New Wine for a New Millennium

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:            John 2:1-11

I.          We are moving into a new year, a new century, and a new millennium.

            A.        What does it mean?  Where are we going?  How should we then live?

            B.         Prophetically, a thousand years is as one day to the Lord (2 Peter 3:8)

C.        We are the ones God has chosen to step into this time for His eternal purposes.

            D.        We have been born for such a time as this.

II.        There is a smell of rain in the air.

A.        Hosea 6:1-3  “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight . . .He will come to us like the rain, like the former and the latter rain to the earth.”

B.         Joel 2:21-32  The former and the latter rain results in

            1.         Harvest:  Threshing floors will be full of wheat

            2.         Move of God:  The vats will overflow with new wine and oil

3.         Restoration:  God will restore to us the years that the enemy has destroyed

            4.         Prosperity:  You will eat in plenty and be satisfied

            5.         Praise and Worship:  You will praise the name of the Lord your God

            6.         Respect for God’s people:  God’s people will never be put to shame

            7.         Manifest Presence:  You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel

            8.         Outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh

                        a.         Your sons and daughters shall prophesy

                        b.         Your old men shall dream dreams

                        c.         Your young men shall see visions

d.         The Lord’s menservants and maidservants will receive the outpouring of God’s Spirit

9.         Signs and Wonders:  God will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth

10.       Salvation and deliverance:  Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (delivered).  For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance.

11.       Remnant:  God is working on the remnant----the body, the church, the bride.

C.        Zechariah 10:1  “Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain.  The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.”

III.       A new wine for a new millennium (John 2:1-11)

            A.        I heard the Lord say, “A new wine for a new millennium”

B.         On the third day after John the Baptist’s declaration of Him as the Messiah, Jesus attended a wedding and turned the water into wine

C.        There are some things that will bring forth the new wine

            1.         Heart of a servant:  Jesus used the servants

            2.         Obedience:  “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

3.         Be available:  “Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.”

            4.         Be filled with the Spirit:  “Fill the waterpots with water.”

a.         Ephesians 5:18 “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”

            5.         Draw out what is in you by the Holy Spirit:  “Draw some out now”

            6.         Submission to authority:  “Take it to the master of the feast.”

D.        Conclusion:  “You have kept the good wine until now!”

E.         The new wine was the beginning of signs and wonders

F.         The new wine caused followers of Jesus to believe

IV.       Prepare new wineskins (Matthew 9:14-17)

            A.        We must know the time:  “For the days will come”

            B.         New wine must be put into new wine skins lest

                        1.         The new wine be spilled (wasted and move of God lost)

                        2.         The wineskins be ruined

C.        Wineskins are made from animals that have died.  Therefore they speak of the crucified life. (Galatians 2:20)

D.        Wineskins must be flexible.  New wine is unstable and must have room to move.  Every new move of God has extreme or unstable elements that come with it, but they must have the flexibility to move into extremes and then adjust.

E.         Every wineskin is different.  No two wineskins are the same.  We should not expect everyone to look the same in a move of God.

F.         Old wineskins can be made new again by “soaking” in oil.  We need to soak in the presence of the anointing so that we may be softened, refreshed, and flexible once again to hold the new wine.

V.        Response

A.        We are entering a new year, a new century, and a new millennium.  Where are you poised as we cross this threshold of destiny?

B.         Do you believe that you have been born for such a time as this?

C.        Do you smell the rain?

D.        Have you asked for the rain for your own life in the time of the latter rain?

E.         Are you ready for the new wine?

F.         Are you prepared to be a new wineskin that can be a vessel of the next move of God?

G.        If not, then now is the time.