January 16: To Receive a Fresh Outpouring of God’s Spirit Ask God to prepare your congregation with a new wineskin in order to receive the new wine He wants to pour out upon His people this year. Invite the Lord to sweep “the house” clean of any impurities and welcome His Holy Spirit to come in a fresh new way. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:2 NASB95) Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7 NASB95) But new wine must be put into new wineskins (Mark 2:22 b, NIV). To Receive a Fresh Outpouring of God’s Spirit It seems for many believers a major disconnect occurs between the heart and mind. “The longest foot in the universe is from our head to our heart.” That being said a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit is greatly connected to our conscious awareness of His indwelling. Jon’s gospel states clearly the sending of the Holy Spirit, “the Comforter” for encounter not only with us but to dwell (live His life) IN US. We must be aware of His presence more than our sin. Romans 8:5 for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Jesus having become sin for us dealt the death blow to sin’s hold on us. Now the removal of the residue of sin’s power is no less than Christ promise to us. Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. There are many word pictures or descriptions of the Holy Spirit; one is WATER. Notice the request from the Psalm 51 is for “another” to wash, cleanse, and purify us. The very work of the Spirit invokes the idea of cleansing or purifying by literally being the “Living Water” flowing in power from within. Also Ephesians speaks of Christ and His bride “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.” The living water and living word are ever present to do their work; we simply must say “Yes” to His will and way in us and through us! The new wineskins spoken of in Mark can refer to fresh governing or new governing of our lives. When the new spiritual “mind-set” being the awareness of Christ’s promise is fixed, fresh outpouring, “New Wine” will follow. When new wine comes “times of refreshing” in the Spirit of the Lord will overcome and overtake us with breakthrough in all aspects of our lives and those we influence. Sure did on the Day of Pentecost and throughout the book of Acts. Jesus started the church the way he wanted it, NOW He wants the church the way He started it! He wants us saturated with FRESH OUTPOURING!
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 14:40:42 +0000
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