ABUNDANT LIFE VISION
The New Wine. Matthew 9:14-17
One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?” [15]Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. [16]“Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. [17]“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.” NLT.

Good morning dear friends, I welcome you to another teaching this morning, I pray that God will interpret His word in our hearts in Jesus name. We will discuss “The new wine” today. The first thing I want us to know is that the old always gives way to the new, God is not stagnant, He is a progressive God. When Jesus came, He met an existing system, however, what He wanted to implement could not stand on the existing structure. Therefore, what we have in Matthew 9:14-17 goes beyond the disciples of Jesus not fasting the way John and the Pharisees fasted.

Jesus was more concerned about establishing a new system that would guarantee a relationship between God and man which was lacking at that time before things like fasting. Romans 8:15-17: So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” [16]For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. [17]And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. NLT. God wanted to build a relationship of father and son with us and He needed to put an end to the existing system that said other wise. God would never establish a perfect thing on a faulty foundation. He is a wise builder who builds on a solid foundation. Matthew 16:18-19: Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. [19]And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” NLT.

Therefore, the old system through the death and resurrection of Jesus is no longer valid and Jesus who has been raised as our High Priest has set up something better than what we used to have. One of the things Jesus has established is that we can be saved from our sins not because of what we have done right but because of the saving grace of God. Ephesians 2:8-9: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9]Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. NLT.

The new wine is the new system of salvation established by Jesus and if you are yet to experience this by giving your life to Jesus, I urge you to do so by saying this prayer wholeheartedly; Lord Jesus, I confess you as my Lord and saviour today, please save me and be my lord and bring me into your fold. Amen. If you have recited the prayer wholeheartedly, I congratulate you and I welcome you to the family of God. Make sure you join a bible believing church as you start your journey in Christ
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God bless you.