96: Pressed but not Destroyed

 My Heart’s Desire

As a new wineskin is carried everywhere its owner travels, it can be shaken, tossed, turned, even dropped on the ground or flung into the air.  Yet, it is not destroyed.  So it with the soul as it patiently waits for its desires to manifest into reality. 

The Living Word tells us that We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

The second stage of producing new wine is called crushing and pressing.  This is the time when the body of the grape fruit is broken open and the juice inside is collected.  The manifestation of your heart’s desires must also be met with the breaking of all fleshly connections.  Your “wine” is not for the cause of promoting worldly ambitions—getting rich to spend wealth on what does not edify the Kingdom of God.  Therefore, your heart’s desires must line up with the desires of God’s heart for its juice to flow out.

 

Why are we not crushed, nor in despair, nor forsaken, and neither destroyed?  Because our wine skin is always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh (2 Corinthians 4:10).  The dying of our Lord Jesus signifies the dying of our flesh which yearns to chase after “making money” and lifts us up into a life that yearns to catch God-inspired desires of the Spirit planted in our heart which build up wealth to sustain godly missions.  The born-again’s soul has crushed all its worldly desires; and is now producing “holy wine” to be poured out onto the world for its salvation—that the life of Jesus may be manifested through us as we reach out to transform the world around us!

Are your heart’s desires in tune with the rhythm of God’s heartbeat?  I pray they are so, because God is going to cause you to do greater works than the Lord.  He is going to lift you to great heights and make you a vessel of honor for use in His Kingdom.  God is going to the stop the devil in his tracks against you; and cause you to stand before kings.  His hand will uphold you so you do not fall; and His eyes will be your guide when you are sent into the valleys to seek and to save the lost.  You are protected and directed by the mighty arm of God; and no weapon aimed at you shall land, but shall surely return to its sender.  You not only mirror Christ, you are the light of Christ, and nothing by any means will harm you.

 

Your past is redeemed, your present is esteemed and your future will be your dream manifested because you are unstoppable in the way of the Lord.   Your mortal flesh is not sinful.  It is the dwelling place of your real-self, your soul-self, so as you keep it holy unto the Lord and fashionably appareled in dress and style, all who watch you shall behold the Christ in you, and declare that, yes, Jesus is alive.  He died to sin, but resurrected to life eternal. 

Your new wine skin may be upset by atmospheric pressures which may cause it to experience pressure (the pressing), perplexities (the problems of everyday living), the persecution (the unpopularity of carnal folks mocking you), the striking down of your goals by those who can see your light (but hate it), only to be lifted up again, as you stay your stride on the way to meeting your heart’s desires.

But, here’s the greatest news of all: YOU WILL NOT BE DESTROYED.  Your heart’s desires, your “wine” can never dry out.  God’s plan and will for your life can never change nor be undone.  He is Lord, He is Lord. He is Lord.  His has risen from the dead and He is Lord.  Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.

 

© 2021 by Patience Osei-Anyamesem. All rights reserved.  Published by The Light In Me Enterprise.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—without the prior written permission of the publisher.  The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews or other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are from The New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.  Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Reference for the processes of making wine: www.worldsbestwines.eu: A Detailed Guide to Winemaking.

 

Take My Hand Inspirations