Title: New wine and Old wineskins
Theme: To show that to gain for the future we have to let go for the past.
Text: Mark
Mark 2:18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"
19 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."
Introduction
Throughout the gospels we see this constant battle between the religious leaders (Pharisees – strident followers of the law, Sadducees – more liberal workers of the law (political), scribes – interpreters of the law) and Jesus.
Their Battles Include
Sabbath Worship/Healing
Mar 2:27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
Eating Food
(Mar 7:14-19) Again Jesus called the crowd to him. He said, "Listen to me, everyone. Understand this. Nothing outside of you can make you ’unclean’ by going into you. It is what comes out of you that makes you ’unclean.’ "
Then he left the crowd and entered the house. His disciples asked him about this teaching.
"Don’t you understand?" Jesus asked. "Don’t you see? Nothing that enters people from the outside can make them ’unclean.’ It doesn’t go into the heart. It goes into the stomach. Then it goes out of the body." In saying this, Jesus was calling all foods "clean."
Paying Taxes
(Mat 22:17-22)Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar’s." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
Others included Divorce, ministry to sinners,
Yet Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Mat 5:17)
Illustration – Wiersbe Mark 2
There are two ways to destroy a thing: you can smash it, or you can permit it to fulfill itself. An acorn, for example, can be smashed with a hammer, or it can be planted and allowed to grow into an oak. In both instances, the destruction of the acorn is accomplished; but in the second instance, the acorn is destroyed by being fulfilled.
I believe there was two reasons that they seem to hate Jesus so much:
1. Jealously. They didn’t like it because he had a following and did not include them. They figured if it was religious it would have to go through them and approved by them. It was not their idea and they were not getting the credit so they didn’t like it.
2. Resistance to change. They didn’t like change. Actually not too many people like change. It is so hard for us to see change.
Their most hated verse was.
God is up to a new thing
(Isaiah 43:18-19) "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. {19} See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
Paul said:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).
You see they had their system. They had their way and it worked for them, or they thought. In their mind everything was okay. Surely they were having to compromise and put on a show but that is what everyone did.
As we have been studying the disciples we have notices a deep desire to follow Christ. It was as if they were sitting on the outside looking in going I want more.
I get this same impression from Nicodemus. As he came to Jesus by night something had piqued his interest. Something told him that there was more than just what he saw.
What happens when we try to put the new wine in the old wine skins
1) The old wine skins stifles the new wine, keeps it under wraps.
2) The old wine takes the joy of the new
3)
God’s favor/mercy/blessings are renewed every morning
Application: God has a new thing He wants to do. I sense there’s some “new wine” God wants to pour into the “old wineskins” of Riversdale Waikaia Presbyterian Church. We must be willing to make the changes and stretch with new ideas. It’s time for you to trade-in. You’ve been driving that way of life for a long time. I believe God wants us to experience some new wine.
Mercies Renewed Every Morning
Lam 3:22-23 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
MSG Lam 3:21-23 But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: (22) GOD’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. (23) They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!
Mercies - Word Study – from Strongs
H2617
- Definition:
1. goodness, kindness, faithfulness
2. a reproach, shame
- Strong’s: From H2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opprobrium) reproof or (subjectively) beauty: - favour good deed (-liness -ness) kindly (loving-) kindness merciful (kindness) mercy pity reproach wicked thing.
Total KJV Occurrences: 247
• away, 1 1Ch_17:13 • deeds, 1 Neh_13:14 • favor, 3 Est_2:17; Job_10:12; Dan_1:9
• goodliness, 1 Isa_40:6 • goodness, 12 Exo_34:6; 2Ch_32:32; 2Ch_35:26; Psa_33:5; Psa_52:1;
Psa_107:8; Psa_107:15; Psa_107:21; Psa_107:31; Psa_144:2; Pro_20:6; Hos_6:4
If we live in yesterday’s blessings/favor we miss what the Lord is doing today.
God is up to a new thing
(Isa 43:18-19) "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. {19} See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
We need to know the times
1Ch 12:32 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;
Set Apart
When Christ came into our lives there were some things that had to change. Last week we talked about the Purity and Holiness of Mary. She was set a part. There was some things that were different.
We can’t fit our new life in our old attitudes
We can’t fit our new blessings in our old testimonies
We can’t fit our new disciplines with our same old habits.
Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results - Albert Einstein
Paul’s Take
Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Friends it may be a cliché but “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” How do you want to spend today? Yesterday is gone; it cannot be altered, changed or relived. If you continue to live for yesterday you won’t only miss out on today, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll miss out on tomorrow as well.
Wineskins of the Mind
Bishop T.D. Jakes - Free Your Mind
“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined” (Luke 5:37, NIV)
Are you ready for a new chapter in your life? In order to move forward into the blessings God has for you, you have to be willing to let go of the old. The things that are behind you are not nearly as important as what is out in front of you. It’s time to get ready for the “new”!
You may have had some unfair things happen, things that you don’t understand. But let me tell you, you have come too far to stop now. Instead of allowing those things to hold you back, why don’t you let go and take a step of faith into the new? It’s time to get a new, bigger vision; it’s time to get a new, fresher outlook; it’s time to rise up with a new attitude! Instead of settling where you are, pick up and move forward. Have the attitude that says, “I may not understand it; it may not have been fair, but I am not getting stuck on this page. I know God has a new chapter for me — a chapter filled with blessings, favor and victory!”
From the Message: The Danger of Wineskins by Denn Gutpill
Jesus was speaking of the new life his believers had, the new faith they were experiencing, and he was warning them that they could not combine their old lives and their new lives, their old faith and their new faith.
So what are some of the wineskins that will ruin the new wine?
1) The Wineskin of Resentment As the New Year stretches out in front of us like an unmarked page, maybe we’d better take the time to clean our pens before we leave our mark. Resentments are dangerous toys for Christians to be playing with and there is no place for them within the grace that God has given us.
2) The Wineskin of Unforgiveness.
3) The Wineskin of failures. Too many people today paralyzed by the fear of failure. Nobody likes to fail, but it is unfortunate that some people seek to escape failure by not trying, which in itself guarantees failure. George Bernard Shaw said, “When I was a young man I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures, I didn’t want to be a failure so I did ten times more work.”
4) The Wineskin of Victory There is nothing wrong with having pride in the achievements which God has permitted us, if it’s not a gloating pride and we recognize that it was God who was the author of our success. But our achievements have as little bearing on tomorrow as did yesterday’s failures. When I was selling on commission it didn’t matter how good last week was you started on Monday with no sales.
Victories need to be used just as failures are, as simple lessons of life. If we learn not to do a particular thing because it results in failure then we have to learn to follow our successes. The trick is just because something worked well yesterday doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work just as well tomorrow. New ideas and concepts can quickly become dated and traditional if we aren’t careful. We can’t hold onto the old simply because it is old, nor can we embrace everything new that comes down the track just because it’s new. The church is here to minister to society and as society changes so must the church. We don’t change the message, but we may need to change the medium.
Be Careful About our New Wine skins we Choose
We must be careful when making new wine skins. They could also become our hindrance if we are not willing to change.
As the saying goes, “Chose your rut carefully you’ll be in it for a long time”
We don’t have to live in yesterday
New Wine of the New Testament
Act 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."o
Something New. The New wine of the Holy Spirit.
Fulfilled in Acts 2
Act 2:1-8 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord* in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (5) And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. (6) And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. (7) Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? (8) And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
Peter’s Answer
Act 2:11-15 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." (12) So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" (13) Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." (14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. (15) For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
Conclusion
Paul’s summary Leaving Behind
Php 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
How do open ourselves up for the New Year
1) I do believe that this fast that we are beginning during this New Year is important
2) Be prepared to be transformed
Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Rom 12:1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. (2) Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
