Are We Ready for the New Wine?

Many of you have probably heard about or viewed the movie, “Facing the Giants.”

In an article I read recently, I learned that it was made and financed by the ministers and members of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga.

When the associate pastors saw the results of a national survey of Americans about what influenced them most, movies and TV topped the list.  That’s what prompted them to think “out of the box” and convey the church message through movies.  The church’s senior pastor, Michael Catt, said, “We have too many Pharisees and not enough people like Jesus.  He told stories.  That’s what movies do.  We’ve been too narrow in thinking the only way to preach the Gospel is to preach.”  This statement caught my attention because I find this unfortunate fact to be extremely frustrating at times. 

In Luke 5:36 -39 (NIV), Jesus tells a parable to the Pharisees and teachers of the law who belonged to their sect.  They were complaining to the disciples about why they ate and drank with tax collectors and ‘sinners’ because a tax collector named Levi was having a banquet for Jesus at his house.  In verse 37, Jesus explains to them that new wine must be poured into new wineskins because it can’t be contained in old ones. Then, in verse 39, He says, “And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better’.”  The footnote explanation for ‘The old is better’ says that Jesus was indicating the reluctance of some people to change from their traditional religious ways and try the gospel. 

Traditions have their place but when they keep us from moving on with God in faith, then we need to take notice and be willing to get out of our comfort zone. There’s more than one way to get the job done and what worked in the past may be ineffective today. It’s so necessary for us to stay in tune with the Holy Spirit’s leading.   

Mt.17: 20 (NIV) says, “… I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you.”  Last month I met a lady with this kind of faith and knew I didn’t have it.  She had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and was on fire for God!  She told me that she has a healing ministry and casts out demons.  I wanted what she has and wept because I knew I was not walking in that amount of faith.  I really want to walk in God’s power and with the authority I have in Jesus as a believer.  Like the apostles in Lk.17: 5 (NIV), my heart’s cry to God is, “Increase my faith!”          

Sue Kelley 

Pullers For Christ