Ancient Wells Of Living Water

Ancient Wells of Living Water

Text: Genesis 26:12-19

Introduction:

In Genesis 26 verse 12 we read where Isaac had sowed in the land and had received a hundredfold blessing from God the same year. Verse 13 explains to us that Isaac became great, he went forward, and he grew until he became very great. Verse 14 tells us that Isaac had possession of herds, flocks, and a great store of servants. Verse 14 also declares to us that the Philistines envied Isaac. Verse 15 declares, "For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth." In the East digging wells was proof of title to surrounding unoccupied lands. Once someone dug a well on a piece of land it was there way of "staking their claim" to that piece of property. A well on a piece of land also signaled to all would be intruders and friends and enemies a like that the land belonged to someone else. Isaac inherited the lands where Abraham had dug wells so that made the land his. For the Philistines to fill the wells with earth was an act of hostility and a declaration of war. In the church today the devil has declared war on the church and has filled in many of the ancient wells. Where Isaac struggled with the Philistines filling in his wells and stealing his land we fight a much more different enemy. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." The enemy that we fight against is spiritual and not carnal. Verse 18 tells us, "And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them." We must do what Isaac done in verse 18. We must redig the ancient wells that the enemy has stopped up. When we redig these ancient wells we will find what Isaac’s servants found in verse 19 which says, "And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water." That word springing in the Hebrew means living. If we will dig again these ancient wells we will find living water flowing out of these wells. Let us now examine the many wells that we must redig so that we can once again have living water flowing out of our lives.

I. We must redig the well of repentance!

A. Matthew 3:7-8 declares, "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance."

1. [Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance] Proof was required in genuine repentance to discourage mere profession and outward show.

B. Luke 3:8 states, "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."

1. [Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance] Make restitution and show proof of the repentance you profess.

C. Luke 13:3 declares, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

1. [repent] Greek: metanoeo (GSN-3340), to change one’s mind for the better. Not merely to forsake sin, but to change one’s attitude toward it and his love for it. Hence, it is demanded by God as a condition of forgiveness and grace.

D. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 states, "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. [10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

1. [Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance] I do not rejoice because you were made sorry, but I am glad that you sorrowed to repentance. You were made sorry after a godly manner so that no harm has been done, for godly sorrow always works to the salvation of those who exercise it.

2. [That ye might receive damage by us in nothing] Your repentance prevented me from using my power for destruction so that you received no damage in anything.

II. We must redig the well of salvation!

A. Isaiah 17:10 declares, "Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips."