Digging The Family Well | Jentezen Franklin

Sunday, March 15



Drawing from the wells of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s well where Jesus offered living water, Pastor Jentezen Franklin urges believers to dig, redig, and defend a deep family well of salvation, Holy Spirit power, and revival. Don’t chase shallow new wells that leave you dry—return to the original source that satisfies forever, and through faithfulness and sacrifice pass this living water to the next generation, so no family goes thirsty. 

Key Verses 

Genesis 26:18–24, John 4:6–14, 2 Samuel 23:15–17 

Key Points  

  • You can be saved and satisfied. When you give your life to Christ, if you truly change, you won’t want to go back to your old life. When you’re saved, the well of living water satisfies you.  
  • The well is deep. When you get saved, there’s still more. The well is deep and filled with more of God’s Spirit. How deep do you want to go? 
  • No one can stop you from getting to the well. If you’re going to receive water from the well of living water, you have to be determined. A result of not being determined could be an upper leg for the devil to stop up up your well with junk and pollution. 

 

Introduction  

Today we’re going to explore the message “Digging the Family Well” by Pastor Jentezen Franklin 

The message encouraged us to reflect on the spiritual well we are drinking from. In Scripture, Abraham dug a well that provided life-giving water not only for him and his descendants but continued to exist generations later—even at the time when Jesus met the Samaritan woman during His ministry. 

In the same way, Jesus offers us a well that is deep and never runs dry. From Him flows living water that fully satisfies and sustains our spiritual lives. Our challenge is to remain at that well and not be drawn to other sources that promise blessing but quickly dry up and lead us away from life. 

Instead, we are given a beautiful promise: as we continue to drink from the well of Christ and keep our relationship with Him clear and close, we will find an inexhaustible source of life and salvation—not only for ourselves, but for the generations that follow. 

This week we will dig into: 

  •  The Enduring Promise of the Well  
  •  The Generational Well: From Abraham to Jesus  
  •  Defending & Passing On the Family Well   

 

LET’S START THE DISCUSSION: 

  • What stood out to you in this past Sunday’s message? 
  • Do you have a family well (spiritually) which is available to you? If so, where did it come from? If not, what can you do to establish a family well of your own? 

 

The Enduring Promise of the Well 

There is a Biblical thread that we can follow through the generations – from Abraham to Isaac and Jacob, to Jesus at the Samaritan well, 1900 years later.  

In the Bible, a well primarily symbolizes life, survival, and the spiritual source of divine provision and sustenance. It is a meeting place for divine encounters and promises of God.   

By digging a well in the Promised Land, Abraham wasn't just finding water; he was establishing ownership and trusting in God's covenant that was promised to his descendants. Isaac’s intentions to go out on his own and dig his own well failed and serves as a reminder to return to what God has already provided for us. 

In Genesis 26 we see that Isaac returns to the source of spiritual blessings of the past and re-digs the same well his father Abraham had dug, which the Philistines had filled in. The revelation is to keep open and clean the pathway of our legacy. There is required maintenance on our part to be steadfast in following the precepts of God.  

In John 4, Jesus offered the Samaritan woman at the well everlasting “living water" that would never run dry. 

Let us drink from the well that God offers us, through Jesus, and not attempt to serve ourselves with our own attempts to satisfy our hearts.  

  • What can we learn from Isaac’s decision to reopen the well of Abraham and how do we maintain the spiritual foundations across generations? 
  • In John 4:10–11, Jesus speaks about “living water.” What does this reveal about the difference between temporary needs and the deeper spiritual life He offers? 

  

The Generational Well: From Abraham to Jesus   

In Scripture, wells hold significance beyond drinking water—they symbolize life itself, divine provision, survival in barren seasons, and the deep spiritual supply that flows from God. In a dry and weary land, a well determines whether one lives or perishes. Spiritually, wells point to the living water Jesus promises, the source that quenches the soul's deepest thirst and sustains not just individuals, but entire families and generations. 

The Bible beautifully traces one specific well through generations, demonstrating how spiritual inheritance is preserved when God's people remain faithful to reclaim, maintain, and honor what He has established. 

It begins with Abraham, the father of faith, who dug wells as acts of obedience and covenant faith. These wells secured God's provision not only for his present need but as a legacy for future generations. 

Following Abraham's death, the Philistines filled the wells with earth, deliberately obstructing the flow of blessing and attempting to sever the inheritance. Yet Isaac, Abraham's son, refused to let the legacy remain buried. In Genesis 26:15–18 (extended through v. 24), we read that Isaac "dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father... and he called their names by the names by which his father had called them." NKJV He redigged them—clearing away the dirt, restoring access, and preserving the original names as a declaration of continuity. As a result, "the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, 'I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you.'" The blessing returned in power because Isaac chose obedience to reclaim what God had initiated through his father. 

  • Discussion question: What spiritual "wells" (habits of prayer, family devotions, commitments to God, or moments of breakthrough) did previous generations in your life or family establish that may now be filled with obstacles like busyness, doubt, compromise, or worldly distractions? Which one is God calling you to redig first, and what specific step can you take this week? 

That preserved well passed to Jacob, who continued to maintain it. He kept it clean, open, and flowing, stewarding the covenant legacy entrusted to him without allowing it to become clogged or forgotten. 

Remarkably, nearly 1,900 years later—after centuries of history, changes, and challenges—that same well endured. It remained clean, open, and life-giving. In the time of Jesus, it was known as Jacob's well. 

John 4:6–14 records the pivotal moment: Jesus, weary from His journey, sits at this very well. A Samaritan woman arrives to draw water, and Jesus engages her in a conversation that unveils the well's eternal significance. He declares, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water" (v. 10). When she observes, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep" (v. 11), Jesus reveals the profound truth: this physical well, preserved across generations, has always pointed to something infinitely greater. 

 

Defending & Passing On the Family Well 

As we reflect on the call to defend our spiritual well, we must recognize that this commitment requires both sacrifice and daily diligence. Just as King David's mighty men risked their lives for a mere drink from the well of Bethlehem (2 Samuel 23:15–17), we too are called to defend the wellspring of living water that nourishes not only our souls but also the generations that follow us. The water that flows from our spiritual well must remain untainted; it is essential that we guard against the pollution of worldly distractions and false teachings. 

This commitment is not merely a one-time act but a daily dedication to the practices that nurture our faith—communion, prayer meetings, and living in the spirit of community, as exemplified in Acts 2:42–47. These habits form the framework through which we maintain the purity of our well. Just as ancient wells required maintenance to ensure their springs remained accessible and clean, we, too, must engage in activities that fortify our spiritual lives. 

Furthermore, baptism symbolizes our pledge to both dig and defend this family well, marking our identification with Christ's death and resurrection (Romans 6:3–4). Through this sacred act, we commit ourselves to a journey of faithfulness, ensuring that the next generation inherits this living water—a well sustained by our ongoing devotion and commitment to God. 

  • In what ways can I actively participate in guarding the spiritual well within my family and community? 
  • What daily practices can I adopt to ensure that I am nurturing my faith and remaining steadfast in my commitment to God? 
  • How does my baptism inform my responsibility to dig and defend the well of living water for future generations? 

Conclusion 

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep…” John 4:11 NIV 

The well that Jesus gives us is deep and contains and unlimited source of grace and life. But it is a source that the enemy is constantly trying to back-fill through temptations and trials to prevent you from taking advantage of it.  The choice that we have is to recognize the well that God has provided for us through our godly spiritual ancestors, and we must choose to stay at this well and keep it clear.  If we do, we are assured that God will meet us there and preserve us into eternity.  

Call To Action:   

  • Take time for an honest evaluation of the spiritual well you are drinking from. 
  • Commit yourself to seeking the well God has provided—the living water found in Christ. 
  • Spend time in your Bible each day, looking for God’s promises and listening for His voice of hope. 
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you discernment to recognize both the enemy’s dangers and God’s truth. 
  • Journal what God is doing in your life and how you are responding to Him. 

These simple steps can help you stay rooted at the well that never runs dry. 

 

Prayer:   

“Lord, thank You for the gift of Your grace through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our source of Living Water. Thank You that this living water is not something we must earn, but a gift You freely give. 

Forgive us for the times we have tried to dig our own wells or have been drawn to the wells offered by the world. Help us turn back to You. 

By Your Holy Spirit, strengthen us to guard the well You have given us and to come to it each day with faith and trust. Fill us with Your life so that we may stand strong in Your grace and walk in Your Spirit. 

In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.” 

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