The God That Repairs The Broken Cisterns -Pastor Michael A. DADA

August Thanksgiving Service Topic: The God that Repairs the Broken Cisterns Anchor Text:: Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:11-13 Introduction As part of our divine Intervention series, this month shall be used to discuss issues around identifying broken cisterns, its repairs and maintenance. Most people's cisterns are broken and as a result, drain their resources. However, divine intervention can repair or prevent this from happening. Point One | The Broken Cisterns | Jeremiah 2:11-13 "Broken cisterns that cannot hold water" is a famous metaphor from the Bible, and It means turning away from God, the fresh spring of living water, to try and make your own cracked, leaking wells that leave you empty. Meaning of the Metaphor The Living Water: Represents God as the true, endless source of life, joy, and peace. Jesus tells a woman that anyone who drinks ordinary water will thirst again, but the water He gives becomes a spring welling up to eternal life. John 4:10-26 The Cisterns: Represents things people chase on their own—like money, power, relationship, achievement, or false idols—hoping they will satisfy. Hewed them out cisterns: Represents chosen ways that seem right to a man, but their ends are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12. The Crack: Shows that worldly things are broken and cannot keep the satisfaction or happiness you pour into them. It leads to destruction and misery; loss of peace and hardness of heart. Romans 3:16-17 Point Two | The Beauty of Unbroken Cisterns “Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.” Proverb 5:15-21 "Drink water out of your own cistern" uses water as a symbol for loyalty, satisfaction, and joy in what we can call our own, such as marriage, business, profession, and ministry. Meaning in the Bible A Symbol for Marriage: The text means you should find love and happiness with your own husband or wife. No Cheating: It tells people not to look for love or physical pleasure outside of marriage. Private and Safe: Just like a private water tank kept your family alive in dry places, a loyal relationship keeps your heart safe and satisfied. Why Water Was Used High Value: Water was hard to find and very precious in ancient times. Keeping it Safe: People guarded their private wells so others would not steal their water. "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way." Matthew 13:25 Wasting Good Things: Giving your love to a stranger is like spilling good water into the dirty street for anyone to use. Dig your own well and avoid striving. Example of Isaac. And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days…Genesis 26:18-25 Point Three | The God Who Repairs The Broken Cisterns “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonian 5:23 God heals and restores broken lives and cisterns, offering comfort and renewal through the Gospel, fellowship, and true friendship. How God Heals Psalm 147:3: "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Isaiah 58:12: "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." Psalm 51:17: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." How God Restores Nearness in Pain: God draws close to those who hurt rather than turning away. Inner Healing: He mends emotional wounds and treats the pain of the heart. Rebuilding: He takes ruined or empty places in a person's history and restores a firm foundation. He places us in fellowship as a form of maintenance of our cisterns so as to exhort one another and guard against the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrew 3:12-13