The Making of New Wineskins

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (NIV)

"Nor do {men} put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out, and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.".  Matthew 9:17 (NAS)

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."  Matthew 5:6 

This question is the beginning of revival.  For it starts with a deep, deep hunger for God that cannot keep one's heart from crying out to Him for help.  This is God's call to arms.  Each time those that are called by His name get so hungry that they have no other recourse but to fervently seek His face, then revival begins.  Before the longing for souls can be renewed there must be a desperate grasping for the Savior of our soul - as the woman with the bleeding cancer reached for the hem of Jesus' garment (Matthew 9:20-22).  So, a sure sign that God is on the move for a great work is the holy desperation - a Holy deep Hunger for Him that takes over all else in your life.

This Holy Hunger for God comes through many means, some even through great trials in your walk after Christ.  The Holy Hunger is the gift of God to make new wineskins of His followers.  In times past, the new wine of the Spirit was poured out on human flesh, yet the vessels, because of sin, were not renewed, freshened, or awakened enough to contain what God was doing.  The vessels burst and the new wine was spilt.  One work of the Lord after another was flittered away as those involved crumpled in their folly.

In order for God to do a mighty new thing, He must first make new wineskins holy enough to contain the great wine of the Last Days.  This process is often very difficult, filled with many tribulations and frustrations.  For we, His people, are so bound in a religious spirit that we can hardly see God passing by.  So, He sets us free at all costs and through whatever means.  Wineskins are formed from the death of the living, emptying everything inside and leaving only a container for the new wine.  So also is the making of the spiritual new wineskin.  We must allow God to have His way with us, putting to death our selfish pursuits and goals, leaving only the desire to be His hand extended.

Revival fires are coming.  The forerunner of this event is the creation of new wineskins ready to contain His outpouring.  New wineskins are made by the gift of Holy Hunger, a seeking the face of God (not the acts of God), and a willingness to be used at all costs.

Are you feeling the deep, deep hunger for the Lord that He is giving His people?

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