JAN-MARCH 2019
TOFORGIVEISTOLOVE+
God's invitation to a
place beyond yourself
NEWWINEFORTHENEWYEAR + a calling back to H is First L ove
OVERCOMING'THAT' + SOCIALMEDIACOMPARISON comparing your life through social media
+
EPOCH
M OM ENTS
RELEASE DESTINY
Happy New Year! I am so excit ed for what await s you t his year. It brings m e great joy t o int roduce t he launching of EH M ?s Po i n t o f H o p e e-m agazine! Point of Hope is int ended t o help you excel in your charact er (int egrit y, aut hent icit y); t o em power you t o achieve (operat e in your ident it y), as well as, t o advance (persevere forward) in what God has called you t o do. My heart is for you becom e all t hat God has creat ed you t o be. Don?t allow fear and int im idat ion t o hold you back. Just as God has challenged EHM t o launch Point of Hope, He is going t o challenge you t o conquer new endeavors. Each endeavor is t o reveal a great er facet of God?s charact er t o you, as well as, t o help you develop, grow and m at ure in your fait h. May t hese art icles ignit e a fire wit hin you and spur you on t o fulfill your m ission. Happy Reading! In Him , Rev. Melissa Pearce
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Point of Hope is published by Enduring Hope Ministries, a non-profit organization, Fort Myers, FL Š USA 2014 Enduring Hope Ministries, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited by federal law. Point of Hope has no subscription price and is supported through the contributions of our supporters. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible (in countries where this applies) For more information: please call (239) 362-1050 or visit www.enduringhopeministries.com
JAN-MARCH 2019
CONTENTS 04 EPOCH MOMENTS RELEASING DESTINY Many of you have been in a difficult season, some longer than others, warring for your destinies.
16
OVERCOMING SOCIAL MEDIA COMPARISON Have you ever found yourself scrolling through Social Media , comparing your life to others?
TO FORGIVE IS TO LOVE When struggling to forgive, could it be that the Father is inviting you into a place beyond yourself?
08
NEW WINE FOR THE NEW YEAR God is calling us back to His First Love. His Love will produce the New Wine in the New Year!
24 Magazine Layout & Designs created by: L ogicWebDesigns.com | contact@logicwebdesigns.com Point of Hope is a publication dedicated to encouraging and equipping people of all ages with the Word of God. Our Goal is to provide readers with life applicable articles that will edify and strengthen their personal walks.
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It?s the new year, a time when one eval uates the past year and decides to make some changes for the future. our hearts are fil l ed with the endl ess possibil ities that await us.
t
h e n ew year doesn ?t ju st sign ify a tim e on th e Gr egor ian cal en dar , bu t it al so m ar k s th e r el ease of God?s epoch m om en ts with in ou r l ives to pr opel u s to ou r destin y. Th ese epoch m om en ts ar e k air os th at God h as deem ed. Kair os is God?s appoin ted tim in g to be fu l fil l ed by you an d with H im . W h at can we expect with th e n ew year befor e u s? I h ear d God say, ?20 19 is going to be a year of epoch m om ents that will r elease destiny.? W ow!
As we r ead th e W or d, we see differ en t epoch m om en ts th at for ever m ar k ed an d im pacted h istor y.
W e ar e on th e ver ge of con ver gen ce an d th ose wh o h ave been waitin g for th eir destin ies to com e to fr u ition wil l be bir th ed. Th e assign m en ts u n fol din g wil l im pact in dividu al s, com m u n ities, an d n ation s. H istor y wil l be r ewr itten , an d l ives wil l be won for th e Kin gdom of God.
I k n ow m an y of you h ave been in a difficu l t season , som e l on ger th an oth er s, war r in g for you r destin ies. You h ave en du r ed tr ial after tr ial , bu t God n eeded you to wal k th is path , so th at wh en th e k air os m om en t occu r r ed with in you r l ife, you r ch ar acter wou l d be abl e to u ph ol d wh at God is r el easin g with in
?Fr om that tim e Jesus began to pr each and say, ?Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand?? (NKJV-M atth ew 4:17). It was th e k air os m om en t in Jesu s? l ife th at wou l d u l tim atel y affect an d in fect ear th with th e k in gdom of God. Lives wou l d be u l tim atel y ch an ged.
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you r l ife. You r destin y, th e pr om ise God h as given to you , n eeded to be bir th ed in H is tim in g. H e k n ows you better th an you k n ow you r sel f an d wh at H e h as given you to bir th ; H e does n ot wan t you to aban don n or abor t th e m ission . You r destin y is cr itical to God?s k in gdom pl an . SE A SO N O F T R A N SI T I O N M an y h ave been in a season of tr an sition . Th e tr an sition is tak in g you fr om wh at was to wh at is! It?s th e m ar k of an en din g an d a n ew begin n in g. Th is n ew begin n in g wil l be an epoch m om en t with in you r l ife. Th e epoch m om en t wil l cau se an epoch m ovem en t ign itin g vision , bir th in g an d in cr ease of h ol y fir e to in vade th e ear th . ?The Revelation of Jesus Chr ist, which God gave H im to show H is ser vants? things which m ust shor tly take place. And H e sent and signified it by H is angel to H is ser vant John? (NKJV-Revel ation 1:1). Th e vision God is r el easin g is to give you a gr eater in sigh t an d r evel ation of H im sel f. Ou r destin ies h in ge u pon k n owin g H e is th e Au th or an d Fin ish er. H e is Al m igh ty over al l cr eation . H e desir es for u s to en gage with H im fr om th is per spective. Ou r destin ies wil l con tain assign m en ts an d som e of th ose wil l appear to be difficu l t, dau n tin g, an d even im possibl e. Bu t, with ou r per spective in th e r igh t pl ace, on Jesu s, th e Au th or an d Fin ish er , we wil l r em ain con fiden t of H is com pl etion of th ose assign m en ts with in ou r l ives.
2019 Jan-March Point Of Hope Magazine EnduringHopeMinistries.com
YOUR DESTINYIS CRITICALTO GOD?S KINGDOM PLAN.
T IM E T O BIRT H ??Shall I br ing to the tim e of bir th, and not cause deliver y??says the Lor d. ?Shall I who cause deliver y shut up the wom b??? says your God? (NKJV-Isaiah 66:9). God desir es to r estor e h ope in to h ear ts. M an y h ave been feel in g for sak en an d for gotten by God. H e h ad given you pr om ises bu t so m u ch tim e h as passed th at you star ted to bel ieve th e l ies of th e en em y. You r pr om ises n eeded to be con ceal ed u n til th is tim e or dain ed by God. W h at you ar e abou t to give bir th to wil l tak e you on th e gr eatest adven tu r e. It wil l al so cau se you to be u tter l y depen den t u pon God. Th e pr ovision of you r destin y, you r pr om ise, wil l be u ph el d by God an d H im al on e. F I R E O F I N V A SI O N ?I have been cr ucified with Chr ist; it is no longer I who live, but Chr ist lives in m e; and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by faith in the Son of God? (NKJV -Gal atian s 2:20). Th e r esu l t of God?s k air os m om en t with in you r l ife wil l r el ease a h ol y fir e, sweepin g acr oss fam il ies, com m u n ities, r egion s, an d n ation s. God is r aisin g u p an ar m y of l over s wh o wil l be car r ier s of H is Pr esen ce. Th is h ol y fir e can n ot be obtain ed with ou t goin g th r ou gh th e fir e you r sel f. It wil l be th ose m om en ts in l ife, you r ch oice to r em ain steadfast in H im , th at wil l displ ay th e ar om a of Ch r ist to th ose ar ou n d you . 2019 wil l be a year fil l ed with epoch m om en ts r el easin g each in to you r destin ies. It wil l be a year th at wil l r evol u tion ize l ives for ever for th e k in gdom of God. You r destin y awaits you ; en joy th e jou r n ey with God. In H im , Rev. M el issa Pear ce
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Forgiveness means freedom. It means l ettinggoof hateand feel inggoodagain. BY: ColetteWhite
Gr owin g u p, I r ead th is l am in ated gem of a qu ote at l east th r ee or fou r tim es a day, depen din g on h ow often I u sed th at h al l owed bath r oom . M y gen iu s-m oth er h ad posted var iou s in spir ation al m axim s for ou r fam il y as we wer e h el d captive by th e won der s of m oder n pl u m bin g. For given ess th at we exten d to th ose wh o h ave h u r t u s is ju st th at ? it is a m agn ificen t gift given by God to h el p u s br eak ou t of ou r h ate an d offen ses, to u n cl og ou r h ear ts of bitter n ess, an d to cl ear a path for h eal in g th at on l y H e can br in g. H owever , as I con tin u e to wal k with th e Lor d, I?m r eal izin g th at th is defin ition is ju st a sm al l par t of th e gr eater pictu r e. You see, I fel t l ik e I was h ittin g a wal l . I h ad spen t cou n tl ess h ou r s an d wh at seem ed l ik e m an y r er u n s of wal k in g th r ou gh th e pr ocess of for given ess. I h ad been h u r t. Deepl y. In for givin g, I h ad cl ear l y n am ed th e m om en t an d r etol d th e stor y to God, givin g voice to th e wou n ds an d sear in g pain . Th en I for gave th em , ou t l ou d, an d l et go of an y pl an s of r even ge. Fin al l y, I in vited God to br in g th e h eal in g th at on l y H e can br in g in th ese m om en ts. An d I fel t r el ease. I fel t good again . I fel t h eal ed. Bu t th en , it wou l d star t u p again .
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En d l ess L oop i n g Th e l oopin g con ver sation s in m y h ead, wh er e I?d r etel l th e stor y. To n o on e in par ticu l ar. To m ysel f. To th e accu ser *. I?d ju stify m y cu r r en t r el ation al distan ce an d l eech sym path y. Fr om n o on e in par ticu l ar. Fr om m ysel f. Fr om th e accu ser. By th e tim e I r eal ized it, m y l ip was sn eer ed off to on e side an d bitter n ess was h an gin g ou t in th e back of m y th r oat. No! Not again ! I th ou gh t I?d been th r ou gh th is. I th ou gh t I?d for given th em . So back to th e r er u n of th e for given ess pr ocess I?d go. Th en in a fu r th er effor t to go deeper in for givin g, I?d even pu l l m y sh ou l der s back l on g en ou gh to pr ay for th em . To r eal l y pr ay for th em l ik e I h oped som eon e wou l d pr ay for m e. I?d speak bl essin gs over th em . I?d beg for h eaven to fal l down on th em . I?d m ak e decl ar ation s of m er cy an d favor over th em . I?d sen d gifts. An d I wou l d step in to a l evel of peace. Bu t soon er or l ater th e r er u n s wou l d h ave to r er u n . Even tu al l y, I adm itted to m ysel f th at al l th is wor k I was doin g, tr yin g to for give in isol ation , was n ot br in gin g abou t th e tr an sfor m ation I h oped for. I won der ed if a face-to-face m om en t with th e per son wh o h ad h u r t m e wou l d h el p.
2019 Jan-March Point Of Hope Magazine EnduringHopeMinistries.com
L eav e Ou r Gi f t At Th e Al t ar
good deposits.
As I began to th in k m or e al on g th ese l in es, I r ecal l ed r eadin g th e passage in M atth ew 5 wh er e Jesu s tel l s u s to l eave ou r gift at th e al tar an d to go an d r econ cil e an y offen ded r el ation sh ip. I h ad tak en Accou n tin g in h igh sch ool , so I l ik ed th e idea of ?r econ cil in g.? Th er e was som eth in g l ogical l y satisfyin g abou t goin g back an d for th between th e cash r eceipts an d debits jou r n al s to bal an ce ou t th e differ en ce. I war m ed to th e idea of goin g back an d for th with th is per son over th e pain fu l m em or y, an d en su r in g th at th ey u n der stood al l th eir with dr awal s, an d al l m y
Th en ju st to be su r e, I open ed m y Bibl e to th at ver y passage to fu r th er m editate on wh at th is en cou n ter cou l d be l ik e. Im agin e m y su r pr ise wh en I r ead th e fol l owin g:
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?Ther efor e, if you ar e offer ing your gift at the altar and ther e r em em ber that your br other or sister has som ething against you, leave your gift ther e in fr ont of the altar . Fir st go and be r econciled to them ; then com e and offer your gift.? ? (NIV-M atth ew 5:23-24) ? W ait a m in u te ? if th ey h ave som eth in g
again st m e? As in , th is is n ot abou t m e bein g h u r t, bu t abou t som eon e el se bein g offen ded by m e? I back ed u p a few ver ses for con text. Th e pr ecedin g scr iptu r es deal with an ger an d h ow it m ak es u s su bject to ju dgm en t (v. 21-22). Din g! Din g! Din g! Th e l igh t wen t on for m e. H er e?s m y su bsequ en t par aph r ase of th at scr iptu r e: ?Ther efor e, if you ar e offer ing your gift at the altar , and ther e r em em ber that som eone is angr y at you, fir st go and be r econciled to them so that that per son would not be subject to judgm ent.? Th is is n ot abou t m e cal l in g in debts, gettin g fr ee, feel in g better abou t m ysel f an d cl ear in g u p m y r el ation sh ip with th e Lor d. Th is is a cal l to act fr om a position of Love on beh al f of m y br oth er or sister. If th ey ar e viol en tl y an gr y with m e, am I com pel l ed by Love to n ot wan t th em to fal l u n der ju dgm en t, or am I com pel l ed by sel f-pr eser vation to stay pu t? In stead of sittin g back an d defen din g m y position , wou l d I dr op ever yth in g an d go in pu r su it of th em becau se I am m or e con cer n ed abou t th eir r el ation sh ip with th e Lor d? M e, M e M e I r eal ized th at I h ad m ade th e act of for given ess sol el y abou t my own sel f-cen ter ed m otives. M e feel in g better. M e feel in g fr ee. W ith ou t k n owin g it, I cou l d h ave com pl etel y m issed ou t on th e deeper en cou n ter th at God was in vitin g m e in to. Jesu s teach es u s a way to act ou t tr u e
for given ess, in th at wh en we en cou n ter ou r en em ies, we ar e to pr ay for th em . An d Love th em . Becau se th is is wh at wil l m ak e u s l ook ju st l ik e ou r Fath er ; th is wil l be th e pr oof th at we ar e l ivin g ou t of ou r tr u e iden tity as son s an d dau gh ter s of God (M atth ew 5:44-45). If we ar e n ot car efu l , we wil l tak e th e m essage of th e gospel an d sim pl y u se it as an oth er sel f-h el p tool . W e h ave been wel com ed in to an extr avagan t stor y of r adical for given ess an d Love, of a God th at spar ed n oth in g, even H is own son , to r edeem H is br ok en an d dyin g ch il dr en . If H e is th at desper ate to r estor e r el ation sh ip with u s, h ow m u ch m or e sh ou l d we be desper ate for th at in ou r br oth er s an d sister s? Even if th ey h ave h u r t u s. So, th e n ext tim e you fin d you r sel f str u ggl in g to for give, cou l d it be th at th e Fath er is in vitin g you in to a pl ace beyon d you r sel f? Of l ear n in g to tr u l y Love th ose th at wou l d h ate an d m ock an d r evil e you ? I ch al l en ge you to ask God to sh ow you wh at Love l ook s l ik e, fr om H is per spective. W h o k n ows, m aybe l ivin g fr om an iden tity of Love wil l be th e k ey you ?ve been l ook in g for to wal k in tr u e for given ess.
Gr owin g with you , ~Col ette W h ite
*?the Accuser ? is another nam e for and a descr iption of Satan (see Revelation 12:10 ) .
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H ave you ever fou n d you r sel f scr ol l in g th r ou gh Facebook or In stagr am th in k in g, I wish I h ad 'that', l ook ed l ik e 'that' or cou l d do 'that'? In a wor l d th at?s so dr iven by social m edia, th e h igh l igh t r eel fr om oth er s can l ook so tem ptin g an d desir abl e for ou r own l ives. Th e r eal ity is th er e?s u su al l y a fil ter we an d oth er s tr y to l ive beh in d. W h en th e m ask of th e fil ter is r em oved, we begin to u n cover a r aw, r eal tr u th . Not ever yth in g is per fect. Th er e ar e fl aws an d br ok en n ess; bu t yet wh y do we stil l fal l in to com par ison ? Th e wor l d scr eam s at u s differ en t m essages? th at we ar e to l ook on e way,act a cer tain way an d do am azin g th in gs. If we don ?t, it?s as if ou r l ives ar en ?t fu l fil l ed, th at we h aven ?t l ived ou r l ives to th e fu l l est. W e?r e actu al l y sear ch in g for som eth in g to fil l th e void? th e void in side ou r sou l s th at m ak es u s feel affir m ed, val u ed, h ear d an d l oved. Th e void th at wil l al ways an d for ever r em ain h ol l ow u n l ess it?s fil l ed by a r el ation sh ip with Jesu s.
2019 Jan-March Point Of Hope Magazine EnduringHopeMinistries.com
Continued........
Com p ar i n g Can L ead To St r u ggl e W h en you th in k abou t it, com par ison al ways l eads to a path of r esen tm en t of God?s goodn ess in oth er s?l ives. Al l al on g, we ar e ign or in g h is bl essin gs in ou r own l ives. Com par ison was a str u ggl e for Jesu s? discipl es too. In Joh n 21, Peter str u ggl ed with com par in g h im sel f to Joh n . Joh n was k n own as th e discipl e wh om Jesu s l oved.An d after Peter den ied Jesu s th r ee tim es, h e pr obabl y fel t l ik e h e h ad a l ot to l ive u p to. Regar dl ess, Jesu s said ?Fol l ow m e? to Peter. Peter h esitated an d said bu t wait Jesu s... wh at abou t Joh n ? Peter in stan tl y com par es h is l ife with Joh n ?s, wh en al l al on g Jesu s h ad a specific path for Peter an d H e said, ?Fol l ow m e.?Peter was m easu r in g h is wor th , val u e, an d m ission to Joh n ?s. H e cou l dn ?t fath om th at h is m ission was al so equ al l y im por tan t.H ow often do we do th at? H ow often do we com par e ou r path of l ife to som eon e el se?s wh en al l al on g God h as a specific path for u s? Let?s get to th e r oot of it. An u n der l yin g r oot is displ ayed in a stor y fr om th e Ol d
Testam en t. It?s a stor y abou t Sau l an d David fr om 1 Sam u el . Sau l was disobedien t to th e Lor d in var iou s ways an d l ost th e th r on e as Kin g. David was a m an after God?s own h ear t an d was an oin ted as Kin g bu t didn ?t tak e th e th r on e r igh t away. A h ar m fu l spir it en ter ed in to Sau l after h is disobedien ce. Th e on l y way to sooth e h is tor m en ted spir it was to pl ay m u sical in str u m en ts to h is sou l , an d David was ch osen to pl ay th e l yr e in h is pr esen ce. David did n o wr on g to Sau l , an d at fir st David fou n d favor in Sau l ?s eyes. H owever ,wh en Sau l saw David defeat Gol iath an d h ear d th e wom en of Isr ael th at cam e to gr eet h im sin gin g, dan cin g, an d cel ebr atin g sayin g: ?Saul has str uck down his thousands and David his ten thousands? (ESV-1 Sam u el 18:7b), h e becam e jeal ou s. It even goes on to say th at ?Saul eyed David fr om that day on? (ESV-1 Sam u el 18:9). Sau l ?s jeal ou sy l ed h im to an ger again st David. H owever ,if we go back an d l ook at David?s r ecor d with Sau l again , h e did n oth in g to h ar m Sau l .
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"YOU FORM ED OUR I N W ARD PARTS; YOU KN I TTED M E TOGETH ER I N M Y M OTH ER? S W OM B. I PRAI SE YOU FOR
I
AM FEARFULLY AN D
W ON DERFULLY M ADE?
-Psal m 139:13-14).
L et 's N ot Pl ay 'God '
th at?s differ en t th an an yon e el se.
Th e m or e we com par e ou r l ives to oth er s, jeal ou sy an d an ger m an ifest deep in ou r h ear ts? even if th at per son didn ?t do an yth in g again st u s!
You m ay be th in k in g ok ay bu t h ow does th is l ook pr actical l y wh en I?m facin g com par ison as I?m scr ol l in g th r ou gh social m edia ever y day?
Th en we pl ay God, an d it?s as if we?r e sayin g: ?God, the life you?ve given m e isn?t actually good enough; I know what?s best and I want what they have.?
Th r ee ways th at I?ve fou n d m ost ben eficial ar e:
God is th e on e wh o k n ows th e pl an s for ou r l ives an d h e is th e on e th at k n ows ou r in m ost bein g. Psal m s says ?you for m ed our inwar d par ts; you knitted m e together in m y m other ?s wom b. I pr aise you for I am fear fully and wonder fully m ade? (ESV-Psal m 139:13-14). W e sh ou l d pr aise h im an d r em em ber th at h e h as cr eated u s with a u n iqu e pu r pose
2019 Jan-March Point Of Hope Magazine EnduringHopeMinistries.com
1
Ch oose n ot t o l ook at soci al m ed i a f i r st t h i n g i n t h e m or n i n g.
W h en you l ook at social m edia r igh t away, th at?s wh at star ts you r day. It can affect you r m ood, attitu de an d ou tl ook on th e day befor e you . In stead, m ak e it a pr ior ity to pr ay for at l east th r ee specific peopl e befor e gettin g ou t of bed.
St ay of f soci al m ed i a af t er 7 pm .
Al so, I?m su r e if th e per son k n ew you wer e com par in g th eir l ife to you r s, th ey?d wan t you in th e h eal th iest state, too.
Tr y it ou t! It m igh t sou n d cr azy at fir st bu t wh en you give you r sel f a cu r few for ch eck in g social m edia, it gives you fr eedom to u se you r tim e wisel y in oth er ben eficial ways.
In stead, fol l ow peopl e you k n ow you won ?t gr avitate to com par e you r l ife to.
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In stead, r ead a devotion al or Bibl e scr iptu r e pl an befor e goin g to sl eep.
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Un f ol l ow p eop l e w h o y ou t en d t o com p ar e y ou r l i f e t o.
Th is on e's tr ick y,I absol u tel y h ate u n fol l owin g peopl e for th e fear th at it wil l u pset th em . Bu t in r eal ity,wh at?s h u r tin g an d u psettin g you r sou l an d h ear t m atter s m or e.
H opefu l l y with th ese pr actical tips an d bibl ical tr u th s we can over com e th is war ? th e war of social m edia com par ison . W e can u se godl y per spectives an d pr actical appl ication s so th at ou r l ives u l tim atel y r efl ect Ch r ist. Fr om th at we can wal k in th e pu r pose God h as for ou r own l ives an d l ive n ot in com par ison bu t in stead cel ebr ation of oth er s.
:) ~N ettie Clawson
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I heard the phrase, New Wine For The New Year, as I was asking for an article title to kick off the new year for Point of Hope magazine. In m y k itch en with m y cel l ph on e beside m e pl ayin g m y m or n in g wor sh ip m u sic, I th en r an dom l y h ear d th e son g N ew W ine star t pl ayin g. Yes, God was con fir m in g wh at H e wan ted to say. I sat l isten in g to th e l yr ics r ecal l in g th is: ?I n the cr ushing, in the pr essing, you ar e m aking new wine. I n the soil, I now sur r ender , you ar e br eaking new gr ound. So, I yield to you and to your car eful hand. W hen I tr ust you, I don?t need to under stand. M ake m e a vessel. M ake m e an offer ing. M ake m e whatever you want m e to be. I cam e her e with nothing, but all you have given m e. Jesus, br ing new wine out of m e.? (New W in e by H il l son g) I adm it, it?s n ot th e en cou r agem en t I expected for th e n ew year. W h o wan ts to be cr u sh ed an d pr essed? As I con tin u ed to l isten to th e son g, I saw th e su r r en der ed h ear t of a ser van t of God ask in g to be a vessel , an
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offer in g to th e Lor d. Th er e is on l y on e way for win e to be r el eased fr om th e gr apes? th r ou gh cr u sh in g an d pr essin g. If you ?ve been in th e win epr ess, bein g squ eezed an d cr u sh ed, you ar e in th e pl ace th at God h as for you to pr odu ce In th e Ol d Testam en t, Isaiah speak s of th e Son g of th e Vin eyar d. H er e?s wh at h e saw pr oph etical l y: ?I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyar d: m y loved one had a vineyar d on a fer tile hillside. H e dug it up and clear ed it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. H e built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepr ess as well. Then he looked for a cr op of good gr apes, but it yielded only bad fr uit? (NIV-Isaiah 5:1-2). I im m ediatel y ask ed th e Lor d, ?H ow can bad fr uit pr oduce good wine?? H e an swer ed a cou pl e of ver ses l ater , ?N ow I will tell what I am going to do to m y vineyar d: I will take away its hedge, and it will be
NEW WINEFOR THENEW YEAR B y : M a r y -B e t h P e c o r a
destr oyed; I will br eak down its wall, and it will be tr am pled. I will m ake it a wasteland, neither pr uned nor cultivated, and br ier s and thor ns will gr ow ther e. I will com m and the clouds not to r ain on it. The vineyar d of the Lor d Alm ighty is the house of I sr ael, and the m en of Judah ar e the gar den of H is delight? (NIV-Isaiah 5: 5-7).
Pai n f u l Pr ocess of Pr od u ci n g H ow do we becom e a gar den of del igh t? Th r ou gh a ver y pain fu l pr ocess! Not too del igh tfu l , we see! ?For , befor e the har vest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becom es a r ipening gr ape, he will cut off the shoots with pr uning knives, and cut down and take away the spr eading
br anches? (NIV-Isaiah 18:5). Th er e is n o way ar ou n d th is pr ocess. To pr odu ce win e, gr apes M UST u n der go th e win epr ess. As an ?I L ov e L u cy ? fan , I can stil l see Lu cy an d Eth el cr u sh in g gr apes with th eir feet. Actu al l y, win e was extr acted by th e feet of th e wor k er s, as th ey stom ped on th e gr apes. Th e ju ice wou l d th en fl ow down a pipe or can al to th e col l ectin g pool . It was h er e th at th e squ eezed, pu l py, water y m ess wou l d be gath er ed. -God h as been col l ectin g an d gath er in g ou r water ed tear s!Al l th e cr u sh in g an d pr essin g was pr odu cin g th e n ew win e an d br eak in g n ew gr ou n d. Th e gr apes ar e pr essed in th e th r esh in g fl oor ,on th e gr ou n d.
Jesu s tal k ed abou t th e New W in e in th e New Testam en t. H is ver y fir st m ir acl e was pr odu cin g n ew win e for th e ol d h ad r u n ou t. ?W hen the wine was gone, Jesus? m other said to him , ?They have no m or e wine? (NIV-Joh n 2:3). Th e ten acity of th e dear wom an (wh o was H is m oth er ) com m an ded th e ser van ts sayin g, ?Do whatever H e tells you. Jesus then says, ?Fill the jar s with water ? (NIV-Joh n 2:5, 7). Sh e wasn ?t tak in g n o for an an swer. Sh e pu t a dem an d on H is an oin tin g, m ak in g H im fil l th e ju gs, cal l ed vessel s. God is pu ttin g a dem an d on u s th is year for ou r fir st l ove to be r estor ed. H e is savin g th e best for l ast. H is l ove is th e best! After th is n ew win e was cr eated, th e M aster tasted it an d said, ?You have saved the best till now? (NIV-Joh n 2:10). M an y of u s h ave been in th e win epr ess, an d a yiel din g an d tr u stin g is bein g pr odu ced, l ik e n ever befor e. Th e New W in e, th e Vessel of H on or , is abou t to be r el eased fr om th e l ives of th e sain ts for , ju st as th e son g states: ?W her e ther e is new wine, ther e is new power , ther e is new fr eedom and the Kingdom of God is her e. I lay down m y old flam es to car r y your new fir e today.?
Th e Pr ocess Br i n gs You t o t h e Fi r e Th e h ar d, l on g pr ocess of bein g cr u sh ed, pr u n ed, an d cu t down wil l br in g you th r ou gh th e fir e of affl iction , r igh t in to th e ar m s of
th e On e wh o is a con su m in g fir e. Let H im con su m e you an d bu r n ou t ever yth in g th at wil l n ot pr odu ce. Th er e?s a pr ocess we M UST n ot aban don .
Con su m i n g Fi r e Tak es Us I n t o H i s Gar d en Th er e?s a gar den bein g pr odu ced in side of u s th at is del igh tfu l to th e Lor d an d to oth er s. H e says: ?H ow delightful is your love, m y sister , m y Br ide! H ow m uch m or e plea si ng i s your love t ha n wi ne, and the fr agr ance of your per fum e than any spice? (NIV-Son g of Sol om on 4:10). ?Your plants ar e an or char d. You ar e a gar den fountain, a well of flowing water str eam ing down fr om Lebanon? (NIV-Son g of Sol om on 4:13-15). Befor e th e win e is pou r ed ou t, water m u st fl ow fr om th e gar den . Jesu s is th e Gar den . H e is tak in g u s in to th e gar den of H is h ear t. H is d el i gh t f u l l ov e an d h ear t m u st fl ow ou t of u s. W e ar e tol d th at H is Fi r st L ov e i s m or e p l easi n g t h an w i n e, wh ich pr odu ces th e New W in e. Th ey ar e m ixed togeth er , as on e dr in k , cal l ed New W in e. Jesu s fil l ed th e jar s with water befor e H e pou r ed ou t th e n ew win e (Joh n 2:7). Th e water of H is Spir it, th e fr u it of H is Spir it? wh ich is l ove? m u st pr ecede th e New W in e. As God is abou t to pou r ou t th e New W in e, th e M ir acl e of H is Fir st Love m u st be r estor ed!
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It is H is Fi r st L ov e w h i ch p r od u ces t h e N ew W i n e. Befor e we see th e n ew power , it wil l be th e water an d th e l ove of H is Spir it bein g m ixed togeth er. Th ey can n ot fu n ction apar t fr om each oth er. -Don ?t focu s on th e win e, th e power or th e m ir acl es, focu s on th e Fir st Love!For year s we?ve focu sed on th e Fir st M ir acl e in Can a. It?s tim e to f ocu s on H i s L ov e, H i s Fi r st L ov e, wh ich we ar e bein g cal l ed back to. Th er e?s power in th e bl ood. Th er e?s power in th e l ove. Jesu s pr odu ced th e New W in e at th e weddin g. It was H is l ove th at pr odu ced? H is l ove for H is per sisten t m oth er an d H is l ove for th e Br ide an d Gr oom . H e was cal l ed to a l ife of obedien ce, even to h on or H is m oth er. W e obey becau se H e Fir st Loved u s. Can a in Gal il ee was n ever th e sam e. H i s l ov e, p ou r ed ou t , affected th e en tir e r egion an d H is m in istr y began . Ou r m i n i st r y m u st al w ay s begi n i n H i s Fi r st L ov e. Th e n am e Can a m ean s zeal , jeal ou sy an d possession . Th e l ove of Jesu s is jeal ou s for u s! It was H i s l ov e t h at p r od u ced t h e m i r acl e. H i s Fi r st L ov e w i l l p r od u ce t h e N ew W i n e i n t h e N ew Year ! God i s cal l i n g u s back t o H i s Fi r st L ov e. Possessed By H is Love, M ar y Beth Pecor a
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