Friday, January 30, 2026
New Wine, New Wineskin
Scripture
Luke 5:37-38
“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.”
Reflection
In these verses, Jesus responds to people questioning Him about why His disciples ate and drank during times when the Pharisees and John’s disciples were in fasting and prayer. He responded with a metaphor that let them know that their judgement and condemnation was the result of their clinging to old religious traditions, customs and rituals. Their rigidity left no room for the new move of God’s Spirit that He was ushering in to His house and His people. The old wineskins represented the rigidly enforced rules and traditions that the Old Covenant of the Law required could not support the new covenant (new wine) that He had brought. The new covenant of the Kingdom of God that Christ brought was filled with grace and truth that dispelled the traditions of men. Therefore, a new Kingdom mindset is required to receive Christ in all of His fullness.
As we approach the completion of this season of prayer and fasting, God desires to do a fresh work “a new thing” in our heart and life in the days, weeks and months to come. As you have come before Him in prayer, supplication and intercession, He has heard your crying to be transformed into His image and to be more obedient to His commands going forward. But you must trust that the changes the Holy Spirit is making in your character and nature are real and permanent. He is infusing you with new wineskin, so that He can pour new wine into your heart and soul so that you will be of greater use to Him in the Kingdom. The new wineskin will open you to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Rigid rules, rituals and ungodly attitudes will be replaced with a greater desire to serve the Lord with gladness and worship Him in spirit and in truth. There is a freshness and newness in the Kingdom filled with mercy, grace and truth through Jesus Christ. God is offering it to you for the next season. Please partake!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I open myself to the new and fresh work of the Holy Spirit in my life. I confess and repent of holding on to old, habits, traditions and attitudes that represent old wineskin. Cleanse me and create a new wineskin and pour new wine in and through me so that I may bring lost and hurting people to You. I receive New Wineskin and New Wine. Thank you Lord! Hallelujah! Amen!
