How are your Wells? A call to Spiritual Renewal

In Genesis chapter 26 there was a famine in the land …the Philistines had stopped the wells that Abraham had made, and had filled them with earth. We see that Isaac digged again the wells of water of Abraham his father.

Wells in the Bible can be symbolic of things – of spiritual truths.

In Genesis chapter 21 God provided Hagar, as she was about to die, a well of water - a picture of life. Genesis chapter 24 mentions wells in terms of an establishment - this city was built around this well. People built a city around a well - where they could live and survive and grow. Likewise, in Genesis 26, it tells of the well of the city of Beersheba. This city was established around this well.

In John 4 we have the story of the woman at the well – and her encounter with the Lord, who tells her of the Living Water. John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. This well is used to picture salvation.

Wells can also picture the Holy Spirit: John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

In Genesis 26, Isaac dug some wells, and he had to re-dig some wells that Abraham, his father, had made. Isaac had to re-dig some wells and re-fight some battles.

We could relate this idea of wells to the fundamentals of the Christian life. We need strong foundations, spiritual fundamentals, in our Christian life. God wants us to spiritually dig some wells in our life. Digging wells takes hard work. We should apply ourselves to these important spiritual truths.

An important well - one fundamental - is Salvation: to know the clear, simple gospel message: That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures and that all we have to do to be saved is to believe in him - and put our faith and trust in him. Salvation is a free gift that we receive. It is not trusting in your own works

Another well – a fundamental – is witnessing. Our Lord Jesus commands us to go out and to preach the gospel. He said, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. It's God's will for us to to preach the gospel to others - be a witness to others.

Another well that we need to dig, like Abraham, to establish ourself in the faith, is the well of the King James Bible. The importance of the Word of God. Our Lord Jesus says, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. God promises to keep - to preserve his Word.

Another of those wells that we need is the well of Bible preaching. Being in church fellowship is very important for our spiritual growth - just to be around God's people. God's people are the people who I want to be friends with. There's so many blessings we gain in coming to church and being under Bible preaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. We need the preaching of the whole counsel of God.

Another well is the family unit. It's pretty fundamental in the Bible. The Bible talks about how a man should leave his father and his mother and cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh. God hates "putting away" (Malachi 2:16). God doesn't want people to divorce. Re-dig that well in your marriage.

Another well is the well of holy living. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Live a godly life. Read your Bible, pray, and come to church - it says we ought to exercise ourselves rather unto godliness. Strive for that. The Bible says that the path of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. God wants us to shine as his lights in the midst of a crooked world.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Don't be a Philistine. They filled in the walls - they were actively fighting against God's people. They were opposing the work, rather than helping it.

Rather, be an Isaac. Re-dig those spiritual wells that are neglected.

Restore those spiritual truths, those fundamentals of our Christian life, those keys for spiritual growth:
Salvation: the clear gospel
Witnessing: Go preach the gospel
The King James Bible - God's sure Word
Bible preaching and fellowship
The family unit
Holy living.