| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |

"DIG YOUR WELL BEFORE YOU'RE THIRSTY"
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Our title comes from a book with the same title by Harvey Mackay...
 a. Extolling the value of networking for success in life and business
 b. Illustrating the importance of preparation to succeed and survive
 
2. The title illustrates a simple yet important fact of life...
 a. You cannot wait until you are thirsty to begin digging a well
 b. If you do
you will likely die of thirst before you get the water
 you need
 c. You must prepare ahead of time
before the need arises
 
3. As I read the book
parallels to the Christian life were clearly
 evident...
 a. There are times of spiritual "thirst"
 b. If we wait until such times to "dig our wells"
we may be too late
 c. We need to be "digging our wells" now!
 
[Are you digging your well before you're thirsty? Maybe it would help
to be reminded of ...]
 
I. THE NEED FOR WELLS
 
 A. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT...
 1. There is a day of judgment coming
 a. In which the world will be judged - Ac 17:30-31
 b. In which we will all stand before Christ - Ro 14:10-12; 2 Co
 5:10
 2. A day of salvation for some
condemnation for others
 a. Some will hear good news - Mt 26:34
 b. Others will hear terrible words - Mt 26:41
 -- It will be too late to begin "digging wells" if we find
 ourselves spiritually "thirsty" on that day!
 
 B. THE TIMES OF TEMPTATION...
 1. The Christian life is fraught with temptation
 a. Because of our adversary
the devil - 1 Pe 5:8
 b. Because of our own fleshly desires - Ja 1:14; Mk 7:21-23
 2. Temptations should not be taken lightly
 a. We can become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin - He 3:
 12-13
 b. We might fall away during the time of temptation - Lk 8:13
 -- Do we have "wells" to quench our spiritual thirst when tempted?
 
 C. THE PERIODS OF TRIBULATION...
 1. The Christian life is not always easy
 a. As Jesus warned the apostles - Jn 16:33
 b. As Paul warned the disciples - Ac 14:21-22
 2. The trials or tribulations we may face can be quite diverse
 a. Some because we are Christians - 2 Ti 3:12
 b. Others because we share in the frailties of life
  1) Sickness
pain
death
 2) Economic recession
loss of jobs
 3) Terrorism
war
natural calamities
 -- We better have our "wells" dug in advance if we are survive
 such "droughts"!
 
[In the face of such "droughts"
what can we do? Indeed
there are
"wells of salvation" (Isa 12:1-3)...]
 
II. THE WELLS OF SALVATION
 
 A. TO FACE THE JUDGMENT...
 1. There is the Book of life
 a. Listing those who are faithful and who overcome - Ph 4:3; Re
 3:5
 b. Who are spared condemnation for their sins - Re 20:11-15
 c. Who shall enjoy the blessings of the eternal city - Re 21:27
 2. There are the tender words of heaven
 a. Spoken by the Judge to those on His right hand - Mt 25:34
 b. Spoken by God following the Judgment - Re 21:3-7
 -- How wonderful to know that it is possible to drink from the
 wells of salvation on that Great Day!
 
 B. TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION...
 1. We can have the benefit of God's providence
 a. Who will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able
 - 1 Co 10:13
 b. Who is able to work all things for our good - Ro 8:28
31-39
 2. We can have the benefit of God's strength
 a. The working of His Spirit in the inner man - Ep 3:16
 b. The armor of God to stand strong against the wiles of the
 devil - Ep 6:10-13
 -- How encouraging to know there can be wells of salvation to drink
 from in times of temptation!
 
 C. TO HANDLE TRIBULATION...
 1. There is a peace that only Christ can offer
 a. A peace the world cannot provide - Jn 14:27
 b. One that can guard our hearts and minds - Ph 4:6-7
 2. There is a power found only in Christ
 a. That gives us patience
longsuffering
joy - Co 1:11
 b. By which we can do all things in a spirit of contentment
 - Ph 4:10-13
 -- How hopeful to know the wells of salvation can provide nourishment
 in the most difficult times!
 
[Yet to have true access to these "wells of salvation" we should not
wait until we are thirsty! With God's help
we should be "digging"
these wells today...]
 
III. DIGGING OUR WELLS
 
 A. PREPARING FOR JUDGMENT...
 1. What God has done
 a. Provided His Son as an atonement for sin - 1 Jn 4:9-10
 b. Proclaimed the good news of salvation to the whole world
 - Mk 16:15; Co 1:23
 2. What we must do
 a. Respond to the gospel of His grace - Ac 2:36-39
 b. Remain faithful in our devotion and service - Re 2:10
 -- Have you begun digging your wells by obeying the gospel of
 Christ?
 
 B. PREPARING FOR TEMPTATION...
 1. What God has done
 a. Given His Spirit to help us overcome
 1) To strengthen the inner man - Ep 3:16; Ro 8:12-14
 2) To develop the character necessary - Ga 5:22-23
 b. Given His family to support in our efforts
 1) Himself as our Father - 1 Jn 3:1
 2) His children as our brothers and sisters - 1 Ti 5:1-2
 c. Given His Son as our Advocate and propitiation - 1 Jn 2:1-2
 2. What we must do
 a. Be filled with His Spirit by imbibing the Word - Ep 5:19; Co
 3:16
 1) Singing praises and making melody in our hearts to the
 Lord
 2) Teaching one another in song
letting the Word dwell in
 us richly
 b. Develop and strength our relationships with the members of
 our Family
 1) Communing with God in prayer - He 4:14-16
 2) Exhorting one another - He 3:12-14
 c. Repent and confess when we sin - 1 Jn 1:9
 -- Are you digging your wells by continuing steadfastly in the
 Word and in fellowship?
 
 C. PREPARING FOR TRIBULATION...
 1. What God has done
 a. Given us hope to help us endure
 1) A joyful hope that we might be patient in tribulations
 - Ro 12:12; 1 Pe 1:3-6
 2) An abounding hope empowered by the Spirit of God - Ro
 15:13
 b. Given us brethren to comfort us in our trials
 1) Who comfort us with the comfort they receive from God
 - 2 Co 1:3-5
 2) Who comfort us with words of hope and encouragement
 - 1 Th 4:18; 5:11
14
 2. What we must do
 a. Nurture and strengthen our hope
 1) Setting our minds on the grace to be revealed - 1 Pe 1:13
 2) Benefiting from the patience and comfort of the
  Scriptures - Ro 15:4
 b. Nurture and strengthen our network of brethren
 1) Ministering to one another - He 6:10-12
 2) Assembling together
exhorting one another
loving one
 other - He 10:24-25; 13:1
  -- In what condition are your wells pertaining to your hope and
 your brethren?
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. If you paid close attention
you will have noticed the wells have
 already been dug...
 a. The wells of salvation provided by God - Isa 12:1-3
  b. Offering the water of life - e.g.
Jn 4:13-14; 7:37-39; Re 22:
 16-17
 -- God offers the wells necessary to quench our thirst in times of
 spiritual drought!
 
2. Our task may be similar to that of Isaac's...
 a. The wells of his father Abraham had been stopped up by the
 Philistines - Gen 26:15
 b. He had to re-dig the wells for them to be of any use - Gen 26:28
 -- Do we need to "re-dig the wells" of our Heavenly Father?
 
Have we let the "wells of salvation" God graciously offers to become
stopped up through our own spiritual neglect? If so
then be sure to
"Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty"!

－－《Executable Outlines》