Here’s a message I got in email that I thought was timely for our church so I’m sharing it with you. I will have a summary at church tomorrow.
Pastor Arlen
WHY WE NEED NEW WINE SKINS
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskin will perish. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved together. Also no one having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, The old is better.”
Luke 5:37
1. New wine needs new wineskins
2. New wine bursts old wineskins
3.New wineskins preserve wine and skin
4. Old wine is very satisfying and causes indifference to the new wine.
5 This is an either / or issue. You can’t have both new wine and old skins.
1. Thirst for new wine.
2. The wineskins no longer flex. – The form over rules what the Holy Spirit is trying to do.
2. The wineskins split and spill the wine. – Troubles arise due to structures and organizations reacting to new wine.
3. Those raised on the old are satisfied and will not make gthe choices needed to bring in the new wineskin.
Features of the New Wineskin
Here are some features of the new wineskin that is being developed
1. Organizations are changing. We are moving from “highly organized” hierarchical structures, to “highly relational” forms of church. Worldly organizational models are being rejected.
2. We are moving from highly trained experts doing all the ministry, to everyone ministering. Every Christian IS able to be a genuine, fully qualified, authentic, minister of God
3. We are recognizing that “five fold ministries” are placed by God throughout the body and are not limited to paid staff. Five fold ministries can not fully function contained in the system, because the Holy Spirit is not contained.
4. We are moving from control and accountability to an organization to mutual submission and honor of each others gifts.
5. We are shifting from a pastor led model of church to an apostolic model of church. The church NEVER advances under pastors, because they are anointed to care for the flock and focus inward. Apostles carry the vision of advancing the Kingdom and moving outward.
6. Similarly, we are shifting from “outreach” to get people into the church building and organization, to “kingdom advance” to see the Kingdom of God saturate the nation and transform the culture.
7. The result is the venue of ministry is shifting from mainly in the “Church building” to mainly in “the marketplace.” The Kingdom always advances in the world.
The Holy Spirit is telling the church again and again “be ready for my outpouring. Be flexible and responsive to me.” Frankly, the church I know is not ready. We may be willing, but we just don’t now how to break out of the system. We may want God to move, but the only way we can think of, is shuffle the time slot in the service. You see, we are trying to get the new wine to fit the shape of the old inflexible skin. It won’t fit. So it’s time to choose. Either stick with that good old wine and skin that been so satisfying, ( theres nothing wrong with it!) But, if you are thirsty for new wine, you need to set aside that old skin before it bursts, get a new skin and take a great big drink!
God bless you
Terry Somerville
www.totalchange.org
