Exhausted and caked with mud the well diggers called out, “Isaac, we found water!” It was a significant moment in history—No longer was Isaac digging up the ancient wells of his father Abraham—This was his well, his mark on society—a body of living, constantly moving water that would serve the people for many, many years.
When the rivers ran dry in the land of Canaan—rather than go to Egypt as some did, Isaac went where God told him to go. This was not an easy choice since Egypt, due to the strong flow of water from the Nile River, was a thriving, prosperous place. In spite of the enticing ways of Egypt, God had a better plan that would lead Isaac into his destiny.
Ahead, in the Valley of Gerar, Abraham’s wells sat waiting for him. God was calling him to continue what his father had begun. When Isaac and his people arrived in the area of Beersheba, the wells had been filled with dirt by the enemy – which should have been a strong warning sign. Instead, Isaac and his men cleared the wells, and upon finally reaching fresh water the Philistine herdsmen descended upon the area and claimed the wells as their own.
But God had sent Isaac to do a NEW thing, setting out on his own, not relying on what his father’s wells could provide. Isn’t this the way? Isaac’s inheritance was not the abandoned wells. His inheritance was the foundation that Abraham had provided. An unwavering faith in God, and the promise of what his son, Isaac would ultimately be…. a great nation.
New wells needed to be dug, to provide the life-giving sustenance for the beginnings of a new nation. Isaac knew that THIS was the hard thing God had called him to do.
How about today? So often, we tend to do the easy, the least effort for an acceptable reward. We have never, in our automated lives, had to create for ourselves what our ancestors had to imagine, create, and achieve to simply survive.
In this age seemingly everything has been done already, and yet, God is calling us to be living water to the thirsty on this earth. Plans that He made for us since the beginning of time. The (Our) call on our lives can be daunting, and even scary. But that is where the wisdom and flow of the Holy Spirit as a constant companion comes in.
Just as an old wineskin can’t hold new wine, an old well sometimes can’t provide the clear, refreshing water to quench our present-day thirst. It can become polluted with the debris of age… whether it is crumbling walls, or unhealthy miners leaching in from the ground over time. It might be poisoned by world ideology or be too far away from where we are presently assigned. The Holy Spirit must become our well of living water within us—forever moving and flowing—to leave and relinquish the security of what we have known to experience the depth and fullness of the place God takes us.
Like Isaac we are to search out our own paths, dig our own wells, explore unknown territories, and go to uncertain environments to bring living water for the thirsty. Isaac, walking in the gift of faith, was confident of his success because he trusted God and His promise, yet unfulfilled, of being the father of a great nation.
We too have a promise, and an inheritance. With Jesus’ death on the cross—we have become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, advancing His purposes, to live in a sustained communion with Him. Not because of who we are but who He is.
Building the Kingdom of God is similar. Although we inherit and learn from our past, God mandates that we “dig our own wells” and provide fresh, clean, water for the thirsty in our present generation. To hear His voice for ourselves. To embrace the spiritual realm as a present reality—a place where we can enter into His presence anytime through prayer.
Just as a major draught and famine forced Isaac to move out of his comfort zone and follow the Lord’s lead, so are we being forced outside of our religious selves. Spiritual famine is here. Our traditional water sources have dried up. Our country is spiritually thirsty and weary, and our world is desperate.
Standing at the crossroads, we must seriously evaluate what kind of water we are offering. The world’s not looking for repackaged Christian jargon—they thirst for the One who will share a refreshing, deep encounter with the otherworldly. For them to awaken to the reality of God demands far more than a pleasant sermon—they need a waterfall experience with the Holy Spirit. To put it bluntly, they don’t need gimmicks—they don’t need a stage performance—they need to experience the supernatural presence of God. To be part of a Christian culture that encourages them to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and celebrate the signs and wonders operating in and through each other. The Holy Spirit is the only One capable of satisfying these kinds of deep longings in the human heart. He is our well and water. He is our roaring waterfall. Our anointing. Our ministry. Our life source.
Stepping into the large conference room I could sense the excitement and anticipation building in the attendees—the God seekers, the curious, the suspicious and the expectant. During worship hearts were opened and the Holy Spirit entered the room like the roar of a waterfall, touching lives with His Power and Presence. Laying my hands on a woman’s back I felt her body contort and realign right before my eyes. In other parts of the room, I heard shouts of joy and surprise as women called out the miracles they were experiencing. Suddenly the atmosphere shifted as the gentle, quiet presence of the Lord filled the room and the people gathered in small pods, creating an altar of worship, prayer and prophecy. It was a profound moment as God’s glory supernaturally bound our lives together.
Have you ever experienced this kind of glory? A time when you could see and feel His power and presence? If so, become a carrier of His glory—not just occasionally, but as a lifestyle. God desires to show up, show off and fill us to overflowing.
Whether you have a bright inheritance like Isaac, the miracle child of Abraham and Sarah, or you’ve stepped out of a dark family history littered with scars and problems, you are called to stand at the crossroads of this season and offer a cup of fresh water to the thirsty. To dig deep into the well of supernatural gifts and anointing, bringing God’s love and power into a desperate world searching for more.
Comments