New Wine

There’s usually a lot of feelings surrounding the word new. Excitement, longing, fear, uncertainty. Whether you’re talking about big things like a new job or a new family member, or little things like a new sequel to your favorite movie or a new (to you) piece of secondhand furniture, newness implies change. Something is now different than it was.

Our God is very keen on new things. All throughout Scripture we see examples of God creating and re-creating people and hearts and kingdoms and ideologies. In the Old Testament He gave Israel a New Law, which was good and beneficial for them. Many years later Jesus came to bring a New Covenant that would replace the need for keeping the Law. As believers, we look forward to the day when Christ will return to establish his New Kingdom.

Newness may be beautiful, but it’s not always easy. Scripture uses analogies of refining fire (Prov. 25:4), the vine and the branches (John 15), and the potter and clay (Isaiah 29:13-16) to explain the process of becoming new, and to show the challenges that come with it. But it’s when God takes us through these processes that we ultimately become more useful to him.

My favorite lyric in the song New Wine, is “when I trust You I don’t need to understand”. My whole life I’ve struggled to be obedient and submissive to things I don’t understand. There’s a level of control that needs to be given up and that can be super painful. But ultimately if we have complete trust and confidence in the One who is shaping and making us into something to be used for His purpose and glory, we really don’t need to fully understand. Rather we can embrace the newness and the pain of change and loss with joy and confidence knowing that our Creator God works all things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).

As we are moving into a marked new season of life and ministry is the weeks and months to come, I’d encourage you to be looking for ways that God is making something new – in the Calvary ministry as a whole and in you personally – and to embrace it wholeheartedly. As always, I look forward to worshiping with you all on Sunday!

Emma Prong

Isaiah 43:19

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 64:8

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

2 Timothy 2:21

Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

New Wine

In the crushing in the pressing

You are making new wine

In the soil I now surrender

You are breaking new ground

So I yield to You and to Your careful hand

When I trust You I don't need to understand

Make me Your vessel

Make me an offering

Make me whatever You want me to be

I came here with nothing

But all You have given me

Jesus bring new wine out of me

'Cause where there is new wine

There is new power

There is new freedom

And the kingdom is here

I lay down my old flames

To carry Your new fire today

CCLI Song # 7102397

Brooke Ligertwood

CCLI License # 702888