INTRO: 1. When we think of wells, we usually think of water.

2. Water plays a major role in the physical world in which we live.

3. It covers a majority of the earth's surface and makes up the greater
part of our human bodies.

A. So, some people think that we ought to use more time fishing and
swimming than we do plowing.

4. Without water we could not live.

5. Water is mentioned over 570 times in the Old Testament, and over
79 times in the New Testament.

6. Water is that which saved Noah and his family, but destroyed the
wicked world about them. 1 Pet. 3:20.

7. Wather is that which saved the Israelites and destroyed the
Egyptians. Exo. 14:21-31.

A. It also separated Israel from the promised land--they had to cross
the Jordan River during flood stage.

B. It stood between Naaman, the leper, and his cleansing.

8. Water is that which is used by the obedient in baptism, and con-
demns those that are not baptized. Acts 8:36-39; 10:47,48; Lk. 7:30

9. Yes, water has a great significance in the Bible.

I. DOWN THROUGH TIME, DIFFERENT METHODS OF OBTAINING
AND STORING LIFE-GIVING WATER HAVE BEEN USED.

A. Wells have been dug, pumps have been put down, reservoirs have
been built and cisterns hewn out for catching the rain.

1. In my many travels through many places on this earth, I have seen
many ways utilized to preserve water.

II. THIS HAS ALSO BEEN SO IN OBTAINING AND STORING WATER
OF ETERNAL LIFE.

A. Some study the word of God one way and thereby are able to retain
it, and others study another way. Psa. 119:11

B. But some go about it in the wrong way and do not rightly divide it. 2
Tim. 2:15.

1. When they do this they are hewing out cisterns, broken cisters, that
will hold no water. Jer. 2:13.

III. MANY ALLOW THIEIR WELLS OF SALVATION TO BE FILLED UP
WITH DEBRIS AND FOREIGN MATTER.

A. When I was a lad, I remember that we cleaned out our well ever so
often in order to get the debris out of it that had accumulated in
some form or other. Such as dippers, buckets, etc. This also allow-
ed the free-flow of the stream that fed it .

1. Whenever a chicken would fall into the well, we would have to clean
it out immediately.

2. I remember many different types of wells that were used in my
younger days. There was the wide mouth well with a wooden frame
about 4x4 ft. built over the mouth of the well, holding a windlass
with a rope and bucket and crank on it. I hope you younger folks know
what I am talking about with such words as windlass.

a. There was another type of well that I remember. It was of much
slimmer or smaller proportions than the one described above.
This well also had had a wooden frame built above its mouth to
hold a windlass, bucket, etc. The bucket in the case, was a long,
4 to 5 feet, bucket with a valve in the bottom of it. It did not
turn over down in the well to fill with water. It filled through the
valve at the bottom of the bucket.

3. Then there are different types of pumps, the long handled, for a long
stroke, pump and the short handled, pitcher pump that was found
in the kitchen of some houses. Never in ours.

B. Abraham dug wells but the Philistines filled them up and they had to
be cleaned out.

1. Isaac cleaned out the wells of his father and dug others as well.
Gen. 26:12-33; 21:25-30.

C. The apostles, by direction of the Holy Spirit, dug wells of pure water
but men have filled them up with creeds, manuals, and catechisms.

1. We are to be filled with pure water (Word of God) leaving no room
for debris. Acts 20:29,30; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; Eph. 5:18.

D. We must, in order to get to the pure water, keep the wells cleaned
out. Jas. 1:21.

IV. THE BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL ARE LIKE PURE WATER.

A. Water refreshes, so does the gospel. Acts 3L19,

B. Water revives from drought, so does the gospel. Isa. 35:1,2.

C. Water purifies the body, the gospel purifies the soul. 1 Pet. 1:22,23.

D. Water cleanses the body, the gospel cleanses the soul. Jno. 15:3;
Eph. 5:26.

V. WATER IS A UNIVERSAL NECESSITY.

A. All men everywhere need it for washing, for growing, and for
quenching thirst.

1. Man cannot live where there is no water. Wherever man may live
there must be sufficient water. Therefore baptism is possible
wherever man lives for a substantial length of time.

VI. THE GOSPEL ALSO IS UNIVERSAL. Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15,16.

A. It is needed by all men everywhere for:

1. Washing. Jno. 15:3; Eph. 5:26.

2. Growing. 2 Pet. 2:2; 3:18; Heb. 5:13,14.

3. Quenching thirst. Jno. 4:13,14.

VII. JESUS AND HIS WORD IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF THIS LIVING
WATER. Zech. 13:1; 14:8; Jno. 7:37,38; 6:35.

A. Everyone should draw this water with joy. Isa. 12:3.

1. Because it is free. Rev. 22:17.

2. But each must draw for himself. Rom. 14:12.

3. This water satisfies. Jno. 4:13; Isa. 49:10; Jer. 17:8.

4. This water springs up unto eternal life. Jno. 4:14.

5. One cannot live without this water. Job 8:11-13; Psa. 1.

6. This water cannot be obtained from the cisterns of the world. Psa.
63:1.

7. This water never fails or dries up. Isa. 58:11; Psa. 23.

VIII. IN ORDER TO BE FILLED WITH THIS WATER, WE MUST
THIRST AFTER IT. Mt. 5:6; Psa. 42:1,2.

CONCLUSION; 1. Let us not die of spiritual thirst, but let us draw from
the wells of salvation and drink of the
water of life freely.

2. Remember, that the Lord said; that whosoever will, let him come and
drink of the water of life freely.

3. Are you hungering and thirsting after eternal salvation? Come to the
fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, for sinners
plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

By Unknown

Return to the Sermon Outlines page