⏱ 6 min read

Have you had the taste of new wine? Remember the Bible says “Wine makes glad the heart of man” (Psalm 104:15).

Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast…

“(No one) pours new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” ~ Matthew 9:14‭-15, ‬17 #Bible

A good number of Christians are just living by traditions, customs, and religious activities but no transformation. However, our Lord Jesus places priority on transformation first! Let’s see if we need a taste of new wine.

The disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees were fasting and they felt like Jesus’ disciples should too. Now, it seemed like a good idea, even a spiritual idea, but Jesus says, ‘No, it’s not yet time for them to fast… new wine cannot be poured into old wineskins.’

Basically, Jesus is saying that the traditions, customs and religious activities are not as important as the need to transform the vessels (skins) of the disciples before the new wine (Holy Spirit) can be poured into their lives.

Jesus had to for instance, transform or change the disciples’ outlook and perception of God from a task master to a loving Father. “When you pray, say: Our Father…”

Dearly beloved, might I suggest to you that the Holy Spirit is not poured into customs, traditions, or religious practices – “I fast and pray; I’ve been going to church every Sunday since I was young; I take communion; I give offerings; I work or serve in God’s house,” etc. The Holy Spirit’s anointing is poured into transformed individuals.

You can follow religious customs and practices (eg. prayer and fasting) but never taste this sweet wine of the Holy Spirit.

But He is the wine that will give you joy and make your heart merry. “If I pour new wine (the blessing of the Holy Spirit) into these old wineskins (old customs, old habits, old revelation, old ways of doing things), they’ll be ruined.”

• Dear one, there are so many things God cannot pour into our lives because we’re living by old habits, customs and traditions.
• The disciples got to know Jesus by walking with Him for three years (1 John 1:1-3). He taught them about a new way of life in the Kingdom and changed their traditional mindsets (Matt 20:24-28).
• It was after this that He told them to go and wait for the new wine of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49).

We’ll discuss some of these later but the most important thing is this: if you have not believed and confessed Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior, you cannot be saved and God cannot pour the Holy Spirit into you.

It doesn’t matter how good you are, how often you’ve gone to church on Sundays, if you’re not born again, you cannot enter into God’s Kingdom.

• This is a personal decision to make and I urge you to please reflect on your life and do it now.
• Are you living by religious practices or have you tasted the wine of the Holy Spirit? Are you saved?
• If you were to die today do you believe you’ll make it to heaven? If not, Jesus calls you today.

If you are not born again or you want to re-dedicate your life to God, I want you to know that decision is the best thing that can ever happen to you. All you need to do is to believe in your heart and pray this prayer with me in faith:

Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, I thank you for your Word that has come to me. I believe with my heart and I confess that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to save the lost. Forgive me now of all my sins. Lord Jesus come be my Savior, my Lord, and my Friend. Change my life and make it new and help me, Lord, to live for You. I receive this salvation and invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in me. Thank you for saving me. Amen!”

Congratulations!! There is great rejoicing in heaven because of you. You are a new creation and you have your ticket to everlasting life because of this choice!

If you prayed this prayer for the first time, or you just re-dedicated your life to Christ, we would like to know you and help you on this new journey… Just click here and get in touch.

Join us grow in faith by reading the Gospels (a chapter a day). Do share your wisdom lessons from Matthew 9. Remember to tag us on 📲:
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