Luke 5.36-39 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
Jesus continues to disturb those who have an “air tight” religious way of seeing and doing things. The Spirit of God cannot be contained into the set patterns of religious “wineskins”. All one must do is read the sacred texts of the manifold displays of the power and workings of God, and let them speak for themselves. Yes, there are special times and seasons where God as Sovereign Lord displays those special acts of wonder and power to confirm His truth, as in the days following the Ascension of Christ. However, I have a question. Is God still God? Does He still do wonders of power and great glory? If you are reading this and you are in an “old wineskins” camp that puts the present day miracle-working power of God into a dispensation. With all due respect, put this blog down. Please? Go outside for one minute. Look up at the heavens. Now, my friend, try to “contain” or limit THAT wonder-working power into your dispensation.
I fear that with all of our bible knowledge and systems of theology we have created an entire generation of religious people who have lost the sense of the power and presence of God. Unbelief, doubt and skepticism is flourishing in religious circles today when it comes to the miracle and order working power of God. Granted, there will always be those who prostitute the gospel and the power of God and His gifts. But there are many people in the church today who cross every “t” and dot every “I” correctly, and God forbid that you should question them or their wineskins of worship, or philosophy of the Christian life. God forbid that you dare question their “church fathers”, both Catholic and Protestant alike. When sound theology muzzles the voice of God or His Sovereign power, you have an old wineskin mentality that is judgmental, divisive, argumentative and inflexible to the daily, wonder-working power of God. God is working. Be still, and know that. “Drink” afresh the grace, love and miracle working power of The Living Risen, Lord Jesus Christ!!!
