Saturday 24 September 2022


 



SEASON OF NEW WINE

“And the THIRD day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, THEY HAVE NO WINE. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT! And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins [20-30 gallons each] apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water pots with water. And they FILLED them UP TO THE BRIM. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast KEPT THE GOOD WINE UNTIL NOW. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and MANIFESTED forth his glory; and his disciples BELIEVED on him” John 2:1-11 

 

The mother of Jesus, Jesus and His disciples were invited to this marriage feast and it happened on the third day after Jesus Christ appointed His twelve disciples

“After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight” Hosea 6:2 

There is no wasted word or not so important word that you will find in the bible. The first noticeable word is the “third day” which signifies the day of RESURRECTION or bringing back to life what is dead. Right away, I see a promise here by the Lord Jesus Christ of giving Life to everything that is dead, comatose or not working in our lives, work, home or family life. The current Church has entered into the third day season and God is set to pour the New Wine upon it. Resurrection Life is being poured into the Body of Christ [Romans 8:11]

Maybe you have tried all manner to make it work but the more you try the worse it gets, please hear me, God has come this morning to give you life, and give you life more abundantly [John 10:10]. Everything that is not working in your life, home, career or you have even given up that nothing good is going to come out of it, I hear Christ Jesus saying … receive life now.

God is set to revive you, renew you, refresh you, repair, repackage, resuscitate, recover and recuperate you; old and worn out, not working things are being done away with in Jesus Mighty Name. Whatever used to hinder your movement or progress and it seem like you have been on stand-still and no movement but stagnation; the resurrection power will come upon you now and you will ARISE! SHINE!! For the light of God will come upon you and His glory will be seen all over you [Isa. 60:1]. Meanwhile there will be darkness all over the earth but the light of the countenance of God shall arise upon you and break off every form of limitation or standard that was raised against you. 

Third day is the special day on which God creates NEW Life and activates His covenant with humanity.

Jonah was delivered from the belly of the fish on the third day [Matthew 12:40]

There are three sections in the tabernacle in the days of Moses. It is the third chamber called the Holy of Holies that is the place of the Presence and the glory of God. The Presence and Glory of God is being released in the third day Church.

On this third day, we enter into the Holy of Holies because the veil has been torn when Jesus went to the cross and we can enter boldly into the Throne Room of Grace where we can obtain mercy and find Grace to help in the time of need.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” Heb. 4:16 

So also 3rd day is the day of the release of GLORY [Exodus 27:9]. When glory comes, there is release of power and unction; many times one will not be able to minister because it is a season that God takes over from men and do great and mighty things.

There are 3 attributes or manifestation of God as the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit; it is the 3rd manifestation that is released on the third day after the order of Acts Chapter 2; so that He, the Holy Spirit who came to reside in the hearts of believers by the anointing, glory and Power is released so that we can encounter miracles, signs and wonders. He is the treasure in earthen vessel that lives inside us [2 Cor. 4:7]. So these are the days of the outpouring and manifestation of the works of the Holy Spirit.

The second thing that we find in this discourse is that “And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage”. No matter what you try to do, you are doing or planning to do can never be successful except Jesus Christ is a pivotal part of it. All authority and power has been given to the Lord Jesus by the Father [Matt. 28:18], and you will just short change yourself if He is not in your boat because you will really need Him on the days that the boisterous wind will blow and the storms of life will rage. He makes sure that we do not capsize or get drown in the raging storms because when the enemy come in like a flood, it is His Spirit that will raise the standard against the powers of darkness militating against you.


What is the meaning of New?

Old the opposite of New is stale, ancient, antique and not as effective; it is like engine oil in a car that has not been changed in a while; it has thinned out, less viscous and black. It can cause the car engine to knock. We must not be too attached to the old grace, old mindset, old standard, pattern, paradigm, old natural values or things that have lost their original value. We need what is fresh!

It is time for a reset                   

Behold, I will do a NEW THING Isa. 43:19

Behold, I make all things NEW Rev. 21:5

New means to be produced afresh, qualitatively better, newly invented, bought anew, introduced or discovered recently or experienced now for the first time, it mean something that is much better than what was before now. It also mean that it may even exist before now but we are now acquiring and experiencing it now for yourself. It means something recently grown, owned, built, found, invented or discovered that is much better than what was. What we have now is superior and more excellent, better or greater than what we have before now. May be you used to drive a Peugeot 504 but now you bought a new Mercedes Benz E-Class.

Maybe you were living in a two bedroom apartment BUT NOW you are in a five room, two living room, all rooms duplex or condominium; may be you were battling with high blood pressure for 11 years but now you have good health; maybe you have been stagnated in one position for 7 years and you were just promoted as assistant manager and the backlog of arrears paid to you; maybe you acquire an international passport 3 years ago and the prospect of using is was bleak but suddenly, your boss called you into his office and said you are going for a training in Florida, USA for 9 months all expenses paid.

What is it that you have given up on and think it is all over? Are you one of those that thought that the vision that tarries cannot be done again; so it has become an abandoned project in your sight? Hear the word of the Lord…

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” Habkk. 2:3 KJV

“The LORD gave me this answer: "Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance. Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed” Habakkuk 2:3 GNB 

May be you are single at 45 years old and you have given up on getting married and suddenly your prince charming flew in from England for his parent’s 40 years marriage anniversary and sees you as one of the food supervisor and would not let you out of his sight until you sign that marriage register and say I do. Something that will make you shout or scream, something NEW that you never thought is possible again is what God is about to bring to pass… It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our sight!!!

I have come to tell you… DO NOT GIVE UP! HELP IS ON THE WAY FROM THE THRONE ROOM OF GRACE!

What does WINE represent in the bible?

In the land of Israel, water is often scare so they drink a lot of wine out of necessity for liquid in their system. Wine also represents joy [gladdens the heart of men Psalms 104:15], celebration, festivity, and it expresses the abundant blessings of God. It also is a symbol of the Holy Spirit outpouring in our days. It is associated with life and cheers the heart of God and man [Joshua 9:13].

 

“Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance…   Others mocking said, These men are full of NEW WINE …But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” Act 2:2-4, 13, 16-18 

In the natural, grapes are crushed and the fermented juice is called wine and preserved. It is used medically, to help the weak and the sick [2 Samuel 16:2; Prov. 31:6; 1 Timothy 5:23]. As a balance, we are not to drink it to stupor, drunkenness is condemned in the bible [Isa. 28:1-7; Eph. 5:18; Titus 2:3]

“When the wine was all gone, Mary said to Jesus, "They don't have any more wine." John 2:3 CEV

The bad thing that happens is that wine which is very important part of Jewish marriage ceremony in those days was finished. It simply mean that whatever wine represents in their lives was finished. There will be no more joy, peace, good health, no more celebration, or abundant blessings of God. The Holy Spirit works and manifestations which is a very important part of the New Testament Church will also be missing.

When what gladdens the heart of men is finished [Psalms 104:15], all that is left is shame and reproach. Imagine how embarrassing it will be for the groom and the bride if everybody knows that there is no more wine.

Physically speaking, it will be as if all is well, men will still be going to Church and saying Jesus Christ is Lord but the shoes are now pinching them and they will lack the blessings, peace, joy and the goodness of God that wine brings.

Fortunately Mary the mother of Jesus was smart enough to walk up to Jesus and told him that wine is finished. Jesus said His time to do miracles is not yet but at the insistence of Mary His mother, He told the servants to fill the water pots with water and went on to do an outstanding miracle by turning water into wine.

Mary said “do whatever he tells you to do” … She developed the mindset to expect Jesus Christ to perform an outstanding miracle by looking at the precepts of His life starting from the Words of angel Michael before His conception [Luke 1:31-33], to His immaculate conception and all manner of things that God did in their home, Jesus staying back at the synagogue when they went to Jerusalem for the feast and all manner of words that heaven released including the miraculous happenings of the baby leaping in Elizabeth’s tummy and the words Elizabeth prophesied about Lord Jesus Christ that … “And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [Luke 1:43

The question being asked about all the miracles of Christ in your life since you became born again is do you see Him as your Lord and Savior? Do you see Him as God and that NOTHING is too impossible for Him to do! Do you believe truly that He is both Lord and Savior? Do you believe that He is the Governor of the whole earth, that all power in heaven and on earth has been given to Him and that all things are possible through Him if we believe?

Even when the wine of your life is finished do you believe God is well able to do greater and better things for you?

“For with God nothing shall be impossible” Luke 1:37 

Read: Eph. 3:20; Luke 1:45; Jer. 32:27; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:23; 2 Chron. 20:20; Matt. 17:20, Matt. 21:21-22; Luke 17:6; John 11:40; Heb. 11:6

 Mary believed else she will not say to the servants “do whatever he tells you to do”.

God is both a God of blessings when you live in accordance with the covenant of God and will yet perform a miracles when you step out in faith when you need a divine touch. If you believe!

No matter how dead the situation is, ONLY BELIEVE! If you can believe and not walk into fear, doubt, anxiety, worry and fear; you shall see the goodness of God in the land of the living!!! [Luke 1:45]

“But Jesus refused to listen to what they were told and said to the Jewish official, “Don’t yield to fear. All you need to do is to keep on believing” Mark 5:36 TPT

Can you step out in faith and do believe that God will heal your sickness, bless your business, stop the onslaught of Satan in your marriage, restore your distressed relationship with your family, or turn your poverty into wealth and riches. Jesus is God and He is well able to do exceeding, abundantly, far above what you ask or think according to His power at work in you.

“His mother saith unto the SERVANTS, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” John 2:5

Those who partners with God to birth forth miracles, signs and wonders are mostly servants; these do obey and serve the Lord and as such prospers.

Servants from two words serve + ants = servants

The believers that serves tirelessly like ants serve in their colony are called servants and blessed by the Lord

These are ready to do all the bidding of the Lord.

These have no hidden agenda but serve God with all their heart, body and soul.

They are likened unto waiters in restaurants, they constantly wait upon every bidding of the Lord whether it makes sense or not. It is only those who obey God that sees the goodness of God in the land of the Living.

“If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures” Job 36:11 

It is servants who serves and obey the Lord that God prospers and they are made to live in pleasure. The question is are you truly serving God with all your body, soul and spirit? Are you obedient to the statutes and commandment of the Lord? For only then shall you be truly blessed beyond measures!

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not SERVANTS; for the servant knows not what his lord doeth: but I have called you FRIENDS; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” John 15:14-16

Faithful servants are always promoted into friends of the master, He reveals all things to them and whatsoever they ask of the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is given to them. So be humble like a servant, always ready to do the master’s bidding and great and new things will be flowing to you from the Throne Room of Grace.

Back to the story of the book of John, [Chapter 2], first thing that the servant did was to clean the six water pots for they were used for purification and cleansing of the hands and feet of visitors into that household. The pots were not hygienically clean for something that men will drink to be poured into them. So the dirty water was removed, the pot scrubbed and properly washed before the labor of pouring fresh water inside them. You do not grab pitcher of dirty water and give guests to drink else they will have gastro-intestinal ailments or get sick.

We see Jesus Christ teaching, purging and cleansing our inner man especially the removal of every carnal characters and nature [Gal. 5:19-21] or works of the flesh like … Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, and revellings. Such natural mindset and behavior must be removed so that we can now input or pour in spiritual waters characteristics of … fruits of the Spirit … love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness and temperance [Gal. 5:22-23].

This process is …

“…to make us holy and pure, cleansing us through the showering of the pure water of the Word of God. All that he does in us is designed to make us a mature church for his pleasure, until we become a source of praise to him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw” Eph. 5:26-27 TPT 

We are now ready to be filled with FRESH INFILLING of the Holy Spirit and other spiritual goodies after we have been cleansed and sanctified. The word of God is the cleansing agent to mortify the deeds of the flesh [John 17:17] and also the agency that the Spirit of God uses to culture or input the nature and character of Christ in us [2 Cor. 3:16-18; John 6:63], so that we can be made ready for the inpouring of the new wine by the Spirit of God into our spirit man. It is the same procedure that Jesus Christ highlighted in Luke Chapter 5 that new wine must only be poured in new wine skin else the wineskin will break and split out the new wine.

"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Turn back to me with your whole heart, with fasting, tears, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not your garments; and turn back to the LORD your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to become angry, overflowing in gracious love, and grieves about this evil. Who knows? He will turn back and relent, will he not, leaving behind a blessing, even a grain offering and drink offering for the LORD your God?" Joel 2:12-14 

So having being made new wine skin by the washing, cleansing, regeneration and purification, we are now ready for inpouring of the New Wine. This is the process called brokenness whereby old sinful lifestyle must be gotten rid of to allow for the deposit of the fruit of the Spirit.

If we have walked away from the part of right standing with God, we will need to return so that we can be restored or returned to our point of departure and we are assured that God will leave a blessing: outpouring of the Spirit or release of New Wine to refresh us once more.


INFILLING OF THE SPIRIT

“Jesus came to the servers and told them, “FILL the pots with water, right up to the very BRIM.” John 2:7 TPT

Outpouring means an abundant, plentiful, mega, spilling over measure as we are filled up to the brim before there can now be an outflow from us to bless the Body of Christ, a process called overflowing or outpouring of the Holy Spirit

It is the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit that renews, refreshes and restores

All that has been stolen or captured by the enemy are released at the time of New Wine or outpouring.

There is an inrush of the POWER of the Holy Spirit until the FLOOD GATES open up and there will be great flow of power to manifest the blessings of an outpouring of New Wine. [Isa. 61:1-3]

Anointing will begin to flow like rivers of living waters [Ezekiel 47:1-12; Rev. 22:1-3]

Miracles galore, signs unhindered and we shall see wonderful works of God

It shall come to pass as the Lord Himself prophesied …

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man THIRST, let him come unto me, and DRINK. He that BELIEVETH on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” John 7:37-39

New wine flows abundantly like a river. God promised us that He will send both the former and the latter rain in one season….

“Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the FORMER rain, and the LATTER rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall OVERFLOW WITH WINE AND OIL. And I will RESTORE to you the YEARS that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you” Joel 2:23-25 

 

The Faith of the Servants  

“And WHEN THEY POURED out their pitcher for the master of ceremonies to sample, THE WATER BECAME WINE! When he tasted the water that became wine, the master of ceremonies was impressed. (Although he didn’t know where the wine had come from, but the servers knew.) He called the bridegroom over and said to him, “Every host serves his best wine first until everyone has had a cup or two, then he serves the wine of poor quality. But you, my friend, you’ve reserved the most exquisite wine until now!” John 2:9-10 TPT

“AND WHEN THEY POURED …THE WATER BECAME WINE” John 2:9 TPT

Until the servants start to pour from their pitcher or jug, the liquid in there was still water and they took a STEP OF FAITH to pour while the water was flowing from the jug into the wine glass of the Master of Ceremony, the water changed into the finest wine.

Jesus said “… Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?” Luke 18:8

This scripture here meant the widow displayed faith to the end persistently until the judge judged in her favor, she kept on insisting and coming back. Are there still people in our days that despite seeing no sign of rain in the cloud like Elijah when praying for rain, will still keep on praying and believing that the word of the Lord that has been spoken shall come to pass.

“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” Psalms 107:20

Back to the story of John Chapter 2, what this meant is that the servants displayed unflinching, undying, determinate and dogged faith to the very end. At the time of pouring out the water from the jug into the wine glass of the master of ceremony, that was the exact time that the water changed into wine; not before then!

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Numbers 23:19

God is still saying I AM WELL ABLE TO POUR OUT THE NEW WINE!!!

Trust that God will restore joy in your home.

Trust that your finances shall straighten up and you will experience increase.

Trust that you will measure your blood pressure and it would have normalize

Trust that that promotion that you have been denied, suddenly FAVOR of God is coming upon you, you shall be promoted and back log of areas paid to you

Trust God that the enemy you see before you shall see them no more

Trust God that the menstrual pain seize forever.

Trust God that your days of joblessness is over.

Trust God that you shall start that abandoned project and it shall be completed before Christmas because with God nothing shall be impossible

Trust God that you will look for that spirit wife/husband and you will not see them no more, no more wet dreams in Jesus Mighty Name!

I see a person, you are being owed a large amount of money, you are receiving a phone call of apology and they will come and pay

I see a lady that you have given up on getting married but I hear wedding bells

I see a lady that is giving up on her husband but God say wait and taste that the Lord is good, I am turning things around.

I see household enemies giving up and ancestral curses evaporating.

I hear… You are highly favored among men and among women.

I see curses turning into blessings

There is the release of joy in the stead of mourning

Oil of gladness released in the place of shame and reproach

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy” Isa. 60:1-3

 

The testimony of the Governor

GOD SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST

“When the ruler of the feast had TASTED the water that was made wine…” John 2:9

The word tasted in this scripture is the Greek word “geuomai” and it means to experience. The Governor experienced what the NEW WINE can do that the old one cannot do! May be the old wine got you a job but it has not been able to secure your promotion until the new wine comes. May be the old wine got you married but it has not been able to birth forth children in your home until the New Wine come in the form of being “highly favored”!

May be the old wine empowered you to buy a land and even build up to the lintel level and you have been stuck for 5 years until the new wine come with grace to complete it. May be the old wine produce ability to start your own company but no progress and it is crawling financially until the New Wine come to upshot you up to financial mega level! May be household enemies operating as if they are your best friends inhibits your progress at the old level but God releases greater dimension of anointing at the NEW WINE LEVEL such that every yokes are now destroyed and burdens lifted off [Isa. 10:27]

“And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now” John 2:10

God has saved the best for last!!!

“…But you, my friend, you’ve reserved the most exquisite wine until now!” John 2:10 TPT

The best is yet to come! The blessings we experience in our life with God, the goodness of God’s creation, peace of God, the consolation that comes from God’s presence in our lives, the freedom that comes with forgiveness, taking away of curses and all these are just a taste of the new life God has promised in Jesus especially when NOW the fullness of the treasure of God come into our earthen vessel. As we are submerged in the rivers of Living Waters, we look forward in hope, for God saves the best for last. Our expectations shall not be cut off or cut short as God releases the New Wine!

“This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine—these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers. But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit, who constantly explores all things” 1 Cor. 2:9-10 TPT

What God is sending our way is far better things for us! So, just as the new wine that Jesus gave at the wedding was superior to the old, so is the joy that He brings to our life. It is supernatural, not natural... It is lasting, not temporal... and it is far better than the former things we receive from natural pleasures! It will be so evident that such supernatural things can only be done by the finger of God. Those who used to know you, will see the NEW you and confess that what they see now can only be God’s doing and it is marvelous in our sight.

What God is releasing to the Body of Christ is better, greater, supernatural, uncommon, highly favorable, filled with virtues of blessings, healing, deliverance like never before and turning around all the bad things including poverty [to give us wealth and riches], for our good.

“But the ministry Jesus has received (as our High Priest) is as superior to theirs (the priests of the Old Testament) as the covenant of which he is mediator (New Covenant - grace) is superior to the old one (Mosaic Covenant - Law), and it is founded on better promises” Heb. 8:6

The new wine mentioned by Jesus in this passage speaks of the new covenant of grace. It cannot be mixed or contained by the old wineskins (the old covenant of the law.). So we see from Jesus' miracle at the wedding that the new wine (as a picture of the grace of the new covenant) was going to be far better than the old wine which had now run out (the old Mosaic covenant of the law.) God had again saved His best for last when you look at the grace (New Covenant) as opposed to the law (Mosaic Covenant). The writer of Hebrews brings this out clearly when He writes:

 

“His disciples BELIEVED on him” John 2:1-11

Like the rest of us in the Body of Christ, sometimes it take the miraculous happenings of God in our lives that make us to believe in the ability and the supremacy of our Lord Jesus Christ. That was what happened to the disciples as they witness the outstanding miracle of water turning into wine.

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” John 20:30-31 

I have a very strong feeling that God is about to do something great and wonderful that men will marvel at His goodness in your life and attest that only God can do such wonders.

On the other hand you yourself are being set up for spectacular happenings that will make you to stand in awe of the divine ability of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is set to uplift every valley and lower every mountain, He is set to make rivers flow in your desert and make way in the wilderness where there seem to be no way at all. Your belief system is about to be upgraded because the Lord Jesus Christ is about to do awesome things that will make you to stand in awe and believe that God is well able to do exceeding, abundantly FAR above what you ask of even think, according to His power that is at work in you [Eph. 3:20].

 

Release of the Spirit and New Wine

“Then the LORD became concerned about his land, and he had PITY on his people. The LORD said to his people, "I am going to send grain, NEW WINE, and olive oil to you. You will be satisfied with them. I will no longer make you a DISGRACE among the nations” Joel 2:18-19 GW Bible [Read Joel 2:18-29]

From this scripture, we saw that it was a new dispensation because God released an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon His people and there were several things that happened in this discourse

 

1.        God had pity upon His people

2.        God sent grain, NEW wine and olive oil unto His people [Joel 2:19]. Here we see that NEW wine is to mend and disinfect their broken hearts and wounds; and remove demonic foreigners so that they can be freed. “The threshing floors will be filled with grain. The vats will overflow with new wine and olive oil” [Joel 2:24]

3.        Whatever is causing disgrace is evacuated and the dispensation of GRACE is introduced. No more shame or reproach “…my people shall never be ashamed” [Joel 2:27]

4.        It was recorded that the Lord has done great things whereof we were glad [filled with joy] twice [Joel 2:20-21]

5.        The demonic army fighting against the children of God are removed because the anointing destroys the yokes and lift off the burdens [Joel 2:20; Isa. 10:27]

6.        Fruitfulness after the order of Gen. 1:28 is reordered and there are plenty of figs and grapes [Joel 2:22]

7.        Sorrow and sighing is done away with and replaced with joy and gladness “People of Zion, be glad and find joy in the LORD your God” Joel 2:23

8.        It shall be your season of restoration. Whatever has been stolen, high jacked or supposed to have come to you but hindered will flow to you from the Throne Room of Grace "Then I will restore to you the years that the locust swarm devoured” [Joel 2:25]

9.        Sustenance, full satisfaction and performance of wonders will flow from God “You will have plenty to eat, and will be fully satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has performed wonders specifically for you. And my people will never be ashamed” [Joel 2:26]

10.      Divine accompanying: God with us [Emmanuel] “And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel” Joel 2:27

11.      Outpouring brings gifts of the Holy Spirit “…your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” [Joel 2:28]

 

Reminder of Better Things to Come

Lastly, this wedding should remind us of an even better wedding still to come - the wedding of the lamb! I hope you will be there! For no matter what joy you experience in this life, whether through natural or spiritual means, it still will not compare to what is to come. In this life we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. [1 Cor. 13:12]  What is to come is far better than anything we have experienced in this life! Meditate, please, on these next few verses. I just love this passage and will usually find just about any reason to quote them. I think I am justified in doing it this time!

“I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away”. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev 21:2-5

Truly…“blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Rev 19:9).

The “old order of things”, the world in which we live, is soon to pass away. Jesus will make “all things new”. And like the wedding at Cana in John chapter 2, on that day you will truly know (if you are one of His) that God has once again saved the best for last!

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

 

A New Beginning and manifestation of Glory

“This BEGINNING of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and MANIFESTED forth his glory…” John 2:11

Wow! It is a New Beginning of good, great and wonderful things happening in our lives, homes, businesses, education, careers, and even spiritually speaking. All these that God is doing now is just the Beginning… Be assured that greater and mightier things are coming our way! Better, superior, wider and more grace filled things are coming our way. This is just the beginning!

The scripture said this was the BEGINNING of the manifestation of God’s glory in our lives. The word “glory” is the Greek word “doxa” which means all that God has and all that God is. It simply means that this is just the beginning of the release of all that God has and all that God is in your life, home, job, business and even in your wife and children.

“And since we are his true children, we QUALIFY TO SHARE all his treasures, for indeed, we are heirs of God himself. And since we are joined to Christ, we ALSO INHERIT all that he is and all that he has. We will experience being co-glorified with him provided that we accept his sufferings as our own” Romans 8:17 TPT

What naturally belong to God is being released unto us all as heirs or children of God; and as co-inheritors with Christ since we are now partakers with Him of all that the Father gave to Him as the first born of the Kingdom of God. We are adopted as children into the family of God and partakers of all that the naturally born children enjoys! [2 Peter 1:2-4]

 

Promises of abundant flow of Wine

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down NEW WINE, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim” Joel 3:18 [Check also Amos 9:13-15; Jer. 31:12-14 ISV] 

Everywhere you look in the bible, you will see this NEW WINE being compared to rivers [Psalm 1:3; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Rev. 22:1-2]. It is usually described as voluminous, abundant, overflowing and outpouring testifying to the immeasurableness or limitless quality of what God is releasing now in the body of Christ. 

 

Blessings of the Outpouring exemplified in Jesus Christ

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified” Isa. 61:1-3 

Outpouring or the release of New Wine which is otherwise known as the anointing of the Holy Spirit among many other things bring healing of our body, soul [mend our hearts] and even hallowing of our spirit. Rejections and divisions are cancelled; joy come in the place of mourning; laughter in the stead of tears, spirit of heaviness is done away with and replaced with garment of praise and beauty replaces ashes.

When such happens there are many phenomenon that we will experience

1.    Salvation of soul just like Peter preached and 3000 souls were saved [Acts 2]

2.    Beauty given in the place of ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. New wine descended in the city of Samaria, as Philip ministered in power and glory and there was great miracles sign and wonders … “And there was great joy in that city” Act 8:8 

3.    Revelation or unmasking of the word of God such that faith is developed for the actualization of the things that were revealed into us like healing, doing away of curses or those in the need of deliverance by the release of authority and discernment against demonic activities [Isa. 61:1-3]

4.     Falling, shaking, being drunk in the spirit or experiences of fire over our bodies can be experienced at such outpourings [Rev. 1:7; Jer. 23:9; Acts 2:3-4]; or even crying and weeping.

5.    Release of the power, glory and anointing of the Spirit. Luke 4:18. Anointing upon everyone [Joel 2:28-29; Mark 16:17-18]

6.    Demonstrations of the Gifts of the Spirit [1 Cor. 12:4-12]. Very important here is prophetic dreams, visions and trances [Joel 2:28]

7.    Release of the fruit of the Spirit [Gal. 5:22-24]

 

BLESINGS OF THE NEW WINE

Wine is symbolic of the Holy Spirit and its power, unction or anointing.

Jesus offers a NEW COVENANT with better promises

Save the best for last

Glory of the latter days

He will bring the former and the Latter Rain in one season

The greatest of God’s Power and Glory are being released in this Latter Days because this is the generation of those that will usher in the 2nd coming of the Lord. The heathen that we will minister to so that they can receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior must see the potency of the POWER of the Holy Spirit before they believe.

The manifestation of the Spirit shall be likened to the days of Elijah when the sacrifice and the altar both caught fire even after twelve buckets of water has been poured upon it. We shall see great miracles, signs and wonders to the praise and the glory of God

Best wine ever!!

“Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a BLESSING is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all” Isa. 65:8 

New wine in most cases is associated with blessings, increase and abundance. It is a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit or a new infilling. However we must surrender to Jesus to be filled, renew our mind with the word of God [Romans 12:1-2], and sanctify our vessels

 

1.                      New Wine Speaks of Renewed Love and Intimacy with God

“Take me away with you—let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers. We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. How right they are to adore you!” Song of Songs 1:4 NIV

There are frequent references to ‘love like wine’ in the Song of Songs.

In the new wine season, the Spirit is wooing you. Hear God say, “I am calling you to intimacy with Me. And in that place, I will be your greatest delight”

2.                         New Wine means it is Time for the Harvest

The Bible associates new wine with the harvest.

“Then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, NEW WINE and olive oil” Deuteronomy 11:14. NIV

A harvest from God is abundant. And He has promised a day of overflow; one in which the harvest and new wine will be plentiful. Wine and oil represents covenant blessings for believers from God for wise and obedient living.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills…” Amos 9:13 NIV

It is only through the sacrifice of His bloodshed for our sins that every other benefit symbolized by new wine in Scripture is made freely available to us. Only then can there be a harvest of souls into the kingdom of God just like on the day of Pentecost that 3000 were saved as Peter preached the word of God. Such is the grace of God.

3.                       New Wine Means God’s Promise is Being Fulfilled

When God promised His people the land of Canaan, He spoke consistently of the new wine. It was ‘part of the package’—something tangible they could look forward to in the Promised Land.

“Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell secure in a land of grain and NEW WINE, where the heavens drop dew” [Deut. 33:28 NIV]

Isaac gave Jacob the blessing, “May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness—an abundance of grain and NEW WINE” (Genesis 27:28 NIV)

Hear your Father saying, This is My promise to you, being fulfilled. Here I am! That which you have looked forward to, the new wine is here. This is the day your “cup runs over”

4.                   The New Wine Season is One of Miracles, Signs and Wonders

As at the wedding of Cana, the new wine was miraculous.

Just as the master of ceremonies at the wedding was astounded, and servants looked on in wonder, people will be amazed at what God is doing.

In the season of new wine, Jesus is glorified!

Together, we rejoice and say, ‘You have kept the good wine until now!’ (John 2:10, NKJV)

5.           Wine in ancient Israel was used as an anesthetic agent to dull pain and also as         disinfectant poured upon wounds. Wines are medicinal and used to cure stomach        ailments.

 

        “He stooped down and gave him first aid, pouring olive oil on his wounds, disinfecting them with wine, and bandaging them to stop the bleeding” Luke 10:34 TPT

 

“And he went to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them [to sooth and disinfect the injuries]” Luke 10:34 AMP

 

So when New Wine is spiritually poured in the life of a believer, it sooths and relief him of pain, agony, causes his life to be free from spiritual germs that causes spoilage and wine acts as healing balm.

 

          “Timothy, stop drinking only water, and drink a little wine. This will help your              stomach, and you will not be sick so often” 1 Tim. 5:23 ERV  

 

6.                       The Price paid for the flow of the New Wine

“Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20, NKJV

Jesus revealed the ultimate representation of the new wine OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF Jesus shed on the cross of Calvary, as He took the Passover cup of wine, “the fruit of the vine” [Luke 22:18]. Jesus Christ actually shed his blood so that the New Wine can be released to believers in this day and hour.

God is confirming His blessings upon the Church of God today just like Jacob conferred official blessings on his son Isaac. God way back then gave prophetic words through Rebekah as He has given all manner of words in the Old Testament about the glory of the latter house of God. So also has many prophetic words of blessings gone forth severally about the release of a greater dimension of the Holy Spirit in our days. Such is not merited or paid for but came by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Ho, every one that thirsts, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, BUY WINE and milk without money and without price” Isa. 55:1