Digging For Revival
Taken from "FIRE UPON THE ALTAR" Chapter Three
by Gene Easley
The patriarch Abraham was a well digger. He knew the importance of having those sources of fresh water, and he knew somebody had to go out and do the actual digging of the wells. The water is there for us, but we have to want it to the extent that we are willing to do whatever it takes for us to be able to partake of it.
After the passing away of Abraham, the Philistines came and stopped the wells by filling them with earth. Isaac, Abraham's son, also realized how important the wells had been. He had seen the blessings they had brought to so many. He knew they could not make it without the wells. So he determined that he would redig those wells the enemy had stopped (Genesis 26:18).
Digging is hard work, but it is necessary if we want to see the springs of life return. If we want to see the Spirit flowing through the church freely and with power, it will take some digging. The Philistines had purposely stopped the wells. It is no accident that the free flowing of the Holy Spirit in our churches is not being witnessed. It has been a deliberate plan of the enemy of our soul to stop those life giving wells.
Digging is not popular. It disrupts the party. The smooth sailing might be rippled if someone starts digging. But our survival is at stake. We are fighting for life in the church! We must have the springs opened one more time!
We have brought in the spotlight boys, they have done their thing and left, and we are still dry and thirsty. We need to bring in some digging crews.
The church needs to begin digging for a new dedication to God. Surely it will be hard, especially since our hearts have become so crusty and hardened. To make an about face now will require more than a memorized prayer. It will take some weeping and pouring out of our hearts in the altars to break through our calloused condition.
We are having big productions in this hour, but we aren't producing very much. We have built artificial watering holes. They may deceive many but not the soul that is thirsting for the genuine springs of God.
The woman at Jacob's well (John 4) came with a natural thirst. But she also came with a spiritual thirst. Jesus told that thirsty woman, referring to the water in Jacob's well, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again" (John 4:13). This is a picture of many churches today. People are drinking but leaving thirsty. No wonder their souls are still being enticed by the world.
Jesus, looking at this barren, desolate life, tells her of another well that will quench her thirst forever. Christ said, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).
The Samaritan woman cried out, "Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw" (John 4:15). The church will again have to cry out for this water. Will spiritual renewal come through greater education? Will we achieve it by a talent search with trained artists adorning our platforms? Not in an eternity! It will take some digging!
Not only should the church provide a place to pray, but it should also make prayer its most honorable practice. His house should be called a house of prayer among all nations. Talent is often the most honored possession in church. We emphasize it and encourage it so that we really don't care if our talent is saturated with prayer or not. We are determined to use gifted people, even though they have no prayer life.
