How can we ensure our "wineskins" are ready for God's new work today? The Original Analogy: New Wine and New Wineskins “ ‘And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will spill out, and the skins will be destroyed. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.’ ” (Luke 5:37-38) Jesus’ picture is simple, literal, and vivid—old, brittle skins cannot stretch with fermenting wine; both are lost. In the same way, when God initiates fresh movements, He looks for hearts and structures able to expand with His life. Why Old Wineskins Fail • Rigid traditions that resist examination (Mark 7:8-9) • Unrepentant hearts hardened by sin (Hebrews 3:12-13) • Prideful self-reliance that refuses dependence on the Spirit (James 4:6) • Fear of change that clings to human comfort (Numbers 14:3-4) What Our Wineskins Are Today • Individual hearts, minds, and attitudes • Family patterns and relational habits • Church programs, leadership models, and ministry methods • Cultural expectations and social norms we have adopted Steps to Prepare Fresh Wineskins 1. Return to first-love obedience. – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) 2. Embrace ongoing repentance. – “Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) 3. Seek continual filling of the Spirit. – “Be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) 4. Renew the mind through Scripture saturation. – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) 5. Walk in humble flexibility. – “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” (1 Peter 5:5) 6. Foster accountable community. – “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24) 7. Test all things, hold fast to what is good. – “Do not extinguish the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test all things.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21) Safeguards for Ongoing Readiness • Regular self-examination before the Lord (Psalm 139:23-24) • Willingness to release outdated methods while clinging to timeless truth (2 Timothy 1:13) • Persistent prayer for discernment (Colossians 1:9-10) • Immediate obedience when the Spirit prompts (Acts 8:29-30) • Celebrating testimonies of God’s fresh work to build faith (Psalm 145:4-7) Encouragement from Other Scriptures • God delights to place “a new spirit” within His people (Ezekiel 36:26-27). • In Christ we are “a new creation; the old has passed away” (2 Corinthians 5:17). • His mercies “are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). • He promises to “do a new thing” and make “a way in the wilderness” (Isaiah 43:19). Conclusion: Welcoming God’s New Work Fresh wineskins are hearts, lives, and structures soft with repentance, stretched by faith, and saturated with Scripture. As we humbly submit to the Spirit, refuse rigidity, and stay anchored in the Word, we position ourselves—and our churches—to carry the new wine of God’s ongoing work without losing a drop. |
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