Serve No Wine Before Its Time!

A number of years ago there was an ad for a wine company that said something like, "we will serve no wine before it's time". They were saying that they would allow the wine to age to it's best potential before offering it to the public. Maybe those of us who are preacher/teachers should take note of this. When we get a new revelation there is tremendous pressure to "preach it" at our next opportunity. The best sermons come from our own life experience. Think of a preacher speaking and how it affects you if he says, "so and so says" versus, "I have experienced". It has a totally different impact. People love personal stories. We need to learn to be better story tellers. To do so requires a willingness to be transparent and a willingness to be the object of our jokes, often times. The result will be a richer connection with your audience.



Now, the waiting part. Just as wine matures with age, so do life lessons and sermons. You can have a true revelation from heaven. It may have come while showering or it may have come from the depths of a traumatic experience. Regardless, it will sweeten with age. In truth, it may never have been intended for public consumption. It may be just between you and the Lord. But if it is for sharing, put it aside in a "sermon garden" and let it grow. Let the warm sun of time shine upon it and the rain of meditation water it. Let the process of your own healing and maturity feed it. Examine it from different facets and it will become richer and richer with time. When it is delivered, the impact will be multiplied many times over by allowing it to age in the cellar of your heart. If you do it right, Jesus will be seen in the forefront and you will be in the shadows.