The Wells of Abraham

By Robert Burgess

"And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land (Gen 26:18-22).

The above passages of Scripture are among the very first the Good Lord used to open my eyes to His Kingdom; I remember I was laying in bed late one night, reading Genesis, when all at once it seemed to be that a thousand lights lit up my room and my under standing was elevated to a place it had never been before. I had no Strong's Exhaustive Concordance at the time, I was just a poor country preacher who could scarcely even afford a Bible, much less one of those. But as I read these verses, my mind became filled with the Knowledge of the Lord as he led me in the Spirit to behold a panorama of events which mirrored those which would take place long after.. At the End-Time.. These Wells speak to us of Spiritual Revelation of God, and of the operation of His Spirit among men.

The Wells were Stopped

"And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names} after the names by which his father had called them."

As we pursue this study from point to point, keep in mind that Father Abraham had NAMED (Pronounced the Nature of) these wells many years before the events which followed would unfold; therefore, being a Prophet, Abraham gave them their names "Prophetically." It seems that he clearly understood what would take place after his demise, even as Paul and others, for as Jesus also said; "Abraham rejoiced to SEE my day (Selah).. he SAW it, and was glad (Jn 8:56). There can be no other explanation as to why their names so perfectly describe the times and events surrounding their later discovery by Isaac, or the conflicts he would suffer as a result. By the same token, Father Abraham provided us with strong Prophetic insight into the events of our day. In like manner, the life and times of "Isaac's servants," also mirror the awful conflicts which have surrounded the Rediscovery of the wonderful Revelations of the Kingdom of God at the End-Time. The Scriptures here declare that after the death of Abraham, the Philistines came into this valley and Stopped these wells, Literally filling them with EARTH.., FLESH, or Man's Traditions.. Abraham is seen in this setting as a Type of the Early church Fathers who had dug these wells of revelation out of the Good Ground of the Kingdom, but however, after their demise, grievous wolves did come in, not sparing the Flock, and turned the grace of God into Lasciviousness (Occupational, Job Security).. Notice they called their NAMES... This then, is the Key to understanding the unfolding of End-Time Events here.. The first well was a "Well of Springing (or LIVING) water." We know that this has to represent Pentecost in type; for: "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of LIVING water. (But this spake he of the Spirit (Pentecost), which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7:37-39).)"

Esek

It should be carefully noted that Esek denotes Strife.. and there has always been nothing but strife generated between the true Spirit-Filled believers and the nominal elements over the subject of the true Pentecostal experience..

In the sleepy little Hamlet of Topeka, KS in the fall of 1900, there had gathered a small group of believers from nearly every quarter of Christendom to study out together a very strange topic in their day; Namely, the true Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and what was the real Scriptural evidence that went along with it.. After a few weeks of Study, they all reached the unanimous conclusion that it was Speaking in other Tongues, as the Spirit gave Utterance. The little group's leader, a man named Charles Parham (From the Hebrew Param, meaning "To rend," or cause to "Separate" ) suggested that they all begin to fast and pray that the Lord Jesus would baptize them in the Holy Spirit, just as he had the believers at Pentecost.. It wasn't many days afterward at about 30 minutes into the 20th Century on January 1st 1901, that a young girl named Agnes Ozman became the first of the Millions upon Millions who would become known (among other things) as "Pentecostals." It was reported that a strange, soft "Blue Flame" danced wildly about over her head about six inches or so, for nearly an hour, while little Agnes spoke fluently in language after language, completely lost in the ecstasy that only the presence of the indwelling Spirit of God can bring.. Almost immediately however, Denominational men, opportunists, looking to get in on some of this "Action," rushed to Topeka and tried to either take control of this "New Move" of God, or else destroy it.. Poor Brother Parham found himself being accused of the most terrible and low-down sins that a man could be found guilty of.. Beloved, the devil is no gentleman, he will KILL YOU if he can, and he almost did kill the little Apostle of the 20th Century Pentecostal Movement, Bro. Charles Parham.

Note: The Word "Gerar" means "Cud-Chewer(s)" or, one who "Meditates." The Herdmen of Gerar, then, represent none other than those Nominal Fly-By-Night preachers who rushed in to take over this most genuine move of the Holy Ghost recorded since the Biblical Era.

Sitnah

And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah (Gen 26:21).

As the strife and warfare increased against the fledgling move of God, the Servants began to "Dig" yet another well and to "Unstop" that which man's traditions had all but obscured. The Scene changes now to a large Campmeeting of Pentecostal believers gathered from all around the world, this was being held just outside Los Angeles California in a place called "Arroyo Seco", in the year of 1910. Many outstanding men and women of God were there, fasting and praying, seeking God for yet more enlightenment from the Holy Ghost as to the next steps they should take in "Following on to Know" Him as Lord of All. A young woman Evangelist from Australia by the name of Mary Woodworth~Etter was speaking that afternoon; her message was entitled "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of Jesus." She was preaching along mightily saying "We lay hands on the sick in the Name of Jesus; we cast out devils in the Name of Jesus... we do everything in the Name of Jesus... except in water baptism.." Suddenly there broke forth from among the congregation such a tremendous gush of Prophetic Utterance that the little preacher was nearly knocked off her feet, finding a chair she turned the service back to the man in charge who could do nothing but give an invitation to all to come and receive water Baptism in the only form recognized by the early church and the New Testament writers.. The prophecy that interrupted the service was only a few words long, but it was a "Shot Heard Round the World." "Repent ye therefore, and be Baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus...." Hundreds lined up quickly to be immersed in an old cattle trough.. Many who were to be the great "Movers and Shakers" in the future Pentecostal Movement were gladly baptized in that wonderful and Holy Name of Jesus that day.. Even little twelve year old C.M. Ward (who would later become the great Host and Speaker for the Assemblies of God Radio Broadcast "Revival Time") was fully immersed in Jesus' Name, along with his father, and others of his family.. Now as if "Esec" hadn't caused enough strife with the nominal element, this NEW well of revelation caused the spirit of literal HATRED (or, Sitnah) to rear it's ugly head.. Jesus said; "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated (or, Sitnah)} of all nations for my Name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another} (Mat 24:9-10)."

Beloved, whether we like it or not, the wonderful Name of Jesus, whether applied in laying hands on the sick, casting out devils, or even in water baptism has an anointing upon it like nothing else under the sun. God has honored His Son, and given Him a Name which is above EVERY NAME!!! As the Nominal elements saw yet another well opened to the children of Israel (the Kingdom) they immediately rushed in and did the same thing they tried in Topeka; namely, to Denominationalize it, with themselves (of course) as the leaders (or, Herdmen). This revelation was "Muddied" and in so doing, it became perverted into a "Godhead Issue" instead of a formula for baptism and entry into the Kingdom of God.. This was not, in it's beginnings, given us as a subject for debate over the Godhead. This is a "Faith" issue, if anything; do we believe in the Father? Then Accept the Son! Do we believe in the Son? Then Accept the Holy Ghost!! Do we believe in the Holy Ghost? Then Accept what he said through the mouths of the Holy Apostles and Prophets, and let the people be baptized every one in the Name (not Titles) of the Lord (The Father) Jesus (The Son) Christ (the Anointing, or Holy Ghost)..

Rehoboth

(Gen 26:22) "And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room (or, Rehoboth) for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land (or, Kingdom)."

I am pleased to report that; "A man's gift maketh room (or, Rehoboth) for him, and bringeth him before great men (Prov 18:16)." Now we come to the important Issue of our day, of the leadership and unifying of the Body of Christ under the influence of that God-Ordained Leadership... Notice that the nominal "Herdmen" wanted nothing at all to do with this "Well;" for if they had entered into this revelation, they would have to give up their man-made traditions and "Particles of Faith (or, literally, Sand).." In this move of God beloved, no one is "Voted in" or can be "Voted out," this is the KINGDOM of GOD!!

The current revelation of the Restoration of the "Gift Ministries" of Apostles and Prophets into the governmental offices of the Kingdom (which were ordained from old) has found no part in the realms of the denominal "Herdmen." It is necessary to understand that the mark of human government is identified as the "Almighty 2/3rds (or, 66.6%) Majority Rules.. This "Mark (Selah)" may be well true, and even called for, in the Kingdoms of men; But in the Kingdom of God you are ordained an Apostle without anyone else's permission but God Himself.. This is why the "Herdmen of Gerar" can gain no influence here; for this is a realm of giftings and callings where only God can bring you before his "Great Men." No matter how big a flock you may have, or how small, for that matter, if man voted you into your position by the above principle, you have no part in the future movements of God' s Kingdom.. By the same token, you may not even now have a single soul sitting at your feet, as it were; and yet you may be a mightily anointed Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, or Teacher for the Kingdom.. We are of good cheer in this place, for God is not mocked.. Keep sowing the Word in faith brothers and sisters; cast your bread upon the waters and wait; it will surely come to fruition:

"For the LORD hath made room (or, Rehoboth) for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."

Robert Burgess 1/27/2000

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