The New Wine's Nature
There are patterns found in scriptures throughout the Bible, and if our eyes aren’t opened by The Spirit of Truth, we would miss out what the Spirit of God through The Spirit of Revelation and Wisdom requires from each of us. I also understand that Every Scripture is God-breathed, that’s why the natural or the carnal man however intellectually sound he maybe, or however much he may be decorated with titles, he can’t understand the Hidden mysteries of God’s Word [All Scripture is Spirit-Breathed for…] until he has learnt to Hear the Holy Spirit daily. I believe the KEY for ALL end-time saints operating in the Kingdom of God, is HEARING (LISTENING) EARS to hear what the Spirit of God’s saying to the church and BELIEVING HEARTS to demonstrate The Word of God, after all “Jesus went about all Galilee;
a) TEACHING in their synagogues
b) PREACHING the GOSPEL of The KINGDOM
c) HEALING all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (See also Matt.9:35, Mark 1: 21-34, Luke 4:31-41).
So then how can anyone change a DIVINE ORDER that Jesus manifested while on earth, and no matter what the enemy’s doing in and out of the church, this divine order has to become a Revelation amongst those who represent HIM. Hence in this hour, our life would see the Word becoming flesh, as the church has to break into THE NEW WINE LIFE.
But for this to become a Living Reality, every Minister/Preacher/Teacher has TO CHOOSE TO HAVE THE NEW WINE-NEW JESUS NATURE.
Jesus said “No man puts New Wine in OLD BOTTLES, else the New Wine will burst the bottles and be spilled, and the bottles break. BUT NEW WINE must be PUT IN NEW BOTTLES and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightaway desires new, for he says the old is better. (Luke 5: 37-39). That’s why NEW WINE requires NEW WINESKINS and the wine bottles old and rent, the Gibeonites brought with them, and showed to Joshua (Joshua 9:4) and to which the Psalmist compares himself (Psalm 119:83). Now the Spirit of Religion manifested by today’s Scribes and Pharisees- Legalists or Grace-Killers are natural leaders; having never been regenerated and renewed in the spirit of their minds; in whom the ‘oldman-nature’ is predominant, self-righteous attitude, having a ‘Form of Godliness but denying the power thereof…….’ (2Tim.3:5)
NEW WINE LIFE means the Overflowing Life, Love and Favour of God released by the Holy Spirit, clean and free from every double-standard motives and hypocrisy.This was intended by God even before He designed the DNA of the 1st Adam. So it is very ancient even from ever-lasting, but manifested in the effectual calling of Sons in the Kingdom. The True Gospel of the Kingdom is signified by wine, for its purity, good flavour, and pleasant taste; for its healing effects, in reviving drooping spirits, refreshing weary persons, and comforting distressed minds; more clearly revealed by Christ and his apostles. NEW WINE cannot be contained as it’s meant to overflow from the GRACE RIVER. Hence this wine can’t be poured into Old Wineskins (Bottles) nor can they be handled by natural men- the self-righteous one’s as it doesn’t suit and agree with their old carnal nature. They mostly are performance-oriented as they operate mostly in condemnation, as spiritual appetite is anemic to such.
NEW WINESKINS-BOTTLES are Grace-called-one’s who’ve been Holy Spirit regenerated and renewed, who are made new creatures in Christ; who have new hearts, and new spirits, and new principles of WORD LIGHT (Insights, Revelation and Wisdom for different life-issues).
NEW LIFE, NEW AGAPE LOVE, Christ’s Faith and holiness implanted in them; having Spiritual eyes to DISCERN with, Teachable EARS to HEAR with, Anointed Feet to walk with and to live in Christ, Healing hands to heal the sick or Excelling in Work. They also release life through the Holy Spirit’s anointed Words upon them, affecting their daily conversation. Now to such as these, the love of God is manifested and shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost…. (Rom. 5:5). The Gospel of Christ’s Kingdom is truly received and valued, and these live the overcoming life of Jesus as they understand their inheritance in Christ, these are seated along with Jesus as co-heirs to rule and reign in His Kingdom and establish His Kingdom on earth as the pattern of heaven being the model to imitate. So it’s no more about the GOSPEL OF SELF, no more the Worship of SELF & MY Credentials/ Certificates, MY Title, MY Anointing, MY Gifting, MY Ministry. It’s all about THE SON in whom the FATHER is well-pleased, and that’s why the Spirit of THE SON has been released on us to Become SONS in the KINGDOM. We need to rise up and destroy the Orphan Slavery Spirit, by receiving a Revelation of THE FATHER’S HEART and FATHER’S LOVE. Now let’s do some digging from our text from (John 2: 1-11) and let’s be open to hear to obey the Holy Spirit’s revelation.
(v.1)The 3rd DAY PRINCIPLE:
Numbers, days, seasons, need to be understood from God’s perspective. That’s why God’s calendar isn’t Gregorian but Hebraic, and in Genesis we enter God’s design in (Genesis 1.5b)
SEEING (Proverbs 4:21-23) (John 3: 3) “And the evening and the morning were the 1st day”.
- And be ready against the THIRD DAY, for the 3rd day of the Lord [is the day of the Lord, his day, his dealings and his doings] will come down in the sight of all the people. (Exod. 19:11)
- Come, and let us return unto the Lord. For he has torn, and he will heal us, he has smitten, and he will bind us up
[1st Day Church, we saw The Passover]
[2nd Day Church we saw “The Pentecost”- day of Pentecost] After 2 days will he revive us...
[3rd Day we’re experiencing The Tabernacles, the 3rd dimension- His fullness, the resurrection of the 3rd day anointing, the rising up of the whole corporate man] He will raise us up with resurrection power – life from the 3rd dimension, and we shall live in HIS sight, foresight, and insight... (Hosea 6:1-2)
(Genesis 22:4) And on the THIRD DAY [Resurrection Principle] Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off.
[Abraham and Isaac, being the Sacrificial offering of the 3rd day].
And the earth brought forth grass, and the herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit - releasing Jesus Christ- the corn of wheat, whose seed was in itself after His kind...And God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the THIRD DAY–
Compare (John 12:24 & Genesis 1:12-13)
The THIRD DAY He shall rise again… (Matthew 20:19)
Killed…He shall rise the THIRD DAY… (Mark 9:31)
Be slain, and be raised the THIRD DAY… (Luke 9:22)
Him God raised up the THIRD DAY… (Acts 10:40)
It is but the THIRD hour of the day…Visitation in the 3rd Hour -9:00am, the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit, the Day of Pentecost… (Acts 2:15)
Now the term 3rd day and the 7th day in scripture have much in common. With the principle of (Psalms 90:4) (Hosea 6:2) (2Pet. 3:8), we understand another pattern, and that is we’ve entered the 3rd millennium after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection which is a PERIOD of ENTERING HIS REST. (Genesis 2: 2) “And on the 7th day God ended His work which He had made; and he rested on the 7th day from all His work which He had made. There are 2 phrases to note Ending His work and Resting. In (Heb.Ch. 3: 7- 4:1-11) God’s people are commanded to ENTER God’s Rest, which begins by Hearing His Voice. Therefore this season has to bring us into Greater Yoking (Speaking of God’s government –Isaiah 9:6-7), and Receiving His Rest [Sabbath] from our works (Matt.11.28-30).
THE PATTERNED ORDER OF MARRIAGE
We also see the Pattern of Marriage- Covenantal Joining recorded in the 2nd chapter of the Old Testament- (Genesis 2:18-25), and the end of Old Testament (Malachi 2:10-17) AND New Testament- (John 2:1-11) and the end of the New Testament (Revelation 19-22)
(Incidentally the 1st two and the last 2 chapters in the Bible are the perfect chapters of the Bible). So then if God starts and ends the Old and New Testament with the COVENANT of MARRIAGE, then the time has come for THE CHURCH to DEMONSTRATE to the world, the heart of God in the MARRIAGE COVENANT, and one of the main purposes of Marriage is to release a GODLY OFFSPRING on the earth (Malachi 2:15).
MARRIAGE is JOINING WITH GOD-
(1Cor.6:17, 15-20) (Eph.5: 30-33)] and the overflow of my GOD-JOINING is released to my spouse, children (no matter their ages), relatives, the saints- assembly (ecclesia of God), office-place, market-place, community like the early FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY. Their secret which can become our secret too is found in (Acts4:13 & 17:11, 28-30).
{WE need a revelation that WE ARE THE CHURCH-THE BRIDE OF CHRIST (Eph.1:16-23)}.
This overflow is the ABUNDANT LIFE that Jesus came from heaven to release to you/me, so that we could affect our world (Wherever He placed us for our assignment). Sadly because of “The Church Syndrome” many have chosen to anoint or become like the furniture in a church-building. The Church Syndrome has produced acceptable religious activity released from the Powerless Spirit of Religion. The Fruit of our Labour has produced of its kind, as every seed produces of its kind (Principle of Genesis 1: 12, 29). There’s much revealed to me about Godly Marriage and how to destroy the curse of Poverty through Unspiritual Soul-Ties, but I’ll discuss that in detail in another Release.
(v.3) THERE’S NO MORE WINE
It’s surprising how the wine was over so early, speaking figuratively by the year 325-328 AD exactly 300 years after Jesus died, was buried and resurrected. We need to understand that Wine plays a very important PART in Jewish customary weddings even today. But let’s see what does wine also speak of? Wine speaks of:
a) Affluence and Abundance (John 10:10, 1John 5:11-13)
b) Celebration and Unspeakable Joy (1Peter 1:8, 4:13-14)
c) Overflowing Life of the Supernatural Holy Spirit [Being drunk with the NEW WINE LIFE] (Eph.5: 6-19)
The Church which was commissioned by King Jesus to LISTEN TO HIM and bring HEAVEN on EARTH (Matt.Ch. 5-7), the Church which was supposed to release to The principalities “The Manifold Wisdom of God” (Eph.3:10), the Church which was assigned to make all His enemies bring all the kingdoms of the earth at His footstool (Rev.11: 15)
Now aren’t Mary’s in our churches today crying out for The New Wine?
As servants of God, can we hear the voices of Mary’s crying: They have NO WINE?
Can we humble ourselves and cry for The NEW WINE to enter us and through us enter others!
Shockingly it looks like the Ministry of Begging has replaced Asking & Praying; Membership has replaced Discipleship, Slavery has replaced Sonship, and Fellow-sheep instead of fellowship, and ultimately the Altar-call replaced the Altar-The Cross. These are sample manifestations of the OLD-WINE nature, and that’s why our Modern Churches will not be able to handle the Onslaught of the enemy, until we come out of the MESS-AGE syndrome. Churches are tired and battered of the Earthly Stale Mess-ages being released from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and evil. They’re LOOKING FOR THE HEAVENLY LIFE, which the early disciples in the book of Acts demonstrated, called CHURCH-LIFE (Acts.3: 1-10). Sadly many Preachers/Prophets/Pastors have been DECEIVED INTO MERCHANDIZING their giftings to become popular, recognized and mistakenly have joined the Judas/Gehazi-sacrifice club.
(v.4) The SWORD MUST PIERCE THE HEART
In (Luke 2:25-35) we see Simeon prophesying by the Holy Ghost, a man knowing the hour of his visitation and salvation. He is sent by the Holy Spirit to Hold in His Hands –THE WORD BECOME FLESH & DWELT AMONG US. He prophesies the TWIN blessing about Jesus as a:
-A Light to Lighten the Gentiles (You and me) & -A Glory of Thy Jewish people- Israel.
(v.35) “Yea a SWORD (WORD OF GOD) (Heb.4:12) shall pierce through thy own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts be revealed.
Jesus has to break the CONTROL OF THE EARTHLY MARY. “Woman what have I to do with thee? Mine hour has not yet come”. Before Jesus the heavenly seed could bring forth the INCREASE of HIS GOVERNMENT, there would be no provocation or manipulation from an earthly woman that interfered…….
(v.4b) MY HOUR HAS NOT COME
If Jesus’ hour hadn’t come then why was He in the marriage? May the Holy Spirit show us the urgency of this pattern. The pattern is found in (John 2: 13-17) – The Cleansing of The Temple: (John 2: 16) “Jesus said to the Jews that sold doves. Take these things hence, MAKE NOT MY FATHER’S HOUSE A HOUSE OF MERCHANDIZE”. The Temple was predominantly controlled by the Businessmen who were doing merchandize. Oxen, sheep, doves were used as offerings, and money-changers involved the temple. To study further, we must recognize the:
PURPOSE OF THE TEMPLE(Matt.21:12-17)
(Matt.21:13) “Jesus said to the Jews, It is written. MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED THE HOUSE OF PRAYER; BUT YOU’VE MADE IT A DEN OF THIEVES”.
Now you would say, what’s wrong?
Remember the Lord of the Temple was there (Read John 2:18-21), but Jesus didn’t come for the church's praise & worship ministry, or did the intercession ministry attract His presence. He was focused on establishing the REAL TEMPLE [THE TABERNACLE OF GOD-(Rev.21:3-6) YOU/ME].
Just as the Jews, God’s people Blindly Focussed so much on the EXTERNAL BUILDING of The TEMPLE, today’s Phar-I-See’s and Sad-U-Cee’s haven’t understood The Word of God even after 2000 years. (John.5:39) “Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life and they are they which testify of me” (Mark 12:24) “Jesus answering said to them: Do you not therefore err, because you know not the Scriptures neither the Power of God”
That’s why Jesus spoke about these BLIND LEADERS and their BLIND FOLLOWERS in (Matt.15: 8-14)(V.14)- “Leave them alone; they are blind leaders of the blind, and if the BLIND LEAD the blind, both shall FALL into the ditch”
NOTE: The Question that needs attention today: Is Christ BUILDING HIS CHURCH-TEMPLE which is you/me OR Has Satan’s Gates prevailed against the Church-Temple you/me?
[Exodus 19:16-KJV] And it came to pass on the 3rd day in the morning that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that were in the camp trembled.
[Malachi 3:1-2] speaks of the prophetic messengers God would be sending to prepare the way of His coming, calling those who are deceived to return with all their hearts to the Lord.
He also speaks of 2 outcomes of God’s Glorious Presence.
1. It’s to refine and purify those that fear Him.
2. It will judge the hearts of those who say they serve Him but in reality do not fear Him.
This Word is prophetic speaking to us today. Before God manifested His glory, the people were to sanctify themselves, which included washing their clothes or garments. Before God’s Glory is revealed, it’s difficult to distinguish ones who are really serving Him, from those who merely lip-service Him. Yet such hypocrisy will be exposed for it can’t hide from God’s Glory Light!
(Luke 12:2) “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known”.
(1Peter 4:17) “For the time is come that Judgement MUST BEGIN at the House of GOD (You/Me individually and the Assemblies called Churches/Ministries corporately) and if it first begin at us, what shall the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God?
(1Cor.3: 12-15)(v.13)- “Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, since it shall be Revealed by FIRE; and the FIRE shall TRY every man’s WORK of what sort it is.
MAY GOD’S LIGHT help us to stand the Test of times: (v.31) “For if we would JUDGE ourselves, we should not be JUDGED”. (1Cor.11: 31-32)
(v.5) THE SUBMISSION OF MARY & THE SERVANTS
In (John 1. 13) Everyone in heaven has to be born of the SON’S SEED (Gen.3:15), “not born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of God”. Mary had to bow down her will to her Messiah (Luke 1.47) Son’s TERMS, not her earthly Son.
The EARTHLY had to BOW DOWN to the HEAVENLY. Until OUR EARTHLY DIES by Embracing THE CROSS of JESUS, OUR HEAVENLY DIMENSIONS are hindered and eventually a Process of Spiritual Abortion takes place. There’s a VERY IMPORTANT PATTERN that we need to ENTER IN and that is The WORD that was released from the beginning: “WHATSOEVER HE SAYS UNTO YOU, DO IT”. Please note until Mary resigned from her earthly will, she could not PAVE the Way for anything to happen. Sadly today PREACHERS have chosen to quote/preach this very verse to everybody else, except themselves.
WHAT A VERSE TO HIDE IN, INSTEAD OF HIDING IN THE WORD OF GOD HIMSELF! (John2: 5)
Much TRANSFORMATION would be released from The MOUNT of TRANSFIGURATION GLORY into our lives, if you/me understood what the Father said to Simon Peter (Matt.17:5)(Heb.1:8-9)
The Gospel of The Kingdom is not a Gospel of OUR DEAD WORKS(Heb.6:1b),but a RIVER of CHRIST’S WORKS of LIFE created for EACH of us before the Foundations of the earth….
(Eph. 2:10b). Let’s learn to enter the demonstration of HEAVEN’S WORD’S, by ABIDING in HIS WORD & PRESENCE (Garden of Eden-ADON-AI) (John.15: 7a)
Now there were SERVANTS that Mary knew.
There’s something about Women that they can smell a NEED very fast, and they can somehow take CARE of that NEED too. Mary’s submission to the Spiritual Son Jesus opened the DOOR for the NEED’S BREAKTHROUGH. It’s amazing that our Submission to GOD would also ALIGN servants to assist us in our journey and beyond. These SERVANTS are RARE in this hour, as they are A NAMELESS & FACELESS GENERATION. Their only Objective is to “Be Available for The Master’s Purpose”, and they normally hang around mostly with The Master or His disciples. They’re not attracted to Crowds or Crowd-Pullers. The JOY of their MASTER-JESUS is their satisfaction, and they only MOVE in any situation with The Master’s sanction. These are Genuine Servants who would lay down their lives for anyone in the Master’s Kingdom, as they’re not a respecter of persons, just like their Master. They are secure in the Master’s acceptance, as they’ve broken the spirits of SELF, Agendas or Identities in Service. Ministering to Jesus for them is more important than ministering to people, crowds as they’re Christlike in their service. This is how they’ve learnt to emulate their Master in washing other’s feet all the time, not drawing people to their ministry, not to their prayer-line, not to their anointing or gifting, as they’ve hated every form of the Gehazi or Judas spirit. They pride much in seeing the Kingdom of God being established on earth as it is in heaven, no personal vendettas.
(v.6) 6 STONE WATER-POTS
Jewish Godly customs have been imitated by our Muslim community. The Cleansing Water-washing of external hands/feet to enter ‘The Holy Place’ has down the centuries been followed. Now its amazing that John describes even how much water was in each Earthen pot, the equivalent today is 25-30 gallons each. Isn’t that a LOT OF WATER by today’s standards?
(2Cor.4:6-7) “For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. But we’ve this Treasure in Earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us”.
There are some MAJOR patterns to learn about God’s MOVE in this season, and if we have “ears to hear” we’d be able to understand the season, God’s bringing His people into.
Firstly there were 6 CLAY JARS:
Clay jars refer normally to ones who are very teachable, as they enjoy the Touch of The Potter on their lives.
(Jer. 18:1-6) (v.4)-And the vessel that He made of CLAY was MARRED in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
The Number 6 refers to Man’s Ability/Strength and it seems that not only in the world, but within the church we’re seeing how Human Strength/Abilities can’t handle the Famine that is coming for hearing “The WORD OF GOD” (Amos8:11). Man’s Intellectual Programmes are outdated and not able to bring life into various governmental issues, financial issues, relational issues as well as ministry issues. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Psalms 20:7) Some may trust in chariots and some may trust in horses, but we will trust in the name of Our Lord.
What does this mean for today’s preacher/minister in terms of daily depending on God?
In a time where our Gadgets, computers have produced INSTANT READY-MADE packages of ANY CHRISTIAN material on ANY Subject, it seems that Prayer & Seeking the Holy Spirit isn’t needed, after all there’s a whole MARKET for Christian books (just any author), Anointed Prayer’s or Prayer-cloths or Prayer-Oil MERCHANDISED today easily. Very FEW would need to SEEK the LORD for DAILY MANNA, as we’ve entered the INSTANT AGE of button-pressing. Everybody else’s MESSAGE is important to us, except the Lord’s.
Idolatry of SELF has taken great proportions to MASK itself, so that today we need the Man of God, not the God of Man.
(v.7) COMMISSION TO FILL THE JARS TO THE BRIM WITH WATER
- Water in the Bible is referred to a) The Word of God (John 15:3 & Eph.5:26).
- Water has specific symbolic significance for Christians. Outside of baptism, water may represent cleansing or purity. It was created on the 1st day
(Genesis 1:2, 6-8).
- Water heals, as can be seen from the stories of Naaman the Syrian cured from his leprosy in the waters of Jordan (2 Kings 5:1-14) and the annual miracles at Bethesda in Jerusalem (John 5:1-4). John the Baptist used the waters of the Jordan to cleanse people's sins which reminded typical Jewish custom (Matthew 3:1-6; Mark 1:4-5; Luke 3:2-16; John 1:26-33) - even Christ came to be baptized (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10).
- On the other hand, water is also the habitat of serpents whose heads God crushed (Psalm 73:13-14) and of the dragon (Job 41:25; Psalm 103:26).
- It’s a means to a new spiritual birth into the kingdom of heaven (John 3:5).
- Christ gives living water which is the source of eternal life (John 4:10-14; 7:38) as foretold by the Prophet Jeremiah (2:13).
- He came in water, blood and the Spirit, witnessing to one God (1 John 5:6-8).
- He commands watery baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:38). When speaking about baptism, St Paul states that in water we are buried with our sins in the likeness of Christ's death: We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).
- In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead (Colossians 2:12).
- Moreover, the watery mystery is connected with the Holy Spirit, the Divine Person that accomplishes rebirth (John 3:5-6; Acts 8:39; cf. Acts 1-2).
- From this we can see how the New Testament integrates Old Testament belief. Unlike the Old Testament, the role of water appears to be explicitly connected with the presence of the Holy Spirit. The element has taken on the symbol of spiritual grace. The story of the Flood is a very popular prototype of baptism. Its origins are clearly shown in (1Peter 3:20-21) according to which we are to understand the Flood as baptism and those few who were saved in the ark prefigured the Church of baptized Christians saved by the resurrection of Christ.
- Jesus said, Every one that drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a fountain of water springing up unto eternal life (John 4:13, 14).
- But at the present day there are those who are like the woman with whom the Lord spoke at the well, and who answered, Lord, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw (John 4:15).
If Water refers to The Word of God, then I believe TODAY’S SERVANTS need to understand this NEED. The great truth we can learn is “the SERVANTS KNEW where to get the Water from”. Now I’ve been in a desert and I know its not easy to get that MUCH WATER, as they didn’t have borewell pumps those days to connect to. They had to DRAW OUT from the wells available, revealing to us what Solomon wrote many years ago. (Prov.5: 15-16) (v.15) “Drink waters out of thy own cistern, and running waters out of thy own well”
Do we have time to DAILY DRAW from Our Well of Life-Jesus?
Are we thirsty in this hour for FRESH WATER supply of the Holy Spirit or are we satisfied with the natural Water that makes us THIRSTY all the time. Now not only do we need SPIRITUAL WATER for ourselves, but for also the Nameless, Faceless Generation that God’s commissioned us to, to allow the RIVER of LIVING WATERS pass through us and we become DAMS–storing the Supply of Spiritual Water- The Word of God in and out of season.
The Next question is why does God want them to be FILLED TO THE BRIM?
Simple, just like God wants us to be ALWAYS FILLED with The HOLY SPIRIT to the overflow, He chooses that for His servants too. After all the servants are like their Master in All things. Remember “Freely we have received; we also now freely give just like the Master Jesus”.
(v.8, 10) The Servants DRAW OUT NOW as THE BEST WINE IS KEPT FOR THE END
Now even the disciples were watching the whole scene, but saw the Servants Obedience to Jesus transform into the miracle. Now it was their honour to DRAW OUT and give to the Governor of The Feast. This is the hour, when GOD will honour the SERVANTS GREATLY especially those who’ve worked behind the scenes and without self-promotion therapies.
Oh, how much GOD’S GLORY [through YOU & ME] wants to COVER THE EARTH, as the waters covers the sea. (Hab.2:14) Incidentally 2/3rd’s water covers the earth, and the human body alike. The Governor of the Feast is The Holy Spirit today, and He’s waiting on each of us to FILL OUR PART at The Great Wedding. The world is longing to see THE GLORY of THE CHURCH, and CREATION itself is awaiting the Adoption of the Sons of God for this time.
God’s GLORY is God’s FULLNESS operating in the JEW and THE GENTILE, after all Jesus prayed for this in (John Ch.17).
Would we join him in His UNFULFILLED DESIRE or would we join the 3 Fleshly Disciples who went to SLEEP; when Jesus agonizingly asked them to Pray.
The SLEEPING BEAUTY –The Church has to be AWAKENED from the Spirit of Apathy, Slumber and Prayerlessness into being a VIOLENT FORCE of Servants in the Master’s Use, as the servants take the Kingdom by force (Matt.11:12). The Orphan Spirit has to be demolished and decrees need to be prophesied over The SONS OF THE KINGDOM.
A WINE-MAKING PRINCIPLE:There are 3 LARGE VESSELS in the Wine-Making Room all ready.
So the 1st vessel is called “Loose your Identity” Vessel
Here we put the grapes, the spices, the ingredients, sugar. Then the POUNDING PROCESS starts. It’s here that GREATER the Pounding, GREATER the chances for the “I” Syndrome to be destroyed/ not resurrected again in our lives. Most believers can’t handle any kind of pressure, as they’ve not been DISCIPLED from the baby-Christians they decided to be 30 years ago.
Sadly most ministers have had a HAY-DAY at the cost of these 30 year old babies in their ministry, since they’ve been supporting the minister for all these years, but sadly also what these ministers have sown they will also reap. Most servants of God prefer to be relied on for their prayer, fasting etc., so that they can thrive on the member’s ignorance. Baby Christians are pampered and hence immature pertaining to spiritual things. These are manifestations of Curses, as God didn’t intend lone-rangers in ministry. God wanted BODY-BUILDING in His Church, as HE is THE MASTER-BUILDER.
Well the Laodecian spirit’s days are over and we’ll surely reap our labour of the flesh- DEAD WORKS of wood, hay and stubble.
Many Christians want to die for Jesus today, but ask them if they could LIVE FOR HIM!
The 2nd vessel is called “Carried-Over” Vessel
Here we see that in spite of all the Pounding, a Judas slipped through using His Disciples Identity Card. Judas was a disciple of The Curse, who followed Jesus for the Food, Clothing, Shelter and most importantly Money. He was the treasurer of the money-gifts released through some of the women of Galilee, especially the Bethany sisters- Mary and Martha. (Luke 8:2-3) Remember the argument on Giving money to the poor by Judas (Matt.26:6-16)
So UNDEALT SIN will always BRING ONE’S HEART to the fore-front.
Judas’ “Love for Money” led him to ultimately BETRAY HIS MASTER.
Paul warns Timothy about this subtle passion in (1Tim.6.5-12) and in fact encourages him to FLEE this like other issues mentioned. Servants of True Christlike Character could be counted on your hands in this hour, as the Gospel of Grace has been cheapened by the lusts thereof.
UNDEALT GENERATIONAL ISSUES in God’s Servants in Old Testament
LYING: Abraham the father, imparted it to Isaac his son
DECEPTION: Isaac the father, imparted to his son Jacob
ANGER: Moses carried this Egyptian spirit, many years later Elisha demonstrates it.
SEXUAL LUST: Judge Samson’s spirit was transferred to Rehab, David, Solomon and Absalom
FEAR OF MAN/WOMAN was King Saul’s issue, manifested later in Elijah.
MANIPULATION imparted by King Saul to son Jonathan/Mother Jezebel to Ahab/ Athaliah. Pharaoh’s attempt on Moses’ life, King Herod’s attempt on Jesus’ life, Queen Herodias having John the Baptist’s head
Old Testament Baggage: Judas & Ananias/Sapphira were Love for money like Old Testament Balaam & Gehazi
Now all the above faced the repercussions of their Undealt Issues. Do you think your Undealt issue wouldn’t be dealt with?
New Testament: SEED OF HEAVEN (Gen.1:13, 29b)
Love, Joy, Peace (INTERNAL)
Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, (RELATIONAL)
Faith, Meekness, Temperance (EXTERNAL)
Heavenly Father- Son Jesus Christ- Disciples- Church (Bride)/ Kingdom of Sons
Incidentally JESUS the CHRIST became OUR SCAPEGOAT for sin/consequences of sin, becoming The LAMB OF GOD who takes away the sins of the world.
The 3rd VESSEL is the STORAGE VESSEL
Very few in this hour want to be preserved “in Loosing their life for King Jesus and His Kingdom rule”, as ambition and enticing kingdoms of the enemy have LURED many to be diverted from their Destiny. Adam’s prefer to still HIDE behind the PULPIT, Ministry of their Ambitious TV programmes of Dead Works, of course acceptable by the Christendom of the church whereas other Adam’s have chosen to become the Ahab’s of their Jezebel wives, or other seductions.
Can Jesus or Paul or the early Church ENJOY to see OUR LABOUR TODAY?
Is this why they gave their ALLEGIANCE to a Heavenly King and His Heavenly Kingdom?
Now Joseph was a DREAMER, and since he was young OPENED HIS MOUTH pre-maturely to his brothers/father causing Jealousy, Envy, Hatred, and Rejection amongst His own. Through a whole series of events God orchestrated, Joseph landed in Potiphar’s house. Strangely this time not his own family, but his own Master’s wife’s seductive plan on Joseph fails, but lands Joseph in a PIT called PRISON, for His integrity. Modern Joseph’s need to imitate this, if they’re going to pass the test to be MEN OF CHARACTER. I understand that Prison Encounters bring Much out of some, for here we see Joseph no more a Dreamer, but has through the Tests of Life become a Dream-Reader. This is called God’s Partial Favour in Learning from the School of Hard Knocks in Life. May The Holy Spirit train each of us to be teachable in this school.
Now Joseph had company in prison: Amazingly 2 chiefs serving in Pharaoh’s palace: The Chief Baker and The Chief Butler. Both had dreams, and both had their dreams interpreted by Joseph-The DREAM READER. But their dreams weren’t affective in bringing Joseph out of prison, no matter how hard he tried.
Waiting and Learning Patience with Long-Suffering is Great Godly Gain, as these virtues have to be added to our Faith. When you’re alone and that too in a Prison-cell like Joseph, you only are to await God’s Loving Kindness to bring you out. Just like Gold is brought through the fiery furnace, God’s trophy-Joseph was brought forth. This time it was Pharaoh’s turn to dream, and God allows the Chief Butler to remember Joseph and his own dream interpretation. Did God forget Joseph or was Joseph being TRAINED IN THE MASTER’S SERVICE! Now if Joseph was helped earlier by either of the 2 chiefs, probably there would have been a temporal glory manifested, but when GOD has got you/me in the palm of His hands, He wants to EXHIBIT HIS TROPHIES to the entire world, not merely the Christian world (which many are hung-up on).
Some things that we need to learn from Joseph are:
1. Joseph’s private life was Full of Integrity, making me envy His God-Consciousness. (39:8-10)
2. Potiphar prospered because of Joseph, and the Master understood this (39:2-4).
3. Joseph’s work was excellent, as he did what others did (39:21-22)
4. Interpretation of dreams of others are linked also with levels of promotion.
5. In the presence of the king, Joseph never spoke about his problem. He only heard and interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. He wasn’t ENVIOUS of the POSITION-In-CHARGE (41:33-36).
6. When God’s FAVOUR arises on SERVANTS, no labour could match it. In other words:
“1 DAY OF GOD’S FAVOUR IS MUCH GREATER THAN 50-100 YEARS OF OUR LABOUR”.
7. Joseph’s MOUTH BLESSED not only The Cup-Bearer, not only the Pharaoh, not only the Egyptians, not only His Brothers and Father, but also the WHOLE WORLD. (41: 46-57)
So if you think you’ve been badly treated by your Family, Relatives, Employer, Colleagues, Church Pastors, Church brethren, you’re not the ONLY ONE. Look at Joseph who went through perhaps worser than you/me but let’s learn from His Words: “Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brethren. And he wept aloud; And the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said to his brethren, I am Joseph; does my father yet live? And his brethren couldn’t answer him, for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said: I am Joseph your brother whom you sold in Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves that you sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life. So now it wasn’t you that sent me hither but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler through the land of Egypt. (Gen.45: 1-5, 7-8)
What does Forgiveness do?
1. Forgiveness takes responsibility for other’s sins. (Gen.45: 7-8)
2. Forgiveness brings people out of Egypt into their Canaan land. (Gen.45: 24-25)
a) TEACHING in their synagogues
b) PREACHING the GOSPEL of The KINGDOM
c) HEALING all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (See also Matt.9:35, Mark 1: 21-34, Luke 4:31-41).
So then how can anyone change a DIVINE ORDER that Jesus manifested while on earth, and no matter what the enemy’s doing in and out of the church, this divine order has to become a Revelation amongst those who represent HIM. Hence in this hour, our life would see the Word becoming flesh, as the church has to break into THE NEW WINE LIFE.
But for this to become a Living Reality, every Minister/Preacher/Teacher has TO CHOOSE TO HAVE THE NEW WINE-NEW JESUS NATURE.
Jesus said “No man puts New Wine in OLD BOTTLES, else the New Wine will burst the bottles and be spilled, and the bottles break. BUT NEW WINE must be PUT IN NEW BOTTLES and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightaway desires new, for he says the old is better. (Luke 5: 37-39). That’s why NEW WINE requires NEW WINESKINS and the wine bottles old and rent, the Gibeonites brought with them, and showed to Joshua (Joshua 9:4) and to which the Psalmist compares himself (Psalm 119:83). Now the Spirit of Religion manifested by today’s Scribes and Pharisees- Legalists or Grace-Killers are natural leaders; having never been regenerated and renewed in the spirit of their minds; in whom the ‘oldman-nature’ is predominant, self-righteous attitude, having a ‘Form of Godliness but denying the power thereof…….’ (2Tim.3:5)
NEW WINE LIFE means the Overflowing Life, Love and Favour of God released by the Holy Spirit, clean and free from every double-standard motives and hypocrisy.This was intended by God even before He designed the DNA of the 1st Adam. So it is very ancient even from ever-lasting, but manifested in the effectual calling of Sons in the Kingdom. The True Gospel of the Kingdom is signified by wine, for its purity, good flavour, and pleasant taste; for its healing effects, in reviving drooping spirits, refreshing weary persons, and comforting distressed minds; more clearly revealed by Christ and his apostles. NEW WINE cannot be contained as it’s meant to overflow from the GRACE RIVER. Hence this wine can’t be poured into Old Wineskins (Bottles) nor can they be handled by natural men- the self-righteous one’s as it doesn’t suit and agree with their old carnal nature. They mostly are performance-oriented as they operate mostly in condemnation, as spiritual appetite is anemic to such.
NEW WINESKINS-BOTTLES are Grace-called-one’s who’ve been Holy Spirit regenerated and renewed, who are made new creatures in Christ; who have new hearts, and new spirits, and new principles of WORD LIGHT (Insights, Revelation and Wisdom for different life-issues).
NEW LIFE, NEW AGAPE LOVE, Christ’s Faith and holiness implanted in them; having Spiritual eyes to DISCERN with, Teachable EARS to HEAR with, Anointed Feet to walk with and to live in Christ, Healing hands to heal the sick or Excelling in Work. They also release life through the Holy Spirit’s anointed Words upon them, affecting their daily conversation. Now to such as these, the love of God is manifested and shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost…. (Rom. 5:5). The Gospel of Christ’s Kingdom is truly received and valued, and these live the overcoming life of Jesus as they understand their inheritance in Christ, these are seated along with Jesus as co-heirs to rule and reign in His Kingdom and establish His Kingdom on earth as the pattern of heaven being the model to imitate. So it’s no more about the GOSPEL OF SELF, no more the Worship of SELF & MY Credentials/ Certificates, MY Title, MY Anointing, MY Gifting, MY Ministry. It’s all about THE SON in whom the FATHER is well-pleased, and that’s why the Spirit of THE SON has been released on us to Become SONS in the KINGDOM. We need to rise up and destroy the Orphan Slavery Spirit, by receiving a Revelation of THE FATHER’S HEART and FATHER’S LOVE. Now let’s do some digging from our text from (John 2: 1-11) and let’s be open to hear to obey the Holy Spirit’s revelation.
(v.1)The 3rd DAY PRINCIPLE:
Numbers, days, seasons, need to be understood from God’s perspective. That’s why God’s calendar isn’t Gregorian but Hebraic, and in Genesis we enter God’s design in (Genesis 1.5b)
SEEING (Proverbs 4:21-23) (John 3: 3) “And the evening and the morning were the 1st day”.
- And be ready against the THIRD DAY, for the 3rd day of the Lord [is the day of the Lord, his day, his dealings and his doings] will come down in the sight of all the people. (Exod. 19:11)
- Come, and let us return unto the Lord. For he has torn, and he will heal us, he has smitten, and he will bind us up
[1st Day Church, we saw The Passover]
[2nd Day Church we saw “The Pentecost”- day of Pentecost] After 2 days will he revive us...
[3rd Day we’re experiencing The Tabernacles, the 3rd dimension- His fullness, the resurrection of the 3rd day anointing, the rising up of the whole corporate man] He will raise us up with resurrection power – life from the 3rd dimension, and we shall live in HIS sight, foresight, and insight... (Hosea 6:1-2)
(Genesis 22:4) And on the THIRD DAY [Resurrection Principle] Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off.
[Abraham and Isaac, being the Sacrificial offering of the 3rd day].
And the earth brought forth grass, and the herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit - releasing Jesus Christ- the corn of wheat, whose seed was in itself after His kind...And God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the THIRD DAY–
Compare (John 12:24 & Genesis 1:12-13)
The THIRD DAY He shall rise again… (Matthew 20:19)
Killed…He shall rise the THIRD DAY… (Mark 9:31)
Be slain, and be raised the THIRD DAY… (Luke 9:22)
Him God raised up the THIRD DAY… (Acts 10:40)
It is but the THIRD hour of the day…Visitation in the 3rd Hour -9:00am, the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit, the Day of Pentecost… (Acts 2:15)
Now the term 3rd day and the 7th day in scripture have much in common. With the principle of (Psalms 90:4) (Hosea 6:2) (2Pet. 3:8), we understand another pattern, and that is we’ve entered the 3rd millennium after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection which is a PERIOD of ENTERING HIS REST. (Genesis 2: 2) “And on the 7th day God ended His work which He had made; and he rested on the 7th day from all His work which He had made. There are 2 phrases to note Ending His work and Resting. In (Heb.Ch. 3: 7- 4:1-11) God’s people are commanded to ENTER God’s Rest, which begins by Hearing His Voice. Therefore this season has to bring us into Greater Yoking (Speaking of God’s government –Isaiah 9:6-7), and Receiving His Rest [Sabbath] from our works (Matt.11.28-30).
THE PATTERNED ORDER OF MARRIAGE
We also see the Pattern of Marriage- Covenantal Joining recorded in the 2nd chapter of the Old Testament- (Genesis 2:18-25), and the end of Old Testament (Malachi 2:10-17) AND New Testament- (John 2:1-11) and the end of the New Testament (Revelation 19-22)
(Incidentally the 1st two and the last 2 chapters in the Bible are the perfect chapters of the Bible). So then if God starts and ends the Old and New Testament with the COVENANT of MARRIAGE, then the time has come for THE CHURCH to DEMONSTRATE to the world, the heart of God in the MARRIAGE COVENANT, and one of the main purposes of Marriage is to release a GODLY OFFSPRING on the earth (Malachi 2:15).
MARRIAGE is JOINING WITH GOD-
(1Cor.6:17, 15-20) (Eph.5: 30-33)] and the overflow of my GOD-JOINING is released to my spouse, children (no matter their ages), relatives, the saints- assembly (ecclesia of God), office-place, market-place, community like the early FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY. Their secret which can become our secret too is found in (Acts4:13 & 17:11, 28-30).
{WE need a revelation that WE ARE THE CHURCH-THE BRIDE OF CHRIST (Eph.1:16-23)}.
This overflow is the ABUNDANT LIFE that Jesus came from heaven to release to you/me, so that we could affect our world (Wherever He placed us for our assignment). Sadly because of “The Church Syndrome” many have chosen to anoint or become like the furniture in a church-building. The Church Syndrome has produced acceptable religious activity released from the Powerless Spirit of Religion. The Fruit of our Labour has produced of its kind, as every seed produces of its kind (Principle of Genesis 1: 12, 29). There’s much revealed to me about Godly Marriage and how to destroy the curse of Poverty through Unspiritual Soul-Ties, but I’ll discuss that in detail in another Release.
(v.3) THERE’S NO MORE WINE
It’s surprising how the wine was over so early, speaking figuratively by the year 325-328 AD exactly 300 years after Jesus died, was buried and resurrected. We need to understand that Wine plays a very important PART in Jewish customary weddings even today. But let’s see what does wine also speak of? Wine speaks of:
a) Affluence and Abundance (John 10:10, 1John 5:11-13)
b) Celebration and Unspeakable Joy (1Peter 1:8, 4:13-14)
c) Overflowing Life of the Supernatural Holy Spirit [Being drunk with the NEW WINE LIFE] (Eph.5: 6-19)
The Church which was commissioned by King Jesus to LISTEN TO HIM and bring HEAVEN on EARTH (Matt.Ch. 5-7), the Church which was supposed to release to The principalities “The Manifold Wisdom of God” (Eph.3:10), the Church which was assigned to make all His enemies bring all the kingdoms of the earth at His footstool (Rev.11: 15)
Now aren’t Mary’s in our churches today crying out for The New Wine?
As servants of God, can we hear the voices of Mary’s crying: They have NO WINE?
Can we humble ourselves and cry for The NEW WINE to enter us and through us enter others!
Shockingly it looks like the Ministry of Begging has replaced Asking & Praying; Membership has replaced Discipleship, Slavery has replaced Sonship, and Fellow-sheep instead of fellowship, and ultimately the Altar-call replaced the Altar-The Cross. These are sample manifestations of the OLD-WINE nature, and that’s why our Modern Churches will not be able to handle the Onslaught of the enemy, until we come out of the MESS-AGE syndrome. Churches are tired and battered of the Earthly Stale Mess-ages being released from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and evil. They’re LOOKING FOR THE HEAVENLY LIFE, which the early disciples in the book of Acts demonstrated, called CHURCH-LIFE (Acts.3: 1-10). Sadly many Preachers/Prophets/Pastors have been DECEIVED INTO MERCHANDIZING their giftings to become popular, recognized and mistakenly have joined the Judas/Gehazi-sacrifice club.
(v.4) The SWORD MUST PIERCE THE HEART
In (Luke 2:25-35) we see Simeon prophesying by the Holy Ghost, a man knowing the hour of his visitation and salvation. He is sent by the Holy Spirit to Hold in His Hands –THE WORD BECOME FLESH & DWELT AMONG US. He prophesies the TWIN blessing about Jesus as a:
-A Light to Lighten the Gentiles (You and me) & -A Glory of Thy Jewish people- Israel.
(v.35) “Yea a SWORD (WORD OF GOD) (Heb.4:12) shall pierce through thy own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts be revealed.
Jesus has to break the CONTROL OF THE EARTHLY MARY. “Woman what have I to do with thee? Mine hour has not yet come”. Before Jesus the heavenly seed could bring forth the INCREASE of HIS GOVERNMENT, there would be no provocation or manipulation from an earthly woman that interfered…….
(v.4b) MY HOUR HAS NOT COME
If Jesus’ hour hadn’t come then why was He in the marriage? May the Holy Spirit show us the urgency of this pattern. The pattern is found in (John 2: 13-17) – The Cleansing of The Temple: (John 2: 16) “Jesus said to the Jews that sold doves. Take these things hence, MAKE NOT MY FATHER’S HOUSE A HOUSE OF MERCHANDIZE”. The Temple was predominantly controlled by the Businessmen who were doing merchandize. Oxen, sheep, doves were used as offerings, and money-changers involved the temple. To study further, we must recognize the:
PURPOSE OF THE TEMPLE(Matt.21:12-17)
(Matt.21:13) “Jesus said to the Jews, It is written. MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED THE HOUSE OF PRAYER; BUT YOU’VE MADE IT A DEN OF THIEVES”.
Now you would say, what’s wrong?
Remember the Lord of the Temple was there (Read John 2:18-21), but Jesus didn’t come for the church's praise & worship ministry, or did the intercession ministry attract His presence. He was focused on establishing the REAL TEMPLE [THE TABERNACLE OF GOD-(Rev.21:3-6) YOU/ME].
Just as the Jews, God’s people Blindly Focussed so much on the EXTERNAL BUILDING of The TEMPLE, today’s Phar-I-See’s and Sad-U-Cee’s haven’t understood The Word of God even after 2000 years. (John.5:39) “Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life and they are they which testify of me” (Mark 12:24) “Jesus answering said to them: Do you not therefore err, because you know not the Scriptures neither the Power of God”
That’s why Jesus spoke about these BLIND LEADERS and their BLIND FOLLOWERS in (Matt.15: 8-14)(V.14)- “Leave them alone; they are blind leaders of the blind, and if the BLIND LEAD the blind, both shall FALL into the ditch”
NOTE: The Question that needs attention today: Is Christ BUILDING HIS CHURCH-TEMPLE which is you/me OR Has Satan’s Gates prevailed against the Church-Temple you/me?
[Exodus 19:16-KJV] And it came to pass on the 3rd day in the morning that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that were in the camp trembled.
[Malachi 3:1-2] speaks of the prophetic messengers God would be sending to prepare the way of His coming, calling those who are deceived to return with all their hearts to the Lord.
He also speaks of 2 outcomes of God’s Glorious Presence.
1. It’s to refine and purify those that fear Him.
2. It will judge the hearts of those who say they serve Him but in reality do not fear Him.
This Word is prophetic speaking to us today. Before God manifested His glory, the people were to sanctify themselves, which included washing their clothes or garments. Before God’s Glory is revealed, it’s difficult to distinguish ones who are really serving Him, from those who merely lip-service Him. Yet such hypocrisy will be exposed for it can’t hide from God’s Glory Light!
(Luke 12:2) “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known”.
(1Peter 4:17) “For the time is come that Judgement MUST BEGIN at the House of GOD (You/Me individually and the Assemblies called Churches/Ministries corporately) and if it first begin at us, what shall the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God?
(1Cor.3: 12-15)(v.13)- “Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, since it shall be Revealed by FIRE; and the FIRE shall TRY every man’s WORK of what sort it is.
MAY GOD’S LIGHT help us to stand the Test of times: (v.31) “For if we would JUDGE ourselves, we should not be JUDGED”. (1Cor.11: 31-32)
(v.5) THE SUBMISSION OF MARY & THE SERVANTS
In (John 1. 13) Everyone in heaven has to be born of the SON’S SEED (Gen.3:15), “not born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of God”. Mary had to bow down her will to her Messiah (Luke 1.47) Son’s TERMS, not her earthly Son.
The EARTHLY had to BOW DOWN to the HEAVENLY. Until OUR EARTHLY DIES by Embracing THE CROSS of JESUS, OUR HEAVENLY DIMENSIONS are hindered and eventually a Process of Spiritual Abortion takes place. There’s a VERY IMPORTANT PATTERN that we need to ENTER IN and that is The WORD that was released from the beginning: “WHATSOEVER HE SAYS UNTO YOU, DO IT”. Please note until Mary resigned from her earthly will, she could not PAVE the Way for anything to happen. Sadly today PREACHERS have chosen to quote/preach this very verse to everybody else, except themselves.
WHAT A VERSE TO HIDE IN, INSTEAD OF HIDING IN THE WORD OF GOD HIMSELF! (John2: 5)
Much TRANSFORMATION would be released from The MOUNT of TRANSFIGURATION GLORY into our lives, if you/me understood what the Father said to Simon Peter (Matt.17:5)(Heb.1:8-9)
The Gospel of The Kingdom is not a Gospel of OUR DEAD WORKS(Heb.6:1b),but a RIVER of CHRIST’S WORKS of LIFE created for EACH of us before the Foundations of the earth….
(Eph. 2:10b). Let’s learn to enter the demonstration of HEAVEN’S WORD’S, by ABIDING in HIS WORD & PRESENCE (Garden of Eden-ADON-AI) (John.15: 7a)
Now there were SERVANTS that Mary knew.
There’s something about Women that they can smell a NEED very fast, and they can somehow take CARE of that NEED too. Mary’s submission to the Spiritual Son Jesus opened the DOOR for the NEED’S BREAKTHROUGH. It’s amazing that our Submission to GOD would also ALIGN servants to assist us in our journey and beyond. These SERVANTS are RARE in this hour, as they are A NAMELESS & FACELESS GENERATION. Their only Objective is to “Be Available for The Master’s Purpose”, and they normally hang around mostly with The Master or His disciples. They’re not attracted to Crowds or Crowd-Pullers. The JOY of their MASTER-JESUS is their satisfaction, and they only MOVE in any situation with The Master’s sanction. These are Genuine Servants who would lay down their lives for anyone in the Master’s Kingdom, as they’re not a respecter of persons, just like their Master. They are secure in the Master’s acceptance, as they’ve broken the spirits of SELF, Agendas or Identities in Service. Ministering to Jesus for them is more important than ministering to people, crowds as they’re Christlike in their service. This is how they’ve learnt to emulate their Master in washing other’s feet all the time, not drawing people to their ministry, not to their prayer-line, not to their anointing or gifting, as they’ve hated every form of the Gehazi or Judas spirit. They pride much in seeing the Kingdom of God being established on earth as it is in heaven, no personal vendettas.
(v.6) 6 STONE WATER-POTS
Jewish Godly customs have been imitated by our Muslim community. The Cleansing Water-washing of external hands/feet to enter ‘The Holy Place’ has down the centuries been followed. Now its amazing that John describes even how much water was in each Earthen pot, the equivalent today is 25-30 gallons each. Isn’t that a LOT OF WATER by today’s standards?
(2Cor.4:6-7) “For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. But we’ve this Treasure in Earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us”.
There are some MAJOR patterns to learn about God’s MOVE in this season, and if we have “ears to hear” we’d be able to understand the season, God’s bringing His people into.
Firstly there were 6 CLAY JARS:
Clay jars refer normally to ones who are very teachable, as they enjoy the Touch of The Potter on their lives.
(Jer. 18:1-6) (v.4)-And the vessel that He made of CLAY was MARRED in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
The Number 6 refers to Man’s Ability/Strength and it seems that not only in the world, but within the church we’re seeing how Human Strength/Abilities can’t handle the Famine that is coming for hearing “The WORD OF GOD” (Amos8:11). Man’s Intellectual Programmes are outdated and not able to bring life into various governmental issues, financial issues, relational issues as well as ministry issues. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Psalms 20:7) Some may trust in chariots and some may trust in horses, but we will trust in the name of Our Lord.
What does this mean for today’s preacher/minister in terms of daily depending on God?
In a time where our Gadgets, computers have produced INSTANT READY-MADE packages of ANY CHRISTIAN material on ANY Subject, it seems that Prayer & Seeking the Holy Spirit isn’t needed, after all there’s a whole MARKET for Christian books (just any author), Anointed Prayer’s or Prayer-cloths or Prayer-Oil MERCHANDISED today easily. Very FEW would need to SEEK the LORD for DAILY MANNA, as we’ve entered the INSTANT AGE of button-pressing. Everybody else’s MESSAGE is important to us, except the Lord’s.
Idolatry of SELF has taken great proportions to MASK itself, so that today we need the Man of God, not the God of Man.
(v.7) COMMISSION TO FILL THE JARS TO THE BRIM WITH WATER
- Water in the Bible is referred to a) The Word of God (John 15:3 & Eph.5:26).
- Water has specific symbolic significance for Christians. Outside of baptism, water may represent cleansing or purity. It was created on the 1st day
(Genesis 1:2, 6-8).
- Water heals, as can be seen from the stories of Naaman the Syrian cured from his leprosy in the waters of Jordan (2 Kings 5:1-14) and the annual miracles at Bethesda in Jerusalem (John 5:1-4). John the Baptist used the waters of the Jordan to cleanse people's sins which reminded typical Jewish custom (Matthew 3:1-6; Mark 1:4-5; Luke 3:2-16; John 1:26-33) - even Christ came to be baptized (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10).
- On the other hand, water is also the habitat of serpents whose heads God crushed (Psalm 73:13-14) and of the dragon (Job 41:25; Psalm 103:26).
- It’s a means to a new spiritual birth into the kingdom of heaven (John 3:5).
- Christ gives living water which is the source of eternal life (John 4:10-14; 7:38) as foretold by the Prophet Jeremiah (2:13).
- He came in water, blood and the Spirit, witnessing to one God (1 John 5:6-8).
- He commands watery baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:38). When speaking about baptism, St Paul states that in water we are buried with our sins in the likeness of Christ's death: We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).
- In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead (Colossians 2:12).
- Moreover, the watery mystery is connected with the Holy Spirit, the Divine Person that accomplishes rebirth (John 3:5-6; Acts 8:39; cf. Acts 1-2).
- From this we can see how the New Testament integrates Old Testament belief. Unlike the Old Testament, the role of water appears to be explicitly connected with the presence of the Holy Spirit. The element has taken on the symbol of spiritual grace. The story of the Flood is a very popular prototype of baptism. Its origins are clearly shown in (1Peter 3:20-21) according to which we are to understand the Flood as baptism and those few who were saved in the ark prefigured the Church of baptized Christians saved by the resurrection of Christ.
- Jesus said, Every one that drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a fountain of water springing up unto eternal life (John 4:13, 14).
- But at the present day there are those who are like the woman with whom the Lord spoke at the well, and who answered, Lord, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw (John 4:15).
If Water refers to The Word of God, then I believe TODAY’S SERVANTS need to understand this NEED. The great truth we can learn is “the SERVANTS KNEW where to get the Water from”. Now I’ve been in a desert and I know its not easy to get that MUCH WATER, as they didn’t have borewell pumps those days to connect to. They had to DRAW OUT from the wells available, revealing to us what Solomon wrote many years ago. (Prov.5: 15-16) (v.15) “Drink waters out of thy own cistern, and running waters out of thy own well”
Do we have time to DAILY DRAW from Our Well of Life-Jesus?
Are we thirsty in this hour for FRESH WATER supply of the Holy Spirit or are we satisfied with the natural Water that makes us THIRSTY all the time. Now not only do we need SPIRITUAL WATER for ourselves, but for also the Nameless, Faceless Generation that God’s commissioned us to, to allow the RIVER of LIVING WATERS pass through us and we become DAMS–storing the Supply of Spiritual Water- The Word of God in and out of season.
The Next question is why does God want them to be FILLED TO THE BRIM?
Simple, just like God wants us to be ALWAYS FILLED with The HOLY SPIRIT to the overflow, He chooses that for His servants too. After all the servants are like their Master in All things. Remember “Freely we have received; we also now freely give just like the Master Jesus”.
(v.8, 10) The Servants DRAW OUT NOW as THE BEST WINE IS KEPT FOR THE END
Now even the disciples were watching the whole scene, but saw the Servants Obedience to Jesus transform into the miracle. Now it was their honour to DRAW OUT and give to the Governor of The Feast. This is the hour, when GOD will honour the SERVANTS GREATLY especially those who’ve worked behind the scenes and without self-promotion therapies.
Oh, how much GOD’S GLORY [through YOU & ME] wants to COVER THE EARTH, as the waters covers the sea. (Hab.2:14) Incidentally 2/3rd’s water covers the earth, and the human body alike. The Governor of the Feast is The Holy Spirit today, and He’s waiting on each of us to FILL OUR PART at The Great Wedding. The world is longing to see THE GLORY of THE CHURCH, and CREATION itself is awaiting the Adoption of the Sons of God for this time.
God’s GLORY is God’s FULLNESS operating in the JEW and THE GENTILE, after all Jesus prayed for this in (John Ch.17).
Would we join him in His UNFULFILLED DESIRE or would we join the 3 Fleshly Disciples who went to SLEEP; when Jesus agonizingly asked them to Pray.
The SLEEPING BEAUTY –The Church has to be AWAKENED from the Spirit of Apathy, Slumber and Prayerlessness into being a VIOLENT FORCE of Servants in the Master’s Use, as the servants take the Kingdom by force (Matt.11:12). The Orphan Spirit has to be demolished and decrees need to be prophesied over The SONS OF THE KINGDOM.
A WINE-MAKING PRINCIPLE:There are 3 LARGE VESSELS in the Wine-Making Room all ready.
So the 1st vessel is called “Loose your Identity” Vessel
Here we put the grapes, the spices, the ingredients, sugar. Then the POUNDING PROCESS starts. It’s here that GREATER the Pounding, GREATER the chances for the “I” Syndrome to be destroyed/ not resurrected again in our lives. Most believers can’t handle any kind of pressure, as they’ve not been DISCIPLED from the baby-Christians they decided to be 30 years ago.
Sadly most ministers have had a HAY-DAY at the cost of these 30 year old babies in their ministry, since they’ve been supporting the minister for all these years, but sadly also what these ministers have sown they will also reap. Most servants of God prefer to be relied on for their prayer, fasting etc., so that they can thrive on the member’s ignorance. Baby Christians are pampered and hence immature pertaining to spiritual things. These are manifestations of Curses, as God didn’t intend lone-rangers in ministry. God wanted BODY-BUILDING in His Church, as HE is THE MASTER-BUILDER.
Well the Laodecian spirit’s days are over and we’ll surely reap our labour of the flesh- DEAD WORKS of wood, hay and stubble.
Many Christians want to die for Jesus today, but ask them if they could LIVE FOR HIM!
The 2nd vessel is called “Carried-Over” Vessel
Here we see that in spite of all the Pounding, a Judas slipped through using His Disciples Identity Card. Judas was a disciple of The Curse, who followed Jesus for the Food, Clothing, Shelter and most importantly Money. He was the treasurer of the money-gifts released through some of the women of Galilee, especially the Bethany sisters- Mary and Martha. (Luke 8:2-3) Remember the argument on Giving money to the poor by Judas (Matt.26:6-16)
So UNDEALT SIN will always BRING ONE’S HEART to the fore-front.
Judas’ “Love for Money” led him to ultimately BETRAY HIS MASTER.
Paul warns Timothy about this subtle passion in (1Tim.6.5-12) and in fact encourages him to FLEE this like other issues mentioned. Servants of True Christlike Character could be counted on your hands in this hour, as the Gospel of Grace has been cheapened by the lusts thereof.
UNDEALT GENERATIONAL ISSUES in God’s Servants in Old Testament
LYING: Abraham the father, imparted it to Isaac his son
DECEPTION: Isaac the father, imparted to his son Jacob
ANGER: Moses carried this Egyptian spirit, many years later Elisha demonstrates it.
SEXUAL LUST: Judge Samson’s spirit was transferred to Rehab, David, Solomon and Absalom
FEAR OF MAN/WOMAN was King Saul’s issue, manifested later in Elijah.
MANIPULATION imparted by King Saul to son Jonathan/Mother Jezebel to Ahab/ Athaliah. Pharaoh’s attempt on Moses’ life, King Herod’s attempt on Jesus’ life, Queen Herodias having John the Baptist’s head
Old Testament Baggage: Judas & Ananias/Sapphira were Love for money like Old Testament Balaam & Gehazi
Now all the above faced the repercussions of their Undealt Issues. Do you think your Undealt issue wouldn’t be dealt with?
New Testament: SEED OF HEAVEN (Gen.1:13, 29b)
Love, Joy, Peace (INTERNAL)
Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, (RELATIONAL)
Faith, Meekness, Temperance (EXTERNAL)
Heavenly Father- Son Jesus Christ- Disciples- Church (Bride)/ Kingdom of Sons
Incidentally JESUS the CHRIST became OUR SCAPEGOAT for sin/consequences of sin, becoming The LAMB OF GOD who takes away the sins of the world.
The 3rd VESSEL is the STORAGE VESSEL
Very few in this hour want to be preserved “in Loosing their life for King Jesus and His Kingdom rule”, as ambition and enticing kingdoms of the enemy have LURED many to be diverted from their Destiny. Adam’s prefer to still HIDE behind the PULPIT, Ministry of their Ambitious TV programmes of Dead Works, of course acceptable by the Christendom of the church whereas other Adam’s have chosen to become the Ahab’s of their Jezebel wives, or other seductions.
Can Jesus or Paul or the early Church ENJOY to see OUR LABOUR TODAY?
Is this why they gave their ALLEGIANCE to a Heavenly King and His Heavenly Kingdom?
Now Joseph was a DREAMER, and since he was young OPENED HIS MOUTH pre-maturely to his brothers/father causing Jealousy, Envy, Hatred, and Rejection amongst His own. Through a whole series of events God orchestrated, Joseph landed in Potiphar’s house. Strangely this time not his own family, but his own Master’s wife’s seductive plan on Joseph fails, but lands Joseph in a PIT called PRISON, for His integrity. Modern Joseph’s need to imitate this, if they’re going to pass the test to be MEN OF CHARACTER. I understand that Prison Encounters bring Much out of some, for here we see Joseph no more a Dreamer, but has through the Tests of Life become a Dream-Reader. This is called God’s Partial Favour in Learning from the School of Hard Knocks in Life. May The Holy Spirit train each of us to be teachable in this school.
Now Joseph had company in prison: Amazingly 2 chiefs serving in Pharaoh’s palace: The Chief Baker and The Chief Butler. Both had dreams, and both had their dreams interpreted by Joseph-The DREAM READER. But their dreams weren’t affective in bringing Joseph out of prison, no matter how hard he tried.
Waiting and Learning Patience with Long-Suffering is Great Godly Gain, as these virtues have to be added to our Faith. When you’re alone and that too in a Prison-cell like Joseph, you only are to await God’s Loving Kindness to bring you out. Just like Gold is brought through the fiery furnace, God’s trophy-Joseph was brought forth. This time it was Pharaoh’s turn to dream, and God allows the Chief Butler to remember Joseph and his own dream interpretation. Did God forget Joseph or was Joseph being TRAINED IN THE MASTER’S SERVICE! Now if Joseph was helped earlier by either of the 2 chiefs, probably there would have been a temporal glory manifested, but when GOD has got you/me in the palm of His hands, He wants to EXHIBIT HIS TROPHIES to the entire world, not merely the Christian world (which many are hung-up on).
Some things that we need to learn from Joseph are:
1. Joseph’s private life was Full of Integrity, making me envy His God-Consciousness. (39:8-10)
2. Potiphar prospered because of Joseph, and the Master understood this (39:2-4).
3. Joseph’s work was excellent, as he did what others did (39:21-22)
4. Interpretation of dreams of others are linked also with levels of promotion.
5. In the presence of the king, Joseph never spoke about his problem. He only heard and interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. He wasn’t ENVIOUS of the POSITION-In-CHARGE (41:33-36).
6. When God’s FAVOUR arises on SERVANTS, no labour could match it. In other words:
“1 DAY OF GOD’S FAVOUR IS MUCH GREATER THAN 50-100 YEARS OF OUR LABOUR”.
7. Joseph’s MOUTH BLESSED not only The Cup-Bearer, not only the Pharaoh, not only the Egyptians, not only His Brothers and Father, but also the WHOLE WORLD. (41: 46-57)
So if you think you’ve been badly treated by your Family, Relatives, Employer, Colleagues, Church Pastors, Church brethren, you’re not the ONLY ONE. Look at Joseph who went through perhaps worser than you/me but let’s learn from His Words: “Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brethren. And he wept aloud; And the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said to his brethren, I am Joseph; does my father yet live? And his brethren couldn’t answer him, for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said: I am Joseph your brother whom you sold in Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves that you sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life. So now it wasn’t you that sent me hither but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler through the land of Egypt. (Gen.45: 1-5, 7-8)
What does Forgiveness do?
1. Forgiveness takes responsibility for other’s sins. (Gen.45: 7-8)
2. Forgiveness brings people out of Egypt into their Canaan land. (Gen.45: 24-25)
