New Wine Part 1: Greater Anointing

Introduction

We are excited to introduce our new series for the month of August, focusing on the theme of New Wine. Today, we will explore what it means to embrace the new anointing that God has for us.

Luke 5:37-39 (NIV): “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”

Embracing New Wine

Our lives should never remain stagnant. God grants us discernment to recognize the changing times and seasons. New wine symbolizes a fresh move of the Holy Spirit. As we enter this new era, expect to encounter God in unprecedented ways.

2 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV): “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’”

The Need for Remodeling

Remodeling is often messy, but its purpose is to transform something worn and broken into something better. Similarly, God remodels our lives to prioritize the spiritual over the physical. At His return, Jesus will establish His millennial kingdom on a new, remodeled earth. Meanwhile, God continues to perform smaller remodeling projects in our lives to prepare us for this new era.

The Challenge of Old Wine

People often prefer old wine because it brings a temporary sense of satisfaction. Jesus uses this analogy to illustrate the difference between the old, legalistic ways and the new, spiritual life He offers. Many in the world may resist the new wine because they are comfortable with their old ways. However, we must not be discouraged. Just as some Pharisees and priests eventually embraced the new wine, so too will others.

Living the New Life

To help others transition from old to new, we must invite them into a genuinely transformed life. Today, many offer old wine labeled as new, but true transformation requires putting new wine into new wineskins. We need to foster a community of Christ-followers who:

• Read the Bible more than their phones and TVs

• Love the truth

• Worship God wholeheartedly

• Exhibit selflessness and generosity

• Rejoice in suffering

• Share with the poor

• Visit the hurting

• Gather to celebrate God’s blessings

• Demonstrate hope even in the deepest pain and suffering

A New Anointing

God has a distinctive anointing for this new era—a new wine from Heaven. However, we must be prepared for the fact that the new may taste different from what we are used to.

Conclusion

Let us embrace the new wine and be ready vessels for the fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit. May we live out this new life and invite others to experience it as well. As we close, may we reflect on the new anointing God has for us and be open to the transformative work He is doing in our lives.