CHANGE IS NEEDFUL.

Matthew 9:17 - 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.”(NIV)

Mark 2:22 - And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”(NIV)

Luke 5:37 - 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.(NIV)

The scripture reiterated above is one a lot of us would have come across while reading the bible. That it was mentioned in all 3 gospels of the New Testament emphasizes its importance. As a young believer I didn’t really understand what Jesus was talking about her. New wine in old wineskins? I was confused. But I later got to understand by the Hoy Spirit what exactly this meant. And over years I have listened to teachings as well explaining the disadvantage of pouring new wine in old wineskins.

A lot of us trust God for one breakthrough or the other. Show me a true believer and I will show you someone who is “believing” God to come through for her in one way or the other. But a lot of times after God has heard and answered our prayers we don’t see it. Truth is a lot of times the change lies with us. You cannot keep asking for God to play His part and you fail to play yours! But God loves me and will give me my heart’s desires” someone says. True that, and He has but what about your own part of the deal?

 God said He has given us new song. What an awesome word. But to my knowledge it also means there was a song there before being sung that has now been replaced! So were you singing before? Have you stopped singing because the manifestation hasn’t come? Have you begun to sing the new song? Let me break it down for you – if you are one of those who refuse to sow and thinks “I don’t even have enough”, how do you expect to reap? If you are one who is always complaining about everything – from your husband to the transport system to the country to the weather – Complain!! Complain!!! How will you see the good that God is already doing? Most likely you won’t because you are waiting for a WOW testimony but fail to praise Him while He is working it out. You miss out!

How about you with that bad character that you have refused to change? At work you are meant to serve customers but you treat them like “shit” simply because it’s not your business and they will pay you at the end of the month anyway. No X-factor on your job! You hiss and roll your eyes at customers and then you pray for God to bless you at work? If He does, what will you end up doing? Punching them? It’s not just about asking God to change your situation so you can shine. What about showing God how ready you are by adapting change in areas where you fall short?

Old wineskins refer to old worn out containers that cannot take in fresh wine. They are not fit in any way. Just as you need to do way with some of the old ways you do things. A wise person once said you can’t keep doing same things and expecting a different result. You have to change. You need to change.

Someone needs to praise God more.
Someone needs to fast and pray more.
Someone needs to bridle their tongue.
Someone needs to change their mindset.
Someone needs a complete character overhaul.

Find what it is you need to change and effect the change through the Holy Spirit working in you. If you ask for His help sincerely, He will help you. And then you will begin to see those long awaited miracles. Be all about change. God will NOT pour NEW WINE into OLD WINESKINS!

Shalom. By Deby Okoh