During my reading this morning I came across Deuteronomy 29:6 when God spoke to His people: "You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink, that you may know that I am the LORD your God." This is an interesting connection. God sustained His people with manna from heaven when they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. They did not have access to wine or fruit of the vine and there was a purpose: "that you may know that I am the LORD your God." When I read this, it brought to mind a sermon delivered in 2013 by pastor Joe Focht called, "What About Alcohol?" It is a great sermon that holds forth a biblical perspective on drinking: it's not about how far we can safely go with drinking, but that we should labour instead to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Let me say that we have liberty in Christ to eat and drink whatever we want. Personally, I take to heart the teachings given by Lemuel's mother in Proverbs 31:3-7 when she says, "Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5 lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more." Alcohol is a destroyer of kings and poor alike. As a child of God, there is a crown and a throne in my future. God has made me a king and priest unto Him, having purchased and washed me in the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore in my own life, I am convinced the drinking of alcohol has no place. I was not always of this persuasion. It needs to be a decision every Christian makes for themselves as convinced by the Holy Spirit. Let everyone be fully convinced in their own mind, taking great care not to stumble others by the exercise of our liberty.
"Jesus drank wine!" some protest. "Jesus made wine from water!" Then others will quote Paul's words in 1 Timothy 5:23: "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities." The context is more for medicinal purposes, not for social lubrication. And how much is a little? That's the big question for some. A little wine can lead to a little more - with increased frequency. Little by little a slide occurs. Too much wine never draws a man closer to God but does the exact opposite. Ephesians 5:18-21 says, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God." Instead on focusing on how much alcohol is too much, every Christian ought to put into practice the exhortation given here by Paul. We need to be filled with the Spirit, glorifying God with our speech, giving thanks for all things, and submitting to one another in the fear of God. Like pastor Joe says, "To reach this generation...we don't need a church with a little bit more wine in them to get the job done: we need a church that's got more of the Holy Ghost in them to turn the world upside down."
When you start breaking your own rules concerning alcohol, dear believer, you give place to the devil. When you feel convicted about drinking; if you feel you need to hide the bottles from your spouse, kids, or parents; if you find you are leading a double life, beware. Take care you do not cause others to stumble, be offended, or even weak in the exercise of your liberty (Romans 14:21). It would be better for a millstone to be hung about your neck and for you to be thrown into the sea than to cause a little one to stumble. Charles Spurgeon says on the subject: "Drink first dims, then darkens, then deadens, then damns. Drink injures a man externally, internally, and eternally." (Spurgeon's Proverbs and Sayings, Vol. 1, 140) For me, the physical and spiritual implications of drinking far outweigh any physical benefit that could be possibly gained. Praise the LORD for the freedom we have to glorify God, even sometimes by saying "No thanks." All things done or avoided for God's glory will not be without eternal reward!
Let me say that we have liberty in Christ to eat and drink whatever we want. Personally, I take to heart the teachings given by Lemuel's mother in Proverbs 31:3-7 when she says, "Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5 lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more." Alcohol is a destroyer of kings and poor alike. As a child of God, there is a crown and a throne in my future. God has made me a king and priest unto Him, having purchased and washed me in the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore in my own life, I am convinced the drinking of alcohol has no place. I was not always of this persuasion. It needs to be a decision every Christian makes for themselves as convinced by the Holy Spirit. Let everyone be fully convinced in their own mind, taking great care not to stumble others by the exercise of our liberty.
"Jesus drank wine!" some protest. "Jesus made wine from water!" Then others will quote Paul's words in 1 Timothy 5:23: "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities." The context is more for medicinal purposes, not for social lubrication. And how much is a little? That's the big question for some. A little wine can lead to a little more - with increased frequency. Little by little a slide occurs. Too much wine never draws a man closer to God but does the exact opposite. Ephesians 5:18-21 says, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God." Instead on focusing on how much alcohol is too much, every Christian ought to put into practice the exhortation given here by Paul. We need to be filled with the Spirit, glorifying God with our speech, giving thanks for all things, and submitting to one another in the fear of God. Like pastor Joe says, "To reach this generation...we don't need a church with a little bit more wine in them to get the job done: we need a church that's got more of the Holy Ghost in them to turn the world upside down."
When you start breaking your own rules concerning alcohol, dear believer, you give place to the devil. When you feel convicted about drinking; if you feel you need to hide the bottles from your spouse, kids, or parents; if you find you are leading a double life, beware. Take care you do not cause others to stumble, be offended, or even weak in the exercise of your liberty (Romans 14:21). It would be better for a millstone to be hung about your neck and for you to be thrown into the sea than to cause a little one to stumble. Charles Spurgeon says on the subject: "Drink first dims, then darkens, then deadens, then damns. Drink injures a man externally, internally, and eternally." (Spurgeon's Proverbs and Sayings, Vol. 1, 140) For me, the physical and spiritual implications of drinking far outweigh any physical benefit that could be possibly gained. Praise the LORD for the freedom we have to glorify God, even sometimes by saying "No thanks." All things done or avoided for God's glory will not be without eternal reward!
what about a beer or 2 come grand final day?
ReplyDeleteMate, there's a part of me that wouldn't mind drinking a beer or two every day! But I am bought with a price and know that life does not consist in eating or drinking but in walking according to God's will for my life. I'm not missing out on anything! :) God's Word and the Holy Spirit will guide us into all wisdom and truth concerning drinking and all other decisions of life.
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