“Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent & stings like a viper.” ~ Prov 23:31
Drunk = affected by alcohol to the extent of losing control of one’s mental or physical power, & behavior.
Opening:
Gal 5:19-21 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, & things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
1.Alcohol is called, ‘Spirits’ for a reason. Alcohol lowers our inhibitions & weakens us. This allows evil spirits to easily come into us without us putting up a fight. Alcohol always leads to bad decisions & that is why. The evil spirit is going to take you for a ride while they have the chance. This is why people’s personality’s change from their normal to a completely different one. People become angry, irritated, start fights, curse, have sexual relations outside of marriage, or cheat on their significant other. They can’t control themselves & they give into sin.
2.Drinking also leads to chronic health conditions, depression, & even death/suicide. People search for happiness in alcohol for it only to leave them in more pain. Once the alcohol wears off & the evil spirits leave our bodies it leaves you feeling even more empty. Add the guilt we feel for all the sins we commit while intoxicated & also the people we hurt or people who hurt us, & you are left more empty & hurt than before.
Warning:
Prov 23:29-35 “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long over wine, those who go to taste mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent & stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things & your mind will utter perverse things. & you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, or like one who lies down on top of a mast. They struck me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink.”
•This speaks for itself!
Lev 10:9 -11 “Do not drink wine or strong drink , neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die – it is a perpetual stature throughout your generation – & so as to make a distinction between the holy & the profane, & between the clean & unclean, & to teach the sons of Israel all the statures which the Lord has spoken”
•‘So that you will not die’ – so that we won’t commit sin & have eternal death in hell & also possibly physical death due to the outcomes of alcohol.
•‘Perpetual’ – means occurring repeatedly; so frequent as to seem endless and uninterrupted.
•‘It is a perpetual stature throughout your generation’ – God knew that getting drunk, along with many other sinful things, were going to be very common & popular in our times. He knew it would be hard for us to stay away, & easier to give into all the sin that is around us & right at our fingertips. But He warns us! Saying to stay away or die! Clear & simple. You can not play in the dirt & call yourself clean.
•‘Distinction between clean & unclean’ – us christians are not suppose to be of this world or joining in on anything it has to offer. We are suppose to be noticeably different & without sin.
•‘Teach the sons of Israel’ – we are called to bring others to Christ & be role models & to set good examples.
Luke 21:34 (Jesus spoke) “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation & drunkenness & the worries of life, & that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap”
Rom 13:13 “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing & drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity & sensuality, not in strife & jealousy.”
1 Cor 5:11 “do not associate with any so called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idol later, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler — not even to eat with such a one.”
•You can not be of God & of sin.
•We have to stay away from people like this, because they can cause us to stumble & fall so quickly & easily.
Is 5:11-12 “Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, who stay up late in the evening that they wine may inflame them! Their banquets are accompanied by lyre & harp, by tambourine & flute, & by wine; but they do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, nor do they consider the work of His hands.
•The Word is very clear here.
•Do not party or be addicted to alcohol.
•Do not stay up all night long partying with music & alcohol…. This verse is for everyone who thinks it’s ok to go to bars & clubs.
•Even if you go “just to dance” or “just to talk to people” it is still a place full of sin & God can not be present their.
•You are putting yourself in danger & wasting your time on sinful things instead of holy things.
•Pray instead of partying!
Eph 5:18 “& do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit”
•‘Dissipation’ ~ living a life of overindulging in sensual pleasures; corruption, sinfulness, immorality, vice, impurity, immoderation.
Prov 23:20-21 “& do not be with heavy drinkers of alcohol, or with gluttonous eaters of food; for the heavy drinker & the glutton will come to poverty, & drowsiness will clothe one with rags.”
Hos 4:11 “Wine & new wine take away understanding.”
•When you are drunk you can’t think clearly or make wise decisions.
Prov 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, & whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.”
•Not a single one of you can deny that wine & alcohol lead to mocking & fighting.
•The Bible calls anyone who gets drunk, stupid & dumb. He says, “IS NOT WISE”. Do you really want Jesus viewing you as stupid? Or do you want Him to see wisdom, brilliance, obedience, & greatness when He looks at you?
Consequences:
Gen 19:33 “So they made their father drink wine that night, & the first born went in & lay with her father; & he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.”
•Even though Lot’s role was somewhat passive, he held the responsibility for the drunkenness & incest that resulted in his two daughters becoming pregnant by him.
Gen 9:21 “He drank of the wine & became drunk, & uncovered himself in his tent”
•Being drunk leads to immodest behavior.
Is 28:7 “& these also reel with wine & stagger from strong drink; the priest & the prophet reel with strong drink, they are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; they reel while having visions , they totter when rendering judgement.”
•The religious leaders should of been filled with the Spirit instead of alcohol.
•As all us christians should also.
Displeasing to God:
Is 1:14 “I hate your new moon festivals & your appointed feasts, they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.”
•‘Festivals & feasts’ ~ parties with dancing, music, & lots of drinking.
•We use any excuse we can find to be able to drink. Any holiday or special occasion we like to throw a party together or go to large festivals of all sorts & get drunk.
•God says He hates it.
•When you get drunk they call it, ‘getting wasted’ because it’s a waste of our time, purpose, & bodies, mind, & soul.
•Worship! Not wasted!
How God Intended It:
1 Tim 5:23 “No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach & your frequent ailments.”
•Ailment ~ an illness, typically a minor one.
•Paul advised Timothy to drink a little wine for physical ailments.
•Not to get drunk, but only a little for medical purposes.
Ps 116:13 “I shall lift up the cup of salvation & call upon the name of the Lord.”
•The cup of wine drunk at at the festival meal that climaxed a thanks offering.
•A little wine is ok to drink if it’s in remembrance of Christ or for worshipping purposes, as long as you don’t get drunk.
How We Should Be:
Luke 1:15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; & he will drink no wine or liquor, & will be filled with the Holy Spirit”
•Fill yourself with the Holy Spirit, rather than sin, alcohol, & evil spirits.
Num 6:3 “he shall abstain from wine & strong drink”
Be Sober:
1 Peter 5-8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Sources: Google Dictionary; The Bible, New American Standard Bible, By The Lockman Foundation, Prov 23:31, Gal 5:19-21, Prov 23:29-35, Lev 10:9-11, Luke 21:34, Rom 13:13, 1 Cor 5:11, Is 5:11-12, Eph 5:18, Prov 23:20-21, Hos 4:11, Prov 20:1, Gen 19:33, Gen 9:21, Is 28:7, Is 1:14, 1 Tim 5:23, Ps 116:13, Luke 1:15, Num 6:3, 1 Pet 5-8
Blessed Babe 