New Wine and Wineskins

Theme: God calls us to prepare ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Text:  Luke 5:36-39

Here’s a thought: The Lord blesses us to be a blessing to others.

Luke 5:36-39 - new wine in new wineskins

Wine represents the Holy Spirit.

The wineskins have to be prepared for the wine of the Holy Spirit.

We cannot have old wineskins.

John 2:1-11 - Jesus turns the water into wine.

The glory of Jesus is revealed through His first miracle.

Jesus revealed His glory through the resurrection of Lazarus.

We also need to demonstrate God’s glory through miracles and resurrection.

God has a plan, and it involves each one of us. How do we prepare ourselves to reveal God’s glory?

1. We need to make ourselves available.

There were six stone jars at the wedding. The number six is significant. Compare the six days of creation.

2 Corinthians 4:7 - we have this treasure in jars of clay. Romana 12:1 - Offer your bodies as living sacrifices.

Worship happens every single time we make a sacrifice of our time, talents and treasure. This sacrifice of worship smells sweet to the Lord.

These six stone jars were used for ceremonial washing, for religious purposes. Religion is lived by rules and regulations.

2. We need to be willing to change

Jesus directed the servants to fill the jars with water. He could have bypassed this step.

Our human bodies are 60 to 70% water.

Water refreshes and wine influences.

We have to be willing to let Him bring the changes in us.

The Gospel is a Gospel of change.

Disciples of Jesus change.

Jesus changed water into wine.

The presence of Jesus changes us.

Old mindsets that say the old is better will prevent God from doing new things. Our comfort zones can hinder the changes of God in us.

Comfort, convenience and complacency are the biggest enemy of God’s purposes.

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ.

God said that creation was finished in Genesis 1. Jesus said it was finished on the cross. The church is finished in the Book of Revelation.

2 Timothy 4:7 - I have finished the race.
He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. God does not bless inactivity; He blesses activity.

3. We need to take bold steps of faith

Mary told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

The servants probably thought Jesus was a lunatic, but they obeyed. We need to obey Jesus even when it seems foolish.

This is not the time to shrink back but to take bold steps of faith.

The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost, and critics thought the people were drunk. People will be bold and filled with joy when they are filled with the Spirit.

We will need to be bold!

4. We need to remember it is always about others

The master of the banquet tasted the new wine and was impressed. Jesus turned the water into wine so the bridegroom would not run out.

There was a fine for running out of wine at a wedding banquet, and it was embarrassing.

People are important to Jesus. We don’t take possessions with us; we take people.

How we treat people is very important.
Philippians 2:3-4 - look to the interests of others. We have been created for others, not for ourselves. The Lord blesses us to be a blessing to others.
We need to make ourselves available to the Lord.