Holy Boldness

Both metaphors speak to the issue of vibrancy and expandability. Both highlight the fact that new things demand new accommodations. But the lingering question when Jesus is on the scene is this: ‘Are you ready for the new?’ Interestingly, people often cry out for something for so long that do not recognize it when it comes. Or else, when the new comes, it makes them so uncomfortable that they do not want anything to do with it or at least they are not prepared for it. New wine is a metaphor for a fresh move of God. Jesus’ very presence and teaching brought a new wine of the Spirit and it demanded a new understanding and practice. His presence represented a radical shift and the people reacted to His presence in all kinds of ways. He was the fulfillment of what so many were crying out for but they did not recognize Him when He showed up. Old and new usually do not work well together. New moves of God (new wine) demand a new wineskin (mindset/structure) because the new wine is vibrant and active and if the current structure is brittle it will not stretch and be able to hold nor accommodate the new wine. This isn’t just a spiritual dynamic. It holds true in all sorts of contexts. Businesses have to change if they want to survive. If this principle is true for the natural way of things, how much more in the realms of the Spirit. Moves of God often stretch us beyond our comfort zones. Hav ing an open heart to the Holy Spirit’s fresh revelation is critical to being a part of the fresh move of God. Jesus continually provoked the status quo in the first century and so it remains the reality today. We must be willing to stretch with the move of God. One day as I was in prayer, I looked up and saw a vision of Christ on the cross. The spikes in His wrists were especially highlighted to me. He looked at me and said, “Stretch out your tent pegs.” I immediately recognized the reference to Isaiah 54:2 which reads, “Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs.” I had always understood this scripture as an encouragement to the church to open up and prepare to receive the harvest of people coming under its influence. But suddenly I saw that Jesus was highlighting to me the price of receiving the harvest. It meant a change of heart. It meant that there would be a sacrifice involved, that I would have to die to my expectations to accommodate all that God was A Vision of Christ on the Cross

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