Pressing into the New

Editor’s Note: In the message below, prophetic intercessor Cindy Jacobs echoes Barbara Wentroble’s word from last week about becoming a new wineskin (if you missed that word, click here to read it). God has good things in store, Jacobs tells us—and a strategy for us to become all He wants us to be. Co-founder with her husband, Mike, of Generals International (generals.org), and host of God Knows, a weekly television program on which she teaches, prophesies and prays for the sick, Jacobs has a heart to encourage the body of Christ through this message as we begin the new year.

PRESSING INTO THE NEW

As I have been seeking the Lord for a word for 2009, one seems to leap out to me in my spirit. It is the word “transition.” This is a season [during which] we are going from the old to the new—from old wine to new wine. What do I mean by “new wine”? [I mean we are going] from what doesn’t work to what does work or from the nonproductive to the productive.

It seems as I am sharing with Christians around the world there is a frustration with the old. People know that what they are doing isn’t producing the results they want to see, but they don’t know what to do.

This is what I am sensing: God is forming a new wineskin for your life that is a good fit. You are being pressed into the new. No one likes that feeling. It is uncomfortable and, at times, stressful. Stress can actually be productive. It is when we get into (dis)stress that it becomes nonproductive.

One of the most difficult things to do in the midst of pressure is to still your spirit so God can speak to you. At times, when [you] are in that condition, God will use the prophetic voice to come alongside you in your distress to comfort you and help you.

This is what I am hearing God say for you, “You are coming into the most creative time of your life. The Holy Spirit, the Creator of the world, is going to fill you with His Spirit in a way beyond your understanding to help you go to a new level of anointing. He is going to fill you with His new wine to overflowing. Do not let fear paralyze you and stop up the flow He is wanting to release within you.”

Here is a strategy to get to the new places God wants you to go:

1. Pray with others
Take time to surround yourself with friends who will corporately press into the new places that God has for you through prayer. The Bible says that the new wine is found in the cluster (see Is. 65:8). Revelation is found as you pray with others.

2. Search the Word
God wants you to have fresh bread for a new season. God is going to feed you with wisdom and revelation to give you strength to go through your transition.

3. Don’t panic!

Satan is hitting your panic button and having a good time doing so! Stand up to him and resist his game. Hit the faith-walk instead of panic.

4. Trust God
Speak God’s promises out loud to still your soul. Tell your mind that it will not control your spirit with thoughts of fear and desperation (see Prov. 3:5-6).

The truth is this: The only thing that can negate the will of God for your life is listening to Satan and following his “panic advice” rather than God’s Word.

5. Sow
I believe that if we want to see what we’ve never seen, we have to do what we’ve never done. This includes sowing. Sowing into a word releases harvest, so follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in your giving and watch God begin to expand His kingdom through you.