Most of us are not acquainted with the uses of a new wineskin. We would likely be more informed about wine bottles, wine barrels or even wine boxes, but a wineskin is outside the realm of general knowledge these days. There is, of course, the biblical reference from Jesus that is better understood with some background.
‘And who would pour fresh, new wine into an old wineskin? Eventually the wine will ferment and make the wineskin burst, losing everything—the wine is spilled and the wineskin ruined. Instead, new wine is always poured into a new wineskin so that both are preserved.’ Matthew 9:17 TPT
The Passion Translation gives extra insight into the practical uses of a new wineskin. An old wineskin is not physically sound enough to tolerate the violence of the fermentation process. On a very practical basis—you save the old wineskin, the already fermented wine, the new wine AND the new wineskin by following this one rule: put the new wine into a new wineskin. This answers the ‘what’ question from a winemaker’s perspective, but now we have a new question.
What Does a Wineskin Represent in My Life?
A wineskin is directly linked to change. When something new is coming into your life, you often need to release an old way of thinking in order to embrace the new thing. God will give you new wine, but you are responsible for supplying the new wineskin. It may require changing your environment, location, job, career, or any number of things you are comfortable with. This can be a daunting prospect. Thankfully, as a believer, you know that the Father gives His children good gifts and He fully equips you for the path ahead.
In regard to change and giving God a new wineskin—you get to choose. You can certainly stay where you are, but you will most likely end up feeling stuck in a rut before long. You were not created to stay in one place like stagnant water with no inlet or outlet. When God leads you to make a change, He is unleashing more of His presence and power into your life. New wine represents the power of the Holy Spirit and we want His power to overflow into our finances, jobs, relationships, and everything we put our hand to.
How to Give God a New Wineskin
A major part of giving God a new wineskin is letting go of control and moving forward in faith, even when you don’t know where the path is leading. Change, growth, and development all begin with a decision to move toward something new. Holding onto your former patterns of thinking, your past goals, or even your greatest triumphs can keep you from reaching forward to what is ahead. Your new wine (the prize of the upward call of God) will burst your old wineskin (your past way of thinking). You must surrender your need for control and trust God completely. He will expand your capacity when you let Him carry the weight.
Related Post: What Does the Bible Say About Change?
Every true change in your life begins with an ending. And every new batch of wine needs a new wineskin. Something old must stop before something new can start. There is simply no room for the new when your life is full of the old. Jesus taught this principle as a seed must die to bear any fruit.
‘Let me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat—all because one grain died.’ (John 12:24 TPT)
Don’t misunderstand; the old is not necessarily bad. The old is merely past its usefulness or is no longer relevant to the next thing God is calling you to do. Just as an old wineskin is not physically sound enough to tolerate the violence of the fermentation process, God knows how man functions. In His wisdom, God encourages us to let go of the old and embrace the new, to sing a new song, to enjoy every new day, and to delight in the newness of life.
A New Wineskin is Preparation for Change
Change is not comfortable, not easy, and generally not something a person yearns for. As a matter of fact, most people would prefer not to change. However, life without change would be dull and colorless. And don’t interpret the discomfort of change as a sign from God. Many people mistake discomfort for lack of peace and figure the Holy Spirit is telling them to stop changing. As a result, they don’t move forward or grow into what God has for them. This is a frequent occurrence as people try to advance on their wealth-building journey. It takes some time to differentiate between the discomfort of facing something unknown and the fear of stepping out, but you can overcome fear to walk in freedom.
Related Post: 3 Ways to Find Your Purpose and Change Your Life
Every change comes with a loss, and the first thing you lose is your comfort. The Christian life is a constant cycle of dying to self. Remember, Billy is frequently quoted as saying: your calling is worth more than your comfort. Fulfilling your life’s purpose is worth some discomfort and hard work. Don’t burst your old wineskin, get a new wineskin and let the Lord know you are ready for whatever He has coming.
Change is part of the fabric of life. You were created to embrace change wholeheartedly and to be a forward-moving vessel that contains an image of God which is totally and uniquely YOU. God will give you new wine, but you are responsible for supplying the new wineskin. Take some time and ask the Lord to help you prepare some new wineskins for the future.
