Nazarene PM Service



New Wine

A] Math 9:14-17; Read all. Mark 2, and Luke 5.

1] Since this account is recorded 3 times in the Gospels, the Holy Spirit is giving us a clue as to its importance. A one part study on the wine bottle/s.

2] However; before we can fully understand this Parables direction we must go back and read the account that takes place prior.

B] Mathew 9:9-13; the calling of Mathew/Levi, (a brief only for foundation)

1] Verse 10; Mathew is a “publican”, which is revenue collector for Rome, tax collector

2] In Luke’s version of the account Mathew hosts a feast at his home in celebration of his calling/salvation. Of which the Lord and His Disciples show up. Many publicans and sinners show up as well per the verses referenced.

** The importance of this account is further magnified by when it takes place, in Jesus’ 1st year of Ministry! He is rolling out truths that sets the stage for His ministry mission

a] The Pharisees are there and have somewhat to say about the eating with the like of publicans and sinners. Their thinking was there is supposed to be a separation between the clean and the unclean, in this case people. This wasn’t Kosher to them!

b] Jesus responds, His mission is to reach sinners, not the righteous.

c] Verse 14; then came to Him the Disciples of John, saying, why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your Disciples fast not. (John’s disciples were taught of John, they missed it too, looks like they may have sided with the Pharisees as well).

1] Even though most study Bibles show a different train of thought starting at verse 14, the conversation still takes place at the feast at Mathew’s house.

d] Verse 15; long verse please Read from your Bible

1] Jesus seems to never let a good opportunity get by without making a statement of greater importance than their question.

2] As we read, Jesus responds with words about a Jewish wedding, and alludes to the fact He is indeed the Bridegroom of just such an event.

This is a profound statement! A sermon in itself.

And many would wonder what that has to do with the question on fasting, actually everything.

a] As noted of John’s disciples, this also went over their head and the Pharisees as well.

3] However Jesus did respond that there was time coming when the Bridegroom would be taken away, then they will fast. Fasting has many purposes, but Jesus is saying He is the object of the fast, it isn’t needed when in His presence, of which He was present

3] So what can we take away from this so far?

a] We can see there was a tradition or a traditional way (or mindsets) of doing things in the Old Testament days. It was actually called the “traditions of men”.

1] Which is a pattern of trying to do it God’s way, but really not understanding what God’s way is, so leaning to your own understanding, which is not good. Prov 3:5, lean Not to your own understanding, but’

2] Lest we fail to see this point, has there ever been times when you believed a certain Biblical truth only to find out it wasn’t true? Me too.

3] It is upon this thinking the Lord would give the attending group some vital information that bodes well for us today. The word was to separate yourself from sin, but love sinners. Does the Church need that word?

4] Verse 16; No man puts a piece of new cloth unto an old garment,

a] Jesus is saying in a way they all should all be able to understand, that He was Not just a new patch (of cloth) on the old garment of Judaism, (not that He was bashing Judaism). Jesus makes a profound statement if there ever was one.

1] So, this verse speaks of a New Covenant that would ensue.

b] This new emphasis of Jesus did not fit the old forms of Judaism. As a matter of fact Judaism was fixing to/or about to diminish, as in go away. The old style of Priests offering up animal sacrifices would cease, the Temple type of worship would be no more. As Jesus would be the ultimate sacrifice.

1] The Holy Spirit wasn’t going to “support” (do things to promote) the Old Covenant any longer, after the Cross. No need to.

c] In the New Covenant, “we”, the children of God would become the New Temple of God. Can it get any better than that?

5] Verse 17; KJV, Neither do men put new wine into old bottles.

(All I’ve shared up to now prepared us for this verse).

a] If the garments of verse 16 represent a New Covenant, or New Dispensation, then the New Wine represents a New Dispensation of the Holy Spirit!

b] The word used in the KJV is bottles, but Amplified Bible uses the translated word which is really wineskins, which fits very well the metaphor the Lord is using for illustration.

1] In Jesus’ ministry days, wine was stored in among other places a “skin”. To be exact, a goat skin from some expired creature. The legs were sewed up and in the neck area they would place a stopper of sorts.

2] Per the Lord the skins worked well, if you didn’t put new wine in them, because new wine hasn’t fermented yet and would expand and break the bag/skin holding it, thus spilling out the wine, a precious commodity.

c] What are the spiritual ramifications of this great truth the Lord is conveying?

1] First we need to understand the Holy Spirit has had many names that allude to Him. Just as Jesus is The Savior, He is also referred to as the Chief Shepherd of our souls, The Councilor, Kings of Kings etc. many titles that ascribe to Him.

2] The Holy Spirit has similar metaphors ascribed to Him as well; Water, Fire, Wind, Oil and in this case Wine. There is no doubt the New Wine the Lord speaks of is the Holy Spirit.

d] In the Old Testament days the Holy Spirit came upon people (mostly certain people) for various reasons of ministry. Each dispensation has it’s various levels of interaction with/of the Holy Spirit.

e] If the New Wine represents the New Dispensation of the Holy Spirit then what does the skins represent? Remember on the Day of Pentecost, the new believers were accused of being drunk on New Wine? Actually they were, just not alcohol.

Acts 2:13.

1] The skins would have to be the people of God. Since people have an outer covering of skin, (not leather like goats I hope) then the Lord is using wineskins to represent us. We can you see that.

2] In this New Covenant the Holy Spirit’s role is quite different from that of the Old. Instead of coming upon a certain few, He now indwells all that are saved and have a Redemptive Covenant with God.

3] He not only indwells us but empowers us as well, if we let Him.

4] Jesus further makes the statement that like the old wineskins you will have trouble trying to put this New Covenant dispensation Wine into your old wineskin thinking bag/skin/body/etc. The fermentation alludes to the expanding presence of God the Holy Spirit in you.

a] And that is exactly what has been happening for a long time in the Church of God at large. People have been very reluctant to let the Holy Spirit loose in their lives and the Church as a whole.

f] Are there hindrances preventing the New Wine (the work and outpouring of the Holy Spirit) from being manifested?

1] One of the biggest is “Denominational Thinking”. Whereby a group of Bible Scholars team together to interpret what the Word of God says, and thus applying it to their adherents. If they are right good, but if they have missed it, they still promote what they believe/perceive, not good.

2] One case in point concerning the Holy Spirit’s activity at a certain Church. Resultant a 13 page document was produced that was read from the pulpit detailing how the people that believed in the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit as written in God’s Word was, get this, of the devil.

Ascribing His works as of the devil = that’s blasphemy, be very careful!

3] If we have only the letter of the Word, then we have a tendency to only emphasize the intellectual reception of the Word (knowledge only). We become stiff and non pliable (like the old wineskins mentioned of by the Lord) Like the Word says, the letter killeth, but the Spirit gives life.

a] We need to ask ourselves if we have become old and brittle spiritually speaking, thus not being able to accept the New Wine which could stretch us to new levels in God. This is Big!

b] A brief from Perry Stone below, he has noted three reactions from his observations of many years in ministry concerning the reception of the Holy Spirit.

1] He (Holy Spirit) brings a serious excitement to a believer

2] He brings out serious questions of the how/s and why/s of His presence, work and power from a honest heart

3] Last, He is met with resistance from anyone with an unbelieving spirit. Not only doesn’t understand, but doesn’t want to, to include a critical spirit.

c] From a Bible Study series I held some time back, I noted that folks from a couple of hundred of years ago hailed from two main mindsets; the first was called the “old lights” from their old school thinking that had to do with the Holy Spirit. They didn’t appreciate His help.

d] The second group was called the “new lights”, hence they embraced the word and power of the Holy Spirit. Interesting, the old lights kept trying to put out the new lights efforts in Revivals.

g] Last; how do we renew the wineskin?

1] Believe it or not, the old wineskin can be renewed, you don’t have to be discarded. In the case of the skins, salt water dipping and oil rubbing works well.

2] But for us a little different; Titus 3:5b; By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

3] Ephesians 5:26; That He might sanctify and cleanse it

a] Thus the Church is to be sanctified and cleansed “with the washing of water by the Word”. Washes away old thinking and old beliefs and mindsets.

b] The renewing of our thinking is imperative to our receiving the fullness of God in any way, shape or form.

c] As the rubbing of oil into the old skins makes them pliable, a good old fashioned rubbing of generous amounts of “oil” which is the Holy Spirit will do wonders for us as well. (That’s His job)

4] This is front-page news for any believer, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is one of our most valuable blessings, so, open your heart to Him.

“footnote”

# If you feel this outline has enriched you in some way, please drop this Ministry a line to let us know on our Contact Page, Blessings, Pastor Tom

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download