Re-digging Wells: Embracing Living Water in Faith
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to celebrate being in the house of the Lord and to share some humorous and heartfelt moments, including an unexpected encounter with goats. We also focused on our community outreach efforts, such as collecting food for local schools and supporting a church in Honduras. The core of our message centered on the concept of "living water" and the importance of having our spiritual wells filled with it. Drawing from biblical stories, we explored how Jesus offers us living water that quenches our deepest spiritual thirst.
We reflected on the story of Isaac re-digging the wells of his father Abraham, which had been filled with dirt by the Philistines. This serves as a metaphor for our own lives, where our wells can become clogged with the "dirt" of worldly distractions and sins. We are called to re-dig these wells, to remove the dirt, and to fill them with the living water of the Holy Spirit. This living water brings life, restoration, and connection with God and others.
We also discussed the importance of being in God's will and how being at His well brings goodness, mercy, and favor into our lives. When our wells are filled with living water, we become sources of life and blessing to those around us. We are encouraged to remember our first love for Jesus, to repent of our sins, and to repeat the actions that once brought us close to Him. This process will lead to spiritual renewal and the outpouring of God's favor in our lives.
Finally, we emphasized the need to avoid building walls of rejection and instead to keep our wells open and accessible, even to those who may hurt us. By doing so, we allow the living water to flow freely, bringing healing and restoration. We concluded with a call to action: to dig our wells, fill them with living water, and let that water overflow into the lives of others.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Living Water: Jesus offers us living water that quenches our deepest spiritual thirst. This living water is essential for a vibrant spiritual life and brings eternal satisfaction. We must ensure our wells are filled with this living water to experience true life and connection with God. [21:36]
2. Re-digging Our Wells: Just as Isaac re-dug the wells of his father Abraham, we must remove the "dirt" of worldly distractions and sins that clog our spiritual wells. This process involves self-examination, repentance, and a commitment to filling our lives with the Holy Spirit. [23:29]
3. Being in God's Will: When we are in God's will, we find ourselves at His well, where goodness, mercy, and favor flow abundantly. This alignment with God's purpose brings about spiritual and material blessings, making our lives a source of life and blessing to others. [33:50]
4. Avoiding Walls of Rejection: It's crucial to keep our wells open and accessible, even to those who may hurt us. Building walls of rejection only isolates us and prevents the flow of living water. Instead, we should allow God's love and grace to flow through us, bringing healing and restoration. [56:22]
5. Remember, Repent, Repeat: To experience spiritual renewal, we must remember our first love for Jesus, repent of our sins, and repeat the actions that once brought us close to Him. This simple yet profound process leads to the outpouring of God's favor and the restoration of our spiritual vitality. [50:15]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[18:36] - Unexpected Goat Encounter
[20:11] - Community Outreach Initiatives
[21:36] - The Concept of Living Water
[23:29] - Re-digging Our Spiritual Wells
[25:27] - Prophetic Revival and Holy Spirit
[27:24] - Upcoming Community Events
[28:57] - The Pit and the Well
[31:09] - Filling Our Hearts with God's Word
[32:43] - Connections at the Well
[33:50] - Being in God's Will
[34:56] - Restoring Relationships
[36:05] - Soil vs. Dirt
[37:30] - Cleansing and Baptism
[40:13] - Living Water Overflow
[42:24] - Naming Our Wells
[44:09] - Restoration and Freedom
[45:41] - Remember, Repent, Repeat
[50:15] - Experiencing God's Presence
[52:05] - Walking in Favor
[54:07] - Overcoming Rejection
[56:22] - Avoiding Walls of Rejection
[58:10] - Covenant Relationship
[01:00:26] - Sharing the Gospel
[01:01:03] - Digging New Wells
[01:02:16] - Call to Action and Prayer
[01:04:07] - Invitation to Accept Jesus
[01:04:55] - Closing Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. John 4:13-14 (NIV): "Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'"
2. Genesis 26:18 (NIV): "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."
3. Revelation 2:5 (NIV): "Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He refers to Himself as the "living water" in John 4:13-14?
2. In Genesis 26:18, why did Isaac re-dig the wells that had been filled with dirt by the Philistines?
3. According to Revelation 2:5, what are the three actions believers are called to take to restore their spiritual vitality?
4. How did the pastor describe the process of re-digging our spiritual wells during the sermon? [23:29]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What might be some modern-day "dirt" that clogs our spiritual wells, similar to how the Philistines filled Abraham's wells with dirt? [23:29]
2. How can the concept of "living water" from John 4:13-14 be applied to our daily spiritual practices and relationships?
3. What does it mean to be in God's will and how does this bring goodness, mercy, and favor into our lives, as discussed in the sermon? [33:50]
4. How can the act of remembering, repenting, and repeating our first works, as mentioned in Revelation 2:5, lead to spiritual renewal? [50:15]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any "worldly distractions and sins" that have clogged your spiritual well? What steps can you take to remove this "dirt"? [23:29]
2. How can you ensure that your well is filled with the living water of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis? What specific practices can you incorporate into your routine? [21:36]
3. Think about a time when you felt closest to Jesus. What actions or habits contributed to that closeness, and how can you reintroduce them into your life now? [50:15]
4. Have you ever built walls of rejection to protect yourself from being hurt? How can you start to break down these walls and allow God's love and grace to flow through you? [56:22]
5. In what ways can you be a source of life and blessing to those around you, especially those who may have hurt you? How can you let the living water overflow into their lives? [56:22]
6. How can you actively seek to be in God's will and align your life with His purpose? What changes might this require in your current lifestyle or priorities? [33:50]
7. Identify one person in your life who might be spiritually thirsty. How can you share the living water of Jesus with them this week? [21:36]
Devotional
Day 1: Quenching Our Deepest Spiritual Thirst
Jesus offers us living water that quenches our deepest spiritual thirst. This living water is essential for a vibrant spiritual life and brings eternal satisfaction. We must ensure our wells are filled with this living water to experience true life and connection with God. [21:36]
In our spiritual journey, we often find ourselves searching for something that can truly satisfy our deepest longings. Jesus offers us "living water," a metaphor for the Holy Spirit, which quenches our spiritual thirst and brings eternal satisfaction. This living water is not just a temporary fix but a source of continuous renewal and life. When we drink from this well, we experience a profound connection with God that transforms our lives from the inside out.
The concept of living water is drawn from Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, where He offers her water that will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life. This living water is essential for a vibrant spiritual life, as it fills us with God's presence and power. To experience this, we must ensure our spiritual wells are filled with the Holy Spirit, allowing us to live a life that is deeply connected to God and overflowing with His love and grace.
John 4:13-14 (ESV): "Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'"
Reflection: What are the areas in your life where you feel spiritually thirsty? How can you invite Jesus to fill those areas with His living water today?
Day 2: Removing the Dirt from Our Wells
Just as Isaac re-dug the wells of his father Abraham, we must remove the "dirt" of worldly distractions and sins that clog our spiritual wells. This process involves self-examination, repentance, and a commitment to filling our lives with the Holy Spirit. [23:29]
In the story of Isaac re-digging the wells of his father Abraham, we see a powerful metaphor for our own spiritual lives. The Philistines had filled these wells with dirt, representing the worldly distractions and sins that can clog our spiritual wells. To experience the fullness of God's living water, we must engage in the process of re-digging our wells, removing the dirt that hinders our connection with God.
This process requires self-examination and repentance. We need to identify the areas in our lives where we have allowed sin and distractions to take root. By repenting and turning away from these things, we make room for the Holy Spirit to fill us anew. This commitment to spiritual renewal involves daily practices such as prayer, reading Scripture, and seeking God's presence. As we remove the dirt from our wells, we create space for the living water to flow freely, bringing life and restoration.
Isaiah 12:3 (ESV): "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."
Reflection: What "dirt" or distractions are currently clogging your spiritual well? What steps can you take today to remove these obstacles and make room for the Holy Spirit?
Day 3: Aligning with God's Will
When we are in God's will, we find ourselves at His well, where goodness, mercy, and favor flow abundantly. This alignment with God's purpose brings about spiritual and material blessings, making our lives a source of life and blessing to others. [33:50]
Being in God's will is like being at His well, where we experience the abundant flow of His goodness, mercy, and favor. When we align our lives with God's purpose, we position ourselves to receive both spiritual and material blessings. This alignment is not about seeking our own desires but about surrendering to God's plan and trusting that His ways are higher than ours.
As we walk in God's will, we become conduits of His blessings to others. Our lives become sources of life and encouragement, reflecting God's love and grace to those around us. This alignment requires a heart of obedience and a willingness to follow where God leads, even when it challenges our comfort zones. By staying close to God's well, we ensure that our lives are continually refreshed and empowered by His presence.
Psalm 23:6 (ESV): "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are resisting God's will? How can you surrender these areas to Him and trust in His plan for your life?
Day 4: Keeping Our Wells Open and Accessible
It's crucial to keep our wells open and accessible, even to those who may hurt us. Building walls of rejection only isolates us and prevents the flow of living water. Instead, we should allow God's love and grace to flow through us, bringing healing and restoration. [56:22]
In our relationships, it can be tempting to build walls of rejection to protect ourselves from being hurt. However, these walls also prevent the flow of God's living water through us. To truly experience and share God's love, we must keep our wells open and accessible, even to those who may have wronged us. This openness allows God's grace to flow through us, bringing healing and restoration to our relationships.
Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. By doing so, we reflect the unconditional love and forgiveness that God has shown us. Keeping our wells open means being willing to extend grace and forgiveness, even when it is difficult. It means allowing God's love to flow through us, breaking down barriers and bringing reconciliation. As we keep our wells open, we become vessels of God's healing and restoration in a broken world.
Matthew 5:44-45 (ESV): "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
Reflection: Is there someone in your life you have built walls of rejection against? How can you begin to open your well and allow God's love and grace to flow towards them?
Day 5: Remember, Repent, Repeat
To experience spiritual renewal, we must remember our first love for Jesus, repent of our sins, and repeat the actions that once brought us close to Him. This simple yet profound process leads to the outpouring of God's favor and the restoration of our spiritual vitality. [50:15]
Spiritual renewal begins with remembering our first love for Jesus. It involves looking back to the time when our hearts were fully devoted to Him and our relationship with Him was vibrant and alive. This remembrance stirs a longing to return to that place of intimacy with God. However, remembering alone is not enough; it must be followed by repentance.
Repentance is the act of turning away from our sins and returning to God. It requires a humble acknowledgment of our shortcomings and a sincere desire to change. As we repent, we are called to repeat the actions that once brought us close to Jesus. This might include practices such as prayer, worship, reading Scripture, and serving others. By remembering, repenting, and repeating, we position ourselves to experience the outpouring of God's favor and the restoration of our spiritual vitality.
Revelation 2:4-5 (ESV): "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."
Reflection: Reflect on your spiritual journey. What were the practices that once brought you close to Jesus? How can you reintroduce these practices into your daily life to experience spiritual renewal?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "If you and I drink from the living well, the living water in our wells fill it up, we will never be thirsty again. Who wants some of that? Amen." (11 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When your heart is filled with the living water of the Holy Spirit, connection starts to take place. When your well is filled with the holy living water, God starts moving in your life and life starts happening around the well. Things are drawn to that, drawn to you. Amen." (15 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When you're at the well and you're looking. When you're living in the goodness of God, things start to chase you down. And you stop wasting your time chasing yourself down. Things start coming to you." (10 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If you build a wall between you and God, who's on that side of the wall with you? Because one of your brothers and sisters, it may take them a few years, 10 years, whatever. Give them back to the thirst and water from the well." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you lost one well, go dig another one and let the Holy Spirit fill it back up with water. And don't fight your brother and sister. It takes a huge man and woman of God to give somebody the break that they need. Surrender it to them." (25 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I believe that God wants to re-dig some wells today right now in this place. He wants to re-dig some starts coming up because we need that going. As your well ready to receive the pouring out of his spirit in your life church, are you digging for your well? Are you digging in and preparing yourself for what he wants to do? Amen." (44 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Remember first works. You remember that Lord told you to go do something and you didn't do it, or maybe you did do it and you experienced his presence. Go back and do that first work that he's told you to do. Do you remember the time? When God filled that presence with him, go back and repeat what you've done before when the movement of God was working in your life. Amen." (34 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When you face Jesus, you become an overcomer and you start overcoming the obstacles that are in your life. And when you face Jesus, you become an overcomer. And he will show up in your life the form of favor. And he starts giving favor in your life and working and revealing things to your life. You know what favor is? Favor is something that you don't deserve. Favor is something you didn't work for. Favor, you don't even qualify for favor." (37 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "One of the hardest filled back up and getting things going as other people come to try to tear you down. When you used to run with them and be their friends and everything was good because you did what they did, but then you start to build your well and you have this understanding that you want to seek God. And all of a sudden they start looking at you and they think that you're better than them. And I'm objecting you for building your well." (38 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When you're treated with unfairness, just think you might be walking in favor. Because you're walking in obedience. And you're willing to give up your right. That's a hard thing to do, y'all. But it's fair. And it's filled with the blessing of the Lord. That's a covenant man, a covenant woman." (32 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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