of theft that I used to struggle with a lot. I know I’m going to sound like a dvd intro, but you wouldn’t steal a car, but we all know that piracy and copyright infringements are theft. It’s stealing..

How can we expect God to bless the hands of our work when we are stealing from the hands of others.

I can talk about this because 4 years ago – I cleaned out my well. I was the queen of copied music, illegal software and photocopied books. Napster and bearshare were my source of all music and while I knew I probably shouldn’t do this, we had no money so I justified it.

Pro 6:30 “Hunger is no excuse for a thief to steal”;

Increasingly I felt more and more guilty about this stuff, and so when we moved into our house in Springfield Lakes, I had a ceremonial destruction day.. anything that I hadn’t legitimately purchased was either snapped, deleted (including out of the recycle bin) or torn up. I cleaned my house of any tainted property.

Ephesians 4:28 “the thief must steal no more, but rather toil to earn a living with his own hands, so he may have something to give the person in need.”

Integrity is what you do when no one will find out.

Within 4 years of my ‘cleaning out the well’, there was a significant increase in our income – could have only been God.

Deu 28:1 “ If you listen obediently to the Voice of GOD, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, GOD, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world.

Deu 28:2 All these blessings will come down on you ..

Deu 28:4 GOD's blessing on your children, the crops of your land, the young of your livestock, the calves of your herds, the lambs of your flocks.

Deu 28:6 GOD's blessing in your coming in, GOD's blessing in your going out.

Deu 28:8 GOD will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he'll bless you in the land that GOD, your God, is giving you.

Perry noble wrote yesterday on his blog – partial obedience = total disobedience. Clean out your well.