THE LINC COLLECTIVE

WE ARE NOT MADE FOR SPRAY BOTTLES – RHYS ACTON

Scriptures:
Jeremiah 2:13 NIV
John 4:13-14 NIV
John 10:10 NIV
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Revelation 3:15-18 NIV
Matthew 6:24 NIV
Matthew 7:21-23 NIV
John 7:37-38 NIV

Points:
1. Broken Cisterns
2. The Spring of Living Water
3. In-Between

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“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns,broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Jeremiah 2:13 

We find ourselves at three different places: either at the spring of living water, at the broken cistern, or in between.

1. BROKEN CISTERNS

A cistern is a man-made system used to store water. In Jeremiah 2:13, God speaks to his people through the prophet about how they had turned from Him (the source) and dug their own broken  cisterns – something that was meant to hold water but was empty, something that was meant to provide life but failed. 

When we turn to anything else (financial freedom, personal relationships, hobbies) as our source of fulfilment, meaning and life, we’ll only be met with emptiness and falsehood.

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2. THE SPRING OF LIVING WATER

John 4:13 – Jesus refers to himself as the spring (source) of living water.

The good news of the Gospel is that we can have access to this living water and can be filled with the Holy Spirit in every moment – this water “springs up from within us” – it’s not something that we have to go and fetch.

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3. IN-BETWEEN

A “spray bottle Christian” = someone who lives in between God and the world, constantly trying to find a balance between the two. 

Revelation 3:15-18  -the water from the hot springs would become lukewarm and undesirable. This lukewarm water would often make people sick because it wasn’t healthy. Jesus used the imagery of water to encourage his followers to choose to live a life fully devoted to him, instead of stopping in the middle, between good and bad. The danger of being lukewarm is that we miss out on fully experiencing the goodness and health that Jesus can bring into our lives.

A “spray bottle Christian” mentality = thinking you have enough of Jesus in your life without truly being called to live all for Him. 

Matthew 7:21 – those who claim to be saved but only do good things by their own power will not enter the kingdom of heaven, 

John 7:37 -Jesus offers living water only to those who believe in Him. 

Broken Cisterns in our lives leave us empty of joy and fulfilment. However, Jesus can fill the gaps that these have created and wash over the pain and brokenness. Regardless of what we have faced or gone through, all we need to receive living water is to simply believe in Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us today.

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4. Discussion Questions
1. How do the broken cisterns in our lives relate to seeking fulfilment outside of God? Can you identify any broken systems in your own life?

2. Have you ever felt like a “spray bottle Christian,” trying to balance your faith with worldly desires? How did this affect your spiritual journey?

3. What does it mean to be spiritually lukewarm, Why is it dangerous for our faith? How can we guard against becoming lukewarm in our devotion to God?

4. What practical steps can we take to fully embrace Jesus as the Living Water (source of fulfilment and joy) in our daily lives? How can we encourage one another in this journey?