M.Kasperson Split Sermon “Are we Bursting at the Seams”1/9/16

Good Morning, Welcome

Today we will explore why you should be “Bursting at the Seams” with the Love of Christ!

Are you getting your fill of biblical knowledge??

Seriously, are there enough bible studies and religious knowledge inputs to your brain???

Is it challenging your old ways??

Should it be challenging your old ways?

What are we doing with all this new knowledge, do we like it and want more or do we limit it and try to bury it a little? Does it create any conflict within yourself as you understand biblical truths but then try to live the way you always lived?

Or Is it a purely intellectual pursuit for you?

You know learning biblical concepts collegiate like so we can regurgitate scripture at the right time and debate the finer biblical philosophy with differences and application of knowledge! Kind of like the Greek philosophers the Apostle Paul met with on Mars Hill.

I think Jesus and the apostles had a different idea of how to apply biblical knowledge?

Let’s See what Jesus told the Pharisees about applying biblical knowledge

Luke 5: 30-39 And their scribes and the Pharisees[a] complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

33 Then they said to Him, “Why do[b] the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”

34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

36 Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one;[c]otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.[d] 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately[e] desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”[

Jesus, was not going to behave the way the Pharisees expected nor honor them as their self-righteousness demanded

You see the Pharisees had corrupted the religion given to them by Moses gutting it of it’s true purpose, Jesus pointed out to them that their old ways were corrupt and couldn’t accept the NEW religion Jesus brought to them.

It was like sewing a new piece of cloth – not shrunk and when it gets used eventually shrinks and tears the old cloth it is mounted on. Referring to the NEW religion that Jesus brought tearing up the old traditions and twisted religion the Pharisees taught and practiced.

Also -

It was like storing new wine into old wine skins it would burst the old skin. To understand this

Let’s look at the ancient practice of storing wine in wineskins:

1. Why? – Well glass bottles weren’t available in the sizes needed back then there were some ancient glass works in Solomon’s days but nothing that would support the nomad nature of the herding and agrarian population of that age.
   You know the amphora jugs were also big and heavy good around a city where you didn’t travel far but not so good for the herding community
2. They were light weight and portable– the skins themselves were lightweight and could easily be slung over the shoulder of the herder for traveling
3. They were easily available from the animals they skinned and are usually made from the whole skin of the goat (other animals are sometimes used) which is more flexible and durable than other animal skins. When pealed from the goat they would clean and tan it with tannin from the mimosa tree. After tanning they would coat it with pitch from the juniper or pine tree. The pitch is purified at high temperature and used to waterproof the inside of leather of the wine skin. Then the hair is cut close and the skin is bound into form with twine made from hemp and a nozzle of pressed resin is added for pouring and drinking.
4.  Then the skin needs to be prepared for use it is heated rubbed, inflated, and rinsed with water and then some wine is filled and let sit for 5 days and then discarded then it can be used for drinking wine.
5. Once the skin is broken in it becomes stiff and inflexible so adding “New Wine” that is still fermenting will burst the skin they worked so hard to prepare. It is better to use the skin for other purposes and make a NEW WINE SKIN instead for the new wine!  

That is what we are talking about today is that the old religious practices both their traditions and religion couldn’t hold the new wine of the religion Jesus was bringing to all the people then.

Mark 7:6-8 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’[a]

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men[b] —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

For us it means the same thing our old traditions and religious practices can’t hold the NEW Wine of the Truth of Jesus. Do you sometimes feel this, do we need to rethink our lives and what influences work against us hardening us to this New Wine???

My First Point = Well, we don’t have to look far our modern society are in a religion of their own, blinded let’s see what scripture says

1. A veil is cast over the nations

Isaiah 25:7 And He will destroy on this mountain
The surface of the covering cast over all people,
And the veil that is spread over all nations.

1John 5:19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

2Cor 4:4whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Matt 13:14-15 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should[a] heal them.’[b]

2. They are not able to perceive the truth

Eph 4:18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

 Rom 11:8 Just as it is written:

“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.”[a]

3. As such the truth of God is foolishness to them

1Cor 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

4. Their minds are against God and His ways

Rom 8:7-8  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

So we must not think that we are completely isolated from the society we live in you know Satan is around every corner working every angle. This makes our wineskin brittle and stiff resisting and repealing the NEW WINE of the message of Jesus!

Second = We must look inside ourselves to see where Satan and the Worlds influence prevents us from being flexible and loving the Truth!

The Greek word for Repent is Metanoeo “to perceive afterwards, we have to look back at ourselves to see our shortcomings and begin the process of changing our hearts, minds and behavior then we must take the next step and

Turn to God – Metamorphoo or transform – a major total change like a caterpillar to a butterfly or a old wine skin, old man, to a new wine skin or new man

The old man is exposed to the World and the world corrupts the Truth

2Peter 3:16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

The old man in us is still susceptible

Eph 2:1-3 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Because our hearts have a fatal flaw we must be aware of and manage

Jer 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?

Matt 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

This is the old wine skin we must put it off and make a new one for the new wine!

Eph 4:22-24  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Third = Then we must begin to see the Truth and be led by the Spirit of Love Jesus the Christ! We have to make ourselves into a NEW WINESKIN to accept the new wine!

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Rom 8:13-14  For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Rom 8:9  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

1John 4:4-8 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

The Apostle Paul dealt with this issue

Rom 7:15-18 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

2Tim 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Rom 8:2 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Fourth = Let’s be flexible and move forward in God’s word!

 

1John 3:2-3 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

1John 4:8He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

1Cor 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Matt 22:37-38  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and great commandment.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 

1John 3:24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

5. And this is the world of which we live

Joshua 9:4  they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended,

Joshua 9:13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”

Matt 9:17  Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Mark 2:22 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

Job 32:16-19 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.

Psalm 119:80-83 Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.

ך Kaph

81 My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
82 My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in smoke,
Yet I do not forget Your statutes.

1Cor13:2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1John 5:3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Eph 1:19  and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

Matt 27:50-51  And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

Philip 2:5  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Rev 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.[a]

Rom 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

1Cor 12:13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into[a] one Spirit.

2Peter 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

John 16:13  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Rev12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.[a]

Luke 5:33-35  Then they said to Him, “Why do[a] the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”

34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”