Preparing TOP for the Future

Rev Jasmine Ooi

As I was preparing this message I was asking the Lord if this is the right word to share or it is what the Lord wants me to share to TOP. This morning as I was reading the Daily Bread even though I only read it once in a while and guess what? It's on Small Groups! It just jumped out at me. This is what I wanted to share.

It's about this couple who wanted to open their home for care groups and they were saying that they felt inadequate because their home was too small. And their budget was too tight but when they did it God gave them so there's more than enough.

and the story was about Elijah in 2 Kings 4:44 how there were a hundred people to feed. And somebody brought 20 loaves of bread. And the servant said not enough to feed them. And Elijah said just go ahead. And there was more than enough and even left overs. We have the miracle of the feeding of the hundred in the Old Testament and not just the New Testament.

So I want to encourage the care group host and hostess, for opening up your homes. Pastor Ronald was telling me now dint have to attend already, should take a step back. But I said I want to go. I really enjoy myself. So young people, thank you.  You brought so much joy.

My message today is Preparing TOP for the Future.

Yesterday's Youth Conference was called Glow so I'm still glowing in this bright yellow. You see me so bright and glowing. I'm glad no one said I look like "poh kong" but I've no gold to give you but I've got gold nuggets from the word of God to you.

We are coming to the close of the year. Ps Teh last week said we are moving but not advancing. We do not want to be like that. That's how I want to prepare TOP for the Future.

I want to thank all of you for feeding us so much and for loving us so much. You all have been taking so much care of us and now I have a bit of a problem in making my ends meet. My jacket now cannot button because the left side cannot meet the right side. Thank you. You've really made us feel so welcomed in TOP. And the church board has been so supportive and for sponsoring the Youth to go for the youth conference, to believe in them. I'm so proud of the church, the board members and the pastoral team as well.

So how do you prepare TOP for the Future?

Exodus 13:18 (NKJV)

So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

It's about the children of Israel leaving Egypt and proceeding into the promise land. But I like what the word said. That they were armed for battle. Or prepared for battle.

So when you go into the new year, we want you to be equipped and it will be a year of celebration.

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

What is God calling you to be and to do? Before we go into the future, let's take a step back. Where are you now?

When you go to the washroom there is this sign. Does it look familiar to you? Our Objective.

Tabernacle of Praise will know who we are in Christ and be released to do God's will and purpose in Jelutong, Penang, Malaysia and the nations!

Great objective. But do you know who you are? What is God calling TOP to be?there was this church with a big slogan in front of the church. We are a hospital for sinners, not a museum for Saints. That was catchy. The church is not called to collect saints but to transform them. This is supposed to be a life changing place. We get better, we get restored, we get fixed and reach out.

Some may say the church is an army of soldiers like the Israelites.

The Bible says the church is a loaf of bread.

1 Corinthians 10:17 (NKJV)

For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

For we being many are one bread. And one body. That's a symbol of unity. Bread is made from flour which came from wheat. All the wheat seeds come together to make bread. The seeds has to be  harvested and put into the furnace to make bread.

Furnace has friction and gets hot a bit. That's how it's like in the care groups because you rub and gel together and become bread. And it's meant to be eaten. It's to be shared with many.

The church is also stones in God's building "You also, like living stones, are being build into a spiritual house".

The stones come in all shaped and sizes and they are in different positions, some higher some lower but all is important. All of them has a place in God's kingdom. Some may say I'm not important and wants to drop out, and if you drop out you become a stumbling stone. So stay intact he place and role God has given you.

You are many members but one body.

It's speaks of vitality because we are connected to the head. We have diversity, unity and the purpose is that you will grow up, maturity.

Where are you now and where do you want to go?

Grow in the word, Serve with Love, Transform Lives!

Our theme. Have you grown? Are you transformed? And are you serving? We are 39 years now. Where are we, looking at this beautiful slogan. We have all grown and not just laterally.

Many of you have grown and is serving. Let's look at where we can be?

We come in as little lambs. And we eventually have to grow and produce wool. We are producing for the good Shepherd. We want to move you and train you to become a Shepherd. Spiritually the sheep can become a Shepherd. That's what we need in this church. It's the model that God is using.

How do you plan to get there?

Empowerment of leaders and development of people.

How did Jesus do it? Relational Discipleship. Best kind of discipleship to fulfil the great commission and the great commandment. I know that's what all.you you desire to be.

One day, God is going to separate the sheep front he goat. Remember the parable? What's the difference between a sheep and goat. Remember they came to God and God said I don't know you. Only all who obey and follow God are sheep. You are assured. Some of you still have doubts if you'd make it to heaven or not. But if you faithfully wants to obey him, you are his disciples, you are his sheep. You're not a goat.

So what's the difference between a sheep and a goat? A goat has horns to butt each other. So the goat always say but but but. Can you do this  but but but comes in. Every time ask you to do something you say o want to pastor but but but. That's a goat.  We want more sheep.

What's a meta church model. You have talked about mega churches but we want to talk about meta church. TOP can be a meta church. The word meta means change. It's about change. It's the way the church accomplishes the expansion of the kingdom of God. And instead of organising around programmes, a meta church is about relationship and discipleship and intentional shepherding. Through the the care groups. And today is the care group day. Where sheep can be mentored in the faith, identify and use their spiritual gifts in a safe and secure environment and provide care for one another. Each person will feel more cared for. Care giving is shared by many rather than just by the pastor.

Intentional Shepherding.

Best leadership model in the Bible to equip disciples.

Jesus modelled it. Jesus practised it. He did it. He spent much of his time with no fewer than 3 of his 12 disciples. In the New Testament, you find there are those.who day they belong to Peter or they belong to Apollos or they belong to Paul. It's not so much about who you belong to but about group discipleship so that you do not become a clone of any one member.

Like in the case of Paul and Timothy, it's about mentoring leadership and not about base discipleship. The New Testament model about group life discipleship has many advantages.

The New Testament model is one to one relationship for leadership discipleship. 

New Testament models of Leadership

1 Peter 5:1-4 (NKJV)

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Be Shepherd of God's flick under your care watching over them not because you must but because you are willing. Eager to serve. Be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. How many of you want the crown of glory. Wonderful.

Intentional Shepherds. We are preparing the Care Group leaders to do shepherding. They are consciously discipling members to become the following.

Roles to play. They have compelling vision. Their character. And they are also managing team building because they are not doing it alone. To developed and mentor leaders to also become a Shepherd. That's how we will multiply and we will broaden the base. So that the leaders are not so tired.

What are benefits of having a Shepherd?

Sheep needs to be fed and led to green pastures. In the care groups there is the word and fellowship and that's how we grow.

Sheep may get sick or injured. They are cared for and healed. The Shepherd anoint oil on the sheep to care for them.

Sheep tend to stray and get lost. So they get rescued and restored. Sometimes in our spiritual life we go astray and that's when the good Shepherd looks out for you.

Sheep tends to get frightened easily and they are cared for and encouraged. This is very much the care provided by the care groups. I've seen how the Sungai Nibong Care Group did a marvellous job of handling funeral services in our absence. So that the pastors don't have to be the one having to run around. All these are spread out among the care group members.

Sheep may venture into danger. In care groups you are warned and guided according to God's word.

Sheep are vulnerable to attacks. Here you are guarded and protected.

Disciple process through Care Groups

• Grace - to experience grace in your life and to extend grace to others.
• Growth - to grow spiritually to be like Christ
• Group - to Shepherd one another in loving authentic community
• Gifts - to discover, develop and deploy our gifts to serve
• Good Stewardship - to steward our time and treasures for God's redemptive plan for the world. 

The Church needs a Network of Shepherds

Can the pastoral staff alone provide personal and consistent care? For every member of the church? We want to come together and share the work load.

God calls for a network of Shepherds to do the work of equipping.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Equipping Ministry, is not just teaching ministry but a means of shepherding people.

Equip (Katartizo)

• Doctors - Adjusting a limb/setting a broken bone
• Sailors - preparing a ship for voyage
• Soldiers - equipping army for battle
• Fisherman - mending/repairing of nets (Matt 4:21)

Personal Benefits to the Shepherd

• Personal growth and expansion
• Leaving a legacy - you mentored and multiplied
• He who refresh others will himself be refreshed (Prov 11:25)
• Rewarded with the Crown of Glory

These are the words of declaration given to me by an intercessor whom we've asked to pray along with us. When we told them what we're doing with TOP. And we told then we never done this before.

You now have two bi-vocational pastors. This is new. When we first came in, many of you said can this be done? We've never done that before.

I want to share this with you as it's also the word of you at this season for your life.

You are being tasked with pioneering and launching into the unknown. As you release the sound that is being born deep inside the spirit, the right people will come. God will send the right people as you release the sound. They will be drawn to the sound. They will hear the faith, the power, decree and the hunger God is giving you people. Resources and room to grow. I hear you say it, build it and they will come. It's time to arise and build. History belongs to the brave. Hallelujah.

Conclusion: Declaration

Together we will arise and build TOP to disciple and shepherd people relationally in care groups for the purpose of growing in Christlikeness, loving God and one another contributing to the work of the church and expansion of God's kingdom.

New Wine in New Wine Skins

Pastor Melinda Song

Luke 5:27-39, NIV

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 

33 They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” 

34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” 

36 He told them this parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” 

[Parallel texts in Matthew 9:9-17 & Mark 2:14-22]

My text for this week’s message is taken from Luke 5:37-38 but we shall start reading from verse 27 to have a better idea of the context from which that fragment of conversation was taken.

In Luke chapter 5, Jesus is declaring a new way of life. And He is explaining to the disciples and the Pharisees that those who want to embrace this new way, cannot simply try and attach it to the old way of living. If they did, it would destroy everything.

The Parable of the New Patch (Lu. 5:36)

We live in a disposable age. When was the last time you mended your clothes? Even without having done it before we know how ridiculous it would be to tear up a patch from a new garment to sew onto an old garment.

The new material, especially if it is of natural fibre, may shrink and destroy the garment. The colours would not match the older garment which would be more faded. 

Jesus is not interested in a patching things up. Jesus’ way is a radical break from with the traditional religious practices of the day.

The Parable of the New Wineskin (Lu. 5:37-38)

To understand this parable we must know what is the wineskin that Jesus is talking about. The KJV translators have translated the word "wineskins" as bottles but these were not bottles as we know them today.

In Bible times goat skins were used as containers for liquids. The wineskin maker would skin the hide – strip it skilfully in one piece so that it would have minimal openings and seams. Then olive oil is massaged into every pore to retain its suppleness. This was just the beginning of forty more painstaking steps before the goatskin was transformed into a high quality wineskin.

Wineskins come in all shapes and sizes – huge ones out of ox hides that would hold fifty or more gallons of water all the way down to dainty ones for scented oil. But the ones in which the wineskin maker took greatest pride, were his one-liter she-goat flasks decorated with subtle dyes and intricate stitching.

For best results with wine storage, the wineskin is filled with cheap wine for a few weeks to cure it and to remove the tannin taste. Then re-filled with fine wine you wish to age and sealed tightly.

The process of fermentation causes the skin to expand and stretch and would cause dry and brittle wineskin to crack and burst. However, the leather of a new wineskin would remain pliant until the fermentation process was complete, then harden into a secure container for long-term maturing. Once a skin was re-opened and the wine consumed, it could serve indefinitely as a firm, durable water jug.

Wine is one of the symbols for the Holy Spirit.

On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came in great force on the assembly of believers accompanied by supernatural signs – a sound like a rushing wind, the appearance of something like tongues of fire, and the miraculous ability to speak in other tongues for the proclamation of biblical truth.

The unbelieving observers thought the disciples had been drinking too much and were simply babbling under the influence of alcohol. The first words of Peter’s sermon confirm this fact: “These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!” (Acts 2:15) He went on to say that what had happened was a fulfilment (partially, at least) of Joel 2:28‑32, which predicted a universal outpouring of God’s Spirit in the “last days." The unbelievers confused the coming of the Spirit with the power of wine.

A similar comparison occurs in Ephesians 5:18, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." The point of comparison between wine and the Holy Spirit is influence or control. A person under the influence of wine experiences altered behaviour. If the person drinks enough wine, his or her mental processes will be affected and decision‑making ability radically altered-almost always with a negative result.

Likewise, the filling of the Holy Spirit produces a change in behaviour. In the Book of Acts, once-timid disciples became flaming evangelists for Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 5:19‑21, Paul mentioned three practical results of the filling of the Spirit: Singing, a thankful heart, and an attitude of mutual submission. The last result is most significant because true submission always involves giving up your right to be in control in every situation. Only a heart touched by the Holy Spirit can maintain such an attitude in every relationship of life.

In John 2, Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana. This miracle not only demonstrated Jesus’ power over nature, it also confirmed the joy that Jesus brings to human life through the transforming ministry of the Holy Spirit. While Moses turned water into blood as a sign of God’s judgment (Exodus 7:14‑24), Jesus turned water into wine as a sign that salvation has come at last to the world.

Thus, there is both a positive and negative meaning to wine as it relates to the Holy Spirit. Negatively, wine may control the human mind and body, leading to drunkenness and debauchery. Positively, it pictures the joy that Jesus Christ brings when His salvation comes to the human heart. It also points to the change that is possible when the Holy Spirit fills us.

New wine represents a new move of God's Spirit or a fresh outpouring of anointing for the plan of God. We must know how to prepare ourselves and what we must do to contain the new anointing when it comes.

Do you know why there are so many denominations? New denominations are formed as the mainstream denominations refuse to be renewed from within. Martin Luther never wanted to leave the Catholic Church but he was given no choice.

In the early history of the Assemblies of God, we were viewed with suspicion and speaking in tongues was deemed to be from the devil! But every renewal was not really new in the sense that they were a rediscovery of God’s original plans for the church which had been replaced by the traditions of man.

In this passage we are looking at this morning, the new wine points to two things that ushers in the Kingdom of God.

A. Jesus Chose the Unexpected (Luke 5:27-29)

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

Levi was a tax collector for the Roman government. Tax collectors were hated and despised by their fellow Jews for they were seen to have betrayed their nation for material gain and they were alienated from the religious community because they regularly defiled themselves by contact with Gentiles

They were classed with “robbers, evil-doers, adulterers” (Lu. 18:11), with prostitutes (Matt. 21;32, and with pagan Gentiles (Matt. 18:17). They were the outcasts of society. Thus, it was scandalous and publicly unacceptable for Jesus to pick a tax collector as one of his disciples.

Jesus simply spoke the words, “Follow me,” and Levi made a decisive break, leaving everything to follow Jesus – literally “was following him” indicating a continuous pattern of life. Levi did follow Jesus for the rest of his life for Levi was none other than the Matthew the gospel writer.

In the parallel passage in Matt 9:9, the man sitting at the tax office is called “Matthew” and “Matthew the tax collector” is listed as one of the 12 in Matthew 10:2,3. It is common for first-century Jews to have two names (usually one in Hebrew or Aramaic and the other in Greek or Latin).

From that time on, instead of collecting tax money, Levi collected souls for Christ. He was an accurate record keeper and keen observer of people. He captured the smallest details. Those traits served him well when he wrote the Gospel of Matthew some 20 years later

The Bible is full of God’s unlikely choices such as the shepherd boy David for King of Israel. Just two weeks ago we heard the astounding testimony of Bro. Kenny Wong.

Jesus sees what we can become even when we are lost in our sins.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29, NIV

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

Levi regarded the change in his life as an occasion for celebration and rejoicing. He threw a great (farewell?) banquet at his home to honour Jesus and many guests were invited, including a large crowd of tax collectors. Do we also celebrate and rejoice over the salvation Jesus has bought for us at a great price? Do we long to share the good news with our friends and loved ones? Or has our excitement died down?

B. Jesus Did the Unexpected (Luke 5:30-35)

30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 

33 They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” 

34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” 

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were dedicated to upholding the purity of Jewish faith and life. They were exclusive while Jesus was inclusive.

Even as contact with lepers (Luke 5:12–16) brought ritual uncleanness, so in the minds of the Pharisees contact with tax collectors and sinners brought moral (as well as ritual) uncleanness.

So they were horrified that Jesus would dine with “sinners.”

Criticism #1 - He Associated with the Wrong People

30 “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 

To eat with someone was a sign of friendship and full acceptance. By eating with these people Jesus was identifying with them. Since they were religiously impure people, the Pharisees believed that Jesus was compromising his position as a teacher and Messiah.

It is like having dinner with a Japanese during the Japanese occupation. How could God work through someone who enjoyed fellowship with the dregs of Jewish society? Yet true Christianity has always broken down economic, social, ethnic, and racial barriers.

Jesus’s Response #1

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 

Jesus responded to this criticism with an illustration drawn from medicine. In Jesus’ day, there were no hospitals or doctors’ offices so doctors made house calls. As a doctor of the soul, Jesus had to go where those who were sick in the soul were in order to help them. Only those who were sick, who recognised that they have a need will respond to the offer of help. A person who is well (or thinks mistakenly that he is) will not seek treatment.

Jesus concluded by saying, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” His mission was to those in need of a change of heart and a change of life.

By associating with the unrighteous, Jesus is not advocating a lowering of proper biblical standards of righteousness. On the contrary, the purpose of his ministry is to make possible for the fallen to be lifted up to God’s standards of righteousness. The gospel is for the poor, for prisoners, for the blind, and for the oppressed (4:18). He is our peace who has broken down every wall.

How do we view and treat people who are different from us? The poor, the LGBT, the HIV positive. Do we only welcome those who are like us?

Criticism #2 – He Did Not Conform with Expectations

33 They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

Fasting was required of all only on the Day of Atonement (Le. 16:29) and in commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem (Zech. 7;3, 5; 8:19). John’s disciples fasted frequently and the Pharisees promoted voluntary fasts on Mondays and Thursdays (Lu. 18:12) as an act of piety.

Jesus fasted during his time of testing in the wilderness (Lu. 4:2) but he apparently did not fast frequently enough or so that it could be noticed (Matt. 6:16-18). Since fasting was a sign of serious religious commitment and essential in preparing for Israel’s long-awaited deliverance, it seemed inappropriate that Jesus’ disciples ate and drank.

Jesus was not anti-fasting. He believed in fasting, for He fasted Himself, He taught fasting and anticipating his rejection and death at the hands of his enemies, He implies that His own disciples one day will fast. But Jesus' protest here is at the abuse of the practice of fasting among Jews in His day.

Jesus’s Response #2

34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

Jesus likens himself to a bridegroom coming to his bride and his disciples as the guests of a wedding party. There is a time for everything and it was not right to fast (an expression of sorrow) at a wedding.

The picture of the bridegroom coming to his bride looks forward ultimately to the great marriage supper in heaven. During Jesus’ absence (when the bridegroom is taken away), while the church is preparing for the Lord’s return, fasting will be appropriate (Acts 13:2-3)

Our 40 days fast and pray begins tomorrow. Now is the time for us to fast and pray.

C. Incompatibility of the New and the Old (Luke 5:36-38)

36 He told them this parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.

Jesus showed the difference between his ministry and that of John the Baptist. John was a reformer seeking to bring about repentance among those steeped in the traditions of Judaism. Jesus’ purpose was to bring in something new.

Just as a patch of new cloth (i.e., not shrunk) cloth does not patch an old garment well nor can new (i.e., unfermented ) wine be accommodated in old wineskins, so the new ideas of the gospel will not be accommodated by old patterns of thought.

Jesus is not interested in a patched up job. What Jesus brings is so new that it cannot be combined with the old. To do so would be to destroy what is new and to put together something that does not fit.

D. Resistance to Change (Luke 5: 39)

People tend to want the old and reject the new, assuming (wrongly in this case) that the old is better. Jesus recognised that old habits and ways of thinking are hard to change. We are all very comfortable in our old ways and we do not want to try the new even in small things. How about praying with your eyes open? Using guitar or drums in worship?

In worldly terms of winery ‘old wine’ is preferred because it is smooth, mature, predictable, familiar, and sophisticated. You can recognize it, name it, and label it! Just like we can label Christians by their denominations and traditions.

For anyone who has been drinking old wine it can be a challenge to trade it for the new. New wine is bitter, strong, sharp to the taste, unfamiliar, unpredictable, and highly volatile. But it is critically important that we desire and embrace the new wine that come from the Lord!

The course of time will cause all wineskins to start to dry out. In order to receive new wine we must keep our wineskin new. How do you keep a wineskin new?

E. Renewing Our Wineskins [Slide 12]

When we look at the phrase “new wine” – the Greek word “new” actually means something that is “brand new” (neos). However, the Greek word for “new wineskin” is referring to something that has been “renewed” (kainos).

The first thing that you do to restore a hard a brittle wineskin is to soak it in water to make it moist. For us we have to be soaked in the water of the word of God. We have to go back to the scriptures for our foundation.

The wineskin then has to be rubbed with fresh oil to keep it flexible. The fresh oil represents the newness of the anointing in our lives which gives us the ability to move forward in God.

The word anointing means “to smear” or “rub” with oil. At times God will send anointed people like prophets to rub us to keep us flexible.

It’s important to note that an old wineskin is someone who refuses to change. It is a mindset and nothing to do with age.

Let us renew our wine skin by:

1. soaking yourself in the Word of God (soak in water)

2. being sensitive to the spirit (rubbing with oil)

F. Steps to Renewal

Make necessary adjustments

God prepares us for major changes by teaching us in small places little adjustments. David was prepared for Goliath through his encounter with the bear and the lion. 

Did you know I was denied a B.Th. because I was not a full-time pastor? I had to argue and plead my case to the President of MBTS. Today, many of the students in MBTS are matured learners, and working professionals.

I was so blessed at the NDC meeting last Tuesday. Pastor Clement shared on his conviction that the church has to change to reach out to young people if it is to survive. Then we heard the testimony of Pastor Daniel Saik of Citystar Church (formerly First Assembly of God, Chinese church) who shared his 4 year journey as Senior Pastor of the church. In the first 3 years more than 120 members left the church. People are resistant to change. But now the church has grown to 240. Pastor Priscilla Tai, the former Senior Pastor sits as a member and advisor to the church.

Be flexible

The last 7 words of a dying church are “ We have always done it this way.” We go through these ruts when we loose our joy and we loose our joy when we are not washed in the water and rubbed with oil. The only way to be spiritually flexible is to soaked in the Word and filled with the Holy Spirit.

What God has for the church is going to take us being flexible. The wineskin must be flexible and have the ability to be stretched far enough to contain the new ideas, patterns of thought, and the methods of the new wine.

Step out of your comfort zone

Before we can move forward into a new thing, we usually have to let go of something we've been doing awhile. God nudges us outside of our comfort zones toward unfamiliar experiences to encourage us to rely on Him.

God wants us to trust Him by doing what He wants us to do and going where He wants us to go. We must learn to let go of what we have before we take hold of something new, and learn to trust God. We walk by faith, not by sight.

Do new things. Life is not just the way you are seeing it. 

Don't get squeezed into a mould defining yourself by your visible gifts or past.  If you are doing the right things, you don't have to do them flawlessly to succeed. But if you're doing the wrong thing, it doesn't matter if you do it perfectly to fail. 

CONCLUSION

Let us be open to new and fresh ways of serving God. God wants to pour new wine, new experiences, but he can't pour it into old wine skins. New things can't happen without us changing. We need to change the container because the content is ready to be poured. 

God is the greatest change agent. We are all being changed from glory to glory!

God is the one that changes the season in order for new structures and processes to be set up. The change in season makes it impossible for you to continue in your old mindset. 

Life is all about the cycle of seasons. The greatest blessings (miracles of life) are found in seasons of transition. 

2 Chronicles 29: 36, KJV (concerning setting the house of the Lord in order)

And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly. 

When you are prepared, it will be done suddenly. Is your wineskin prepared to receive the new wine?

Running the Race

Sis Melinda Song

Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

INTRODUCTION

I am the worst athlete ever. To my shame, I have never scored a single point in 100 m for my house during additional sports in all my years in secondary school.

A. We Are in a Race (Heb. 12:1c)

1. Christian life is compared to a race.

2. Everyone is running towards something, whether it be something as basic as money to put food on the table, or fame or fortune.

3. The choice is not whether to run or not to run. The choice lies in which race you want to run. Are you in the right race or in a rat race [1](world’s race)?

4. You cannot run two races at the same time.

5. The race is not a sprint but marathon.

6. The course is “marked out for us” (v. 2b)

a. While the destination is the same for everyone, the journey that gets us there is different for everyone. Don't compare your track to someone else's track.

b. A lifelong test of faith with no time outs

B. Prepare Well (Heb. 12:1b)

1. Throwing off Everything That Hinders

“let us throw off everything that hinders” 

“let us strip off every weight that slows us down” (NLT)

a. Ancient Greek runners run naked.

b. Today athletes skimp down to the least amount of clothing decency will allow in a race or game.

Illustration: The NYC Marathon, the largest marathon in the world, is a race run across five boroughs in the first weekend of November. There were 51,394 finishers in 2016 and so far there are 98,247 applicants for the 2017 race.

Picture a crowd of 50,000 runners on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge waiting to start the race almost two hours before it begins.  And it is November.

Everyone is bundled up against the cold but they cannot run with all that clothing on so when the race starts the runners begin discarding clothes and throwing then to the side. Eventually the 100K+ pieces of clothing are picked up and given to the homeless. These runners are literally “throwing off everything that hinders” to “run with perseverance the race marked out.” [2]

c. A weight is simply a mass or load of anything - physical weight (obesity), or to unnecessary baggage.

d. A weight is not sin but they slow us down, divert our attention, sap our energy, and dampen our zeal and joy for the things of God. We cannot win when we are carrying excess weight.

The apostle Paul put it this way: You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. - 1 Cor. 10:23 (NLT)

What are some weights in your life?

•     Perhaps you are indulging in unhealthy friendships or idle entertainment – Facebook, computer games, etc

•    Perhaps it is your work

These things, while not sin themselves, keep us from fulfilling the will of God in our lives, and may become gateways that lead us into sin.

•    Are there thoughts, attitudes, and habits that are impeding your progress (Romans 12:2; Titus 3:3; 1 Peter 1:14).

•     Maybe you are choked by the riches and cares of this world. Refer to parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-9; Mark 4:2-9; and Luke 8:4-8).

Do not ask, “What’s wrong with this movie, or listening to this music, or participating in this activity?” Ask, “Does this help me to grow in godliness?” If not, discard it.

2. Casting Off the Sin That Entangles

“and the sin that so easily entangles.”

a. In biblical times people wore long robes that would entangle and trip a runner. The robes must either be pulled up and tucked into a belt or totally cast aside.

b. Sin has been the downfall of many a great man or woman of God.

c. THE sin seems to refer to a particular sin. Sin of unbelief is naturally suggested here based on the preceding chapter on faith but all of us have our own “pet” sins that entangle/ensnare us.

d. Your easily entangling sin is probably not my easily entangling sin - greed, covetousness (for power, or position), gluttony, pornography, lying, stealing, pride, jealousy, or temper.

e. By His grace, let us cast off any sin the entangles.

C. Run Well

1.     Run for The Great Crowd of Witnesses (Heb. 12:1a)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…”

a. These witnesses are those mentioned in chapter 11, what is often called the “Faith Hall of Fame.”

b. In any sporting event, athletes compete in a large arena filled with spectators that encourage their team. Does Paul mean that these heroes of faith are sitting on clouds cheering us on?

c. Paul did not refer to them as spectators but “witnesses”, martus (μαρτυς), A witness is someone who has obtained testimony about something by first-hand experience, and then testifies about it to others.

d. NKJV translates Hebrews 11:2 as “For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” And in verse 39 we read, “all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise.”

e. Theirs is a testimony of the victorious nature of enduring faith despite great hardships along the way. See Hebrews 11:33-35.

f.  Their lives encourage us when we feel like giving up. The God of Abraham, Moses, and David is our God. If they can do it, so can you! Be encouraged!

g. Let us not forget that there are also heroes of faith right in the midst of us today who encourage us in our race.

2. Run Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2a)

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”

FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS

a.    In Greek it means “looking away from all else to Jesus.”

Taking our eyes off

(i) other things and

(ii) ourselves, and

focusing on Jesus alone. 

Illustration: It was May 6th, 1954, and a miler named Roger Bannister became the first human to ever have run a mile recorded in under four minutes. That world record lasted only six weeks, when an Australian, named John Landy, beat his record by more than a second. The rivalry was not over though, as the Empire Games were scheduled for August of the same year, and Landy and Bannister were set to square off in one of the most anticipated races in history.

The two runners could not have been more different. Landy loved to set the pace and start off strong, he usually led most of his races from start to finish. Bannister was different, he liked running from behind most of the race, only to take over first place in the final lap. The final proved those stereotypes right as Landy led for most of the race, with Bannister behind by quite a big margin going into the final lap. But then, something happened; the crowd started cheering as Bannister made his move and Landy began to get nervous, and in a moment of panic, Landy broke racing’s number one rule, don’t look back. As he looked over his left shoulder, Bannister went zooming by on the right to take first place in the race that would be forever remembered as the “miracle mile.”

This moment has served coaches well for all the years since as a lesson to runners to keep their eyes on the finish line. This moment was so big that to this day in Vancouver, a bronze statue stands depicting the moment when Landy looked over his left shoulder. Landy took the loss in good spirits as he famously said, “While Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, I am probably the only one ever turned into bronze for looking back.”

While we may never experience the level of embarrassment that John Landy did that day, despite the fact that our race is eternally more important than the “miracle mile” was, we, too, must realize that all too often we get distracted  (Texting while driving) as we are running our race. Whether it is the simple distractions of life, or whether it is the sin or sins of our choice, we are all too easily prone to wander and prone to slow down in our race.

b. Have you been distracted or tempted to look away?

c.  Don’t think of how far you have left to go or how difficult things. As you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of the faith,all the grace you need along the way will be supplied!

d. It's where you are facing/heading that matters.

AUTHOR

a. Christ is the archegon (ἀρχεγον) - a word made up of ago (ἀγο) “to lead,” and arche (ἀρχε), “the first.”

b. He is the supreme example of faith, whose faith far surpasses the examples of faith commemorated in chapter 11.

c. In Greek, “our faith” is actually “THE FAITH” referring to the faith as exhibited in the lives of the heroes of faith in chapter 11 and in the Lord Jesus.

PERFECTOR

a. He is also the finisher of the faith spoken of in Hebrews chapter 11. The word is teleioo (τελειοο) which means “to carry through completely, to finish, to make perfect or complete.”

b. Our Lord in His life of faith on earth, became the perfect or complete example of the life of faith.

c. Jesus Christ is also the one who gives us the faith to believe in the first place, and then sustains that faith every moment of our lives until we arrive in heavenly glory.

d. Philippians 1:6, NLT “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” He put us into this race, and He will see us through to the end!

3.    Run with Perseverance (Heb. 12:1c)

“let us run with perseverance”

a. This race is full of obstacles, barriers, hurdles, and hazards.

b. We may stumble and fall, but don’t give up! Take it one step at a time.

c. The Greek word for race is agon from which we get our word agony. The race is a contest in daily progress toward Christ-likeness. We race not against opponents, but against ourselves.

d. There is an internal struggle of the soul for our natural bent is toward sinfulness and laziness.

e. The finish line of the race is Christlikeness. He is growing us and maturing us on this racecourse to look like Jesus Christ. Are you more like Jesus today than you were yesterday? Are you engaging in the necessary disciplines and activities that will enable you to grow and mature in Christ-likeness?

IMPORTANT! In the Christian race, it is not how you start that matters; it is how you finish. 

D.     Finish Well

Look at Paul’s example.

Acts 20:22-24, NIV

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

At the end of his life he could say…

2 Timothy 4:7-8, NIV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

How does Paul do it?

Philippians 3:13-14, NIV

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

The prize is becoming a spiritual champion. A spiritual champion is one sold out to Jesus, straining to become more like him everyday. The finish line of faith is a life that is more Christian today than yesterday. The goal is not perfection, but progress.

Illustration: At 7 p.m. on October 20, 1968, a few thousand spectators remained in the Mexico City Olympic Stadium. The last of the exhausted marathon runners were being carried off to the first-aid stations. More than an hour earlier, Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia had crossed the finish line, the winner of the 26.2-mile run.

As the remaining spectators prepared to leave, those sitting near the marathon gates heard the sound of sirens and police whistles. All eyes turned toward the gate. A lone figure wearing the colors of Tanzania entered the stadium. His name was John Stephen Akhwari. He was the last man to finish. His leg bloodied and bandaged, severely injured in a fall, he grimaced with each step as he hobbled around the 400-meter track.

The spectators rose and applauded him as if he were the winner. After crossing the finish line, Akhwari slowly walked off the field. In view of his injury and having no chance of winning a medal, someone asked him why he had not quit. He replied, “My country did not send me 7,000 miles to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it” (from Leadership [Spring, 1992], p. 49).

CONCLUSION

1.     Are you in the right race? If you’ve never put your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, you aren’t even in the race.

2.    Let us throw off everything that hinders (the pleasures and treasures of the world, the lust of the flesh) and the sin that so easily entangles us.

3.     In the spiritual race you are running, get the mindset of a marathoner and refuse to give up. If you have stumbled and fallen, don't stay there. Get up. Run fixing your eyes on Jesus.

Philippians 1:6, NLT “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

4. Are you weary? Are you losing heart?

Heb. 12:3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Avoid burn out by fixing your eyes on Jesus. Hope (Wait) in the Lord and let Him renew your strength.

Isaiah 40:21-31, NIV

28 Do you not know?

    Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

    the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

    and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary

    and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

    and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,

    they will walk and not be faint.

[1] https://www.jba.gr/Articles/jbamarapr05a.htm

[2] tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Marathon