“You can’t put new wine in old skins.” This is something Jesus spoke to his disciples.  The power of the Holy Spirit cannot be contained in your body if you are a sinner who has not accepted Jesus as your saviour. 

Jesus spoke this in Mark 2:22 KJV.

22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

Mark 2:22 KJV

The truth is that man’s spirit must have a new birth.  This is what Jesus told Nicodemus when he asked what he must do to enter heaven. 

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:3 KJV

And Nicodemus thought that this was impossible, but Jesus wasn’t talking about physically being reborn.  That WOULD be impossible.  See God is a spirit.  Jesus was talking about spiritual things not physical things. 

• You can not be born again by quitting all your bad habits. 
• Born again doesn’t mean perfect.  Christians aren’t perfect people, but they have been purchased.  

Today I want to look at what it takes to have the power of God operate in your life.  If you are looking for God to come into your life and work a miracle for you, then this is the sermon for you.  God has done everything He can do for you up to this point.  Now it is up to you to take a step towards Him.  In this post, we will talk about how you can do just that.

The Temple in the Old Testament

Back in the times before Jesus died on the cross for our sins, the only way that man could have a relationship with Him was through the high priest.  This was one man that God elected to come and offer sin offerings for the remission of sins.  

In other words, this one guy would come to God and say, “Hey we all sinned but remember that you are going to send Jesus down to pay for sin soon so don’t judge us yet.”

God’s spirit lived in the Holy of Holies inside the temple, and there was an extremely large (and thick) veil that would cover and separate the area between where God was and where man could be. 

This was a representation of the separation that we had from God because of sin. 

We couldn’t communicate with God directly. 

Our Body’s Are God’s Temple

But when Jesus died on the cross, He made a way for God to live not in a building but inside of us.  When we become saved, we – who were already dead spiritually because of sin – become alive unto God. 

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 KJV

Jesus comes to make His home inside our hearts and brings us back to life.  We then become a son / daughter of God with all the rights and privileges of a son.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 8:16-17 KJV

Paul puts it this way in 1 Corinthians.

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV

You see.  We are not our own.  We have a responsibility to live the way that God wants us to live, but the crazy thing is that we WANT to live that way.  Oh sure our flesh doesn’t want to, and when you first get saved, neither does your soul.  

But your spirit – the true you – wants to follow God because it is one with God. 

I am the vine

Jesus put it this way. 

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:5 KJV

You wouldn’t say that one branch is separate from the tree.  If you have a branch connected to the tree, you will say it is part of the tree.  

The same occurs with God.  When you become a Christian, you are a branch on the vine, but before you get too puffed up remember, you can’t do anything without God.  

God is the one that brings you life, just like the vine brings life to the branches. 

New Wine?

When you get born again, you receive the spirit of God on the inside of you.  This is the new wine that Jesus was talking about.  Paul says,

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Ephesians 5:18-19 KJV

He is drawing a comparison between wine and the Spirit of God.  Why? Because where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom and peace and joy.  The outward signs of being filled with the Holy Spirit can at times look like being drunk on actual wine.  

The next verse here gives part of how we achieve this effect. By speaking in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord, we can stir up the spirit of God on the inside of us to joy in the Lord.

It all starts with being Born Again

But see all of this starts with being born again.  It all starts with a decision of no return to live for God.  This is the easiest decision you will ever make, and it starts with believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. 

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:13 KJV

We are the ones that make salvation so complicated. All you have to do is call upon the name of the Lord to become a christian. 

Here is an example prayer that you can pray.

Jesus I believe that you are the Son of God.  I believe that you came to earth to take my place in the punishment of my sins.  I accept the free gift of salvation that you offer me.  Thank you for dying on the cross and rising again three days later.  

In Jesus Name Amen. 

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