The Stump Before the Well.

This title was inspired by a true event when our water supply stopped flowing after fixing an electrical part that turns the pump off and on. A check valve was added after the pressure tank to stop any water that was in the line from going back to the well. Now, this didn’t take care of it from the pump to the pressure tank. We had to call a service man in to check out the pump to see if it was bad or not.  The worst case scenario was that the well might have gone dry.  Not long after we moved in the house the pump had went bad and we replaced it with a new one.  At that time the service man told us that this pump should at least give us a good thirty years.  Well, when this service man put in the new pump there was easy access to get to the pump.   Over time we didn’t think about something going wrong so quickly since the pump was to at least last 30 or better years.  Now some time after all this was completed we had blocked off that easy access with a couple of storage sheds. We reopened the area by removing some trees to provide new access to get to the well. There was only one problem though.  We had left the stumps too high above the ground and were just close enough together that a service truck wouldn’t be able to get his truck through.  This almost became a big problem. After calling the service man to come and check out our problem, it hit me that something needed to be done about the stumps RIGHT THEN and NOW. That’s when the Lord spoke to me and said these two things: “Don’t be a stumbling block and don’t wait for the last minute or delay on getting something finished either.” I will finish this section of the story and how it turns out but, right now I want you to see how the Lord dealt with me before the final results took place.

The word says that I shouldn’t ever be a stumbling block to someone no matter what my opinion of someone is.  Romans 14:13 “Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” Remember that old saying that people would say “You can lead a horse to the water but, you can’t make it drink.”  Well, the Lord was taking this a step further by saying, “Don’t be the stump that stops them from getting to the water in the first place.” The lord continued to speak to me.  “When we don’t act like a Christians we are a stumbling block to them and there is no other way of looking at it outside of me [God] saying I have someone else in mind to help them out, but in the mean time don’t block the passage- be the passage.”  The Lord was showing me I could be that stump that stops them from getting to the well.  That well represents the living water that someone needs to draw from.  John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” I know that getting to that well is really all about a personal relationship with the Lord, but God uses people like me and you to help those who need him to get to that well.  Again, I can’t be misleading anybody whether they are a new Christian or not and most definitely the one who needs salvation. This tells me I have to become a stump removal and not be a stumbling block to anyone.  Again, this stump removable is a very vital step necessary to get to the well of living waters.  This is the place to get the blessings from the Lord. This is also the place to restore us and to keep us in line with the word, or should I say a teaching place.  Most Christians understand this place is very important especially during times of troubles. It’s that place where we can take refuge within the Lord. Now, let’s clear up we’re to be that stump removal. This is the word of God and not a matter of a “me” opinion, but the facts.  Isaiah 57:14, “And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people.” Don’t forget about this passage in Matthew 5:44-45 “44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”  Why did I bring this up? Jesus had to remind us to be like our Heavenly Father, because too many fleshly emotions get in the way and can actually be a hindrance (stump) to someone who needs to get to the well. Jesus needed to reestablish the very nature of who God is and how we should be. The truth is God isn’t interested in being a stump or stumbling block, but very interested in being a stump remover.  God’s ultimate goal was to change people’s lives no matter whether they are a Christian or not.  God is all about drawing in those who need help. God also keeps the passage way open so that anybody can come to the well and enter into the throne of grace. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Let’s personalize this scripture in a way without taking it too far out of context, because we know that we are not God, but we do need to lead them to the way to obtain God’s blessings and be lead by the Holy Spirit to obtain that victorious life.  This will help me and you to become a better Christian.
 
Here we go, “Let’s help and lead someone to come boldly to the throne of grace, so they can obtain mercy and grace in their time of need.” This is mine and your opportunity to keep sowing a seed and reaping a harvest in the fore-front of our mind. We, as servants of God, are to help promote the blessing and not be a stump that stops the blessings of God.

The next part is similar to the first part, but in a different way. It is about being a minister.  It’s all about delaying an assignment from the Lord.  It showed me as a minister when the Lord gives an assignment, it is a direct order for something to be done.  It’s the essential passage way to those new open doors for those God has entrusted to me as a leader of his flock.

This is important to God so that we can keep his ministry going through us.  Delaying is not an option unless instructed by the Lord.  Delaying can cause that new door to remain closed or be a stump in the way until that assignment is completed.  This means being responsible for even the small things.  Luke 16:10 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” It also tells me that no matter what size of an assignment the Lord gives it’s all important to him.  So, YES one little stump before the well doesn’t only affect me but many others, too. I needed to understand that as a minister I need to advance in the word of God so the congregation can advance as well.  Another valuable lesson about why the Lord doesn’t want me to be a stump is that it gives a reverse impact about the Jesus that dwells within me. This can bring a false impression to many of who our Lord really is.  It means I have fallen short of being Christ like. That’s not even being a good steward of the word. This showed me if I couldn’t even handle the word, how could I lead a church full of people or handle the money to operate the church.  This creates delays. God was trying to remind me of who I am supposed to be, a servant for him. Matthew 4:19, “and he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” I can only draw people to our Lord if I become more like him.

Let’s add a few scriptures to bring awareness to a good servant and why it’s important to be like Christ. Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Ephesians 5:1-2 “1) Be ye followers of God, as dear children; 2) and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”  The ending of this verse is vitally important. No, I may not be Jesus or totally perfect, but my place as a Christian or as a minister should be working towards being like Jesus, so that what I do for God can be a sweetsmelling aroma unto the Lord.  No, I am not disregarding the rest of the scriptures, but this was a major impact for me about being more serious about whom I am, and in representing how I can lead people to Christ. Think about it. When I don’t represent who the Lord is, then I have become a spiritual stump as a Christian and as a minister. I have now delayed in my part to help bring people to the open passage to God and his blessings.

The Lord shared two other scripture as warning signs about not being a stump or one who decides to delay on things.  Jeremiah 23:1, “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.” Now that represents a stump and not a passage way to our Lord.  What got my attention was “that destroy and scatter the sheep” which is delaying the people to receive all that they need from the Lord.  God didn’t want me to be labeled the wrong way either. This causes bad impressions, too. Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” There are more scriptures, but this should give us the general Idea that leadership isn’t about delays; it’s about advancements. Leadership isn’t just a pulpit ministry within a church either.  We’re all to be messengers for Christ, Mark 16:15 “and he saith unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” NO, I wasn’t being condemned by the Lord during this time. It was to help me protect and keep the true identity of Christ Jesus within me so that people would follow after the Jesus that’s within me. This is also the passage way for them to trust me that I would lead them to the proper place to receive their help and that’s within the word of God.
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Now, let’s look at the results for that day.  What I saw was the hand of God’s mercy and grace in action by turning my delaying around for not removing the stumps sooner by showing me and my dad that we should cut out enough out of the two stumps instead taking out one large stump that could have taken all day. This shortened the delay for the service truck to get in and fix our problem without causing him to have to come back later.  That could have caused him to miss another job opportunity.  This also allowed the water to be turned back on in our house by that late afternoon. The greatest thing was the well didn’t run dry and the main part of the pump itself wasn’t bad either. The service man only had to replace the check valve on the pump itself. Praise God.

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