I am going to finish up my Shirts & Skins series I have been blogging about. If you have not read the other post check these out before you read this…
Lesson #4
New Wineskins = The FAITH ZONE
The new wineskins Jesus talked about represented what I believe is the faith zone. The faith zone represents the ability to be stretched and grow into greater things. Remember ALL growth takes place outside the safe zone. When we step out of the safe zone we step into the faith zone. The faith zone is where the “goods” are. It is where we are able to operate in God’s zone! The safe zone is about our ability, the faith zone is about God’s ability!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
We are a new creation when Christ takes over our life! The old things pass away! What are the old things? The old way of thinking! The old way of thinking is the old wineskin. It is the inability to stretch and grow beyond our comfort! However when Christ fills our life we are now a new person! That new person should be filled with God-sized faith for great things! Our thinking and belief should change when we become a new creation. The old limiting beliefs and old way of doing things should pass away. The new is being stretched into a great faith and greater trust in God.
We don’t GO to our destiny as though it is waiting somewhere for us, we GROW into our destiny! How do we grow? By allowing God to stretch us (wineskins) by pouring His Plans (New Wine) into us! The more we grow the more we are able to know all that God has for us! Don’t get caught up in thinking one day you will wake up and arrive in your destiny! Your destiny is not a place, it is a process of becoming more like Christ and doing what He has called you to do! We only grow if we allow God to stretch us out of the safe zone into the faith zone. I read this quote the other day…
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
We should be like a rubber band. A rubber band is designed to stretch. If it is not stretched it serves no purpose. It’s sole purpose is to be stretched to max capacity. We should model our life after the rubber band. If you want to shoot a rubber band you know the further you pull it back the further it will go. The more we allow God to stretch us the further we will go! Sometimes you have to get pulled back in order to be flung forward. It may appear that you are taking steps backwards, but sometimes it is God stretching us to send us further!
So are you a rubber band? Are you willing to allow God to stretch you? Are you a new wineskin that is ready to be poured into? If yes, then understand that you have to move out of the safe zone into the faith zone! Place yourself in situations that will stretch you and grow your potential. The only limit we put on ourself is the limit we are unwilling to break through!
Here is a good thought one of my mentors used to teach me…
Blessed are the flexible for they will be stretched!
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