The Poisonous Fruit Of the Flesh, Drunkenness

Drunkenness

What soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals

A sober man keeps a guard on his tongue, holding back anything he wishes to hide. Strong drink unseals his lips and he tells everything.

Good advice. Makes sense. It's true. As is this...

Alcohol can ruin you life. IF you give into Alcohol to the point you become an Alcoholic, it can cost you your Licence, Job, even your Loved ones. It can tear Families apart. It can become a vicious cycle of abuse. If you abstain from it, you will not have to worry about all the negative effects..

However, what does the Bible say about Drinking? Is it inherently evil? Should we, as many Churches and many Religions teach, abstain from it at all costs. That we should "Abstain from all appearance of evil." so that...

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." {1 Thessalonians 5:22-23}

I've been there. I've been in Churches that say, "If you want to be a member of this Church, you will sign a Covenant saying that you will not Smoke, Drink, or do anything that this Church disproves of. Oh you can come all you want, but you cannot be a member of the Church or Volunteer in anyway unless you sign this Covenant."

I remember asking, why is this? Where in the Word does it say it is a Sin to Smoke, or even to Drink for that matter? The response was along the lines of "It's not. But I {The Pastor} feel that we as Children of God, MUST adhere to a higher standard. We must even "abstain from all appearance of evil."

Over half the Church left. Overnight. Very few, even the Elders and Core members, would agree to sign this Covenant. People started calling the Pastor and his decision to go this route, Legalistic and Legalism. That it is not about that at all. It should be about Jesus. After all, remember, Jesus drank Wine. His first miracle was that of turning Water into Wine at the Wedding at Cana. It was not Grape Juice by the way. According to Jewish wedding tradition, fermented Wine was always served at Weddings. As a matter of fact, the Water Jesus turned to Wine was better than the Wine they originally served and ran out of..

"and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him" {John 2:10–11}

Wait, that doesn't mean that Jesus drank it. He just provided it. Now of course one could argue that He would not provide something He disapproved of, but He, Jesus, He even told us that He drank Wine..

"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!” {Luke 7:33–34}

When we take Communion, remember, we are imitating Jesus. We are doing what He did. We are breaking Bread and Drinking Wine, as a symbol of His breaking His Body for us, and shedding His Blood for us. It was NOT Grape Juice served at the Last Supper.

You see, NOWHERE in the Word does it tell us we must abstain from Adult Beverages. Alcohol. Wine, Beer, Hard Liquor. Over and over again, the Word declares,, "Do not be Drunk."

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" {Ephesians 5:18}

The apostle Paul warns repeatedly against Drunkenness. A Candidate for the Office of Deacon must not be addicted to much Wine.

"Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;" (1 Timothy 3:8).

He Admonished members of the Church at Corinth not to keep fellowship with a Member who is a Drunkard

"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat." (1 Corinthians 5:11).

However, it was this very same Paul that told Timothy, and his Brothers and Sisters in Christ, to drink Wine for Medicinal Purposes..

"Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." (1 Timothy 5:23).

Just like with all things, Science is catching up to The Word. Just like for years it was a Scientific Consensus that World was Flat. However, The Word declares...

"It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:"{Isaiah 40:22}

It took someone sailing a tall ship beyond the Horizon, for Science to catch up to The Word. Study after Study declare that Red Wine is GOOD for you. That a glass a day is REALLY good for you. Yet, we still have Churches that Teach ANY Alcohol is a Sin. This is simply not true.

Now do not get me wrong. Please do not misunderstand. If you cannot have just one. If you cannot control your Drinking, then for YOU, having just one MAY be a Sin. If you are an Alcoholic, then YES, having just one for you is WRONG because it will lead to two, three, etc. Just like me with Smoking. If I ever have one again, I know, that one will lead to two, three, then I will go buy a pack just like I never quit. How do I know? Been there and done that. For me, Smoking ONE is a Sin.

Drunkenness is a Sin. Drunkenness can destroy Relationships, Families, Careers, and even end Life. Drunkenness is a Poisonous Fruit Of the Flesh. Not a beer at a BBQ. Not a glass of Wine at a romantic Dinner with your Spouse. Not Drinking in general. But being DRUNK. Losing control of your senses. Having it come in and take over your life. This is Sin. This is what you should stay away from.. Have a Drink, don't be drunk..

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..