As I contemplated the below scripture, I feel it is a wonderful beginning for a Journal Challenge. I chose the King James Version in order to point out in particular the word “are become.” *We will also discuss the different meanings of the word new. Are become speaks of the a continuing present tense and the word new is “kainos” meaning made fresh or you could say renewed in a qualitative way.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
in a fresh way according to the above scripture, like massaging oil into a brand new baseball glove and baking it, giving it a whole new qualitative nature and ability. The same glove but a whole new nature, a whole new person, yes, a whole new creature.*
*We are like wine skins made new that we might hold the new wine. We didn’t get a new body at our new birth. Our spirit man, once dead in sin, came a live and we were made made new or shall we say “kainos.” We were regenerated.
Are become is the word “ginomai” which can be understood to generate, cause to be or continue. It is a wonderful phrase because it means we are in continual state of being renewed, becoming more Christ like. The more we submit to God, the more we let go of the “old things” and the more we be come renewed in our minds (Romans 12:2). Renewed in this scripture also is a “kainos” type of becoming new.
*When the scripture talks about new wine being poured into old wine skins in Matthew 9:17 there are two different words. The “new “in new wine is the word “neos” which means brand new, creatively new and can carry the connotation of having never existed before. The new wine is put into new “kainos” skins and both are preserved.
We must have our wine skins constantly renewed (are become) to hold the new wine God is pouring out through Holy Spirit in the earth today. Therefore, we are becoming new, always being renewed in order to hold the new “neos” things of God.
The Lord longs to pour new wine into all of us. He longs for us to allow Him full reign in our lives as we submit ourselves to the Word and its work.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2 NIV)
The Challenge
In light of the above teaching, seeing the old year has passed and the New Year has come, it is time to receive the New Wine of His presence. My challenge to you is to journal this scripture in this light. I encourage you to do this as a dialog if at all possible. You are in no way confined to to these questions.
1. What do you desire of the Lord in reference to this scripture?
2. What old ways do you need to let go of or what things have become new?
3. Have you kept yourself in the Word, letting it renew your thought life, your physical life or your emotional life? If so, expound of the new things you have experienced.
4. Journal any revelation the Lord speaks to you related to the above scripture.
Write your own prayer of agreement according to what He speaks to you. For example, if you have been lazy, hear what He says then write it in the form of a personal declarative statement such as, I am not lazy. I am consumed with the zeal of the Lord… See examples of prayers of response included with each Love Letter from God.
Once you have received this, continue to declare it until you are renewed in this area.
When you are renewed in your thinking, the walking out of it will follow. You will be able to receive new things from God because you won’t find yourself lazy and unable to carry them out. He will trust you with fresh revelation and understanding.
Invitation to Publish
We would like to post the first twelve submissions on www.journalsoftheheart under Journal Challenge 2007. You may want to write this challenge in two forms, one which you keep privately containing your very personal information and one eliminating the most sensitive parts you don’t wish to share.
Keep in mind, no personal information will be included unless you request it. If you need help with basic editing in order to publish please let us know. We will assist you in this. Please don’t use the comment box to submit your journals.
Send as a Word doc. or rtf. to [email protected]
All submitted journals will fall under the copyright of Journals of the Heart under Anonymous. your name or nick. They will not be reprinted without expressed consent of the original author.
I have referenced portions of the above teaching to Pastor William Nunez of River City House of Prayer, San Antonio TX from January 7, 2007. See the * for references.