Should A Christian Drink?

Should A Christian Drink?

Pr. 20:1 KJV
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

Pr. 31:4 ESV
"..it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,"

1 Pet. 2:9
"But you are a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a Peculiar People; that you should show forth the praises of him who has Called You Out of darkness into his marvelous Light:"

The question is,
1. "What is it that you think you're getting in that alcohol that you're not getting from God?
2. If you're not getting it; Why not?

Two things are missing in your life if you are drinking: Peace, and Joy.

Question.. Is God withholding from you?

Ps. 84:11 ESV
”For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.”

True Peace and Joy comes from God!

John 7:38 KJV
”He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

The Believer in Christ, the New Creation man, has the Life and Nature of God on the inside of him, it is his New nature. Peace and Joy are the Fruit his New Creation being. According Gal. 5:22

Gal. 5:22
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,.."

It is as Important for Believers to have a Sober Mind, Judgement, and Awareness, as it is for Kings, Governors, and Rulers!

1 Thess. 5:8 KJV
”But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

Gal. 4:8-9 GNT
”In the past you did not know God, and so you were slaves of beings who are not gods. But now that you know God or, I should say, now that God knows you‚ how is it that you want to turn back to those weak and pitiful ruling spirits? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again?”

Pr. 26:11 GW "As a dog goes back to its vomit, so a fool repeats his stupidity."

Isa. 12:2-3 AMP
”Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and Song; yes, He has become my salvation.
3.Therefore With Joy will You Draw Water from the Wells of Salvation.”

Rom. 15:13 KJV
”Now the God of hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Eph. 2:14 KJV
”For He is our Peace,..”

Neh. 8:10
..The Joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Importance of Being Sobering Minded...

1 Thess. 5:6,8 KJV “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
8 "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, Putting On the Breastplate of Faith and Love; and for an Helmet, the hope of salvation."

AMP
V6. "Accordingly then, let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected, and circumspect)."

1 Pet.1:13 ESV
"Therefore, preparing your Minds for Action, and Being Sober- Minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 4:7 ESV
"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self- controlled and sober- minded for the sake of your prayers."

1 Pet. 5:8 ESV
"Be sober- Minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Protect Your Mind and Heart!

1 Thess. 5:8
"The helmet and breastplate defend the two vital parts, the head and the heart respectively.

"With head and heart right, the whole man is right" [EDMUNDS].
The head needs to be kept from error, the heart from sin."

"We must not only be awake and sober, but also armed; not only watchful, but also guarded." (Jamison, Fausett, Brown)

This is a warning to be Guarded against being Surprised. V.6 is A Call to Alertness, and Readiness.

1 Pet 1:13. "Gird up the loins of your mind."

An image taken from the way in which the Israelites ate the passover with the loose outer robe girded up about the waist with a girdle, as Ready for a Journey.
Workmen, pilgrims, runners, wrestlers, and warriors (all of whom are types of the Christians), so Gird Themselves Up, both to shorten the garment so as Not to Impede Motion, and to gird up the body itself so as to be Braced for Action.
The Believer is to have his mind (mental powers) collected and always ready for Christ's coming. (JFB)

Titus 2:11-12 NKJV
"For the Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12. Teaching Us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,"..

..lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. -2 Cor. 2:11

Jesus said, "The thief comes only to kill, steal, and destroy."

It should be no surprise that he would seek and advantage in our lives to destroy our testimony, our zeal for the things of God, and turn Gods people back into the world.

Jesus said, Matt.16:23 BBE
”... Get out of my way, Satan: you are a danger to me because your mind is not on the things of God, but on the things of men.."

Many in the Church today have lost their taste for the God things and developed an appetite for the entertainment of the world.

The Holy Spirit thru John said,
"For everything that is in the world-the desire for fleshly gratification, the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance-is not from the Father but is from the world." -1 Jn. 2:16 ISV

Erosion of our Spiritual walk and hunger for the things of God never happens suddenly, but discretely, slowly, and unfortunately more times than not, deceptively under the disguise of legitimate alternatives!

The Daily discipline of reading the Word and communicating with The Lord are Not Options for the Victorious Believer, They Are Your Lifestyle!!!

There are no shortages of distractions in life, you just need to "Choose you This Day (every day) Whom you "Will" to Serve." Yes, it's A Choice that We Make, and No One else..

The Way We Stay Sober is to Stay Connected to God through Time in the Word and Fellowship with The Lord..Daily! No one just "has time" for this, You make it and Take it..
Every discipline in life that's worth anything requires Effort no matter what it is..including spiritual things.

Mark 4:24
Jesus said, “ Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.”

The measure of "Worth" we place on the importance of spiritual growth and maturity, is Exactly What We will get out of it. If you are going to avoid the trap of drifting from a strong walk with God, You've Got To Be Sober!

Mike Hawkins