Re-Digging the Ancient Wells 5-30-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my head and open up my heart, that the King of Glory may come in (Psalm 24). ... "Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the names that his father had given them" (Genesis 26:18). Like ancient wells, there are places on the earth where the springs of revival have poured out rivers of living water, bringing life and healing to all they touch. And like the enemies of Israel, the enemy of our souls does all he can to stop up the wells and shut down the flow until only a trickle of life remains. Eventually, the vibrant experience of the presence of Your glory blows away like a desert wind in a dry and thirsty land. The well becomes dry and the land becomes barren, groaning for those of courage to come and fight and those of faith to come and restore hope. The land and the people long for the day that their ancient names are remembered and their eternal identity and destiny is restored. "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing" (Isaiah 35:1). I saw the re-digging of one of Your ancient wells last weekend. I stayed over an extra day on my trip to England, not knowing exactly why. During the week, my friend Heather Butler from Wales sent word to me she was leading a women's retreat on Saturday and preaching on Pentecost Sunday at an Anglican Church in the south of London. You have gifted her to sing prophetic songs over the people and places where You send her. She invited me to come and it turned out to be a thrilling day of joining in ministry to the women. This church was an ancient well of revival with an incredible history of Your glory and presence. John Wesley preached there on the site of the church when it was only a meadow in the village. William Wilberforce preached against slavery there in the abolition of slavery movement. William Seymour, who led the prayer meetings at Azusa Street came there to preach. The building was bombed by the Nazis in the war, but a persistent parish priest insisted that it be rebuilt. Then this church was a site of many signs and wonders of God during the charismatic renewal of the 1970's, heavily influenced by John Wimber's meetings on the Holy Spirit at Holy Trinity Brompton in London, which would become the womb of the Alpha movement that I was attending the past week. In recent history, Graham Cook had prophesied there of the move of Your Spirit to come. And just a months before, the Archbishop of Canterbury had come there to lead a commemorative march to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Britain. What a history! What an ancient well of revival! Yet with all this history, it seemed to be a tired old church, and its people seemed to be living in a dry and thirsty land. The ancient well had been stopped up. The Philistines of the world, the flesh, and the devil seemed to have conspired to bury the spirit of life and renewal. Apparently the morning worship was now restrained and less than vibrant, and I spoke with an elderly woman who had tasted of the waters of Your glory from this ancient well who longed for more. So we prayed and ministered Your healing and life. We interceded and identified in confession and repentance for allowing the blockage of Your Spirit and prayed for the breaking of barriers to the flow of Your river of life. We were preparing the way of the Lord. Heather sang the song of the Lord over the people and the land. "Then Israel sang this song: 'Spring up, O well! -- Sing to it!' " (Numbers 21:17). And the living waters began to flow again! Heather sent word that You poured out Your Holy Spirit in power as they worshiped and prayed on Pentecost Sunday. One of the ladies who received such healing from weariness at the retreat on Saturday was literally dancing in the aisles on Sunday! "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17). Praise You, Lord! Let Your song continue to go forth; let Your living waters continue to flow! Let Your river bring life to all that it touches (Ezekiel 47:9). Heather was led to give me a key to remember to pray for the people of this church and of this land. I covenanted with You and with them to pray. Thank You for the keys of Your kingdom You have given to Your church; the gates of hell cannot prevail against it (Matthew 16:18-19).Thank You for these amazing answers to the prayers prayed throughout the centuries we are already beginning to see. May this ancient well and all Your wells of Spirit and Life begin to spring up again and flow. May Your glory cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com See what's free at AOL.com.