Matthew 9:17
Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.
I’ve had the unique honor of growing up around some of the most spiritually gifted men and women the world has ever known. I really have. I don’t want to start naming them all, we’d be here all day. It’s hard to even describe the impact of the people I’ve met and the things I’ve witnessed. I’ve seen miracles, healing, prophecies, tongues and spiritual gifts of every imaginable type. Now, none of this was of my own doing. I was just a child in a supercharged environment. I was an innocent bystander. In matter of fact, I thought everyone going to church had similar experiences. I didn’t realize my pathway was exceptional. But it was extraordinary.
However, over the years it’s become quite apparent, as these glorious servants of God transition from earth to Glory, that their influence, impact and effectiveness is waning. Their work is finished. They fought a good fight and finished their course. But what does that say about you and I?
This morning I invite you to consider with me the weight of our calling in these current times. While it’s undeniable that we’ve had some tremendous examples of holiness come before us, we’ve entered into uncharted spiritual territory in the last few years. But I’m encouraged that we’ve been adequately prepared.
Matthew quotes Jesus a making a very important point. He was being challenged by the status quo for not following the traditions of his predecessors. Christ uses the analogy of wineskins to portray the proper placement of spiritual giftedness in his Church. Ultimately, he concludes that new times, and new circumstances require new strategies. The lack of movement in times of change can lead to catastrophic consequences. A wise person knows when to say “when”.
Well, I’ve been spending much of my life trying to put my wine in skins that eventually would break and bust because they were made for another time. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old wine; it was perfect. However, the skins were made specifically for the time the wine was prepared. New wine goes in new skins. My wine is made for new skins.
And I sure many of you feel the same way. You’re anointed. You’re gifted. But for some reason your giftedness and anointing doesn’t fit within the structure of the fellowships and gatherings we dedicate much of our time to. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “we never did it that way before”. Do I have a witness? Well, don’t feel bad. That was essentially what they were saying to Jesus.
We seriously error when we attempt to hold the anointing of the Lord hostage to our historical perspective of how his Church ought to work. We lose the benefit of the guidance and instruction of the Holy Ghost when we superimpose our narrow perceptions onto the canvas of God’s glorious design for humanity.
Saints of God, we have entered into a new era of service and understanding. We’re in the era of new wine. The anointing, power, prophecy and preaching are still major components of the wine, but they are housed in new wineskins. Heretofore, the wine was housed in buildings, sanctuaries and temples made by hand. The new wine is housed inside each one of us. It’s in you.
When you have an opportunity read John 2:1-10. In it you will see how Jesus turned water into wine because the old wine ran out. Please note all he needed was a few empty vessels; and by the time he was finished filling them, the master of the feast declared, they saved the best for last. Dear Child of God, I look at you and declare, Jesus has saved the best for last!
God Bless
John 2:1-10
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
