The Bottle or the Well?

In the 21st chapter of Genesis, we read the story of how Abraham & Sarah sent away Hagar & Ishmael. We're told Abraham gave her a supply of bread, and a jug of water for their trip to nowhere. After a while, the water was used up, and the woman and her son faced death by dehhydration. But God had already promised to make a great nation of Ishmael, so He sent an angel to help.
   Guess what? That angel didn't bring her another bottle of water!!! No, HE OPENED HER EYES so she could see the WELL that was right there! Now she could go and fill the bottle herself. Simple enough? Sure, but like most Scripture, there's a deeper meaning here. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, "Lady, if you knew Whom you were talking to, you would ask, and I would give you that Living Water!"(John 4) Your spirit needs God just like your flesh needs H2O.
   This imagery of water representing the Spirit of life is used throughout the Bible. Now notice that Abraham (a prophet) gave Hagar a bottle of water. So many believers walk into church Sunday morning to get their weekly bottle of water from their Pastors, then go their ways, and in a few days dry out again! They go to service, get refreshed & revived by the fellowship, the worship, and the teaching, but by mid-week they're running on fumes! Would to God they would learn, like Hagar, to go to the Well themselves!
   I want all Christians to reach that level of maturity where they're not dependant on the Pastor or others for their RDA of God's Word & Spirit! To be able to get into God's presence and tarry there, to get into the Word and get fresh revelation and a Rhema word on their own! Where they can find encouragement for themselves, and be able to reach out to others with God's power & grace!
  How can I help anyone else, either to reach out to the lost, or to edify the saints, if I myself am drying out? "I am the Vine, you are the branches" says the Lord, and unless I abide in Christ, I cant' bear fruit or be of any use to anyone. Pastors, teachers, elders: we've got to train our people, show them, teach them, how to get God's anointing and inspiration themselves: Our folks need to be "weaned" like Isaac was!
  Moses struck the Rock and water flowed out (foreshadowing Christ's crucifixion where blood & water flowed from His side). Afterward, Israel sang to it, "Spring up, o Well!"(Numbers 21:17) Let the Spirit of Christ spring up in all His children as it is written, "He that believes on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water!" Amen! Grace, peace, and as always, thanks for stopping by!