Jeremiah: Part 2

Message: Broken Cisterns (Jeremiah 2)

· A state of dependence on God. (Jer 2:1-3)

a. A love for God and focus on Him.

· Move toward independence. (Jer 2:5a)

a. A series of choices that created the straying/distance with God.

b. Start looking for man-made sources to fill this new gap instead of waiting/focusing on God. (Rom 1:25)

· Why our focus turns elsewhere for fulfillment:

a. Control – we want to trust God, but we’ve got it under control.

b. We think God is a way to fulfillment instead of the way.

· You are what you worship. (Jer 2:5b, 36,37)

a. Career, body, addiction, entertainment, family, etc.

· We tend to replace “best” with “good enough” (Jer 2:11)

· Two sins committed (Jer 2:13):

a. Forsake God.

b. Choice to dig for water when we have fresh Living Water in us already.

· What do we do now?

a. Unforsake God – turn toward God.

b. Acknowledge His plan is better than yours.

c. Stop digging cisterns. Whatever God has for your life is better.

· Three things to do when you are ready to turn back to God:

a. Recognize where you once were.

b. Realize where you are now.

c. Care. God will meet you in the gap of where we are to where we could be.

Questions

1. Have you ever experienced a movement of dependence on God to independence? What series of choices led to this state of independence?
2. To where does your focus tend to stray for fulfillment? How effective is it? How do you refocus on God?
3. Are you willing to settle for “good enough” because of the instant gratification?
4. How does Christianity manifest into an attitude of: What’s in it for me?
5. Share a time when you were nibbling at stale food in the servants’ quarters when God had a feast waiting for you. Did you get to enjoy the feast or was it a missed opportunity?