Every spiritual awakening, revival, or whatever you’d like to call it, has certain visible characteristics. This is the second message of a three part series.
Wells are reclaimed
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. And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 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. Genesis 26:15-18 NKJV
The wells represent the source of life, refreshment, and power our forefathers had with God. Wells were dug out of need and, like the altars which were built, as a memorial of what God had done or said. They would symbolize the promises of God and make reference to one of the covenant names of God.
Then he went up from there to Beersheba. 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.” 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. Genesis 26:23-25 NKJV
The Hebrew definition for the word translated “well” is to dig, and also, to declare or explain. Reclaiming the wells, digging through the years of traditions and doctrines of man until the water of life is found, is each generation’s responsibility. In doing so, we declare plainly and openly that the gospel preached by our forefathers is the same gospel we preach today.
The God who was more than enough for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is more than enough for us. The Lord who was the healer, sanctifier, provider, shepherd, and the ever-present God then is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
So, by faith, we dig past the dirt the devil and his crowd have used to keep mankind from the life-giving water in the well, until it begins to bubble up within us and flow out of us. As Isaac called the wells by the same name his father had given them, so do we. Our fathers knew the power of God, called the baptism in the Holy Spirit. They knew God as a deliverer and miracle worker. We say the same thing, declaring it plainly and openly.
And the same God who delivered the demoniacs, healed the blind men, and raised Lazarus from the dead, is at work today. Confirming his word with accompanying signs and wonders.
Jan Grace 