The value of generational transfer

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. [38] New wine must be stored in new wineskins. [39] But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.” Luke 5:37-39 NLT

This is Jesus’ response when the Pharisees asked why his disciples didn’t fast as often as they did. Jesus responds with three examples, each depicting God’s Kingdom. This last illustration is a beautiful picture of the church and the role each generation plays.

Wineskins were mainly made from goat stomachs. They were cleaned with water and treated with oil to keep them flexible and to act as a barrier so the wine didn’t seep out.

The gases in the fermentation process of new wine would cause the wineskin to expand. This required the wineskin to be pliable. Old wineskins were not as expandable and thus would tear.

Application

The new wine is the Holy Spirit, who leads God’s people into a “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20). It is no longer our efforts to keep the law. This new thing God is doing must be placed in a new wineskin or paradigm of how we see God and how God sees us.

The new wineskin comprises younger generation leaders, key volunteers, and pastors. They are hearing the Holy Spirit direct them into new areas of ministry and new strategies for reaching the next generation. Does this mean the older generation has no role in this new wineskin and new wine?

Did the old wineskins serve any purpose, or were they just thrown away? They would be cut open and then wrapped around the new, young wineskins to provide a covering and vital layer of protection for the wineskin and the wine inside.

The old wineskins are the older generation leaders, elders, and older pastors.

The older generation is not discarded; they step into mentoring, covering, and protecting in prayer. The older generation becomes a platform from which the younger leaders can build. This means there is no struggle for power. Everyone has a responsibility. If they stay focused on their place, the oil will keep flowing, and everyone benefits.

When old wineskins are unwilling to be opened up and step into this new role, the oil dries up, and new oil is not poured. Without new oil, the skins become useless.

What God wants to do today through young leaders is different from what he did in the past through the older wineskins. As experienced leaders, we cannot say, “the old wine is fine” and live in the past. We must pray for a new move of God that will reach a new generation. The younger generation will only experience the awakening in society if they allow the old wineskins to be wrapped around them.

We must appreciate our place, honor the older and younger generations, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead as Jesus builds His church

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