The Parable of New Wine - Matt.9:16-17.

Message: God's New Life given to His believers cannot fit into Old Moulds.

We become new Creations in Christ when we are Saved. God does not give us a new body or a new nature automatically but the old nature, the Old Man, remains in us. Why? If He had taken it away , our character and personality would collapse. We need time to grow in Christ for our new character to be formed by the Word of God. The two natures co-exist in us and are at enmity with each other. This is where our problems arise-Rom.7:15-20.

Why do believers fail so often in living out their New Character? The failure to deal with the Old Nature and let the New One grow in Christ.

New Wine: Speaks of God's New Life with its dynamic drive and joy. For example, telling lies is a sign of the  corrupt Old Nature. The New Nature does not want to practice this sin, therefore conflict arises, there will be a rupture, a disruption of the New Life that wants to obey the Commands of God, the old wine skins will break.

What is the remedy? We need to know the ways of the Old Nature and deal a deadly blow to it- Crucifixion-Col.3:5-10.

At the same time we need to nurture the new life, the New Wine- Gal.5:12-24.

2 Kings 5:1-20.
A delightful story full of meaning
Naaman, represents the world's power but sin sick and incurable by its own power and might. When in need he turns to God and His people to find healing and deliverance. This is through the despised believer (the slave girl), the Church. The girl could have kept quiet about the enemy's need for healing, 'Love works no ill to its neighbour.....'
Naaman went to the King of Israel, a type of the official Church in the land, 'Having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof'. Jesus condemned the Laodicean Church, the lukewarm
Church that has no power.
God however has His servants everywhere (Elisha). Elijah, the prophet, thought he was alone in Israel but God told him that he was mistaken. God's command to Naaman was unspectacular, 'We preach Christ crucified.....' 1 Cor.1:23. To the unregenerate the Cross is foolishness. Ananias thought God was mistaken when told to go and pray for Saul.
God's remedy was, 'Dip seven times in the Jordan' Naaman's pride was  tempered, however, by some wise counsellors (servants). We are glad we have the Holy Spirit, the counsellor, abiding with us.
There was not only a physical healing but also a healing in Naaman's heart. Many people only want the benefits of God for their lives, not His great work of Salvation.
Naaaman got his priorities right, to God and to the king of Syria. There was no condemnation from
Elisha. Do we condemn?
A sad end to this wonderful story, the servant of Elisha. Speaks of the carnal believer, 'Love not the world, neither the things.....' 1 John 2:15-17.

Parable of Wheat and Tares-Matt.13.24-30,36-43.
 Message:Who is true and who is false in the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is likened to a field sown with good seed that brought forth fruit, but at the same time Tares appeared at harvest time (the end of the age).
The seed of the Word falls on good soil but at the same time bad seed sown brings forth tares.
Both seeds grow together but bring forth different fruit, or no fruit for the Tares. Similarly, in the Church we find the genuine believer and the imitation one, a child of God and the other a 
child of the devil. Many times it is difficult to recognize the true from the false, Both grow together and both appear the same.
How do we recognise the difference? Matt.7:15-20, The fruit shows what is true and what is false. In the Acts we have the the incident of Ananias and Zaphira, who appeared to be genuine believers but had a tragic end ACTS:5:1-10.
The Lord termed the Tares in the Parable as the seed of the Devil, who is active in the Church,
sowing all kinds of evil; but there will come a day when separation will take place. The servants
wanted quick action but God's ways are different, 'let them grow together till harvest'. There is a time when drastic action is necessary in the Church, as with Ananias and Zaphira, at other times patience and wisdom are necessary,'God is not willing that any should perish....'
We look forward to harvest time when the Righteous Judge will separate the wheat from the chaff.

-Parable of Wheat and Tares (Matt.