When powerless pentecost has become the norm, and there’s more compromise than conviction in the church, it’s time to dig again. In this message, Jentezen Franklin teaches 3 specific things we must reclaim from the enemy in order to escape the muddy waters and release the power of the Living Water back into our lives.

How do you unclog the wells of worship, sacrifice and faith? You dig out the dirt of unbelief and doubt.

The average depth of a household well is 100-500 feet, but sometimes you may have to dig as deep as 1000 feet before you hit water. Today we have companies who specialize in digging wells. They have special tools and equipment that allow them to locate water, dig deep into the earth, and blast through rock. But can you imagine for a moment what is was like for Abraham?

The Mediterranean basin is historically known for being partially filled and completely dried up time and time again. This left the area filled with layers of salt and gypsum as deep as a mile in some places! (Doesn’t that sound familiar? Partially filled and dried up time and time again. Every time you’re disappointed. Every time the enemy whispers, “you’ve failed.” When you’re betrayed. When you lose someone you love. The well is there to dip into when you need it so that you don’t become “dried up,” but if we’re not careful, the enemy will sneak in and just keep piling dirt on top of that well until it’s clogged up!)

But here’s the thing – water was and still is essential for life – Abraham knew the value of the work he was putting in. He knew the return would reach far beyond his lifetime and that by digging the wells, he was establishing a lifeline for future generations. His enemies knew that, too. That’s why, as soon as they could after Abraham died, they filled those wells with dirt. They clogged them up turning that well of pure water into mud, and eventually into solid earth.

Living this life is not a cakewalk. It doesn’t always come easy. Maybe you’ve dug and dug only to find yourself in the wrong spot, and experienced what it’s like to climb out of that ditch—digging your nails into the walls until you finally got your feet back on solid ground. The fantastic thing about God is that He’s given us a map. We know where the water is!

The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple … As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross … Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows … so where the river flows everything will live. (Ezekiel 47:1-9)

The temple was the central location for worship and sacrifice. It was the representation of their faith, and therefore the source of the water! Today, if you and I will put in the work … if we will dig deep at the feet of Jesus through worship and sacrifice and faith, there is a source of living water that will never run dry! Isaiah 49:10 says, “They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.”

There is a reason the Bible refers to “salvation” as a well (Isaiah 12:3). Because our faith is not surface, sometimes you have to reach down deep and grab hold of your faith. Sometimes the enemy will try to throw dirt – filth – on top of your well to “muddy your water.” He’ll come at you from every direction to make your vision murky. But if you will dig out the dirt, just like Isaac in Genesis 26:18 “dug again” the wells his father Abraham had dug, you will find the refreshing of the water … of His Holy Spirit. Don’t allow the world to wash out your worship. Don’t allow compromise to take place of your sacrifice. A religion that cost you nothing, is worth nothing. And finally, dig out that well of faith by shoveling out the dirt of unbelief and doubt.

If you want to dig a well like Abraham that will establish a lifeline of faith for you, your children, and your children’s children, dig it! And dig deep. Don’t settle for a life of powerless Pentecost and compromise over conviction. Escape the muddy waters and release the power of the Living Water back into your life.

Summary

People in our services received a plastic spoon as they entered as a reminder of what we are hoping God will do. My prayer for you today is that your spoon would be turned into a shovel. If you find yourself feeling like you are in a pit, then you are closer to the water than you have ever been. The rain that falls from above is good, but it is greater to have water that comes from a well, because that water will provide for you and your family for generations.

When you plant yourself in a church, you are digging the well that will affect the generations to come after you.

Key Scriptures

Genesis 26:18; Proverbs 5:15; Genesis 26:18; Genesis 22:5; Ezekiel 47:3-4

Key Points

1. As you dig, you are removing the dirt that needs to be removed. To go deeper toward the well, dirt must be removed and removed far enough that it doesn’t fall back in.

2. Every time you sacrifice and give you are digging to reach a well that will outlive you. When you give, you not only help the church, you are making an investment into the future of your family.

3. The enemy will wait until you die to try to stop up the well for your children. After you are gone, your faith will live on but your faith will have to be embraced by the next generation. That happens when your children see you digging the well. Your example matters. Your faithfulness matters. The next generation will follow your example. The generation behind you will not let the enemy substitute dirty water for pure water.

4. We must ask the Lord to help us clean up the wells that are the foundation of our faith. The wells of modesty, morality, prayer, prophesy, sacrifice, servanthood, revival, restoration and so many more have been clogged up by the enemy—but we must re-dig those wells.

5. We must never settle for muddy water. There is water, but it is not pure. We have gotten used to drinking muddy water when we should demand only the pure. That’s why there is false doctrine, a watered-down gospel, shallow praise and worship, weak faith and timid prayers. We have to keep digging until we hit the purest of water.

6. We must refuse to rename the wells of biblical truth. Abraham named the wells, but kept their original names. Repentance and salvation through the blood of Jesus are still as true today as ever before. There is still only one name given for salvation - Jesus. You still have to come out and be separate from the world. There are still only two final destinations for every man and woman—heaven and hell. Jesus is still Lord.

7. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is as real today as any time in history. That is a well that still produces pure water.

8. There are wells we need to re-dig at Free Chapel.

I. Praise and Worship - Worship needs to take place from the front to the back, not just on the front line and the front row. We need to abandon to the Lord, and without care for what others think. We must never be ashamed to worship.

II. Sacrifice - Sacrifice has been sacrificed on an altar of easy “believe-ism.” We have bred a generation of people asking what their church can do for them. We have it backwards. We must continue to cry out, “Lord, what would you have me do?” There must be a willing spirit that says, “I will do anything you want me to do!” God is not your Goodwill store. This is a battleship, and sometimes it requires sacrifice!

III. Faith - Abraham was called the father of faith. Will we preach healing? Miracles? Or will it just become head knowledge. Unbelief and doubt have replaced proclamation and faith! We can’t just play church. We must shout, “You can do it God!”

Final Thoughts

Some of you have convinced yourself to simply live with your mountains … settling for only a few of your children knowing Jesus. But that thinking does not come from God or from His word. Keep digging. When we have more deserts than downpours, it’s time to dig. We need a fresh baptism of power. We need a powerful public manifestation, but a private conversation with God must come first. Allow the Lord to turn your spoon into a shovel; because you are not just digging for yourself, you are digging for your children and your children’s children. Someone dug a well for you—and now it’s your time to dig.

Ask the Lord to take that Holy Ghost spoon and get the carnality and the compromise out of you. He will clean you and make YOU a well of living water!