It’s Hard, Yet It’s Easy
July 27, 2024
New wine
October 28, 2018
"Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved." - MATTHEW 9:17
God gives us a new heart because Jesus fills us with new wine. Jesus Himself likens wine to His blood, which cleanses us. (MATTHEW 26:27-29) Isaiah compares wine to the blessings available to people in covenant with God. (ISAIAH 55:1). Paul uses wine to symbolize the Holy Spirit’s invigorating effect in our hearts. (EPHESIANS 5:18)
Goatskins were used for bottling wine in New Testament times. The explosive power of fermentation would explode old, cracked skins. New containers were able to contain the energy that transformed grape juice into rich wine.
“Newness” is therefore a key issue of life in Christ. (ROMANS 6:4) He makes us new creatures with new hearts that contain the new wine that is transforming us into new people! This means if you have received Christ’s salvation, the filling of His Holy Spirit deep inside you, “fermentation” is taking place. Your spiritual heart is being stretched as transformation occurs.
You may feel conflict and frustration as your fallen flesh strives with your fresh spirit. (GALATIANS 5:17) But don’t worry, because it’s the new wine doing its work in your new heart!
TODAY’S FOCUS
Drink in the new wine by allowing Christ to cleanse you and the Holy Spirit to invigorate you.
