By Andrew Williams
Series: The Year of the Prophet- Month 7: Character, Authority, and the Five-Fold Synergy
Week 28: The Apostolic-Prophetic Foundation
Anchor Scripture: “Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” — Matthew 9:17 (NKJV)
The Teaching
We conclude our week on the Apostolic-Prophetic Foundation by looking at the goal of the partnership: The New Wineskin. When God is about to release “New Wine”—a fresh outpouring of His Spirit or a new era of ministry—He requires a “Wineskin” (a structure) that is flexible enough to contain the expansion.
Building the new wineskin is a Collaborative Act.
- The Prophet senses the “Wine” is coming. You describe the “flavor” of the new move, the “potency” of the Spirit, and the “direction” of the flow. You provide the Expectancy.
- The Apostle designs the “Wineskin.” They create the teams, the systems, the schedules, and the legal structures that can hold the wine without bursting. They provide the Containment.
Without the Prophet, the wineskin remains “old” and dry; when the new wine hits it, it bursts, and the move of God is wasted. Without the Apostle, the new wine is poured on the floor—it’s powerful for a moment, but it creates a mess and has no lasting impact. But when the Prophet and Apostle work together, they create a Sustainable Container for Glory. The revelation and the structure are “preserved” together.
Prophetic Insight
Maturity in the office is moving from “Self-Revelation” to “Collaborative Revelation.” You realize that your “piece” of the puzzle is designed to fit with the Apostle’s “piece.” If you are a Prophet who is always complaining about “old wineskins,” you must ask yourself: “Am I providing the Apostle with the ‘moisture’ of the Spirit so they can make the skin new?” A Prophet’s presence should make a leader more Flexible, not more Defensive. When you provide your “sight” in a spirit of collaboration, you are helping to sew the seams of the new structure. You are a “Co-Designer” of the era.
The Activation
Identify a “New Move” or a “New Idea” that God is stirring in your sphere. Today, don’t just dream about it in isolation. “Partner the Vision.” Share your prophetic sense with a “Builder” (a leader or a team player) and ask: “How can we build a structure to hold this? What do we need to put in place to ensure this move is preserved?” Look for the synergy between your “Revelation” and their “Implementation.”
Daily Prayer: Lord God, I thank You for the ‘New Wine’ You are releasing in this hour. I ask for the grace to be a faithful builder of the ‘New Wineskin.’ Forgive me for being a soloist. I choose to collaborate with the leaders and the builders You have set around me. Let our combined efforts create a flexible and strong structure for Your Glory. Preserve the Wine and the Wineskin through our partnership. Amen.
