Sermon Central
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Better Than Ever - Water Into Wine Series
Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 22, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: The custom is to serve the better wine first, then the watered down. But when Christ encounters the plain water, he makes all things better than before. As we age in life, we lose our zeal and become watered down, but CHRIST revives us to do greater things even in our older age.
2020.01.05 NEW YEAR MESSAGE for EEs (ELDER EARS)
William Akehurst, HSWC
John 2:1-11 The Cana Wedding – Water into Wine
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
THE BIG IDEA: Vs 1-3 Custom is to serve the better wine first at the wedding. As the celebration goes on, the lesser drink or watered down wine was brought out.
As we look back on life and reflect, we remember the zeal we had in our teens and twenties. These were the days of the better wine.
As the year went on, we may have mellowed out (become watered down) and lost our luster and even become plain – plain water.
But just as the wedding celebration had peaked and appeared to run it’s course, and the wine had run out. JESUS took what was left, the plain water, and made it into something greater than the first.
Jesus took ordinary water and turned it into the best wine ever tasted (vs. 7-10)
In life, we live with vibrancy and zeal in our earlier days, but then seem to mellow out as we get older. The ‘good wine’ has diminished and we begin to get watered down.
But I want you to understand something. With CHRIST, HE starts something new and it doesn’t matter when or where it is in your lifetime. It could be your last day, your last moment, your last breath, and HE can make you new!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
You may think that means when we get old, we pass away…and then something new pops up. But I tell you, he can take away the old and make you new.
Genesis 12-20 Abraham heard from GOD and left his home to go to the promised land, and Sarah had her youth restored at 65-90 years of age.
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
YOUTHFULNESS RESTORED TO RUTH
Ruth 4:15a And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age:
YOU NEED POWER? SEEK AFTER THE HOLY SPIRIT!
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
As this year and decade has come to an end and we move into the next, let us leave behind those things that hindered or discouraged us, and move forward into the New Year with new and great expectation, new vision and new focus.
As 2020 begins, let us search out to see and experience those things which come from GOD.
Jesus taught us to pray for the will, purpose and blessings from the FATHER and that these would be received here in our use in our lifetime.
HE prayed that we would have our eyes opened so that there would be clarity of the things above; understanding of the Heavenly Blessings, Heavenly Provision, and Heavenly Position we have been called to live out in our lives as we are of the Heavenly Kingdom.