FOUNTAINS OR CISTERNS

“For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns - broken cisterns that can hold no water!” (Jer. 2:13 NKJV).

Here in this verse, we have a good illustration of the spiritual character of the people of Israel in his day. Their spiritual character is portrayed is that of rejecting a fountain in favor of a cistern; a broken cistern. Many folks today have rejected the fountain of God for the cisterns of this world. Thus we want to note three problems: the flavor of the cistern, the filthiness of the cistern, and the failure of the cistern.

Flavor of the cistern – Compared to the water of the fountain which is refreshing, the water of the cistern is stale and bitter. Further, there will be no after taste from drinking the water from the fountain. However, the water of the cisterns of this world will definitely leave a bad after taste. The world gives a bitter taste instead of a blessed taste.

Filthiness of the cistern - The water of the cistern comes from the run off of the ground or from the roof of a house. This makes cistern water filthy. Those who drink cistern water can become sick very quickly. In contrast, fountain water is pure water. Spiritually speaking, when we forsake the Lord and go after the world’s philosophy, we will become sick. Unholy conduct is bad for both physical and spiritual health.

Failure of the cistern - Cistern water does not last, but fountain water is ever bubbling up more water. And because the cisterns are broken they fail to even hold water. How like the world; it fails to satisfy because its pleasures run out quickly. The pleasures of this world are only passing, temporary (Heb. 11:25). On the other hand, the Lord Jesus Christ will always satisfy, and His delights will last all eternity. “At Your right hand are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth!”

Jim Elliott (1927 – 1956)

American Missionary to Ecuador

Word Study

Disregard

In Titus 2:15 we read, “These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you!” (NASB).

Disregard is the Greek word periphroneō (περιφρονέω = per-ee-fron-eh'-o). It is made up of two words: “peri” which means around, about, and “phroneō” which mean to think, set one’s mind or heart upon something. The word literally means to think around, to depreciate, despise; to think above or beyond a thing, to ignore, to look down on, and to have disdain for.

In classical Greek, periphroneō mean to examine on all sides, consider carefully, to have thoughts beyond, and to despise. Periphroneō does not appear in the Septuagint, and only occur once in the New Testament, here in Titus 2:15 and means to despise, to look down on. The word is a present imperative and carries the idea to stop letting others despise what you are saying, implying that this was happening. The Apostle Paul’s encouragement to Titus is that God’s truth is to be proclaimed with authority, and obedience to it demanded in the church. No disobedience can be tolerated or overlooked.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – The Messiah would endure great sorrow and grief (Isa. 53:3)

New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 26:37-38; Luke 19:41; Heb. 4:15

Did You Know…

In the Bible, it states that the Father wants us to fellowship with the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 1:9).

Bible Quiz

What is not to be cast before swine?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: Jacob’s wife Rachel died giving birth to whom? Benjamin (Gen. 35:16-18).

Names of the Lord Jesus Found in the Bible

“Chief Cornerstone”

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone!” (Eph. 2:19-20 NKJV).

1. Meaning – The Lord Jesus is our rock of safety.

2. Insights – 1. The Lord Jesus is the cornerstone which the religious leaders rejected, but which God chose from eternity to build His house, a temple of living stones! We can rely on Him as our solid foundation.

3. Related Titles – Foundation (1 Cor. 3:11); Living Stone (1 Peter 2:4); Precious Cornerstone (Isa. 28:16); Spiritual Rock (1 Cor. 10:4); Rock/Stone (Psalm 118:22); Rock of Offense/Rock that Makes Them Fall (1 Peter 2:8; Isa. 8:14).

Did You Know – Christian History

Bill McChesney was born July 21, 1936. He was American missionary to Africa. Everyone who knew him called him “Smiling Bill” because of his exuberance. He became a missionary with the Worldwide Evangelical Crusade.

Before he left as a missionary to the Republic of Congo (now Zaire), he wrote a poem which he titled “My Choice.” His poem was not a masterpiece of English literature. Nevertheless, it was the heartfelt submission of someone who was Christ-centered. In it Bill described the comfort he would like to live in. Then he hung his head in shame, remembering all that Christ had done for him. He concluded by saying, “If He be God, and died for me, no sacrifice too great can be for me, a mortal man, to make.”

During the 1960s, just a few years after gaining independence from Belgium after years of corrupt colonial rule, Belgian Congo (Zaire) was in turmoil. The Belgians had not trained the Africans to run the new country. And compounding the problems of running the large nation were age old differences between rival African ethnic groups and the ambitions of European settlers in the Katanga province.

Because the central government could not control the rebel groups who roamed the countryside, they committed numerous atrocities. Several Christian missionaries died or were brutalized during this violent period. One such group, the Sambas’, held a number of missionaries’ captive including Bill McChesney. Several times, they would make terrifying visits in which they rehearsed killing Bill and the other missionaries.

On November 24, 1964, the rebels took Bill McChesney to prison. His friend Jim Rodgers, a British missionary, would not abandon Bill so he leaped into the truck with him. Bill was seriously ill with Malaria and needed someone to help him. Even so, the rebel soldiers beat him mercilessly all the way. Jim had to carry him into the prison.

The next morning, when Bill acknowledged that he was American, a rebel colonel ordered him killed. Jim stood beside him. “If you must die, brother, I will die with you.” Attacking Bill mercilessly with clubs and fists, the rebel mob quickly killed him. He was just 28 years old. Jim laid his body gently to the floor. The rebels then knocked Jim down and trampled him to death.

A Little Humor

Meeting with the new pastor, Jim asked if he could have a church service when he eventually die. “Of course,” said the pastor, grabbing his date book. “What day do you want?”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Use your life carefully - there are no reruns!”