Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 February 2021

 

New Wine in New Bottles

 

“Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:14-17)

 

Today’s Morsel:  When we walk through the gospels with Jesus, we see that He always expresses receiving something new.  As He told Nicodemus, you must be born again (John 3:1-5).  A new life.  Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, states, “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”(1 Corinthians 15:47-49)  The gospel is all about starting new and afresh.  Jesus said that you do not put new wine into old bottles as they will break and spill the wine.  Jesus is not going to put His Spirit in you while you are still living the old way of life.  You must repent of your sins and then He will fill you.  An old life cannot maintain His Spirit.  If you receive the Holy Ghost and then go back to your old way of life, you will lose it.  But if you receive it and maintain holiness and purity, it will be with you forever.

 

Sing:  Drinking at the springs of living water, Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy.  Drinking at the springs of living water, O’ wonderful and bountiful supply.

 

Thought For Today: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, 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.” (Isaiah 55:1)