OLD AND NEW WINESKINS | Northstar Church

“Neither do people pour 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 9:14-17.

It has been almost seven years since Hurricane Michael made its devastating landfall as a Category 5 storm, causing unprecedented destruction in the Florida Panhandle. The hurricane’s impact was immense, and the path to recovery has been long and arduous. In many cases, the first step to recovering from this catastrophic storm was demolition. We can’t slather new mortar over crumbling plaster, because in the end, both will fail to solve the real problem.

Jesus discussed this idea with His disciples in Matthew 9:17, in response to a question about fasting. While the Pharisees imposed strict adherence to the old laws, Jesus offered a new, grace-filled relationship with God. He illustrated this with a comparison between old and new wineskins (Matthew 9:17). Wine was stored in wineskins. New wine needed new wineskins, pliable enough to expand as the wine fermented. It wouldn’t work to put new wine in old wineskins — both the wine and the container would be destroyed. The Pharisees found it impossible to mix their version of religion with the new relationship Jesus came to earth to offer.

As people sorted through the mounds of debris after Michael, they quickly realized their hope for a quick resolution would never come to fruition. The reality is that in many cases, homes needed to be torn down to be rebuilt. In the same vein, spiritually, we sometimes try to pour new wine into an old skin.

It is all about change. When something new enters your life, you often need to release an old way of thinking in order to embrace the new thing fully. 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 other aspect of your life that you are comfortable with. 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 every aspect of our lives, including our finances, jobs, relationships, and all that we do.

A significant 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. You must surrender your need for control and trust God completely. He will expand your capacity when you let Him carry the weight.

Every actual change in your life begins with an ending. And every new batch of wine needs a new wineskin. Something old must come to an end before something new can begin. Take some time and ask the Lord to help you prepare some new wineskins for the future.

But as difficult as the process is, the joy of restoration is far greater … and so worth it.

Discussion Questions:

What “new wine” or fresh move of God are you experiencing or expecting in your life right now?
Where in your life do you notice “old wineskins” (rigid mindsets, past hurts, or outdated practices) that might prevent you from growing or receiving what God has for you?
Are you willing to trust God enough to be open to new wine, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone?