The Parable of Garment, Wine and Wineskins
Luke 5:33-39
33They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”
34Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”
36He told them this parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 37And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”
See v33. Here “They” are the Pharisees and the teachers of the law (30). They criticized that disciples of Jesus went on eating and drinking without any fasting. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law are leaders of religion in Israel. They are supposed to know and obey God better than others. But here they were opposing Jesus. The fact is they were sons of the Devil (John 8:44). How incredible, confusing and deceptive this world is! Have eyes to see behind of the scene. Have spiritual eyes.
The devil is an accuser (Revelation 12:10). Do not be surprised if people who belong to the devil criticise or accuse us. When they criticize, Jesus’ answer to them revealed the truth about Christianity. What is the answer of Jesus? See v34.
The disciples of Jesus are like the guests of the bridegroom. This means they are invited to the wedding and in the middle of the feast! Wedding banquet is where we would eat and drink with joyful heart. The bridegroom is Jesus. This shows the characteristics of Christianity. The characteristics of Christianity are celebration, excitement, and joy like wedding banquet. When Jesus is at our heart, we are delightful, happy, and joyful. But if our life has lost room for Jesus in this world of sins and error pining, we should fast so that Jesus may be in the centre of our heart and life (35)
At v36 – v38, Jesus told them the parable of old/new garment and old/new wine/wine skins. Christianity is like new garment. So it can’t be fit into old garment – the traditional religion and its practice in Israel. Also it is like new wine, which requires new wineskins. New wine is the spirit of Christianity, which is different to old wine – Judaism. “New wineskins” is the form of Christianity, which is different to old wineskins – Jewish conventional practice of Judaism.
In Old Testament, it is written that “Love your neighbour.” (Lev 19:18) But in New Testament, Jesus commanded not only “Love your neighbour” (Luke 10:28), but also “Love your enemies” (Luke 6:27). This makes Christianity way different from Judaism. Their enemies were Romans that colonised Jews at that time. Romans crucified their enemies to scare and control them if they rebelled against Roman Empire. But in the view point of Jesus, Romans were also lost sheep of God. All human beings need salvation through Jesus. We shouldn’t withdraw Gospel from anyone just because they are enemies or related to enemies. We still need to give them the chance to believe and accept Jesus.
We are in the exciting journey with Jesus since we believed in Him. We learn His new way through this journey with Him.
What is your old garment? What is your old wine and wineskins? Let us put down our old way and stop patching new garment to old garment or pouring new wine to old wineskins.
I was a Buddhist. In Buddhism, I was taught to call the name of a saint thousand times for my wish to come true. But I know I don’t have to repeat my request in a prayer because God knows what I need even before I start to pray (Matthew 6:7-8). In addition to this, I had many ideas from my old Buddhism belief. But the Word of God has healed many preoccupations of mine.
I pray that everyone who listens to this message may overcome his/her preoccupation, follow, listen and experience Jesus. Amen.
RESIST the devil
1 Peter 5:8, 9 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
James 4:7 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Both verses of 1 Peter 5:9 and James 4:7 teach us to “Resist the devil”.
When we stand for the truth, we can see the enemy even though the devil is not visible. There are people closely linked to Satan. For example, sorcerer and witch.
You shouldn’t allow the devil damage your life. Fight and push it away!
What method and how much effort you use for resistance will depend on what type of the devil you are dealing with.
And God will teach you how to fight.
Stand for the truth. And fight the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7)!
I pray in the name of Jesus that you may be victorious in all realm (spiritual and physical).
Shepherd and Sheep
See Luke 2:8-12
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
When Jesus was born, an angel made the news known to shepherds while they were keeping watch over their flocks at night (Luke 2:8). Shepherds are people taking care of sheep. Sheep are mild animals with short-sight and low intelligence. Their front legs are shorter than the rear legs. So they are easily fallen down and not able to get up by themselves easily. Without protection by shepherds, they become preys of wild animals like wolfs and lions. In Luke 2:8, shepherds were watching over their flocks to protect them from predators. Shepherds use various tools to protect their flocks.
See Psalm 23:4.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
“rod” & “staff” are deadly weapons that shepherds use to strike predators. They are thrown directly to hit the body of lion or wolf, resulting in immediate death.
In 1 Samuel 17:34-37, David testified his experience as a shepherd of his father’s flock:
34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
As for David, “sling and stones” might be his weapon to rescue a sheep from predators (1 Samuel 17:40).
In this generation, there are many types of predators that carry off a sheep from the flock. Spiritually speaking, the evil forces that cause “Sin” are the predators (Ephesians 6:12). The evil forces and the followers of the evil may cause sins like (sexual) immorality, unbelief, and worries of life that make sheep slain and result in spiritual death in the end (James 1:15).
A sheep’s life depends on protection provided by the shepherd. Let us protect our sheep from various sins.
See Proverbs 27:23
23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
Let us keep watch over them and provide adequate protection, swinging the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) (Ephesians 6:17).
You give them something to eat (Luke 9:10-17)
Luke 9:10-17
Musical Animation
[hana-flv-player video=”https://comnc.org/files/OhHappyDay_EasterCamp2014_1.flv”
width=”480″
height=”360″
description=””
player=”4″
autoload=”true” autoplay=”false”
loop=”false” autorewind=”false”
/]
Easter Camp 2014 & Regular Meeting this Friday
Easter Camp (Friday 18 Apr – Monday 21 Apr 2014) is coming soon – Next Friday! Click here for more info.
Our regular meeting at 7p.m. this Friday @ RM389 Law Bldg: Click here for more info.
Bible Conference 2014 Day 3
6:30pm – 8:30pm Friday 28 March 2014 @ Wurth room, Roundhouse, Kensington Campus, UNSW
Biblical view, value and inspiration will help you to lay the foundation of your campus life and beyond.
This could be the best time-well-spent event in the beginning of the year.
Biblical message, music, animation
Biblical electronic game
Click here for more information.
Bible Conference 2014 Day 2
6:30pm – 8:30pm Friday 14 March 2014 @ Wurth room, Roundhouse, Kensington Campus, UNSW
Biblical view, value and inspiration will help you to lay the foundation of your campus life and beyond.
This could be the best time-well-spent event in the beginning of the year.
Biblical message, music, animation
Biblical electronic game
# Light meal provided.
Click here for more information.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1-13
This parable teaches us the wisdom of preparation for the coming of our bridegroom Jesus.
In this parable, five wise virgins took a jar of oil along with their lamps. But five foolish virgins only took their lamps. So on the arrival of the bridegroom, the foolish virgins had to go to buy the oil. But it was too late.
What does the lamp mean? See Proverbs 20:27 NASB (New American Standard Bible) “The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.”
Also see Matthew 5:14-16.
14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Therefore, the Christian is the lamp that God turned the light on after he put oil in his soul.
But the parable we read today tells that the lamps of ten virgins were going out because long waiting at midnight. Only wise five virgins had extra oil supply with themselves. This is the very difference between wise and foolish virgins.
Then what does this extra preparation mean? What does the jar of oil means?
If the virgin loves the bridegroom and treasures the moment to welcome him, she would not leave it to the chance. She would ensure the welcome moment the success. The foolish virgins left it to the chance. Basically they were not wise enough but it shows that they didn’t really love the bridegroom. True love at heart can create brilliant ideas to please the mate, in common sense, can’t it?
To ensure that we are ready for our bridegroom, we want direct and strong relationship with God. In the difficult time, how easily do our lamps go out? For example, when someone invokes our anger, we may easily lose Christian attitude. The oil was choked up and the fire was (almost) gone out! Jesus said “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). We are living in wicked generation. We need enough oil to keep our lamp on while we are living in this world until Jesus comes back. How? Read the Holy Bible every morning before facing this wicked world. Pray to God every day. Do evangelism. Tithe. Make disciples. Teach the Holy Bible. Love your neighbours as yourself. Obey God’s Word. Bear the fruit of Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Bear the fruit of life – spiritual children… so that our lamp may not go out in the most difficult time.
Also, oil is something that can’t be shared. Purity, faith, and love toward Jesus can’t be shared with others.
It is essential that a Christian has Christian faith, Christian life, Christian attitudes and is full of Holy Spirit. We shouldn’t let the lamp go off.
Let’s always prepare enough oil throughout today, this week, this month, this year, our whole life through sufficient prayer (spiritual breathing), reading (spiritual eating) and evangelism (spiritual exercise)!
Man-made rules vs the Holy Bible
I am reading the Gospel of Matthew these days. In the recent 3 days, I read Matthew 23. I remember decades ago when I read this chapter first time in my life, it was mind-blowing. Today I would share one important point in this chapter.
Matthew 23:4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
The religious leaders created too many man-made rules to follow. Keeping all these rules was too hard. And these rules altered the real meaning of the Holy Bible (Proverbs 30:6, Deuteronomy 4:2, 2 Peter 3:16).
The issue is summarized as “Man-made rules vs the Holy Bible”.
It is easy for us to create man-made rules as they did.
Check whether you keep “man-made rules” or “the Holy Bible”. Some might think there was no difference but there is big difference between them.
Think based on the Holy Bible. Examine whether the man-made rules you blindly follow are biblical. And start to follow the Holy Bible.
Enforcing “man-made rules of religion” is a great sin (15).
Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
