Returning to the Wells of Spiritual Revival

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound urgency of the church's current situation, drawing parallels with the biblical story of Isaac. Isaac, faced with a dire need for water, did not seek new methods or innovations but returned to the wells his father Abraham had dug. This narrative serves as a metaphor for the church's need to return to foundational truths and spiritual vitality. The church today is not merely in need of new strategies or organizational tweaks; it is in desperate need of life itself, a spiritual revival that can only be found by returning to the source of living water—the Spirit of God.

The modern church often seeks solutions in contemporary knowledge, scientific advancements, and cultural trends, much like calling in prospectors to find new water sources. However, the true solution lies in revisiting the spiritual wells of the past, where God's power and presence were abundantly evident. The history of the church is marked by cycles of spiritual drought and revival, and it is in these times of revival that the church has experienced profound life and power, impacting society at large.

Isaac's wisdom in returning to the old wells highlights the importance of learning from history. The church's problems are not unique to this era; they have been faced and overcome in the past through a return to spiritual fundamentals. The same God who moved powerfully in the past is unchanging and ready to move again if we clear away the obstructions—the "rubbish of the Philistines"—that have filled our spiritual wells.

The call is clear: we must recognize the true hindrances to spiritual vitality, which are not external circumstances or modern challenges, but internal spiritual blockages. By clearing these away, we can access the living water that sustains and empowers the church. Let us pray for the courage and clarity to identify and remove these obstacles, so we may experience a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit and enter a new season of spiritual renewal and blessing.

Key Takeaways:

1. Urgency of Spiritual Revival: The church's primary need is not new methods but a return to spiritual life and vitality, akin to Isaac's need for water. This urgency calls for a deep reliance on the Spirit of God, rather than superficial adjustments. [02:29]

2. Learning from History: The church must learn from its past, recognizing that spiritual droughts have always been followed by revivals when believers returned to foundational truths. Ignoring history is both foolish and detrimental. [12:46]

3. Unchanging Nature of God and Man: Despite advancements in knowledge and technology, the fundamental nature of God and humanity remains unchanged. The same spiritual solutions apply today as they did in the past. [16:25]

4. Clearing Spiritual Blockages: The true hindrances to spiritual vitality are internal blockages, not external circumstances. Like Isaac, we must clear away the "rubbish" that obstructs our access to God's living water. [30:42]

5. Unity and Division in Revival: Historical revivals have often occurred despite church divisions, bringing about spiritual unity and sometimes new divisions. True revival transcends organizational unity and focuses on spiritual renewal. [40:31]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:40] - The Essential Need for Life
- [02:29] - The Church's Urgent Need
- [03:16] - The Radical Problem of Society
- [04:09] - Living on Past Capital
- [05:21] - The Primitive Need for Water
- [06:07] - Isaac's Response to Urgency
- [07:14] - Returning to Abraham's Wells
- [08:08] - The Futility of New Methods
- [09:26] - The Wisdom of Isaac
- [11:38] - The Value of Church History
- [13:43] - Misconceptions of Modern Problems
- [16:02] - The Unchanging God and Man
- [19:20] - The Consistent Solution: Jesus Christ
- [20:15] - Lessons from Church History
- [23:42] - Revival After Spiritual Drought
- [27:46] - The Repetition of Revival Patterns
- [30:42] - The Work of the Philistines
- [38:29] - The Myth of Church Division
- [42:20] - Identifying True Hindrances

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 26:18 (ESV) - "And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them."
2. Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
3. Acts 2:42 (ESV) - "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

#### Observation Questions
1. What was Isaac's response to the urgent need for water, and how does this relate to the church's current situation? [06:07]
2. How does the sermon describe the modern church's approach to solving its problems, and what is the critique of this approach? [09:26]
3. What historical pattern does the sermon highlight regarding the church's periods of drought and revival? [23:42]
4. According to the sermon, what are the "Philistines" that have blocked the spiritual wells, and how do they affect the church today? [30:42]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Isaac digging the old wells serve as a metaphor for the church's need to return to foundational truths? [07:14]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church's problems are not unique to this era? How does this perspective challenge modern assumptions? [13:43]
3. What does the sermon imply about the role of internal spiritual blockages versus external circumstances in hindering spiritual vitality? [32:17]
4. How does the sermon describe the impact of historical revivals on church unity and division? What lessons can be drawn from this? [40:31]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal spiritual life. Are there "wells" from your past that you need to revisit to find spiritual renewal? What steps can you take to do this? [06:07]
2. The sermon emphasizes the unchanging nature of God and humanity. How does this understanding affect your approach to modern challenges in your faith journey? [16:25]
3. Identify any "Philistine rubbish" in your life that might be blocking your access to spiritual vitality. What practical actions can you take to clear these blockages? [30:42]
4. Consider the historical cycles of spiritual drought and revival. How can you contribute to a revival in your community or church? [23:42]
5. The sermon critiques the reliance on modern methods and knowledge. How can you balance the use of contemporary resources with a return to foundational spiritual practices? [09:26]
6. Reflect on a time when you experienced spiritual unity despite differences. How can you foster such unity in your current church or community setting? [40:31]
7. How can you pray for and support your church leaders in identifying and removing spiritual blockages to experience a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit? [43:35]

Devotional

Day 1: Returning to the Source of Life
The church today faces an urgent need for spiritual revival, much like Isaac's need for water. In times of spiritual drought, the solution is not found in new methods or strategies but in returning to the foundational truths and spiritual vitality that have sustained believers throughout history. This urgency calls for a deep reliance on the Spirit of God, rather than superficial adjustments. The church must recognize that its primary need is not for innovation but for a return to the source of living water—the Spirit of God. [02:29]

Isaiah 12:3-4 (ESV): "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: 'Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.'"

Reflection: What are some ways you can intentionally seek the Spirit of God in your daily life this week, rather than relying on your own strength or new strategies?


Day 2: Learning from the Past to Revive the Present
The history of the church is marked by cycles of spiritual drought and revival. In these times of revival, believers have returned to foundational truths, experiencing profound life and power that impacts society at large. Ignoring the lessons of history is both foolish and detrimental. The church must learn from its past, recognizing that spiritual droughts have always been followed by revivals when believers returned to foundational truths. [12:46]

Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’"

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced spiritual renewal. What ancient paths or foundational truths did you return to, and how can you apply those lessons today?


Day 3: The Unchanging Nature of God and Humanity
Despite advancements in knowledge and technology, the fundamental nature of God and humanity remains unchanged. The same spiritual solutions that applied in the past are still relevant today. The church must recognize that the true hindrances to spiritual vitality are not external circumstances or modern challenges, but internal spiritual blockages. By clearing these away, believers can access the living water that sustains and empowers the church. [16:25]

Malachi 3:6 (ESV): "For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."

Reflection: In what ways have you been relying on modern solutions to address spiritual challenges? How can you refocus on the unchanging nature of God to find true solutions?


Day 4: Removing Internal Blockages to Access Living Water
The true hindrances to spiritual vitality are internal blockages, not external circumstances. Like Isaac, believers must clear away the "rubbish" that obstructs access to God's living water. This requires courage and clarity to identify and remove these obstacles, allowing for a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit and a new season of spiritual renewal and blessing. [30:42]

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Reflection: What internal blockages or "rubbish" are preventing you from experiencing spiritual vitality? How can you begin to clear these away today?


Day 5: Unity and Division in the Midst of Revival
Historical revivals have often occurred despite church divisions, bringing about spiritual unity and sometimes new divisions. True revival transcends organizational unity and focuses on spiritual renewal. The church must recognize that unity in revival is not about organizational alignment but about a shared pursuit of spiritual renewal and a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit. [40:31]

Ephesians 4:3-4 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call."

Reflection: How can you contribute to spiritual unity within your church community, even in the midst of differences or divisions? What steps can you take to focus on spiritual renewal rather than organizational alignment?

Quotes


The trouble as I see it with the church today is that she doesn't realize as she should that her primary need and her urgent need at the moment is the need of life itself. The problem confronting us is not a problem of methods or of organization or of making a slight adjustment here or there or improving things a little bit or keeping them up to date or anything like that. [00:02:29]

The whole position is one in which we're rarely are down to this basic issue that as I was trying to indicate last Sunday is certainly the position as regards the world. The problem of society today is not a superficial problem it is a very radical one. The whole outlook upon life is involved and serious observers as you know are indeed appalled as they contemplate what is really taking place. [00:04:09]

Isaac realized that his situation was such that it was no time for experimentation. The position I say was so urgent that if they didn't have water and that very quickly they would all perish. And what how does he argue in such a position? Well, he argues like this: he says there is no need for us to Prospect and send for the water divers. [00:10:07]

There is nothing that I know of that is quite so foolish as to ignore the past, and a man who does assume that does ignore the past and assumes that our problems are quite new and that therefore the past has nothing at all to teach us. He is a man who's not only grossly ignorant of the scriptures but he is equally ignorant of the greatest lessons even of secular history. [00:12:46]

God is still the same. There is no difference in God as between today and 100 years ago. Indeed God is the same today as he was a thousand years ago and 2,000 years ago and away way back 6,000 years ago in the time of Abraham. God is from Everlasting to Everlasting he doesn't change at all. [00:16:25]

The story of the church has not been a straight line, a level record of achievement. It hasn't been that at all. The history of the church has been a history of ups and downs and ups and downs. It's there on the very surface. You go back into the history of the past and you'll find that there have been periods in the history of the church when she has been full of life and vigor and power. [00:23:42]

These glorious periods of Revival and of Reawakening have often followed periods of great drought, great deadness, apathy, and lifelessness in the history of the church. Everyone of as you find these great Peaks you will find the troughs. You will see that the church has many a Time been as she is today, counting so little in the life of the world and of society. [00:27:46]

The Philistines had stopped them and filled them with Earth so that when they went back to these old Wells that is what they found. In other words, we can put it like this: they went back to the old Wells yes and the water is still there in the old Wells but they couldn't see it and the water wasn't available. [00:30:42]

The troubles confronting the church today, the problem confronting her is not the new circumstances in which we find ourselves. You see that's what we're always being told isn't it until we're all I hope sick and tired of it. The wireless, the television, the motor car and all the things that are being offered to the Modern Men there we are told is the problem. [00:32:29]

The division of the church is the one cause of a lack of blessing. It isn't that because the history shows this very plainly that God sends this blessing even when the church is divided and that the coming of the Revival has two main effects: one that it blesses all the denominations practically irrespective of their divisions and for the time being brings them together in a marvelous Unity. [00:40:31]

The problem in other words as Isaac found is that this nefarious work of the Philistines has been blocking the Welles concealing the water standing between the people and the blessings of God. Very well I'm afraid I've got to leave it at that this morning but obviously and clearly we've got to go on to consider what this work of the Philistines is. [00:42:20]

Let us pray for it that God will give us honest Minds to face the facts as they are that we may see the real cause of trouble so that having seen it we shall be able again to emulate the example of Isaac and clear out the rubbish of the Philistines and come again across the ancient supply of the water of God the power of the spirit and enter with all God's people into a period of unusual blessing and a mighty outpouring of his holy spirit. [00:43:33]

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Transcript
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