Digging New Wells

DIGGING NEW WELLS

Gen 26:17-25 17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. 19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. 22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land." 23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham." 25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

I. We Need to Dig a New Well of Prayer

a. It is a sin to accept God’s blessings and never stop and thank Him.

b. Phil 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

i. The supply is dependant on prayer

ii. We must ask God for what we need.

c. Niagra Falls millions of gallons of water flowing with great power.

i. Person in quiet room praying with great power.

d. What has prayer done?

i. Divided the seas

ii. Water flow from a rock in the wilderness

iii. Quenches the flames of the fiery furnace

iv. Muzzels the lions

v. Offsets the poison of vipers

vi. Conquers devils

vii. Commands angels

viii. Recalls souls from death

e. During WWII it was asked, “Has Christianity failed?” The answer came back, “No! But all else has failed!”

i. We tried everything else

1. Money

2. Pleasure

3. Prestige

4. alcohol

5. drugs

6. open marriage

f. George Adam Smith was a dynamic preacher. He went to Switzerland and climbed the highest mountain he could find. As he and his guide climbed over the summit of the mountain, He was about to leap to his feet in his joy of reaching the top. Before he could get to his feet, his guide pulled him down and said, “On your knees in a place like this!” As we face the uncertainty of the future we should say, “On your knees in a time like this!”

II. We Need a New Well of Bible Study.

a. This is a demanding well because it consumes a valuable commodity … our time.

b. The Bible is the number one best seller in the world but it is also the least read book in the world.

c. Ps 119:105-106 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.

d. If it’s God’s book why don’t we give it back because we never use it?

e. Many years ago, Roger Babson published a pamphlet entitled “Essentials of Business Success.” The leaflet contained nothing but a reprint of the Ten Commandments. Some time later a western manufacturer wrote to Mr. Babson and said, “Those are the finest rules I ever saw, where did you get them?”

f. In the Bible we get bread for our hungry souls.

i. During the Civil War a wounded soldier lay in the hospital, sick and depressed. His father came to see him and said, “I’ve brought you a loaf of your mother’s bread.” Soon the soldier was on the mend.

g. In the Bible we find medicine for our sick hearts.

i. A shepherd would call his sheep and they would always follow him. Someone asked if they would follow a stranger. The shepherd answered, “Only if they are sick!”

ii. The world is sick and dying and we have the medicine right here in God’s word. But we must receive the medicine.

h. In the Bible we find peace for our troubled spirits.

i. A neurotic woman went to her Christian doctor for an examination. He could find nothing wrong with her but he said, “This is my prescription for you, Go home and read your Bible for one hour each day for a month then come back and see me.” This seemed to be a silly thing for her but she said, “There’s no harm in it, so I’ll try.” At the end of the month she came back to the doctor glowing with health and happiness and saying, “I feel wonderful, your prescription was right on. The doctor said, “If I omit my daily Bible reading, I lose my greatest source of strength.”